Twisted Duet by L.L. Collins-Review, Book Tour & Giveaway

TWISTED DUET by L.L. Collins-Review, Book tour and Giveaway

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Twisted Duet

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release July 2017

Life is a series of choices, and every one we make sends us down a different path…

It is easy to look back at your life and see the mistakes you’ve made and wonder how it all could’ve been different. But when the path you thought would last forever comes to an end and you have to choose a new one, do you follow the route that looks the straightest and easiest? Or do you follow your heart and choose the one that might have more twists and turns but could lead you to the happiest tomorrows?

Follow the story of lifelong friends Liane and Blake as they navigate life, love, and the twists that both inevitably take you on as fate tries to straighten their path once and for all.

•••••••••••••••

REVIEW: Told from three first person points of view (Blake, Liane, Ronan) TWISTED DUET is the re-release of L.L. Collins contemporary, YA to New Adult to Adult romance duet- Twisted Souls and Twisted Paths (originally released in 2015). TWISTED DUET is a story line that spans close to forty years in the life of soul mates Blake McIntyre and Liane Kelly but a case of mistaken belief, a lack of communication, and the interference of Liane’s former flame Ronan Collier push our story line couple in opposite directions until years later a chance meeting at the very place they first met washes away years of heartbreak and pain only to face deception-once again. Lives were destroyed but their love never died in the face of perceived betrayal, and a separation of miles and years. Scars that have barely healed will be ripped open when the truth is finally exposed. The $ex scenes are mostly implied or fade to black.

The TWISTED DUET is a love-triangle romance that follows Blake McIntyre and Liane Kelly from childhood friends to lovers to the day everything fell apart as the two, then eighteen year olds, prepared for their future-together. Twisted Paths advances the duet approximately eighteen years wherein life for Liane and Blake could not have been more different. Returning to Sanibel Island, Florida where it all began Liane and Blake will reconnect, and the truth about the past will slowly be revealed until the explosive announcement that will change everyone’s lives-once again. The love-triangle aspect focuses on jealousy, lies, secrets and betrayal as Ronan Collier sets into motion a series of events that will destroy and change Liane and Blake-forever.

THE TWISTED DUET is an emotional but predictable story line. Liane and Blake’s fairytale romance will be destroyed by jealousy and deceit, outside factors and a distinct lack of communication. Two families, once closer than blood, will watch from the sidelines as their children grow up without the person they love. The premise is tragic but encouraging; the characters are passionate and impulsive but broken; the romance is heartbreaking and fated. L.L. Collins’ THE TWISTED DUET is an engaging and poignant look at two lost souls who finally found their happily ever after.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Excerpt beige

Twisted Souls

“Liane?” I open my eyes, wondering where I had heard my name. Geez, I had fallen asleep again, this time in the chair with my feet in the Gulf of Mexico. I need to get a grip. The warm sun must’ve lulled me into a stupor again.
“Li?” When that one syllable reaches my ears, I stand up so suddenly that I fling the magazine I had been holding into the water. I watch it for a moment, floating then sinking into the water before a hand reaches past me and picks it up, throwing it behind me into the sand. Turning around slowly, I have no idea if I make any sound outwardly, but I sure as heck inwardly gasp. I’ve seen pictures of him over the last four years. We’d sent each other our senior pictures. But never did I expect that the man standing in front of me was Blake McIntyre. The young teenage boy I had left standing on this beach four years ago was gone, and in his place was the hottest man I’d ever seen. His blonde hair is still unruly, and his chocolate brown eyes still exude kindness. But while before he had been very thin, now he is all filled out. Cuts of muscle define his arms, chest, and stomach, and he looks like he has already gotten tan.
I’m staring; I know it. But I can’t make myself stop. This is my best friend. My lifelong friend; my everything. Standing in front of me looking like he just posed for GQ. “Blake,” my mouth finally works, a grin that would rival a Cheshire cat’s spreading over my face. His eyes drink me in, trying to read my reaction and my thoughts. At this moment, nothing in the world matters but him. I fling myself into his arms and he catches me with a laugh, his large hands splaying on my bare back as I wrap myself up in him. He’s so much bigger than I remember. I’ve grown a few inches, sure, and am heavier and more womanly than I was when I was fourteen, but am still mostly the same. Blake, however, has grown a good six inches and gained at least 40 or 50 pounds since I have seen him last, and not an ounce of it is fat. He’s Adonis-like. And just my friend, I chant inside my head.

Twisted Paths

The first thing I notice is that the man is seriously beautiful. His body is cut and sculpted like he spends hours a day in the gym, and even in the dim light from the pool deck, I can tell he’s tan. His board shorts hang low on his hips, and the defined cuts of muscle on his chest and abs is enough to send women running to him and dropping at his feet. Had I been a single woman, he would definitely be my type. My eyes lift past his impeccable body to the face and head that’s attached, and that’s when my heart completely stops. I must’ve gasped out loud, because I feel Mia turn and look at me as he gets closer.

I feel my mouth drop open as his eyes meet mine for the first time in years. “Blake.” He stops in his tracks, both of us staring at each other for what seems like every moment of the time we have been apart. I can’t believe he’s standing here, and had it not been for Mia standing next to me, I might’ve thought I was dreaming.

He lifts his eyes back to my face, a small smile playing on his lips. “Well, well, well,” he drawls, his South Carolina accent more pronounced than I remember. “Look what the cat dragged in.” He smirks at me before hauling my dripping wet body to his. The second our skin touches, I inhale sharply. It isn’t lost on me that we’re wearing the equivalent of underwear and our bodies are pressed together like they belong there. His hard muscles press into my softness as his hands caress my back, and my mind goes back to that alcove all those years ago where we had first touched. I’ve purposely stayed away from that area of the beach since I arrived; there are some things better left alone.

About The Author beige

LL Collins is the self published author of the bestselling Living Again Series, the Twisted series, Back to the Drawing Board, and the Jaded Regret series.

LL has been writing since she was old enough to write. Always a story in her head, she finally decided to let the characters out and start writing and try to make her lifelong dreams of becoming an author come true. She has been a teacher for over ten years and lives in Florida with her husband and two sons.

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Carson: Bad Boys After Dark #3 by Melissa Foster-Review, Book Tour & Giveaway

CARSON: BAD BOYS AFTER DARK #3 by Melissa Foster-Review, Book Tour & Giveaway

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CARSON
Bad Boys After Dark #3
by Melissa Foster
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance
Release Date: July 11, 2017

Carson

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 11, 2017

Everything’s naughtier after dark…
As the founder of a multimillion-dollar international security business, Carson Bad exposes secrets for a living. He knows better than to forge relationships built on them. But for years he did just that with his best friend, and secret lover, Tawny Bishop. She brought a sense of calm and understanding to his life—in and out of the bedroom. Until one fateful night when a knock at the door changed everything.

Tawny is no longer a naive college student. She’s a sought-after perfumer living in Paris. She has plenty of resources at her fingertips, and lots of lonely nights to think about the only man she’s ever loved—the one she ran away from all those years ago. She needs to move forward with her life, but how can she when Carson still owns her heart?

Maybe showing up in the middle of the night unannounced isn’t the best route to unraveling the past and figuring out her future, but Tawny has played it safe for ten long years, and it’s only made her long for the man she never should have walked away from. Now she’s back in Carson’s life, and he’s determined not to make the same mistake twice. If only he knew what that mistake was…

•••••••••

REVIEW: CARSON is the third installment in Melissa Foster’s contemporary, adult BAD BOYS AFTER DARK erotic, romance series focusing on the Bad brothers-Mick, Dylan, Carson and Brett Bad. This is security expert Carson Bad, and perfumer Tawny Bishop’s story line. CARSON can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Tawny and Carson) CARSON: BAD BOYS AFTER DARK follows the rekindling romance between millionaire security expert Carson Bad, and perfumer Tawny ‘Tabs’ Bishop. As friends and lovers Tawny and Carson kept secret their college affair until the fateful night Tawny walked away without looking back. Fast forward ten years and Tawny is hoping to rekindle her relationship with the man she has never stopped loving. Enter Carson Bad, security specialist, and the man who stole our heroine’s heart years before. What ensues is the second chance romance between Carson and Tawny as Tawny struggles with what the future may hold.

CARSON is a story of friendship, romance, family and love. While Tawny places an end date on their rekindling romance as she must return to Paris, her job and someone she doesn’t want to leave behind, Carson is determined to make Tawny a permanent part of his family and future. Carson slowly seduces the woman he has always loved, as his family befriends Tawny behind the scenes ensuring our heroine is loved and protected. The $ex scenes are intimate, intense and seductive. Carson is quick to rekindle his love for the woman who walked away, years before.

All of the previous story line couples play secondary and supporting characters: Mick and Amanda MICK #1, Dylan and Tiffany DYLAN #2, as well as Brett Bad whose story line is next in …BRETT.

The world building continues to focus on the Bad brothers tight knit relationship, their loves and their happily ever afters. There is very little outside conflict except that which our heroine brings into the relationship with her need to return home.

CARSON is an engaging, entertaining and heartwarming story line. The premise is energetic; the characters are spirited and dynamic; the romance is sensual and passionate. CARSON is a wonderful addition to Melissa Foster’s playful BAD BOYS AFTER DARK series.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Mick
Dylan
Carson
Brett

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Carson Teaser

About The Author Black and White

Melissa FosterMelissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance, contemporary women’s fiction, suspense, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary Café and Fostering Success. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.

Melissa hosts an Aspiring Authors contest for children and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa lives in Maryland with her family.
Visit Melissa on social media. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and welcomes an invitation to your event.

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor
TWITTER:
https://twitter.com/Melissa_Foster
WEBSITE:
http://www.MelissaFoster.com
STREET TEAM:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/melissafosterfans
GOODREADS
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3023973.Melissa_Foster

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Resurrection (Redemption Harbor #1) by Katie Reus-Review,Excerpt & Giveaway

RESURRECTION (Redemption Harbor #1) by Katie Reus-Review, Excerpt, Book Tour & Giveaway

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RESURRECTION
Redemption Harbor #1
by Katie Reus
Genre: adult,contemporary, erotic,romantic suspense
Release Date: July 11, 2017

Resurrection

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 11, 2017

She faked her own death…

Skye Arévalo left the CIA and faked her death to protect Colt Stuart, the only man she ever loved. Months later, a brutal kidnapping draws her to quietly infiltrate a dangerous cartel. Just when she thinks she’s home free, things go horribly wrong and she escapes with bloodthirsty enemies on her heels…only to find herself face to face with a bewildered and angry Colt.

He’ll cross every line to save her…

When Colt, a former Marine, finds out the woman he loved betrayed him, he’s shocked and hurt, but it doesn’t stop him from breaking every law on the books to keep her alive. Unfortunately, it might not be enough to stop a powerful enemy who will do anything to see the world burn and Skye dead.

FIRST IN NEW SERIES.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: RESURRECTION is the first installment in Katie Reus’s contemporary, adult REDEMPTION HARBOR romantic suspense series focusing on a tight-knit group of friends who grew up together but now work Black Ops for the CIA. This is CIA operatives Colt Stuart and Skye Arevalo’s story line.

Told from several third person perspectives including Colt and Skye including both past and present time lines, RESURRECTION focuses on the reappearance of not one but two women in Colt Stuart’s life-his life long friend Dr. Mary Grace Mercer, and the woman he loved fellow CIA special operative Skye Arevalo-both women presumed murdered by the Mexican Cartel. When information about the possible sighting of Mary Grace Mercer comes into Colt’s possession, our hero goes rogue hunting for the woman he has known most of his life. Enter Skye Arevalo, the other woman Colt has been grieving, and Mary Grace’s would-be rescuer from the Mexican Cartel. What ensues is the rekindling romance between Colt and Skye; Skye’s attempts to return to the scene of the crime, and the fall out of Colt’s love for a woman who also went rogue, months before.

RESURRECTION is a second chance story line; a rekindling romance between Skye Arevalo-a CIA operative who faked her own death to protect the an that she loved. Not only did Colt mourn the loss of his friend Mary Grace Mercer but his best friend, Mary Grace’s husband, slowly succumbed to the grief and the loss. Struggling not to fall victim to his own grief, Colt heads out in search of Mary Grace only to find Skye Arevalo alive and well. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense.

We are introduced to Colt’s fellow CIA operatives-Brooks, Gage Yates, Zac Savage, and Leighton Cannon. Their lifelong friendship shows in the love and support they give one another throughout the story line. The requisite evil has many faces including David and Rafael Ramirez. and Mark Gianni- a man Skye and Colt know only too well. We are also introduced to Colt Stuart Sr-our hero’s father, and a man who is also a former operative for the Agency.

RESURRECTION takes the reader from Mexico to Texas, to Redemption Harbor, South Carolina. Redemption Harbor is home and the location of the security firm that Colt envisions for their future-together. The premise is entertaining, suspense filled and intriguing; the characters are animated, engaging and spirited-the sense of camaraderie is heartwarming and fun. The romance is sensual and passionate. RESURRECTION is a fantastic start to a new romantic suspense series by the talented Katie Reus.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

excerpt

NOTE: Excerpt intended for mature readers 18+

Copyright © 2017 Katie Reus

 

 

Colt banged his fist against the door, fear and the smallest bit of hope punching through him. “Answer the fucking door,” he snarled. “Open, or I kick it in.”
“Maybe you should take it down a notch.” Next to him, Brooks shoved an agitated hand through his hair, his Stetson held loosely at his side.
“And maybe you should be freaking out more.” One of their best friends had been holed up in his home for weeks, refusing to talk to anyone, to see anyone. Colt didn’t know exactly what his friend was going through, but he’d lost a lot of damn friends in the sandbox and the only woman he’d ever loved had died too. Something he couldn’t think about right now. He couldn’t focus on his own pain when he could help his friend, when he had a damn purpose.
Mercer had recently lost his wife, and the man wasn’t handling it. The guy had been in love with Mary Grace since he was fifteen. They’d been each other’s world. And two months ago she’d been killed in Mexico, a victim of cartel violence. Allegedly.
Colt hadn’t been in love with Skye since he was a kid, but eight months with her sure felt like a lifetime. Hell, when she died it felt like he’d lost part of himself. The only part that mattered. He had to force himself out of bed every day, to shove back the emptiness. So on one level, he understood how Mercer felt. He shoved that thought right back inside where it belonged and ignored it. He couldn’t fix his own problem, but he could help out Mercer.
Panic swelled through Colt as the seconds ticked by without any response from inside—until he heard cursing on the other side of the door. Good. If his friend was cursing, he was alive. A solid minute later the lock snicked loudly as it twisted open.
Colt grabbed the handle and shoved it open, pushing past his best friend in case he tried to slam the door closed in his face.
Mercer, wearing boxers and nothing else, had grown a full black beard and his dark eyes were glassy. “What the hell are you doing here this early?”
“First, it’s two o’clock in the afternoon. Second…” Colt hauled off and punched him right in the nose. He needed to wake Mercer the hell up. Violence was pretty much the only way to do that now.
“Ah, hell,” Brooks muttered as Mercer flew back and fell on his ass with a grunt.
He held a hand to his nose, looking more alert than he had in two months as he glared up at Colt and Brooks. “What the hell, man?” His voice was muffled as he tried to stop the bleeding.
“I believe this is called an intervention,” Colt said, stepping into the foyer, cringing at the stench. “God, it smells like old pizza and cow crap in here. Mary Grace would kick your ass if she saw you living like this.”
“Don’t say her name!” Mercer shoved to his feet, letting his hand drop. Blood dripped down his face as he snarled at Colt. His teeth were toothpaste commercial white against his dark brown skin. Right now he looked like a rabid wolf baring his teeth at them.
“I’ll say her name if I want.” Yeah, he knew he was being harsh, but this was what Mercer needed. He needed to feel something, to wake the hell up. And making Mercer angry was the only way Colt knew how. Because the guy sure wasn’t going to talk about his fucking feelings. He needed to get out of this rabbit hole he’d let himself fall into. “We all lost her. Every single one of us.”
Most days Colt couldn’t believe she was gone. They’d all grown up together, and in his case, he’d been friends with Mary Grace since they were five years old. She was like a sister to Colt. Hell, he was still holding on to the hope that she wasn’t actually gone. It was why he was about to get on a plane in two hours and see if the tip he’d received was right. But first he had to make sure one of his best friends didn’t do something stupid while he was gone.
“Mary Grace.”
“Ah, hell,” Brooks said again, clearly not going to intervene. Just muttering his standard curse.
“Fuck you,” Mercer snapped, taking a step toward Colt.
That was it. Get angry, he silently willed his childhood friend. Mercer needed anger to replace the grief. God, or at least mute it. Just for a week. That was all Colt needed. Because if Mary Grace was alive, he was bringing her home to his best friend. He just couldn’t give Mercer the hope she was alive. Because if he did and it turned out she wasn’t… It would destroy him. “Mary. Grace.”
Mercer rushed at him like a bull.


 

 

About the author

Follow: Goodreads / Twitter / Website / Facebook

Katie ReusKatie Reus is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Red Stone Security series, the Darkness series and the Deadly Ops series. She fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she pilfered from her mom’s stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it.

However, she didn’t always know she wanted to be a writer. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated summa cum laude with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing dark paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense.

For more information on Katie please visit her website: www.katiereus.com. Also find her on twitter @katiereus or visit her on facebook at: www.facebook.com/katiereusauthor.

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The Hook Up (First Impressions #3) by Tawna Fenske-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

THE HOOK UP (First Impressions #3) by Tawna Fenske-Review, Excerpt and Giveaway

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THE HOOK UP
First Impressions #3
by Tawna Fenske
Release Date: July 3, 2017
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance

The Hook UP

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 3, 2017

Ellie Sanders is over the fairytale, thank you very much. Content with her booming career as a purveyor of Madame Butterfly pleasure aids, she doesn’t need a man for anything—except maybe marketing tips. And, okay, a few fun nights with something that doesn’t require batteries.

Love, marriage, and family aren’t in the cards for Tyler Hendrix. Period. The Navy helped Ty put his tumultuous childhood behind him, but when a sexy single mom walks through the First Impressions door looking to take her business to the next level, he feels his carefully constructed “never-get-attached” walls crack.

As Ty and Ellie maneuver through a minefield of wardrobe malfunctions, plumbing mishaps, and the world’s most awkward accidental dirty talk, discovering they have more in common than scorching sexual attraction threatens to crumble Ty’s walls for good.

••••••••••

REVIEW: THE HOOK UP is the third installment in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult FIRST IMPRESSIONS erotic, romance series. This is online $ex toy entrepreneur and single parent Ellie Sanders, and videographer Tyler Hendrix’s story line. THE HOOK UP can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous books is revealed where necessary. Ellie is the sister of Jason Sanders, and Tyler is partnered with Miriam Ashley-Sanders (The Hang Up #2).

Told from dual third person perspectives (Ellie and Tyler) THE HOOK UP is a romantic comedy of errors wherein Tyler mistakes Ellie for someone else as he offers his assistance with her online company using a myriad of unintended sexual innuendo that jumps over the line pretty fast. From bowling balls to blue balls to condom covered water pipes Tyler’s introduction to Ellie Sanders finds our couple immediately attracted to one another but Tyler’s less than stellar upbringing and Ellie’s disaster of a first marriage finds our couple wanting a friends with benefits only relationship that turns into something more. But Tyler’s past refuses to go away affecting his emotional stability and his relationship with the woman he loves. What ensues is the building romance that falters when Tyler walks away from a potential future with Ellie Sanders. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense

THE HOOK UP is a fun read with a little bit of romance, sex, heartbreak and love. Jason and Miriam (The Hang Up) play secondary and supporting characters. We are introduced to Ellie’s son Henry, as well as Tyler’s sister Anna, and their father John. Several minor characters come and go throughout the story line.

THE HOOK UP is a sweet, sexy story of romance with a little bit of humor, fun and conflict. The premise is heartwarming; the characters are realistic and encouraging; the romance is passionate. THE HOOK UP is a spirited and spicy-perfect for a lazy summer afternoon on the beach.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
The Fix Up
The Hang Up
The Hook Up

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Excerpt Black and Hot Pink

“Shoot!”
Her tame expletive was tinged with frustration, and there was a clatter behind him as something hit the floor.
“You okay?” he asked in a voice that didn’t quite sound like his own.
“I dropped the thingy,” she said. “The box that you’d hooked to the back of my dress? I’m sorry. It just came off.”
“No problem. Is it safe to turn around?”
“Yes. Sorry.”
“No worries.” Ty turned back around, relieved to see her dress in place and the mike pack all in one piece. “My fault,” he assured her. “I knew that fabric was probably too slippery. Let’s try something else.”
He stepped toward her again, inspecting the dress—not her body, dammit—as closely as he dared. Those cutouts at the waistline were sexy as hell, but not sturdy enough to hold the weight of the mike pack. “Okay, what if you hooked it to your, uh…your…”
He froze, not wanting to make this more awkward than it already was.
Ellie frowned, uncomprehending. “My what?”
“Your, um…”
A small smile flickered in her eyes. “Is this like charades with body parts and articles of clothing?”
There was a teasing note in her voice, and Ty reminded himself which business she was in. It wasn’t like he was going to offend her.
“Your underwear,” he said. “Panties.”
Ellie laughed. “Yeah, one problem with that.”
“What?”
“I’m wearing a super-tiny thong. More of a G-string, I guess.”
Holy mother of—
“Okay, then.” Ty cleared his throat, grateful he couldn’t see the expression on his face.
But Ellie saw it, and it made her laugh again. “I wasn’t trying to be sexy or anything,” she said. “These cutouts dip too low on the sides, so regular panties wouldn’t work. And the lace is pretty flimsy, so I don’t think—”
“Okay!” Ty said again, a little too loudly this time. His brain was buzzing, and he definitely needed to turn up the air conditioning, or maybe just stop thinking about Ellie Sanders’s underwear. “Let’s try something else.”

.

About the Author Black and rose

 

Tawna FenskeWhen Tawna Fenske finished her English lit degree at 22, she celebrated by filling a giant trash bag full of romance novels and dragging it everywhere until she’d read them all. Now she’s a RITA-nominated, USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Publishers Weekly has praised Tawna’s offbeat romances with multiple starred reviews and noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.”

Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, stepkids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.

Connect with Tawna:

Author Website: www.tawnafenske.com
Author Blog: http://tawnafenske.blogspot.com/
Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/tawnafenske
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TawnaFenskeBooks/

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Wicked Intentions (Wicked Games #3) by J.T. Geissinger-Review and Book Tour

WICKED INTENTIONS (Wicked Games #3) by JT Geissinger-Review and Book Tour

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WICKED INTENTIONS

Wicked Games #3

by J.T. Geissinger

Genre: adult, contemporary,erotic, romance

Release Date: July 11, 2017

Wicked Intentions

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 11, 2017

Ex special-ops officer and security expert Ryan McLean is getting a much-needed vacation. In the Caribbean for his best friend’s wedding, his plans include nothing more strenuous than working on his tan. But when he meets a beautiful woman in the hotel bar, their connection is immediate and intense, and they spend a passionate night together with pleasure as their only goal.

Until Ryan wakes the following morning to discover the beautiful woman has vanished, along with millions worth of jewels from the safe of the Saudi prince staying in the suite next door. Realizing he was duped, Ryan becomes determined to find the mystery woman and bring her to justice. If only he could forget how explosive their chemistry was, how her kisses drove him wild like no other woman before.

A notorious thief known to authorities only as the Dragonfly, Mariana Lora only has one more score to settle until she can retire, but the sexy-as-hell Marine she spent one explosive tropical night with is hot on her heels at every turn. She has to outwit him to stay out of jail, but fighting their magnetic attraction soon becomes a game neither one of them can resist.

When Mariana’s last job goes dangerously wrong and she needs Connor’s help to survive, he has to decide if their game of cat and mouse is only a game, or if he can trust this beautiful thief with something no woman has ever stolen: his heart.

•••••••

REVIEW: WICKED INTENTIONS is the third installment in JT Geissinger’s contemporary, adult WICKED GAMES erotic, romance series. This is security expert, mercenary, and ex special-ops officer Ryan McLean, and thief Mariana Lora’s story line. WICKED INTENTIONS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person points of view (Ryan and Mariana) WICKED INTENTIONS follows Mariana Lora-a world renowned, international thief known as the Dragonfly-as she endeavors to complete her latest assignment. Falling for Ryan McLean was never in the cards-Ryan is Mariana’s ticket to access millions of dollars in royal jewels-jewels that are going to pay off a debt and protect someone our heroine loves. But little does Mariana know that the man she has marked to gain access to the jewels, is a former special-ops officer who specializes in security and is all too aware that Mariana is hiding the truth about the who and what of her Caribbean vacation. What ensues is Ryan’s hunt for the truth, and Mariana’s struggle to break free of a debt that will never be paid.

Mariana is desperate to protect someone she loves but a debt owed finds our heroine risking not only her life but also the life of someone back home. Trying to keep her true identity a secret is next to impossible when the former special ops agent suspects not all is right in her world. Mariana’s backstory is heartbreaking and dark.

Ryan McLean’s Caribbean vacation just got a whole lot more interesting meeting the sultry and sexy woman whose secrets and lies push all of his over protective and alpha buttons. Ryan isn’t going to let go of the woman that calls to his heart but searching for Mariana becomes a little more complicated when the truth is revealed. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense. Mariana has but one rule-never to sleep with a mark- and Ryan’s presence will obliterate all sense for our story line heroine.

The secondary and supporting characters include Metrix Security staff Connor and Tabitha (Wicked Sexy #2), Darcy and Kai, and fifteen year old genius Juanita, as well as Mariana’s friend and father figure Reynard, and crime boss Vincent Moreno. There is plenty of back and forth friendly banter between the Metrix group members.

WICKED INTENTIONS has moments of humor and fun, danger, action and suspense, romance and love. The premise is intriguing and entertaining; the romance is seductive and passionate; the characters are colorful, dynamic and realistic-the friendships are fun and loving.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Wicked Beautiful
Wicked Sexy
Wicked Intentions

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Wicked Intentions Teaser

About the Author

JT Geissinger PIc

A former headhunter, J.T. Geissinger is the author of more than a dozen novels in contemporary romance, paranormal romance, and romantic suspense.

She is the recipient of the Prism Award for Best First Book, the Golden Quill Award for Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, and is a two-time finalist for the RITA® Award from the Romance Writers of America®. Her work has also finaled in the Booksellers’ Best, National Readers’ Choice, and Daphne du Maurier Awards.

Join her Facebook reader’s group, Geissinger’s Gang, to take part in weekly Wine Wednesday live chats and giveaways, find out more information about works in progress, have access to exclusive excerpts and contests, and get advance reader copies of her upcoming releases.

To receive notification of new releases, sign up for her newsletter at
www.jtgeissinger.com

Connect with J.T.:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Turned by a Tiger (Eternal Mates #12) by Felicity Heaton-Review, Exerpt & Giveways

TURNED BY A TIGER (Eternal Mates #12) by Felicity Heaton-Review, Excerpt & Giveaways

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TURNED BY A TIGER
Eternal Mates #12
by Felicity Heaton
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal/fantasy romance
Release Date: July 1, 2017

Turned by A Tiger

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 1, 2017

On the verge of bleeding out and hunted by his merciless torturers, Talon has no choice but to seek sanctuary at Underworld, a nightclub run by a jaguar shifter liable to kill him on sight for being a tiger shifter male. What he finds in the old warehouse isn’t the grim shadow of Death though but an angel of mercy, one who offers him salvation and revenge—one who happens to be his fated mate.

Tending bar at Underworld is never dull when you’re a mortal surrounded by immortals, but when a gorgeous tiger shifter covered in blood stumbles into the club, and set’s fire to her boss’s temper, Sherry’s entire world is in danger of being turned on its head. Something about the mysterious warrior has her stepping in to save him, something that ignites her heart and stirs her soul, and no matter how fiercely she fights it, she can’t hold herself back.

When Talon reveals the name of his captors, and his plan to head back in to save his friends, will Sherry be brave enough to embrace the feelings he stirs in her and step deeper into the world of immortals? And will Talon be strong enough to resist the lure of Sherry to protect his family’s secret or will he risk everything to claim his eternal mate?

••••••••••

REVIEW: TURNED BY A TIGER is the twelfth installment in Felicity Heaton’s contemporary, adult ETERNAL MATES paranormal/fantasy romance series. This is tiger shifter Talon, and human /bartender Sherry. TURNED BY A TIGER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information, and several characters from the previous story lines are revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Talon and Sherry) TURNED BY A TIGER focuses on Tiger’s need for revenge and retribution. Held prisoner and tortured for months the by a group known as ‘Archangel’ Talon’s freedom came at a cost. Leaving behind a number of other supernatural beings, Talon is desperate to return but a near fatal injury finds our hero at a bar –the Underworld-owned by a jaguar- and the jaguar Kyter sees Talon, another feline, as a threat to his mate and his life. Enter Sherry, one of the bartenders at the Underworld, and the human woman with whom Talon will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between Talon and Sherry as Talon recovers at Sherry’s home, and the preparations to return to Archangel to rescue the other prisoners and take down the people responsible for so much death and destruction.

The relationship between Talon and Sherry is one of immediate attraction. Talon knows that Sherry is his mate, and Sherry is unable to explain her need for the man who is barely alive. And of course, Kyter senses that there is more to the relationship between Talon and Sherry-he is well aware that Sherry is Talon’s mate. The limited $ex scenes are seductive and intense.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including many of the previous story line couples- Kyter and Iolanthe; Bleu; Thorne and Sable; as well as the acknowledgement of several others. We are introduced to Talon’s siblings- pride leader Byron, Talon’s twin brother Grey, and their sister Hope, as well as a witch named Agatha, and another demon named Valdaine. The author has plans for Grey and Hope’s story lines next.

The world building continues to focus on the takedown of Archangel and the revelations that all is not as it seems at the institution once thought to protect the supernatural powers. The corrupted Archangel is a threat to the supernatural existence. And of course, the over protective nature and alpha domination leads to a giggle or two especially where it concerns Thorne and his mate.

TURNED BY A TIGER is a story of retribution, romance, and fated mates. There are numerous fight scenes, plenty of action and danger, threats to their lives, and a secret once revealed with change Sherry’s life forever. The premise is entertaining and moving; the romance is intimate and passionate; the characters are energetic and colorful-an eclectic mix of familiar and new. TURNED BY A TIGER is a sexy and spirited look at a tiger shifter and the mate that calls to his heart.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Books in the Series

BOOKS IN THE SERIES

Book 1: Kissed by a Dark Prince (Only 99c at all retailers!)
Book 2: Claimed by a Demon King
Book 3: Tempted by a Rogue Prince
Book 4: Hunted by a Jaguar
Book 5: Craved by an Alpha
Book 6: Bitten by a Hellcat
Book 7: Taken by a Dragon
Book 8: Marked by an Assassin
Book 9: Possessed by a Dark Warrior
Book 10: Awakened by a Demoness
Book 11: Haunted by the King of Death
Book 12: Turned by a Tiger
Book 13: Tamed by a Tiger – Coming August 2017
Book 14: Treasured by a Tiger – Coming September 2017

Excerpt

“Shit.”
Talon’s knees hit the tarmac with a bone-crunching jolt and he sagged forwards, breath sawing from his lips as he fought to remain conscious and drive the pain back as it swarmed him, threatening to drag him into the waiting darkness. He couldn’t pass out here. They would find him.
He wearily lifted his head and growled low in his throat at the effort it took to do such a simple thing now. Not good.
He gazed down at his lap and then his trembling left hand as he pulled it away from his bare stomach. His hand wobbled and blurred, and he blinked hard, fighting to clear his vision and refusing to let the pain ricocheting through him, a bone-deep savage onslaught that wouldn’t abate, overcome him. The streetlight off to his right caught the thick layer of blood on his hand and turned it black and shiny.
“Fuck,” he growled through clenched teeth and tears stung his eyes.
He forced his right hand up and scrubbed it across his face, rubbing them away.
No damn way he was going to cry, no matter how dire things looked.
He wouldn’t give up.
He pressed his damp right hand into the gritty road and pushed himself onto his feet. Lightning flash through him, fire licking along the length of the wound across his stomach, and he gritted his teeth so hard they creaked, but he kept going, kept pushing, kept refusing to just lie down and die.
Death would be a mercy, one that probably wouldn’t find him before the bastards hunting him did.
Talon staggered onto his bare feet, stumbled a few steps and grunted as his right shoulder smashed into the wall that lined the narrow alley.
Awareness prickled down his spine and he looked over his left shoulder, his long beard scraping his skin and his shaggy black hair falling to obscure his eyes. He didn’t have the strength to push it out of his face.
Or the time.
They were coming.
Closing in now.
Dammit.
He had to keep moving. He was close.
The world wobbled around him, losing colour at times, as he stumbled forwards, clutching his stomach with his left hand and wincing with each laboured step. That damned lightning and fire zapped and danced through him with each shift of his body that disturbed the worst of his injuries, forcing him to breathe shallowly in an effort to keep it at bay.
Gods-fucking-dammit.
It wasn’t going to end here.
His right ankle gave out and the tarmac loomed in his vision again, but this time he managed to catch himself at the last moment.
Would’ve been a triumph if he hadn’t face-planted into a brick wall instead.
He rested against it, giving himself a moment, aware that if he kept pushing this hard he was going to pass out and that would land him back in their hands.
That prickling sensation came again, warning him they were narrowing the search, growing closer with every moment he stood still. He had to keep moving, even if it was only inches at a time. He leaned against the wall, using it for support and clawing his way along it with his right hand, his fingertips aching as he dragged his weight.
His muscles trembled beneath his skin, on the verge of going liquid as his strength drained away.
Another sensation joined the first.
One of dread that hounded him as he pulled himself forwards with dogged determination.
There were more than night shadows behind him.
There was death.
It was stalking him like the hunters, waiting for that moment when he gave in.
Never.
Talon ground his teeth and staggered forwards, calling on all of his strength and refusing to give up. He hadn’t given up when the hunters had caught him. He hadn’t given up all the times they had demanded he shift into his tiger form and then tortured him with cattle prods to force him to turn back. He hadn’t given up when they had left him naked and bleeding in that infernal cage or all the times they had dragged him back to his cell, letting their other captives witness him at his weakest.
He would never give up.
He kept inching forwards, the pain mounting inside him stealing his breath as it reached a new crescendo and fresh warmth spilled across his left hand, his life draining from him. Couldn’t give up. Wouldn’t.
Talon growled and pushed onwards, near-blind as fire blazed inside him, devouring his strength and setting every nerve in his body alight. Instinct drove and guided him, a deep desire to survive that lived within all feline shifter species, as strong and undeniable as the need to defend their territory.
Something he was deeply aware of as he finally reached the end of the alley and his destination.
He stared across the narrow road to the red-brick warehouse.
He shouldn’t be here, but he was desperate, had nowhere else to go and no hope of surviving if he couldn’t convince the shifter who owned the building to give him sanctuary.
The chance of that happening was slim, about as slender as him surviving the night.
But he had to risk it.
Underworld was his only hope now.
He checked the silent street in both directions, studying the shadows to make sure he wasn’t being watched, and then limped across it to the other side, slumped against the wall and clawed himself forwards, towards the broad door beneath the unlit neon sign.
The scent of shifter hit him hard, flowing from a torn up piece of wood beside the door, the owner’s calling card and a message to other male cat shifters in their prime.
A warning to stay away.
He couldn’t.
He reached the door and rested, breathing hard and fighting the nerves rising inside him to mingle with the pain. His limited senses stretched around him, ears pricking as he listened for a sign of life—both inside the building and outside it with him. There was no one in the streets around him, but inside were two heartbeats, not far on the other side of the door.
Talon pulled his hand away from his stomach and banged his fist on the door.
It swung open the moment he made contact and he lost balance, falling inside to land in a heap on the floor.
“We’re closed,” a deep gruff male voice called from the darkness. “I thought you’d locked up?”
Talon ignored the male and crawled forwards, dragging himself with both hands now, desperation driving him and urging him onwards, into the gloom. He growled. He was moving too slowly, the distance between him and the door not growing quickly enough. He needed to go faster.
Pain shot through him, his ears ringing with it and heart labouring in response, and he clutched his stomach with his left hand again, grunting as he fought it. When it eased, he pushed up on his right hand and shuffled forwards, holding his stomach with his other hand. The scent of his own blood filled his nostrils and his vision wobbled again.
Dammit.
He pressed harder with his left hand, trying to stem the bleeding. It wasn’t slowing.
Silence fell like a thick shroud.
Eyes landed on him, intent and focused.
The air shifted and a growl echoed through the enormous room, unholy and vicious.
A warning he felt all the way down to his bones.
To his soul.
His hope ended here.
The shifter was going to kill him.

About Felicity

Felicity HeatonFelicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! If you’re a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.

If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling Vampire Erotic Theatre series. Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the new Eternal Mates series.

If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:

WEBSITE | BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM

Giveaway

There are TWO (2) ways to WIN !

In addition to the gift card giveaway below, Felicity is graciously offering an ecopy of any ONE book in her ETERNAL MATES series *excluding Turned by a Tiger* (international) to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging in, please refresh the page at the top of your computer

2. If you are using a social log-in such as Twitter or Facebook, please post your email address with your comment.

3. –> Sign up for Felicity Heaton’s NEWSLETTER 

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

5.LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

6. Giveaway is open internationally.

7. Giveaway runs from July 9-12, 2017

Grand Giveaway

Turned by A tiger Giveaway

NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the Grand Giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the author.

**Enter the grand tour-wide giveaway to win a $25, $50 or $75 Amazon Gift Card at the Turned by a Tiger book page. This giveaway is international and open to everyone, and ends at midnight on July 16t**

Enter now: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/turned-by-a-tiger-shapeshifter-romance-book.php

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Luca (Ruin and Revenge #2) by Sarah Castille-Review, Book Tour & Giveaway

LUCA (Ruin and Revenge #2) by Sarah Castille-Review, Book Tour & Giveaway

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LUCA
Ruin and Revenge #2
by Sarah Castille
Release Date: June 27, 2017
Genre: adult ,contempporary, erotic, mafia romance

Luca 2

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 27,2017

Luca Rizzoli was nearly destroyed by a brutal betrayal that cost him his family. Now a ruthless crime boss in the city of sin, he lets nothing touch his frozen heart–until a smoldering encounter with a beautiful stranger ignites his passion. One night isn’t enough for a man who takes what he wants, but his mysterious temptress has slipped away.

For two years police detective Gabrielle Fawkes has lived for revenge. But a night of indulgence with a sexy stranger changes everything. Powerful, charming, and deliciously dangerous Luca, has his own private reasons for offering to help her pursue the drug lord who killed her husband. There’s a lot Luca isn’t telling her and the more she finds out the less she wants to know.

When Gabrielle becomes the target of the drug lord she has vowed to hunt down, she must do the unimaginable: place her life in a mobster’s hands. To save her, Luca must break his Mafia ties–or risk losing Gabrielle forever.

••••••••••

REVIEW: LUCA is the second installment in Sarah Castille’s contemporary, adult RUIN AND REVENGE erotic, mafia romance series. This is restaurateur and Toscani family Capo Luca Rizzoli, and police detective Gabrielle Fawkes’ story line. LUCA can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Luca was first introduced in book one-NICO.

NOTE: LUCA contains scenes of graphic violence, murder and torture, and may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from several third person points of view including Luca and Gabrielle, LUCA is a forbidden romance between police detective Gabrielle Fawkes, and mafia Capo Luca Rizzoli. Two years earlier Gabrielle’s husband was brutally murdered in a mafia-style hit and our heroine believes the local drug cartel is responsible for his death. In the ensuing time Gabrielle has put all of her efforts into taking down the drug lord she believes is responsible but an on-duty shooting finds our heroine roommates with a dark and sexy man who offers Gabrielle everything and more. Enter Luca Rizzoli, a man who is willing to risk his ties to the mob to save the woman with whom he is falling in love. Several threats against Gabrielle’s life place Luca on the receiving end of more than one attempt at his own.

Loyalty to the family is first and foremost in the world of the Italian mob but Luca’s relationship with Detective Gabrielle Fawkes places our hero in a precarious position as it pertains to his loyalties and support of the man in charge. But Luca is willing to risk his life and his position for the woman that calls to his heart. His over protective, alpha attitude makes for some contentious moments between Gabrielle and himself. Luca’s backstory is emotional.

Gabrielle is desperate for revenge against the man she believes destroyed her life. Her narrow focus, disregarding everything else, finds our heroine facing down a hierarchy at work that is no longer willing to give Gabrielle a chance at revenge. Gabrielle’s inability to let go lands her in trouble on more than one occasion.

The relationship between Gabrielle and Luca is one of immediate attraction. The sexual chemistry is palpable; the $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense. Luca likes to take control and talk dirty in the bedroom.

LUCA is an intricate and detailed novel with several subplots weaving throughout the story-some connected while others focus on secondary characters and their struggle in both their personal and professional lives. There is a twist to the story line that was easily deduced and predictable.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including many members of the Toscani mob family both by blood and by mob association. We are introduced to Gabrielle’s husband’s former best friend police detective Jeff Santos, as well as Gabrielle’s besties Nicole and Cissy. I am hoping for Nicole’s HEA .

Although a well-written and exciting story line I did have an issue with Gabrielle’s inability to see, or lack of awareness as it came to Luca’s connections to the mob. For a detective she is completely oblivious to the who, what and why of the Toscani family, the mob and their dangerous lifestyle. Sadly this aspect leant to some unbelievable moments and shaking of my head.

LUCA is a dark, gritty, emotional and dramatic tale; a mafia romance of forbidden love between two people whose lives will collide in more ways than one. The premise is engaging and energetic; the characters are colorful, tragic and passionate; the romance is intoxicating and provocative.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

About The Author beige

Sarah CastilleSarah Castille is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Redemption Series, Ruin & Revenge Series, Sinner’s Tribe Motorcycle Club series, Legal Heat series and the Club Excelsior series. A recovering lawyer with a fondness for dirty-talking alpha males, she now is a full-time writer, who lives on Vancouver Island. Sarah’s books have been listed as Publisher’s Weekly’s Top Ten Picks and Best Summer Reads, and Amazon’s Best Romance Books of the Year, and have won numerous reader’s choice awards including the Holt Medallion.

Connect with Sarah:

BOOKBUB | FACEBOOK | AMAZON AUTHOR | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS | PINTEREST | YOUTUBE | NEWSLETTER | WEBSITE

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The Duke of Defiance (The Untouchables #5) by Darcy Burke-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

The Duke of Defiance (The Untouchables #5) by Darcy Burke-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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THE DUKE OF DEFIANCE
The Untouchables #5
by Darcy Burke
Genre:adult, historical, romance
Release Date: June 27,2017

The Duke of Defiance

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 27, 2017

Difficult and defiant as a child, Bran Crowther, Earl of Knighton left England as a young man to pursue independence and adventure. He never expected to inherit the title and when duty calls him home, he still finds Society’s codes constricting and others’ expectations oppressive. Nevertheless, he needs a wife to be a mother to his young daughter, preferably a woman of intelligence and warmth who is, above all, immune to his idiosyncrasies—and to falling in love.

Widow Joanna Shaw isn’t interested in a second marriage, not after the loveless, passionless union she endured. She’d much rather dote on her young niece and nephew since they will likely be the only children in her life…until she meets a precocious girl, in desperate need of a mother. But her father, the so-called Duke of Defiance, is as peculiar as he is handsome, and Jo won’t take another risk with her heart. Their rules, however, are made to be broken, even when the consequences could destroy them both.

REVIEW

5 out of 5 for this reader folks!

The Duke of Defiance by Darcy Burke is the 5th book of her “The Untouchables” Series. A historical romance set in England, this was an easy paced, loving and passionate read that left me satisfied from the start all the way to the end.

Bran Crowther is the “black sheep” of his family. Having left home with no real destination in mind, he finds his place in Barbados where he starts living the life he can be at ease in. He marries and has a beautiful daughter. But fate has never been kind to Bran and soon enough he is a single father to his little angel girl Evie, has to return to memories of a home and family that did nothing but berate him his whole life, AND to top it all off, he has now officially inherited the title of Earl which he never wanted. Resigned to a life of disappointment, he loathes the thought of attending any proper society functions and realizes he must find a mother for his Evie.

Joanne Shaw is a widow to a vile country vicar. Jo never had the chance to “come out” to society due to family scandal, so at a young age she found herself accepting a proposal from a man who is less than ideal. After being abused and widowed, Jo makes peace with the thought that she will never marry again (one crummy marriage was enough for her thank you very much) or have any children. Then she crosses Bran’s path.

Off we go on an adventure of two perfectly flawed (yet accepting of circumstance) characters finding their perfectly flawed HEA. Jo brings a sense of family to Bran and Evie, and Bran and Evie melt away Jo’s reservations of progressing forward to maybe some day be married and enjoy motherhood. Bran has some serious issues going on, and Joanne brings a calm to his life that he can’t help but love. Joanne has a broken spirit of sorts, and Bran slowly enables her to glue them back in place. Evie .. well Evie is just the glue that binds this whole story together.

I would definitely recommend reading the first four books as some characters return from the previous books in this series, BUT, you can absolutely read this book as a stand alone. The flow of story is fantastic, the characters felt believable and the loving was some good! LOL

Recommend this my to fellow historical romance lovers for those precious quiet summer moments.

Click HERE for Rachel’s review of book four-THE DUKE OF DESIRE

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Rachel T

excerpt

 

She sank into a curtsey. “Good morning, my lord. My sister wishes to convey her deepest apologies, but her son is ill, so she asked me to come in her stead.”
Bran registered the tidy upsweep of her dark brown hair and the green-brown of her earnest eyes as well as the simplicity of her modest slate-gray gown. She was rather monochromatic, except for that hint of green in her eyes, and the tiny gold flecks that danced near the pupil. He recalled that she was widowed, which perhaps explained her somewhat dour appearance. Or maybe it was just that he was used to warmth and vibrancy and colors that defied possibility in England. Barbados seemed like an imaginary world now.

“I see. Do you have children of your own?” he asked.

Pale swaths of pink highlighted her cheeks. It was the barest bit of color, but he caught it. How could he not against the dull palette she provided?

Dull?

No, that wasn’t an apt description. Her attire was dull, her hair a bit too severe, but she possessed an attractive, feminine form. Indeed, her breasts were perhaps spectacular. And she was pretty, with long, dark lashes framing her eyes and rose-colored lips that were just a bit too full. Not too full, he amended.

“I do not,” she said, drawing his attention back to his question about whether she had children.

“Then how can you be qualified to help me with this endeavor?”

“My sister sent a list of characteristics and requirements you should seek.” She straightened her shoulders and looked him in the eye. “She also sent me with her express confidence.”

He liked her fortitude. “Well then, I suppose you will suffice. Come along.”

Her nostrils flared slightly, and her eyes widened just the tiniest bit, the gold flecks seeming to brighten. As he turned to lead her to his office, he considered that he might have just offended her again. He had called her abilities into question, but why wouldn’t he?

He strode toward the back corner of the house, where his office was located. It was a large chamber with a wall of bookshelves and windows that looked out to the garden. He moved behind the desk and indicated for her to take a chair on the opposite side.

She slowly sat, her gaze wary and her mouth tight.

He frowned. “My apologies if I insulted you.”

“If you’d rather I didn’t stay, you have only to say so.” There was a steely set to her shoulders and a clipped edge to her tone as she spoke. “Nora wanted to help you, but I’ll understand if you decide I won’t suffice.”

He dropped into his chair. She had cheek to go with her fortitude. He liked that too. He’d been prepared to deal with milksops and featherbrains when he’d returned to England—people like his mother and brothers. Not that they really were milksops or featherbrains, but they liked to put on as if they were, thinking it was somehow attractive. He supposed it wasn’t fair to assume an entire population shared the same characteristics as his family.

“I’m afraid I must also apologize for the other day. I meant no offense. Sometimes… I speak without realizing how my words might sound.”

One of her dark, slender brows arched. “Forgive me for saying so, but I’ve found that’s a trait shared by most men.”

 

 

About the Author

Darcy Burke

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.

 

 

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