Friday, February 28, 2014

Book Tour for Blind Mercy by Violetta Rand (Review & GIVEAWAY)


Violetta Rand is making a return visit to my site today with her Viking romance, Blind Mercy, the second installment in her Blind series.  Keep reading to get a glimpse of this book along with my impressions of it, and learn even more about this release by visiting the other blogs hosting this tour.  Make sure to fill out the form below for your chance to win a $50 bookstore GC too!

First though, let's learn more about Ms. Rand..........

-Any weird things you do when you’re alone?
I sing to my pets, read out loud, and call myself names when I can’t figure out the next scene in a story. Beyond that, I’m pretty normal.
-What is your favorite quote and why?
...Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove.O, no! It is an ever-fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken...Sonnet 116, William Shakespeare.  For me, this quote captures the essence of love.
-What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Golden vanilla and strawberry
-Which mythological creature are you most like?
A Valkyrie--These are the celestial ladies of Norse mythology who came to the battlefields to select the best warriors who were slain and brought them to Valhalla to feast with Odin. I’m a warrior poet at heart. Need I say more?
-What are four things you can’t live without?
My husband, books, wisdom, and faith.

The Sigurdsson family legacy continues…
A woman who prayed for a hero…
Orphaned at a young age, Rachelle Fiennes prayed for a hero to rescue her from her tragic life in England. When her only kinsman goes missing after the Battle of Stamford Bridge, Rachelle braves the aftermath of the battlefield to find him.
A man who lost everything…
Damned by the gods for surviving the bloodiest defeat in Norse history, Jarl Tyr Sigurdsson is still determined to get home. Hiding until nightfall so he can escape to his ship, his dangerous endeavor is disrupted when he’s accidentally discovered by a beautiful Saxon.
Brought together by war, Rachelle and Tyr face many obstacles. Can sworn enemies find peace through love, or will fate be cruel?

EXCERPT:

Since the first day they’d met, Tyr had been embroiled in strife and violence. Standing in this holy place, he seemed vulnerable, almost normal. Only once before had she seen this level of tenderheartedness in him. The degree of compassion he showed his deceased brother when he prepared him for funeral rites still haunted her. Of course, what man wouldn’t be moved by such tragedy? This was decidedly different. Baffled by this transformation, she watched him closely.
“I thank you for this kindness.”
He embraced her. The motivation behind his touch had changed, she felt it.
“I swear on this holy ground, I’ll never hurt you again,” he said.
He’d pledged it before. Could she be foolish enough to believe again? Didn’t he understand she couldn’t get past the fact he was holding her for ransom? Could she ever really forgive him for deceiving and shaming her? Caution did little to help her cause. Jolts of lust shot through her. It felt wonderful to be touched by him; but as welcome as those feelings were, they must stay hidden forever.
“I want to believe you,” she said.
He tipped her head upward. “I make no promises I can’t keep,” he assured her. “If there’s anything I can do to ease your pain, ask me.”
She remained silent. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind, a place existed where happy thoughts thrived. She pictured how it would be if he dropped on his knees and declared his love. All of this was quickly swept aside.
“I’ll leave you now,” he announced. “My men are aware of your situation and will not disturb your observances. When you are ready, they will escort you back to the house.”

BUY AT AMAZON here.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

In this second book in the Blind series the journey towards HEA for enemies to lovers Rachelle and Tyr is a rocky one due to outside forces of jealousy and greed along with betrayal from within.  These two start out as enemies but their shared grief binds them together in an emotional coupling full of sexual tension and ultimately steamy encounters.

Rachelle is an admirable heroine who lost her parents at an early age and was then raised by her Uncle, who took care of her just like a father.  After a bloody battle, while searching for her Uncle, she comes across Tyr and is immediately taken to his homeland where he plans to ransom her.  Things soon change though and what follows is a compelling romance between two strong-willed individuals.  Throughout her losses Rachelle has survived and accepts her change in circumstances with bravery.  She's no shrinking violet in standing up for herself and I was rooting for her every step of the way in her dealings with Tyr's petty mistress Frida and her continuing hope in being reunited with her Uncle.

Tyr is the son of the protagonists in the previous installment and is the quintessential Viking in looks, words, and deeds.  He's strong-willed, confident, and loyal with a surprisingly kindhearted side as witnessed by his reactions to his brother's death.  There was great depth to him that was brought out most clearly in Rachelle's presence and made him an admirable hero.

The author depicted this bloody and harsh Viking world in a vivid manner showing her great care in research.  From the compelling characters, to the dramatic twists and turns, to the villains coming from every corner, this read quickly immerses you in the action from the very first page.  I'm excited that there's another book to come and am intrigued to see how the author will redeem the character of Aaron as he takes center stage in the next release.  Fans of the historical genre should definitely read this as the Viking era isn't one seen very often in romance and Ms. Rand does an admirable job in depicting it.

My rating for this is an A-

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

AUTHOR INFO:

Violetta Rand holds a bachelor's degree in Environmental Policy and a master's degree in Environmental Management. Serving as an environmental scientist in the state of Alaska for over seven years, she enjoys the privilege of traveling to remote places few people have the opportunity to see.
Violetta has been "in love" with writing since childhood. Struck with an entrepreneurial spirit at a young age, at five, she wrote short stories illustrated by her best friend and sold them in her neighborhood. The only thing she loves more than writing is her wonderful relationship with her husband, Jeff. She enjoys outdoor activities, reading whatever she can get her hands on, music, and losing herself in the ancient worlds she enjoys bringing to life in the pages of her stories.

BLOG:  http://violettarand.wordpress.com/
FACEBOOK:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Violetta-Rand/578321415528848
TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/ViolettaRand

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

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Thursday, February 27, 2014

Book Tour for Vampire Most Wanted by Lynsay Sands (GIVEAWAY)


I've been a fan of Lynsay Sands for years and am honored to be hosting her today with her latest installment in the Argeneau series, Vampire Most Wanted.  Keep reading to get a glimpse of this book and make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win 1 of 3 print copies of the previous Argeneau book.

Take a road trip with the undead . . . in this latest in the Argeneau series by New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands
For Basha Argeneau, anything is better than facing her estranged family. Even hiding out in sweltering southern California. But when a sexy immortal in black shows up determined to bring her back to the clan, she'll do anything to keep far, far away from the past she can't outrun.
Marcus Notte isn't here to play games—especially not with someone as crazy as the infamous blonde. Asked by Lucian Argeneau to bring her back for questioning, Marcus is determined to carry out Lucian's request—no matter how the seductive little mind-reading vamp feels about it.
Basha doesn't mind fighting fire with fire, especially with a hot immortal involved. But if he wants to take her away, he'll have to catch her first . . .

EXCERPT:

Divine saw her latest customer out, surprised to note that there was no one outside her door waiting for a reading. It was the first time that day that there was no line outside her RV. A glance at her watch explained why-- it was dinnertime. That was the only time she ever had a lull in customers. Right now the food stalls would have ridiculously long line as everyone at the fairgrounds converged on them in search of greasy treats to power the rest of the evening’s rides and fun. Which meant she had a few minutes to catch her breath and relax a bit.
She’d barely had the thought when she spotted a couple of women moving purposefully toward her trailer. After a brief hesitation, Divine quickly flipped the “Back in five minutes!” sign, let her screen door slide closed and descended the few steps to the ground. Ignoring the fact that the women were looking alarmed and rushing forward, she slipped around the side of her RV. Most customers would have stopped then, sagged with disappointment and waited, probably impatiently, but waited just the same, so Divine was a little surprised when her arm was grabbed from behind. She was more surprised, however, by the strength in the hand that latched onto her…until she turned and noted that it wasn’t one of the women at all, but a man.
A couple inches taller than her, dark haired and good-looking, he was built like a line backer. He was also looming over her, deliberately invading her space in a threatening manner as he growled, “What the hell did you say to my wife?”
Divine rolled her eyes with exasperation, wondering how she was supposed to know since she didn’t know who his wife was. She was about to say as much, but then realized that there was something familiar about the man and quickly dipped into his thoughts. A heartbeat later she was relaxing.
“Allen Paulson,” she murmured his name, getting an almost childish satisfaction when his eyes widened incredulously.
“How do you--?”
“I told your wife that you were having an affair with your buxom, blonde, twenty year old secretary, Tiffany,” Divine interrupted sharply, silencing him at once. “I told her that this Tiffany was pushing for marriage and that you, not wanting to lose her, but unwilling to give up your wife’s money preferred widowhood to divorce. I told her about your plans to bring about that widowhood on your upcoming vacation. I believe it was either her drowning or suffering a fall while camping in Yosemite National Park?” She tilted her head. “As I recall that trip was scheduled for this week, wasn’t it?”
When his mouth dropped open and his hold on her arm eased, Divine added, “I’m guessing by the fact that you’re here rather than in Yosemite, that she listened to my advice to make an appointment with her lawyer the next morning to change her will as well as remove you as the beneficiary on her life insurance.”
His hand dropped away, falling limply by his side.
“No doubt she also listened to my advice and hired a private detective. I gather she sent him to get photographic proof of your infidelity at that cheap little motel you like to take your secretary to everyday at lunchtime?” She slipped into his thoughts briefly, read the answer in the chaos there, and smiled with satisfaction. Not only had the wife done that, she’d then taken the proof straight to a good divorce lawyer. The woman was now safe and on her way to being single again. After that, though, the woman had told her dear hubby that the fortune teller at the carnival was the one who had given her the heads up and put her on this path and it had been the best twenty bucks she’d ever spent. Which was why Divine now had an irate and soon to be divorced and destitute husband on her hands.
Divine waited, braced for the man’s anger. But instead of the explosive rage she expected, he asked in a small, frightened voice, “How did you know? No one knew. I didn’t tell anyone what I planned. Not even Tiffany.”
“Did you even bother to read the sign when you walked your wife to my trailer that day two weeks ago in Pahrump?” she asked with amusement and then reminded him, “Madame Divine. Let her do a reading and define your future,” she reminded him.
“Yeah, but that’s just… It’s a scam,” he protested. “You’re a carnie. You just scam people out of their money for a laugh.”
“Yes, of course ,” Divine agreed coldly, and then tilted her head. “So why aren’t you laughing?”
Allen Paulson flinched as if she’d struck him, and then his awe and dismay gave way to the rage she’d expected earlier. Divine saw it roll over him, knew he was about to blow his top without the need to read him, but slipped into his thoughts anyway. It was like cutting through soft, half melted butter with a ceramic knife. The man was so angry his thoughts were wide open. Divine wasn’t terribly surprised to read that he’d brought a gun with him and planned to use it. She waited until he’d pulled the weapon from inside his jacket and raised it, though, before reacting. In fact, she let him get so far as to put his finger on the trigger before snapping her hand out, latching onto his throat and lifting him off the ground. She then whirled and slammed him against her RV.
When the gun fell from his hand and he moaned in pain, she released him. The man fell like a rag doll. He landed on his ass with his legs splayed, a dazed expression on his face, andDivine immediately dropped to straddle his lap. Gravel ground painfully into her knees, but she ignored that, caught him by the hair at the nape of his neck, pulled his head to the side and sank her fangs into his throat.
A little shiver of pleasure slid through Divine as thick warm blood began to gush from the wound, was collected by her teeth and passed into her body. It gave her an immediate rush as the nanos in her body swarmed, eager to collect this new supply of nourishment. The man had jerked in surprise when her teeth pierced his skin, and he’d raised his hands to try to push her off, but he never actually got around to exerting any pressure. Instead, he froze briefly, his mind overwhelmed as hers automatically began to transmit her own pleasure to him. In the next moment, he was moaning and tugging at her instead, pulling her closer with one hand, clasping her head with the other and murmuring encouragingly, “Oh, yeah, baby. Please.”
He was also arching his body under her, rubbing a sudden hardness against her. Divine usually didn’t cause pain in her victims, but this one deserved it. She also wasn’t terribly eager to let a man who had planned to murder his own wife dry hump her there on the carnival grounds, so she deliberately withdrew the pleasure that she was experiencing and had unintentionally shared. But she also slipped into his mind to control his reaction to prevent him from screaming out in horror and pain as his mind cleared and he became aware of what was happening.
Divine was always careful not to kill her hosts. Why kill the cow that gave the milk? Besides, killing was wrong, no matter how despicable the person was, so while she drank more than she normally would have, she pulled back and freed him at the point when he was weak and woozy, but long before the man could come close to dying.
Smiling coldly at his horrified expression, Divine stood, lifting him as she went. Once they were both upright, she released him, leaving him to lean weakly against the RV rather than have to touch him anymore.
“Listen carefully Allen Paulson,” she said grimly. “You will not hurt your wife, or ever again consider harming or killing anyone for profit or any other reason. If you do, I’ll find out, and then I’ll find you…” She raised her hand to run one finger lightly over the wound on his neck. “And then I will finish this meal, cut your head off and leave your cold dead body somewhere no one will ever find you. Do we understand each other?”
Allen Paulson nodded weakly. The man’s face was as white as his t-shirt, his eyes almost sunken with horror and he was sliding slowly along her RV, obviously eager to escape, but afraid to try and be stopped. Divine scowled. “And if you tell anyone about this, about me,” she emphasized, “I’ll do worse.”
He began shaking his head frantically and whispered, “I won’t. I swear.”
She narrowed her eyes, and then her nose wrinkled as the acrid scent of urine wafted up between them. Glancing down, she saw the wet spot growing on the front of his trousers and stepped back with disgust. “Get out of here before I change mymind and wipe yours.”
Allen Paulson didn’t have a clue what she meant by that-- she could see it in his expression-- but he didn’t stick around to ask.  He simply nodded wildly and sidled along the RV for a couple feet before finding the courage to turn his back to her and run.
“You should have wiped his mind.”
Divine stiffened at those words from behind her, and then turned slowly. She peered at the tall fair-haired man who had spoken. He was a greenie, an unskilled laborer and supposedly a local who had been hired to help out at the carnival while they were in town. The name he went by was Marco. Divine knew this secondhand, because while she was normally in on the hiring process, using her “special skills” to help Bob and Madge Hoskins who owned and ran Hoskins Amusements, this time she hadn’t been here. Family issues had kept her away and the hiring had been done by the time she’d caught up to the carnival. Had she been here to help weed out the troublemakers in the hiring process as she usually did, she never would have allowed Bob and Madge to hire the man. One, she couldn’t read him, and that was usually a sign of insanity in a mortal. This leads into the second reason she wouldn’t have hired him; the man, likeherself, was an immortal. She’d sensed that about him quite quickly. Divine wasn’t sure how she’d known. She didn’t run into a lot of immortals. In fact, she’d arranged her life so that she wouldn’t. But there had been a frisson of awareness as she’d first passed him on returning to the carnival just before noon that day, as if the nanos in her body recognized and sent signals to those in his. She’d been avoiding him ever since.
But that hadn’t stopped her from finding out all she could about him. Not that there had been much to learn. He went by Marco, last name Smith of all things. The women all thought he was a hunk. The men thought he was practically a God because he was strong and could do the work of four men, and Bob and Madge were hoping he’d not just help out through their stay in this town, but travel with them to the next and the next and so on. For herself, Divine was wary. She had avoided other immortals for a reason and had been doing so for a very long time. She didn’t like having one around. It made her anxious and she disliked feeling anxious.
“Don’t you have something to do?” she asked, moving past the man and toward the back of her RV. The sign she’d turned had said back in five minutes and that time was up. Besides, she’d snacked on Allen Paulson and felt better for it. Break time was over.
“You should have wiped his mind,” Marco repeated, falling into step with her.
“He’ll keep his mouth shut,” Divine muttered, annoyed, mostly because she knew he was right. The truth was she hadn’t wiped Allen Paulson’s mind because it was slimy, and she hadn’t wanted to have to spend any more time inside his mind than necessary. Besides, he deserved to go through life terrified that she might someday revisit him should he set a foot wrong.
“And if he doesn’t keep his mouth shut?” Marco asked as they neared the end of her RV. “What if he goes to the police?”
“If he goes to the police, and if they don’t immediately lock him up as crazy but instead come to speak to me…” She shrugged. “I’ll wipe his mind, the officer’s mind and leave this carnival for another.”
“Is that how you landed at Hoskins’ Carnival?” Marco asked as they rounded the end of the vehicle. “You didn’t wipe someone you should have and had to move on?”
Divine turned on him sharply, an angry retort on her lips, but just as quickly caught back the words that wanted to spill out and merely said with forced calm, “You’re an inquisitive fellow, Marco. It’s not healthy around here. Carnies mind their own business. I suggest you do the same.”
Turning away from him, she smiled at the two women who were waiting in front of her door. Others had joined them. In fact, Divine now had a line up of a half a dozen people and it was growing by the minute, but she reserved her smile for the first two only and said, “Which of you would like to go first? Or shall I take you together?”
“Oh, me first,” one of the women said eagerly. “This was my idea.”
Divine nodded and led the woman inside, leaving Marco and all thought of him out on her stoop.
******************** 
“Here, Mister.”
Marcus tore his gaze from the door Madame Divine had just ushered her client through and peered down at the small boy tugging at the top of his pant leg and holding out a half eaten ball of cotton candy on a cardboard cone.
“Here,” the boy repeated, holding it a little higher. “I don’t feel good. You can have the rest.”
Marcus arched an eyebrow, but took the cotton candy. He suspected the boy didn’t feel good because he was stuffed full of cotton candy, something drenched in mustard, powdered elephant ears and—he considered the last stain on the boy’s shirt consideringly and then decided it had to be – ice cream. The kid was a walking menu of everything he’d eaten that day. At least, Marcus hoped it was all the kid had eaten that day. Otherwise he’d be wondering if Dante and Tomasso hadn’t fathered the little tyke. They were the only two people he knew, mortal or immortal, who could have eaten like that as a boy.
“Danny! What are you doing? Get over here and leave that man alone.”
Marcus glanced at the woman rushing toward them from the midway and offered a reassuring smile even as he slipped into her thoughts to ease her mind that he wasn’t a child molester and nothing untoward was happening. By the time she reached them, she’d slowed to a fast walk, and was smiling in a relaxed manner.
“I hope he wasn’t bothering you?” she said apologetically as she took the boy’s hand.
“Not at all,” Marcus assured her.
The young mother smiled again and then nodded and turned away with the boy, saying, “Come on, honey. Your daddy is waiting with your sister in the Ferris wheel line. They’ll be worried.”
Marcus watched them go and then turned his gaze back to Madame Divine’s RV. The door was closed now as were the blinds. He couldn’t see the woman anymore, except in his mind’s eye and he was definitely seeing her there. Madame Divine was more than memorable in her gypsy getup. A white peasant blouse, worn off the shoulders, a crimson under skirt, a bright teal scarf skirt, an orange sash tied at the waist with gold chains hanging from it and tinkling merrily, a wide leather belt and a crimson scarf around her head. Gold hoops had dangled from her ears, a gold chain hung around her neck, several gold bracelets dangled from her wrist, and knee high black leather boots with stiletto heels strapped up the front of her legs had finished the outfit.
The woman looked damned sexy in the getup, so sexy in fact that when she’d straddled the would-be wife killer, Marcus had wanted to pull her off the man and onto his own lap. He’d been rather startled by that urge. Marcus hadn’t been interested in women for a while. Okay, for a couple millenia. Still, he hadn’t come across a woman like Madame Divine in quite a while either. The woman was walking sex in her get up, and his body was waking up and responding to it.
Obviously he had a gypsy fetish, Marcus thought wryly. It made as much sense as anything else at the moment. Certainly more sense than his own life presently did. It appeared at the ripe old age of 2548 he was having a midlife crisis of sorts. That was the only explanation for how he found himself doing a favor for Lucian Argeneau.
Marcus smiled wryly at the thought. Lucian Argeneau was not only the head of the powerful Argeneau clan, but also oversaw the Rogue Hunters and led the North American immortal council. Rogue Hunters were the immortal police force, they hunted down rogue immortals to be presented to the immortal council who then passed judgment on them and sentenced them to whatever punishment they saw fit, often death.
As the head of those two organizations, Lucian could arguably be the most powerful immortal in North America. It was hard to imagine him needing anyone’s help. But he did. He was searching for a family member, his niece, Basha Argeneau, who had been thought to be dead for millennia, but who may now be alive after all…and whom he feared had gone rogue.
Which is how Marcus had come to find himself at the carnival, eyeballing the trailer of a woman he couldn’t read and found incredibly sexy. Not that his not being able to read her bothered him. If this was Basha Argeneau, she was even older than he was and younger immortals usually couldn’t read immortals older than themselves. It wasn’t like any of the other signs of having met a life mate were cropping up, like renewed interest in food and such. Thank God, because if she had been a possible life mate and was Basha Argeneau…well, that would have been a doomed relationship from the start. Because Basha Argeneau was considered rogue…and rogues were executed. The last thing he needed at this point in his life was a rogue life mate.
“Hey! Marco! Are you going to stand around stuffing your face all night or help me with the pogo stall?”
Marcus glanced around with surprise to find Kevin Morrow walking toward him. The twenty-year old carnie was tall and stick-thin, his face a collection of freckles so thick that from a distance it looked like a tan. Up close though you saw that his face was definitely freckled, and it was also presently scrunched up with displeasure, reminding him that he was only supposed to take a fifteen minute break from helping to man the food stall.
“I was--”
“Stuffing your face,” the young carnie interrupted dryly and then turned away, gesturing for him to follow. “Come on. If you’re hungry you can have a corn dog while you work. It’s probably better for you than that sugary fluff anyway.”
Marcus blinked and glanced down at the cone with the half eaten cotton candy the boy had given him several minutes ago. Or what had been half eaten cotton candy. There was nothing left of the sweet treat now. Surely he hadn’t eaten it? He hadn’t eaten in more than a millennia. He didn’t remember eating it. But he did have a sweet taste in his mouth that was rather pleasant.
“Damn,” he muttered, tossing the cardboard cone into a garbage bin as he headed after Kevin. He’d eaten it. Couldn’t read Madame Divine, and was lusting after the woman. Oh, this wasn’t good.

BUY LINKS:   Avon Romance   |   Amazon   |   BN

AUTHOR INFO:

Lynsay Sands is the nationally bestselling author of the Argeneau/Rogue Hunter vampire series, as well as numerous historicals and anthologies. She’s been writing stories since grade school and considers herself incredibly lucky to be able to make a career out of it. Her hope is that readers can get away from their everyday stress through her stories, and if there’s occasional uncontrollable fits of laughter, that’s just a big bonus.


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

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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Book Tour for Switching Mercedes by Jan Graham (Review & GIVEAWAY)

I'm honored to be hosting Jan Graham for the first time today with her sexy BDSM read, and the third installment in her Wylde Shore series, Switching Mercedes.  Keep reading to learn more about this series from Jan along with my impressions of this book.  You can learn even more about this book by visiting the other blogs hosting this tour and make sure to fill out the form below for your chance to win an e-copy of her Wylde Shore series too!

I’d like to thanks the Scarf Princess for having my here today as part of the Switching Mercedes Blog Tour.  Today I thought I’d share a bit about where Switching Mercedes is set and why I chose that setting for my Wylde Shore Series.
As some of you may know, I’m Australian, therefore it shouldn’t be a surprise that most of my books are set here, with the characters having a distinctly Aussie flavor to them. In particular, Switching Mercedes is set in the inner city of Sydney. I chose Sydney because it’s a city I’m really familiar, having spent my younger wild days partying there. I still go there when my wild child needs to be unleashed…lol. Knowing the city so well makes it easy to add an element of reality to the fictional stories I construct, which is something I like to do in all my books.
Both Mercedes business and The Dungeon, a club owned by Zane, are situated in the red light district of Sydney. No they aren’t real clubs, but the concept for each was based on venues I know of. In particular, Zane’s club is based on the Hellfire Club, a monthly BDSM event that’s held in a Darlinghurst nightclub. The club has areas for dancing, as well as live performances by artist and members of the Kink community who specialize in particular fields of BDSM play. I occasionally attend Hellfire, (yes, in my wild child moments) it’s a great place to have fun and catch up with my kinky friends in a social setting.
When I started writing this series I decided it would be great to incorporate a venue where the characters could go to socialize, a place that’s specific to the BDSM scene. Knowing what Hellfire was like, I loosely based Zane’s club, The Dungeon, on it. Likewise, Mercedes’s Gentleman’s Club was inspired by a real-life business called Salon Kitty’s. I had a friend who worked at Kitty’s as a professional Mistress, but never actually went to the club myself.
Other locations mentioned are real locations. All the suburbs mentioned are actual suburbs, the streets Mercedes drives down while going to her friend’s home in the beginning of the story are some of the actual streets leading from Darlinghurst to Glebe. The serviced apartment that Isaac moves into is also a real place, as is the restaurant he eats at.
If you decide to read, Switching Mercedes, I hope you not only enjoy the story, but also enjoyreading the snippets about a city that I love.
Below is information about the book and where you can purchase it, along with my other books, including the first two in the Wylde Shore Series. If you’ve missed any of the previous blog from the tour you can check them out by looking up the appearance dates via this link. There is also a competition running during the tour, where you can win the complete Wylde Shore Series, entry details are at the bottom of this post.

Zane Reynolds believes he’s found the perfect submissive for his brother and he but there’s a problem. Mistress Mercedes doesn’t want to submit to anyone. Zane hopes a bet will solve that issue, along with providing the key to finally win, not only Mercedes submission, but also her heart.
Ash knows he isn’t a good man for any woman to fall in love with. He’s a paid mercenary, disillusioned with life and his ability to fit into the civilized world. Zane insists he’s found the perfect woman for them to share, the problem is, Mercedes has no idea Ash exists. 
Mercedes has more to worry about than a wager where she plays submissive to Zane for a week. She’s just become a serial killer’s new target and met the man assigned to protect her, Zane’s twin, Ash Reynolds. Ash appears as interested in her submission as Zane, but Mercedes isn’t looking to be shared.

EXCERPT:
God she was adorable. He felt like he was a schoolboy being given a good dressing down by an angry principal. If he was any way inclined to that sort of thing he’d be hard as a rock by now. No wonder she was considered the best professional Mistress in the city. Instead he grew hard for other reasons. The black leather dress she wore fit her like a glove with the zip front pushing her breasts together and up to show the most alluring cleavage, like two soft pillow tops he wanted to bury his face in then bite just for the pleasure of hearing her moan. Her thigh high boots allowed for only the smallest peek of sheer nylon-covered flesh between boot top and dress hem. He wanted to raise the hemline and see what lay beneath.
She appeared to be on a roll, although he’d given up listening to the barrage of insults she fired at his brother. If he was Zane, which of course he wasn’t, he’d wait for her to calm herself, get the fact he’d annoyed her off her chest, and then proceed. But he wasn’t Zane, and the one inherent difference between the two of them was his brother was far more patient with women, especially when they were upset. Ash, on the other hand, knew exactly how to soothe this savage beast.
He casually butted out the cigar on the wall, pocketing the extinguished two-thirds. After all, with trade embargos, Cubans were hard to come by unless one visited the country, and he wouldn’t be back there for the foreseeable future. He expected his target to step back when he pushed away from the wall and stood upright, but she didn’t. Too busy explaining how she was happy with a casual sex arrangement and that was all a Neanderthal like Zane could ever hope for. Too bad he wasn’t his brother. He’d probably reconsider what he was about to do.
With lightening speed he reached out his arm and circled her waist, pulling her toward him. A quick one-eighty-degree spin had her in the shadows, back to the wall, surrounded by his larger frame.
“Enough.” He covered her mouth with his in their second, long overdue kiss, swallowing her fury and any objections she may have been about to voice. She responded with a seductive moan as their tongues entwined. He had her, and this time he wouldn’t let her go until she screamed his name. Well, his brother’s name actually. Damn it, he should just tell her.
All notions of confession were blown away when she looped her arms around the back of his neck and pulled herself up onto his body, her legs circling his waist. He clasped the globes of her ass in both hands and assisted in repositioning her, standing taller and wedging her more tightly between the brickwork and his body. He moved his hands in turn, repositioning them under the leather of her dress, dragging it up as he cupped the bare flesh of her ass cheeks. She was either commando or wearing a G-string. Knowing the latter more likely to be true, he slid his fingers to the crease of her ass until he found a thread of material. Following the thin trail of lace to the wetness between her legs, he moved the lace aside, allowing his fingers to delve between her lips before sliding effortlessly inside her… one…two…three.
As the third long digit pushed inside, Mercedes broke the kiss, exhaling a breathless moan of pleasure, her cunt tightening around his fingers.
“Fuck my fingers and come for me, baby.” He’d prefer to have her come on his cock, but he refused to be caught with his pants down if Bethany chose to show up for their meeting.
“Not here, please, Zane.” Despite the request for a change of venue, Mercedes thrust downward. Ash extended his thumb to rub over her clit, resulting in another mewling of delight from his now totally aroused and compliant little hellcat as she rode his fingers, driving them deep inside.
“No one can see you, baby, I’ve got you covered.” Sweet pussy juice spread over his hand as her cunt began to pulse around him in a flurry of release. She pulled his hair and buried her face against his chest, muffling the passionate cry as she came. “Again.”
This time he did the maneuvering of his fingers, thrusting them deep and fast within her, quickly bringing her to another climax.
“Please no more, not here. You know I don’t like public displays.” Mercedes cupped his face between her hands and rested her forehead against his. “I need you buried deep inside me, your skin against mine, but not here.”
Not here, great.
“Your place or mine?” It was obvious Beth was a no-show, so leaving the area didn’t matter. He’d contact her later.
“Neither.” She lowered her legs and pushed away from him, straightening her hem as she headed straight for the staff entry door. “The perfect place is right inside. You have a lock on your office door so we won’t be disturbed.”
Fuck, no. She was inside the club before he could stop her. Zane was working tonight, which meant he needed to stay the hell out of there, but instead he followed, hoping to drag her back into his arms and change her mind before anyone found out Zane Reynolds had a doppelganger.

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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Events from the previous books in the Wylde Shore series rear their ugly heads in this steamy BDSM read with an exhilarating bit of suspense that puts numerous characters in jeopardy.  Even if you haven't read the other books in this series you'll have no trouble getting caught up in the heart-pounding action of Switching Mercedes as the characters are entertaining and the author pulls no punches in amping up the suspense.  Seamlessly interwoven with the suspense is numerous sensual scenes that ultimately evolve into hot BDSM play involving the personal rivalry of Dom and sub players for the burgeoning ménage of Mercedes and twin brothers Zane and Ash with the prize of forever up for grabs.
Mercedes is a strong-willed woman who became a Dom after a traumatic experience in her teens.  It caused her to close herself off a bit, she became more guarded and more contrary to protect herself.  She never wanted to be taken advantage of again and has become an ice queen as Mistress Mercedes.  She doesn't have relationships, but for the last few years she's enjoyed the playful banter between her and the overly protective Dom, Zane.  When the women who work for her start dying, and she loses a bet with Zane, she's brought into his and his twin brother's safe keeping where her body may be safe but they put her heart and mind through the wringer to accept the love and submissive play that she promised.  Mercedes is an outspoken woman and the playful banter between her and the boys is entertaining.  She's no shrinking violet where the villain is concerned and I applauded her never backing down to his vileness.  From start to finish she remained a wonderfully admirable heroine unafraid of anything, even when loving the men who love her.
After a mission gone wrong where he was tortured, Zane turned his back on his covert job and joined the real world.  To keep his soul he turned his back on the past and has embraced the feelings of love and softness that he feels towards Mercedes.  He's extremely protective of her and is grateful for the knowledge of his past to keep her alive now.  He admires her Dom side but wants to show her the carefree side of being a sub and the journey they undertake is sexy and fun.  I found Zane's sexy yet caring side immensely appealing and found humor in how everyone was scared of his intimidating size but he in fact was very softhearted.  He's a romantic at heart and expresses his feelings easily.  There's a calming influence always surrounding him and this is just one of the subtle ways he's the opposite of his twin.  Ash dealt with their torture in a very different way, he's built up a tolerance to all kinds of pain but in the process it's hardened his heart.  To save his soul Zane wants him to join into a ménage with Mercedes where he can see the joys of living a life in the real world.  Ash is far less romantic than Zane and talks in more gritty terms.  He oozes sex appeal in his early meetings with Mercedes and they were full of sexual tension.  He's clearly the more aggressive in his looks, words, and deeds and it's extremely appealing for Mercedes to be offered such a sexually stimulating dichotomy of men which made for a compelling sexual journey for their burgeoning ménage.
Along with appealing characters and steamy sexual interludes came a well-paced and pulse-pounding storyline of revenge.  The villain's identity is tied to the past and the author spends ample time in his head to make his part of the story compelling and kept me on the edge of my seat.  His dastardly deeds are vividly depicted and nicely paced alongside the romance to keep me completely immersed in the overall story.  Reading the previous books in this series isn't a necessity to enjoy this one but it will enhance your experience.  We get to see characters from past books and it's nice to be brought up to date on their outcomes and the parts they play in bringing down the bad guy now.  The Wylde Shore series continues to keep things hot and suspenseful and I look forward to the fourth and final installment coming soon to see all the storylines come full circle at the hands of the talented Ms. Graham.
My rating for this is an A-
*I received this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:
Jan Graham describes herself in many ways. She is a full time writer, friend, submissive, orphan, widow, aunt, and sometimes, a wild child. Despite any hiccups the universe may throw at her, she believes in experiencing everything life has to offer and being the best person she can be. Janlives in Newcastle, Australia, where she spends her time writing erotic romance. Her writing falls under a variety of genres including BDSM, contemporary romance, romantic suspense and paranormal romance. Jan has often been quoted as saying:
"I am glad to finally give the characters that swirl around my head on a constant basis, the opportunity to put themselves down on paper and I hope they entertain my readers as much as they amuse me."

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Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Book Tour for His Secrets by Lisa Renee Jones (Review & GIVEAWAY)


Today I'm honored to be hosting Lisa Renee Jones and the next installment in her Inside Out series, His Secrets.  Keep reading to get a glimpse into this series as well as my impressions of the latest installment.  Make sure to fill out the form below for your chance to win 1 of 20 $10 Amazon/Paypal GCs!

THE BIG NEWS........
The Inside Out series is in development for cable television with the fabulous producer Suzanne Todd at the helm. Suzanne has worked on projects such as Alice in Wonderland with Johnny Depp, Must Love Dogs, Austin Powers, Lethal Weapon and many more!
So where does the show stand?
I was just in Hollywood and I had the pleasure of meeting with many of the brilliant minds involved in the process. It was pretty surreal to sit there and talk to these talented folks and have them know my characters the way I know them. Truly amazing.
It’s been fun learning the process of a cable TV show in development. There is no pilot. There is simply the process of someone writing the first 8-10 episodes. If those scripts are approved, then a staff of writers to carry on the show will be hired, and casting begins for the first season. Also, unlike movies, as we’ve seen with 50 Shades, casting isn’t something that is talked about for a year and then finally happens. In general, when a cable station orders a show to production, things move fast. So once you hear the news, it will get exciting at lightning speed. I hope to be able to share that news VERY soon!
That said, I am beyond thrilled that the producers of the show, Team Todd, are excited to engage fans in the process. They watch my Twitter and Facebook and enjoy seeing the fan suggestions for casting. They even watch fan-made videos! When I was in Hollywood, they shared their excitement about involving readers and fun ideas like VIP casting chats for readers.
They’ve set up an email newsletter list to better connect with the fans. To take part, just email REBECCA@TEAM-TODD.com and say I WANT TO BE AN INSIDER.
And yes, feel free to post your casting ideas on my Facebook page. The producers LOVE seeing them and I'll repost them to my main page. I look forward to taking this exciting journey with all of my readers!

IF I WERE YOU
When Sara McMillan finds a stack of journals in a storage unit, she’s shocked and enthralled by the erotic life the writer led. Unable to stop reading, she vicariously lives out dark fantasies through Rebecca, the writer—until the terrifying final entry.
Certain something sinister has happened, Sara sets out to discover the facts, immersing herself in Rebecca’s life. Soon she’s working at the art gallery Rebecca worked at and meeting Rebecca’s friends. Finding herself drawn to two dangerously sexy men, the manager of the gallery and a famed artist, Sara realizes she’s going down the same path Rebecca took. But with the promise of her dark needs being met by a man with confident good looks and a desire for control, she’s not sure anything else matters. Just the burn for more.
EXCERPT:
We are almost to the gallery, and a knot has formed in my stomach at the prospect of an awkward goodbye, when he suddenly grabs me and pulls me into a small enclave of a deserted office rental. Before I can fully grasp what is happening, I am against the wall, hidden from the street and he is in front of me, enclosing me in the tiny space. I blink up into his burning stare and I think I might combust. His scent, his warmth, his hard body, is all around me, but he is not touching me. I want him to touch me.
He presses his hand to the concrete wall above my head when I want it on my body. “You don’t belong here, Sara.”
The words are unexpected, a hard punch in the chest. “What? I don’t understand.”
“This job is wrong for you.”
I shake my head. I don’t belong? Coming from Chris, an established artist, I feel inferior, rejected. “You asked me why I wasn’t following my heart. Why I wasn’t pursuing what I love. I am. That’s what I’m doing.”
“I didn’t think you’d do it in this place.”
This place. I don’t know what he’s telling me. Does he mean this gallery? This city? Has he judged me not worthy of his inner circle?
“Look, Sara.” He hesitates, and lifts his head to the sky, seeming to struggle for words before fixing me with a turbulent look. “I’m trying to protect you here. This world you’ve strayed into is filled with dark, messed up, arrogant assholes who will play with your mind and use you until there is nothing else left for you to recognize in yourself.”
“Are you one of those dark, messed up, arrogant assholes?”
He stares down at me, and I barely recognize the hard lines of his face, the glint in his eyes, as belonging to the man I’ve just had lunch with. His gaze sweeps my lips, lingers, and the swell ofresponse and longing in me is instant, overwhelming. He reaches up and strokes his thumb over my bottom lip. Every nerve ending in my body responds and it’s all I can do not to touch him, to grab his hand, but something holds me back. I am lost in this man, in his stare, in some spellbinding, dark whirlwind of…what? Lust, desire, torment? Seconds tick eternally and so does the silence. I want to hold him, to stop whatever I sense is coming but I cannot.
“I’m worse.” He pushes off the wall, and is gone. He is gone. I am alone against the wall, aching with a fire that has nothing to do with the meal we shared. My lashes flutter, my fingers touch my lip where he touched me. He has warned me away from Mark, from the gallery, from him, and he has failed. I cannot turn away. I am here and I am going nowhere.
LINKS:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Were-You-Inside-Out-Series-ebook/dp/B0095VKZUK
BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/if-i-were-you-lisa-renee-jones/1112622048
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15717721-if-i-were-you

REVEALING US
The third installment in the sexy Inside Out erotic romance series—in the seductive tradition of Fifty Shades of Grey.
You've discovered Rebecca's secrets. You've discovered Sara's secrets. Now Sara will discover "his" deepest, darkest secrets...but will those secrets bind them together--or tear them apart?
EXCERPT:
I twist around to find Chris standing in the doorway, his hair a damp mess, droplets of water clinging to the black Harley jacket he wears with the same ease he does his power. The en- tire room seems to suck in a breath at the same moment, waiting for what will come next. Waiting for him.
His attention fixes on me, and it’s as if no one else were in the room. He sees me. He’s dismissed them.
“I told you I was close, baby,” he drawls, seemingly unaffected by the situation. He saunters into the room, and while he’s all casual coolness and sexy swagger, there is a lethal, primal quality just beneath his surface. I might be trying to take control myself, and I want to, but it’s a beautiful thing watching Chris be Chris.
LINKS:

HIS SECRETS
An Inside Out story, Chris's POV
In a world where my only escape has been my art, Sara has been the light in my darkness. And there is darkness, the kind of inky black that can bleed from my life to hers.
She doesn't see it. She doesn't understand what I've shown her. And my biggest fear is that soon...she will.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

The Inside Out series continues with the road to HEA for Chris and Sara still in limbo because of a vindictive and manipulative woman from his past.  From the very beginning of this short story to the very end guilt and obligation weighs on Chris as he tries to protect a woman from his past and the woman of his future.  There's an unrelenting sense of foreboding as he tries to be worthy of Sara and as events spiral out of control in this fast-paced, emotionally draining read.  Both of them have something to prove as both Chris and Sara are stronger than they appear and must believe in each other to reach their HEA.

This is a must-read for fans of the series as the added insight it offers makes for a more compelling series overall.  It shows the evolution of characters as well as the deep connection between the protagonists.  For those unfamiliar with the series, the sensual mood created is intriguing and makes for an exciting afternoon diversion.  The impact won't be quite as intense but it is entertaining.

The pain the characters are going through is palpable.  The line between pleasure and pain blurred in a read full of conflicted emotions.  The actions of some of the characters is a bit over the top and distracting though, but for fans of the series who have watched these characters carry-on, this is no surprise and won't impede their reading enjoyment.

My rating for this is a C+

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

LINKS:   Amazon   |   BN

MY HUNGER
Master............
Being that person, that man is how I define myself, how I allow the rest of the world to define me as well. And now, with a terrible loss shredding me inside out and someone trying to destroy my family to punish me, control is more important than ever. It is everything. It is what I need. It is all I need. Or maybe I just need…her.
LINKS:

NO IN-BETWEEN
The fourth in the Inside Out erotic romance series by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones, this steamy novel resolves Chris and Sarah's relationship and leads into Mark's story.
EXCERPT:
(Unedited) Another man in an expensive fitted suit much like Mark’s gray one, steps to Mark’s side, his features ruggedly male, whereas Mark’s are classical male beauty. And where Mark’s classically clean shaven and handsome, his short blond hair is always neatly groomed, this man’s thick, light brown hair is long enough to be tied at his nape, and the stubble on jawline far more than a shadow.
The man says something to Mark and I don’t know why, but I am certain the stranger is his attorney. Mark barely acknowledges what is said to him, stepping forward, closing the distance between us, and I cannot seem to move. He moves with absolute predatory grace, beautiful, powerful, impossible to ignore and I am his prey.
I am not immune to Mark’s certain flavor of power and masculinity, but then, I have never denied that fact. But being affected by his larger-than-life presence and wanting him are two different things. It's also a way Rebecca and I differed and I cannot help but remember her words. He was magnificent. Really, truly the most gorgeous man I’ve ever known. Instant lust exploded inside me. I wanted to feel him close to me, to feel him touch me. To touch him.
She’d started out infatuated and then fell in love, and suddenly, I am angry at Mark for not seeing what he had with her before he lost her. Even more so for trying to push her away by involving Ava and Ryan in their intimate moments, and who knew who else, that I never discovered.
Intending to tell him so, I step forward, closing the distance between us and stopping when we are toe to toe, but he speaks before I do. “Ms. McMillan,” he says in that low baritone of his that is both sultry suggestion and hard steel.
I lift my chin and meet his stare, and when I do, I see the barely masked heartache in the depths of those steely gray eyes. I see love lost, and my anger is ripped right out of my chest. “Mark,” I whisper, bleeding for him, with him. “It’s good to see you.” And without any conscious decision to do so, I wrap my arms around him and press my cheek to his chest. He doesn’t hug me back but I don’t care. It kills me to realize that Rebecca finally taught Mark what it is to love, and she’ll never even know.
“Ms. McMillan,” he warns tersely. “Now is not the time for affection.”
I step back, choosing to ignore the deep seductive quality of those words, and press my hands to my hips. “Why don’t you return your phone calls?”
His expression is unreadable, the pain I’d seen minutes before carefully banked. “I just arrived into town and I’m certain you’re aware, I’ve had my hands full.”
The stranger joins us, his piercing blue eyes finding mine.
“This is “Tiger”,” Mark says without ever looking at the other man. “My attorney.”
“What is it with you men? You have a problem using a person’s real, God-given name?”
“Confirmation of what I suspected,” Tiger comments. “You have to be Sara. And it’s not my God-given name. It’s the one I earned and that means it’s the one I favor.”
Taking the bait, I ask, “And how exactly did you earn it?”
“I’ll rip your throat out if you cross my clients,” he replies, and I do not like the subtle threat in the words, be it real or imagined.
I narrow my eyes on Tiger. “You said ‘confirmation you’re Sara.’ What did that mean?”
Mark answers for Tiger. “I told him your propensity toward too much conversation.”
“Does he know your propensity toward arrogance?” I challenge.
“He does,” Mark confirms, without hesitation, a muscle flexing in his jaw.
I cringe at the realization that I’ve hit the nerve of self blame in Mark, a nerve I know has to be as raw and ripe as it gets. “I’m sorry,” I say quickly. “It slipped out. I was just doing that banter thing we do.”
He gives me on of those heavy lidded looks of his and says, “Not a problem, Ms. McMillan. I also warned Tiger that you tend toward being painfully honest.”
Now I’m the one with confirmation. I did hit a nerve. “I wasn’t trying to hurt you.”
“There’s nothing wrong with honesty,” Tiger comments.
I cut him an irritated look. “There is if it hurts someone.” I step closer to Mark. “Can we talk alone for a minute?”
“No private conversation,” Tiger replies, rejecting the idea.
I gape at Tiger. “You’re protecting Mark from me?”
“I’m protecting you both from prying eyes,” Tiger assures me, his tone all business. “Save the hugs and personal conversation for elsewhere.” He glances at his watch. “It’s 3:00. We need to get to our meeting room.”
LINKS:

MY HUNGER
I have lost the man I once was, letting guilt and heartache define who I am. Darkness has controlled me, and one woman has seen what no one else has seen in me, what I do not wish to exist. My hunger for her has driven me to the edge of sanity, but no more. She's about to find out that the Master has returned.
LINKS:

I BELONG TO YOU
TO BE RELEASED ON NOVEMBER 2014.

AUTHOR INFO:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT TRILOGY which has sold to more than ten countries for translation with negotiations in process for more, and has now been optioned by STARZ Network for a cable television show, to be produced by Suzanne Todd (Alice in Wonderland).
Since beginning her publishing career in 2007, Lisa has published more than 30 books with publishers such as Simon and Schuster, Avon, Kensington, Harlequin, NAL, Berkley and Elloras Cave, as well as crafting a successful indie career. Booklist says that Jones suspense truly sizzles with an energy similar to FBI tales with a paranormal twist by Julie Garwood or Suzanne Brockmann.
Prior to publishing, Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by Dallas Women Magazine. In 1998 LRJ was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.
Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her through her website and she is active on twitter and Facebook daily.

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