Monthly Archives: December 2015

Secrets and Lies (Hearts of Braden 4) by Susanne Matthews-a review

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Secrets and Lies (A Hearts of Braden Book) by Susanne Matthews-a review

Secrets and Lies

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

About the book: Release Date November 16, 2015

DEA agent, Emily Shepherd, is after the Chef, a crystal meth cook, who sets up labs for the Mexican cartel and walks away—the same man responsible for the deaths of her husband and unborn child. Her search leads her to Braden, Iowa, a small town just right for the Chef’s specialty. But identifying her quarry won’t be easy when she’s up against a woman who sees her as a threat, a male chauvinistic deputy sheriff, and an attractive school principal who might just be at the center of it all.

Jackson Harris has sworn off women. Life is satisfactory, if lonely, until he meets a hazel-eyed damsel in distress who gets under his skin, and triggers that protective instinct of his. There’s a killer in town, one who may or may not be a notorious drug lord. Finding him, and keeping his town, his students, and Emily safe, may be harder than he thinks.

Love is breaking out in Braden, Iowa. Follow all the romance with this collection of stories. Secrets and Lies is part of the Hearts of Braden Series, a multi-author series Secrets and Lies stands alone for your reading enjoyment, but the story doesn’t need to end there.

•••••••••

REVIEW: Secrets and Lies is Susanne Matthews’ newest in the Hearts of Braden series. This is a mystery/crime/romance novel.

Emily Jacobson Shepherd is a special agent for the DEA, just physically recovered from a failed operation that killed her husband (Alex), her unborn son, and left her with one leg and a newly restored face. The criminal who did this (aka the Chef) is back and she wants to be on the team that stops him. The Chef is a meth cook and sets up labs and uses others to produce drugs for the cartel, then leaves, killing everyone who has any idea of his identification.

Her cover for this mission is a nutritional expert starting a program for healthy meals in the school system, a federally funded program called the Healthy Living Initiative. This takes place in the small northern Iowa town of Braden, a small farming community, with issues from a recent large tornado. Her romantic interest will be the local principal, J. J. Harris (Jackson). His story is interesting as well, sorry no spoilers. This is a thrilling ride, with the good, the bad, and the funny…a good measure of danger thrown in.

What did I love? The set-up is well done, but I truly loved the way the author handled her handicapped issues. She didn’t gloss over it, or glamorize it…she handled it with realism and talentedly wrote the issues into her dialog and daily narration. Author Matthews gives a very realistic look into the physical issues and the emotional ones as well. She does this with several characters, giving you their insecurities from life as well as their strengths. You get to know the people of the town, their quirks and some of their personality.

What didn’t I love? Nothing…I did figure out who the Chef was pretty quickly. However, for me the story is in the intricacy of the journey…not the destination.
This is a marvelous story and I look forward to more from Susanne Matthews, in Braden and elsewhere.

Enjoy everyone, I loved it and hope you will too!

Copy supplied by author for an honest review.

Reviewed by Georgianna

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One Rogue at a Time (Rakes and Rogues #2) by Jade Lee-Review and Book Tour

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One Rogue at a Time (Rakes and Rogues #2) by Jade Lee-Review and Book Tour

One Rogue at a Time

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 1, 2015

A brown-eyed bastard with nothing to lose

As the illegitimate son of a duke, Bramwell Wesley Hallowsby grew up tough, on the fringes of society, learning to hide his hurt and cynicism with charm and Town polish. He’s carved out a place for himself as a mercenary, serving as bodyguard and general strong arm for the peerage. Bram has nothing to lose… and he’s exactly what Maybelle “Bluebell” Ballenger needs.

Meets his match in a blue-eyed beauty with everything to hide

Maybelle needs a mentor to teach her to speak and act like a lady, so she can claim the place in society she was denied. As they team up to take on the ton, Bram knows she’s hiding something even from him. Despite the deception he sees behind those sparkling blue eyes, Bram wants to believe that Maybelle’s love is no lie. But it seems fate has served him up his just desserts in the likes of this determined damsel.

••••••••••

REVIEW:

4 out of 5 for this reader folks!

One Rogue At A Time by Jade Lee is the second book of her Rakes and Rogues Series. A fun regency romance that follows two leading characters that should absolutely be together despite what the other thinks. Lots of adventure, dashes of humour, lies, and determination are all good words to describe what you will find reading this story.

Bram is labelled as a bastard (of a duke) but lives his life balancing a fine line of gentleman and commoner. He lives outside the boundaries of the ton having chosen to become a mercenary but he is also recognized as a reputable man. He is fully educated in polite society, but has a mentality of glass half empty. He can be apathetic because he really feels like he has nothing to lose in life. What happens when he realizes just one woman can change his way of life.

Bella is also the daughter of a man of nobility. She is adventurous, kind, very smart, caring and determined to right many wrongs . When she loses her mother, she concludes she needs to learn how to be a lady. She has infiltrate the ton but is at a loss of how to go about it. After a run in with Bram and a bit of manipulation, Bella requests that Bram teach her all she needs to know.

Both are born to nobles but are not able to reap any of the benefits that can produce. Bram seems to have accepted this, but Bella wants the world to know she is legit. She is hiding secrets, and must not allow anything to distract her from her goal … BUT she cannot seem to fight this attraction that is developing between her and Bram. For the record .. Bram is struggling as well.

So much more to this story but you have the premise now. Here is what I would like to review. I loved the major TEEHEE moments .. I actually laughed out loud a few times. I loved the slow build of friendship to lovers. I adored Bella as she is the kind of heroine that I love to get to know. I will say I had a bit of a disconnect with Bram. I really really wanted to love him, but he was a “Debbie Downer” for a good chunk of this book so by the time he became redeemable (and he does), I was over it. It was Bella that kept me invested and this book jumped to a 4 star toward the last quarter. I found it a little dry in the beginning, but when the story took off, I was all in!

Secondary characters .. stole many parts of this book! LOVE THAT!

A solid historical romance and yes I would absolutely read more by Jade lee!

HAPPY READING!

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Rachel T.
excerpt

The second in Jade Lee’s saucy Rakes and Rogues series, One Rogue at a Time, comes out this December! To celebrate, Jade played a quick round of ‘Would You Rather?’ with us and sent an excerpt from the book to share.

Would you rather read a book on an e-reader or in print? I prefer print—easier on my eyes–but print books are heavy and kill trees. Therefore, I say e-reader.

In this excerpt our heroine (nicknamed Bluebell) is angling for our hero to take her to London where she can meet her father for the first time. She’s bargained for speaking lessons, and now she’s bartering for a ride to London. But she isn’t prepared for the price he demands.

 

“You want me to take you to Oxfordshire and then on to London,” Bram accused. “You want me to dress up this fine carriage and let you appear before your relations like a fine lady. You’ve been planning that from the moment you met me.”
“Ooo, an’ me a simple maid from ’Ull. Wot makes ye think I could muster all that?” She exaggerated her accent such that his back molars ground together in disgust.
“Admit it. That’s what you want.”
She lifted her chin. “And what if I do? You’re free t’ say no.”
“No.”
“There. Fine. Ye’ve said it. But I can pay—”
He grabbed her chin, pulling it—and her—toward him. Part of him thrilled at finally touching her pristine skin. Part of him watched how her eyes widened and the pupils darkened, her mouth slipping open on a gasp. Was she afraid of him? Yes. Obviously. And he tried to care. He tried to tell himself that he didn’t want to punish her for crimes she hadn’t committed. But she was a schemer just like the others, and so he damned her all the same.
“I will take you to London,” he said, his voice low, his breath hot.
She didn’t answer, and he didn’t care.
“But there’s only one payment I’ll take.”
“No,” she whispered. “I’m a lady.”
“Say it all you like, Miss Bluebell, but I know the truth.”
She swallowed, trying to pull herself back, but she was still sitting on the barrel, so she had nowhere to run. She stilled and her eyes narrowed.
“Wot truth? That I want to go to London? That I want proof o’ my father? Or that you’re nothing but a man with ruttin—”
He kissed her. He wasn’t slow, and he wasn’t remotely gentle. And the fact that she was completely untutored in the way of kissing infuriated him even more. She was a lie. She deserved all the pain he could give her. She was…
She was an innocent, and he had to soften. He had to become gentle with her, and so he did. He didn’t want to, contradictory beast that he was. He liked his anger. Stoked it to a hot flame, but not against her.
So he softened. He gentled.
Where before he had simply wrenched her mouth to his, he now petted her chin. And though he had forced his tongue into her, he eased his penetration. He teased her and then pulled back.
“You are a lie,” he said to her panting chest.
“You are a brute,” she answered, anger vibrating out of her.
“Yes, and worse. I’m a bastard.”
“You’re not even ashamed.”
Oh, he was. He was riddled with shame, but he wouldn’t let her see it. She had to know the truth about him before she tried to play her games. “I’ll take you wherever you want to go, Miss Bluebell. But I’ll be taking you as I do it.”
He felt the impact of his words on her body. She shuddered, but she also licked her lips. Part of her wanted him, brute though he was.
“I am a lady.”
“Ladies spread their legs for me all the time.”
“Not me.”
“Then I’ll not take you anywhere.”
He felt her accept the truth of his words. Her body bowed, and her shoulders drooped. But when she spoke, her voice was strong with conviction.
“I don’t need you to take me. I’ve coin eno’. The mail coach goes to Oxfordshire and London.”
“You’ll be prey to every bloke who sees you.”
She finally jerked her chin away from the stroke of his fingers. “’At’s been true since I first started filling out a dress.” And then before he could anticipate her move, before it even registered that he was in danger, she lifted her knee.
How she’d maneuvered it so perfectly, he didn’t know. But one moment he was hard as a rock, still thinking of ways he could make her willing. The next there was a blinding flash of white-hot pain, and he was crumpled onto the ground.
He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t think. He just knew pain. And one word:
Bravo.

 

 

About The Author

Jade Lee Kathy LyonsA USA Today Bestseller, JADE LEE has been scripting love stories since she first picked up a set of paper dolls. Ball gowns and rakish lords caught her attention early (Thank you Georgette Heyer), and her fascination with the Regency began. And as a Taurus, she lives to pit a headstrong woman against a tortured hero just to watch them butt heads on the way to true love. Flesh wounds are rare, but the healing and laughter are real. Now an author of more than 30 romance novels, she’s just embarked on a new Regency series, RAKES AND ROGUES. Her love of romance extends to the present day, too. Under her other name, Kathy Lyons, she merges hot sex and funny relationships into really great reads. And she’s a busy lady, check out her appearances page to see where you can meet her in person. Learn more about her in Fun Facts below or visit her on Facebook or Twitter.

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Just Say Yes by Elizabeth Hayley – Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

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Just Say Yes by Elizabeth Hayley – Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

 

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Just Say Yes1Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

Description:
Magazine columnist Quinn Sawyer has always attracted sweet, innocent, and safe men. And something tells her it’s because she’s just as harmless. So when she starts craving a guy with an edge, she realizes she may have to get one for herself.

When her boss asks for a unique pitch, Quinn’s quest to live outside her comfort zone prompts her to suggest an idea that will cause her to break her good-girl rules. And who better than Tim Jacobs to help her push her boundaries? For a while now, Quinn’s had a hot crush on the tattooed executive chef with a checkered past. If anybody can bring out her inner rebel, he can.

It’s no surprise that with every task the two complete, the sparks between them grow more and more intense. Soon there’s no denying the attraction they each feel. But Tim’s troubled past reveals an even tougher edge than Quinn expected—which means for her, falling in love might just be the greatest rebellion of all.

 

Review:

Just Say Yes starts with Hayley on a date that doesn’t go too well. She meets up with her girlfriends later and they ask for the dirt on her date. When she tells them it didn’t go too well, they give her a hard time. She then starts wondering if she has pigeon holed herself in what she’s actually looking for in a relationship. Even more than that, she’s wondering if she really knows herself or if she’s just set herself on cruise control.

At work, she’s in a meeting where the writers pitch ideas to their boss for the next month’s magazine publication. Even though she’s been somewhat of a lackey, she finds herself offering up an idea for a story that her boss actually takes her up on. The idea? A good girl who breaks the rules, throws caution to the wind when it comes to dating. Although Quinn is shocked that their boss actually liked the idea, she is even more shocked that she is going to try and go through with it.

At a get together, Quinn ends up talking about what she is setting out to do, when Tim agrees to help her. Tim has a bit of a checkered past, but is actually looking forward to helping her out. He’s always thought she was pretty and a nice person, but knows he’d never have a shot at her with his past. She’s way out of his league………. Or so he thinks.

As they start spending time together as friends, things start to heat up. Quinn doesn’t know if she’ll truly be able to throw caution to the wind and take the chances that she wants to, but she knows down to her toes that Tim is more than the bad boy persona he projects to everyone. Once things really get going, a few things happen that leaves us wondering if they’ll actually be able to get past it in order to have a real relationship. Funny how things work out when you didn’t really know what you were looking for………

Just Say Yes is a wonderfully written story with a lot of humor (had me laughing out loud a lot!), a beautifully developed friends to lovers romance, and a few moments that had me tearing up. Quinn is a great character that is totally relatable and you’ll feel like you’ve known her all of your life. Tim is awesome as well. A little attitude, a big heart and a lot of hotness. This is the first I’ve read by this writing duo, but I’d definitely like to go back and read the first in the series and read future stories. If you’re looking for a fast read with humor, a beautifully developed romance and some steam, this is definitely for you! Well done, Elizabeth Hayley! Very well done!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Guest Post

Built on a Hope and a Dream

Our journey as writers has been…weird. Weird in the best possible ways, but weird nonetheless. This all started with a discussion about how much we both loved Fifty Shades of Grey, and Hayley saying that she thought we could write romance. Elizabeth agreed.

So what started as a casual, off-hand comment turned into a book idea, became a planning meeting, transitioned into a super fun hobby, and ultimately morphed into Pieces of Perfect. We wrote our first book in about a month because once we started writing, we couldn’t NOT write. It’s like we’d been walking through life with part of ourselves missing. How could we have neglected this for so long?  We were writers. Yes, we were also wives, mothers, teachers, assholes, the list goes on and on. But we also, most certainly, were writers.

We started to bleed words, characters, and plot ideas. But instead of trying to stem the flow, we continued to allow ourselves to hemorrhage. Because we know that this is it–this will never bleed us dry. Rather, it will invigorate us. And from it bloomed a hope. A hope that this could all somehow be more.

So we kept going. Pieces of Perfect turned into the Pieces Series–three novels and a novella.  And when people actually bought them, we were amazed and thankful and excited. And the hope started to become something else–a dream.

We wanted this. We wanted to write stories that people would enjoy and characters they could relate to. But if we were going to strive for the dream, we were going to take it to the max fantasy: we wanted to be published.

We’ve never fully been able to grasp why being traditionally published was so important to us. A lot of authors prefer staying the indie course, and we admire them for it. Maybe we needed the validation–needed someone else to believe we were good enough. Maybe part of it was vanity. Who doesn’t want to see their novel in bookstores? Or maybe it was because we knew we could be better, but couldn’t get there on our own. Most likely, it was, and continues to be, all of these things.

But that meant that the next book had to be good enough for a publisher to want it. Enter The Best Medicine. And then enter Penguin Random House. With their help, we fixed up The Best Medicine, and created two more novels to make the Strictly Business Series: Just Say Yes and The Wedding Agreement (out in May).

The thing about a dream is that it changes every time you close your eyes. And the longer we write, the bigger our dream becomes. We don’t know what the future holds for us, but we hope it’s as exciting as where we’ve been. We hope the journey is long, and weird, and challenging. Because if it’s not those things, well then it won’t really have been a journey at all.

 

excerpt 1

 

“Quinn had been feeling pretty damn full of herself in the kitchen. But once she got into the bedroom and kicked off her sandals, she faltered for a second, chewing on her bottom lip as she looked at his large masculine bed: dark wood with a dark slate comforter. It was so not comforting. I’m about to have sex with Tim. On a bed that screams Christian Grey, if for no other reason than because it’s gray. Quinn was spiraling into a nonsensical state of self-deficiency. Tim was nearly eight years older than she was—a seasoned pro compared to her. What if she didn’t live up to his other experiences? What if he wasn’t into it? What if . . . ?

“Whatever you’re thinking about right now, stop it. Unless it’s that you don’t want to do this, in which case we’ll go back out there and have dinner.” Tim came up behind her and brought his hands up to her shoulders, sweeping her hair over one in the process so he could place gentle kisses on the back of her neck.

Quinn immediately relaxed into his touch. This was Tim. He’d opened a whole new world for her without ever once making her feel inadequate. She’d been a fool to think he ever would. “I definitely do not want dinner.”

“Then tell me what you do want.” His lips ghosted over her skin as he spoke.

“I—I want . . .” God, how am I supposed to think when he’s kissing me like that? She forced her mind to work through the sexual fog he was blanketing her in. “I want to be with you. In every way two people can be together. But I think—no, I know that I want you to lead. Show me what you like. Show me how good it can be.” It wasn’t that Quinn hadn’t had good sex before. She had, by her standards. But she was also convinced that sex with Tim would blow any previous encounter right out of the fucking water. She wasn’t interested in timid first times. She wanted epic right off the bat. And Quinn knew Tim would deliver.

“Every way, huh? That almost sounds like a challenge.”

“It is. You think you’re up for it?”

At that, Tim ground his erection against her ass. An erotic moan left her as he said, “Oh, I’m up for it.” He let her feel his hard-on through the denim of his jeans for only a moment longer before he pulled away, walked around her, and flopped down onto his side on the bed. “Strip for me, Quinn.”

Quinn felt her face heat as she looked down at herself.

“Hey.” Tim’s voice was soft as it drew her attention back to him. “I have been reliving your nude modeling for the past week. But see, that’s a memory I have to share with all those other people. Not this time. This time is just for me.”

His words emboldened her. It was just for him—it had been just for him then too, if she were being honest with herself. His were the only eyes she had cared about in that entire room. But in his apartment, with just the two of them, it was different. She couldn’t claim that it was for the article, or about finding herself. In Tim’s room, with only the soft pallor of the descending sun illuminating them, she was fucking found. So she reached under her arm and drew down the zipper that was hiding there, letting the dress fall to her feet. Her white satin bra fell next. And finally, with her eyes trained on Tim the entire time, she lowered her matching thong. Quinn stood before him, summoning a confidence she knew had been hiding in her somewhere, and watched as his eyes raked over her body. His gaze was all lust and need. And something else . . . reverence maybe? Like he had every intention of worshipping her body as though it were a temple. The thought made her stand up even straighter.

Tim rubbed his cock through his pants as he took in the sight of her. But just before she felt the slightest tinge of self-consciousness, he stood and walked back toward her. His hands came and cupped her jaw. “You’re perfect,” he whispered right before he pulled her lips to his. The kiss was intense as they spilled all of their wants into it.

Quinn basked in the feeling of Tim’s tongue against hers, his piercing turning her on even more than she already was. He got that for me. And now I get to be the one who enjoys it. Her hands skated down his chest to his stomach, where she yanked his shirt up and slid her hands beneath it. Her fingers adored his runner’s body, the ridges of his hardened abdominals. He broke away from her lips long enough to pull the shirt over his head, and she took full advantage, moving up to feel his slender but muscular chest. Finally, when she felt like she was being a cocktease to herself, her hands landed on his belt, quickly unfastening it and pushing it out of the way so she could pop the button on his jeans and drag the zipper down.


 

 

About The Author

Elizabeth Hayley
Elizabeth Hayley is actually “Elizabeth” and “Hayley,” two friends who love reading romance novels to obsessive levels. This mutual love prompted them to put their English degrees to good use by penning their own. The product is Pieces of Perfect, their debut novel. They learned a ton about one another through the process, like how they clearly share a brain and have a persistent need to text each other constantly (much to their husbands’ chagrin).

“Elizabeth” lives with her husband, daughter, and nutjob of a dog. “Hayley” lives with her husband, son, and her own crazy dog. Thankfully, their children are still too young to read.

Elizabeth Hayley’s writing motto is best captured by the words of Patrick Dennis: “I always start with a clean piece of paper and a dirty mind.”

 

giveaway

Elizabeth Hayley’s publisher is offering a paper copy of JUST SAY YES 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 us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

4. Please FOLLOW us on Twitter for an additional entry.

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8. Giveaway is open to USA only

9. Giveaway runs from December 11 – 14, 2015

 

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His To Take (Out of Uniform 3.5) by Katee Robert-a review

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HIS TO TAKE (Out of Uniform 3.5) by Katee Robert-a review

His To Take

99¢ ebook: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 7, 2015

Truth or dare…

Erin Robinson is having an epically bad year. Her blossoming career on Broadway tanked, forcing her to crawl back to home to Wellington. The icing on her failure cake? Her former on-again, off-again fling is in town, and the sexy Marine is taking up way too much space.

Warren Davis always knew Erin was special, which is exactly why he can’t have her. A girl like her deserves something permanent–something neither of them wants. But now that they’re both back in town and she’s right there in front of him, a challenge in her eyes he’s never been able to resist, he’s questioning everything.

That challenge quickly escalates into an epic game of Truth or Dare. Erin’s sure she’s got him on lock, but as the night progresses, Warren’s dares intensify, drowning her in lust. But with the past still breathing down their necks, there’s no way either of them can win…

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: HIS TO TAKE is installment 3.5 in Katee Robert’s contemporary, adult OUT OF UNIFORM romance series. This is Broadway actor Erin Robinson, and US Marine Warren Davis’s story line. Erin is Aaron Robinson’s sister (His To Keep 1.5). HIS TO TAKE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

Told from dual third person perspectives HIS TO TAKE follows Erin Robinson as she returns home during the Christmas holidays, with her tail tucked between her legs. For ten years Erin has struggled on the Broadway stage and it finally looks like her star is about to shine but when a younger actress is verbally attacked by the director, Erin speaks up and is fired in the process. Returning home to Wellington was never in the cards. Enter Warren Davis, US Marine and Erin’s former teen sweetheart, and a man whose own visit home finds himself drawn to Erin like years before. What ensues is a game of Truth or Dare, where Erin and Warren dare one another to with sexual acts, and reveal the hurt the truth about the real reason they are both in town.

HIS TO TAKE is a quick read (less than 90 pages) about two people given a second chance to reconnect; to fall in love with the one that got away. Katee Robert blends a little bit of humor, heartbreak, romance and love into a story line perfect for the Christmas holidays. The world building reveals a little bit about their past, their present and what they both want for the future in a story line that covers approximately twenty-four hours in their life. HIS TO TAKE is an enjoyable holiday novella.

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

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The Royal Conquest by Stacy Reid -a Review

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The Royal Conquest by Stacy Reid -a Review

 

Royal ConquestAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM

Description:
His dark seduction will be her undoing…

After being cruelly jilted by a lord who claimed to adore her, Miss Payton Peppiwell swore her future husband would be as ordinary as she. Now if only her family would listen to her. Then she meets Mikhail Konstantinovich, an untitled horse breeder, in a highly improper and scandalous encounter. Never had Payton expected to be so attracted to the dark, intriguing man, who seduces her to recklessness with a mere stare.

Mikhail abhors anything to do with intimacy. Yet Miss Peppiwell stirs hunger and a need long forgotten in him. But Mikhail has a dark past—one that means his lust must be sated in a way entirely unsuitable for a lady. But his biggest secret will be the hardest for Payton to overcome: Mikhail is not only titled, he’s a prince…

 

Review;

The Royal Conquest by Stacy Reid is the 4th book in her Scandalous House of Calydon series. I’ve had the pleasure of reading the previous book in this series, and was happy to have the chance to read yet another one of Stacy’s books. The Royal Conquest was a fast read that had me hooked from the first chapter. Miss Reid just dives right into the story, setting the stage for our hero and heroine from that first moment. She creates an air of mystery and intrigue that surrounds our couple from the get go, and it continues on throughout the story, which to me served as the catalyst that kept my attention and interest piqued towards our couple throughout the book.  

Our hero Mikhail is a dark and brooding character, who at first is very mysterious and keeps his identity a secret from not only Payton, but society as well. He doesn’t care for all the pomp and circumstance that comes from being a Prince, nor does he care for the way women throw themselves at him because of his title. He wants a normal life, one away from all the commotion of being a Prince. On top of all that, he carries with him a dark secret from his past that has become a problem for him in regards to relationships. For that matter, he hasn’t had much luck when it comes to finding love, and has pretty much given up on that notion until that fateful night where he stumbles upon one very sassy and attractive Payton Peppiwell. If that isn’t a fun name for a heroine then I don’t know what would be. Her name doesn’t just sound bright and cheery, Payton really is a bright and cheery individual. She’s a woman of her own means, and to hell with society, the haute monde and their silly ways. Payton grooves to the beat of her own drum, society be damned. That’s one of the things I love about Miss. Reid’s stories, her heroines are a ray of sunshine in a stuffy world. They have their own minds, ideas, and aren’t afraid to stand up to their alpha male, or fight for them no matter what. This is exactly what Payton does when Mikhail finally tells her the truth about himself and his past. When Payton learns that he can’t stand to be touched and must be in control at all times during sex, thanks to a harrowing kidnapping at the hands of Lady Anya when he was younger, Payton doesn’t shun him or turn away, instead she embraces that part of him and allows him what he needs. This is another aspect of Ms. Reid’s writing that I like. She creates a mutual respect between her couple, and allows them the time to learn each other, understand each other and come to respect one another. It isn’t a case of just throwing a couple together, she lets them grow and blossom as individuals finding there own way, and then as a couple.   Both help each other overcome their own issues when it comes to relationships and society. Mikhail and Payton are an excellent fit for a couple.

I do believe The Royal Conquest will be another hit for Stacy Reid. Even though it is a fast paced read, filled with action, suspense, a brooding hero and sassy heroine, the story is well defined, and carried out by our couple. The story takes flight from the first chapter and doesn’t stop until the last page. Mikhail and Payton are characters you want to cheer for and hope they can overcome their individual issues, so that they can succeed as a couple. For anyone who’s a fan of not only Stacy Reid, but historical romances, The Royal Conquest is a must read.

Until next time, happy reading!!

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by Publisher

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Healing Eden by Rhenna Morgan – a Review

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Healing Eden by Rhenna Morgan – a Review

 

Healing EdenAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

Description:
Nothing good grows in the shadow of secrets.

A reluctant warrior in a rebellion he abhors, Reese Theron has buckled beneath blackmail to keep the circumstances of his birth on lockdown. He’s lost everything that counts—the right to fight for his king, the trust of his best friend, and any hope for a family of his own. Death seems preferable, until Galena Shantos meets him at his fateful crossroads and saves his life.

Galena’s loyalty to her brother, the king, is absolute. Healing his warriors on the sidelines of war, she’s witnessed too many rebellion atrocities to be swayed for mercy. Yet something about Reese blurs the lines of allegiance, the call to her heart raw and primitive.

When Reese ends up a prisoner of war, he’s visited by a mysterious being of another race and learns he’s the linchpin in a battle between good and evil. The lovers will face choices—Galena between family loyalty and championing Reese’s cause, and Reese between keeping his shameful secret, and saving all races by leading the darkest of his kind to redemption—starting with his own confession.

 

 

Review:

Healing Eden by Rhenna Morgan is the second book in her Eden series. To give you a brief refresher, Eryx and Lexie were our mated couple in the first book, when Lexie discovers she is human and Myren. She comes to Eden to stand beside her mate, Eryx,the King of Eden. Lexi and Eryx were hot and in this book they both continue to play a major role to bring peace for the Myrens against the evil forces trying to takeover Eden.

In Healing Eden, Galena, who is Eryx’s sister, and Reese, considered a traitor to Myren, are our heroes in this book. During a battle, Reese is captured and put into prison. Galena, who is a healer, helps heal his wounds. Her other brother, Ramsey, who was a long time friend to Reese, many years before, threatens to kill him unless he gives up information on the villain, Maxis. Pushing her brother away to allow her to heal Reese, Galena feels the immediate attraction, as well as sensing all that is good with him. Reese has never forgotten his feelings for the young Galena, when he was on Ramsey’s team, and even in the dire position he is in, he cannot resist kissing her.

Galena cannot get her feelings for Reese under control, and tries to get her brothers to allow Reese to help them find and destroy Maxis.   The truth will come out why Reese left the Shantos family, and went to Maxis. Decisions are made that will give Reese a chance to redeem himself, and earn back some trust. Galena knows how she feels, and knows Reese is telling the truth, and she fully trusts him. But dealing with her stubborn brothers is not easy.

What follows is an exciting adventure where Reese will put himself in danger to help stop the rebellion and Maxis. There were a number of surprises throughout the book which kept our interest.

A very nice romance between Galena and Reese, that has help from Lexie, who pushes Eryx to read Reese’s mind to learn the truth, and to allow his sister to have what she wants…Reese. This was a nice story, with some wonderful characters. I loved Eryx and Lexie in the first book, and now they are joined by Galena and Reese. I am hoping Ramsey will get his story in the next book. Rhenna Morgan keeps the flow going smoothly in Healing Eden, and making us wait impatiently for the next one.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

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Coming Back (Ink and Chrome 3) by Lauren Dane-Review, Book Tour & Giveaway

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COMING BACK (Ink and Chrome #3) by Lauren Dane-Review, Book Tour & Giveaway

Coming Back Banner

COMING BACK
Ink and Chrome #2
by Lauren Dane
Release Date: December 8, 2015
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance,

Coming Back

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: December 8, 2015

Arriving back in Seattle after five years, Jessilyn Franklin is done pretending she didn’t want two men. She’s done letting anything stop her from being with Adam and Mick, now back from the war and working at Twisted Steel, a custom hot rod and motorcycle shop. One night changes everything, but their relationship must strengthen to weather the storms they’ll face as they make their way back to one another.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: COMING BACK is the third installment in Lauren Dane’s contemporary, adult INK AND CHROME erotic, romance series focusing on the men and women of Twisted Steel custom car and motorcycle shop. This is costume designer Jessilyn (Jessi) Franklin, Twisted Steel partner and former soldier Michael (Mick ) Roberts, and graphic designer Adam Gulati. COMING BACK can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

NOTE: COMING BACK is an erotic, romance storyline with M/M/F and M/F/M sexual content and ménage situations including anal, oral and three way sex.

Told from several third person points of view COMING BACK follows the rekindling relationship and romance between Jessi, Adam and Mick. Five years earlier Mick went off to war leaving Jessi and Adam struggling in their new found relationship- a forbidden relationship that once included Mick. Fast forward to present day where Jessi and Adam return to congratulate Mick on his new partnership at Twisted Steel, and jump back into the threesome as if the years apart, and past history had never happened. Jess, Adam and Mick have been life-long friends, and with it comes the history and knowledge of Mick’s abusive relationship with his father, and Adam’s fall from grace from his family. For years, Jessi’s family has been the one constant source of love, acceptance and familiarity for Adam and Mick.

COMING BACK focuses on hatred, discrimination, and dysfunctional family values. Mick and Adam are both bisexual: Mick’s father considers his son an abomination and uses his own religious beliefs to destroy the man that Mick has become. Adam’s father has no love lost for his youngest son, and believes Jessi is the common denominator influencing both Adam and Mick. What ensues is a heartbreaking look at two families torn apart by homophobic misconceptions and old-fashioned ideals about family and God. All of the storyline conflict is external to the rebuilding relationship-conflict that began years before.

The relationship between Jessi, Adam and Mick is one of second chances. All three of our leading characters have been in love with one another since childhood, and the trio never expected anything else growing up, but Mick went off to war, and Jessi left when Adam struggled with their continuing relationship. The $ex scenes are numerous, erotic, exploratory and provocative with M/F/M and M/M/F sexual situations.

All of the previous storyline couples play secondary and supporting roles. We are also introduced to Jessi’s non-judgmental and loving parents, as well as Mick and Adam’s hostile and sanctimonious families. Jess’s foster brother and musician Hamish makes a cameo appearance-here’s hoping his storyline is next.

COMING BACK is an interesting storyline but in my opinion fell short in the depth and development as most of the premise focuses on the relationship between Jessi, Adam and Mick-physical, emotional and psychological. Jessi has always been the one constant in Mick and Adam’s lives-a constant that is blamed for Mick and Adam’s bisexuality and twisted lifestyle. The external conflict of homophobia should have been better developed; Mick and Adam’s dysfunctional family dynamics could have made for a more in depth and darker premise. Also, there was something about the storyline flow that faltered at times, as though the editing process cut away the descriptive narrative and text.

Reading Order
Opening UP
Falling Under
Coming Back

Copy supplied by Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

Coming-Back-Quote-Graphic-#2

excerpt

 

“Shirt off, Jess,” Adam whispered in her ear like a fallen angel luring her to temptation.
“Just because it’s off doesn’t mean it has left my custody,” she told Mick as she whipped her shirt up and over her head. If she was expected to give back all the clothing she pilfered, she’d be naked a third of the time. She stole them, they were hers. That was the rule.
Mick’s grin made her tingly and swoony. Honestly, how could she ever have thought happiness was possible without these two people in her life?
“I’d never think to steal my shirts back once you have them.” Mick stepped close enough to slide his upper body against hers.
“Oh!”
Laughing, Mick reached around her to get Adam’s shirt free as well. “You too.”
Jessi turned in their arms so she could get a look at Adam, and holy cow was she glad she had. Tawny skin played over his upper body. No ink but on his inner forearm at his elbow. Jessilyn. In her handwriting. He’d shown it to her the last time she’d seen him.
“I never told you why I put your name there,” Adam said as she slid her fingertips over his skin.
She waited for the telling and when she did, he smiled, grinding his cock into her.
“You’re my addiction. The thing I need more than anything.”
Always so tough. So taciturn and grumpy. And yet, so very tender it broke her heart sometimes. Hell, he’d broken her heart more than once too. It came with loving him, she’d finally accepted.
“Is that why you denied yourself?” She gave in and combed her fingers through his hair. “And denied me too, I might add.”
“I had to work through a lot of shit, and I couldn’t do it with anyone else. I had to do it alone.” His voice was rough, full of guilt and anguish.
“I hear the guilt in your voice. Let it go.” Selfishly, she wanted him to be unfettered when he came to her at long last. So she’d know he was there for good.
“So you don’t hate me?” he asked.
Startled, her eyes widened and she tugged on his hair to get his attention. “I could never hate you, Adam, and if I did, I wouldn’t be here. I’m here because I’ve always been here, just waiting for you to remember that.”
He pressed into her body as Mick gave no quarter at her back. Being squeezed that way kept her immobile.
And it was delicious.
He said nothing else before he bent to kiss her. At first slow, teasing, sexy kisses that heated her belly and made her knees feel like noodles. He licked at her lips, teasing her mouth open until she sighed happily.
Mick played his fingertips up her sides, brushing over the curve of her breasts. “When I saw these tonight I knew you’d worn that dress for me.”
“I admit that when I tried it on and it had all that tasteful side boob I knew you’d appreciate it,” Jessi said as Adam moved away from her mouth.
“Who doesn’t appreciate it?” Adam asked as he stepped back enough to grab the waistband of her pajama bottoms and shove them down her legs, along with her panties. “As far as side boob goes, yours is aces.”
Jessi laughed and then got nervous because they both still had pants on and there she was naked as a jaybird.
“Mick, why don’t you lead our angel to the bed?” Like a switch had been thrown, Adam took charge. He drew authority around himself like a cloak.
Mick backed her up slowly, caressing her shoulder before pressing kisses across her skin.
It was really happening. After years of going through the motions, here it was, the moment she’d been waiting for since she’d woken up to find out Mick had reenlisted.
Desire made her limbs heavy, left her movements languid as Mick shifted to lay her back on Adam’s big bed.
“I’m naked and neither of you are,” she said, proud she’d remembered all her words. She got snagged up in the details. The muscles and ink. Both men’s gazes roamed her face and her body and there was no mistaking just how happy they were to be right there.
The inner walls of her pussy contracted on nothing, sharpening the ache.
“Patience,” Adam said.
She raised a brow his way. “Are you new here?”
Mick, laughing, bent to kiss her.
A crack sounded and Mick groaned into her mouth as he moved forward. Did Adam just spank Mick? Jeez, they had to hold some of this super hot stuff back or she’d burn to cinder.
She opened her eyes to watch Mick straighten, a flush on his neck. Adam liked it too, getting caught up for a few moments before turning back to Jessi.
“I’m not new here, no. I know you’re impatient and greedy when it comes to orgasms.”
Jessi grinned at Adam, knowing there was a but coming along soon.
“But I’m in charge. You’ll get what you’re begging for. When I’m ready to give it to you.”
One of those sort‑of orgasms, the kind you had in dreams, stole through her as she squeezed her thighs together. He was going to kill her from desire. Or something. She really couldn’t wait.

 

 

About The Author

 Website/ Facebook/ Twitter/ Goodreads

Lauren DaneLauren Dane has been writing stories since she was able to use a pencil, and before that she used to tell them to people. Of course, she still talks nonstop, and through wonderful fate and good fortune, she’s now able to share what she writes with others. It’s a wonderful life!

The basics: Lauren is a mom, a partner, a best friend and a daughter. Living in the rainy but beautiful Pacific Northwest, she spends her late evenings writing like a fiend when she finally wrestles all of her kids to bed.

Giveaway

There are TWO (2) ways to WIN

Lauren’s publicist is offering a paper copy of COMING BACK 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 Follow Lauren Dane on Facebook.

4. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

5. Please FOLLOW 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 is open to US & Canada only

9. Giveaway runs from December 9 – December 12, 2015

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In the Company of Wolves by Paige Tyler- Review, Spotlight & Giveaway

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In the Company of Wolves by Paige Tyler- Review, Spotlight & Giveaway

 

In the Company of Wolves

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

Company-of-Wolves---Release-Graphic

Description:
There’s a new gang of criminals in town and it’s organized, ruthless, and, most importantly, a pack of wolf shifters. Eric Becker and his Dallas SWAT Team are determined to rid their streets of these lowlifes, but when his fellow cops collide with the criminals in a shoot-out, he finds himself face–to-face with the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen.

Incapable of shooting or arresting the alluring shifter who’s stolen his heart, Becker decides to hide her and leave the scene with the rest of his team. Now Jayna, his mystery woman, is left not only wondering why she was protected, but also what a street-savvy thief like her is going to do with a hot alpha wolf officer like him…

 

 

Review:

In the Company of Wolves by Paige Tyler is the 3rd book in her Swat (Special Wolf Alpha Team series). The first two books in this series were great reads, and I have to say that In the Company of Wolves is the best one yet. Paige Tyler out does herself with this one. I really enjoyed this story, with all the great characters, fill with action and a great romance. I read this in one day, as I could not get enough of this great story.

Eric Becker is our hero,; he is a member of the Swat Werewolf team. During a mission, Eric comes face to face with a beautiful female werewolf who is part of a gang in the midst of trying to escape a robbery. When Eric sees Jayna, our heroine, he knows that she could be the “One”. All the Swat members have seen the legend of finding their mate (the One), and now they have begun to believe in it, especially since two of their team have been mated.

Jayna is a member of a pack, which the Alpha has ties with Albanian mobsters. Jayna is not happy working with them, but she is loyal to her Alpha, Liam, and her original 4 younger members, who are innocent and follow Jayna. When she sees Eric, she feels the attraction, and after he hides her from his team, she knows he is different from the wolves of her pack.

Eric is determined to find out more about her, and help her escape her current pack gone bad with her friends. In order to do so, Eric goes undercover to join Jayna’s pack, and only his teammate, Cooper knows.

What follows is an intense, exciting, nail biting adventure that puts both Eric and Jayna’s lives in danger. Jayna’s Alpha hates Eric, and tries to undermine him. Just when you think, after an explosive action packed scenario, when the entire Swat team comes to help, that all is well, but you just know more of this is yet to come.

The romance between Eric and Jayna was so well done. I totally adored them together, not to mention it being “Scorching Hades” hot. I also loved Jayna’s feelings and loyalty to her young friends, as well as Eric accepting them as his was a nice touch.  They were so great together.

Paige Tyler continues to amaze me with each book in this series keeps getting better and better than the one before. This is a magnificent, fun, sexy, exciting and thrilling series, which also has wonderful characters, and great couples.   In the Company of Wolves was a well written and a great read.   I suggest you read this series, and start with the first book; it is a gem.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Guest PostThis December, Paige Tyler releases the third in her action-packed SWAT series, IN THE COMPANY OF WOLVES. To celebrate the release of IN THE COMPANY OF WOLVES, Paige Tyler stopped by to tell us about one of her favorite fun loving heroes in pop culture and to share an excerpt showcasing her own hero’s fun loving side!

Paige Tyler: Everyone loves reading about alpha males, right? But of course, you can’t have a single dimensional character that’s just hardcore alpha all the time. It comes off as flat or just plain irritating. Most of the time you want to let your alpha have a lighter side, just to keep things interesting. One of my favorite fun loving heroes from popular culture is Stiles Stilinski!

Dylan O’Brien plays a very unique character from one of my other favorite TV series Teen Wolf. While he may not seem to fit the bill as your prototypical alpha—he’s kind of on the small side and tends to get used for comedy relief—he still has the courage to throw himself into any situation against any kind of monster to help a friend. He might be terrified while he’s doing it, but he’s going to do it anyway. He’s bold enough to get the girl and funny enough to make us all laugh, even in the midst of a show that seems all too willing to kill off major characters whenever they feel like it.

 

Excerpt

 

 

One of the Albanians shouted something from the front of the store in his own language, following it up with an order to the omegas to stop wasting time and get the damn safe open. Becker ground his teeth. He should have simply kidnapped Jayna and her entire pack. Then he could have just walked into the loft and shot every one of these idiots—twice.

“Watch them,” he told Jayna, motioning to the security guard and two women. Turning, he left the break room and jogged down the hallway toward the back of the building.

“Get them back on the safe!” the Albanian driver shouted at him from the front room.

Oh yeah, sure. Stop two morons from raping a woman and get them back on task. What the hell was he—a daycare worker for omega werewolves?

Shit. If this was how criminals behaved, it was no wonder he and his SWAT teammates took so many of them down. They were too stupid to live. Then again, maybe this was how Gage felt some days. The SWAT pack could occasionally be a little stupid too. Becker’s current predicament was a shining example of that.

The omega standing guard in the hallway outside the manager’s office glared at him. “We got this. Go back and babysit the old folks.”

What a complete ass, Becker thought as he walked up and punched the guy in the face. The werewolf flew backward and bounced off the wall, bleeding like crazy from a broken nose as he fell to the floor in a dazed heap. He was still moving around though, reminding Becker that it was as hard to knock out an omega as it was to knock out an alpha. He’d have to remember that.

Becker strode into the office to find the store manager on the floor beside her desk, the other omega—the one who liked to play with his platinum medallion—leaning over her menacingly. He’d torn her blouse and was telling her all the horrible things he planned to do to her if she didn’t open the safe. The idiot was so intent on threatening her that he didn’t realize Becker was there until he yanked the guy to his feet and spun him around, then smashed the back of his head into the nearest hard object he could find—the safe panel. Becker pounded his head into the safe a few times before letting him fall to the floor. The asshole was definitely out cold.

Becker turned and looked at the shop manager. She cringed away from him, terror in her eyes as she tried to hold the tatters of her blouse together. He really wished he could pull up his ski mask. Seeing him like this definitely wasn’t helping.

Do you have an alarm button in this room?” he asked in his softest, least intimidating voice.

The woman stared at him for a moment like he was insane, then motioned under the desk with a shaking hand.

“Would you mind pushing it for me?” he asked.

Now she looked really confused. But she slowly reached under the desk and poked around until a loud alarm started ringing.

“Thanks.” Becker bent down to take the platinum medallion out of the omega’s vest and slip it into his pocket. “By the way, that diamond merchant you bought from in New York sold you out to a really bad guy. You probably don’t want to buy from him anymore.” Turning, he jogged out of the room and down the hallway to the front of the store. “Time to leave. Moron hit the alarm.”

Jayna was heading his way in a flash, the two Albanians right behind her.

“What about the safe?” the driver asked.

Becker shook his head. “It’s a no-go. Our guy smashed the keypad.”

The Albanians muttered something in their native language and shook their heads, as if they’d seen this coming. They stepped over the omega who was still rolling around in a daze on the floor in the hallway and raced out the back door. In the distance, sirens echoed in the air. About damn time. Becker motioned Jayna out.

“What about him?” she asked, jerking her head at the werewolf still trying to get to his knees.

Becker nudged the omega with his boot, pushing him back down. The guy looked like he really didn’t want to bother getting up this time.

“What about him?” Becker said, holding the door open for her.


 

 

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