Thursday, March 31, 2016

Book Tour for Perfect Sense by Amanda Cowen (Review & GIVEAWAY)


As a fan of sports-themed romances and the sexy athletes that play in this exhilarating world, I'm thrilled to introduce you to the hot-shot hockey star teeming with sensuality and the good girl trying to stay that way.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Perfect Sense by Amanda Cowen, along with my impressions of it, and learn even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour.  In honor of this first installment in the Perfect series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a Kindle e-Reader too!

He’s gorgeous.
He’s reckless.
And he’s every woman’s dirty fantasy in the state of California.., except one… Quinn Ashby.
Recent graduate of Penn and top of her class, Quinn is whip smart, ambitious and interning as the new marketing coordinator for the Bexley Bruisers American Hockey League team. The last thing she needs is to waste her time on guys…especially one as lethal to her focus as Cash Brooks.
But once the bad boy hockey star tempts her into his world, threatening her professional future, she’s forced to decide whether to let him into her heart…or to leave him behind forever.

FIND THIS BOOK AT GOODREADS here.

BUY AT AMAZON here.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

As a reader who enjoys sports-themed romances I always celebrate a new addition to the genre.  With this tale of a bad boy with a very dark past and a good girl struggling to stay that way readers are taken on a very rocky journey that's only just beginning with this series starter.  While there's much to recommend this book there's also a bit of roughness to the narrative and a few issues with the heroine that left me frustrated but still enjoying this story on a whole.

Quinn had a rough childhood with an alcoholic mother struggling with a mental disorder and a father more concerned with appearances than dealing with the problems.  It forced her into growing up far too quickly, thrust into the role of an adult, where her main goal was being perfect in the eyes of her father.  While her sister was allowed to live her life as she saw fit, Quinn lived a life according to her father.  She pushed her dreams aside to become the daughter he dreamed of and there were still many times where it didn't satisfy him.  He always seemed to find fault with her and she simply responded with a smile, letting him walk all over her and use his disappointment to crush her spirit.  It's not until she meets bad boy hockey player, Cash, that she finally starts living.  Being with him brings out her wild side, makes her more likable as she becomes less judgmental.  She becomes more vibrant in his presence and I found her more sympathetic as she opened up to Cash. It's too bad that her father's negative feelings regarding love have tainted her outlook on love and constantly have her doubting Cash.  I had hoped that Cash would've given her the strength to live her own life but ultimately readers are left hanging as to her HEA.

Cash too has lived a life full of loss and it's left him bruised, battling addictions and desperate to find a purpose beyond hockey.  While he's still at the top of his game his off-the-ice actions are putting his career in jeopardy.  Fear, anger, and grief combine to make him self-destructive and have left him with a reputation he can't seem to shake.  It's a reputation of being a partying womanizer who everyone loves to hate for all his fights on and off the ice.  Though he loves giving his fans what they want he's tired of living a lie.  The moment he meets Quinn though he finally feels alive, no longer needing his vices just to feel something.  Though they're complete opposites they fit together perfectly as she gives him a reason to be a better man while he lets her embrace the wild side of life and do what she's always longed to do.  Cash has had a lot of tragedies in life that he feels responsible for and which had me aching for him.  With so much loss he's closed himself off and kept many of his secrets hidden. It puts his relationship with Quinn in doubt but it's understandable as he's tired of being manipulated and used by others.  He came to depend on Quinn but the constant push and pull between them kept me on edge as I felt she didn't treat him as I thought he deserved.  He gave her so much, loved her so much, that it hurt me when she inadvertantly hurt him.  Throughout most of the story he flashed sexy and snarky smiles with subtle dirty talk that had me drooling, but it was his rare tears and introspection that completely won me over and had me wanting to hug him.  He's the reason I kept reading, despite my frustrations with Quinn, and is the reason why I'll come back for the next installment as his struggles haunt me still.

This story was a bit rough around the edges with a narrative that sometimes felt clunky.  Quinn too left me frustrated as she let her father run her life, along with her new boss who let his inappropriate feelings belittle her further.  I desperately wanted her to fight for herself, and for the joy she found with Cash, but that time isn't yet. The secondary characters were an entertaining bunch from her wild and over-the-top sister Lyndsey to Cash's hockey friends/teammates Louis and Fisher who support him despite everything he's done.  While the romance between Cash and Quinn felt like a tug-of-war at times, it was also sweet and sexy, as seen through their numerous encounters that were also playful and ultimately brought out a relaxed and carefree side to Cash.  The hockey scenes also showed a carefree Cash, showed a joy for the sport that means so much to him, in vividly depicted and exhilarating action scenes. Despite the quibbles I had it's Cash that makes this story!  He's a complex character who exudes sexiness but who's broken inside and it's clear that at any moment he'll shatter.  He has a lot of baggage weighing him down and by the end of the story everything comes to a head in a heartbreaking cliffhanger.  Readers will find much to debate about in this tale, but it's a compelling read that pulled me in the moment I first saw Cash and I look forward to seeing how the ramifications of his secret play out in the next installment.

My rating for this is a B-/C+

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

AUTHOR INFO:

Amanda Cowen can be found eating cupcakes, singing off-key, or watching a good RomCom when she isn’t trapped on her computer writing stories and delighting her imagination. She has been writing since the ripe age of twelve about ponies and princesses in brightly colored duo-tangs with metallic pens. Thankfully, she now has a Mac with a keyboard where she can write about love, sex and relationships. She is an “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” fanatic, a hater of roller-coasters and a country music junkie. She lives in Thunder Bay, ON where the summers are short and the winters are long.
Her next Contemporary Romance/New Adult Fiction novel TAINTED (The Wyatt Series #1) will be available in Summer 2014.
Amanda would love to hear from her readers.

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Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Sale Blitz for Fighting for Devlin by Jessica Lemmon


As a fan of bad boys who make good girls want to go bad, the premise of Fighting for Devlin by Jessica Lemmon is an appealing one for its danger and unrelenting sexual tension.  Now is the perfect time to add this tantalizing first installment in the Lost Boys series to your bookshelf as it's on sale for $0.99!

Perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Katy Evans, Jessica Lemmon's irresistible Lost Boys series kicks off with the story of a good girl who plays by the rules--and the bad boy who brings out her wild side.
Devlin Calvary makes his own luck. Orphaned as a young child, he was taken in by a crew of bookies and gamblers—and they became his family. They’re the reason Dev’s running a trendy bistro, living in a high rise, and enjoying the good life with a string of women who never ask for too much. Until, one night, he finds out how much it hurts to trust the wrong people...
Rena Lewis sticks to the straight and narrow, determined not to slip up again...like the terrible night of partying four years ago that ended in tragedy. A waitress of Oak & Sage, she knows that sleeping with her boss is not a smart move. But when Dev shows up on her doorstep, beat up and clearly shaken, Rena's not about to turn him down...or kick him out of bed.
Dev reawakens something primal within her--a need to go wild. And Rena soon finds out that the heart she'd sealed away years ago still has the power to fight for love.

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER here.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  BN  |  GOOGLE PLAY  |  iBOOKS  |  KOBO


AUTHOR INFO:

A former job-hopper, Jessica Lemmon resides in Ohio with her husband and rescue dog. She holds a degree in graphic design currently gathering dust in an impressive frame.
When she’s not writing super-sexy heroes, she can be found cooking, drawing, drinking coffee (okay, wine), and eating potato chips. She firmly believes God gifts us with talents for a purpose, and with His help, you can create the life you want.

GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE:  http://www.goodreads.com/jlemmony

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Book Blitz for Three Weeks to Wed by Ella Quinn (GIVEAWAY)


Fans of Regency historical romances will find themselves charmed by this tale of a woman who thinks of her needs for one night, after devoting herself to her siblings for a lifetime, and the man not content to let her go.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of this sensual story, and learn even more about Three Weeks to Wed by Ella Quinn by visiting the other sites hosting this tour, and then add it to your bookshelf.  In honor of this first installment in The Worthingtons series make sure to fill out the form for the chance to win 1 of 5 signed print ARC copies of this book too!

In the first book of her dazzling new series, bestselling author Ella Quinn introduces the soon-to-be Earl and Countess of Worthington--lovers who have more in common than they yet know. The future promises to be far from boring...
Lady Grace Carpenter is ready to seize the day--or rather, the night--with the most compelling man she's ever known. Marriage would mean losing guardianship of her beloved siblings, and surely no sane gentleman will take on seven children not his own. But if she can have one anonymous tryst with Mattheus, Earl of Worthington, Grace will be content to live out the rest of her life as a spinster.
Matt had almost given up hope of finding a wife who could engage his mind as well as his body. And now this sensual, intelligent woman is offering herself to him. What could be more perfect? Except that after one wanton night, the mysterious Grace refuses to have anything to do with him. Amid the distractions of the Season he must convince her, one delicious encounter at a time, that no obstacle--or family--is too much for a man who's discovered his heart's desire…

EXCERPT:

Rising, he donned his dressing gown, walked down the corridor, then opened the door to her chamber. Empty. Nothing to even indicate she’d been there.
The clock on the mantel showed five o’clock. He went back to his room and tugged the bellpull. In a few minutes, the boots brought hot water for him to shave.
Matt waited until the water was poured into the basin. “The lady who was here last evening, is she downstairs?"
“I donno, my lord. Ain’t seen no lady,” the lad mumbled, and left.
Matt finished dressing and descended the stairs. His groom, Mac, was in the common room eating. “Where are the others?"
Mac finished chewing and swallowed. “Gone, my lord. Their coach ain’t in the yard."
Something wasn’t right. Why would she have left and not told him? “Be ready to leave in half an hour."
He looked around for the landlord and, not finding him, entered the parlor. Covered dishes set on the table, with one place setting. He wished he was sharing the meal with her and conversing as they had the night before. Hell. He wanted to be in a warm bed with her next to him.
Mr. Brown knocked on the door before entering. “My lord, you was wishful of seeing me?"
Finally, Matt would get some answers. “Yes, I want to know the lady’s name."
The innkeeper opened his eyes wide. “What lady, my lord?"
Matt bit the inside of his lip and tried to keep from losing his temper. “The lady who was here last night. The one I shared dinner with."
The landlord started backing out of the parlor, shaking his head. “Weren’t no lady here, my lord.”

AUTHOR INFO:

Bestselling author Ella Quinn’s studies and other jobs have always been on the serious side. Reading historical romances, especially Regencies, were her escape. Eventually her love of historical novels led her to start writing them. She has just finished her first series, The Marriage Game, and her new series will start in April 2016.
She is married to her wonderful husband of over thirty years. They have a son and granddaughter, one cat and a dog. After living in the South Pacific, Central America, North Africa, England and Europe, she and her husband decided to make their dreams come true and are now living on a sailboat cruising the Caribbean and North America.
She loves having readers connect with her.


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Blurb Blitz for Dreams of Her Own by Rebecca Heflin (GIVEAWAY)


Living life to the fullest and not being judged are the driving forces behind this charming and sensual contemporary read that I'm introducing you to today.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of Dreams of Her Own by Rebecca Heflin, and learn even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour, and then add it to your bookshelf.  In honor of this book make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $5 Amazon GC too!

Can even the unlikeliest of dreams come true?
He sees a spinsterish misfit.
If the Guinness Book of World Records had a category for the world’s most boring life, Millie Stephens knows she would hold the record. After the plain, strait-laced personal assistant is saved by a total stranger from becoming New York City’s latest traffic fatality, she has a disheartening epiphany: her life’s highlight reel didn’t exist. Determined to step out of the shadows and take a walk on the wild side, she starts Millie-style – by making a list.
She sees a stereotypical thug.
That total stranger, bad boy Ian Brand, is more than the sum of his parts. Beneath that sexy, tattooed exterior is a man with a painful past who’s desperate to both hide and overcome his disability in the pursuit of his dreams. But his decision to bid on a large construction project could both lead to his downfall and reveal his secret.
Will Millie and Ian look beneath the surface and see there’s more to each other than meets the eye?

EXCERPT:

“Are you okay?” a gruff male voice asked, his breath warm in her ear.
She nodded, unsure if she could do any more than that.
“I’m going to set you back on your feet. Do you think you can stand?"
Nodding again, she realized the hard object at her back was a man’s chest, and the steel bands were his arms. She slid down his body and felt the sidewalk beneath her feet. A wave of dizziness washed over her.
“Breathe,” her rescuer encouraged. He turned her to face him, his hands on her shoulders, and she gazed up and into eyes the color of a winter-gray sky, earnest with concern. His already tousled brown hair ruffled in the wind whipping around the corner, and his chin bore the stubble so many women were fond of.
She inhaled deeply, drawing in the scent of something spicy and leathery. “Better?"
She nodded, still speechless.
“You should always wait after the signal changes before you cross a street. I’ve got an appointment. You’re sure you’re okay?"
She nodded.
“Be more careful next time,” the stranger in the leather jacket said before he turned to walk away.
Millie managed to put one foot in front of the other for another block before coming to a bus stop and collapsing onto the bench. Her legs shook, her hands quivered, and she struggled to take in a deep breath. All she could think about was how your life was supposed to flash before your eyes when confronted with a near-death experience, and hers . . . didn’t. Instead it was like a film projector that had run out of film – just a blank screen.
What did that mean?
It meant, Millicent Grace Stephens, that your life has been so boring that the highlight reel was nonexistent. Her thirtieth birthday was right around the corner, and what had she accomplished with her life?
Not much, that’s what.
Sure, she had a bachelor’s in literature, summa cum laude, with a focus on the Middle Ages from Sarah Lawrence College. She had a job she loved. And she could support herself. Other than that, she might as well have become a nun for all the excitement her life held.
She recalled the hard strength of her rescuer’s chest against her back. The rough and tumble look of him. She’d bet her first edition autographed copy of Edith Wharton’s Age of Innocence, that his life wasn’t boring. That if he had a near-death experience he’d have a highlight reel worthy of an action movie.
Rising on still-wobbly legs, she drew in a long, slow breath, and resumed her errand in an I-almost-died daze.

AUTHOR INFO:

Rebecca Heflin is an award-winning author who has dreamed of writing romantic fiction since she was fifteen and her older sister snuck a copy of Kathleen Woodiwiss' Shanna to her and told her to read it. Rebecca writes women's fiction and contemporary romance. When not passionately pursuing her dream, Rebecca is busy with her day-job as a practicing attorney.
Rebecca is a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), Florida Romance Writers, RWA Contemporary Romance, and Florida Writers Association. She and her mountain-climbing husband live at sea level in sunny Florida.
Awards:
2014 Florida Writers Association Royal Palm Literary Award Finalist (Dreams of Perfection)
2013 Florida Writers Association Royal Palm Literary Award Winner (Rescuing Lacey)
2013 Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence Winner (Rescuing Lacey)
2013 Virginia Romance Writers Holt Medallion Award of Merit (Rescuing Lacey)
2013 Georgia Romance Writers Published Maggie Finalist (Rescuing Lacey)
2013 Shooting Star Award (Rescuing Lacey)
2013 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence Finalist (Rescuing Lacey)
2013 Wisconsin Romance Writers Write Touch Readers' Awards Finalist (The Promise of Change)
2011 Royal Palm Literary Awards Finalist (The Promise of Change)


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Monday, March 28, 2016

Book Tour for The Total Package by Stephanie Evanovich (Review & GIVEAWAY)


As a fan of sports-themed romances I was thrilled to get my hands on it and even more excited to introduce you to this tale of second-chance loves and remaking your image after destroying it.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of The Total Package by Stephanie Evanovich, along with my impressions of it, and learn even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour.  In honor of this emotionally intense read make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win 1 of 2 hardcover copies of this book too!

Smart and sexy Dani Carr knows as much about football as any man--maybe more. It’s always been her dream to make a living talking about the game she loves. But Dani’s not interested in being just the usual eye-candy sideline reporter; she wants to be the first woman analyst on a pre-game show, the ultimate in exclusive boys-club jobs. And it turns out, that despite the odds, she has the talent to get her there.
Star quarterback-and heartthrob--Tyson Palmer always did things in spectacular fashion, including ruining his career after debuting as a first-round draft pick. When the head coach of the Austin Mavericks refuses to let him waste his million dollar arm, Tyson makes a Hail Mary pass at redemption and succeeds with everyone…except Dani, who appears to be using her high-profile commentator job to make a name for herself at his expense.
Dani refuses to let anyone forget about Tyson’s transgressions….and for good reason. There’s history between these two, sizzling history that dates back to their college days, and it ended in another spectacular flame-out of Tyson’s. He’s conveniently forgotten all about that episode because Dani is no longer the cute girl next door he barely remembers--she’s a bombshell with huge ratings and a long memory.
But can a woman trying to claw her way to the top and a quarterback who knows all about rock bottom make it to the Super Bowl without destroying each other in the process? And what will happen when Tyson-riding high on his career comeback-realizes he needs to make an even more important comeback with Dani?

EXCERPT:

Within the last three years, the adjectives attached to Tyson Palmer’s name slowly morphed into overrated, reprehensible. A real waste. Wanting to stay in his father’s good graces, Tyson had often joined him in his downhill slide. Douglas Palmer proved a bad example. Tyson took responsibility for his mother’s heartbreak, stuffed all the hurt and pain deep down inside, and set the sequence on his time bomb to self-destruct.
Coming back here was supposed to be a kind of victory lap. But Tyson wasn’t being followed by throngs of alumni or asked to attend any ceremonies, not even the ones taking place on the football field. He wasn’t invited to any parties. Instead Tyson had been forced to retreat to the Bunker, where he was pointed at from a safe distance, like an animal in a zoo. Occasionally someone would approach him, politely engage him for a few moments, mostly about the weather, and be on their way. Nothing to see here—the phrase cops always used to move spectators along from a crime scene. His teammates and Blitz management had tried to be supportive . . . in the beginning. But it wasn’t long before Tyson’s shenanigans robbed him of his ability to lead, and they all had grown weary of him, even before he started racking up more interceptions than touchdowns on game day. He knew that within the next twenty-four hours his dirty drug test results would leave him jobless and probably tossed out of the league.
The book they were getting ready to throw at him was heavy. I sure won’t miss those cold Massachusetts winters, he thought to console himself.
“Tyson?"
Bloodshot eyes focused on a face that was vaguely familiar. It was a wisp of a ghost brushing by him. Someone insignificant, but at the same time, not—pretty, but low maintenance. Dark hair, hazel eyes with a glint of determination magnified through the lenses of her glasses. When he’d seen her last, she had something he needed. And something he’d wanted.
“Helen?” he tried to zero in. They had spent quality time together, at least for a while. He hadn’t seen her naked, but it probably wasn’t from lack of trying. Those whose pants he didn’t get into were much more likely to stand out. “Ellen?"
“Ella,” she said hopefully. “I was your English tutor, in your senior year?"
Now he remembered. A flash that was stark and vivid, from the predrug days, before those first few injuries that weren’t so quick to heal. She had been one of several students handpicked by the administration when he fell short on his classes during football season. Hired for several hours a week to basically cram the exams into his skull and dictate his essays to him. He wasn’t stupid, but he also didn’t make it easy. Back then he thought about nothing but football and was easily distracted when it came to anything else. “Right.” He smiled at her, feeling the warm nostalgic wave. Her last name was something Italian.“Ella Bella."
He had made up the cheesy nickname for her on a rainy afternoon four weeks into that semester, after they abandoned meeting at the library in favor of his dorm room. When he decided he would rather make out than recite the answers to an upcoming test. She was appealing enough, fresh faced and makeup free, a sophomore who had held on to her freshman fifteen. Not girlfriend material, but he wasn’t looking for a girlfriend.
And after one delicious kiss, Ella Bella had shot him down. Not in cold blood, of course; she’d stammered through the willing-to-date-him speech, but he’d never asked her for a date, and casual sex was off the table. She told him that she was still a virgin and she planned on staying that way. Something about a virgin never failed to make a horny guy hum. Tyson jokingly asked her to bang him every time they were together after that, but he was hardly brokenhearted when she laughed him off. There was always someone else on the sidelines. It was more his way of telling her he was available if she ever wanted to change her mind. He began to view her more like a little sister, especially since she could talk football better than any other girl he knew at school, even better than some of his teammates.
“You remember?” She smiled back at him, and then giggled. He still had it. And clearly she knew nothing of what was happening in his world. These days he was on almost every woman’s shit list.

FIND THIS BOOK ON GOODREADS here.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  BN  |  GOOGLE PLAY  |  iTUNES  |  KOBO

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Romances that blend the theme of sports with characters who reinvent themselves are amongst my favorites, which is what drew me to this story at first.  Though it sometimes dragged it was the character of Tyson and his journey to be a better man that kept me turning the pages of this good story. Add in secrets that the heroine is keeping and you end up with a story that's emotionally intense at times as well as inspirational.

Tyson was once the star of the football team until his vices dragged him down. With only an ultimatum left to him he grabbed on to it, but in the process hurt the one woman who truly cared for him by loving and leaving her.  He's still rebuilding his image years later, atoning for past wrongs, and becoming a more appealing and mature man.  He's quit partying and devoted himself to the game, but soon he can't ignore the sexy spitfire on the sidelines and sets out to claim her.  Unbeknownst to him, she's the girl from his past who supported him when no one else would and as they get closer painful truths will come out. Tyson was rather unlikable early on with his callous attitude and arrogance.  His addictions brought him low and it was an admirable journey watching him find himself.  It was a subtle but powerful journey and handled sensitively by the author.  The older Tyson was much more likable and I ached for him and for all he missed.  He's more worthy of his HEA now though, but it won't be easy as there's a lot of anger and deceit hanging between him and Dani.

Dani knew Tyson from long ago as she was his tutor who he knew as Ella.  She always loved him which had her making a decision that would change her life irrevocably.  Years later she's still drawn to him but he doesn't remember her. It's time to start over for her too, time to forgive but also to tell the truth.  It's a truth that will change them both as well as their future.  Dani was a determined woman who loved Tyson despite everything he did.  While I didn't appreciate her keeping secrets I could understand it.  Despite the passage of time though I still found her a bit immature at times which left me frustrated by my inability to connect too deeply with her.

This was a story that often dragged.  Too many mundane events were depicted that slowed the narrative down along with lengthy time jumps.  The story's written in the third person POV which kept me from fully connecting with the characters but their banter was fun and flirty at times which charmed me.  The secondary characters were enjoyable as well, especially Dani's family and the group of friends Tyson now surrounds himself with.  On a whole, despite my small quibbles, this was a good read that got better as the story progressed as I was drawn to Tyson and his journey of healing.

My rating for this is a C+

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


AUTHOR INFO:

New York Times Bestselling Author, Stephanie Evanovich is a full-fledged Jersey girl from Asbury Park who began writing fiction while waiting for her cues during countless community theater projects. She attended New York’s School of Film and Television and acted in several improvisational troupes and a few small-budget movies, all in preparation for the greatest job she ever had, raising her two sons. Now a full-time writer, she’s an avid sports fan who holds a black belt in tae kwon do.


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Book Spotlight on Captured by the Cyborg by Cara Bristol (REVIEW)


As a fan of a sci-fi romances, and the previous book in this series, I'm thrilled to introduce you to the third installment in the fast-paced and action-packed Cy-Ops series.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of Captured by the Cyborg by Cara Bristol, along with my impressions of it, and then add it to your bookshelf.  You'll also learn more about the sexy cyborgs of this series from Ms. Bristol herself....

If you’ve never read a cyborg sci-fi romance, you’re missing out. These bad boys of the future know how to kick some serious ass and win the heroine’s heart. Here are 10 characteristics of the cyborgs in my new sci-fi romance, Captured by the Cyborg.
1.  They are scientifically enhanced humans.
2. They are stronger, bigger, and have more stamina than regular humans.
3. They gravitate toward careers in the military, policing, private security, and covert operations.
4. They are decisive, quick in processing information, masters at multi-tasking, and action oriented.
5. They are no stranger to pain and suffering. Most have some personal tragedy in their past.
6. They long for connection just like anyone else, but relationships are difficult because people are often wary of cyborgs, uncertain how to react to them.
7. They’re very good in bed.
8. They’re not afraid to break the rules for the right reasons.
9. They will not back down from a challenge. Their word is law.
10. You don’t want to cross them.

Sometimes the biggest risk is to one’s heart…
A science fiction romance by USA Today Bestselling Author Cara Bristol
An ex-Cyber Operations field agent, Dale Homme has kissed danger and betrayal more times than he cares to count. Now he runs a clandestine factory beneath the surface of the moon Deceptio, where confidentiality and security matter more than anything. When a beautiful young woman arrives seeking a job, Dale knows within minutes she’s lying.
Everything about her is false: her past, the people she claims to know, her reason for being on DeceptioIllumina Smith? Even her name is an alias.
Logic says send her packing. His gut says she’s in trouble. She needs him. So he’ll do anything to keep her safe….even if it means keeping her captive.

EXCERPT:

Dale slapped his knees. “Here’s what’s going to happen. First, to put your mind at rest, let me assure you that Alonio is no threat to me. I’m a cyborg. Keeping people safe is what I do. He might succeed in drawing a little blood, but I’ll wipe up the mess with his ass.
Second, while I doubt he can gain access to Deceptio, as a precaution, I’ll amp up security."
“About that…” She had to tell him how she’d changed the entry protocol. He wouldn’t like that she’d gone behind his back. “I need to tell you…"
He held up his hand. “Let me finish. Third, you are not going anywhere. You’re staying right here where I can protect you."
The autocratic edict set her teeth on edge. “You can’t keep me here!” She hadn’t fought so hard for her freedom and safety only to be dictated to by another man, however well intentioned. She was nobody’s captive!
“Yes, I can."
Let him try! “As you’ve realized,” she said, “I’m a master sensate. A computer system doesn’t exist that I can’t infiltrate. I can hijack one of your spaceships and be gone before you realize there was a breach. Your entry and exit protocols, for instance—"
He leaned in until his breath caressed her ear, and he whispered, “Did your orientation tour happen to include a visit to the brig?"
He was threatening to lock her up? She jerked away and rounded on him. “What are you saying?"
“Moonbeam’s isolation can cause people to go a little crazy. We haven’t had anyone snap yet, but the possibility exists. You could be the first ward of the Deceptio jail."
“I can access computer-controlled doors, too!” She crossed her arms.
He laughed. “You and half the employees on Deceptio—which is why they’re not computer controlled.” From his pocket he pulled out a metal ring and dangled some odd-shaped jagged objects. “Good old-fashioned locks and keys. The best antiques money can buy."
She leaped off the bench. “You’d imprison me?”

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  AMAZON (UK)  |  AMAZON (CA)  |  AMAZON (AU)  |  BN  |  ARe

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

The excitement and romance amongst the stars pulls readers once again into the world of the Cy-Ops, a secret organization of individuals enhanced with cybernetics turned into unstoppable warriors.  From the first page to the last readers are taken on a roller coaster ride of emotions as the sweet and gentle Illumina tries to stay one step ahead of her crazed ex.  Her unwitting savior comes in the form of retired Cy-Ops agent Dale, who now runs an intergalactic chop shop. Against their better judgment they fall for each other, connecting on the deepest levels through their mutual abilities to communicate through computers which will come in handy when her ex eventually catches up to her. 

After being brutalized by having her wings cut off and almost bleeding to death, Illumina is on the run as her ex swore to kill her.  By taking a job for Dale at a hidden outpost she thinks she'll be safe, but it's her heart that's in danger from the giant man with a kind heart.  Being with him makes her feel safe despite the feelings he arouses in her and being with him brings her strength, self-confidence, and the courage to fight for the HEA within her reach.  She may be small in stature but she has a fighter's spirit after surviving all the atrocities done to her and the mental and physical scars left behind.  She's shy at first but being around Dale brings out her sexy side which added sparks to their burgeoning romance.  She's an immensely likable heroine and, as a disabled reader, I enjoyed Dale's thoughtful gift that once again made her feel whole and put a smile on my face.

Dale gave up being an operative long ago, but lately he's been feeling bored by life. Meeting Illumina though gives him a spark, one that not only reawakens his need to be a hero but also his heart and desire to belong to another despite the danger. Though she lied to him about her past at first, Dale's quick to forgive as he's drawn to her and desperate to keep her safe.  Being around her you forget how large he is as he's very careful with her, a softer and gentler side comes out that's very sweet and endearing and is in juxtaposition to his dangerous talents.  This duality enhances their relationship and the interactions that were both sweet and steamy.  Through everything Dale's the quintessential hero who's not afraid to ask for help when Illumina's in danger, but more than capable of making the bad guy pay all on his own.

This was a quick read that packed a big punch.  The romance was quick to flourish yet believable as there's much to bind these two together.  They were a formidable match with each fighting for the other in a gripping conclusion that kept me on the edge of my seat.  Along the way readers are reunited with the other Cy-Ops that we met in previous installments as they lend their aid when Dale needs them most.  It's a brutal reunion for some though, with their lives changed irrevocably, as well as other new operatives introduced who made dramatic impressions themselves.  It all combines to leave me cheering for the satisfaction I found here along with great hope and excitement for future installments after the ramifications of events in this rollicking ride.  Sci-fi fans have reason to rejoice as Ms. Bristol has crafted yet another engaging story that readers won't want to miss!

My rating for this is an A.

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

AUTHOR INFO:

USA Today bestselling author Cara Bristol has published more than twenty-five erotic romance titles, including contemporary and science fiction romance.  No matter what the subgenre, one thing remains constant: her emphasis on character-driven seriously hot erotic stories with sizzling chemistry between the hero and heroine. Cara has lived many places in the United States, but currently lives in Missouri with her husband. She has two grown stepkids. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading and traveling.