Monthly Archives: December 2018

Across the Horizon by Aly Martinez-Review Tour

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ACROSS THE HORIZON by Aly Martinez-Review tour

ACROSS THE HORIZON
by Aly Martinez
Release Date: December 6, 2018
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December

“Sometimes love happens when you least expect it.” That was what my husband’s mistress told me the day I found out about their affair.

I didn’t believe it until five minutes later when mouth-watering celebrity chef Tanner Reese walked up, tossed his arm around my shoulders, and told my cheating husband to take a hike.

Tanner and I couldn’t have been more different. He spent his weekends at clubs, rubbing elbows with fellow A-listers. I spent mine in yoga pants with cheese boards and a glass of wine—or six.

Our relationship shouldn’t have worked, but it did. That is until Tanner proved to me that even though love happens when you least expect it…

••••••••••

REVIEW: ACROSS THE HORIZON by Aly Martinez is a stand alone, erotic, romance story line focusing on thirty-two year old, celebrity chef Tanner Reese, and thirty-one year old, medical office manager Rita Laughlin-Hartley. ACROSS THE HORIZON runs parallel to the events in the author’s THE DARKEST SUNRISE duology but you do not have to have read the previous series to follow or understand the current story line. Some of the characters cross over for cohesion.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Tanner and Rita) ACROSS THE HORIZON follows the building relationship between thirty-two year old, celebrity chef Tanner Reese, and thirty-one year old, medical office manager Rita Laughlin. Following seven years of marriage Rita Laughlin discovered that her husband was having an affair with one of the office nurses. Hurt and humiliated Rita pushed for a quickie divorce but meeting Tanner Reese at a local charity event gave Rita the possibility of love and a happily ever after. As Rita’s soon-to-be ex-husband demands a second chance, Tanner continues to seduce the woman with whom he would fall in love. What ensues is the building romance between Tanner and Rita, and the potential fall out as Tanner’s lies of omission are more than a slap in the face for a woman who continues to struggle with her ex’s betrayal.

Tanner Reese knows betrayal first hand including an upcoming tell-all biography by a vindictive ex. Lies and manufactured fiction threaten his livelihood as a celebrity chef, as well as his personal life with the woman he loves. Rita Hartley struggles with the truth; lies of omission threaten everything she has grown to love including the man who had stolen her heart.

The relationship between Tanner and Rita is one of immediate attraction but our heroine battles between head and heart knowing she is technically still married to a lying cheat. Both hurt by betrayal, secrets and lies, Tanner and Rita agree to take their relationship slow but slow is the exact opposite of what is about to transpire. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The colourful secondary and supporting characters include Tanner’s brother Porter Reese, and his soon to be wife, Rita’s BFF Dr. Charlotte Mills (The Darkest Sunrise Duology), as well as second-best friend Sidney Day, Tanner’s mother Lynn Reese; Rita’s ex-husband Greg Laughlin, and Tanner’s ex girlfriend Shana.

ACROSS THE HORIZON is a story of family, friendship, betrayal and lies. The premise is engaging, emotional and captivating; the characters are fun and sassy; the romance is provocative and flirtatious. ACROSS THE HORIZON is a lighter story line than The Darkest Sunrise duology but it is no less entertaining or inviting.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her husband and four young children.

Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys cheap wine, mystery leggings, and baked feta. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.

She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a super-sized tumbler of wine by her side.

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Defending Chloe (Mountain Mercenaries #2) by Susan Stoker-a review

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DEFENDING CHLOE (Mountain Mercenaries #2) by Susan Stoker-a review

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About the book: Release Date December 4, 2018

Gorgeous women don’t just stumble onto Ronan Cross’s remote property. But this one—vulnerable, victimized, and needing the kind of help only Ronan can offer—tells a story that makes his blood boil almost as hot as his need to protect her.

Since her father’s death, Chloe Harris has become a prisoner. Her own brother, a flesh peddler and low-level player in the Denver Mafia, is forcing her to sell her body for an endgame Chloe never saw coming: control over a vast fortune. Her only way out is to run—straight into the arms of the one hard-bodied man she can trust.

Defending Chloe could rain punishment down on the Mountain Mercenaries. Her brother has Mob connections and the local police in his pocket. But Ronan still has an edge—the unshakable loyalty of his deadly teammates. As well as an unquenchable thirst for retribution…and Chloe.

•••••••

REVIEW: DEFENDING CHLOE is the second instalment in Susan Stoker’s contemporary, adult MOUNTAIN MERCENARIES romantic, military, suspense series focusing on a group of six former soldiers and Navy SEALS who call themselves Mountain Mercenaries, headed by the mysterious ‘Rex’. This is former British SAS soldier Ronan Cross, and thirty-four year old, accountant Chloe Harris’ story line. DEFENDING CHLOE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: The Mountain Mercenaries is a spin off from the author’s Ace Security series but you do not have to have read the previous series to understand or follow the current timeline. The Mountain Mercenaries were first introduced in CLAIMING FELICITY (Ace Security 4).

Told from dual third person perspectives (Chloe and Ronan) DEFENDING CHLOE follows former British SAS soldier Ronan Cross as he sets into motion a plan to rescue Chloe Harris, a woman he believes is being forced against her will, to work in a strip club owned by her pathological brother. A daring rescue results in further injuries to our story line heroine, as the rescue goes off course when Chloe is unaware of what’s going down. Believing she has traded one prison for another, protective custody with Ronan Cross screams all kinds of wrong especially with the growing sexual attraction between our leading couple. What ensues is the building relationship between Chloe and Ronan; the search for the truth behind Chloe’s years of servitude to her brother, and the connections to the local mob.

Chloe Harris’ life spiralled out of control shortly after the death of her beloved father when her younger brother gained control of the family business. Never having questioned her father about the how or why, Chloe finds herself working for the mob when her brother forces our heroine to do the job. Weeks earlier a bruised and battered Chloe Harris found herself at a stranger’s door, and in the ensuing time Ronan was unable to forget about the woman who stirred something within his heart, something he believed could be his future.

The relationship between Chloe and Ronan begins acrimoniously. Ronan’s attraction to Chloe is immediate but her ‘rescue’ from her brother’s strip club goes all kinds of wrong, and Chloe struggles to trust the man with whom she will fall in love. The $ex scenes are limited, passionate and seductive.

The colorful secondary and supporting characters include Meat, Arrow and Ball; Grayson and Allye (Defending Allye #1), as well as the mysterious ‘Rex’, the head of the Denver Cosa Nostra Joseph Carlino, and his business partner Peter Smaldone. The requisite evil has many faces including Chloe’s brother Leon Harris, and Leon’s girlfriend Abbie.

The world building continues to follow the Mountain Mercenaries who rescue vulnerable women and children from their abusers and oppressors.

DEFENDING CHLOE is a heart breaking, edgy, emotional and passionate story line. The premise is intriguing and engaging; the characters are dynamic and charismatic; the romance is seductive.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one-DEFENDING ALLYE

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Texas where she lives, but this all-American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, and Indiana. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.

She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in.

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My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren – a Review

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My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren – a Review

 

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Description:
Millie Morris has always been one of the guys. A UC Santa Barbara professor, she’s a female-serial-killer expert who’s quick with a deflection joke and terrible at getting personal. And she, just like her four best guy friends and fellow professors, is perma-single.

So when a routine university function turns into a black tie gala, Mille and her circle make a pact that they’ll join an online dating service to find plus-ones for the event. There’s only one hitch: after making the pact, Millie and one of the guys, Reid Campbell, secretly spend the sexiest half-night of their lives together, but mutually decide the friendship would be better off strictly platonic.

But online dating isn’t for the faint of heart. While the guys are inundated with quality matches and potential dates, Millie’s first profile attempt garners nothing but dick pics and creepers. Enter “Catherine”—Millie’s fictional profile persona, in whose make-believe shoes she can be more vulnerable than she’s ever been in person. Soon “Catherine” and Reid strike up a digital pen-pal-ship…but Millie can’t resist temptation in real life, either. Soon, Millie will have to face her worst fear—intimacy—or risk losing her best friend, forever.

 

 

 

Review:

My Favorite Half-Night Stand is my third exploration into the amazing duo that is Christina Lauren. Millie and Reid are best friends who partake in a bit of liquid courage and cross the line, at least for the half-night, into lovers. While thrilling, even better than they imagined, it was an itch to scratch, and the friendship just isn’t worth jeopardizing. Riiiight…that’s hardly a solid foundation…said no one ever, ?.

What ensues is a warped amalgamation of miscues, half-truths, and boundless joy to twist and churn as true love dictates. Right from the start, Millie’s frenetic energy was comparable to Hazel’s from a book ago (as was Reid’s equanimity in comparison to Josh’s). That similarity wasn’t a criticism. Chemistry was firing on all cylinders for Millie and Reid. Only this book was a much slower-paced story with occasional meandering scenes. Millie is stunted this way, I suppose. She stops and goes, giving off conflicting vibes.

This is how Reid was caught so unawares. But back to the story… Millie and Reid are surreptitiously savoring their night that shall not be mentioned, but both are forging ahead with their circle of friends on joining a dating app to find plus-ones for a departmental soiree. When the guys meet with relative success, but Millie is being propositioned by shallow suitors, Millie thinks outside the box, and sets up a second, anonymous profile. Here, she reveals deeper truths and puts herself out there like never before. Guess who turns out to be a match, like “98% compatible”? Duh…Reid. Only Reid believes her name is Cat. Millie’s great, their night was great, Reid could maybe want more of those nights, but Cat…she’s open and stimulating. Their messaging compulsive. Oh! What a tangled web we weave… Fear of rejection or admitting real feelings propelled Millie into creating the nom de plume. But making Cat so appealing, genuinely catching Reid ‘s interest, is now Millie’s cross to bear. “I mean, let’s not forget I basically catfished my best friend.” Now Millie has to reconcile those subsequent emotions, fallout?, and only herself to blame for the original deceit.

What a mess. Her heart might have been more ready than her head. Reid and Millie are extraordinarily compatible. Their shared sensibilities and hopes aren’t carefully crafted, they’re innately driven. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out the ending and that HEA will be achieved — Christina Lauren are goddesses of romance. But it’s pulling off that threat, the very real danger to your forever ever after, that is significant to a reader. Millie’s vulnerability is a feat in and of itself; tremendous and pivotal to the success of earning trust. Does she possess the strength to go for what she wants or will she sit back and lick her wounds?

 I enjoyed My Favorite Half-Night Stand. Falling in love is as exciting as it is nerve wracking and Christina Lauren know their way around its pitfalls and swoons. You are treated to hilarious moments and painful introspection on the road to fresh perspective. I did feel like certain plotlines lingered too long while some could’ve used more passion to pack a punch, but it’s a satisfying read. These ladies deliver and I hope it’s not too long before the next journey of love arrives.

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

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On The Count of Three by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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On The Count of Three by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

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Description:
And they thought prison was hell…

When a woman’s disappearance ticks off all the same boxes as two unsolved murders, Miami homicide detective Kelly Marsh is convinced there’s about to be a third. If she’s right and the killer sticks to their previous MO, she only has three days before Jenna Kelter’s decapitated head will show up somewhere in the city. With no time to waste, Kelly reaches out to the one person she knows can help: her former mentor and family friend Jack Harper, who just happens to lead a team with the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit.

BAU special agent and profiler Brandon Fisher easily sees the similarities between Detective Marsh’s missing person case and the two cold cases: all three victims served time for DUI vehicular homicide and disappeared three days after being released from prison. But is that enough to assume Kelter has been abducted by a serial killer? Brandon’s not so sure and fears his boss may have let his personal connection to Marsh cloud his judgment. Surely there isn’t any other explanation for why they jumped into an investigation less than twenty-four hours after Kelter was reported missing. Then again, maybe Brandon is letting his own differences with the detective affect his perspective. He’ll need to move past it, though—and quickly.

After all, this killer has evaded capture for the past six years, and they may be looking at a lot more victims than originally suspected. This serial killer is calling the shots and pulling them into a macabre game of cat and mouse. While the team has no choice but to play, if they don’t make the right moves, one of them may not make it out of Miami alive.

 

 

Review:

On the Count of Three by Carolyn Arnold is the 7th book in her Brandon Fisher FBI series. Refresher:  Our FBI BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit) team consists of Jack (leader), Brandon, Paige and Zach.  Their cases are always violent, intense, squeamish and at times difficult for the agents, especially Brandon. 

We meet homicide detective Kelly Marsh, who trained under Jack to be an FBI agent, and when she investigates the case of a missing woman, she begins to see some similarities of other cases.  Kelly will call Jack and ask him to come to Miami and help with this case.

The team will discover that the similarities of the other missing case, which resulted in decapitation, are indeed the work of a serial killer.  The victims were all sent to prison for DUI vehicular homicide, and shortly after their release, they disappeared, eventually with the head purposely showing up.

Jack was Kelly’s mentor, and is pleased to have her working with them. Not so, Brandon, who seems jealous that Jack and Kelly get along so well.  But Brandon will work with Jack on some investigations and Paige will work with Zach on other people.  Kelly will work with either of them or on her own. 

As normal in this series, we get to see the POV of the killer, which adds a good element to the story, despite being also very intense.  What follows is an exciting, tense, edgy, non- stop dark adventure to find the killer before they strike again.  I do not want to give spoilers, as this is a story that you need to read from start to finish. 

This series is always intense, exciting and filled with wonderful details about how the team breaks down all the clues.  No one does this better than Arnold, and she is an expert on all types of police/FBI procedurals.  The end of the story looks like there will be some changes, and I will also mention that I still am not a fan of Brandon Fisher, but love the rest of the team.

Carolyn Arnold once again gives us a fantastic and graphic story, which keeps us on the edge of our seats. If you have not read the earlier books of this series, which I suggest you do, this can read as a standalone.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

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Of Blood and Bone by Nora Roberts – a Review

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Of Blood and Bone by Nora Roberts – a Review

 

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Description:
They look like an everyday family living an ordinary life. But beyond the edges of this peaceful farm, unimaginable forces of light and dark have been unleashed.

Fallon Swift, approaching her thirteenth birthday, barely knows the world that existed before—the city where her parents lived, now in ruins and reclaimed by nature since the Doom sickened and killed billions. Traveling anywhere is a danger, as vicious gangs of Raiders and fanatics called Purity Warriors search for their next victim. Those like Fallon, in possession of gifts, are hunted—and the time is coming when her true nature, her identity as The One, can no longer be hidden.

In a mysterious shelter in the forest, her training is about to begin under the guidance of Mallick, whose skills have been honed over centuries. She will learn the old ways of healing; study and spar; encounter faeries and elves and shifters; and find powers within herself she never imagined. And when the time is right, she will take up the sword, and fight. For until she grows into the woman she was born to be, the world outside will never be whole again.

 

Review

Of Blood and Bone by Nora Roberts is the 2nd book in her Chronicles of The One trilogy. I loved the first book in this trilogy, Year One, and waited impatiently for Of Blood and Bone, and I have to say it is equally as good or even better as the first book and once again, I will wait with high anticipation for the final book in this trilogy.  I have the utmost respect for Nora Roberts, who changes things with this dark dystopian fantasy, and still manages to gives us another masterpiece.

Note:  Of Blood and Bone is not a standalone, as it is book 2 of a trilogy.  If you have not read Year One, you need to read that book first to fully understand the story line.

Background of The Chronicles of One: a  post apocalyptic dystopian, with a bit of fantasy, that starts with a lethal virus (The Doom) that will destroy most of the world. A new beginning will start with the survivors, which will pit the dark (evil) and the light (good) against each other that will divide and separate all. Magic (witches, elves, etc) rises, causing  division among those with newfound powers that are used for good, and those who are evil and want to hurt others, and the humans with no power at all, bent on destroying all magic.

Of Blood and Bone picks up 12 years later, after the massacre that made Lana run away to save the others, and protect the baby she was carrying. We catch up with Lana, her husband, Simon and their 4 kids living on the same farm where they last left off.  Time is close for when Mallick promised he would return when their daughter Fallon reached the age of 13, and he would take her away for two years, to train, as everyone has been waiting for the girl who is the One; the one who will save them all from the evil that still threatens the world.  Lana, who has witch powers, has trained Fallon all her life, teaching her what is her destiny as the One.  But now Mallick will take her to further train her how to fight, use a sword and most importantly use her powers in leading the light to win this oncoming war. When Mallick comes, both Lana, Simon and the 3 boys are unhappy, but they knew this day would come.  As Fallon leaves with Mallick, Simon and Lana will begin to work on training their boys how to fight.

The story centers on Fallon, who even at 13 is a great heroine, and as the story progresses, she will be even more so.  I loved how Fallon grew stronger with each passing day, and most of all loved her bonding with the three animals that will stand beside her throughout this adventure; Taibhse, the Owl; Faol Ban, the Wolf and  Laoch, the horse (Alicorn).   This was just another wonderful element to this story.

Another great part that I worried about at the end of the first book; we returned to New Hope, and got to spend a lot of time with most of the originals.   Many of our favorites (Arlys, Fred, Will, Katie, Rachel, Eddie, Jonah, Bill,etc just to name a few) continued to build up New Hope, with their children (many Fallon’s age) having their own gifts, and destined to join with Fallon in fighting all evil.  I absolutely loved (almost to tears) when Fallon, Lana, Simon and the boys finally arrive in New Hope (close to 16 years after Lana left) and the emotional responses from Lana and those still there from when she left.  Very nice indeed.

What follows is an exciting, action-packed, at times dark and intense adventure, with everyone working together and preparing for the war of good vs evil.  The last quarter of the book was captivating, with us on the edge of our seat, and there were some twists and surprises that shocked us all.  Fallon and her team, old and young, were amazing, and I for one cannot wait to see what Nora has in store for us in the third and final book of this trilogy.

Of Blood and Bone was a fantastic addition to this trilogy, which is no surprise, as Nora Roberts is a master at her craft.  There is so much to love about this dark, tense and magical world, in a dystopian fantasy that was a thriller. I will not give spoilers, but you need to read this and enjoy the amazing wild ride, fabulous characters, fantastic animals, and a heroine that you will be rooting to win and bring light back to the world.  We all need a Fallon Swift.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Duke of Kisses (The Untouchables #11) by Darcy Burke -Review & Excerpt Tour

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The Duke of Kisses (The Untouchables #11) by Darcy Burke-Review & Excerpt Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 27,2018

Frances Snowden can hardly believe her good fortune when she’s whisked away from her boring life by her sister who is now a duchess. Instead of becoming the third wife of her parents’ stuffy neighbor, she can be anything she wants: a doting aunt to her newborn niece, a debutante in London, or even an independent spinster. But when she meets and kisses a mysterious man on a walk in the countryside, she knows exactly what she desires—him.

David Langley, Earl of St. Ives, is resigned to marrying the dull woman his parents chose when he was a child. His future is suddenly, and happily, diverted when he encounters a captivating young woman who shows him everything he’s been missing. Ready to embark on a blissful life together, a long-buried feud between their families makes their marriage impossible. Nothing is more important than duty and family, but can he turn his back on love?

•••••••••

REVIEW:The Duke of Kisses is the latest story in author Darcy Burke’s The Untouchables.
This is the story of Frances Snowden and David Langley, Earl of St. Ives.

The story begins with Frances Snowden, who has come to live at Stour’s Edge with her sister Ivy (Mary Snowden now the wife of the Duke of Clare.)

This marvelous story is well written, and I thoroughly fell in love with the main characters. It begins with a charming meeting and intriguing little fibs about their identities to protect their reputation. The author takes us through some of the rigors of learning what it means to be an earl, or the sister of a duchess given the rules of society.

However, it progresses into tale of growing love, family arguments, and darker into possible kidnapping, murder, and betrayal.
Do yourself a real solid and don’t miss this magnificent read. If you love romance and love, mixed with some real danger and intrigue, this is for you. It certainly entertained me. I couldn’t put it down. I don’t do spoilers, so I can’t tell you how author Burke twists this marvelous story around. But let me tell you this. It has some comedic fun, heartfelt relationships, heartbreaking moments, and horrifying danger.

Grab a copy and curl up for some fast-paced fun!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Georgianna

“Why do you live with your sister? Is it because she’s sponsoring your Season?”
“Yes, and because my life in Yorkshire with my parents was unfathomably dull.” Particularly after her dearest—and really only—friend had married two years ago. Fanny suppressed a shudder when she thought of how she could be married to the odious Mr. Duckworth. “I hail from a small village called Pickering. It’s just north of Nowhere, right next to Nothing.”
His mouth ticked up in a slight smile. “Sounds heavenly.”
“It isn’t. Or at least, it isn’t with my family. With the right person, it might be. There is an astounding amount and variety of birds. I’ll return at some point. I wish to start a—never mind.” She was beginning to learn that she didn’t need to tell everyone everything, and doubted he’d care to hear about her workhouse idea.
“I shall make a point of visiting someday, especially if you’re going to be there. Were you going to say something else?”
He looked at her with such avid curiosity that she wondered why she would keep anything from him. “I plan to start a workhouse that will help unmarried mothers and orphans. We’ll train them to find positions outside the workhouse to give them the best possible life.”
His gaze swept over her face with warmth and admiration. “You’re still testing my resolve, Fanny.” The words came out soft but with a scalding heat.
She edged closer, scooting an inch or two along the bench. “I wasn’t trying just then, but I’ll take what I can get.”
“I really should resist.” He leaned closer. “But you make it blessed difficult.”
She tipped her head back as he loomed over her. “And I’m trying to be a proper young Society miss, but I’d much rather kiss you.”
“Then we are in agreement there.” He hesitated the barest moment before muttering something she couldn’t quite understand. Then his lips claimed hers and his arms came around her back, pulling her closer.
She’d dreamed of this moment so many times but had long ago given up hope. Until she’d seen him at the ball the other night. Then her imagination had taken flight once more, and now here they were. She put her hands on his chest and slid them up his coat as his lips opened over hers.
Sensation threatened to sweep her away when her tongue touched his. The memory of his kiss had filled her for four long months, but the reality was more intense than she imagined. There was wet heat and a surprising urge to thrust into his mouth and claim what she wanted. She felt brazen and seductive. Powerful. But also a willing recipient of his boldness, of his seductive power. He might not make a habit of kissing women, but he was certainly skilled.
One of his hands cupped the back of her neck as he tilted her head and slanted his mouth over hers, gaining deeper access and joining them more intimately. With his other hand, he pulled her flush against his chest so that her breasts tingled from the contact. Indeed, her entire body came alert with sexual curiosity and need. An image of herself throwing her leg over his lap and straddling him invaded her mind and set off a burst of heat between her thighs.
She clutched at his neck, returning his kiss with all the fervor bursting inside her. The hand on her neck moved to cup the side of her face as he drew away—not far, just enough to look into her eyes. His had darkened to flinty steel. “Fanny, this is dangerous territory.”
“It’s lovely territory. I’m keen to explore more of it.”

Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of hot, action-packed historical and sexy, emotional contemporary romance. A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming husband, their two hilarious kids who seem to have inherited the writing gene, and three Bengal cats. Visit Darcy online at www.darcyburke.com and sign up for her newsletter, follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/darcyburke, or like her Facebook page,www.facebook.com/DarcyBurkeFans.

Connect:

Site: www.darcyburke.com
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Theirs Ever After (The Thalanian Dynasty #3) by Katee Robert-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

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THEIRS EVER AFTER (The Thalanian Dynasty #3) by Katee Robert-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 3, 2018

Sometimes happily ever after isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…

Theo Fitzcharles thought he’d put the worst behind him when he became King of Thalania and named his two lovers, Meg Sanders and Galen Mikos, as his Consorts. Unfortunately, the realities of running a country have worn on all of them, individually and as a triad. Theo has every intention of making things right, but first he has to deal with an old enemy who’s closer than anyone could have dreamed.

Meg Sanders never wanted to be a princess. Now that she’s one of two Consorts to the King of Thalania, she knows why—it’s hard work. Every time she turns around, she’s misstepping and fighting not to screw up the careful political maneuvering required for her new position. But her struggles with the new position are the least of her worries she’s attacked in the palace.

Theo, Galen, and Meg must race to identify her attacker and neutralize them before they can make another attempt to hurt her. There’s plenty of people who want Meg out of the palace—and at least one isn’t picky about whether she’s breathing or not when she goes

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: THEIRS EVER AFTER is the third instalment in Katee Robert’s contemporary, adult THE THALANIAN DYNASTY, erotic, MMF romance series focusing on twenty-three year old American and former bar waitress Meg Sanders, bodyguard and protector Galen Mikos, and former crown prince of Thalania Theo Fitzcharles III. THEIRS EVER AFTER should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up six months after the events of book two-Forever Theirs.

NOTE: THEIRS EVER AFTER and the Thalanian Dynasty series contain graphic ménage scenarios of M/M, MMF, MFM sexual situations that may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from several third person perspectives THEIRS EVER AFTER focuses on the struggling relationship between twenty-three year old, former bar waitress / university student Meg Sanders, bodyguard and protector Galen Mikos, and former crown prince of Thalania Theo Fitzcharles III. Upon the death of his father, the once exiled crown prince of Thalania, Theo Fitzcharles III returns to his home country to ascend to the throne but Theo turns the kingdom upside down by naming his body guard and best friend Galen Mikos, and the woman they love Meg Sanders, as dual consorts. Not everyone is happy with Theo’s return or the idea of an American living in the palace, and steps are taken to destroy their love, and break the relationship between them. What ensues is the building but struggling relationship between Theo, Galen and Meg, and the potential fall-out as Meg is targeted on more than one occasion, as Theo and Galen set a plan into motion to take down the guilty party.

Meg and Galen struggle with their newly designated position as consorts to the king. Galen, the once vibrant head of security battles his need to protect the man that he loves; and Meg needs something more than mundane life of drinking tea and scheduling meetings. Theo, oblivious to his consorts’ emotional fall-out endeavors to pull the noble Families together, Families that would rather see someone else ascend to the throne.

The relationship between Theo, Galen and Meg is passionate and sexual but struggles in the face of Theo’s current schedule, and his overwhelming battle to keep peace at home. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense with MM, MMF, MFM, and FM sexual situations.

We are reintroduced to Theo’s sister Princess Camilla (aka Cami); Theo’s new head of security Isaac Kozlov; Meg’s new assistant Alys; and Noemi Huxley, a member of the noble Huxley family. The requisite evil has many faces. Noemi and Isaac’s story is next in THEIR SECOND CHANCE.

The world building continues to look at Theo’s struggle for a smooth ascension to the Thalanian throne. An American as consort does nothing to win Theo’s approval from the reigning noble Families, as Galen must face his past when threats to the people he loves become personal and deadly.

THEIRS EVER AFTER is a story of betrayal and lies; secrets and sins; power and struggle; romance and love. The premise is engaging, intriguing and spicy; the characters are dynamic, spirited and colorful; the romance is provocative and intimate. THEIRS EVER AFTER is an impassioned look at a new hope for the future of Thalania.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Theirs For the Night
Forever Theirs
Theirs Ever After

FREE ebook for a limited time THEIRS FOR THE NIGHT #1

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Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Meg knew what she should do. She should tell Theo that the best way to take care of her and Galen was to talk to them. But with the candlelight playing across Theo’s skin and his skillful hands working at the knots in her shoulders, she couldn’t work up the energy to fight with him. “I’m not happy with you.”
“I know.” He dug into a particularly tight knot, working it with his thumb. “What do you need from me tonight, princess?”
She let her eyes close, let him keep working his magic on her body. Six months into their relationship, and Meg knew that Theo would give her anything she asked for. If she wanted him and Galen to dress up like Vikings and roleplay one of her favorite scenes in a romance novel she was reading, he’d do it without question. He had done it without question last month. Theo might be fucking up on communication and overworked to the point where she barely saw him, but she never doubted for a second that he loved her and wanted her happy.
She slipped beneath the surface of the water. Free of his touch, clarity didn’t suddenly strike her like lightning. If there was an answer, she didn’t have it. Meg slowly stood and let herself drink in the way Theo watched her. As if she was some kind of Aphrodite rising out of the ocean instead of standing here in their tub. “I just want you tonight, Theo. None of the bullshit. Just you.”
He nodded and grabbed one of the ridiculously large towels they kept stocked in here. “Let me take care of you tonight,” he repeated.
Easy enough to read in between the lines of what he wanted. A reprieve in a long line of reprieves. Theo was trying to hold off the inevitable conversation all three of them had to have until he could iron out the mess Thalania had become in his absence. Or maybe the backbiting politics and squabbling seven Families had always been like this. Either way, Theo wanted time to get it handled.
She just wished he’d lean on her and Galen a little bit in the meantime.
Meg stepped out of the tub and let him wrap her in the towel. “Like I’m going to say no.”
Theo dried her gently, thoroughly, making quick work of it. He had a face built for candlelight, all sharp angles and a beauty that was damn near painful to witness. The passing time should have inoculated her to the sight of him, but then he would turn just so or look at her with those big blue eyes, and she’d forget to breathe.
“You could.”
She blinked. “What?”
“You could say no.”
Meg laughed. She couldn’t help it. “Theo, have you looked in the mirror lately?”
He glanced over, and she followed his gaze to the large mirror situated on the other side of the bath. They painted quite the picture, him large and towering over her, his shock of near-black hair several shades darker than hers, his big hands holding the towel against her skin. For once, he wasn’t wearing his usual clothing of suits that cost enough to give Meg hives. In the workout shorts, he looked… Not normal. Theo would never be anything as mundane as normal.
He looked touchable.
So that was exactly what she did. Meg ran her hands up his stomach to his chest and stepped to him. “I know I could say no. I’ve said no to you more times than I can count since we’ve met.” She cupped his strong jaw with her palm. “Theo, are you okay?”
“No.” He pulled her slowly, inexorably closer, until her breasts pressed against his bare chest. “Just… Let me take care of you tonight, princess.”
The rare vulnerability he let her see in that moment seduced her as thoroughly as his body ever had. She nodded. “Yes.”
Theo swept her off her feet and carried her out of the bathroom. Normally, she’d give him shit for such a caveman move, but Meg didn’t want to poke at him tonight. She was tired and heartsore, and both her men were obviously feeling the same. They couldn’t fix the mess waiting for them outside those doors, but they could strengthen their foundations tonight.
She just hoped it would be enough.
Galen waited for them on the bed, clothed in only his skin. Her heart skipped a beat. As much as Theo’s beauty seduced her, Galen’s raw sex appeal knocked her right in the stomach. His dusky skin was crisscrossed with lighter scars, a testament to the abuse his father had leveled at him as a child. His dark hair had grown longer, losing the military-like cut. She liked it. There was a lot to like about Galen.
He watched Theo carry her toward him with a predatory look that sent a bolt of desire through her. Only good things came from Galen getting that expression on his face.
Theo set her on the bed just out of reach and pressed a hand to her shoulder. “Don’t move.” He was only gone a moment, disappearing back into the bathroom and reappearing with a hairbrush. He took up a position against the headboard and urged her to sit between his legs with her back to him.
Theo began carefully combing her wet hair.
Meg closed her eyes and let the gentle tug of the brush soothe her. The fluffy towel and Theo’s proximity kept her cozy, but Galen’s attention pricked along her skin, a promise of things to come. On and on it went. Theo was never one to do things halfway, but he seemed to enjoy the slow slide of the brush through her drying hair as much as she did.
Finally, he set the brush aside and eased her back against his chest. Her hair was almost dry at this point, but Theo moved its soft weight off her neck and pressed a kiss to her throat. He pulled the towel away from her body and tossed it off the bed, leaving them skin to skin. It felt good to be wrapped up in him like this. Even better than his combing her hair.
The mattress dipped and Meg opened her eyes to find Galen had moved to a point just past their feet for a better view. He arched a dark eyebrow at her, but something soft and intimate marred the arrogance of the expression. He needed this reaffirming as much as she did.
For once, no one colored the air around them with filthy words and dirty talk. Theo stroked his hands over her body, the rough slide of his palms across her skin sending her nerves sparking in response. She writhed a little, but he wouldn’t be guided. He paid equal attention to her arms, her shoulders, her stomach and her hips, avoiding her breasts and pussy.
The damn tease.
Finally, a small eternity later, he cupped her breasts, giving them the same slow exploration delivered to the rest of her body. Meg couldn’t stop herself from arching up to press herself more firmly into his hands.
“Impatient,” he murmured against her skin.
“Can you blame her?” Galen’s rough tone made Meg shiver. He reached down and palmed his own cock. “She’s shaking with need.”
Meg grabbed Theo’s hand. She spread her legs wide, hooking them on either side of Theo’s, making sure to give Galen a good show. “Take care of me, baby.” She pressed his hand to her pussy. “You promised.”
“I did, didn’t I?” Theo cupped her there roughly, possessively, the touch lighting a spark beneath Meg’s skin. He pushed a single finger into her, still teasing, not offering nearly enough of what she craved. His voice curled around her, just as intimate as their current position. “I’m feeling generous tonight, princess, so I’ll let you choose how we give it to you.

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her 2015 title, The Marriage Contract, was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it ‘a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension.”  When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

Connect with Katee at: Website | Facebook | Twitter| GoodReads | Instagram  | BookBub


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Stranded For Christmas (Holiday Acres #4) by Noelle Adams-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

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STRANDED FOR CHRISTMAS (Holiday Acres #4) by Noelle Adams-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 4, 2018

A snowstorm. Her much older business partner. One very hot night.

Laura Holiday doesn’t believe in romance. Her life revolves around her work and her six-year-old son. The last thing she wants is a fling with her friend and business partner, Russ Matheson, who is emotionally unavailable and fourteen years older than her. But one night in a snowstorm changes their relationship forever.

The Holiday Acres series

Stranded on the Beach (Book 1, Rebecca and Phil)
Stranded in the Snow (Book 2, Olivia and Scott, published in the Snowed in for Christmas anthology)
Stranded in the Woods (Book 3, Penny and Kent)
Stranded for Christmas (Book 4, Laura and Russ)

•••••••••

REVIEW: STRANDED FOR CHRISTMAS is the fourth full-length instalment in Noelle Adams’ contemporary, adult HOLIDAY ACRES romance series. This is friends and business partners, thirty-one year old, single mother Laura Holiday and forty-five year old, Russ Matheson’s story line. STRANDED FOR CHRISTMAS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

SOME BACKGROUND: There is plenty of bad blood between the Holiday and Matheson families, bad blood that has resulted in a long-standing feud over ownership of the Holiday family owned Holiday Acres in central Virginia. Years earlier, the Holiday patriarch Jed Holiday partnered up with Russ’s father, and then cheated the Matheson family out of their share of the business after the older man died. When Russ’s brother found out, a huge fight ensued wherein Jed Holiday and the two families fell into a heartbreaking feud that ended when both men died. The current generation of Holidays has extended an olive branch hoping to push aside the poison and lies that all but destroyed two families.

NOTE: Several events in Stranded For Christmas crossover with events, and run parallel to events in the previous instalments.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Russ and Laura) STRANDED FOR CHRISTMAS follows the friends to lovers relationship between business partners and friends, thirty-one year old, Laura Holiday and forty-five year old, Russ Matheson. Four years earlier the Holiday family offered to make up for the their father’s actions but only our hero, Russ Matheson, took up the offer to share in the Holiday Acres cottage and tree farm business. Fast forward to present day wherein Russ Matheson continues to pine after the woman that calls to his heart, a woman who struggles with betrayal and mistrust due to events in her past. Enter Laura Holiday, Russ Matheson’s business partner, and the woman with whom Russ would fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and sexual relationship between Russ and Laura when a sudden snowstorm traps our couple in a Holiday cottage.

Laura Holiday is a single mother who has no time for relationships except the one with her six year old son. Burned in the past, Laura struggles to accept men at face value including the man with whom she will fall in love. Feisty and belligerent, emotional and overly sensitive (like her sister Olivia-Stranded in the Snow) our heroine battles between head and heart with every encounter with our story line hero. Russ Matheson has never known love including the love from his father. Meeting Laura Matheson, years earlier, found Russ hoping for his own happily ever after, but HEAs are only found in fairy-tales as Russ would soon discover. Miscommunication and a complete misunderstanding forces Russ to walk away from the woman he loves, as Laura continues to focus on the potential for failure fearing betrayal and heart break at every corner.

The relationship between Laura and Russ is a friends to lovers romance. Laura struggles with their age difference, and stepping out of her comfort zone places Laura in a vulnerable position to be burned, once again. Russ has battled his attraction to Laura for as long as he can remember, an attraction he knows is mutual, regardless of Laura’s emotional tirades and outbursts. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are reintroduced to Olivia and Scott (Stranded in the Snow), and Penny and Kent (Stranded in the Woods), as well as Laura’s six year old son Tommy.

STRANDED FOR CHRISTMAS is a story of family, friendship, heart break and betrayal. The premise is engaging; the characters are charismatic and colorful; the romance struggles in the face of perceived slights and a distinct case of misunderstanding and miscommunication. I did struggle with the heroine’s attitude, and her need to destroy Russ’s self-esteem and heart. Laura’s back and forth emotional ups and downs were enough to give me whiplash, and I believe Russ deserved a more stable mate than Laura’s quick to run and jump persona. My dislike of the heroine affected my enjoyment of the overall story.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

“The snow is getting bad,” Russ said, turning back to look out the window.
“Is it?” Laura looked pretty and flustered and breathless. Her shoulder-length brown hair was slipping out of her ponytail, and she must have gotten hot because she’d taken off her sweater. She was wearing a fitted white shirt that gave him a clear view of her slim body, including the luscious curve of her breasts.
Russ dragged his eyes back up to her face, but that didn’t really help because she looked flushed and tousled, like she might have just gotten out of bed.
His bed.
He gulped, remembering how she’d looked that morning in her pajamas.
He really needed to stop thinking such things.
Laura would be mad as hell if she found out.
“Russ?”
He blinked, trying to refocus on their conversation. “What?”
“I asked if it was really bad out there.”
“Oh yeah. Take a look. It looks like the parking lot is mostly empty, so the customers have obviously cleared out. The roads must be pretty bad. You probably should have picked Tommy up early.”
“Shit.” Laura came over to stand beside him so she could look out the window too. “Well, I better go get him now before it gets any worse.”
“You want me to drive you?”
She turned her gaze up at him, her brown eyes big and deep. “I’m capable of driving in the snow, you know.”
“I know you are. It was just an offer.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll take the SUV.” She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Olivia and Penny have to go out in this too. And I’ve got to stop by Candy Cane Cottage to assess the damage to the bathroom.”
“Surely that can wait.”
“We’ve got someone else renting it this weekend. I need to assess it so Ed has time to fix it tomorrow morning.”
Russ shook his head. “That driveway to Candy Cane Cottage is steep. You’re never going to get up it in this snow. And if you get up, you won’t be able to get down.”
“I’ll be fine. I told you I’m taking the SUV.”
“You’re putting a lot of faith in the powers of an SUV.”
“Oh shut up.” Her words weren’t sharp. Her expression was almost fond. “I can’t believe this snow. Why couldn’t it wait a few more hours?”
“The weather isn’t prone to following your timeline.” His voice was dry because she was still standing very close. He could smell the fresh scent of her hair. He wanted to tangle his fingers in it. He wanted to trace the freckles on her face and neck with his tongue.
“I don’t know why it shouldn’t follow my timeline. My timeline is a good one.” Her voice lilted slightly, and she leaned against the wall as she gazed up at him.
Russ took a step closer to her so he could smell her again. “I’ll let the weather know it needs to improve its performance to fall in line with your schedule.”
She took a shaky little breath, and her eyes dropped, causing her thick lashes to spread out against her freckled skin in a way that enchanted him. He edged a little closer, bracing one hand on the wall beside her.
He had her trapped against the wall now, and he’d completely forgotten the track of their conversation. His breathing had quickened, and his body had tightened, and his mind was buzzing with attraction. Need.
Something a lot deeper.
She wasn’t pushing him away. She wasn’t trying to cut the tension. She looked breathless. Excited.
Like maybe she wanted him to kiss her.
He wanted to kiss her more than he’d ever wanted to kiss anyone in his forty-five years. He’d assumed that was something she’d never want, but maybe…
Maybe…
He leaned forward a little more. He could hear her quick intake of breath. Her eyes darted up to his face and then down again.
“Russ,” she said, raising a hand to put on his chest the way she had that morning in the kitchen.
“Yes?” His voice was way too husky, but there was nothing he could do about that. She was so close. Almost within reach at last.
Her fingers fisted in the fabric of his shirt. “Russ.”
“Yes.” This time it wasn’t a question. It was the pure articulation of his heart.
She licked her lips, and the small gesture made his groin harden. “Russ, please don’t.”
He’d been leaning forward even more, but at that he grew very still. “Don’t what?”
“You know what.” She took another breath—different this time—and looked up to meet his eyes again. “Please don’t.”
“Laura, I’m not going to do anything you don’t want, but I think maybe you do want—”
“I don’t—” She broke in, dropping her hand from his shirt. “Please don’t.”
Russ sighed and took a purposeful step back, feeling like he’d been hit by a truck.
Laura gave him another quick look and then grabbed her purse and started for the door.
“Be careful,” Russ said as she left. “The roads are bad out there.”
“I’m always careful.”


 

Copyright © 2018 Stranded for Christmas by Noelle Adams
 

Stranded on the Beach (Holiday Acres #1)

A forced vacation on the beach. The man who broke her heart. A second chance at love.

Rebecca Holiday’s sisters force her to take a two-week vacation on the beach for some much needed rest, but then she runs into the man who broke her heart, the only man she’s ever loved.

When they decide to spend time together, it’s only supposed to be closure, but what they might discover is a second chance at love.

Add to your TBR list:  Goodreads

ONLY 99¢ Available:  Amazon  |  Amazon.ca  | Barnes and Noble  |  Kobo  |  iTunes

••••••••••

Stranded in the Snow (Holiday Acres #2)

An unexpected snowstorm. The man she hates the most. One very hot night.

Olivia Holiday does not expect to spend the weekend stranded in a romantic cottage during a snowstorm with the one man she resents the most. Scott Matheson is a player and holds a grudge against her family, and she really shouldn’t find him so hot. They share a deep history as well as an attraction, and it all comes out as they’re trapped together for one hot night.

Add to your TBR list:  Goodreads

Available:  Amazon  |  Amazon.ca  | Barnes and Noble  |  Kobo  |  iTunes

••••••••••

Stranded in the Woods (Holiday Acres #3)

A surprise snowstorm. A grumpy recluse. One very hot night.

When Penny Holiday gets stranded during a snowstorm, she has to seek refuge with Kent Matheson, a childhood friend who lives like a hermit and has never forgiven her family. Kent is everything she shouldn’t want, but feelings are awakened in his cabin in the woods that don’t disappear when the snow finally melts.

Add to your TBR list:  Goodreads

Available:  Amazon  |  Amazon.ca  | Barnes and Noble |  Kobo  |  iTunes

 

 

Noelle handwrote her first romance novel in a spiral-bound notebook when she was twelve, and she hasn’t stopped writing since. She has lived in eight different states and currently resides in Virginia, where she teaches English, reads any book she can get her hands on, and offers tribute to a very spoiled cocker spaniel.

She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.

Connect with Noelle:

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  BookBub

NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the tour provider.

Noelle is offering one (1) lucky Grand Prize winner a paperback set of her Holiday Acres series containing Stranded on the Beach, Stranded in the Snow, Stranded in the Woods, and Stranded for Christmas! Two (2) Runner-ups will receive an eCopy of one book from Noelle’s backlist titles (winner’s choice). To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:

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