Unzipped by Lauren Blakely- Review & Excerpt tour

Unzipped by Lauren Blakely- Review and Excerpt tour

 Amazon.com / Amazon.ca /Amazon.uk / Amazon.au / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play / Apple books /

–> 100% of proceeds from the first 5 days of UNZIPPED sales go to California Fire Relief Charities! <–

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 14, 2018.

Wanted: Dating coach to help hot nerd win back the woman of his dreams…

Picture this – I’m ready to win back the love of my life, and I’m going big this time. We’re talking boom box, sing her name in the rain, let the whole damn neighborhood know I’m good and ready this time around. After all, if you’re going to grand gesture the ever-loving hell out of a second chance, you need to pull out all the stops.

There’s only one little problem.

My college girlfriend isn’t the one who shows up when I play my “I’ll do anything to win you back” tune.

The woman who flings open the second-floor window tells me my ex doesn’t live here anymore. But she’ll help me win her back. Anything for romance, anything for a guy so willing to go big for love. And that’s what I want at first. Until I get to know my new “romance coach” and discover she’s funny, clever, and keeps me on my toes. And boy, do I ever need that.

Now I don’t want to win anyone else’s heart. I want the woman who’s been helping me all along.

Trouble is – she thinks I’m in love with someone else, and when we take off on a road trip, everything I think I know about women is about to be unzipped and turned inside out.

***
He’s the last person I ever expected to pop into my life, but he might be exactly what I need to save the thing that matters most to me. All I have to do is not fall for him.

••••••••••

REVIEW: UNZIPPED by Lauren Blakely is a contemporary, adult, stand alone, romance story line focusing on roller coaster developer Kyler ‘Tom’ Sutcliffe, and television comedy writer Finley Barker.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Tom and Finley) UNZIPPED follows the accidental meeting and slow building relationship between twenty-eight year old, roller coaster developer Kyler ‘Tom’ Sutcliffe, and twenty-nine year old, television comedy writer Finley Barker. Kyler Sutcliffe aka Tom, wants to rekindle a romance with his college sweetheart Cassie, the woman who broke his heart but also the woman he hasn’t seen for close to eight years. Arriving at Cassie’s last known residence, and in an effort to win her over ala Lloyd Dobler style from the movie ‘Say Anything’, Tom will come face to face with television writer Finley Barker, who sees Tom’s challenge in the seduction department. Finley agrees to ‘teach’ a bewildered and baffled Tom the subtle art of wooing and romance, as she struggles to keep from falling in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Finley and Tom, and the potential fall-out as Finley’s life begins to spiral out of control, and Tom continues to move towards the woman he thought he once loved.

UNZIPPED is a story of friendship and fun with great back and forth banter between our leading couple. Finley battles between head and heart knowing Tom has only one goal in mind, and that goal will ultimately not include our story line heroine. Tom has always wondered what happened and why to make Cassie walk away without looking back. Little does our hero realize that there is more to the story than he could have ever imagined.

The relationship between Finley and Tom begins accidentally when Tom arrives to woo his former love. Finley is a film buff who is the perfect foil to Tom’s witticisms and movie quotes; their cross country journey finds there is more in common than they had previously expected. The $ex scenes are passionate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Tom’s brothers Ransom, Nash and Gannon who are a constant source of teasing and taunts; their cousin Gabe; Finley’s friend and book store owner Arden, as well as Bruce Fargo, the man ultimately in charge of Finley’s future. There is something developing between Gabe and Arden.

UNZIPPED is a fast paced, energetic and humorous story line. The premise is fun and spirited; the characters are quirky, clueless and charismatic; the romance is passionate and entertaining. UNZIPPED is an enjoyable and entertaining story of one man’s attempts to woo, failing miserably, but in the end falling for his perfect match.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

As I peruse the scenes, the opening notes of a song filter from the front of my townhome. What the hell? Did I leave the streaming app open on my phone? I step away from the counter and head to the front door, looking for my phone, even though I swear I had it with me in the kitchen.The song grows louder, and it’s not coming from my cell at all. It’s coming from outside. I peer through the peephole.

I jerk back.

Rub my eyes.

What the hell?

Am I really seeing what I’m seeing? I don’t think I had that much wine. I had one sip.

Fine, fine. One large sip. One very large, very hearty sip. All right, it was a gulp.

But I can’t possibly be hallucinating, can I?

I peek again, and holy smokes.

There’s a guy on my front lawn going full Lloyd Dobler.

The hair on the back of my neck stands on end, and my paranoid brain leaps three thousand steps ahead. Did he escape from Alcatraz? Is he going to bang down my door? Attack me?

I pivot and grab the baseball bat I keep handy. As the youngest sister of two older brothers, I’ve learned a few valuable lessons: boys are trouble, pizza is good cold, and always keep a baseball bat near the door and/or bed.

With my bat in hand, I scurry to the kitchen to grab my phone, then fly upstairs to the bedroom, taking the steps two by two.

I race into the bedroom, set the bat at my feet, and keep my phone clutched in my hand, ready to call 911 if need be. I pull back the white curtain a smidge.

And I nearly die laughing.

The song has stopped, and the Dobler wannabe is now kneeling on the ground, furiously hitting buttons on the boom box.

I peer around the curtain’s edge, and it’s like watching a sideshow act auditioning for my circus.

He hoists the boom box up above him again. A new tune plays. I cock my head, listening, and I cringe when I recognize the tune.

For real? Is he truly playing “Unzipped”? I could never stand that song when it was popular eight years ago. The music sounds like a can opener mating with a trombone. I wish he were playing Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes,” like Dobler did in the film.

But as I study the bizarre suburban male mating ritual, I decide to award him points for sheer balls. He also deserves bonus points because he chose to go without the super cheesy trench coat that Dobler wore. It worked for Cusack, but on anyone else that attire screams serial killer.

This guy seems harmless.

And admittedly, from my vantage point two stories above, he’s kind of handsome with the glasses, the thick, floppy hair, and the jeans that fit nicely. Strong jaw too.

Fine, fine. He’s more than kind of handsome. He’s 100 percent good-looking, in that hot nerd kind of way.


 

A #1 New York Times Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s hot, sweet and sexy. She lives in California with her family and has plotted entire novels while walking her dogs. With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than eighty times, and she’s sold more than 2 million books. In October she’ll release HARD WOOD, a sexy, standalone romantic comedy. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter!  laurenblakely.com/newsletter

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The Darkest Captive (Lords of the Underworld 14.5 / 1001 Dark Nights) by Gena Showalter-Review & Excerpt tour

The Darkest Captive (Lords of the Underworld 14.5/ 1001 Dark Nights) by Gena Showalter-Review and Excerpt tour

THE DARKEST CAPTIVE
Lords of the Underworld 14.5 / 1001 Dark Nights
by Gena Showalter
Release Date: December 4, 2018
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal, romance

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

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 4, 2018

For centuries, Galen the Treacherous has been the most hated immortal in the Underworld. With good reason! This bad boy of bad boys has lied, stolen, cheated and killed with abandon. Possessed by the demons of Jealousy and False Hope, he has always lived for a single purpose: destroy everything.

Then he met her.

Former demon turned human femme fatale — Legion Honey — sought to kill Galen, but ended up parting with her virginity instead. Afraid of their sizzling connection, she ran away…and ended up trapped in hell, tortured and abused in the worst of ways. Now she’s free, and a shell of herself, afraid of her own shadow.

Galen’s hunger for Legion has only grown. Now the warrior with nothing to lose must help her rekindle the fire that once burned inside her. But as desires blaze white-hot, will Legion run again? Or will the unlikely pair succumb to love at long last?

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

••••••••

REVIEW: The Darkest Captive begins with love letters to Legion, aka Honey, from none other than Galen. He makes it very plain that he wants her more than he wants his next breath. When Legion reads the letters, she has to admit to herself that she’s intrigued, and if she’s being honest, the letters make her yearn for him more than she already had. What Legion doesn’t know is that a horde of demons has discovered where she is. To say she’s surprised when Galen bursts into her little cabin, injured and covered in blood, is a bit of an understatement. Galen tells her that the horde is right behind him and they have to leave now. Even though she’s torn, she puts her tentative trust in Galen and they escape………..and end up in Galen’s home. As Galen heals, Legion is left mostly alone. Once she figures out how to save him, she’s torn once again. Surely he’ll forgive her………… And, once she realizes that she does indeed love him and want to be with him, she walks into danger to not only free herself, but to eliminate a dangerous threat to Galen and the other Lords.

The Darkest Captive has been a long time coming. Legion’s story is one of torture and survival. Galen’s story is one of betrayal and redemption. My problem with this story is that I’m just not sure that the two sides fit together. Don’t get me wrong, I love that Legion is finally happy and free. I also love that Galen isn’t as bad as everyone thought. A few of the previous stores had hinted at that anyway, so I wasn’t surprised. His ‘love letters’ were so far over the top that I finally just skipped through them after the first one or two. The actual storyline was a good one, although I think more needed to be explained. Overall, The Darkest Captive was a good read, and one that needed to be told. It’s always a bonus when the Lords show up as they did, and I love the interaction between them and Galen. If you’re a LOTU fan, you’ll enjoy the read as well. Well done, Gena Showalter!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie K

 

He teed up Aeron’s number and texted: Just a head’s up. I’ve got my girl. She’s well thanks to me. Hades would have let her get jacked. You’re welcome.
Aeron’s response came in minutes: H told me you saved her. For that, you do have my thanks. But you’re going to have internal body bling if you don’t return her to me ASAP.
Galen: Give me a minute to find the fucks I give…
Galen: Still searching…
Galen: Sorry. Can’t find a single one.
Aeron: I love her, and I want what’s best for her, even if I must pay for her happiness w/ my life. Can you say the same?
Galen responded with a gif he’d made for situations like this. In it, he made a lewd hand gesture while the words “Look what I gave your mother last night” flashed in the center.
Then he typed: Listen, Dr. Usuc Atfilosofee. I didn’t see you braving H’s wards to help L escape that bloodthirsty army. (Drop mic.) (Pick mic back up.) She’s safe, ok. And I CAN say the same. I DID protect her with my life. So be a good daddy and let your daughter spread my wings. Over and out, mo-fo.
He returned the cell phone to the nightstand.
Legion gave a violent shake of her head and released another choking sound. “No. Please, no.”
He could imagine what images plagued her nightmares.
Uncaring about the flare of pain, he leaped off the bed to crouch in front of her chair. He lightly caressed her jaw, then lifted her hand to his face, holding her palm against his cheek. “I’m here, sugar.” His raw throat turned the words to smoke.
A few months ago, Galen had made a deal with Hades. Every time Galen completed a task for the underworld’s top dog, he earned a reward. All he’d wanted? The demons who’d hurt Legion. He’d tortured and killed every one of the bastards but Lucifer.
“No. Please, no. Don’t!” Eyes rolling behind her lids, Legion panted and groaned. Every few seconds, her fingers twitched, as if she tried to deflect a blow. “No!”
He ground his teeth. One day, one day soon, this beauty would rest in the comfort and security of his arms. Fear would lose its hold on her, and contentment would become her constant companion. I’ll make sure of it.
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he vowed. “Not now, not ever.”
She melted into the chair, a soft sigh leaving her. Pride suffused him. For once, he’d comforted rather than frightened her.


 

 

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over fifty books, including the acclaimed Lords of the Underworld and Angels of the Dark series, and the White Rabbit Chronicles. She writes sizzling paranormal romance, heartwarming contemporary romance, and unputdownable young adult novels, and lives in Oklahoma City with her family and menagerie of dogs. Visit her at GenaShowalter.com.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

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Indian Paintbrush (Carson Chronicles #3) by John A Heldt-Review, Interview & Giveaway

INDIAN PAINTBRUSH (The Carson Chronicles #3) by John A Heldt-Review, Interview & Giveaway

Indian Paintbrush
Carson Chronicles #3
by John A Heldt
Release Date: November 26, 2018
Genre: adult, historical, time travel

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 26, 2018

Arizona, December 1943. After surviving perilous six-month journeys to 1889 and 1918, the Carsons, five siblings from the present day, seek a respite in their home state. While Adam and Greg settle down with their Progressive Era brides, Natalie and Caitlin start romances with wartime aviators and Cody befriends a Japanese family in an internment camp. The time travelers regroup, bury old ghosts, and continue their search for their missing parents. Then old problems return, new ones emerge, and a peaceful hiatus becomes a race for survival. In INDIAN PAINTBRUSH, the sequel to RIVER RISING and THE MEMORY TREE, seven young adults find love and adventure as they navigate the home front during the height of World War II

••••••••

REVIEW: INDIAN PAINTBRUSH is the third instalment in John A Heldt’s adult, historical, time-travel series focusing on the Carson siblings-Adam, Natalie, Greg, Cody and Caitlin. INDIAN PAINTBRUSH can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty although I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion.

Note: Indian Paintbrush, the favorite flower of Caitlin Carson, is a short-lived, wildflower found in forest clearings and grasslands across the Western, and Southwestern United States

Told from several third person points of view INDIAN PAINTBRUSH follows the Carson siblings, a family of time travellers, as they go in search of their missing parents Tim and Caroline Carson. Months earlier, the siblings discovered their parents were missing but an itinerary of places and timelines found the family on a journey of their own. Starting in 2017, the siblings travelled back in time to 1889, 1918, and presently in the tumultuous era of 1943-44. Adam and Greg, having fallen in love, would bring their new significant others along for the ride.

When the Carson siblings entered the portal in 1918, they had no idea what to expect in 1943 Arizona, an era fraught with the uncertainty of war. The 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor resulted in the forced internment of Japanese, Americans, at the Butte Camp in Rivers, Arizona , as America prepared to go to war. Struggling to locate their parents, always one step ahead or behind, Natalie, Cody and Caitlin would each discover love, but not all loves are meant for a happily ever after.

John A Heldt’s pulls the reader into a turbulent past; an era of distrust and anxiety; the unpredictability of war; and the knowledge of what was, and what would never be. Secrets revealed, and threats from the past force the siblings to, once again, run for their lives but along the way, the Carson clan would welcome two new travellers on their voyage of discovery and love.

INDIAN PAINTBRUSH is a complex story line awash in colorful facts, historical fiction, and the possibility of what might have been. A contemporary family caught up in the past, the Carson siblings, know that to interfere in history, could mean a different outcome for everyone concerned. Knowledge is a powerful tool but to reveal what was and what will be places everyone in danger including the people they love. An amazing storyteller, John A Heldt pens a story of survival, loss, history and love.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
River Rising
The Memory Tree
Indian Paintbrush

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

TRC: Hi, John, and welcome back to The Reading Café.

Congratulations on the recent release of INDIAN PAINTBRUSH.

For anyone who doesn’t know John A. Heldt, would you please tell us something about yourself?

Follow John: Goodreads / Facebook / Website/Blog/ Twitter / Amazon / Instagram / Tumblr

John: I’m a married father of two grown daughters and a son and, as of August 15, the grandfather of a delightful little girl named Stella. Before turning to novel writing in 2011, I worked as a sports writer and editor for several newspapers in Oregon and Washington, where I was born and raised, and several more years as a reference librarian in Montana. I love traveling around the western United States, watching sports, cooking, and experiencing the great outdoors. I currently make my home in the Las Vegas, Nevada, area.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties did you encounter writing and publishing your first novel?

John: Like most authors starting out, I faced several. When I created The Mine in 2011 and early 2012, I did so without any formal knowledge of novel writing, publishing, or selling books in a competitive market. So I sought help where I could find it. Several friends and family members, including my (then) 17-year-old daughter Amy, provided much-needed help and guidance. With their assistance, I managed to produce a novel that is still selling today.

TRC: How did publishing your first book change your writing process?

John: I became much more disciplined and methodical. I evolved into a plotter who set time aside for specific tasks, outlined chapters in advance, and enlisted the help of others. I did what I could to learn from my mistakes and streamline the process of putting out a novel.

TRC: Would you please tell us something about the premise of INDIAN PAINTBRUSH and the Carson Chronicles series?

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca /

John: The series is a family saga with a time-travel twist. In book one, River Rising, Adam Carson, a 27-year-old Arizona engineer in 2017, discovers that his missing parents are not victims of foul play but rather secret time travelers who became stuck in 1888. Armed with the knowledge he needs to find them, Adam convinces his younger siblings — Greg (25), Natalie (23), and twins Cody and Caitlin (17) — to join him on a rescue mission, which soon becomes a perilous life-changing journey that takes the travelers from the 1880s to 1918 and beyond. Indian Paintbrush is series’ third book. Set primarily in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1944, it focuses less on the search and more on the siblings as they get on with their lives in their grandparents’ time. Adam and Greg start families with their Progressive Era wives, Natalie and Caitlin strike up romances with wartime aviators, and Cody fights injustice as a regular visitor to an internment camp for Japanese Americans.

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series?

John: I plan two more books. Number four will be set in Boulder, Colorado, in the fall of 1962, during the height of the Cuban missile crisis. Book number five will be set in Maine in the summer of 1983 and be based on my own experiences as a camp counselor.

TRC: From where did you get the idea for the CARSON CHRONICLES?

John: I got it from reading John Jakes’ family sagas. He is the author of Kent Family Chronicles and the North and South trilogy. I love the way he tells stories.

TRC: What drew you to write a ‘time-travel’ series?

John: I did not decide to write any series until long after I published my first book. When I released The Mine in February 2012, I did not intend to write another book. I wrote The Mine primarily to check off an item on my bucket list. Then came a surprising number of sales and positive reviews. I reevaluated the situation and decided to keep going. Because I liked viewing history through modern eyes, I stuck with the time-travel theme and published The Journey (2012), The Show (2013), The Fire (2013), and The Mirror (2014) in short order. I also built on The Mine story by writing two novels (The Show and The Mirror) that completed a Smith family trilogy within a five-book series. I so enjoyed putting together the Northwest Passage series that I continued with the American Journey and Carson Chronicles series. I hope to create at least one more time-travel series before moving on to other things.

TRC: What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning the CARSON CHRONICLES series?

John: I am a plotter of the first order. I spend dozens of hours researching and outlining books and series before I write a single word. I do this mostly for practical reasons. I want to get from Point A to Point B without getting lost or painting myself into a corner. When writing time-travel novels, authors must pay particularly close attention to detail and the established norms of the genre. To do otherwise is to invite unnecessary trouble.

TRC: Does historical accuracy play a large role in the CARSON CHRONICLES series? Do you believe an author should follow historical accuracy when writing a book or series about the past (regardless of genre)?

John: Yes to the first question and mostly yes to the second. I am a history buff who goes to great lengths to achieve historical accuracy in my works. On occasion, I will even change things that most readers would not notice or even care about. For example, when writing The Mine, I removed a reference to Glenn Miller’s “Chattanooga Choo Choo” from a chapter set in July 1941 because the song did not hit the airwaves until weeks later. That said, I understand the need to bend the rules on occasion. Though I believe authors should strive for historical accuracy as often as possible, particularly when presenting the big picture, I also think they should have some latitude when presenting the smaller stuff. I know I have strayed from the “rules” a few times. For example, in several of my works, I have set up humorous, sometimes poignant, encounters between my time travelers and celebrities. Scenes like these are what separate historical fiction from the just-the-facts-ma’am history most of us read in school.

TRC: What was the most challenging scene to write?

John: Without a doubt, it was the first chapter of Hannah’s Moon, the fifth and final book in the American Journey series. Based on a wrenching personal experience, it portrayed a young childless couple in a hospital room following the birth of their stillborn son. I spent more than a month working on that chapter because I wanted to get it right.

TRC: Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

John: Yes. Readers are a lot like people looking for a new house. They first judge a product on its curb appeal and then decide whether to investigate what’s inside.

TRC: Do you believe the self-publishing industry hurts the traditionally published author, or publishing industry as a whole? If so, how or why not?

John: Yes and no. Some indie authors still publish poorly written works that reflect badly on their peers and the industry as a whole. Many others, however, do not. They make important contributions to the market by producing works — solid works — that might not have seen the light of day ten to fifteen years ago. They are writing books that readers want but could not always find in the past because of restrictions on genre, length, and content.

TRC: Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline direction? Characters?

John: No. I need quiet when writing. I simply cannot write or edit in an environment where there are distractions or background noises. That said, I listen to music — relevant music — when planning a book, plotting storylines, and creating characters. For example, when laying the groundwork for Class of ’59, a novel set mostly in a South Pasadena, California, high school in the spring of 1959, I compiled a soundtrack of 1950s songs and listened to it for hours. I wanted to get a feel for the times before writing the book.

TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

John: I imagine it’s that our work is very exciting. In fact, it can be very boring. Writing a novel is a pedestrian exercise that requires gobs of time, quiet, and solitude. On the plus side, we have the chance to meet a lot of interesting people, particularly when marketing our books, and sometimes travel to interesting places when researching them. I have traveled to the primary settings of more than half of my thirteen novels and enjoyed every trip.

TRC: How should authors measure a book’s success?

John: I don’t know about other writers, but I measure a book’s success by the impact it has on readers. If a novel prompts people to read the next installment in the series, it has succeeded. If it does not, it has failed. As an author, I can tell you that there is no better feeling than producing something that complete strangers want to read again and again.

TRC: What is something that few, if anybody, knows about you?

John: I was a triple major as an undergraduate at the University of Oregon in the 1980s. I could not decide whether to major in journalism, history, or political science, so I attended school an extra year and earned a bachelor’s degree in all three disciplines.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

John: I am currently working on converting some of my early books to print. Almost all are available only in Kindle and audio format. I plan to market Indian Paintbrush in December and January and then turn my full attention to writing book four in the Carson Chronicles series. I expect to have the next book out by the summer of 2019.

TRC: Thank you, John, for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the new release. We wish you all the best.

John A Heldt is graciously offering the first three ebooks (mobi, epub or pdf) in the CARSON CHRONICLES Time Travel Series to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging onto the site, please refresh the page (at the top of your computer).

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9. Giveaway open internationally

10. Giveaway runs from December 13-18, 2018

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Permission (Perversion Trilogy #3) by TM Frazier-Review & Excerpt Tour

Permission (Perversion Trilogy #3) by TM Frazier-Review and Excerpt tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 11, 2018

Permission is the conclusion of Grim and Emma Jean’s story.

He was my first.
But since then I’ve been programmed to enjoy torture.
Being watched.
Being taken two at a time.
I feel nothing now. I’m empty. Hollow. Lost.
He knows it. He knows I need more.
So, he gives it to me.
My body has never felt such pleasure.
My heart has never endured such pain.

•••••••••

REVIEW: PERMISSION is the third and final instalment in TM Frazier’s contemporary, adult PERVERSION dark, romance trilogy focusing on seventeen-year old Emma Jean ‘Tricks’ Parish, and twenty-one year old Tristan ‘Grim’ Paine, both products of a failed and compromised foster case system. Although the lead characters are 17 and 21, PERMISSION (and the Perversion Trilogy) should not be considered a YA or NA story line due to the extreme violence and sexual content. PERMISSION should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events and cliff hanger of book two POSSESSION.

NOTE: If you have not read the previous instalments, there may be some spoilers in my review.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Grim and Tricks) PERMISSION follows in the aftermath of a raid at the Los Muertos compound. Following weeks of torture and abuse at the hands of the Los Muertos gang leader Marcos, our heroine Tricks, thinking she was about to be rescued finds herself the subject of a warrant for accessory to murder. Believing everyone she loves is dead or missing, Tricks will soon come face to face with a past she knew nothing about, a past that will quickly become her present and her future. Knowing Tricks needs some time to adjust to her new found reality, Grim is willing to walk away in the hopes for a happily ever after.

PERMISSION is a story of vengeance and retribution, healing and heartbreak, revelation and second chances. Noticeably lighter than the previous two instalments, PERMISSION explains the how and why of Trick’s foray into the foster care system, and the unlikely relationship between two young girls that continues to present day. Months will pass where the reader is not privy to what happens and why but a rekindling relationship brings with it a promise for so much more. The premise is impassioned; the characters are tragic but healing; the romance continues to grow despite the potential for heartache and pain.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Perversion
Possession
Permission

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

NOTE: The excerpt is intended for mature readers 18+ due to content.

 

Grim’s expression softens. “Let me make you feel good. Let me erase some of the hurt.” He pulls me against him for a searing kiss that makes me want nothing more than for him to be inside of me. Injuries be damned.

His lips release me all too quickly. The gentle night breeze licks across my wet mouth, cooling my lips.

Grim continues to my neck, sucking behind my ear.
I dig my fingernails into his back as he trails his talented tongue down my shoulder then across my chest until he’s staring at my naked breasts. “Perfect, beautiful tits,” he whispers with such awe it almost sounds like a prayer.
Sucking my nipple into his warm mouth, he toys with it between his teeth and tongue.

I kick out my legs, needing more. So much more.

“Shhhh…I got you, Tricks.”

I groan into the night as he moves to worship my other nipple. I’m in ecstasy and frustrated all at the same time.
He lowers his lips down my body, trailing his lips across my skin, down past my navel. When he reaches my shorts, he tugs at the button. I lift my hips, to assist him in ridding the barrier of clothing between us.

“Tell me if I hurt you,” he murmurs, his breath creates a tingling sensation against my already sensitive and swollen clit.

I can only nod my response because his lips are on me again, silencing my words and consuming my thoughts. He’s kissing me passionately in my most intimate place, parting my pussy lips with his tongue and lapping me up like I’m the most delicious morsel he’s ever tasted. He groans against my core.

I’m holding onto him for dear life, my fingers splayed in his hair to anchor him to me and me to the ground.
Grim massages my inner thigh with one hand while he works a thick finger inside of me with the other. Gently, too gently. There is no pain, only Grim and pleasure and everything I want in the world right here between my legs.
I tense as he sucks my clit into his mouth. A feeling of pure electric heat sizzles throughout my body. My insides ache as the pressure builds and builds from a spark into an uncontrollable raging fire.

He lifts away slightly, teasing me by blowing softly across my wet pink folds. I shutter so hard my teeth chatter. Arching my back, I pull on his hair, greedily and shamelessly grinding myself against his perfect face.
He must like my reaction, because he groans against me, fucking me with his fingers and licking me over and over again like a crazed animal. As if making me come is all that’s important in this world.

“I’m close,” I tell him, pulling his hair even harder, egging him on.

He lets out a guttural groan, flattening his tongue against my clit, stroking it up and down and back again.

The tension I feel within me is borderline pain, twisting me from the inside out. I’m about to burst through my own skin.

Grim lightly bites my clit before sucking it into hard his mouth one last time.

I come apart on a roar of my own, screaming his name into the night. I contract around his tongue, coating it in a flush of wetness I can feel dripping down my ass cheeks as I writhe against his face. The pleasure smashes into me over and over again, shattering me into pieces like a hammer against glass.

For the very first time in my life, I’m happy to be broken.


 

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T.M. (Tracey Marie) Frazier never dreamed that a single person would ever read a word she wrote when she published her first book. Now, she is a five-time USA Today bestselling author and her books have been translated into numerous languages and published all around the world.

T.M. enjoys writing what she calls ‘wrong side of the tracks romance’ with morally corrupt anti-heroes and ballsy heroines.

Her books have been described as raw, dark and gritty. Basically, what that means, is while some authors are great at describing a flower as it blooms, T.M. is better at describing it in the final stages of decay.

She loves meeting her readers, but if you see her at an event please don’t pinch her because she’s not ready to wake up from this amazing dream.

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The Dirty Ones by J.A. Huss – a review

THE DIRTY ONES by J.A. Huss-a review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 4, 2018.

They say write what you know.
So that’s all I did.
I wrote dirty. I wrote erotic. I wrote… the truth.

And then they called me a liar.

But it’s not me who’s lying.
It’s them.

The Dirty Ones is a brand new dark romance about the secret world of erotica authors

••••••••

REVIEW: What a hell of a read!! This is one of the best erotica’s I’ve ever read, JA Huss is so fabulous with the written word and her characters are so authentic and multi layered and beautifully twisted! This book is a original and like nothing I’ve ever read before and it grabbed me from page one and didn’t let go until the very twisted,didn’t see coming end! And yes the sex was hot,filthy, and so friggin good ,but it was so much more. If your looking for a book that is deliciously hot and has a wicked storyline with great characters,this is the book for you!!! I can guarantee most of you will read this in one sitting, because I sure did !!???

What happened in college has been a secret for over 10 years,but someone has decided that it’s time that the world knew about their dirty little secret. Who is the writer of their story is it Kiera the bestselling erotica writer who left that world behind without looking back or the next in line to be senator Connor Arlington or one of the other scandalous members of the dirty ones . What happened at the tower all those years ago, night after night, left its mark on everyone of its’ members and the time has come to let the world know about the dirty ones.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Kat V.

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Rock Rebel (Nothing But Trouble #3) by Tara Leigh-Review & Giveaway Tour

Rock Rebel (Nothing But Trouble #3) by Tara Leigh-Review & Giveaway Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 11, 2018.

He’s a rock star with a secret; she’s a pop princess with a painful past, can their forbidden romance survive, or will their lies destroy them both?

I’ve earned my bad reputation.

A few years ago, I was New York City’s hottest classical music prodigy. But I wanted something else, something more. So I chased my real dream, and now… I’m rock royalty. Dax Hughes, lead guitarist of Nothing but Trouble. But to my family and former Juilliard classmates, I’m an outcast. A misfit. A rebel.

They’re not entirely wrong. I don’t give a damn what other people think, and I’m all for breaking the rules… except when it comes to our new opening act, Verity Moore.

Rock gods don’t tour with pop princesses.

It’s not personal. Actually, under that fallen diva reputation, Verity’s incredibly talented. And her fiery redheaded personality is… intriguing. But I’m convinced the skeletons in Verity’s closet are as scandalous as my own, and when we’re not sparring, she has a way of drawing out all those secrets I’m determined to keep hidden.

Yeah. Verity Moore is definitely off-limits . . .
But since when do I give a damn about the rules?

•••••••••••

REVIEW: Rock Rebel is book three in the Nothing But Trouble series by Tara Leigh.
The story continues for rock band Nothing But Trouble’s guitarist Dax Hughes.

Dax’s backstory is that he left his family and classical music career behind to follow the woman he loved to California. But once in LA the woman he followed did not want the same things he did. Thats when he joined Nothing But Trouble. With his heart broken he threw everything he had into his band.

Verity Moore was a former child star, pop princess who had her own tv show and her mom as her manager. Verity has been through hell in her career and life. But she now wants to reignite her career and she is hoping that Nothing But Trouble’s manager, Travis Taggert may be the one to do that and restore her reputation.

But when Dax and Verity cross paths in an elevator the sparks fly! But both of them have their share of secrets. While this is Dax’s book, I truly believe he was uostaged by Verity.

This book explores a lot of todays hot topic, current cultures of the #MeToo movement. Verity has never been perfect but she has been wronged on so many levels. But Dax stands with her and supports her! But is it enough!

And can Dax get over his broken heart enough to let someone else in?

What a wonderful rock romance, that can be read alone or in order with the series. But I recommend the latter!

This one, in my opinion had the deepest connection between the main characters in the Nothing But Trouble series!

Highly recommend even if rock romance isn’t your usual style.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Rock King
Rock Legend

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Erin

Tara Leigh is a multi-published author of steamy contemporary romance. A former banker on Wall Street, she graduated from Washington University and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, but she much prefers spending her days with fictional boyfriends than analyzing financial spreadsheets. Tara currently lives in Fairfield County, Connecticut with her husband, children, and fur-baby, Pixie.

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Santa Baby: A Christmas Short Story by JC Valentine-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

SANTA BABY: A Christmas Short Story by JC Valentine-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

ebook only 99¢ at Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / ibooks

KOBO / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK Original Release Date December 21, 2017

Sunny’s outlook on the holidays isn’t so merry, but when she gets roped into playing Mrs. Claus for the local hospital, she discovers Christmas miracles aren’t just reserved for the children.

Note: This is a standalone short story with plenty of heat to chase away that winter chill, an HEA, and NO cliffhangers!

•••••••••

REVIEW: SANTA BABY by JC Valentine is a stand alone, Christmas short story; a second chance romance between high school and college sweethearts Sunny and Kyle.

Told from first person points of view (Sunny) SANTA BABY follows our heroine Sunny as she comes face to face with her past while ‘volunteering’ at the local hospital for sick children. Enter Kyle, the man who destroyed her heart but the man with whom Sunny is still in love. What ensues is the quick rekindling relationship between Sunny and Kyle, as they forget about the past, and look forward to the future.

SANTA BABY is a quick read; a simple, sweet and sexy, short story about second chances and happily ever after.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Chapter One
How did I get talked into this? Looking back, I know exactly where things went sideways. I should have skipped that last mimosa.
It started with Roberta’s retirement party. She wasn’t exactly the likable sort—kind of stodgy, rigid. But she was also like everyone’s grandmother, which is why everyone tolerated her. That and she made an amazing pineapple upside-down cake that made everyone look forward to the monthly potluck.
I would miss those cakes, but Roberta was eloping with some Polynesian guy she’d met in one of those outdoor yoga sessions, and apparently, it was love at first downward dog.
So yeah…
Seventy-year-old Roberta found love, and here I am, thirty-four, single as a Pringle, and not a prospect in sight. Hence the drinking. And also why I’m standing here in front of the storage closet while Travis rummages through dusty old boxes to find the Santa outfit I somehow got roped into wearing.
I am severely displeased.
The first thing I did when I arrived at the office this morning while nursing a hangover was tried to get out of it. Travis wouldn’t hear of it. Apparently, every year they get some poor schmuck to agree to dress up and play Santa to the kids down at the children’s hospital, and it usually falls to the newest member of the team.
Since I was hired in just after the New Year, that poor, unsuspecting fool happens to be me.
Plus, I’m the only one, supposedly, who doesn’t have out-of-town plans. I’m “it” by default on more than one level.
Lucky me.
“Found it!”
I snap to attention as Travis climbs over boxes on his way over to me, holding a mass of red fabric over his head like a trophy.
I groan, depressed at the thought of having to put that thing on. I can already smell the mothballs. “Just what I need to make it look like I put on an extra fifty pounds instead of ten.” It’s a holiday tradition, eating cookies and fudge and pies. My sweet tooth cannot be denied, so every year I pack on a little extra insulation to get me through the cold winter months.
Travis gives me a flirty smile and wink as he hands over what I now realize is a lot less red than I’d originally thought. “You’ll look anything but fat in this, trust me.”
The way he said that makes me completely distrustful of him. Narrowing my eyes, I reluctantly accept the offering, shaking it out as I say suspiciously, “What is that supposed to me—oh…”
This is not the Santa suit I’d expected. It’s…well… “I think you went to the wrong costume shop, little buddy,” I say sarcastically, because this has to be a joke. “I think you need to go back in there and find the rest of it.”
Travis’s smile is positively wicked now. “That is the rest of it.”
My eyes widen, and I look at it again. “Where did you find this thing, Strippers R Us? I can’t wear this!”
Like the asshole big-brother-type that he is, Travis playfully pokes the end of my nose. “You sure can, hon, and you’ll do it with a smile on your face and merry little laugh, too.” Closing up the closet, he locks it back up and brushes by me. “Make sure you dry-clean that thing before you put it on. It’s been around the block a few times.”
His mockingly jolly laugh makes me want to sprint after him, tackle him to the floor and jab my elbow into his ribs a few times. But as much as we were all family, office violence was just as frowned upon by human resources as workplace romances.
I’d just have to find my revenge another way. Until I did, it looked as though I was cursed to play Mrs. Santa.


 

J.C. Valentine is the USA Today and International bestselling author of the Night Calls and Wayward Fighters Series and the Forbidden Trilogy. Her vivid imagination and love of words and romance had her penning her own romance stories from an early age, which, despite being poorly edited and written longhand, she forced friends and family members to read. No, she isn’t sorry.

Living in the Northwest, she has three amazing children and far too many pets. Among the many hats she wears, J.C. is an entrepreneur. Having graduated with honors, she holds a Bachelor’s in English and when she isn’t writing, you can find her editing for fellow authors.

Sign up for J.C.’s newsletter and never miss a thing! http://bit.ly/1KxXWWB

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

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ReWined Volume 2 (Party Ever After #2) by Kim Karr-Review Tour

ReWined Vol. 2 (Party Ever After #2) by Kim Karr-Review tour

ONLY 99¢ or £0.99 Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon. uk / Amazon.au /

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ADD TO YOUR TBR ⇢ http://bit.ly/2DFCogh

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 9 , 2018

The dirty little enemies-to-lovers romp continues…

How to make a reluctant fiancée happy:

•Buy her a huge-ass diamond ring. √
•Throw a balls-out engagement party. √
•Make the wedding a quickie. √

Every girl dreams of getting married.
Right?
Not Paris Elizabeth Hollis Fairchild.
And especially not to me.

She says this party boy is anything but husband material.
Cocky. Arrogant. Presumptuous. And even manipulative.
Hey, those are all perfectly acceptable traits.

When it turns out she doesn’t have a choice, the arranged nuptials dear old granny insisted on go off without a hitch.
But that doesn’t mean we’re riding off into the sunset anytime soon.

With both of our failing wineries merging and a contract that states only one family business can survive, we’re spending a lot of time negotiating. And not the kind I prefer. The truth is it’s just a matter of who will come out on top, her or me? I wish I meant that literally.

In the meantime she demands separate bedrooms.
I insist we break in our new bed.
She says she hates me.
I think it’s love.

She believes our marriage won’t last.
I know it will.
She tells me not to bother popping the champagne.
I disagree.
In fact, I think it’s time to get this party started.

•••••••••

REVIEW: ReWined Volume 2 is the second instalment in Kim Karr’s contemporary, adult PARTY EVER AFTER erotic, romance trilogy focusing on on heir to the winery California Jane, Tyler Justin Ryan Holiday III, and Paris Elizabeth Hollis Fairchild, heir to the Highway 128 winery. Volume 2 should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events and cliff hanger of Volume 1.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Tyler and Paris) ReWined Volume 2 focuses on the rebuilding relationship between Tyler Holiday and Paris Fairchild. With both of their respective wineries on the verge of bankruptcy, Tyler and Paris enter into a personal and professional merger wherein one or both would succeed or fail. Feeling betrayed and hurt Paris accepts a marriage of convenience with the man who has the capability of destroying her heart. As our couple continue to search for a way to get both wineries back into the black, family secrets, lies and betrayal will tear down what little trust and peace of mind Tyler and Paris had found. What ensues is the rebuilding relationship and romance between Tyler and Paris, and the fall-out as sins from the past reveal a dark history, and one that is about to repeat itself.

ReWined Volume 2 is a revealing and energetic story line; a quick read that pulls the reader into a potential for success only to come crashing back to earth when the truth is revealed. The premise is captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are colourful and spirited. ReWined Volume 2 ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of ReWined Volume 1

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

ReWined, Volume 3 releases on DECEMBER 20th!

ADD TO YOUR TBR ⇢http://bit.ly/2K7jsaK

Reader * Chocolate Lover * Writer * Coffee Lover * Romantic * Beach Lover * Yoga Beginner

Kim Karr is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of eighteen novels. Best known for writing sexy contemporary love stories, she enjoys bringing flawed characters to life and creating romances that are page worthy. Her stories are raw, real, and explosive. Her characters will make you laugh, make you cry, make you feel. And her happily-ever-afters are always swoon worthy. From the brooding rock star to the arrogant millionaire to the Football Player. From the witty damsel-in-distress to the sassy high-powered businesswoman to the boutique owner. No two storylines are ever alike. If Kim’s not writing, you can find her wandering through antique stores with her husband, trying out new fitness classes with her sons, venturing out to new coffee shops with her daughter, or with her nose stuck in a book.

Link with Kim!

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