Book Tour for Blood Flows Deep in the Empire by N. Isabelle Blanco (GIVEAWAY)

Today we have an interesting paranormal story in the spotlight, Blood Flows Deep in the Empire by N. Isabelle Blanco.  This story takes place in an exotic world and is the first in an intriguing series.  Keep reading to get a glimpse of what promises to be an engaging story and make sure to fill out the form below for your chance to win an e-copy of this book.

Dyletri, God of Fertility, has locked away his powers. No woman is allowed to touch him, not until he can return his long-dead lover back to life. All he has to do is sacrifice one human girl, a girl who unlocks his powers and rips his dormant lust right out of his body. Trapped by his promise, Dyletri has no choice but to watch Ismini die, no matter how much he wants her.
Yet the darkness of his calling is spiraling within him, demanding he claim the human as his. If he goes back on his promise, the energy of the Fates will cause untold destruction in the Universe. That doesn’t change how Dyletri’s begun exhibiting symptoms that point to more than just lust. How does he allow Ismini to die when she’s come to own him from the inside out?
Desire and torment spiral into something much darker than obsession, more turbulent than an addiction, and something much more brutal than a mere soul-mating. As a war is being rekindled right under his nose, Dyletri will have to come to terms with a destiny eleven thousand years in the making. He thought he’d known what path his future would take, but he’d been wrong. Now the one woman he truly loves might pay the price for his decision.
Blood Flows Deep in the Empire is the first in a series that will pit free will against Destiny, Destiny against Fate, and love against brutal desire. Everyone likes to think they have a choice as to who they end up with, but as they rise to face the greatest threat they’ve ever known, even the Gods will learn they have to bend to Destiny’s whim to survive.

EXCERPT:

“You’re so beautiful, girl. Just looking at you drives me wild.”
That new, demonic half of his voice had to be the sexiest thing she had ever heard.
His words were even more so.
Dyletri’s expression made her arch into him, made her want to believe him. His thumb caressed her lips, and before Ismini realized it, she was once again moving on instinct. She opened her mouth and tilted her head, sucking the digit right in. A shock of power shot into her mouth, almost as if she’d put her tongue into an electrical socket.
Ismini loved every bit of it. She sighed around his thumb, sucking it deeper.
Dyletri moaned, baring his teeth. She bit down on his flesh, her stare locked on his large canines.
She had no right to his blood, but Ismini wanted it inside her. That should have scared her. In reality, Ismini was too far gone for that shit. Fear had no place inside her. Only need and hunger.
And insanity.
Because that’s what he brought out in her.
His thumb slipped out of her mouth, and she pouted, a hungry mewl leaving her. Dyletri cupped her face, lifting her head and lowering himself onto her.
His lips stopped a mere breath away from hers, his exhalations leaking in between her lips and sliding over her tongue. Ismini froze, realizing what he intended. And knowing damned well that she had no experience when it came to kissing.
Dyletri sensed her hesitation, and he stopped, as well. Every inch of that big, hard body was touching her. He was breathing hard, and his brow furrowed as he stared at her. She could see that he was confused, that he was wondering why she’d stopped.
In that moment she wanted to kick herself for being such an idiot. She was afraid that what she was about to say would turn him off.
“I—I’ve never . . . I don’t know how,” she whispered, dropping her gaze to his lips. She couldn’t stand to see the reality seep back into his face. 

But Dyletri surprised her. As he lowered his head, he held hers still, and he placed a gentle but intensity-filled kiss to her cheek. A spark of energy pulsed through every cell of her skin. 

“I know,” he murmured, placing another kiss closer to her mouth. And another. And yet another. “I’m dying to be the first one to show you . . . dying to be the first one to taste you. To take you.” 
He thrust against her as he spoke, licking the corner of her lips when he talked about tasting her. 
Her mouth fell open, and she moaned. “Dyletri.” His lips landed on hers, and a groan escaped him, the sound hitting her straight on. She wasn’t sure who opened first, but it was definitely she who sucked in his bottom lip, pulling it between her teeth. With heavy-lidded eyes, she watched his lip curl. Another growl left him, and his incisors grew even longer. 
Then his fingers on her jaw became almost brutal, forcing her open, holding her still even though all she wanted to do was attack him. The urge grew when his tongue slid in, moving against hers. It was hotter than any other part of him. Sinuous and sinful in every way. 
All lingering uncertainty flew right out the window. Their breaths and moans mixed as her tongue connected with his. 
Amazing. He was fucking amazing, and the way his tongue tasted was nothing short of sexual. She’d never had sex, of course, but her body knew that was what he tasted like. Ismini swirled her tongue around his, opening her mouth further for him and tilting her head. 
Dyletri thrust against her, over and over, his dick pressed right where she needed it. His tongue mimicked the movement of his hips, making her tighten her legs around him and pull him close. 
Every moan out of his mouth was like a bolt straight between her legs. Every rock of his hips was answered by one of her own. Her hands traced every muscle on his back, fondled every ridge. 
So much power. 
She could feel him holding back. She knew it was probably because she was human and he had the power to break her and yet, she wanted him to. She needed him to. She was dying for him to just slam into her with everything he had until there was nothing left of her. 
Dyletri pulled his head back, one elongated tooth stinging Ismini’s lower lip as he gave her a gentle bite. She cried out, the thought of him tasting her blood sending her into a frenzy. 
It was an instant deluge. She began thrusting against him, her nails digging into unyielding flesh. Her moans escalated. Her orgasm was right there and already washing over her. 
Until he pulled away. Again. 
A growl rumbled behind her words, warping her voice. “Dyletri.” He laughed darkly, looking way too amused for her liking. “I swear to fucking God—” 
He grabbed on to the waistband of her pants, his fingers harsh. “I am your fucking god!” Oh . . . oh my . . . “You’re not coming until I let you to, got it?”

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/GJBatEgJJPo

BUY AT Amazon

AUTHOR INFO:

N. Isabelle Blanco was born in Queens, NY (USA). At age 3, due to an odd fascination with studying her mother’s handwriting, she had already begun to read and write. By the time she’d reached kindergarten, she had an extensive vocabulary and her obsession with words began to bleed into every aspect of her life. An avid reader in her teens, a fascination with Japanese anime eventually led her to the universe of fan fiction.
Her on again, off again hobby for the next ten years, she amassed a following of fans that, by her own admission, she would never be able to live without. It was those fans who encouraged her to step beyond the fan fiction realm and try her talent in the publishing world.

N. Isabelle’s first ebook, “Destructively Alluring”, came out July 2012, followed by "Addictive Lunacy" in September. The third novella in this debut series, "Allure Magnified," is due in November 2012 and her first full-length novel is due out next spring.
Certain not to disappoint, “Blood Flows Deep in the Empire” is a fast-paced, erotically charged thrill ride from cover to cover. Look for in both print and ebook formats on March 7, 2013.

Web and Blog: www.houseofmalfunction.com

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Nyddi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nyddi

Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6444266.N_Isabelle_Blanco

**********GIVEAWAY**********

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Tour for Fatal Exposure by Gail Barrett (Review & GIVEAWAY)

Today is a day of suspense as Gail Barrett is here with her latest release, Fatal Exposure, an exciting read with non-stop action.  Keep reading to get my impressions of the book along with commenting for your chance to win an Amazon/BN GC.  So please welcome Gail Barrett.......

Cold-case detective Parker McCall has spent fifteen years trying to solve his brother’s murder.  Now a chance photo of the killer in the newspaper sets him hard on the woman’s trail.  A former teenaged runaway, reclusive, award-winning photojournalist B.K. Elliot chronicles the harsh reality of life on the streets -- until a photo in the paper reveals her identity, blowing the lid off her secret past.  With a powerful murderer now dogging her heels, and her police officer step-father determined to silence her permanently, the last person she can afford to trust is a cop.  So why does sexy police detective Parker McCall tempt her to break her silence and resurrect ideals she’d lost years ago?  As danger closes in, and with more than her own life at stake, Brynn must decide if the duty-bound cop will betray her...or heal her battered heart.

EXCERPT:

Cold case detective Parker McCall tightened his grip on the newspaper, his gaze riveted on the photo of the woman splashed across the Baltimore Sun’s front page. She could have been any affluent shopper strolling out of the pricey art gallery—her long, glossy hair tumbling over her shoulders, the collar of her woolen coat turned up against the brisk November wind.
Except for her wary eyes.
The eyes of his brother’s murderer.

The eyes that had eluded him for fifteen years.

He lowered the newspaper to his cluttered desk, the laughter and banter of the detectives beyond his cubicle receding to a distant buzz. Then, hardly breathing, he tugged his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans. Working as carefully as a scientist handling nuclear material, he extracted a worn, faded photo and placed it alongside the page.

For several excruciating seconds his gaze lingered on the image of his younger brother, his heart making its usual lurch of guilt and remorse. Sixteen years old, his cheeks badly hollowed, his body wasted by his addictions, Tommy leaned against a graffiti-sprayed wall near Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, one emaciated arm slung over the waiflike girl at his side.

The girl Parker had failed to find.

Until now.

He shifted his scrutiny to the girl, taking in her sparrow-thin legs, the baggy sweatshirt dwarfing her scrawny frame, her unruly mop of auburn curls. Then he homed in on her eyes—bleak, world-weary eyes aged far beyond her years.

He sliced his gaze back to the woman in the newspaper. She was still petite, still thin and older than the adolescent slouching against the wall beside his brother, but he’d stake his life they were the same.

BUY LINKS:   AMAZON PRINT  |  AMAZON KINDLE  |  BN

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

As someone who doesn't read many suspense books I was left in awe of what Ms. Barrett has created.  Fatal Exposure is a short read that packs a big whollop in its characterizations and overall storyline and the groundwork laid here provides big ramifications for future stories.  By the end of this story it proves you can't run from your past forever and three young woman learn.

B.K. Elliot and her two friends were living on the streets at a young age, all of them on the run from something.  For Brynn it was being sexually abused by her stepfather, a prominent member of society.  As if the danger he represented wasn't bad enough, there's even more evil that got the girls caught in the crossfire which ended in bloodshed and each of them on the run.  The world and career Brynn's built unfortunately comes crashing down when the man who thinks she killed his brother discovers her hideout and refuses to let her get away again without giving him answers.  With blood and violence invading her life once more she must rely not only on herself but Detective Parker McCall who refuses to take no for an answer.  They must trust in one another if they have any hope of escaping dangers from the past that have returned to their present.  But with Brynn's mistrust in the justice system and Parker's distrust in his bosses, trust is a commodity in short supply.

Brynn is a strong-willed and immensely likable heroine who, through her experiences early in life, has made a career out of presenting the dark and dangerous world of runaways in a realistic way and helps them whenever she can.  With all the darkness she's seen it's hard to admit there's any happiness to be found.  Because of this she fights her attraction to Parker.  Past experiences of being ignored when reporting her abuse further incites feelings of doubt where Parker's concerned so he has to work doubly hard to win her trust and love.  Parker is a man on a mission who's desperate to learn the truth of what happened to his brother.  He's hardworking and honest and as the truth about his bosses is slowly revealed he comes to trust in and rely on Brynn more and more to see true justice served.  

Brynn and Parker make a formidable couple.  They're strong both mentally and physically and as their relationship progresses they get closer to who the real criminals are.  The suspenseful aspects of this story keep you on the edge of your seat and constantly guessing through some clever twists and turns.  The romance took a back seat to the mystery but was no less satisfying in the intensity of its sexual tension.  The HEA, once it's reached, is immensely satisfying but leaves a door open for another of Brynn's friends from the past to return and have her own story be told.

My rating for this is an A.

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

A former RITA® and Daphne finalist, Gail Barrett has received the Book Buyer’s Best Award, the Holt Medallion, the Booksellers Best, The National Readers’ Choice Award, and numerous other awards.  She lives with her husband in Western Maryland.  Readers can contact her through her website and through Facebook.

**********GIVEAWAY**********

Gail will be awarding a $25 Amazon / BN (or other bookstore of the winner's choice) GC to one randomly drawn commenter during this tour and her other Book Blast on June 21st.

-To be entered, leave a comment telling me why you like reading suspense, ALONG WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDY.

-Winner will be chosen randomly from all comments made throughout the tour, so the more you comment the greater your chances of winning.  A list of all participating blogs can be found here.

-Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM CST on 6/21.

Book Tour for Chasing Sam by Krystal Shannan (Review & GIVEAWAY)

We have a wonderful start to the week courtesy of Krystal Shannan and her paranormal series starter Chasing Sam.  Learn more about this book through the excerpt below along with my review.  Make sure to leave a comment for your chance at some great prizes too!

How do you keep a book series fresh?

This is a great question. Just like movie sequels, book sequels can fizzle and become repetitive and boring if authors aren’t careful. Problem A leads to Solution B with Hiccup C before we arrive at our happily ever after. If authors aren’t careful they can end up repeating the same storyline again and again. It’s important to make sure that the main problems one set of characters face are NOT the same problems that anyone else in the series will face –at least the big key plot points. Those should never repeat. Or as a reader, I will look at the book and think ‘been there done that.’

I think for romance series, the characters are key especially. We don’t really want the sequels to be about the same couple again and again either, but if they were really ‘alive’ characters in our mind, I personally as a reader want to know what’s going on with the couple from the first book while I’m getting to know new characters in the second book. Series that center around a group of siblings or friends, etc. do really well, because we as readers become invested in that family or group of friends.

The plot lines are different, the characters are individuals, and there’s a link through the series that ties everyone together. That’s what helps keep a series fresh.

Samantha Demakis doesn’t want a mate right now. Her birth-rite and family obligations to her status as the first daughter of a noble family beg to differ. In fact, even her wolf seems to be against her. When a chance encounter reveals the man who might just be a perfect fit, will she run? Or will she fight?

Chase Michaels has been alone for seventy-five years. He’s fought in Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and Afghanistan in the US Army. Somewhat resigned to never finding his true mate, he is shocked when his wolf reacts so strongly to a woman he runs into in the airport. Unprepared for the politics and snobbery of the noble families, Chase finds himself fighting in a different type of war —a war for the heart of a woman he knows should be his.

A lot of things are chasing Sam, but who or what will catch her in the end?

EXCERPT:

“Sam? Sam, have you heard anything I’ve said?”

Sam finally tore her gaze away from Chase. When she’d seen him walk into the lounge, every part of her being began to ache. Her wolf was going nuts, urging her to go over and talk to him immediately.

“He is here to see us!”

Sam glanced up at Nicole and then again at Chase. God, he was smiling. A huge lolling sexy grin. Her heart melted into a puddle and all she wanted to do was oblige her wolf, climb into his lap, and snuggle against his broad chest.

Nicole laughed and Sam turned back with a glare. “Out of the entire Vegas strip, soldier-boy hottie ends up one table across from you in your favorite haunt.”

“Shhh… Nicole, don’t talk so loud. He can hear you.” Her cheeks warmed and she took another quick sip of her Jack and coke.

“Ooooh, this is the hottie from the airport?” Hallie giggled.

Sam put her empty glass down and looked up. All three of her sisters were smiling and waving at Chase and his friend. If only she could disappear into the leather of the seat cushion.

“Nicole, wave them over here to our booth. I want to meet the guy that finally made Sam turn her head twice.” Tess snickered. “It’s not every day you get to see Samantha Demakis blush like a high school freshman.”

“Shut up, Tess,” Sam hissed and scowled at her little sister. She wanted nothing more than to talk to Chase again, but not surrounded by her sisters or in front of whoever his friend was.  

Before she could object, Nicole had hopped up from their booth and walked over to the pair. Sam stole another glance and shivered with excitement when both men stood and followed Nicole back to the table.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON   |   SMASHWORDS

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Chasing Sam is an entertaining series starter that introduces us to a headstrong family of sisters from a noble family and their journey to find their mates.  Making their journey to finding mates even more difficult is their being wolf shifters.  Not only does their heart choose who to love but so too does their wolf side, who actively carries on conversations with their human side throughout the story.  Being from a noble family carries certain expectations of who they'll mate with which results in a story reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet.

Samantha doesn't want the life her mother has as just arm candy, she wants to be a doctor and see the world.  She's been hiding from fate but as it's her 25th birthday she can hide no longer.  A ritual of the nobility, the mate hunt, has been planned by her parents where three men of their choosing will hunt her down and claim her as their own.  The thought of being forced by an unknown man is repulsive to her, even more so after a chance encounter at the airport with military man Chase left her tingly and her wolf proclaiming him their mate.  Sam will do everything she can to get the man of her choosing, even if it leads to both of their deaths.  Samantha is a strong-willed woman but has the tendency to run when she gets upset.  I felt at times that she was a girl trapped in a woman's body making rash decisions.  She wants to be her own woman, which leads to numerous battles with her mother, but doesn't want to do anything to embarrass her family.  I felt sympathetic for her that because of her sex her future isn't her own and I was rooting for Chase to rescue her every step of the way.

Chase Michaels comes from an average family, but the instant attraction he has towards her is anything but average.  His bloodline proclaims him unsuitable to be her mate but their wolves disagree and slowly but surely Fate brings them together.  Once Chase discovers that the only way he can claim her is by participating in the mate hunt, he enters a dangerous den where Sam's mother and the other candidates try to eliminate him before the hunt even starts.  As a seasoned military man of numerous wars throughout history and the world he's more than capable of protecting himself and Samantha and finally claim her as his, and his wolf's, own.  Chase is incredibly strong and loyal and he's proud of the fact that no man under his command has ever died.  He has medical training and traveled to numerous countries that draws Sam to him even more.  He knows that their families are complete opposites but no other woman has ever made him feel the way she has so he'll do nothing less than fight, and if need be, die for her.

This is a fast-paced story that early on shows the playful banter of their burgeoning relationship.  The sexual tension oozes from them and it's frustrating that their relationship was interrupted by the mate hunt.  The mate hunt is short-lived but heart-pounding and bloody with a surprising savior rescuing Samantha.  Though the sexual tension is unrelenting it's not until the very end that that tension is finally resolved in a quickly concluded sexual interlude.  Samantha's sisters are an entertaining bunch with very unique personalities.  They too appear to have affections for inappropriate men that are just hinted at and will hopefully be addressed in future stories.  We get a brief glimpse of Chase's brother Chris who is equally sexy and admits to an attraction to one of Samantha's sisters, so there's possibly more drama to come when it comes to love.  Although I enjoyed many of the secondary characters it was Samantha's mother who I found absolutely awful!  She was judgmental towards her daughters and got violent with Samantha on more than one occasion.  She flew off the handle easily and purposely tried to eliminate Chase from the mate hunt.  It's as if she was having mental issues and I believe she'll create more problems as the series progresses.

Ms. Shannan has created an intriguing paranormal read that has me excited to return to this world where HEAs are only reached through hard work.  With a likable cast of characters there's many stories left to tell and I plan on reading them as Ms. Shannan's writing style is immensely appealing with a unique twist to the usual wolf shifters.

My rating for this is a B+

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Krystal Shannan is a born, raised, and current TEXAN. She is married to a wonderful man who supports her dream of writing and allows her to spend many evening and weekend hours glued to her laptop. During the day she moonlights as an elementary music teacher. In addition to a doting husband, a young daughter is also part of the picture and keeps her hopping! An ornery little Welsh Corgi completes the household.
Krystal has been writing stories since she could hold a pencil. She has always dreamed of writing romance and sharing the "movies in her head" with the world. If she's not writing, she's reading -historical, paranormal, action, adventure -anything she can get her hands on that ends with a Happily Ever After!

WEBSITE  |  BLOG  |  FB  |  TWITTER

**********GIVEAWAY**********

Krystal will be awarding to 5 random commenters autographed swag (US ONLY) during the tour as well as awarding one random commenter with a digital copy of Open House by Krystal Shannan. A grand prize of a $25 Gift Card to Starbucks will be awarded to one random commenter during the tour.  Sign up for her newsletter and tell her in your comment that you did. She'll put your name in the Grand Prize drawing twice.

-To be entered, leave a comment telling me your favorite kind of shifter, ALONG WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDY.

-Winners will be chosen randomly from all comments made throughout the tour, so the more you comment the greater your chances of winning.  A list of all participating blogs can be found here.

-Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM CST on 7/1.

Book Spotlight for Same Page by Lily Velden (Review & GIVEAWAY)

I am honored today to bring Lily Velden back to my home to let all of you know about her new m/m release, Same Page, an utterly romantic and hot series starter featuring an actor who discovers what's been missing in his life and the handsome artist whose life has been full of one loss after another.  Keep reading to get my impressions of this book and make sure to fill out the form below for your chance to win some AMAZING PRIZES!

He was like the only splash of color in a black-and-white photograph.

The man was beautiful.

At an exhibition opening in Sydney, jaded Hollywood heartthrob Jaxon Moncrieff lays eyes on publicity-shy artist Liam Lassiter for the first time and is immediately captivated. But he doesn’t get far into their first conversation before he realizes what he’s feeling is attraction, which brings him up short. Jaxon has always been a womanizer.

Despite his reservations, Jaxon makes a play for Liam, but Liam has his own issues. Unlucky in love and orphaned at sixteen, he is reluctant to open his heart to anyone, and dismisses Jaxon out of hand. 

Driven by a need he doesn’t understand, Jaxon organizes a return to Sydney to film his next project. If he can’t be with Liam, maybe they can be friends. Of course, that creates a whole new problem. Now Jaxon is falling in love for the first time. How can he move their relationship from friends to lovers without destroying the trust he’s worked so hard for?

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Lily Velden has done it again!  She's dug deeply into her character's souls and beautifully and lyrically made me a part of their lives.  Same Page is a heartwarming yet gut-wrenching read that brought tears to my eyes, along with some smiles, as the rocky journey to love for Jaxon and Liam took place over many months.  The journey wasn't easy as self-doubts and trust issues ate away at them from the moment they met to their immensely satisfying and crowd pleasing HEA.  Throw in numerous playful and steamy sexual encounters that builds the bond between them and by the conclusion I was completely won over.

Jaxon has always thought himself straight but knew his relationships were somehow lacking.  Once his eyes meet those of Liam's he finds what he's been missing.  Liam doesn't give him a warm welcome as he's tired of being wanted only for his looks.  Jaxon can respect that as he's felt the same, so he doesn't push.  For months though his only thoughts are of Liam.  Discovering more about Liam and his past has him wanting to prove he's worthy of him.  Jaxon becomes a better person through his endeavors and it wins over Liam's godfather who acts as a matchmaker to bring them together.  Still not wanting to rush Liam has Jaxon proposing they be just friends which leads to lots of sexual tension that left even me frustrated.  It takes a bit of jealousy and a tragic event to finally bring them together and admit their true feelings.  That's not to say that things continue to go smoothly as the world of acting brings out jealousy issues, but these two are good at talking (among other things) and by the end of this story there's a sense of hopefulness and happiness.

Liam lost his parents when he was a teen so he's always wanted to be a part of a family.  His godfather Garrett is a wonderful father figure but it's the day to day acts of closeness that he desires.  It's led him to choosing relationships with men who only wanted him for his looks (of which he's a very sexy man), which left him shattered and untrusting of men.  Slowly but surely Jaxon wins him over and it's heartwarming to see them together as they go from friends to lovers.  Liam still has fears of Jaxon leaving him but through talking, issues of trust are slowly getting stronger and by the end of the story they are a united front in whatever comes their way.  

Liam is an attentive lover who slowly brings Jaxon into their sexual encounters.  Through little touches and subtle acts it becomes clear how much more meaningful his encounters with Jaxon are from his past.  Jaxon's extremely exuberant and a quick learner and each of their sexual encounters are hot.  There's also a bit of playfulness that's extremely endearing.  These two are also very vocal in expressing their love.  They say the L-word often and at times it almost felt a bit too sentimental, a bit too romantic for some readers.  The characters even worried that their numerous proclamations were becoming too girly! For me though, I found them utterly enchanting and I couldn't keep the cheesy smile off my face that their words brought me.

Ms. Velden has created two strong heroes who have dug deep to work past their demons to come together as a formidable couple.  They have wonderful and supportive friends around them who brought even more smiles to my face.  The sexual encounters are hot and varied and left me a bit breathless in their frequency.  This story has a definite conclusion, an immensely satisfying one, but I'm happy that their story will continue in The Race is On.

My rating for this is an A-

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

BUY LINKS:  Dreamspinner Press  |  Amazon  |  BN

TO BE RELEASED SOON.......

Hollywood heartthrob Jaxon Moncrieff and Liam Lassiter are finally on the same page: committed and in it for the long haul. Now they just have to prepare for the inevitable fallout when they reveal their relationship. Between Jaxon’s career and Liam’s need to prepare for a life in the limelight, they decide to wait until filming of Jaxon’s latest project has wrapped.

Unbeknownst to them, the relentless paparazzi photographer Rafael Cacciatore, aka the Hunter, notices a change in Jaxon and is determined to be the first to break the story of who has captured Jaxon Moncrieff’s heart. In the meantime, Liam and Jaxon have enough on their plate working out the not-so-little issue of how and when Jaxon will come out to his family. The paparazzi aren’t even on their radar. The race to out Jaxon is on, and Liam and Jaxon don’t even know it.

AUTHOR INFO:

Hi, I’m Lily Velden, a quirky artist with a passion for the written word. I write M/M fiction, and thankfully, for me, Dreamspinner Press decided they liked my words enough to publish them!  I admit to be unashamedly idealistic and ridiculously romantic.

Website:  http://www.lilyvelden.wordpress.com

Email:  lilyvelden@live.com.au

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/lily.velden

Twitter:  @LilyVelden

Tumblr:  http://www.lilyvelden.tumblr.com/

**********GIVEAWAY**********

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Tour for Taking Over Me by Sara Brookes (Review & GIVEAWAY)

Again today we're talking BDSM!  This time it's courtesy of Sara Brookes and her newest release, Taking Over Me.  Keep reading to get my impressions of this smart and sexy read and leave a comment to win a coffee-themed prize!

For me, I wanted to write a heroine that I could personally relate to. Lawyers, doctors, etc are all great jobs, but I wanted to read about a heroine I identified with since I have a background in IT. (Though, admittedly, most ofmy knowledge has been self-taught) I also think geeks can be more than the stereotypical image of what most people see when they hear the term.

No longer are the geeks the intellectual types from movies such as Revenge of the Nerds. Geeks can be anyone—such as the case with Allison Stuart. As my heroine in Taking Over Me, she’s an IT guru, training across many platforms. She reads/collects comic books. 

She loves movies. 

She plays video games. 

She attends Comic Con in San Diego. 

She also has insecurities. 

But she also has wants and needs. Desires and dreams. In short, she could be your best friend or next door neighbor. She could be you. 

Because of this familiarity—I think the Age of Geek is here to stay.

He’s everything she didn’t know she needed…

Allison would rather fix computers than worry about sex. That is, until the newest barista in town changes everything. All it takes is one hot stare with his sinful baby blues to remind her she’s not just one of the guys. She has lusty needs only he can fulfill.

Patrick’s coffee shop is on the verge of an epic failure, until Allison takes charge of his computer system. He may not know anything about motherboards, but he does know how to take control both in and out of bed. Now Patrick is determined to get what he wants—Allison in his cuffs. His sensual mastery awakens an intense passion and under his command, he’ll unlock the geek girl’s darkest desires.

EXCERPT:

The Southern Ridge Grille was packed to capacity, but Patrick had somehow been given a secluded table in the farthest corner of the main seating area. It backed to the knee-high wall separating the bar area from the dining room, which allowed them to feel alone despite the hustle and bustle.

“I like this place. Very atmospheric. Dark without being annoying.” Allison also marveled at the way the waitstaff pampered them both. They’d already been here twenty minutes and her water glass had barely slipped past the quarter mark. “Did you charm the staff to wait on us hand and foot?”

“I’m sure if I paid someone enough, I could arrange it. But no, I didn’t. Genevieve Lambert owns the restaurant. She’s the one responsible for those pastries you picked up the day you decided to play superhero.”

Allison blushed. Four weeks had passed since that day in the coffee house. Thirty-six days since she’d first laid eyes on Patrick and nearly twenty-four since his unbelievable phone call. Prior to that day, she never suspected her life would make this drastic of a turn, at least the sexual part of her life. Now she couldn’t imagine not being with him or his warehouse.

It was her little secret. Both the clandestine room he kept for sexual indulgences and the man himself. She’d gone through the day more on edge than ever. She wanted him to tip her over that edge and more than anything she wanted to take him with her.

BUY LINKS:   AMAZON   |   ARe   |   BN   |   ELLORA'S CAVE

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Taking Over Me is an immensely satisfying story along with being super steamy as it deals with the BDSM lifestyle.  This is a story about seemingly opposites attracting and the freeing nature of the BDSM lifestyle as a girl geek discovers her wild side after meeting a sexy barista.  Allison has always seen herself, and been thought of by others, as one of the boys.  She loves working on computers, reading comic books, hanging out with the guys for video gaming night, and dresses for comfort instead of attraction.  She dates, but not very often.  She's a strong-willed woman though who's comfortable in her own skin.  She thinks herself way out of Patrick's league but he finds her fascinating.  Their relationship goes from 0 to 60 on their first date as she's been obsessed with him from their first meeting.  The excitement he represents and the fulfilling of her fantasies that he promises has her diving in wholeheartedly to what he offers her.  He's a Dom and wants her to be his Sub in some very tantalizing sexual interludes where she is the center of his attention.  As BDSM stories go, it's hot but not as graphic as some other titles I've read.  There's usage of cuffs, collars, and toys but nothing leaning towards the more darker side.  These interludes allow Allison to become bolder, like seeing a butterfly come out of its cocoon.  She takes pride in being a woman as opposed to hiding amongst the boys.  She's an admirable heroine who sticks up for herself and doesn't let her role of Sub in the bedroom be confused with her actions out of the bedroom.

Patrick's dealt with disappointment in his past as a sports injury changed his future.  He now owns a coffeehouse with his brother Alex who's dealing with his own issues right now.  Patrick is charming with a sense of darkness surrounding him.  He freely admits to being a Dom on his first date with Allison and loves the sense of wildness he sees behind her controlled facade.  He wants her to come out and play with him as opposed to gaming with the boys.  He wants to remind her that she's a woman and proves it through numerous steamy scenes where her satisfaction is his goal.  Seeing him join her in her geek world while joining him in his decadent one showed two people truly wanting their relationship to work and I found these scenes delightfully fun.  Late in the story we discover Patrick's abusive past courtesy of his father.  This fact came out of nowhere and rears its head unexpectedly during a ridiculous disagreement between him and Allison.  It brings heretofore undiscussed fears of him becoming his father to light and leads to a Big Misunderstanding that is resolved quickly through words of wisdom from friends and family.  The ensuing HEA is sexy and satisfying.

Along with numerous steamy and satisfying sexual encounters comes a believable explanation as to why an individual is drawn to BDSM.  It shows a devotion to empowerment instead of weakness and makes these characters more self-assured.  Surrounding the immensely likable protagonists comes an equally intriguing cast of secondary characters.  Patrick's brother and his friends who also live the BDSM lifestyle left a lasting impression on me and I truly hope to see more of them as they have issues to heal from too.  Ms. Brookes perfectly balances the physical and emotional aspects of this couple which makes their journey towards a HEA richly rewarding.

My rating for this is a B+

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Sara Brookes is an award-winning author who has always been fascinated by the strange, the unusual, the twisted and the lost (tortured heroes are her personal favorite). She is an action movie junkie, addicted to coffee and has been known to stay up until the wee hours of the morning playing RPG video games. Despite all this, she is a romantic at heart and is always a sucker for an excellent love story. Born and bred in Virginia, Sara still lives there with her husband and daughter. The entire family is owned by two cats, Galahad and Loki, who graciously allow the family to cater to their every desire.

Website: www.sarabrookes.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Sara_Brookes
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/brookesofbooks
Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/authorsarabrookes
Announcement List: http://eepurl.com/mbG31

**********GIVEAWAY**********

Sara will be awarding a $50.00 gift card to Starbucks and a Perfect Shot (coffeehouse in Taking Over Me) coffee mug to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

-To be entered, leave a comment, ALONG WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDY.

-Winner will be chosen randomly from all comments made throughout the tour, so the more you comment the greater your chances of winning.  A list of all participating blogs can be found here.

-Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM CST on 6/14.