Nice Girls Don’t Ride by Roni Loren-Review and Book Tour

Nice Girls Don’t Ride by Roni Loren-Review and Book Tour

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Nice Girls Don’t Ride
by Roni Loren
Release Date: April 21, 2015
Genre: adult,contemporary, romance

Nice Girls Don't Ride

ebook only $1.99 : Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / The Book Depository

NOTE: NICE GIRLS DON’T RIDE is a novella that was included in the Riding Desire Boxed Set, which is no longer available. But Nice Girls Don’t Ride will be available again in April 2015 as a standalone from Penguin Intermix!

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Natalie Bourne thinks she has the perfect night planned for her twenty-first birthday. But when her car breaks down and her boyfriend bails on her, she’s left stranded in an auto shop dealing with a way too cocky, way too hot mechanic, who seems to be intent on pushing every button she has.

Monroe Hawkins knows he shouldn’t be messing with a girl from the uppity private college. Especially when he can tell she sees him as the help. But he’s having trouble resisting the redhead with the smart mouth and the killer legs. So when Natalie’s night goes from bad to worse, there’s no way he’s letting her spend her birthday alone. He makes her a deal—he’ll take her home but not until the sun comes up.

Ten hours, one motorcycle, and the city of Austin at their fingertips…things are about to take a major detour. And soon, there may be no U-turn in sight.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: I have to admit that upon reading the title I did not know what to think but this book surprised me and I found myself heavily enjoying this read. This book was a play on fantasy but with real substance. It was not simply girl meets guy, instant chemistry, some flirting here and there, the couple takes some time apart and the book ends with the guy declaring his love. Yes I admit that I was a little worried this book was going to be along the lines of that but it wasn’t. This book had incredible character development which was an element I greatly appreciated. Roni Loren took real care to really flesh out the main characters, Natalie and Monroe for us. Nope, no flat one dimensional characters here. While Natalie appears to be your typical good-girl (polite, responsible, docile and does what’s expected of her), she sheds that good girl skin to be more true to herself and stop taking crap from others starting with standing up to her now ex-boyfriend Caleb. And while Monroe looked a little rough around the edges at face value, Monroe was a true attentive gentleman. The man reeked of sincerity that I fell in love with him instantly.

I love how the book demonstrates how just because people are often neatly boxed up in labels doesn’t mean it’s the label that make people who they really are. Just because Caleb is a promising intern with his air of professionalism and being clean cut doesn’t mean he’s a good guy. He’s in fact a selfish, egotistical jerk and Monroe had every right of calling him a douchebag.

I really enjoyed the humor of the book as well. Monroe and Natalie cracked me up with their name calling of “son of anarchy” and “princess.” The humor didn’t cease to stop there either. Their constant banter was downright amusing that I had a feeling Monroe brought out the best in Natalie that she was able to let loose and really have fun. Monroe was constantly winning brownie points with me.

My favorite part in the book the cupcake part. It was so sweet of Monroe to get cupcakes for Natalie so that she would still somehow get a cake for her birthday though the cupcakes that Monroe got for Natalie were so unusual that I had to stop and imagine the cupcakes in my head. Blue cupcake and a cupcake with a glaze that resemble blood gave me such an amusing image in my head.

So what’s not to like about this book? You get a swoon-worthy biker stud, a female character who grows a pair, a sexy love scene and the ultimate culinary experience. So if you desire a fast-paced short story that will knock your socks off without sacrificing the story and characters, I would highly recommend this read right here!

Review by Xtina

Copy supplied by the tour promoter

excerpt

 

Chapter One
Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday, dear . . .
I groan and lean back against the guardrail, shielding my eyes from the piercing sunlight. How exactly should I finish that?
Girl who currently smells like sweat and roadkill?
Girl about to go broke paying for this mess?
Girl whose boyfriend will not answer his goddamned phone?
My fingers move over the screen as I text Caleb again. Where r u???
I stare at my phone, willing a response out of it, but the screen goes black before there’s any answering ding. Caleb had warned me that he was going to be cutting it close for our date tonight. And I know his internship at the local campaign office sometimes runs late when they’re prepping for a rally, but he should be out by now.
My fingers move over the screen again. R U secretly Superman in ur off hours? Come on, u can tell me. If ur saving the world, I’ll understand.
Of course, there’s still no response. And now my neck is prickling with not just sweat but anxiety. What if something happened to him? What if he was in an accident? What if—?
I stop myself before the thoughts spiral, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. Cool it, Nat. But that little exercise only gets me a lungful of the dead skunk that’s roasting in the heat a few yards away from me on the side of the highway. Blech. I press my fingers over my mouth, fighting a wave of nausea.
I check the clock on my phone for what seems like the hundredth time. The roadside-assistance lady said they would contact a local garage and get me a tow right away. But it’s been over an hour, and the only cars that have passed by have either ignored me or sent catcalls flying my way. Because, of course, my piece-of-crap car had to break down when I’m all dressed up in a low-cut dress and heels for my birthday dinner. Yay for timing.
One guy had at least offered to help and had seemed nice enough, but I’ve seen how those horror movies end. Girl on the side of the road accepts help from a seemingly harmless stranger, only to have her organs carved out later that night. No, thanks.
A grinding of tires on gravel draws my attention upward. A black tow truck rolls past me on the road and pulls to the side, sending a cloud of dust in its wake. I keep my phone clutched in my hand, quickly check the can of Mace in my purse, and then push off the guardrail. The side of the truck says Billy’s Custom Cycles and Auto Repair. There’s a tattoo-style logo of a motorcycle on fire, and I know that it’s definitely not the name of the repair shop the roadside assistance service gave me. It had been some big chain—AutoPlus or something like that. A little shimmer of nerves goes through me and I stop where I am, my heels sinking into the gravel.
The front door of the tow truck opens and a tattooed arm appears before anything else. For some reason, my eyes lock onto pieces of the man instead of the whole—like I can’t handle the entire view quite yet, only snapshots. That muscular arm as the driver slides out of the truck. The worn black motorcycle boots that hit the ground. I force myself to look up, tracking along the faded jeans and fitted black T-shirt, until I collide with a dark blue gaze.
“Looks like you need a ride.”
The deep voice startles me for a second and snaps me back into the moment like a slingshot. Ping! Pay attention, Nat. Now is not the time to let my guard down. “No, thank you, I don’t. I already have another shop on the way.”
His gaze tracks over my dusty dress, slow and lazy like, before he lifts a dark brow. “How long have you been waiting? It’s pretty hot out here.”
The once-over makes me more than a little self-conscious. He can’t be all that much older than me, early twenties for sure, but something about him is intimidating as hell. “I don’t know. Not long. I’m sure they’ll be here any second.”
He crosses his arms over his chest and eyes my car, which has chosen this moment to start smoking from under the hood—as if it senses help in its midst and is crying out for it. “What shop is coming?”
I brush at the skirt of my dress, trying to give my nervous hands something to do. I don’t want to look worried or scared or show him that I’m melting in this brutal Texas heat. “AutoPlus, AutoMart . . .”
He scowls. “Autoland.”
“That’s it.”
“You might as well set up a tent then. They take forever to get to calls, and they’ll charge you twice as much as we would. Plus, they close at six. They’re just going to tow you in and then lock up for the night.”
“Says the guy who wants to make a buck on a girl stranded on the side of the road.”
The corner of his mouth lifts. “Hey, princess, I’m just trying to be a nice guy and get you to your”—he looks me up and down again—“sorority party on time. I get paid the same either way.”
Princess? Sorority party? My eyes narrow and I give him my own head-to-toe look, taking in the messy dark hair, the tattoos, the heavy boots, the finely shaped . . . I snatch the thought back before I can go there. “Look, Son of Anarchy, I appreciate the nice guy offer, but how do I even know you’re legit?”
He snorts. “You think I drive a tow truck around for fun? Call the number on the side of the truck if you want. But otherwise, I’ve got better stuff to do than stand here in the heat, smelling roadkill. Two minutes, princess. I’ll be in the truck. You want a tow and a ride? You get in. If not, good luck with Autoland.”
He turns to go, and I feel a little dart of panic at being left alone again—even if he’s not exactly the company I want. This isn’t the best part of Austin, and the sun is on its way down. “Wait, what’s your name? You know, so I can verify.”
He doesn’t turn around but calls back. “Monroe.”
I dial the number to the shop and, of course, they verify that Monroe works for them and is driving the truck today. The guy on the phone sounds amused by my questions. And his reaction makes me realize that I’m being paranoid, that my nerves are officially frayed, and it’s making me act like a bitch. I thank the guy on the phone, hang up, and take a steadying breath. This is going to be okay. Not everyone is out to take advantage. Some people actually do things to be helpful without ulterior motives.
My mother would laugh her ass off at that logic. Everybody’s got an agenda, Nattie.
I straighten the neckline of my dress, hike my purse up my shoulder, and walk over to the tow truck with as much dignity as I can muster for a sweaty girl in a dusty dress. Monroe hasn’t climbed back into the cab, but is instead leaning against the front bumper and watching the cars zoom by on the overpass up ahead. He doesn’t look my way. “Verified that I’m not a serial killer?”
“Verified that you work for Billy’s. The serial-killer part is yet to be determined.”
He smiles out at the horizon. “Want to check the backseat for weapons or body parts?”
“I have a feeling you’d be too sneaky to leave such obvious evidence lying around. And if you aren’t that clever, I’m going to be seriously disappointed in myself if I fall victim to a dumb serial killer.”
He chuckles and it changes his whole face, warming it. When he turns his head, his blue eyes meet mine and my stomach tightens a little. I do my best not to let my reaction show on my face. Last thing I need is him thinking that I’m interested in him. Because, of course, I’m not. I’m totally not. If there’s an opposite of my type, it’s this guy. And plus, I have Caleb. Cute, smart, on-his-way-to-big-things Caleb.
Caleb, who won’t answer his goddamned phone.
Monroe pushes himself off the bumper. “I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult, princess, but I’ll take it you’re going to ride with me.”
“Yes. But only because I can’t handle the dead-skunk smell for another minute.”
“I’m preferable to skunk guts? The flattery just rolls off you, doesn’t it?”
The jab lands squarely. I press my fingers to the space between my eyes and rub. “Sorry. I’m really not trying to be a bitch.”
“It just comes natural, then?”
My eyes snap open and I’m ready to hurl an insult back, but I find him wearing a playful grin and clamp my lips shut.
He angles a thumb toward the truck. “Get in . . .”
“Natalie,” I supply.
“Natalie. And kick the A/C on. Getting your car hooked up is gonna take a few minutes. You may want to call someone for a ride, too, because there’s no guarantee we can get this fixed tonight. I’m assuming you have plans.”
I glance down at my outfit, suddenly self-conscious about the sexy getup. It’s not my typical style, but tonight was supposed to be special, and I had wanted to knock Caleb on his butt. He’s been so wrapped up in work and school lately that I’ve felt a little like furniture. So I borrowed my roommate’s dress with its plunging neckline and treated myself to the new risqué lingerie I’m wearing beneath. I’m not exactly Ms. Vixen normally, so Caleb would’ve never seen it coming. Now it’s all a waste.
“I have a date with my boyfriend,” I say to Monroe.
“Right. So, he can pick you up?”
“He’s not answering his phone. But I’m sure I’ll get him soon.”
Monroe makes some noncommittal noise and nods. “I’m going to get to work. You go and cool off. There’s bottled water in the ice chest in the backseat.”
“Thanks.”
Before getting in the truck, I find myself watching Monroe walk back toward my car. He’s easily over six feet tall but doesn’t move in that awkward, hunched way that most of the taller guys on campus move. There’s an easy confidence to him, like he’s fully grown into his body and taken ownership—a man’s walk. My eyes follow him as he pops the hood of my car and leans over. The hem of his shirt lifts as he bends, exposing a strip of tanned, muscular lower back. I find myself wondering what it would feel like beneath my fingers and if he has any more ink hidden under there . . . I force my eyes away.
What the hell is wrong with me? I don’t have random illicit thoughts about complete strangers. Especially not strangers who have tattoos and call me princess.
I shake my head and pull open the door on the passenger side. Maybe I have heatstroke or something.
I lay my head back against the seat and close my eyes. But all I can see is the image of my new mechanic pulling his shirt all the way off, sweat dripping off him, me putting my hands . . .
I sit straight up.
Yep, definitely heatstroke. Has to be.

 


About The author

Roni LorenRoni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son.

If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that’s it. She is the National Bestselling Author of The Loving on the Edge series from Berkley Heat.

 

Places to find Roni Loren:
Site: www.roniloren.com
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/RoniLoren
Twitter:https://twitter.com/roniloren
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4877863.Roni_Loren

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If I Say No (Say Something #2) by Brandy Jellum-a review

If I Say No (Say Something #2) by Brandy Jellum-a review

If I Say No

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 2014

Reid Harder thought his life was seemingly perfect. He had the woman he loved and nothing could go wrong. The only exception comes in the form of his brother—Rhett.

Set on revenge, his brother will stop at nothing to make Reid pay for his past mistakes. Teaming up with the FBI, Reid is determined to put an end to his brother once and for all. But sometimes, fate has other plans in store. His relationship with Liza is falling apart, enemies become friends, and family becomes his worst nightmare. With the future unknown, Reid must figure out a way to make amends with his past if he wants to move forward with his future.

••••••••••••••••••••

In book #1 of this series, we followed Liza and her journey to face her demons from her mother’s murder at her father’s hand. In this book, we get to follow the mystery about Reid’s past and inner demons. Guess everyone’s got their inner demons they got to face.

To make a long story short, Reid’s older brother Rhett is a psychopath and he is after revenge on Reid and his wife Lily. Reid and Lily had an affair behind Rhett’s back. So he plans to take something precious from Reid to even the score and who is more precious than the one and only love of his life, Liza. The book starts with a flashback from Reid’s past where he is unable to save Lily and Ollie from the house fire he was convinced was set up by Rhett. Two burnt bodies are wheeled out in stretchers belonging to a woman and an infant. Reid breaks down and cries realizing that the woman and nephew he loves is gone. So for anyone else following the series alongside with me, that’s the history behind the photo of Lily and Ollie that Liza found snooping through Reid’s stuff in book one.

To cut to the chase, this book was a doozy. Liza seriously pissed me off pretty badly in the beginning and middle of the book. I recalled in the first book that Reid was pretty patient with Liza not pushing and prodding for more than she wanted to share. Yes admit that Reid may have pulled a few dick moves on her to get her to see him but that was to get her to see him not share what she didn’t want to share. The fact that Liza acted like a huge immature baby that she kept pushing at every worse time at Reid, storming out of the house to stay at Elias which really messed up because Elias still has feelings for Liza, crying, and going as far as calling off the wedding just shows me that even though Liza left her life of riches and luxury in her past she is still one spoiled brat. Sorry but if I was to open up to someone about a traumatic past, I for one wouldn’t confide in a crybaby person who always gets their way. Also if she just gave Reid his space to deal with the repercussions of his past then maybe he would’ve dealt with it with a clear head and gotten through it faster and perhaps been able to tell her sooner. But no she still continued to push and prod and threaten Reid to the point that he gotten himself in hot water more than once and the issue escalated to the point that people died, got hurt and even captured. I’m not here to fillet and roast Liza as my respect for Reid also fell a little too. His cowardice on coming clean to Liza was also another thing that just made the whole situation complicated. Yes it was a situation where one of them had to give but none of them wanted too.

Liza did redeem herself in the end ten-fold however. Liza was the one who made the first move to let go of the past and move on. She also selflessly moved up to the plate to take on a new role that she didn’t have to but did so from the good of her heart. So I do apologize for what I had said about Liza a while ago. I like and respect her as a character from a book regardless. And yes, there is a wedding at the end. I love this part because there are so many references from the first book when they first started to fall in love comes back to surface and it is so cute and endearing.

I found it so hard to put this book down that I was surprised I was able to finish it as fast as I did. The plot was the big reason why. You are constantly on the edge of your seat fearing for Reid, his life and his relationship with Liza. There are many things that will take you aback like the “dead” coming back to life, the past of the childhoods, the FBI lending a helping hand and even good ol’ mommy Harder comes to visit.

The thing is this book makes me realize that life is never perfect. Rich, famous, powerful, poor, isolated and whatnot everyone is going to have those scary demons of their past that haunt them. It’s a risk to let others in when they can turn around and hurt you or worse use your demon against you. Despite that, no matter what there are always going to be people who care about you and there is no demon worth pushing those who love you away. I’m glad that Liza and Reid learn that in time to not only have that wonderful happily ever after in the end but in the end it’s going to make them a stronger team to get through anything together.

Series Reading Order
1. If I Say Yes
2. If I Say No
3. If I Say Maybe (No release date)
4. If I Say Never (No release date)

Reviewed by Xtina

Copy supplied by the author

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On Wicked Ground (Solsti Prophecy #4) by Sharon Kay-a review

On Wicked Ground (Solsti Prophecy #4) by Sharon Kay-a review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 13, 2015

The lost memories of a thief…
The first twelve years of Alina’s life are a black void. An accomplished thief, she uses her cloaking ability to pick pockets as well as stage elaborate heists. Digging deeper into her past sets off a chain of events that puts her, and the family she has just discovered, in the sights of their worst enemy.

…and the scarred heart of a guardian…
In secret, Lash Watcher Caine plots vengeance for the destruction of everything he loved. Branded by loss, he longs to find his one true mate, knowing that only with her will his heart fully heal. When his brief meeting with Alina is interrupted by her elaborate evade-and-escape plan, he knows there is more to her than meets his watchful eyes. But nothing can prepare him for the lethal power of her mind.

…collide at the fault line of destiny.
A brilliant villain with a vicious and loyal army behind her can only be stopped by one force: the combined power of four women who command the elements. Alina, with her newly-discovered affinity to the earth, becomes the linchpin to halting the desecration of their world. Thrown into a battle plan and a new family, she finds joy in in the quiet strength of Caine’s arms. But when the secrets to her past are revealed, she learns a terrible price has been paid in advance. The very magic that allowed her to live to fulfill a prophecy will forever deny her heart’s deepest wish.

•••••••••••••••

Finally the conclusion to the Solsti prophecy and let me tell you the Bonham sisters totally kicked ass. I love that every sister has their own personalities but steely resolve is what they all have in common. *fist pumps* So while we know Nicole commands the air, Brooke commands water and Gin commands fire it’s easy to conclude that we need a earth element to complete the circle. And guess who gets the honor to command earth, the one and only and thought to be deceased baby sister Alina. And just like her sisters, she also gets paired with a hottie Lash demon and who better than Caine who she ran into during a party when she was on the job with her father.

One of the things I really liked about this book was despite the height of the story arc, there was plenty of scenes where Alina and Caine bonded but at the same time the story arc was not sacrificed in the least. That right there was a nice balance and one I felt took some real skill as an author. Like Gin and Mathias, I felt like their story fell on the more romantic side. I’m not complaining when I’m saying this but Nicole and Brooke’s books fell a little on the…horny side which isn’t a bad thing but Gin and Alina’s fall more into the touchy-feely romantic side. My favorite part was when Caine transported him and Alina to a secret place near his hometown where they got to swim naked together, walk through rows of cilantro growing, having Torth butterflies swarm them and having sex on the grass near the water. You also get to know the mysterious Caine a bit more. Best scene Sharon Kay has ever written. Not only has this scene left me hot and bothered but stunned by the level of emotion in the scene.

Now for the other best part, seeing the sisters in action and using their abilities to its fullest. One word to describe it all, MAGNIFICENT! On what they can do with their elements were endless ranging from Alina opening the ground to drop enemies beneath the earth to Nicole and Brooke combining their powers to create ice knives to shoot at enemies to Gin creating fire nooses. Sorry to sound like a dork but the final battle with the Lash demon watchers, Solsti and Undead Demon warriors vs. Vampire Elegia and her doped up army of super plant drug goonies was EPIC. The only thing I had to admit was the death of Elegia was a little on the quick side. I felt like maybe she was hyped up to be this scary unstoppable lady doped up on her super plant drug even if she described to be frail but it was a bunch of trash talking and then the sisters killing her at a drop of a hat.

Also for those who are following this series alongside me, you also get to find out what happened with Alina on how she was still alive when she was thought to be “dead” and the sad price for her life. And even though Sebastian was only her adoptive father who found her, I found their relationship quite endearing because I can see how much he grew to love her like his daughter. And not to worry, all loose ends are tied up in this book.

To Sharon Kay, it was mega honor to read this remarkable series. I loved every second of the adventure ranging from the awesome heroines and their hottie Lash demon mates, blood racing fights and scenes to keep you on the edge of your seats, hard core love action, and best of all good winning over evil. Besides an author who can draw emotion out of me so strongly that I almost cried on a gym elliptical gets a thumbs up in my opinion!

Solsti Prophecy Series

Series Reading Order
Wicked Wind
Wicked Waves
Wicked Flames
Kissed by a Demon Spy
On Wicked Ground

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Xtina

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Ski Slope Sparks (A Christmas Romance Novella) by Monique Dubois-a review

Ski Slope Sparks (A Christmas Romance Novella) by Monique Dubois-a review

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Ski Slope Sparks
A Christmas Romance Novella
Christmas Encounters
by Monique Dubois
Release Date: November 11, 2014

Ski Slope Sparks

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 11, 2014

Follow Monique Dubois: Website / Facebook

ONE-NIGHT ENCOUNTER…OR FOREVER LOVE?

Jamie Fielding has been counting the days until her Christmas ski vacation. Unfortunately, when her cheating boyfriend cancels at the last minute, it looks as though she’ll be spending Christmas Eve alone. Instead, a bad case of altitude sickness lands her in the resort infirmary where she finds herself in the company of a sexy, charismatic doctor. After a passion-filled night in a cozy ski cabin, Jamie awakens in the arms of the best Christmas present ever…Dr. Wyatt Tremaine. Their newfound bond is threatened, however, when lovers from their pasts show up. Luckily, the magic of the season prevails, and soon Jamie and Wyatt are in each other’s arms again, experiencing the kind of sparks that are destined to light an enduring fire…and give them a Christmas to remember.

•••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: Has this bone chilling weather been leaving you feeling down or trapped indoors unable to go out for some fun? Well worry not my peeps! Curl up with this cute yet sexy book, a warm fleece throw, and most importantly a hot toddy laced with rum and why not top that off with lots of whipped cream? Might as well splurge on this guilty pleasure.

Enjoy this fast paced read with Jamie Fielding and Wyatt Tremaine who are in the wrong relationships run into each other. The chemistry and attraction is instant. I admit at first I thought it was Jamie being emotionally vulnerable since her boyfriend bailed on her and filled her with doubt whether he is faithful to her or not but as the book goes on you realize her boyfriend is a mega jerk to her that she should’ve of chucked the guy sooner. The same goes for Wyatt, his girlfriend came off as a conceited, egotistical Barbie doll who loves herself too much to love anyone else.

Even though this book is really short at a whopping 50 some pages, the author makes up for intensity of the attraction and the couple love scene. She also has some very likeable elements. I really appreciated that Jamie was relatable. I like that the woman was voluptuous with curves because us average women need love too. Both Jamie and Wyatt were likeable though I would’ve desired to get to know them more had the book been longer.

Overall this book was a fun and sexy play on fantasies. So if anyone ever fantasized about being with a hot doctor or canoodling with a lover in a comfy ski cabin then this is your chicken soup right here.

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Xtina

 

About the Author

Monique DuBois is a bestselling author who loves creating steamy romance stories about strong women and sexy men that she hopes will keep you up late at night…in more ways than one.

Monique can be easily bribed with cupcakes and wine, and she really enjoys long bubble baths and a good book. She also loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted through her website.

Monique is well known for her Jet-Setting Escort (A Curvy Girl Erotic Romance) series. To learn more about Monique’s books and sign up for her new release list, visit www.matchscort.com

Find Monique on Facebook and Twitter

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Kissed by a Demon Spy (Solsti Series Novella) by Sharon Kay-a review

Kissed by a Demon Spy (Solsti Series Novella) by Sharon Kay-a review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 7, 2014

This novella is a companion piece to the Solsti series and can be read as a stand-alone.

Kidnapped as a teen and forced into a life of sexual slavery, Garnet vowed long ago to do whatever she could to spare others her fate. When karma comes full circle with an offer of freedom for her and her young son, she jumps at the chance.

Masquerading as a village innkeeper, Aden keeps his espionage work secret from the gentle pixies he lives among. Using his skills to prevent a group of vicious demons from attacking the innocent, his world is draped in mist, shadow, and danger.

Steeped in shame, Garnet is loath to share her past with Aden. But Aden senses a sweet, loyal strength in her that no amount of horror can erase. His dangerous work is the opposite of the stability Garnet craves. Yet Aden’s patience and strength make him the hero she never had. When the enemy targets them, Garnet and Aden realize that honesty is the truest form of courage.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: A novella such as this is like a decadent little morsel of a dessert like a petit four or a French macaroon. Sweet heaven packed into a little slip of a morsel. Despite how short this novella is, I savored every bit of this book. It was a good story that left me wanting more and I mean that in a good way. For those of you who are following the Solsti series know about Garnet who helped Kai and Brooke escape Stroehm, you get to find out about what happens to her.

After bearing….wait for it…172 years of slavery, Garnet and her six year old son Dash are offered a fresh start in life. The uneventful death of the leader of Stroehm paves the way for Garnet and Dash to escape with the help of Mathias and Bianca who was sent by Kai and Brooke. Lucky for Garnet, Kai and Brooke never forgot the time when Garnet helped Kai and Brooke escape Stroehm in Wicked Waves. It seems to me that Kai and Garnet have an interesting relationship of helping each other and paying back the kindness. First Kai helps Garnet out her thrall slavery, then Garnet helps bust Kai and Brooke out of Stroehm and then Kai sends help to get Garnet and her son out of Stroehm.

Anyways, you get to learn about Garnet and her background before she was forced into her slave life. You learn about her special abilities and her hometown in which she decides to come back to and start her life over there. To make things even better for Garnet and Dash, everyone around them is extremely kind to them. Dash even adjusts really well to going to school. To me it actually seems like Garnet and Dash’s fresh start is perfect. I liked Garnet and Dash but I have to admit that I wish for more dimension to Garnet’s character like when she worked on growing plants or her work in the kitchen, she shows her strengths in her skills and I wish she used them more and in detail more in the book. I found that side of her entertaining. Aside from that, I enjoyed Garnet. She was the epitome of feminine softness in the sense that she was very maternal, alluring yet demure at the same time, and compassionate. Garnet is a really likeable character and wasn’t in the least bit annoying to me. And then there is Aden. Where do I being with Aden? Of all the guys I met in this series, I felt like Aden was the most romantic one. He was very kind, compassionate, understanding and most of all patient with Garnet. Given her history as a thrall slave he never pushed her into doing something she didn’t want to do, he saw to her pleasure before his own when they did finally get together and from what I can see it seemed like when it came to doing some things he gave her the control to take things where she felt comfortable. The extra bonus was that Aden and Dash got along very well. Aden was chivalrous gentlemen. Despite that, he also has a rough side to him where he is tough and fights like a warrior.

I loved this book and I enjoyed the privilege of reading it. I love fresh starts because let’s face it life gets messy. We do things we regret or not proud of, we forget who we are in the face of trying to please everyone around us, we end up in very unfavorable circumstances and fall into a bad rut that we sometimes all need that clean slab to start over on. Garnet and Dash free themselves from a sordid and bad destiny into a good one where they have freedom and choices, security of a home and a sense of community and belonging in Ivydale. I love that despite the abuse Garnet had to face, she was still willing to open herself up to be loved. Not that it was an easy feat for her due to her inner demons thinking herself worthless and “damaged goods” but that she deserves to be loved and taken care of for a change. I love that despite Garnet’s past and even her extra baggage; Aden was able to see and admire a woman of strength, courage and selflessness. I really look forward to reading more on this awesome series. Give this series a try because you won’t regret it.

Series Reading Order
Wicked Wind
Wicked Waves
Wicked Flames
Kissed by a Demon Spy

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Xtina

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Wicked Flames (Solsti Prophecy #3) by Sharon Kay-a review

Wicked Flames (Solsti Prophecy #3) by Sharon Kay-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 2014

Gin Bonham lives with a dark secret. Born with an ability she never wanted, she builds her life around science and logic, running from the terror she is capable of causing. When sexy stranger Mathias spots her on a dance floor and cuts in, he leads Gin in a sensual rhythm that continues long after the music stops. But Mathias hides the fact that he knows exactly what she can do: in the deepest recesses of her mind lurks the power to manipulate fire. Destiny is coming for her and it doesn’t care if she’s ready or not.

Mathias possesses tracking and espionage skills so extraordinary that his fellow Lash demons call him The Hunter. Pursue and interrogate. He never fails. When he is tasked with coaxing Gin to work with the Lash demons against a common enemy, he relishes the challenge. But meeting her awakens a new, primal drive that pulls him toward her even as his tactics break her heart.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Welcome back to the awesome realm of Torth and the legendary prophecy of the Solsti sisters! Each of the Solsti sister controls the elements of air, water, fire and earth which is already phenomenal but they are also destined to restore the order and balance in the realms. It’s kind of crazy to think about to have a very impressive power but also be given a very large responsibility that comes with it. While it was a blast to meet Nicole who controls the air and Brooke who controls water totally kick butt and completely embrace their abilities, Gin who controls fire is a totally different story. Gin does the opposite and doesn’t embrace her abilities but looks at her ability to control fire likes it’s a curse. I like to call her the reluctant Solsti but don’t worry as I don’t like her less than Brooke or Nicole. Gin turned out to be a really smart scientist who got her Masters as well as a skilled ballroom dancer. I liked how the book described her to be a both-side of the brain type of gal. But the thing I liked about all the sisters is that they all want to help others. ☺

I’ve always liked Mathias from Wicked Waves and I was glad to see that he was going to end up with Gin. I figured if anyone was going to persuade and get Gin past her demons about using her powers it was going to be Mathias. I got this vibe that Mathias just has a way with others as a tracker, he has a lot of connections to call in with all sorts of favors as well as get what he wants from others. With all that said, Mathias came off as a very kind and compassionate man. I really enjoyed how Gin and Mathias first met, it was such a sexy way to meet that Sharon Kay has to be a romantic to create such a scene. If you love sexy ballroom dances complete with instant sensual chemistry than you’ll love this scene along with fanning yourself with the sizzling spiciness of this scene. With such a great way for a relationship to start and take off, I had to admit that I desired more Gin and Mathias moments. I admit that at times I felt like some of their bonding scenes seemed rushed. Don’t get me wrong though because I really do like them as a couple and enjoyed their love scenes but I liked them so much that I wanted more love scenes from them. And even though I enjoy and look forward to the hot and steamy love scenes, the emotional substance is equally important to me in which this book was very rich. I absolutely love the scene where Gin and Mathias are sitting in the beach of Tarsa where Gin opens up to Mathias why she felt like her abilities were a curse and wanted nothing to do with them all the while Mathias listens to her with no judgment, compassion and complete understanding. It was such a beautifully written turning point in the book where Gin accepts her powers as well as her blooming relationship with Mathias. It was also a scene that you get to witness the beauty of Gin using her powers since she seldom uses her powers in the book.

Another thing to note is that I always find it interesting how Sharon Kay has the ability to tie in parts that seem irrelevant to the story until you find out later how it ties in. I love the shocking revelations you get to find out in the book. Not only that but it also paves the way to the next book that hints that Nicole, Brooke and Gin’s sister thought to be dead is very much alive. Also this book goes a whole lot more into the story arc of the evil Elegia and her plans. I am really enjoying this series and I very much look forward to the next book. I know there are a lot of element books and all but take my word for it that this series is really worth reading. ☺

Reading Order
Wicked Wind
Wicked Waves
Wicked Flames

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Xtina

about the author

FOLLOW: Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

Sharon KaySharon Kay writes award-winning fiction and can never get enough reading time. She loves paranormal romance, with romantic suspense following close on its heels. She loves winter and black coffee, and is endlessly inspired to write kick-ass heroines and the men strong enough to capture their hearts.

Sharon lives in the Chicago area with her husband and son, and didn’t expect to write one book, let alone a series. But WICKED WIND and the Solsti series formed in her head one weekend and refused to stay quiet until she put pen to paper. Her characters tend to keep her up at night, as they banter, fall in love, and slay endless varieties of power-hungry demons.

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If I Say Yes (Say Something #1) by Brandy Jellum-a review

If I Say Yes (Say Something #1) By Brandy Jellum-a review

If I Say Yes

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 20, 2014

Elizabeth Lewis was the child of Hollywood’s darling couple, until her father murdered her mother.

Six years later, she has traded her flashy, luxurious lifestyle for one of safe anonymity as a literary agent. With a different name and appearance, Liza Winter is living the life of her dreams—one where she’s known for who she is instead of what her father did. Except her apartment should be condemned, her car only starts when it wants, she hates the romance genre she has been assigned, and the CEO’s deliciously attractive nephew is out to ruin her carefully laid plans.

Reid Harder has never met an obstacle he couldn’t overcome. When his new position in the romance department comes with a benefit his uncle didn’t mention, he decides to wage a war against the intelligent, beautiful Liza to destroy every argument she has for turning him down. Still, the closer he gets to winning the prize, the more he realizes that the woman is keeping secrets that may endanger not just her life but his.

Will Liza overcome her mistrust of Reid to reveal her secrets before he learns the truth and walks away? Or will a grudge-wielding apparition from her past make her the next deadly Hollywood headline?

••••••••••••••••••••••••

This book was a unique package. You get murder, crazy stalkers, lots of secrets, a brewing love story, and best of all some really unexpected twists. I’m not sure if this book was a romantic thriller or romantic suspense but whatever it was, I liked it. There was just so much brewing in this book so to speak and the author sure knew how to work it to her advantage to keep you on your toes throughout the entire book. The correlation between the murder of Liza’s mother and the scary emails from the stalker, Reid onto Liza trying to find out what she’s hiding from him no matter how much she tried to keep him out and the building romance that Liza fights tooth and nail. All of it brewing that it made me wonder when it was all going to blow up in Liza’s face.

My most favorite part was when Liza and Reid first meet. Liza is in an interesting predicament where the CEO’s wife dislikes Liza and wants to get rid of Liza. The thing is she makes it known that she wants the company rid of Liza. So in an effort to keep her job and possibly get transferred out of the romance department and into the horror department, she goes to talk to the CEO. Although she comes in with the intention of talking to the CEO, she ends up ranting and stuffing her foot in her mouth in front of not the CEO but the nephew of the CEO, Reid. I thought the scene was really hilarious and to make things worse she also finds out that Reid is the head of the Romance department. All I could think of was, “Nice one Liza.” LOL

This book also provided the nice aspects of a slowly building love story as well as good character development which I enjoyed very much. It was a joy to watch Liza and Reid’s relationship grow slowly at a more realistic rate. Yes when they first meet the attraction was instantaneous but they also danced around each other getting to know each other before they really did anything physical which was towards the end of the book. I admit that it did get annoying when both Liza and Reid had this whole hot and cold attitude. It was like one minute they were kissing each other like they couldn’t get enough of each other and then the next minute one of them would act as if they couldn’t be in the other’s presence any longer. Don’t get me wrong I really like Liza and Reid as a couple but a person could only take so much fickle-mindedness. The annoyance was very easy to overlook because Reid and Liza do stay together at one of Reid’s places and it was then that they let their walls down in front of each other. It was a very nicely written turning point for the couple.

Then there is the character development for Liza. In the beginning I got the vibe that she was a bitter and quiet girl who just ran away from all her problems. I can also see that she was a control freak. But throughout the book, you can actually see Liza mature in the sense that she tries to face all her issues one by one. In the end of the book, Liza does face her demons of going to the house of her childhood, visiting her father in prison, learning to realize that she does have a right to be loved and accepts a marriage proposal from Reid and even has to face her best friend Elias that they won’t be more than friends. Most of all, Liza learns to let go of some control and trust again. I admit that her stringing Elias along even though she couldn’t return his amorous feelings towards her but kept around as a crutch in her life was a little cruel. Although I frowned on that, I can also understand where Liza was coming from that she needed a friend to keep her sane as well as so she didn’t have to be alone in the world.

This book surprised me and I did enjoy every minute of reading it. Brandy has done well to keep the reader engaged and on edge which I admire is an art in itself. I take off my hat to her on pulling that off. The ending caught me by surprise and I look forward for the next book. ☺

Reviewed by Xtina

Copy supplied by the author

About The Author beige

Brandy JellumBrandy’s passion for writing began long before she actually sat down to write. As a child, she has had an obsession with reading. Everything from the classic stories by Jane Austen to YA Fiction by Richelle Mead. Finally, in 2012, she decided to create her own stories for people to fall in love with. Brandy bounces back and forth writing both Young Adult Fiction and Romance.

When she isn’t writing, she can be found chasing after her husband, her four children and her black lab Diesel. Or curled up on her favorite corner of the couch with her newest book.

Follow Brandy on Social Media:
http://www.brandyjellumbooks.wordpres…
https://www.facebook.com/BrandyJellum
@Brandy_Jellum

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Burnouts, Geeks and Jesus Freaks by Karen Gordon-a review

Burnouts, Geeks and Jesus Freaks by Karen Gordon -a review

Burnouts Geeks and Jesus Freaks

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 4, 2014
Genre: Young Adult, contemporary

They’re burnouts – a little short on parents, money and plans for the future, but they’ve got each other and a whole lot of fun. With a world of crazy at home, Carrie Gould needs them to keep her sanity. To stay in their world she needs to keep dating the guy with the party house, which would be fine, if she hadn’t fallen in love with someone else.

He’s such a geek. Ben Gorman is obsessive, smart, strong-willed and on the fast track to his dream of becoming an Army Ranger. He’s also the only geek with a girl. Joelle Welker is perfect for him; a self-proclaimed Jesus freak, who is dedicated to her beliefs and to building a future with Ben. But those plans don’t include his neighbor, Carrie, or Ben’s dedication to her.

Their friendship started by chance. Their love started with trust.

This is a sweet, silly smart-sexy story of first love and first lovers.

••••••••••••••••••••••

I need to get this off of my chest but I found the title quite catchy. Reading the title of this book, you would think this story is a young adult novel about high school cliques. My first impression was it was going to follow a burnout, a geek and Jesus freak about their lives in high school where something will bring them together where they will realize they have a lot in common. Something along those lines. In a way it does follow a burnout and geek but for the Jesus freak not really. You do read the story from the point of view from the burnout and geek.

You have burnout, Carrie Gould and geek, Ben Gorman who are childhood neighbors and friends. Carrie and Ben are good friends despite being on opposite ends of the clique spectrum. I felt like Carrie and Ben are like your star-crossed lovers where there was just so much standing in their way to be together. First it’s the cliques there are associated with, then it’s them being in relationships with the wrong people, and then it’s the circumstances with Ben’s military career and Carrie being forced in a marriage due to an unplanned pregnancy with another man. And when they finally realize their feelings for each other and get together, their time together is just so brief that you are just so overwhelmed with disappointment.

You seriously feel like you want to curse the faith above on why they can’t be together. They are just so perfect together. They’ve known each other since childhood and have continued to remain friends through the years and they both have family issues. They just get each other so well that you are screaming at them to be together even when they are with the wrong people. While Ben and Carrie are separated because of Ben being deployed, it is like a horrible Dear John movie where they don’t even get to hear from each other very much and it’s through only hand written letters not even a phone where they can each other’s voice. The separation was downright just too painful to read. With Ben being on a role with his military career and Carrie accidentally getting pregnant by Nick, it’s feels just like Dear John where the couple don’t even end up together in the end. Luckily, there are second chances in this book. Second chances are one of my favorite book elements. I just love how when all seems lost, things fall back in place as they should.

I love Ben. I love his character on how he is a total boy-scout and gentlemen. I love his sense of responsibility, his loyalty to his mother and grandparents, his love and respect for Carrie and his sense of being true to himself which I must add is really admirable when you are a confused teen trying to find yourself. Ben is almost perfect. Though I admit that the only thing that bothered me about Ben was I felt like he was a little selfish when it came to his military career. Why the heck did he permit her to see other people just because he wanted to accomplish all his goals in the military and he felt guilty if he asked her to wait for him?!? Guys in the military get engaged and married all the time. So why not? Carrie seemed to be so in love with him that I can see her waiting and being faithful to him. There was just a part of me that felt like he didn’t want to be tied down. I get that he wants to follow his dreams and it was what he wanted to do since childhood but why couldn’t he see that you can still pursue you dreams and share it with the one you love?

The other thing that also bothered me was Carrie’s parents. Seriously, they were major A-holes throughout the entire book. Carrie’s mother was very against Carrie’s friendship with MG but to me it felt like she hated Carrie for not being the preppy, school spirit type of teenage daughter. I mean so much for loving your daughter for who she is…NOT! I wanted to back hand her for every cutthroat thing she said to Carrie. As for her father, how emotionally distant can you be to your child?! He really didn’t give a rat’s butt about Carrie and when she was graduating high school, it just seemed like he couldn’t wait to get rid of her. Awful parents and it’s no wonder Carrie went through a crappy string of bad luck sometimes. Nice, caring and loving parents could’ve made a difference in a child’s life.

Overall there was a lot to love about this book. The awesome friendship between MG and Carrie, the comical moments when Carrie, MG and their group of friends got drunk, Ben and Carrie’s moments, and most of all this book just brings you back to high school. It almost feels nostalgic. It makes you remember all the good times with your friends, the parties, the bad relationships, and young love. Great book and I highly recommend it. YA books are fun and it’s good for you to indulge in one every now and then. I can’t wait for the next book. ☺

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Xtina

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