Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Book Tour for Knight of My Dreams by Lynsay Sands (GIVEAWAY)


Today I'm thrilled to be hosting Lynsay Sands with her newest release Knight of My Dreams.  Keep reading to get a glimpse of this sexy historical read and learn even more about this book by visiting the other blogs hosting this tour.  Make sure to fill out the form below for your chance to win 1 of 3 digital copies of Ms. Sands' To Marry a Scottish Laird.

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lynsay Sands comes a classic short story of a knight in need of a bride…
Lady Alice knows she is not the type to entice a man. She’s too voluptuous, too intelligent, too strong-minded. Why, she even reads! But then Jonathan, Earl of Fairley, arrives at court. Tall, dark and handsome, the knight is any woman’s dream. And he has just been ordered by the king to find a bride…and Alice is to help him!
Jonathan has been evading his mother’s matchmaking schemes for years, so why does she insist that Lady Alice isn’t for him? Alice is only to aid in his search for a bride, yet Jonathan can’t help but be distracted by her glorious hair the color of a sunset, and her figure that is like a lush berry about to burst to full ripeness... Has Jonathan fallen prey to love?

EXCERPT:

"Are you all right?"
Alice glanced up in surprise at the concern in Lord Jonathan's voice. He wasn't looking at her; his gaze was traveling down her body in the wake of his hands as he checked her over to be sure she wasn't injured. She flushed at the familiar way his fingers skimmed over her, and took a quick step back, nearly tumbling again.
"I am fi-fine," she got out a little breathlessly as he caught her arms to steady her. "Really," Alice added when he continued to look concerned. After a brief pause, he swallowed and nodded, then turned to grab at the reins of his mount.
Her gaze moved distractedly back to the small swatch of blue cloth on the ground by her feet. She was about to draw Jonathan's attention to it, when she was suddenly caught by the waist and lifted onto his horse.
Alice promptly began to protest. "Oh, really, my lord. There is no need for us to ride. I can walk back to the clearing. I—"
At last she gave up her protests, mostly because he was ignoring her. He mounted in front of her and drew her hands around his waist.
"Hold on," he instructed.
Alice nodded against his back, breathing in deeply to try to steady her nerves. It was rather novel to be in such close proximity to a man. She had never done so before. Unmarried women were simply not allowed such familiarity. Of course, this was an unusual circumstance, and…
Her thoughts died as she breathed in the scent of him. He smelled of the woods and the river and…male. It was a surprisingly pleasant mix, she decided, breathing it in again as her fingers interlocked at his middle. Feeling the muscles of his stomach bunch and ripple, she flattened her fingers over them to get the full sensation, then, realizing what she was doing, stopped breathing in embarrassment. Her fingers stilled.
Of course, Alice couldn't go long holding her breath. She managed to do so for the short ride back to the clearing, but there the breath left her in a slow hiss. The place was empty. Lady Fairley and her uncle had not waited for them; they had apparently ridden on ahead. Alice recalled the small swatch of cloth she had spotted near the horses and pondered silently, wondering why Lady Fairley had been by the horses. Surely she hadn't untied Alice's mount and let it go? Had she really been so annoyed with Alice as to wish to have her walk back to the castle?
"Well, we shall have to ride quickly to catch up," Lord Jonathan said.
Alice glanced at the back of his head, then pressed close and held on tightly as he spurred his mount into a trot. She didn't hold her breath this time. Instead she sat, her breasts pressed against his back, her hands clutched at his front, breathing in deeply of his scent. She was enjoying it so much, it took her most of the ride to realize that despite his words, Jonathan wasn't trying very hard to catch up to her uncle and his mother. He had the horse going at a trot, but a rather slow one, really. They had ridden here faster. She was so startled by the realization that she loosened her hold and started to pull away, but he stopped her by catching her hands with one of his own.
"You had best hold on," he said. "I would not wish to see you fall."
Alice wondered at the husky note to his voice, but decided to merely enjoy the ride. She relaxed against him.

ADD TO GOODREADS here.

BUY LINKS:  Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble

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.

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

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

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Kindle Fire HDX Giveaway...Last Day To Enter......

Enter to win 1 of 2 great prizes. Winner's choice of a Kindle Fire HDX or $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 Paypal Cash! The first prize is available via the rafflecopter below. The 2nd is available only to bloggers who post about this giveaway. You can find info on how to enter the 2nd giveaway in the rafflecopter form below.

. Kindle Fire April

Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HDX (US Only - $229 Value)



  Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)



  Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)


 
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***Giveaway Details 1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7" HDX (US Only - $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International). There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7", $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash. Ends 4/30/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Release Romp for King of Thieves by Jane Kindred (Review & GIVEAWAY)


I'm thrilled to have Jane Kindred paying a return visit to my site today with her just released demon loving sequel in her Demons of Elysium series, King of Thieves.  Keep reading to get a tantalizing glimpse of this book along with my impressions of it.  For US readers, make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $50 Bath & Body Gift Set and a $50 Amazon GC too!

There are worse things to lose than one’s good name.
Belphagor can seduce demons with a look and bring angels to their knees with a single motion, but when it comes to being in love, the Prince of Tricks is out of his element.
At every turn, Vasily rebels against the discipline he claims to want, even refusing to use his safe word. But when Belphagor uses a scheme to shut down an underage brothel to test Vasily’s limits, he loses Vasily’s trust along with the boys he intended to set free.
Uncovering a smuggling ring that spans two worlds, Belphagor calls on a team of Nephilim mercenaries to rescue the “Lost Boys” from earthly gangsters. But his relationship seems beyond repair—and a heartbroken Vasily beyond his reach in the arms of a sensual demon named Silk.
Belphagor has more than enough grand schemes up his sleeve to bring down the smuggling ring for good. But when it comes to putting things right with Vasily, his bag of tricks is empty. Except for trust…and a plan to teach his boy a lesson neither will soon forget.


Add to Goodreads.

BUY LINKS:  Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Just when the relationship between demons Belphagor and Vasily seemed to be going heavenly, blackmail and an ill-conceived plan to save underage young men from sexual slavery goes awry and causes a rift between them that seems difficult to mend.  In this fast-paced story that picks up right where the previous installment ended, and through numerous twists and turns where trust is always in doubt, readers are taken on a journey throughout the demon world and the mortal realm where villains are always around the next corner.  With a large cast of characters it's sometimes difficult to keep track of everyone and their connections though, but this helps in keeping you guessing as to who's the good guy and who's the villain.  By the end of the story there's still some doubt as many are not who you think they are.

This is a highly sexualized story with numerous sexual interludes in varying degrees of intensity which makes this one heckuva SCORCHING read.  There's BDSM, some humiliation play, as well as some truly sweet and quiet interludes between Beli and Vasily that remind us why they're meant to be together as the plot to put Vasily undercover in a brothel leads to his encounters with others.  In his role of discovering which of the men of power participate in this deviant house of ill-repute he too has to interact with others which strains their relationship and leaves the kindhearted Vasily doubting Beli's true feelings.  Endless miscommunication and interference from others continues to keep them apart, but when Beli's life is put in jeopardy they finally open up their hearts in a scene that's sweet and heartwarming with words that are poetic and profound.  There's still much to learn about these two as Beli rarely talks of his mysterious and violent past and Vasily has buried past pains so deeply that he's just discovering about himself.  But is it too late, has too much damage been done by Beli's domineering ways and Vasily's need to always be overly submissive?  You'll have to read and find out if they're able to reclaim the connection they once had or if Vasily's past of being sold off and forgotten about tears them apart forever.

There's a lot going on in this story that makes it hard to keep up with the characters and the plot to save those who are thought of as dispensable.  Characters from the previous story make a return appearance along with new ones being introduced.  All the characters are colorful and larger than life to make this an energetic story as many of them flex their powerful muscles.  There's vivid worldbuilding depicting both the demon realm as well as the mortal world to fully immerse you in the story.  Ms. Kindred has crafted a unique story that keeps you on the edge of your seat and imbues it with lots of sexiness as well as an engaging main couple.  Though I was sometimes overwhelmed by the action I look forward to many more stories set in this demonic world and recommend it to those who enjoy their paranormal stories on the spicy side.

My rating for this is an B-

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

AUTHOR INFO:

Jane Kindred is the author of The House of Arkhangel’sk trilogy, the Demons of Elysium series, andThe Devil’s Garden. Born in Billings, Montana, she spent her formative years ruining her eyes reading romance novels in the Tucson sun and watching Star Trek marathons in the dark. She now writes to the sound of San Francisco foghorns while two cats slowly but surely edge her off the side of the bed.
You can find Jane on her Twitter account and Facebook page—both of which are aptly named “janekindred"—and on her website, www.janekindred.com.

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, April 28, 2014

Book Tour for Playing It Close by Kat Latham (Review & GIVEAWAY)


As a fan of sports-themed romances I was immediately drawn to this book and was given even more deliciousness with the witty banter between the immensely likable main couple.  Keep reading to get a glimpse of Playing It Close by Kat Latham, along with my impressions of it, and learn even more through my interview with Ms. Latham.  Make sure to leave a comment telling us what your favorite sport is for your chance to win a digital copy of this book too!

TSP:  Knowing what you do now about the publishing business, would you have done anything different career-wise?
KL:  Ooh, that’s a really good question. I think I would’ve been more patient. I used to get really upset when I got rejection letters. Of course, it would’ve helped me be patient if I had known for sure that I would eventually be published!
I also wouldn’t have started querying editors and agents with the first draft of my first novel. When I look back at some of the things I wrote in that first version… *shudders*… I just pray none of them remember my name!
TSP:  What does your writing space look like and do you surround yourself with any particularly inspirational items?
KL:  I have a really messy office in my house, but I usually choose to sit on the couch and write. Inspirational items…uh, do pajamas and a cup of tea count?
TSP:  The majority of your books are sports-themed in nature, what draws you to that theme?
KL:  Have you ever seen rugby players’ thighs?
Probably the main thing that draws me is the balance between a hero being super tough when he’s doing his job and super tender when he’s falling in love.
TSP:  Beyond its synopsis, what do you want us to know about Playing It Close?
KL:  This was my favorite book to write so far. Tess and Liam were slow to reveal themselves to me—and equally cautious about revealing themselves to each other. But once they did, I completely fell in love with them and hope readers will too.
TSP:  Which of your books would you like to see made into a movie and who would play the main couple?
KL:  This is such a difficult question for me to answer. I think Playing It Close would make a great movie, and Jennifer Lawrence has the attitude and dark humor to play Tess perfectly. I’m afraid there just aren’t any actors adorable enough to play Liam, though.
TSP:  How has the digital revolution affected your career and how you market yourself?  Do you have an eReader yourself?
KL:  Well, all of my books are ebooks, so it’s given me the opportunity to be published in the first place! Before I was published, a lot of people told me, “Americans don’t want to read about British rugby players. Make your hero an American football player and you’ll be able to sell it.” I can’t tell you how glad I am that digital publishing has given publishers (and self-publishers) more scope to try out different kinds of stories, and that readers are shouting out for books that are different.
I do have a Kindle, but it’s gathering dust because I mostly read on my phone now.
TSP:  My site's all about favorite things, so what are your favorite things/the things you can't live without?
KL:  My phone—definitely! It’s got pictures and videos of my baby, and whenever I’m feeling down I look at those and start feeling better.
In March I was announced as a finalist for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA contest. My publisher, Harlequin, sent me a big box of Godiva truffles. They’re a-MAZ-ing. I’ve been holding myself to only eating one a day so I can fit into my dress at the awards ceremony in July!
TSP:  And now for our off-the-wall question........What's the oddest question you've ever been asked and how did you answer it?
KL:  When I was 15, a 21-year-old guy asked me on a date…to a computer store. It was the first time I’d ever been asked out. Considering I was already an avid romance reader, it wasn’t exactly the date request I’d always dreamed of.
I can’t remember exactly how I turned him down. I think something along the lines of, “My parents don’t let me drive with boys.” Handy excuse, but it really only works when you’re a teenager!

Where do you go to escape everything when you're one of the most famous rugby players in the world? For Liam Callaghan, that place is a remote lodge on Venezuela's Caribbean coast. Perfect, except he doesn't exactly want to be alone with his thoughts. Enter Tess Chambers, the ultimate distraction.
Still reeling from a professional disaster that's made her all but unemployable, Tess understands the desire to move through life as somebody else. So when instantly recognizable Liam uses a fake name, she runs with it and creates a temporary new identity of her own.
Their time spent together in paradise is idyllic but brief—after one passionate night, Liam wakes up to find Tess gone. Returning to London, he's shocked to learn she's taken a job with his team's new sponsor. As the Legends' captain, he'll have to not only figure out how to work with the one woman who ever left him wanting more, but also convince her that their feelings in the present mean more than any lies they've told in the past.
Read Chapter One

BUY LINKS:  Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | BN Carina Press Google Play iBooks | Kobo

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

As a fan of sports-themed romances I was immediately drawn to this story and its likable characters, witty dialogue, heartfelt romance, and engaging circumstances.  From their unconventional first meeting you can expect the unexpected as Tess and Liam take a twisty and turny journey to HEA.

Star rugby player Liam is still struggling with the loss of his mother, which has him off his game and frustrated with the superficiality of his relationships and desperate to find something more while taking a break in Venezuela.  For weeks Tess has been fodder in the press for her whistle blowing in a work-related sex scandal.  Tired of being the butt of jokes and for again disappointing her family she takes a break at her family's Eco-friendly spa in Venezuela where she's torn between her instincts to be a wild child and not wanting to give people more to criticize her for.  A slightly poor decision leaves her wet and semi-naked in an elevator that breaks down after star rugby player Liam rushes in.  From this engaging opening scene full of playfulness and sexual tension you sense a deep connection between these two people who feel lost and alone.  Though neither of them gave their real names, their connection and emotions were as honestly displayed as ever before.  Their short time together brought out the best in both of them but it wasn't meant to last as the real world was awaiting them.

Arriving back in London didn't stop their problems as she starts a new job that will greatly impact his future as his team is on the verge of bankruptcy.  Though their attraction is just as intense as before their new working relationship forbids anything sexual.  Working so closely amps up their attraction and soon their relationship becomes combustible as they both fight for the happiness they glimpsed millions of miles away.  I enjoyed their romantic journey as their both immensely likable.  Tess is a woman tired of disappointing her family and tries to walk the straight and narrow as she just wants to be accepted.  She's willing to throw away what she has with Liam out of fear and it left their HEA in jeopardy.  I still liked her though as she's outspoken and quirky in her actions.  She has self-esteem and body image issues that every woman can relate to and left me sympathetic to her and rooting for her HEA.  Liam is a kindhearted man who just wants to be loved for who he is.  He too is desperate not to disappoint others, as he feels he did to his mother on her deathbed, which leaves him struggling to do the right thing.  He's willing to admit when he's wrong though which endeared him to me even more.  

Needless to say he's super sexy too, as are the other colorful characters of the London Legends rugby team.  These intriguing men mean there's plenty more stories for Ms. Latham to tell and as the scenes featuring the team were engaging there's plenty of sexy stories left to tell..  Ms. Latham's story flowed nicely with the romance building in increments that allowed their playfulness and sensuality to come shining through and I look forward to the next installment as well as going back to read the previous book in this series.

My rating for this is an A.

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


Meet Liam’s teammate Spencer Bailey in Knowing the Score, out now!
AUTHOR INFO:

Kat Latham is a California girl who moved to Europe the day after graduating from UCLA, ditching her tank tops for raincoats. She taught English in Prague and worked as an editor in London before she and her British husband moved to the Netherlands. Kat’s other career involves writing and editing for charities, and she’s traveled to Kenya, Ethiopia and India to meet heroic people helping their communities survive disasters. Find out more on her website: katlatham.com.

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

PRIZE IS A DIGITAL COPY OF PLAYING IT CLOSE!

-To be entered, LEAVE A COMMENT STATING WHAT YOUR FAVORITE SPORT IS, along with your email addy (no email=no entry).
-Winner will be chosen from all those who comment using random.org
-Giveaway is open to everyone and ends at 11:59 PM CST on 5/4!

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Book Review of I Found You by Jane Lark


Tomorrow is for regrets. Tonight is for being together. 
On a cold winter night, Rachel and Jason’s lives collide on Manhattan Bridge. She’s running from life, he’s running toward it. But compassion urges him to help her. 
His offer of a place to stay leads to friendship and trouble. There’s his fiancée back home in Oregon and a family who just don’t trust this girl from the wrong side of the tracks. 
But when the connection between them is so electric, so right… everyone else must be wrong. And as the snow begins to settle on the Hudson, there’s nothing but the possibility of what could be – of this, right here, right now. Them.

********************

As a fan of the New Adult genre I'm always looking for stories that are emotionally engaging and that stick with me long after the final page is turned.  With I Found You I got exactly that and more as this story pulled at my heartstrings and put me through the emotional wringer as I was rooting for a HEA for these two very deserving characters.  After their unconventional meeting these friends to lovers realize that their differences are what make them whole and that being together is worth the fight in this story that leaves you drained but satisfied in the end.

Rachel's at her lowest point as this story starts, tired of being used with no hope and no one to count on.  From an uncaring mother to the men who only want her for her body she feels lost and alone until a stranger shows her more care in a few moments than others have her whole life.  This stranger offers her a chance at a different life, a chance to have a future of her own making, and instead of jumping to her death she jumps to a new life.  Rachel is an admirable heroine, likable, and strong-willed.  Even after everything that's happened to her she still chose life.  With so many people using her in the past she could've used her savior too, but her kindheartedness has her repaying him by being his friend and showing him the wonders of the big city he's now living in.  Their burgeoning romance evolves slowly, with the time taken to get to know each other through the story's dual POVs.  She's a delightful character who earns her HEA after an emotionally draining journey full of twists and turns.

Jason has recently moved to New York to forge his own path, much to his family and fiancée's chagrin.  He feels unsettled though and a bit lost himself in his isolation from all he's known before but knows where he needs to be to have the career he wants.  Running has become a calming influence for him and on one fateful night completely changes his life forever as he saves a woman as lost as him.  Jason is the epitome of heroic!  He's caring, supportive, and so kindhearted as to make me want him to be real!  He gives Rachel a place to stay and hope without asking for anything in return.  Though his family and fiancée think he's stupid and gullible for helping Rachel, he can't help but be drawn to her.  She shows him how to really live and embrace the excitement and energy of the big city.  She gets him to do things he never thought he'd do before, like signing and dancing, and embracing life wholeheartedly.  In essence, she saved him just as he was saving her.  It's this give and take that makes their relationship so satisfying and makes for a truly HEA.

The journey to HEA doesn't go smoothly though as the nastiness and prejudice of his family and fiancée loom large over them, casting doubts through their melodramatic actions.  Lindy is especially unlikable in how bitter she is over Jason's decision to move to New York and his relationship with Rachel.  She was clearly not the woman for him as she never truly listened to him and always got her way despite what he wanted.  Her anger over the situation was more a reflection on being set aside for someone she saw as inferior which made her look petty.  There were other roadblocks along the way, some that surprised me and some I expected and some that were a bit soap opera-ish, that put Jason and Rachel's relationship in doubt but were quickly dealt with which lessened some of the emotional impact.  The best part of this story was the burgeoning romance between these two likable characters and I would've been content just having them deal with one another, getting to know them and their inner thoughts through the alternating POVs.  All the other stuff, particularly the nastiness of his family's small town prejudices, created drama but felt trite and invasive.  Their romance was ultimately sweet yet scorching but always compelling.  From start to finish I was fully invested in their outcomes, both separately and together, and commend Ms. Lark on crafting such a truly deserving couple and look forward to reading more from this talented author.

My rating for this is a B+

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

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Book Tour for Favorite Obsession by Nancy Corrigan (Review)

I'm thrilled to be hosting Nancy Corrigan again today with the third book in her Royal Pride series, Favorite Obsession.  This book is another winner in a paranormal shifter series full of compelling characters and steamy storylines.  Keep reading to get a taste of this book, along with my impressions of it, and then make sure to add it to your bookshelf!

Centuries after what should have been a blessing from a goddess, Mira has gone from the chosen daughter to a woman shamed. She’s found a tentative peace among her family and the females they’ve chosen to mate. And despite the potentially fatal consequences, Mira has found the one thing she never thought she’d have—love. Josh is the only male she’s ever wanted, desired and burned for, and he’s the only man she can never hope to keep.
One glance into Mira’s exotic feline eyes and Josh is lost. She’s everything he never knew he wanted and loving her becomes a passion he can’t deny. The obstacles keeping them apart seem insurmountable, but Josh knows he’s the man Mira needs. With every passionate encounter, every stolen touch, his certainty that he and Mira belong together grows. He’ll defy every shifter decree and fight to his dying breath to convince those around them of the truth—Mira belongs to him, mind, body and soul.

EXCERPT:
“How did you get in here?” She asked to hide how much seeing him a few feet from her rumpled bed affected her.
Josh’s heated blue eyes traveled over her body. She came alive with his intent perusal. Her skin burned in the wake of his gaze. He focused on her braless breasts hidden by the thin cotton. Her nipples pebbled. The achy flesh grew heavy.
He licked his lower lip slowly. She followed the deliberately tempting stroke and reached for the doorjamb.
“The door, same as everyone else,” he muttered, gaze locked onto her upper thighs where the nightshirt’s hem ended.
Aware of her panty-less state, she shifted uncomfortably and toyed with the edge of her shirt. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
“I was quiet. Didn’t want you running from me.”
He might’ve been quiet, except he was only human. Her cats should’ve heard him. Scented him at the very least. They hadn’tbut didn’t mind that he’d snuck up on them. Each predator lay with its head on its paws, tails swishing softly as they listened to his husky words.
Their acceptance of Josh escalated her need. Her cats’ happiness fed hers. Being with Josh made them feel content andleft her energized on every level. Seeing him so close to her bed, however, made their sad fate real. She’d never be with the male she loved.
Better that way. I won’t miss what I never had. She didn’t believe her words for a minute but repeated them, hoping she’d eventually accept it as truth.
She crossed her arms, unintentionally lifting her breasts. She considered dropping them but liked the way Josh’s eyes darkened with lust. “I can’t run from someone I don’t care about.”
One corner of his mouth lifted, causing the dimple in his cheek to wink at her.
“We’re back to that, are we?” He dropped his booted foot from where it had rested against the wall. The clunk echoed in the small room. Chin tucked, he peered at her through thick lashes. “That’s okay, baby. It won’t be a hardship convincing you of the truth again.” Another slow swipe of his tongue had her reaching for the nearest object to support her rubbery legs. “I think I’m addicted to your taste. I need another fix.”

BUY LINKS:  ELLORA'S CAVE  |  AMAZON

YOUTUBE TRAILER here.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

The intrigue and sexual tension continues in this third installment in the Royal Pride series where a prophecy seeks to keep two unrequited lovers apart.  In this engaging and sensual story that puts a paranormal twist on the Romeo and Juliet theme readers can't help but be drawn to the intriguing characters, life or death situations, and unrelenting sexual tension surrounding not only the main couple but secondary ones as well whose stories are yet to be told.  Fans of shifter stories will definitely want to get on board this intriguing and steamy journey to happiness and longevity that this series conveys perfectly and the exciting promise of more to come.

Royal Feline Shifter Mira still carries the physical and emotional scars of a forced mating long ago and doesn't want to be forced into that situation again.  Though she's had some encounters since that night she's most content lusting after beloved human Josh until the day it's decreed she be forced into mating once again.  She wants to be claimed for who she is in her heart and soul, not as some incubator or sexual toy which is how most shifter males see her.  Josh is different though.  She's drawn to him despite the fact that he'll die long before her and a prophecy proclaims she'll kill him if she claims him.  She's willing to fight fate and her family to have the one man who makes her feel like a woman which results in heartbreak along the way as well as an unexpected twist of fate.  I admired Mira from the first glimpse of her in a previous book.  She's strong-willed and not afraid to flex her claws to fight for Josh.  She's extremely loyal to those she gives her heart to and the perfect match for the kind of man Josh becomes throughout the story.

Josh is one of the few humans in the Feline Pride's world and as their beloved human he's granted their protection.  Loving Mira though puts him at odds with fate as well as those he calls friends.  As a human he's not allowed to claim her as their mating will not result in the coveted children desperately desired by her clan.  There's also the possibility that she'll kill him when she claims him.   None of these things deter him as he's always been drawn to her.  When a stabbing leads to an unexpected twist of fate, Josh senses that despite what everyone thinks he's meant to be with Mira and officially stakes his claim.  With the changes he's going through, the sexual tension intensifies as does the jealousies between the men fighting to claim her.  A one-night stand soon interferes in his plan and places Mira in danger which results in him having to fight not only shifters but crazed and drugged-up hillbillies.  Josh is an immensely strong-willed and charming man who has eyes only for Mira.  He's not afraid to fight for what he wants even against those obviously stronger than him.  He readily accepts the changes fate has dealt him which gives a clever snub to an archaic and domineering prophecy.

The relationship between Mira and Josh is at times sweet and always super sexy.  Their clandestine meetings are heartbreakingly hot and reflect the desperation the prophecy has caused them.  Along with this compelling main couple comes a cast of secondary characters we've seen in the previous installments, particularly engaging are the males who amp up the sexual tension further in their battle for Mira.  There's also another love match forming between the stubborn Kade and an unexpectedly snarky female who is definitely giving him a run for his money here and which I look forward to seeing flourish in the next installment.  Ms. Corrigan continues to delight and entertain in this cleverly crafted paranormal series with its sexy shifters, fast-paced storyline, and intriguing promises for the future and I highly recommend it to those looking for a shifter series that's set itself apart from the rest of the genre.

My rating for this is an A-

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

AUTHOR INFO:

Nancy Corrigan believes in unending love and epic tales with a paranormal flare. She enjoys transcending the boundaries of reality to take her readers on an erotic, emotional and romantic journey.
She resides in Pennsylvania with her husband and three children. When she’s not weaving sizzling fantasies, she works as a chemist in a pharmaceutical lab.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Book Review of Double Coverage by Meghan Quinn


Unfortunate inconvenience, that is the way Piper describes her encounter with Mason Dashel. From the minute the alpha male interrupts her morning after hangover on the airplane, she can’t stand to be near the egotistical maniac with a booming voice and annoying sex appeal. But to her misfortune she finds herself not only having to spend time with him at their best friends’ wedding but she also can’t seem to shake the infuriating man in her everyday life. 
Psychotic Una-bomber with the constant menses is the way Mason describes his flying companion, Piper Shores. After a horrific break up with his now ex, Brooke, he finds himself being engulfed by the temperamental red head that just so happens to be the maid of honor to one of his best friends, Lexi. Even though she grates on his every nerve, he can’t help but want a piece of her. 
The two are like oil and water, a science experiment ready to explode any second but they can’t help but be drawn to each other. The only problem is… there are other people they are involved with who not only prevent Mason and Piper from being together, but interrupt any chance they have at making a relationship work.

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Not having read the previous book in the Love and Sports series, nor any other book by Ms. Quinn, I had no idea what to expect when I first started turning the pages of this book.  What I got was an unexpected rollercoaster ride full of larger than life characters, rapid-fire dialogue, and enough sizzling sexual tension to burn an entire city!

From their first meeting full of sarcasm and insults Piper and Mason form an unbreakable connection.  Their journey from friends to something more doesn't go smoothly though as Piper hates domineering men but finds herself drawn to the sexy and very Alpha football player.  Mason is still reeling from being dumped by his spoiled and slightly delusional fiancée Brooke and has closed himself off from happiness.  He's become cold and calculating because of his loss, but around Piper he feels energized and wants to be a better man, if he can just win her over.  There's a huge roadblock to their becoming more than friends though and his name is Jax.  Jax is a truly nice guy who's recovering from the death of his wife and is drawn to the energy and embracement of life Piper exudes.  He's supportive of her and is the complete opposite of Mason, but I can understand Piper being drawn to him too as he's safe.  Mason is a challenge, he fires her blood and libido and even their banter sizzles with sexual tension.  Ms. Quinn has crafted a love triangle that's believable and keeps you guessing as both men are mouthwatering.

Along with this main love triangle comes an additional cast of compelling characters with issues of the heart weighing on them too.  Mason's ex has returned and is determined to win him back in a pathetic and needy plan that makes her look desperate.  She sees Piper as the enemy and uses her womanly wiles and cattiness in an attempt to reclaim Mason and eliminate Piper along the way by any means.  Along with the intense love triangle of Piper/Mason/Jax, there's the sweetly sensual romance between good girl Hannah and reformed (since seeing Hannah) playboy Ryker.  Hannah has a boyfriend of her own though who she continually expects to marry, but his devotion to work leaves her disappointed and drawn to the fun-loving and charming Ryker.  Hannah's kindhearted and deserves better than her ho-hum boyfriend and I see Ryker as her savior from what will be a lifetime of disappointment.  Ryker is charming, witty, and truly enamored of Hannah as to become tongue-tied.  Seeing them together brought a smile to my face.  Their romance is lovely to watch and adds an extra layer of entertainment to an already engaging and emotionally compelling read.

From start to finish I was on the edge of my seat watching Ms. Quinn's talent in juggling so many different storylines.  In her role of magician author she crafted romances that were hot with sexual tension oozing from every page and it kept me fully immersed in each character's outcome as all were worthy of a HEA, except for the annoying Brooke.  The dialogue was witty and showed off each character's unique personality as well as being funny and sexy.  Along with the compelling romances were vivid depictions of a day in the life of a football player which added an extra depth to both Mason and Ryker as we see them interacting amidst the manly world of football.  This was an addictive tale that now has me clamoring to read the previous book and counting down the days until the next installment in this cleverly crafted sports-themed series!

My rating for this is an A+

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