Monthly Archives: January 2018

The Emerald Lily (Vampire Blood #4) by Juliette Cross-Dual Review and Excerpt

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The Emerald Lily (Vampire Blood #4) by Juliette Cross-Dual Review and Excerpt

THE EMERALD LILY
Vampire Blood #4
by Juliette Cross
Genre: adult, paranormal, fantasy,
Release Date: January 29,2018

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 29, 2018

When Princess Vilhelmina Dragomir is awakened from her hellish sleep with a blood kiss from a handsome stranger, she learns that much has changed while she’s been away. The armies of the Black Lily and the vampire Crown have amassed and are on the brink of war.

No romantic entanglements, no family. Mikhail Romanov, Captain of the Bloodguard, took a vow when he joined the Bloodguard. But he never planned for the gut-punching attraction he would feel for the untouchable princess. He must keep his focus, though. In order to avenge his family, it’s essential he help Mina claim her crown and keep his damn hands off of her.

But Mina sets her heart on the elusive captain, and keeping his focus on the great battle ahead becomes harder and harder. While they’re making plans, the evil King Dominik has been making some of his own. This time, he will show no mercy to the Princess…

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
The Black Lily
The Red Lily
The White Lily
The Emerald Lily

••••••••••••

Sandy’s REVIEW:

THE EMERALD LILY is the fourth and final instalment in Juliette Cross’s adult VAMPIRE BLOOD paranormal /fantasy, romance series. This is Princess Vilhelmina ‘Mina’ Dragomir, and Mikhail Romanov, Captain of the BloodGuard’s story line. THE EMERALD LILY can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion.

SOME BACKGROUND: The Black Lily is an underground movement that is attempting to take down the royal vampire family, and their army of Legionnaires who are obliterating village after village in a frenzied blood madness known as the sanguine furorem. As Prince Dominick and his mother, Queen Morgrid of Izeling continue their evil reign, The Black Lily begin to amass an army as they venture towards war and a final showdown against the current ruling vampire family-a family of murderous, power hungry vampires who are determined to destroy and control all of the humans.

WARNING: THE EMERALD LILY contains scenes of graphic violence and sexual situations that may be triggers for some more sensitive readers.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Mina and Mikhail) THE EMERALD LILY is the culmination of four story lines and a plan set into motion to take back the throne, and bestow it to the rightful heir. With Princess Vilhelmina Dragomir forced into the bloodless sleep of a starving vampire, the Bloodguard mount a rescue of the rightful heir to the Arkadian Kingdom, of Briar Rose. Enter Mikhail Romanov, Captain of the Bloodguard-an army of vampire warriors who have sworn fealty to the rightful heir- and the man with whom Mina will fall in love. What ensues is the back and forth, yin and yang of unrequited attraction, and the fall out when Mina is recaptured by the Prince, facing a future without the man that she loves.

Mikhail has sworn an oath as Captain of the Bloodguard, and in doing so forsakes all manner of family and a happily ever after but rescuing Mina Dragomir stirs something deep within our story line hero, something that calls to his hardened heart. Mikhail has a secret, that once revealed, may change the course of history including the rightful ascension to the vampire throne.

The relationship between Mina and Mikhail is one of immediate attraction; a visceral reaction that Mina wants to explore but Mikhail refuses to acknowledge or accept. His duty is to the Bloodguard, and all that it means, and with the approaching war, falling in love is a weakness our hero never would have imagined. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Like all of the previous story lines in the Vampire Blood series, THE EMERALD LILY touches on and is loosely based upon a fairy tale, and in the case of The Emerald Lily the retelling of the story of Sleeping Beauty, the evil queen, a kiss to awaken, and the fiery conclusion befitting a powerful reclamation of power and the throne.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including all of the previous story line couples; Brennalyn’s seven orphaned children; and an assortment of Bloodguard warriors who have vowed to protect Mina with their lives. The requisite evil has many faces including Prince Dominck, and his mother, the self-proclaimed Queen Morgrid.

THE EMERALD LILY is a story of betrayal and revenge; of family and blood; of passion and promise. The premise is action packed, complex and imaginative; the characters are dynamic, colorful, and charismatic; the romance is consuming, inspiring and dramatic. THE EMERALD LILY is a stunning conclusion to an incredible series that adds a twist or two to our favourite fairy tales.

______________

Barb’s Review

The Emerald Lily by Juliette Cross is the 4th book in her wonderful Vampire Blood series. I am a big fan of Juliette Cross, and having loved the first three books in this series, I could not wait to read The Emerald Lily. As I have come to expect with Cross, this book turned out to be equally fantastic.  What an awesome author, who if you are not reading, you should be.  Now to my review.

In each book of this series, the lead female character is based loosely on a fairy tale theme.  The previous books were Cinderella,  Red Riding Hood, Snow White and now Sleeping Beauty.   We met Princess Vilhelmina Dragomir (Mina), our heroine in the first book, but now she is in her homeland, forced (by the villains in this series, King Dominik and Queen Morgrid) into a bloodless sleep.  Mikhail, our hero, who is the Captain of the Bloodguard, comes to rescue Mina, and awakens her from her deep sleep.  He immediately feels the strong attraction, and forces himself to not act on his feelings.  When Mina awakens, Mikhail and his Bloodguard swear allegiance to Mina, who is the rightful Queen of Arkadia. 

Mina is a strong heroine, who is determined to become Queen, and then offer her army to help The Black Lily defeat the evil Queen and King.  Mina has also felt the strong attraction Mikhail, and though he tries to stop them going too far, their chemistry burns through the pages.  There are some secrets and twists that answer our questions later on.  One thing we learned early on is that when Mina was born, a good witch bestowed her with something that would stop the evil Queen Morgrid, who had cursed her at birth.  Will Mina learn what and how to use this legend?

Just when we think all is well, a surprise attack will destroy some of those supporting the revolution, including the kidnapping of a young girl.  Mina will fall into a trap that will put her in terrible danger, and force the teams (The Black Lily, Arkadia & Bloodguard armies), to move fast to rescue Mina and the child and find a way to save the world as they know it.  To say too much more would be spoilers, and you really need to read this book.

What follows is a very exciting intense adventure that will have Mina, Mikhail, his men, the previous books heroes, attempt a rescue that will put their lives in danger. As we raced to the pulse pounding climax, I loved seeing all those we met in the first three books to join the battle.  I loved Mikhail and Mina, as they were an awesome couple.     

The Emerald Lily was a heart stopping, pulse pounding slam bang of a last half of the book, that kept you glued to your seat.  Every book in the Vampire Blood series  was emotional, heart wrenching, intense, exciting, suspenseful,  action-packed  thriller; with a sexy & amazing couple.   I must say I absolutely loved the epilogue, especially since this book ends the series.  🙁

As I have said before, if you have not read Juliette Cross, you are seriously missing a fantastic author, who never fails to wow us each and every time.  I do not know what Juliette has upcoming, but I will be there, as I will never miss any of her books.

Copy supplied for review

Mikhail had heard direct tales from survivors of the bloodless sleep. The dark agony of sensing everything going on around oneself but never able to speak or open one’s eyes or make any move at all. And all the while, an aching pain stabbed the sleeper’s gut, ricocheted out and rattled bones.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he lifted a lock of her silken hair, sliding his fingers till it fell away. The sensual caress striking a vulnerable cord in his chest. He clutched his fist together. Her beauty made him breathless. The fact that she lay imprisoned in her own body cut through the tough veneer of the captain to the man beneath. No way in hell would he leave her in such a state of agony a second longer.
Awakening a victim from a bloodless sleep was a precarious job. He must be gentle, careful not to overpower her system and jolt her body to full wakefulness. She could likely go into shock. Friedrich had suggested the best known method—the blood kiss.
Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, “Princess. If you can hear me, listen well. I must awaken you from this deep slumber. Pardon the intimacy and have no fear. I mean you no harm.”
His canines fully extended, he bit into the fleshy part of his palm and smeared his lips with his own blood. Wrapping his other hand behind her slender nape, he leaned close, inhaling the fragrant scent of white jasmine and sunshine. He paused, faltering at the sweetness of her, an unexpected punch to his senses.
With tight control, he swept his lips over hers, wetting them with his blood and coaxing them apart. The slightest relaxing of her mouth gave him entry. Raising his palm, he licked a swathe of his own blood across his tongue then angled his mouth over hers with firm possession, delving in to awaken her starving body. Sliding his tongue over and against hers, he slicked her thoroughly.
His pulse pounded an erratic beat. He heard hers quicken in timing with his own. Her senses stirred.
Unexpected arousal crashed through him, hardening every inch of his body. His fangs extended to their most painful length, demanding succor.
Bloody hell!
He’d come to offer his own lifeblood, not take what little she had. And yet his body trembled with bone-shaking hunger.
Stifling his rebellious body’s needs, he sucked a few drops of blood from his palm-wound and pressed his mouth to hers once more, letting the blood seep inside and down her throat. He couldn’t help delving back in, licking the delicious taste of her onto his tongue.
A low moan emanated from her throat. He jerked away, remembering himself. By God, his thoughts spiraled down a dark, wayward path when his mouth was on hers. Panting, he leaned farther away, giving himself some distance.
She lifted a slender hand, her brow furrowing as she moaned a second time, rousing from her deep, paralyzing sleep. Her eyes shot open and she sucked in a deep lungful of air. Her wide-eyed gaze landed directly on his. Mikhail was sure he’d slipped and fallen off a cliff, flailing helplessly.
Fathomless pools of blue, burning brightly. His father used to take him to the ocean shore during the summers as a boy. They’d walk along the sandy beach collecting shells. Once, he’d found the most beautiful clear gem washed upon the sand. Sea glass, his father had told him. A broken piece of bottle or jar that the ocean had tumbled and smoothed into the clearest, purest blue he had ever seen. That was what he thought of when he looked into the eyes of this princess who smelled like sunshine and tasted like heaven.
“Welcome back, Princess Vilhelmina.” Steel clashed against steel on the battlement above. Footsteps pounded on the staircase leading to the tower. “Time to go.”


 

Excerpt supplied by the publisher

Juliette CrossJuliette is a multi-published author of paranormal and fantasy romance and lives in lush, moss-laden Louisiana where she lives with her husband, four kids, and black lab, Kona. She loves reading and writing brooding characters, mysterious settings, persevering heroines, and dark, sexy heroes.

From the moment she read JANE EYRE as a teenager, she fell in love with the Gothic romance. Even then, she not only longed to read more novels set in Gothic worlds, she wanted to create her own.

 

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Here Comes The Sun (Butler, Vermont #3) by Marie Force-Review Tour

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HERE COMES THE SUN (Butler, Vermont #3) by Marie Force-Review tour


Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /iBooks / Google

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 23, 2018

Wade Abbott is one and done.

One look, one conversation, one weekend, and he knows who he wants.

Except, Mia Simpson is not free to return his affection. In fact, he suspects she’s in an abusive marriage, but she never confirms that, and he has no choice but to mind his own business where she’s concerned.

Two years after they first met and a year after he last heard from her, Mia shows up half-frozen, bruised and beaten on his doorstep, needing something only Wade can provide.

He’s determined to make it work, no matter the cost. Grab the latest in a series you will fall in love with!

••••••••••

REVIEW: HERE COMES THE SUN is the third instalment in Marie Force’s contemporary, adult BUTLER, VERMONT romance series -a spin-off from the author’s GREEN MOUNTAIN SERIES but you do not need to have read the original series to understand or follow the new release. This is Wade Abbott and Mia Simpson’s story line. HERE COMES THE SUN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Wade Abbott is the sun of Lincoln and Molly Abbott-the parents of the large Abbott clan.

Told from several third person perspectives including Mia and Wade HERE COMES THE SUN focuses on the growing relationship between Mia Simpson and Wade Abbott. Two years earlier Wade Abbott met and fell in love with Mia Simpson but Mia was in a committed relationship and Wade walked away never able to forget about the woman that called to his heart. Fast forward to present day wherein a battered and abused Mia is found nearly frozen at his front door-looking for help from the man she met years before. What ensues is the quick building, rekindling relationship between Mia and Wade, and the potential fallout as Mia’s past continues to haunt her daily life.

Mia Simpson is on the run, hoping to stay one step ahead of her past. Remembering the man she has never forgotten, Mia heads to Butler Vermont where she will come face to face with her a future- a future that includes Wade and the entire Abbott clan. Wade Abbott knows that Mia is the woman that calls to his heart but too many unanswered questions continue to run interference as they struggle to meet the demands of the growing love. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Once again, there is a very large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including most if not all of the previous couples from the Green Mountain Series including Lincoln and Molly Abbot, and Wade’s grandfather Elmer. The back and forth banter between the siblings is sassy and fun.

HERE COMES THE SUN is a revealing story line with a twist that I didn’t see coming. The premise is entertaining and intriguing; the romance is passionate and compelling; the characters are plenty, colorful and dynamic. My only complaint is the quick resolution to the story line conflict-a conflict that followed Mia throughout the entire story.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Every Little Thing
Can’t Buy Me Love
Here Comes The Sun Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Follow: Facebook / Twitter / email newsletter / Website MS Marie Force

Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 contemporary romances, including the Gansett Island Series, which has sold more than 2.3 million books, and the Fatal Series from Harlequin Books, which has sold more than 1.2 million books. In addition, she is the author of the Green Mountain Series as well as the erotic romance Quantum Series, written under the slightly modified name of M.S. Force. All together, her books have sold more than 5 million copies worldwide! Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.

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Zero Hour (Wired and Dangerous #1) by Megan Erickson- a review

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ZERO HOUR (Wired and Dangerous #1) by Megan Erickson-a review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 30, 2018

Hacker extraordinaire Roarke Brennan lives each hour – each breath – to avenge his brother’s murder. His first move: put together a team of the best coders he knows. They’re all brilliant, specialized, and every one an epic pain in his ass. Only now Wren Lee wants in too, threatening to upset their delicate balance. The girl Roarke never allowed himself to want is all grown up with sexy confidence and a dark past … and she’s the wild card he can’t control.

Roarke might still think she’s a kid, but Wren’s been to hell and back. Nothing and nobody can stop her – especially the tatted-up, cocky-as-all-hell hacker. But when years of longing and chemistry collide, Wren and Roarke discover that revenge may be a dish best served blazing hot.

••••••••

REVIEW: ZERO HOUR is the first instalment in Megan Erickson’s contemporary, adult WIRED AND DANGEROUS romantic suspense series focusing on a group of computer hackers and coders. This is hacker Roarke Brennan and Wren Lee’s story line-a story line that introduces the players in a dangerous game of betrayal and revenge.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Roarke and Wren) ZERO HOUR follows Roarke Brennan as he gathers a team of expert computer hackers on his way to avenging his brother’s death. Two years earlier Flynn Brennan, hired by the Saltner Defense computer security software company, discovered a situation that would place the world’s computers at risk, and for it, found his life forfeited by the man in charge. Fast forward to present day wherein Roarke Brennan, along with his best friend Erick, and Erick’s sister Wren, set a plan into action to take down the CEO of Saltner Defense -Arden, and his son Darren Saltner. What ensues is the best friend’s little sister / friends to lovers romance between Roarke and Wren, and the fall out when their need for revenge doesn’t go according to plans.

Roarke Brennan has loved his best friend’s little sister for most of his life. Wren Lee was physically off limits but that didn’t stop Roarke from keeping electronic ties on the woman he vowed to protect the rest of his life. Wren Lee knows a thing or two about revenge, and Roarke’s plans are the perfect set up for our heroine to do a little digging of her own.

The relationship between Roarke and Wren is one of palpable sexual attraction but an attraction that is tempered by the best friend’s little sister scenario-a scenario Roarke is quickly willing to push aside the longer Wren is back in his life. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Roarke’s crew of computer hackers and coders: Dade Kelly; former army sharpshooter Jamison ‘Jock,’ Bosh, Marisol Rosa; and Wren’s brother, Roarke’s childhood best friend Erick Lee; dance club proprietor Darren Saltner and his father, Arden Saltner, the CEO of Saltner Defense.

ZERO HOUR focuses on the need for revenge; on the betrayal brought about by a software firm willing to sell out to the highest bidder. There is a little bit of action and suspense; romance and love; vengeance and retribution. The premise is intriguing and entertaining; the romance involves the push and pull of yes and no, maybe or maybe not; the characters are eclectic and colorful. ZERO HOUR does not end on a cliff-anger but on a HEA for now when bigger players in the game warn the crew about furthering their need for revenge.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Blaze Erupting (Scorpius Syndrome 4.5 /Brigade) 1001 Dark Nights by Rebecca Zanetti-Review & Excerpt Tour

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BLAZE ERUPTING (Scorpius Syndrome 4.5 / Brigade) by Rebecca Zanetti-Review and Excerpt Tour

Blaze Erupting
Scorpius Syndrome 4.5 /Brigade #1
1001 Dark Nights
by Rebecca Zanetti
Release Date : January 23, 2018
Genre: adult, post-apocalyptic, dystopian, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon. uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 23, 2018

Hugh Johnson is nobody’s hero, and the idea of being in the limelight makes him want to growl. He takes care of his brothers, does his job, and enjoys a mellow evening hanging with his hound dog and watching the sports channel. So when sweet and sexy Ellie Smithers from his college chemistry class asks him to save millions of people from a nuclear meltdown, he doggedly steps forward while telling himself that the world hasn’t changed and he can go back to his relaxing life. One look at Ellie and excitement doesn’t seem so bad.

Eleanor Smithers knows that the Scorpius bacteria has and will change life as we know it, but that’s a concern for another day. She’s been hand-picked as the computer guru for The Brigade, which is the USA’s first line of defense against all things Scorpius, including home grown terrorists who’ve just been waiting for a chance to strike. Their target is a nuclear power plant in the east, and the only person who can help her is Hugh, the sexy, laconic, dangerous man she had a crush on so long ago.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: BLAZE ERUPTING by Rebecca Zanetti is instalment 4.5 in the author’s SCORPIUS SYNDROME cross genre SciFi/post-apocalyptic/ dystopian series, and the latest instalment in the multi-authored 1001 Dark Nights series. This is Homeland Security specialist and Domestic Nuclear Detection Office agent Hugh Johnson, and computer specialist with The Brigade Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Smithers. BLAZE ERUPTING can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order for cohesion and backstory as this particular story line falls somewhere in the timeline between two previously released installments.

Told from several third person points of view including Ellie and Hugh, BLAZE ERUPTING is a second chance story line that follows Ellie and Hugh as they are tasked with uncovering a plot to blow up a nuclear power plant- terrorism at the outset of the Scorpius Syndrome outbreak, a biological pandemic sweeping the planet that is about to destroy 99% of the world’s human population. As Hugh and Ellie re-ignite an old spark that has yet to die, home-grown terrorists set into motion a plan to destroy a series of nuclear power plants aiming to eradicate hundreds of thousands of innocent people. What ensues is the quick building, sexual relationship between Hugh and Ellie, and the potential fall out when Hugh’s past with Homeland Security comes under scrutiny by the members of The Brigade- a group of government specialist at the forefront of fighting the Scorpius Syndrome.

BLAZE ERUPTING falls somewhere near the beginning of the Scorpius Syndrome series between Scorpius Rising and Mercury Striking. The reintroduction of Deacon and Nora, whom we have not heard from since the introductory novella (found in the ON THE HUNT anthology August 2015), as well as some new references to events that occurred in earlier instalments, leads me to believe that BLAZE ERUPTING and The Brigade will begin to fill in some of the missing background information, as well as a direct line to the people in charge. I am also going to presume that all of the different factions (Mercs, Vanguard) will eventually cross paths with The Brigade as they search for a cure to the unknown pandemic. The author has plans for three 1001 Dark Night novellas focusing on The Brigade Team.

BLAZE ERUPTING is a quick read; an action packed story that reunites former college classmates whose palpable sexual attraction questions Ellie’s ability to remain neutral when Hugh’s back story comes under scrutiny one too many times. The premise is intriguing; the characters are colorful; the romance is passionate yet desperate.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Scorpius Rising (On the Hunt Anthology)
Mercury Striking
Shadow Falling
Justice Ascending
Storm Gathering
Blaze Erupting

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

BOOK TRAILER:

Direct Link: https://video214.com/play/pEf1uflh9RioZeBk2eAGZQ/s/dark

He stood and towered over her so suddenly she stopped breathing. “Are you asking me if I’m available, Ellie Mae?”
Warmth from his body, his very close body, washed over her. She tilted her head back to meet his eyes. “Don’t call me that.” It was his little nickname for her in college, and her heart used to stutter every time he used it. Something special just between the two of them.
“Why not?” He stepped in until their feet touched.
She blinked. Sparks flew between her nerves. “Wh-what are you doing?”
“Exploring.” His gaze ran over her face, curiosity clearly gleaming in those deep eyes. “I liked you. Back then. Big eyes, sweet smile, huge brain.” He reached out and brushed a curl away from her cheek, his touch warm.
Her throat closed. Heat flashed from his touch, down her torso, to zing along her erogenous zones. “Yet the one time I made a move, you rejected me.” It still hurt. When he was down and out—injured and in pain—she’d tried to give comfort.
“I wasn’t lookin’ for forever, and you’re a forever type of gal,” he murmured, standing way too close. “That offer you made nearly killed me sayin’ no. But even though I was hurtin’ and wanted to stop the pain, I couldn’t hurt you. Ever.” As if he couldn’t help himself, he brushed his knuckles along her jawline. “But I wanted you, Ell. Just knew you’d be a mistake I’d never recover from.”
Her lungs released quickly, and she took a step sideways along the coffee table. “Agreed.”
Amusement tilted his lips. “I ain’t a college kid no more, Ellie.”
“I’m well aware of that.” She needed to go by him to get to the door, and he wasn’t moving out of the way. How in the world did he still affect her like this? It had been years, for goodness’ sake. “We’re both eons out of college.”
“I’m no longer hurtin’ or whorin’ around,” he continued, looking big and broad in the small room.
“Your point?” she snapped, trying to get her libido under some semblance of control. Why did his country-boy act turn her on? She needed a shrink. Bad.
“My point? Well now.” His smile was more wolf than sheepdog. “This time, when you make the offer? I’m gonna say yes.”


 

Rebecca Zanetti is the author of over twenty-five romantic suspense, dark paranormal, and contemporary romances, and her books have appeared multiple times on the New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestseller lists. She has received a Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review for Wicked Edge, Romantic Times Reviewer Choice Nominations for Forgotten Sins and Sweet Revenge, and RT Top Picks for several of her novels. She lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her own alpha hero, two kids, a couple of dogs, a crazy cat…and a huge extended family. She believes strongly in luck, karma, and working her butt off…and she thinks one of the best things about being an author, unlike the lawyer she used to be, is that she can let the crazy out. Find Rebecca at: www.rebeccazanetti.com

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Amazon * Goodreads

 

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Diamonds and Dirt Roads (Billionaires in Blue Jeans #1) by Erin Nicholas-Review and Excerpt Tour

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DIAMONDS AND DIRT ROADS (Billionaires in Blue Jean #1) by Erin Nicholas-Review and Excerpt Tour

DIAMONDS AND DIRT ROADS
Billionaires in Blue Jean #1
by Erin Nicholas
Release Date: January 26, 2018
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / iBooks

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 26, 2018

A pretend relationship…within a pretend relationship.

Attorney Evan Stone knows every crazy stipulation in billionaire Rudy Carmichael’s will. After all, he wrote it. And he’s determined to make sure each one is fully met by Rudy’s triplet daughters. Even if that means dating the workaholic CEO, Ava. Or pretending to at least. And even if it means resisting the so-right-for-him-she’s-totally-wrong party girl, Cori.

Cori’s only got three things on her to do list from her dad:
• Move to Bliss, Kansas.
• Run his pie shop with her sisters for a year.
• No dating. For six months.

But stepping in for her sister when it’s clear that Ava and Evan aren’t fooling anyone with their “romance” isn’t really dating. And falling for her sister’s pretend boyfriend while pretending to be her sister…well, that’s ridiculous. No matter how real things feel whenever she and Evan are together.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: Diamonds and Dirt Roads begins with triplets, Ava, Brynn and Cori, meeting with their billionaire father’s attorney, Evan Stone, for the reading of the will. Rudy, their dad, died after a brief illness. Ava runs the company, Brynn works in the lab and Cori, who is never in one place for very long. This is Cori’s story.

Once the will is read and the stipulations are laid out, the girls are left with their collective jaws on the floor. They ALL have to do as Rudy dictated, or they lose everything. Once the girls arrive in Bliss, Cori finds herself even more attracted to Evan, only to find out that he is to date her workaholic sister, Ava. As for Cori, she’s not supposed to date for six months. Unfortunately, the chemistry between Ava and Evan is nonexistent, and Cori finds herself stepping into Ava’s shoes a few times in order to meet the stipulations of the will. The chemistry between Cori and Evan is undeniable, even though they both try to fight it, and ultimately fail miserably. And, as Cori so eloquently put it very early on, “You can’t get to diamonds without dirt roads”.

Diamonds and Dirt Roads is a wonderfully written tale with intriguing characters and a fun premise. Cori is the one who always feels that she has to make everyone happy, which has left her feeling almost adrift for the last several years. She and her sisters have always had each other, but Ava and Brynn knew what they wanted to do with their lives early on. Cori, not so much. She has a very sharp wit and a mind for business, but has never stayed in one place long enough to see exactly what she was capable of. Evan has roots in Bliss, but has never settled down. He’s known as a bit of a party guy himself, always throwing parties for the benefit of others and his community. The chemistry between him and Cori is off the charts. Once their feelings and insecurities come to light, it only adds to said chemistry.

The secondary characters of Bliss are awesome as well. The citizens of the little town will leave you laughing and I loved the banter between them and Cori. The sisters are all very different, but love each other and have always had each others’ backs. Evan has two best friends that will (surely?) end up with the two remaining sisters. I’m already pulling for Ava and Parker to end up together, and can’t wait to read their story. Talk about opposites attract!! Diamonds and Dirt Roads is a fun and quick read that pulls you in from the very beginning. It’s a fun story with a great couple who develop a scorching romance. I, for one, can’t wait for the next installment. If you’re a romance fan, you’ll definitely find this to your liking. Well done, Erin Nicholas! Very, very well done!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie M

 

Is it just me or is this the most awkward date in the history of dating?” Cori asked.
“She definitely looks tense,” Brynn agreed.
“And he looks annoyed,” Cori said.
“He’s smiling,” Brynn pointed out.
Yeah, he was. But it wasn’t real. Maybe no one else in the restaurant could tell, but Cori knew that Evan was forcing it. He’d given Ava a few genuine ones too throughout their dinner. But this one was definitely fake.
“Well, you can’t really blame the guy, can you?”
Cori looked up as Noah pulled out one of the empty chairs at their table and dropped into it.
“Hey,” Brynn said, with a big grin, “what are you doing here?”
Cori wondered if Noah realized how unusual that grin was for Brynn.
“I’m here for the show, same as everyone else,” he said, reaching for a roll from the basket in the middle of their table. He pulled off a chunk and put it in his mouth.
“The show?” Cori asked.
“Evan’s first date with Ava, of course.”
Cori frowned and glanced around. “Everyone is here for that?”
He nodded as he chewed. He gestured around the room with the rest of the roll. “Ninety percent of these people are from Bliss,” he said. “And the other ten percent know Evan and all about Ava.”
“And she’s super interesting?” Cori asked.
“Well, she and Evan are super interesting,” Noah said, reaching for a cherry tomato from Brynn’s salad. Did he know that Brynn didn’t like tomatoes? “Ava is very different from Evan’s usual.”
Ugh. Evan’s usual. For some reason that made her stomach hurt. Because he had a lot of usual and because his usual women who were probably a lot like Cori. Him being with someone not like Cori was interesting to everyone. Great. Ironic that the woman so interestingly unlike Cori looked exactly like her.
“Well, he doesn’t look like he’s having a good time,” she couldn’t help but point out.
“There are two things going on over there,” Noah said, dipping the remainder of his roll in the house Italian dressing on Brynn’s salad.
Cori would be amused by how comfortable the two of them were together—if she wasn’t so unamused by her other sister and the man she was clearly uncomfortable with.
“What two things?” Brynn asked.
“One,” Noah said, “Evan has never been out with a woman he couldn’t charm before.”
“You don’t think he can charm Ava?” Cori asked.
“Can anyone truly charm Ava?” Noah asked.


 

Erin Nicholas is the New York Times bestselling author of sexy contemporary romances. Her stories have been described as toe-curling, enchanting, steamy and fun. She loves to write about reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines and happily ever afters. She lives in the Midwest with her husband who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books, her kids who will never read the sex scenes in her books, and family and friends who say they’re shocked by the sex scenes in her books (yeah, right!).

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Falling Under (Walker Security #3) by Lisa Renee Jones-Review & Excerpt Tour

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FALLING UNDER (Walker Security #3) by Lisa Renee Jones-Review and Excerpt Tour

FALLING UNDER
Walker Security #3
by Lisa Renee Jones
Genre: adult, contemporary, romantic, suspense
Release Date: January 23, 2018

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / iBooks

Add to Goodreads ➜ http://bit.ly/FallingUnderGoodreads

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 23, 2018

Ex-special forces, Jacob King, is a man who keeps to himself, having learned the hard way that letting people close to you, trusting them, might just get you killed. A lesson he learned when members of his Special Ops team turned dirty, while others, men he considered friends, died. He made them pay. He made them hurt. He put them in jail. And so he doesn’t trust anyone anymore. He keeps his women hot and fast, his friends few to none, and his clients through the elite Walker Security at a professional distance, but safe.

It works for him. Until it doesn’t.

His newest job should be simple and cut and dry. Jewel Carpenter, the daughter of the CEO of Carpenter Enterprises, is receiving death threats. He’s to protect her and find out who is issuing the threats.

Simple. Cut and Dry.

Until it’s not.

Until the chemistry between he and Jewel is all about love, hate, and sex. But even as he fights the attraction to Jewel and discovers there is more to her than meets the eye, the real threat comes not from the threats she’s receiving, but the connection she has to him. Because his past has come full circle, and those men he’s made pay for their sins now want him to pay. And what better way than the woman in his bed?

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: FALLING UNDER is the third full length installment in Lisa Renee Jones’s contemporary, adult WALKER SECURITY romantic suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for Walker Security- a spin off from her Tall, Dark and Deadly series. This is ex-Special Forces Green Beret Jacob King, and NYPD Detective Jewel Carpenter’s story line. FALLING UNDER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Jacob and Jewel) FALLING UNDER follows the building relationship between ex-Special Forces Green Beret soldier Jacob King, and NYPD Detective Jewel Carpenter. Two years earlier, following the murder of her uncle and fellow detective Jonathan Carpenter Jewel found herself the target of an unknown stalker. Fast forward to present day, wherein the threats against our story line heroine begin to increase including some not so subtle ‘gifts’ left behind as a reminder of the past. Enter Jacob King, Walker Security specialist, and the man with whom Jewel will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance between Jewel and Jacob, and the potential fall out as Jewel follows a cold-case file that leads back to the man that she loves.

Jewel Carpenter is the primary detective in a recent murder investigation of a missing pregnant woman and her unborn child, an investigation that pushes our heroine headlong into a life and death situation where her safety is concerned. The arrival of Jacob King, a security specialist from Walker Security, finds Jewel looking into a series of cold-case files that Jacob insists are better off, left to their own.

The relationship between Jewel and Jacob begins acrimoniously as Jewel refuses to accept that her life is in danger from an outside source but saying that Jewel is all too aware that someone knows quite a bit of personal information about the past including the murders of her best friend, her mother, and the uncle with whom she once worked. Jacob knows to get involved with a client could mean compromising his position with Walker Security but something about Jewel calls to our hero’s heart-a heart he hasn’t allowed to beat for a very long time. Protecting Jewel 24/7 means keeping his distance is next to impossible. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Blake and Royce Walker, and their spouses Kara and Lauren (Tall, Dark and Deadly Series); Asher and Sierra (Pulled Under #2);Walker Security agents Rick Savage; former Chicago detective Finn, and ex-Navy SEAL Adam. We are also introduced to Jewels father, owner and operator of Carpenter Pharmaceuticals; NYPD Detective Rodriguez, and defense attorney Davis York.

FALLING UNDER is a story of romance, suspense, betrayal and love. The premise is intriguing and compelling; the romance is energetic and seductive; the characters are colorful, charismatic and engaging. Lisa Renee Jones will captivate your attention with the latest instalment in her intoxicating Walker Security Series.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Deep Under
Pulled Under
Falling Under

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

“Just to be clear,” he says, his voice low and rough. “I’m breaking every rule I own with you. I don’t fuck women I’m protecting.”

“You could hand me over to someone else,” I suggest, “and it won’t matter.”

“Not a chance in hell,” he says, his hand sliding under my hair to cup my neck. “We’ll break the rules together.”

“I’m not sure I like how you do ‘together’.”

“I’ll make sure you do,” he promises, his lips slanting over mine, and this time he kisses me like he owns me, like he wants to control me, and like I really am his, like I belong to him, and in this very moment, I can honestly say

I am. I want him, and I can’t get enough of him.

And how can it ever be enough when he’s this damn impossibly hot, and he’s such a damn good kisser. The way he makes me want his mouth on every part of me and the way he makes me want my mouth on every part of him. And so, there it is. I’m his, but I’m going to make damn sure he’s mine, too. I kiss him back as passionately as he’s kissing me. I meet him stroke for stroke, arching into him, telling him I am here and present, and I’m not even close to afraid of him or of this. He doesn’t get to control me. He isn’t making me do this. I control me, and I choose him and this.

Arching into him, his shoulder holster and mine are in the way, and I want them gone. I want him naked. Just to be certain that he knows that’s where I want this to go, my hand presses between us and I stroke the hard line of his shaft. He groans low in his throat, a sexy rough sound that tells me he gets the point. This isn’t his show. It’s ours. It’s us together, or there is no show, with or without our clothes on.

His reaction is to tear his mouth from mine, his lips lingering there though, as if he wants to kiss me again, and just when I would kiss him again, he leans away just enough to shrug out of his jacket. I take one step backward, and do the same with my blazer. I reach down and pull off my boots and he does the same. Next, we disconnect our shoulder holsters, and the truth is, it’s the first time I’ve ever been with a man who is probably more armed than me. That feels significant when it perhaps is not. He’s not a cop. He’s not that kind of career complication. He’s a Green-fucking-Beret, and one hell of a hot one, for that matter.

He sets his weapon on the couch and snags my hand, walking me toward him and taking my holster and weapon as he does. “Just making sure you don’t end up shooting me before this is over,” he says, setting it with his before shackling my hip.

“I told you I’ll wait until after the orgasms.”

“Careful,” he says, a hint of a smile on his lips again. “I might hold that orgasm and you captive.”

“You can try,” I say, but my head isn’t in the game in this moment, and somehow my hand is on his face, right by the almost smile, that seems to have complicated what should be sex, an escape, a way to pull back the emotions that umbrella stirred in me. That smile reminds me that Mr. Robot is his wall, his way to cope with death, with whatever makes him protect Jesse Marks.

He captures my hand. “What are you thinking?”

“That you have on too many clothes,” I say, before I let this go someplace emotional, somewhere that two people like us never want to go.

My hands press under his shirt, but he doesn’t immediately give me what I want. He studies me for several beats and then kisses me hard and fast. Too fast, but I get over it when he pulls his shirt off. He cups my face and kisses me, his hand sliding up my shirt, his touch fire that has me helping him pull my shirt over my head. Letting him drag me to him where he now sits on the couch. I straddle him, my bra somehow gone by the time I’m there. But my hands press to his shoulders, and I hold him at bay. “I will still arrest you if I need to,” I promise. “This doesn’t change that.”

“You aren’t going to arrest me any more than you hate me.” He glances down at my chest, his gaze a hot caress as it rakes over my breasts, my nipples, before his eyes meet mine. “Because you know I’m protecting you.”

I ignore the ache between my thighs. Or I try. “From what? The slayer or the Jesse Marks damage patrol?”

His hand slides between my shoulder blades and he molds my chest to his. “Do you really want to talk about Jesse Marks right now? Because if you ask me questions, I’m going to ask you questions when I’d much rather be inside you, giving you as many reasons as I can not to arrest me. But you pick. Conversation or fucking.”

“Both,” I say, because it’s the truth. I want answers and I want the conversation my emotions are having in my head to shut up. “Fucking first.” I push away from him and stand up, unbuttoning my pants, sliding them down my hips, and he watches me with that unreadable, robot expression that is admittedly sexy as hell. I press my lips to his and that’s all it takes.

We are crazy, hot, kissing, his hands on my breasts, my nipples, my neck. I can’t touch him enough. I can’t feel him enough, can’t get close enough, and that’s new to me. I don’t need anyone the way I feel I need this man. I don’t want to need anyone this much, but it’s too late. At least, right here, right now, I do. He rolls us to our sides, facing one another, the wide cushion of the couch more than holding us and the next kiss isn’t fast and frenzied. It’s long, drugging, and somewhere in the midst of his tongue stroking my tongue, I end up on my back with the heavy weight of him on top of me…

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

Lisa Renee JonesNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series.

In addition to the success of Lisa’s INSIDE OUT series, she has published many successful titles. The TALL, DARK AND DEADLY series and THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSEN series, both spent several months on a combination of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists. Lisa is also the author of the bestselling the bestselling DIRTY MONEY and WHITE LIES series. And will be publishing the first book in her Lilah Love suspense series with Amazon Publishing in March 2018.

Prior to publishing Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women’s Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.

Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at www.lisareneejones.com and she is active on Twitter and Facebook daily.

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Bad For You (Dirty Deeds #3) by J. Daniels-Review Tour

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BAD FOR YOU (Dirty Deeds #3) by J. Daniels-Review Tour

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BAD FOR YOU
Dirty Deeds #3
by J. Daniels
Release Date: January 23, 2018
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance

Bad For You

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.au / Amazon.uk / B&N / KOBO / KOBO UK / ibooks

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 23, 2018

Shayla Perkins isn’t the kind of girl who makes the same mistake twice, especially when it comes to Sean “Stitch” Molina. So when he gives her the world’s biggest rejection, that’s it—she’s done. Until the sexy, silent, unavailable Sean makes Shay a very personal offer. Of course, it still doesn’t mean he’s interested in her. Or does it?

Sean has done things in life. Bad things. And he’s paid the price. All he wants now is to make up for his past by doing good in the present. And no one deserves more good than Shay. Beautiful on the inside and out, Shay is the kind of woman who should be cared for and protected—especially from a man like Sean. He’s tried to keep his feelings for her in check, but a single, reckless impulse pulls them closer than ever before.

Soon the two are sharing their biggest dreams and satisfying their deepest desires. But what will happen if the only way to truly give one another want they want most . . . is to let each other go?

••••

REVIEW: BAD FOR YOU is the third instalment in J. Daniels’ contemporary, adult DIRTY DEEDS erotic, romance series focusing on twenty-three year old diner waitress and hair stylist Shayla Perkins, and twenty-seven diner cook and single father Sean Molina. BAD FOR YOU can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

WARNING: BAD FOR YOU contains scenes and references to violence and child sexual abuse and may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from dual first person points of view (Shayla and Sean) BAD FOR YOU follows the building romance and relationship between diner waitress and upstart hairstylist Shayla Perkins, and diner cook Sean Molina. With the death of her beloved grandmother, Shayla Perkins is about to discover that being a parent to her two younger siblings is a lot tougher than she could ever have imagined when her parents must leave to settle her grandmother’s estate. Struggling with her brothers’ fluctuating schedules including after school sporting events, tutoring lessons and speech therapy Shayla will finally break down only to come face to face with the man who has starred in all of her fantasies for close to a year. Enter co-worker and diner cook Sean Molina, a dark, brooding, tattooed and quiet young man who hides years of painful abuse and loss behind a mask of cool indifference and heart breaking pain. What ensues is the friends to lovers relationship between Sean and Shayla, and the potential fall out when Shayla steps aside, sacrificing her own happiness to allow Sean’s past a second chance.

Sean Molina’s back story is painful and heart breaking; a life full of abuse and neglect that will eventually spiral out of control leaving our hero broken, scarred and permanently lost. Shayla Perkins is the epitome of perfection as it pertains to her handling and defense of our story line hero-a hug here, a caress there for a man not use to affection or love slowly begins to break down the barriers and walls necessary to survive.

The relationship between Shayla and Sean struggles in the early stages as Sean is unable to let go; unable to accept Shayla’s overtures of friendship as he continues to suffer with memories of betrayal, abuse and loss. Shayla’s continuous need to protect Sean is of-times over the top but one born of sympathy and love. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate.

The reader is introduced to Shayla’s brothers Eli and Dom; as well as Sean’s ex Val, and his two daughters Fiona and Caroline; and Whitecaps Cafe new cook J.R. The return of Tori and Jamie (Hit The Stop #2), Sydney and Brian (Four Letter Word #1), as well as diner owner and manager Nate adds familiarity and cohesion between the story line.

BAD FOR YOU is an emotional and heart breaking story where the reader is pulled into the past as one young boy struggles to survive against a world determined to destroy and break; and a present that refuses to give up the ghosts and memories. The premise is moving and visceral; the characters are broken, tragic and colorful; the romance is touching and passionate.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Four Letter Word
Hit The Spot
Bad For You

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Bad For You teaser

About the Author yellow

j-danielsJ. Daniels is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Sweet Addiction series, the Alabama Summer series, and the Dirty Deeds series.

She would rather bake than cook, she listens to music entirely too loud, and loves writing stories her children will never read. Her husband and children are her greatest loves, with cupcakes coming in at a close second.

J. Daniels grew up in Baltimore and resides in Maryland with her family.

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Drakon’s Past by N.J. Walters – a Review

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Drakon’s Past by N.J. Walters – a Review

 

Drakon's PastAmazon / B&N / Kobo

Description:
Constance Owens has a gift for finding unique items in the most unlikely places, which comes in handy since she buys and sells artifacts and antiques for a living. When she purchases a set of four dragon statues, she has no idea just how unique they are, or that finding them will thrust her into a world of secret societies, men who think nothing of kidnapping and murder to get what they want, and dragon shifters. Nic hasn’t survived for four thousand years by letting his guard down, and he doesn’t trust anyone except his drakon brothers. The loneliness haunting him has been getting worse since all his brothers have found their mates. And when he finds the woman his drakon recognizes instantly as his fated mate, he doubts he’ll ever have what his brothers have, because it seems she’s involved with the secret society of hunters who have been hunting and capturing his kind for hundreds of years.

 

Review:

Drakon’s Past by N.J. Walters is the 4th book in her Blood of the Drakon series.

Constance has a special gift for finding unique treasures and antiques, this helps her 

and her sister Abigail run an internet business selling items that they have brought. 

And when four statues in the shape of dragons come into their hands …. they get more than they bargained for ….. 

Nic is a Drakon (A Dragon shapeshifter) who is thousands of years old. (We’ve met him in previous books).  Nic is a big antique collector and searches for stolen or “lost” Drakon artifacts he’s also a recluse, he is close to the “big sleep” (that’s when a Drakon loses interest in the world and slows his body and goes “to sleep”).  When he meets Constance, he realises that’s she’s his “fated one” ; he has to face the world and help her, but can he trust her ? 

Constance feels there is something strange about the dragon statues and she calls an old friend to find her a buyer for the statues as quickly as possible.  But when her friend gets greedy and tries to sell to two buyers !!!! It all gets out of hand, and her sister pays the price !!!! 

When Abigail gets abducted by one of the buyers (Dent),  Constance has no choice but to trust Nic to help her retrieve her sister. And Nic has to trust that Constance will not turn the statues over to Dent, (the bad guy through the stories) because that would cause a big catastrophe for all Drakon’s in the world. Will both be able to overcome their distrust of one another? 

Just who can Constance trust? Who are the bad guys and who are the good? And then there is a big secret to uncover …..
.
It’s part of a series, but I feel you don’t need to read them in order. Plenty of action and a continual story (from previous books) and a well written story. Can’t wait to read more.

Reviewed by Julie B

Copy provided by Publisher

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