Book Blitz for The Knight by Skye Warren (GIVEAWAY)

Today is a reason to celebrate as Ms. Warren returns with another decadent and sensual book release.  Keep reading to get a glimpse of The Knight by Skye Warren, with its scorching tale of revenge amidst a darkly erotic game of cat and mouse, then add it to your bookshelf.  In honor of this second installment in The Endgame series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win signed copies of the first book in this series, The Pawn, as well as this book too!

The power of pleasure...
Gabriel Miller took everything from me. My family. My innocence. My home. The only thing I have left is the determination to get back what’s mine.
He thinks he’s beaten me. He thinks he’s won. What he doesn’t realize is that every pawn has the chance to become a queen.
And the game has only just begun.

EXCERPT:

A sleek black limo idles in the center of the parking lot, the gleaming black stark against the backdrop of cracked concrete and cigarette-littered gravel. It’s not for me, I tell myself. It can’t be.

It’s probably one of Chastity’s customers.

At eight o’clock in the morning. In the cheapest motel in Tanglewood.

The driver steps out and nods to me in that deferent, discreet way that drivers have. My stomach sinks. He opens the back door and stands beside it, a silent invitation. A tacit command from the man inside.

My feet move me across the pavement, breath trapped. It’s that moment when you’ve slammed your finger in a door, before the pain has registered, when your mind is all too aware of what comes next.

The shadowed interior hides his face, but I know who it is before he speaks.

“Good morning,” comes the low voice of the man who made me come on his desk. The door shuts behind me, enclosing me in the warm darkness.

“What are you doing here?"

A shuffle of papers. The scratch of a pen. As the darkness solidifies, I see him reclined in the back of the limo, focused on a stack of papers in front of him. Working, like I’m a distraction. “I’m your ride."

He doesn’t even look up. “Excuse me?"

“To Landon Moore’s office. That is where you’re going, I assume."

My eyes narrow. “How do you know that?"

Finally he looks up, his golden gaze searing me. “Because you’ll do anything to get your house back. It’s the only place you feel safe, isn’t it? The only place you felt loved?"

My stomach clenches. “How did you know where to find me?"

“I don’t think you need me to answer that."

Because he knows everything that happens in the city. He could have had me followed after I left his office yesterday, but odds are he knew where I was before. “Thanks, but no thanks. I’d rather walk on nails than ride with you."

I pull the latch to discover that the door is locked. From the inside.

My gaze flies to him. “You’re kidnapping me?"

“Unfortunately,” he says with fake sympathy. “You’ll have to explain to the cops how I abducted you and transported you in comfort to your previously planned destination."

The car glides forward, as if connected to his very will.

Asshole.

I glare at him, settling into the warm leather. Are these seats heated? Of course they are. I have to admit this is way more comfortable than the city bus, but everything has a cost. And when it comes to Gabriel Miller, the cost is always too high. “Why are you doing this?"

“Does it matter?” he asks, his voice faintly mocking. “As a gentleman your comfort is my highest priority. It’s enough to be of service to you."

“You’re not a gentleman."

“Probably right. In that case I’m coming with you to see sweet old Uncle Landon give you the horrible news, to see your face fall as he assures you there’s nothing you can do."

My throat constricts. “Can’t you find someone else to torture?"

“No one nearly as pretty. Besides, my presence has some advantages."

“My very own supply of fire and brimstone?"

“People are more inclined to tell the truth when I’m in the room. My reputation for dealing with liars and cheats is somewhat brutal.” He leans forward, his eyes reflecting sunlight. “All of it true, I’m afraid."

I’m living proof of that, the fallout from my father’s decision to steal. “Be careful or I might think you’re actually being nice to me."

A short laugh. “Not a chance. It will be my pleasure to see Landon Moore break. And even sweeter to watch you break, too. A show I can’t pass up.”

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

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BUY THE PAWN (Book #1) FOR $0.99 NOW AT:  AMAZON  |  BN  |  iBOOKS  |  KOBO

AUTHOR INFO:

Skye Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance such as the Chicago Underground series. Her books have been featured in Jezebel, Buzzfeed, USA Today Happily Ever After, Glamour, and Elle Magazine. She makes her home in Texas with her loving family, two sweet dogs, and one evil cat.

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

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Book Tour for Text 2 Lovers by K Webster and J.D. Hollyfield (Review & GIVEAWAY)

Two people at their lowest points find an unexpected connection courtesy of an inadvertently sent text.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Text 2 Lovers by K Webster and J.D. Hollyfield, along with my impressions of it, then add it to your bookshelf.  In honor of this scorching romance make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $20 Amazon GC too!

It’s the start of nothing good.
I fired off a storm of raunchy text messages…to the wrong number.
And he replied.
Him: Show me a picture.
Him: Tell me your name.
Why does the lure of anonymity have me craving to indulge a stranger?
It’s the start of everything right.
I received a slew of text messages…when everything in my life was wrong.
And she made me laugh again.
Her: You’re probably a creeper.
Her: Possibly a stalker.
Why do I have the overwhelming need to find this stranger who saved me and make her mine?
Him: Take a chance with me.
Her: This is crazy.
Him: I need to see you.
Her: What are we doing?
Him: We’re about to find out.
Her: PHOTO ATTACHED
Him: PHOTO ATTACHED

FIND IT AT GOODREADS here.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  BN  |  KOBO  |  iBOOKS

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

A drunken text sent in anger leads to unexpected romance for two people caught at the lowest point in their lives after being betrayed by love.  Theirs is a relationship that starts out via texts as both have trust issues that leads to a rocky beginning and ultimately a frustrating Big Misunderstanding that put their HEA in doubt.  On a whole this was an erotically-charged romance that kept me on edge waiting for the other shoe to drop as the heroine waffled between weak and strong-willed.  Some parts were utterly charming while other parts left me frustrated, but by the jaw-dropping conclusion I was ready to revisit these colorful characters.

Dani's a sweet girl, if a bit of a doormat, who never says no.  With her boyfriend dumping her after she lends him money, for a woman she's been kind to in the past, she's left heartbroken.  Luckily she can count on her friend Andie to support her as she pushes herself to text her ex and let him know how she really feels about him despite her tendency towards kindness.  Her texts change her life forever as they're inadvertently sent to another man.  Ram is like no man she's met before as he loves everything about her and gives her the strength to stick up for herself.  He also gets her to embrace her inner sex kitten in numerous scorching encounters that took over the story at times.  In return Dani gives him support and understanding as he slowly emerges from the depths of depression.  Dani's a truly kind person who always sees the best in people despite the damage it does to her.  While that's an admirable quality it frustrated me as it made her look weak and set herself up for heartache.  I also found her a bit hypocritical in that she took everyone else at face value but was quick to judge the man who proclaimed loudly (without her reciprocation) to love her.  On a whole Dani displays many fine qualities and is a likable character but she let me down when Ram's ex spewed her vileness.

Ram's an equally good man who has strong loyalty to his family which led to his slow recovery from depression after the death of his father.  Dani's inadvertent text is the jolt he's been hoping for as her sweetness and joyousness helps him see past the darkness that's been weighing on him.  When a game of cat-and-mouse finally leads him to seeing her face-to-face it changes his outlook on life as well as hers.  As Ram soaks in her kindness, and delights in her insatiability in the bedroom, he also teaches her to stick up for herself while being the kind of man she needs him to be.  Fears over how he lost his job lead to secrets though that drive them apart and plunge both of them into depression and regrets that was heartbreaking.  From the very start I enjoyed Ram's flirty banter and his pushing her to stand up for herself.  Even before he "met" her he cared about her which endeared him to me.  Ram's immensely likable through his burgeoning relationship with Dani and showed himself to be easily relatable, warts and all.

This was a fast-paced story that used text messages to entertain and cleverly advance the narrative.  Dani and Ram were able to build a good relationship that solidified upon meeting in person which eliminated the feeling of this being a romance of insta-love.  They're a truly sweet couple whose interactions in public are charming while in the bedroom the interactions were sizzling as their bed sport became even more erotic.  Alongside this compelling couple was the colorful coupling of Ram's brother Roman and the loud and strong-willed Andie. Theirs is a frenemies-to-lovers romance that's completely based on angry sex. They're combustible with interactions teeming with sexual tension as they continually wage a war of words and insults with each other.  With the shocking twist at the end regarding their unspoken relationship it's clear that the fireworks are just starting to fly leading into the next book.  With so many emotional issues being dealt with it felt very unnecessary to deal with the nefarious Chelsea and her machinations that led to a group effort to bring her to justice.  The vengeful plan felt silly and juvenile and had Andie taking the lead despite her inability to do anything calmly.  On a whole though this was an entertaining read that charmed me while making me blush and with its explosive conclusion it guarantees I'll be coming back for more.

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:

K Webster is the author of dozens romance books in many different genres including contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal romance, and erotic romance. When not spending time with her husband of twelve years and two adorable children, she's active on social media connecting with her readers.

Her other passions besides writing include reading and graphic design. K can always be found in front of her computer chasing her next idea and taking action. She looks forward to the day when she will see one of her titles on the big screen.

WEBSITE  |  NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP  |  FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER

J.D. Hollyfield is a creative designer and author. When she’s not cooking, event planning, or playing around with her husband, son and three doxies, she’s relaxing with her nose in a book. With her love for romance, and her head full of book boyfriends, she was inspired to test her creative abilities and bring her own story to life. Life in a Rut, Love not Included was her first novel. Hollyfield lives in the Midwest, and is currently at work on her next book.

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

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Book Review for Pop Rock by Charity Ferrell

We’ve all seen the headlines about him.

Knox Rivers is music’s out of control, all over TMZ, and under the impression that he’s God’s gift to the female population bad boy.

He steals hearts with his music and then breaks them with his behavior.

He’s also my new boss, and I'm going to be traveling across the country with him on tour.

There’s no way I would’ve taken the job if I weren’t so desperate, but after my dad lost all of his money for not paying taxes, I'm left broke, homeless, and unable to pay my tuition only a year shy of receiving my degree.

I have this under control. I’m the daughter of a rock legend who’s used to being around these types of men, but I’m finding myself more drawn to him with every passing mile.

I'm fighting to keep our relationship professional while he's pushing to show me there's more to him than what's plastered all over the tabloids.

Desire starts triumphing my rationality.

I’m throwing all my rules out the window.

I’ll deal with the repercussions when the gas tank runs dry.

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

As a fan of rock star romances I was breathless with anticipation from the moment I read this book's premise.  Though that premise is a familiar one Ms. Ferrell masterfully captivates readers through her witty banter, likable and realistic characters, and fun and flirty interactions.  It's a book that put a smile on my face from the first page to the last and still has me thinking of it fondly.

Libby came from a family of money as the daughter of a rock star.  Hanging out with him on tour was full of decadent experiences with groupies, orgies, and drugs that left a negative impression on her.  Further tainting her views of rock stars is a heartbreaking experience that left her with issues regarding trust. She once ran amongst the rich but her father's tax evasion has put him in jail and her destitute and desperate.  Out of desperation her father's friend's idea may seem like a miracle until she realizes it will put her in close quarters with pop music's hottest star, Knox Rivers.  Her job at first is to clean up his bad reputation but before long she discovers a different, more appealing, side to him that slowly starts claiming her heart.  Witty banter in a verbal tug-of-war soon leads to feelings she struggles to keep hidden while growing ever closer to each other.  As he pushes for more she's left fighting her past and her fears of commitment in a romance that had me rooting for them every step of the way. Libby's a strong-willed woman who was coddled in her youth but who picks herself up and brushes herself off when fate changes her life irrevocably.  She's sassy and gives as good as she gets which made her interactions with Knox even more fiery.  When the outside world intervenes in their blissful burgeoning relationship though will she finally admit the truth her heart's been screaming for or walk away from the one man who would sacrifice everything for her?

Knox came from a childhood of nothing, barely scraping by until the day he got his first guitar.  That day opened up the world to him as his music set the world on fire and brought him money and fame.  It also taught him who he could trust as too many people in his circle used him for money and fame.  His most recent relationship with the on again/off again, Stella, has soured him on love and honesty when it comes to women which has him using them just for sex.  He's at his breaking point and he's lashing out from all the lack of genuineness in his world, which the press gleefully reports.  Finding out his new assistant is a woman bent on keeping him focused and walking the straight and narrow doesn't make for a pleasant first meeting, but their time together soon has him seeing her in a whole new light.  Knox gives the impression upon first meeting him that he's arrogant and superficial but beneath that guarded exterior is a man with a heart of gold.  His early interactions with Libby are playful but teeming with erotic promise that draws her ever closer until the "L word" has her running.  Knox is a delicious hero who doesn't advertise his many good deeds, proudly claims Libby as his in a swoon-worthy gesture, and is a worthy addition to my list of book boyfriends!

Though the premise here is familiar Ms. Ferrell used her talent to make it something special.  From its crackling dialogue between two people with heart's bruised by love to erotically-charged encounters obsessed with "kittens" this was an entertaining romance from start to finish.  Libby was a heroine easy to admire and relate to while Knox was a sweet and sexy hero with a talent for dirty talk who gave Libby a reason to break out of her tightly-managed control. While this romance focused mainly on them, readers got a glimpse of the chaos and energy of the music world while being introduced to a likable cast of secondary characters who reflect the loyalty these two have towards family that brings them support but also heartache.  Overall this may have been my first book by Ms. Ferrell but it won't be my last as she charmed me with her fun and flirty dialogue and heartfelt romance all tied up with a cheer-inducing bow!

My rating for this is an A-

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

Book Tour for Casanova by Emma Hart (REVIEW)

High school friends turned enemies are forced into close quarters in this romance of opposites attracting that has fireworks going off when the past collides with the presence.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of Casanova by Emma Hart, along with my impressions of it, then add it to your bookshelf!

I loved him more than life.

He broke me and he didn't even know it.

I ran from him.

He didn't chase me.

He never needed to, because he knew I'd come back.

He was right.

Death brought me home to him.

Brett Walker.

Drop dead gorgeous and filthy-mouthed with a smile that turns saints to sinners.

A casanova to his core.

My ex-best friend.

And the bad boy whose reputation precedes him—the same reputation I'm tasked with turning to gold... Or so they think.

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON (US)  |  AMAZON (UK)  |  AMAZON (CA)  |  AMAZON (AU)  |  BN  |  iBOOKS

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

As a fan of second chance romances I was giddy by the premise of this book. From its witty and rapid-fire dialogue to its unrelenting sexual tension this book created a sexually-charged atmosphere that kept me entertained and rooting for these two former best friends to get their HEA.

Lani and Brett were once the best of friends in high school despite their differences.  Though they straddled the line of becoming more than friends, the feelings they had for each other clearly went deeper until careless words sent Lani running after graduation.  In the years since, Lani's traveled the world and gained fame for her journalistic work.  She's back home now though, after the death of her grandmother, and is guilted into staying for another six months by her slightly annoying pregnant sister.  Though she sees the coming months as full of boredom it's not long until her path crosses with Brett and the fireworks explode.  Paid by his father to improve his reputation through her words has them spending even more time together and has her discovering a different side to him that reminds her of why she fell for him long ago.  With so many years of misunderstandings between them though will she be able to put the past behind her to embrace a future full of love?  In high school Lani was a bit of a nerd, quiet and unassuming while buried in her books.  Her only friends were Brett and his sister who kept her from being bullied and had her seeing Brett as her white knight.  A moment of harsh words from him though broke her heart and had her running without a word to him.  She's still hurting though and it shows in some of their interactions where her words are biting and she's assuming the worst of him.  While I admired Lani for her hard working nature and loyalty to her family I was frustrated by her juvenile attitude in regards to forgiving and forgetting.  The issues between her and Brett could've been resolved by talking but she made them much bigger than they were.

Brett's always had a soft spot for Lani as seen by the sweet and subtle acts directed towards her in high school.  She was a large part of his family, spending hours at their house, which is why her leaving left an even bigger hole in his heart.  In the years since he responded to the loss through womanizing and partying, while hiding the good deeds he was doing as they were for him alone.  With Lani back though he'll do everything he can to claim her once and for all and prove himself worthy of her.  Brett's attitude at the start was a bit frat boyish with his crass and uncensored talk.  He purposely pushed Lani's buttons through his unrelenting sexual banter that had her responding in kind which made for an erotic tug-of-war.  Between the lines though were also moments of sweetness, moments where he wore his heart on his sleeve.  When readers find out where he vanishes to during the month, we and Lani discover the heart that's been hidden behind the gossip and it endeared him to me. Even in his snarkiness I still found myself drawn to him.  Like Lani though I wish he'd talked out their past problems much sooner as it unnecessarily drew the story out.

On a whole I found this a story full of promise and in some ways it succeeded.  I enjoyed the sexual tension between Lani and Brett along with their erotically-charged banter.  Their verbal foreplay put a smile on my face while making my heart pound in anticipation.  Where the story fell a bit flat though is in regards to the little things.  Having a grown adult hold a teenage grudge did a disservice to Lani, and the strength she projected, as did the juvenile banter seen between her and her sister.  Brett's interactions with his family also felt childish as he should've stuck up for himself in a much louder manner.  The secret revolving around "the thing" and his family's part in it was much ado about nothing.  It too was built up and then fell flat upon its reveal.  Despite these quibbles this was still a good read with a sexy hero who had me drooling at times, steamy encounters with a woman who's his perfect match, and I look forward to Ms. Hart's next book.

My rating for this is a C+

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

AUTHOR INFO:

By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to two beautiful little monsters. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of whatever she fancies - usually wine - and writes books.

Emma is working on Top Secret projects she will share with her followers and fans at every available opportunity. Naturally, all Top Secret projects involve a dashingly hot guy who likes to forget to wear a shirt, a sprinkling (or several) of hold-onto-your-panties hot scenes, and a whole lotta love.

She likes to be busy - unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life.

FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER  |  GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE  |  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Book Tour for The Room Mate by Kendall Ryan (REVIEW)

A romance between an older woman and younger man who have known each other since they were young leads to complications and scorching encounters in this flirty tale.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of The Room Mate by Kendall Ryan, along with my impressions of it, then add it to your bookshelf!

The last time I saw my best friend’s younger brother, he was a geek wearing braces. But when Cannon shows up to crash in my spare room, I get a swift reality check.
Now twenty-four, he’s broad shouldered and masculine, and so sinfully sexy, I want to climb him like the jungle gyms we used to enjoy. At six-foot-something with lean muscles hiding under his T-shirt, a deep sexy voice, and full lips that pull into a smirk when he studies me, he’s pure temptation.
Fresh out of a messy breakup, he doesn’t want any entanglements. But I can resist, right?
I’m holding strong until the third night of our new arrangement when we get drunk and he confesses his biggest secret of all: he’s cursed when it comes to sex. Apparently he’s a god in bed, and women instantly fall in love with him.
I’m calling bullshit. In fact, I’m going to prove him wrong, and if I rack up a few much-needed orgasms in the process, all the better.
There’s no way I’m going to fall in love with Cannon. But once we start…I realize betting against him may have been the biggest mistake of my life.

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON (US)  |  AMAZON (PRINT)  |  AMAZON (UK)  |  AMAZON (AU)  |  AMAZON (CA)  |  BN  |  iBOOKS  |  KOBO

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

My favorite theme is that of friends-to-lovers and with this new release that journey is a fun and flirty one.  With its charasmatic hero, and a woman longing to break free when it comes to her life, readers will be captivated by their life-long attraction that has been bubbling beneath the surface to reach erotic heights once they become roommates.

Cannon is a chick magnet, but unfortunately what happens the morning after is less than satisfying as his encounters usually turn sour.  After his most recent encounter left his home in shambles, and with a bit of worry to his peace of mind, he's left with no alternative but to move in with the woman who he's been attracted to since he was young.  Seeing her reignites those longings and one alcohol-fueled night leads to a bet that will change their lives forever.  Cannon's a sexy and charming young man focused on his career wanting to make life better for his sister and mother.  Finding a connection with Paige though has him rethinking his future as feelings become involved which leads to judgments by his sister which put his HEA in jeopardy.  Overall Cannon's a decadently delightful hero with a talent for dirty talk which led to even hotter interludes with Paige and a Grand Gesture that had me cheering by the final page. By the final page I found Cannon to be sweet and caring which makes him the latest addition to my list of book boyfriends.

Paige is a hard working woman, loyal to her friend Allie and devoted to her dog. Her life is stagnant though as all she does is go to work and come home.  Love isn't in the cards for her as the loss of her parents at an early age has her consumed with the fragility of life and love.  Paige remembers Cannon as a kind but nerdy young man, but seeing him as an adult inspires all sorts of naughty thoughts that lead to very close quarters and sexually-charged interactions. When a bet leads to unforgettable interludes she starts seeing a different future that becomes tainted once Allie discovers the truth.  Will she be brave enough to go after what she really wants or will she continue to be alone and unfulfilled? Paige is clearly stuck in a rut before Cannon arrives.  His flirty and playful ways pushed her though and brought out a more fun-loving and sensual side to her that entertained me.  Ultimately, while I liked her I was frustrated that she didn't fight harder for Cannon earlier.

This was a fun and sensual read for the most part with a flow that kept me fully immersed and rooting for HEA.  Along with a scorching romance came a bit of suspense courtesy of a psychotic ex-one night stand Cannon had whose revenge came out of nowhere and felt over-the-top.  The connection between Cannon and Paige though was crackling with interludes that grew hotter the more time they spent together, the longer they reminisced about the past.  Their journey to HEA was weighed down by painful losses and by the judgments of Allie which had me booing her actions despite her own heartbreak.  She used Paige's friendship, and Cannon's brotherly devotion, against them to put up roadblocks to their hard-fought HEA.  Despite these small quibbles I still found this a delightfully decadent romance with a hero who will continue to bring me sweet dreams every night.

My rating for this is a B+

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

AUTHOR INFO:

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 1.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. She's a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she's appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine.

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Book Cover Reveal for Sin With Me by J.T. Geissinger

As a fan of Ms. Geissinger's previous works I squealed with delight to see another of the band members of Bad Habit take center stage.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Sin With Me by J.T. Geissinger, with its tale of two bruised souls moving on from tragedy, then drool over its cover for awhile.  Now start counting down the days until the April 25th release of this third installment in the Bad Habit series...

The past she can’t remember. The secret he hides. And a love that’s worth risking it all.

After a devastating car crash stole both her family and her memory, Grace Stanton was left with no past and an uncertain future. Now Grace likes to keep things simple. No sleepovers, never date a guy more than a month, and never, ever fall in love. Which is exactly why Grace avoids Bad Habit’s lead guitarist, Brody Scott, at all costs. The green-eyed, sexy-as-hell musician has “trouble” tattooed all over him, and Grace isn’t taking any chances with her heart.

Brody knows he doesn’t deserve an amazing woman like Grace—her creamy skin, red hair, or that smart mouth that fuels his every fantasy—but there’s something between them that’s more than chemistry. Something real. He’ll just have to convince Grace that he’s worth the risk—and hide the secret that haunts his worst dreams. But when fate plays a cruel hand, Brody’s darkest sin suddenly threatens his last chance at redemption…and the life of the woman he loves.

EXCERPT:

Like fingers interlacing, several things slowly come together and fit into place.

“You could fall in love with me and not remember it?” I whisper.

She swallows and nods.

Dumbfounded, I stare at her. “Holy fuck."

Looking miserable, she nods again. She tries to pull away but I don’t let her. I put my arms around her and squeeze.

She resists for what feels like forever, stiff and uncomfortable in my arms, but then slowly she gives in. She melts against me with a sigh, tucks her face into the space between my neck and shoulder, and winds her arms around my waist.

We stand like that for a while, not talking, feeling the chaotic beating of each other’s hearts. Her hair smells like sunshine. She’s soft and warm against me, lush and feminine. My dick is still wrestling for control with my brain, which is in a state of shock and is just sitting there lifelessly inside my skull like a big lump of cheese.

And suddenly I realize what a gift I’m being offered.

I can never right the wrongs of the past, no matter how desperately I might want to. But maybe those wrongs aren’t the end of the story. Maybe they’re only a new beginning.

If I’m going to do good by her, this is a fucking fantastic place to start.

My voice gruff, I say, “I’m in."

She pulls away and looks at me, a little furrow between her brows. “What?"

“I said I’m in. Fuck it. If I can make you fall in love with me once, I can make you fall in love with me again and again. Every day if I have to."

Grace blanches. “The Egosaurus rides again. I’m not in love with you!"

“But you will be,” I vow, looking at her dead-on. “Because I’m not gonna leave you any other choice."

I plunge my hands into her hair, grip her head, pull her toward me, and fit my mouth against hers.

It’s like the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve and Christmas morning, all rolled into one.

Heat. Color. Noise. Fireworks behind my eyes. She moans into my mouth, digs her nails into my back, arches against me. I moan, too, fucking her luscious mouth with my tongue, one hand behind her neck and the other roaming all over her body, learning her shape, the dip of her waist, the full, tight curve of her ass.

It’s greedy.

It’s scorching.

It’s everything.

If there were a Guinness World Record for the most amazing, mind-blowing, cock-stiffening, heart-pounding, panty-melting, burn-down-the-house kiss, we’d win that motherfucker hands down.

We’re both breathing hard, desperate, mindless, lost. The kiss goes on and on, until I’m drunk on her. I’m flying. I’m melting. I’m--

Someone loudly clears his throat.

Stunned and reeling, Grace and I break apart.

Nico stands in the kitchen doorway with his hands on his hips, grinning like an idiot.

“Hiya, kids,” he drawls. “What’re you two squirrels up to?"

Flushed and trembling, Grace lifts a hand to her lips. She lets out a short, astonished laugh and cuts her gaze to me.

I can’t talk either. My mouth can’t form any coherent words. I just stand there, dumb as a rock, my mind blank, my shorts tented, staring at Grace like I’ve spent my entire life up to this point living in a dark cave, surviving on worms and insects, and she just walked in with candles and flowers and a big fucking steak on a hot plate.

“Uhh..."

Nico bursts out laughing.

“I’ll just go see what Kat’s up to.” Grace’s voice is high and shaky. She bolts from the room.

“Just wanted to let you know a few people are starting to show up.” Nico glances at the front of my shorts and chuckles. “So, uh, you might want to pull yourself together, brother."

Shaken to my core, I sag against the counter, gripping it hard for support, and let out a ragged breath. “Jesus. Is that what it’s like for you with Kat? That feeling like you’re..."

“Free-falling?” Nico supplies when I can’t find the right word. “High flying? Completely out of control?"

When I look up at him, he nods. “Yeah, brother. It is. At the beginning. And then it gets so much deeper and so much better, there aren’t any words for it at all.” His eyes—bright, cobalt-blue eyes that made him famous—pierce me. “But be careful. Because once you get on that speeding train, you can’t get off. Even if it jumps the tracks, crashes into a nuclear power plant, and burns the whole world to the ground."

He gives me one long, last look and then turns around and leaves.

From somewhere very far off, I hear the sound of my demon laughing.

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AUTHOR INFO:

J.T. Geissinger is an award winning and best-selling author of dark, sexy romance.

She is the recipient of the Prism Award for Best First Book, the Golden Quill Award for Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, and was a finalist for the prestigious RITA© Award from the Romance Writers of America. Her work has also finaled in the Booksellers’ Best, National Readers’ Choice, and Daphne du Maurier Awards.

She lives in California with her husband, on whom all her heroes are based.

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Book Tour for Mist by Emily Mims (Review & GIVEAWAY)

With this atmospheric romance readers will find themselves on a suspenseful journey full of twists and turns.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Mist by Emily Mims, along with my impressions of it, then add it to your bookshelf.  You'll also hear from Ms. Mims as she discusses why readers love musicians as well as learning even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour.  In honor of this first installment in The Smokey Blues series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $10 bookstore GC too!

Making Music Together-the Appeal of Musicians in a Romance Novel...

I admit it.  I’m a sucker for a musician hero or heroine in a romance novel.  It doesn’t matter if the musician is a seasoned professional on the stage of Carnegie Hall or a rank amateur leading songs around a campfire.  A musician is always a winner.  As a long-time reader of romance novels, I’ve encountered just about every kind of fictional musician there is between the pages of a book or on the screen of an I-pad…and have created more than a few of my own.  So let’s talk about why characters such as Kylie and Ren, my musician leads in ‘Mist’, work so well as heroes and heroines.

Readers can almost always identify with a musician.  Some identify more than others, maybe, but somewhere down inside every reader there’s a singer or a dancer or a pianist or a hard rock guitar player screaming to come out.  The readers can identify with the character as they make music come to life.  They can live out their fantasy of playing ear-splitting guitar riffs in a packed arena, or foot-stomping mountain music at an Appalachian gas station jam session, or a violin concert at the Bass Performance Hall.  Through the heroes and heroines their own dreams of making music come to life.

Sometimes the fantasy perhaps becomes reality.  Who knows how many times a reader has read of a character playing a guitar or a dulcimer or a ukulele and then picked one up and learned to play it themselves?  It’s probably happened more often that we would think.  Or how many times has a reader read about a music festival or a concert, thought ‘That sounds like fun’,and then gone online and purchased a ticket to the next local production?  Of course, this can work in reverse.  I learned to play the dulcimer and ukulele before I ever developed the characters of Kylie Richards of ‘Mist’ or Leilani Mahuiki in ‘Evergreen’.  The festivals I depict in ‘Mist’ and the subsequent Smoky Blue stories?  I’ve been to every one of them.  I’ve shamelessly mined my experiences as a musician and a music lover to create the world of mountain music in the Smoky Blue books.  And I seek out stories about musicians when I sit down to read.

Another reason musicians make wonderful characters in romance novels is that making music gives the reader an insight into the emotions of a character.  Musicians inevitably use their music to express what they are feeling at the time.  Are they happy?  The music sounds happy.  Are they sad?  You bet, it’s right there in the song.  In fact, music like nothing else has the power to draw forth powerful emotions and memories.  Musicians do this in their music.  Fictional musicians do the same.  The reader knows exactly how that hero or heroine is feeling.  They can feel the power of their character through the music.

Finally, I know of no better way for two people who love each other to express that love than through making music together.  In ‘Mist’, Ren and Kylie create magic when they play together, as do Cooper and Francesca in ‘Smoke’ and Bradley and Leilani in ‘Evergreen’.  Their love is revealed in every note they play together.  Too, think of the many real-life couples in love with one another who have made musical magic-Johnny Cash and June Carter, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Beyonce and JayZ, Sonny and Cher, Ike and Tina Turner-just to name a few.  Even when the relationship ended badly, as it all too often does in real life, the music these couples and others like them made together when they were in love is and will always be special.  And even though my husband and I are amateurs and always will be, the time we spend with one another in two different musical groups making music together is very special to us…and I like to think that maybe the music we make together is better than what either of us could do on our own.

I firmly believe that musicians will always make wonderful characters in romance novels.  I hope to create many more of these heroes and heroines in the future.

And a very happy birthday today to my lovely host!  May the day bring you joy.

The widow of a lying drug dealer, dulcimer-player Kylie Barstow Richards finds herself struggling to see through the mist of the Smoky Mountains to the truth-about her life, about the nightclub where she works, and about the bluegrass-playing musician who has arrived to steal her heart.

EXCERPT:

Kylie looked Ren in the eye.  “How much of that is the truth and how much of it was bullshit?"

Ren’s lips firmed.  “It’s the truth, every damned bit of it.  And that’s also why I did what I did.  The DEA honestly thought you were guilty.  A drug dealer took out one of my best friends, Kylie.  I’ve missed Jerry every day for the last two years."

“And that justifies what you did to me?  Sorry, Ren.  Not buying it.  And I don’t care what your reasons for lying were, a liar is a liar.  And I can’t stand liars."

“I get that, Kylie.  Look, obviously we blew it, and I’m just as sorry as I can be that I hurt you."

“If you can be believed, which I seriously doubt."

“I do mean it.  I’m sorry.  I’m really sorry."

“I am, too, Ren.  I was just beginning to have a little bit of faith and trust again and you very effectively managed to take that away from me.  Congratulations.  I will probably never trust another man as long as I live."

“Aw, Kylie, no.”  Ren leaned forward.  “Look, I know there is no way I can take back the lies I’ve already told.  But I can promise you this.  I will never, ever lie to you again about anything."

Kylie shrugged.  “And now I’m supposed to believe that?  Ren, I’m sorry.  The damage is done.  The trust is broken.  Kind of like Humpty Dumpty."

“I understand.  But Kylie, I’m going to tell you the truth from now on whether you believe me or not."

“Knock yourself out.”

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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

From its opening pages readers will find themselves quickly immersed in this atmospheric romance that has music bringing two people together under a haze of deception and suspense.  Family and obligations serve as a backdrop to the burgeoning romance that gets put through the wringer.  As feelings of love quickly turn to betrayal the past continues to weigh heavily on the hard-fought conclusion which had me guessing until the end.

Kylie thought she had a good marriage with an honorable man until he was shot dead, leaving behind embarrassing truths as well as ruining her dreams for the future.  Time passed and she's become content with her life of music and family but is surprised to find herself attracted to the wandering musician who's come to join the family band.  Just as Ren becomes an integral part of her life the truth comes out about his real purpose and she's once again left heartbroken. With danger regarding Ren's real reason for joining their band coming ever closer to her, readers will be on edge waiting to see if she'll be able to keep herself safe along with healing her bruised heart.  Kylie's a strong-willed heroine who values family and supports them every step of the way as they do her. Finding out the truth about her husband was heartbreaking but putting her dream in jeopardy was even worse.  Music is everything to her, she shines when on stage, and it's what brings her and Ren together.  Theirs is a crackling connection that has them making beautiful music together before she discovered the truth about him.  How she handled that was believable and had me rooting for her every step of the way as she deserved a HEA for all she got put through.

Ren's devoted much of his life to bringing others to justice through his undercover work with the DEA.  It's left him little time for love and happiness which is why his attraction to Kylie catches him off guard.  Even though she's his suspect he can't deny how much he cares for her.  He soon becomes her champion, and a mentor for her son, which makes the fallout from the truth about his identity that much harder to deal with.  Despite everything though Ren does whatever necessary to keep Kylie safe while putting his heart in jeopardy along the way.  Ren's an immensely appealing hero, torn by duty but bound by it.  He has a strong love and appreciation for music which is the basis of their sensual connection and leads to all sorts of musical foreplay.

On a whole this was a well-paced story that nicely balanced romance with the suspense of who the real villain is.  The identity of that villain is kept well-hidden until close to the end too which I always appreciate.  Ms. Mims has vividly depicted the Smoky Mountain region with all its charm, sensuality, and tight-knit community feel that further helped immerse me in this compelling tale.  Ren and Kylie were an enthralling couple who had me cheering for them from the first page to the last as they dealt with hurt feelings and hidden danger.  Surrounding them are a colorful cast of secondary characters, mostly family, who support each other through all their highs and lows.  The most memorable of them being Cooper, the direct and somewhat abrasive amputee who harbored moments of pity for himself.  He was sometimes angry and prejudicial, sometimes an ass, but I still look forward to his story being told.. Ultimately, this was my first time reading a story written by Ms. Mims, but it won't be the last as she kept me captivated with this romance that's almost pitch perfect.

My rating for this is a B+/A-

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

AUTHOR INFO:

Author of twenty six romance novels, Emily Mims combined her writing career with a career in public education until leaving the classroom to write full time.  The mother of two sons and grandmother of three, she and her husband Charles live in central Texas but frequently visit grandchildren in eastern Tennessee and Georgia.  She plays the piano, organ, dulcimer, and ukulele and belongs to two performing bands.  She says, “I love to write romances because I believe in them.  Romance happened to me and it can happen to any woman-if she’ll just let it.”

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