Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Book Tour for Havoc by Jamie Shaw (Review & GIVEAWAY)


As a reader addicted to rock star romances I've found Ms. Shaw's sweet and sexy heroes one of my vices which is why I'm excited to introduce others to this tale of friends to lovers.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Havoc by Jamie Shaw and its heartwarming journey of two people meant to be together and the obstacles keeping them from HEA.  You'll also get my impressions of this sentimental romance, along with getting to know more about the delicious drummer looking for true love, and can learn even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour.  In honor of this fourth installment in the Mayhem series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win the first three books in this series in digital format too!

MEET THE HERO—MIKE MADDEN
Readers fell in love with drummer Mike Madden from the very first book in this series, MAYHEM, when it became clear that he wasn’t like the rest of the guys in the band: Mike never took advantage of the fact that groupies were throwing themselves at his feet; instead, he was always waiting for “the one.” Mike had his heart broken back in high school, when his band was just starting to pave their way in the music industry, but that never damaged his belief in true love. He was never looking for a one-night stand—he was looking for his future wife, the woman he would spend the rest of his life with. He waited for her through RIOT, he waited for her through CHAOS, and he finally meets her in HAVOC, when he finds Hailey Harper waiting with her cousin outside of his tour bus.
The fact that her cousin is his ex-girlfriend—the same one who broke his heart in high school and now wants him back—complicates things..a lotBut no one ever said Happily Ever Afters came easy...

When Hailey Harper left her family farm to enroll in veterinary school, she had a plan: keep her head down, ace her classes, and most importantly... don't upset the uncle paying her tuition. Translation? Don't piss off his dramatic, self-absorbed daughter, Danica, even if she's a nightmare to live with.
Falling in love with her cousin's rock star ex-boyfriend was definitely not part of the plan.
As the drummer of a now-famous rock band, Mike Madden could have any girl he wants. He's sweet, funny, romantic, talented--and the only guy that's ever made Hailey's heart do cartwheels in her chest. The more she gets to know him, the harder she falls, but Hailey knows they can never be more than friends… because Danica wants him back, and she'll fight dirty to win.
Mike is falling for Hailey too, but Danica's threats and his rock star life-music video shoots, international tours, obsessed fans-could tear them apart before they've even begun. Hailey isn't sure she's the one for him, but Mike's waited years for a girl like her… and he'll do anything to prove it.

EXCERPT:

At a door near the back corner of the room, my fun-loving cousin marches right up to the first security guard she sees, who also happens to be approximately five zillion times her size, with muscles made of stone and a face to match. “Who do I need to talk to to get backstage?"
At her bossy tone, Muscle-man lifts an eyebrow. “The Easter Bunny?"
“Excuse me?"
“No one’s allowed backstage.” The arms he crosses over his chest warn that he isn’t messing around.
“I’m with Mike,” Danica lies, and after studying her for a moment, Muscle-man laughs.
“Sure you are."
“I am!"
When Muscle-man just smiles at her like she’s a petulant child, Danica resorts to acting like one. She demands to see his boss and threatens to get him fired. When that doesn’t work, she resorts to curse words. And when those have no effect, all hell breaks loose.
She’s torpedoing her finger into his chest and shouting something about his inbred gene pool when I try to pull her away from him. But Danica is on a rampage, and all my efforts get me is a hard shove that nearly knocks me on my ass. At five-feet tall, one hundred and three pounds, I’m not exactly in a position to throw my weight around, and I don’t make a second attempt to try. I’m rubbing my tender collarbone when the security guy picks my assailant up off her feet, and I helplessly follow as he carries her outside.
After serving as an armrest for a sweaty gigantor inside the club, after obliterating my eardrums in front of the world’s biggest speakers, after getting knocked around like a bratty child’s toy all night, all I want is to take a hot shower and crawl into my own bed to sleep for a week straight. Instead, I stand on the sidewalk outside of Mayhem, frowning at the furious look on Danica’s face as she glares at the big metal door the security guard just shut behind him.
She came here for one thing, and I know she’s not leaving until she gets it.
“You didn’t have to push me,” I mutter, and her eyes flare.
“You should’ve had my back!"
“And done what? Bite his ankles?"
In her four-inch wedge boots, Danica towers above me. I stare way up at her, trying to remember the girl who played dolls with me up in my parents’ hay loft. But she’s lost somewhere behind fake lashes and fifteen years of getting everything she's wanted.
“You’ve been nothing but a bitch this whole time,” she snaps, and I sigh and pull my shirt away from my skin again, letting the cool night air dry the sweat beaded on my lower back. There’s no point in trying to defend myself. In Danica’s mind, she’s always simultaneously the victim and the hero, and as her non-rent-paying roommate, I’ve learned to just accept that.
I appreciate everything she’s done for me. I do. If she hadn’t been the little voice in her father’s ear, persuading him to fund my schooling and begging him to make some calls to get us enrolled, I’d be home mucking stalls, not following my dreams. Her dad pays all of my bills—my tuition, my insurance, my living expenses, all of them. And while I suspect that Danica’s sudden interest in my life wasn’t entirely genuine—she’d flunked out of college before, and I think her dad was only open to the idea of her going back if she was living off-campus with a responsible roommate, AKA her boring farm-girl cousin—I owe her. I owe her the roof over my head and the massive student loan debt I don’t have.
When her phone rings, she wastes no time dismissing me to answer it. “Katie?” she says. “Guess who just got kicked out of the fucking club. Yes! Because this asshole bouncer wouldn’t let me backstage.” She gives me a dirty look. “Just stood there doing nothing. I know! No, she didn’t even try. Getting a place with her was stupid."
An icy chill slithers up the back of my neck, and I chew the inside of my lip. Because of my uncle’s insistence that I focus all of my energy on school right now instead of also finding a part-time job, I have no income. My only “job” is not pissing off his daughter. And it’s a job that I’m learning I am very, very bad at.
With my mouth shut, I slink away before my mere presence can enrage Danica further, and when she asks where I’m going, I make up the lamest excuse ever. “To read this flyer over here.”

FIND THIS BOOK AT GOODREADS here.

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

FIND THE MAYHEM SERIES AT GOODREADS here.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

From the moment I saw Mike Madden in the first installment in this series I fell in love.  Though his band's on the cusp of fame, he's still a down-to-earth guy with a heart of gold, waiting to find the woman meant for him.  In this book he finds her, but it's a rocky road to get her to see it as self-doubts and distance get in the way.

Mike's always been drumming and as a young man he dreamed of seeing the world as drummer for a famous rock band.  It wasn't the only dream he had back then as he fell for the head cheerleader only to have her dump him once he moved to go after his dream.  She's back on the scene now though, with his band ready to start a world tour, focused on getting him back.  It's clear though that her reasons for returning have nothing to do with love but her presence weighs heavily on the burgeoning relationship between Mike and the woman he's really meant to be with.  Meeting Hailey changes his life irrevocably, it's simple and sunny as opposed to Danica's overbearing and highly critical nature. For too long he's lived in the past of Danica but being with Hailey gives him a glimpse of a future that's truly HEA if only he can convince Hailey of what she means to him.  Mike's a truly delicious hero, the quintessential book boyfriend who charmed me from the first page to the last.  His feelings might've been in turmoil once Danica returned but once he commits to Hailey it's clear he's devoted as each sweet and sexy deed he does and every sensual word he utters to her drenches me in warm fuzzies and leaves me drooling.

Hailey's a character I can easily relate to as she comes from a farm and a hard working family where money was tight.  They're a loving family though and make due the best they can.  Despite the loving connection with her family she's always felt second best but strove to become more far away from the farm.  Getting to college though means selling her soul to her uncle, as he's paying her tuition, in exchange for keeping Danica in line.  Being with Danica though becomes increasingly difficult as Danica's petty put-downs, vile words, and constant battering of her self-esteem wear her down and make it ever more difficult to reach her goal of becoming a veterinarian.  Add in the fact that she's fallen for Mike and it's clear that she's being torn in two...torn between her love for Mike and her desire to be more than just an average country girl.  With him professing his love to her at every turn, and her letting Danica tear her down every chance she gets, it's a rocky road to HEA that left me frustrated.  Hailey's immensely likable but has VERY low self-esteem which disappointed me at times.  She doesn't think she's good enough for him, not pretty enough, and not as picture perfect as Danica which has her making bad decisions and saying regretful things.  She allows Danica to walk all over her and blackmail her for far too long which led to way too much angst that had me screaming once or twice. It's ultimately a long wait for her showdown with Danica but once it happens I was left cheering and renewed by the fact that the smart, nice girl won over the rich and pretty one.

This was a satisfying story for the most part though a bit drawn out.  Danica's antics further drew this story out and had me cringing as she's truly nasty. She's a spoiled little rich girl who spouts venom and I dreaded every scene she was in and wish she'd gotten her comeuppance much sooner.  Despite those negatives there was much to like in this sweet and sexy romance as Mike and Hailey evolved from friends to lovers over video games and heartfelt talks. Once they connected though steamy interludes resulted in scenes full of dirty talk and playfulness that had me blushing.  Hailey's easy to relate to despite her flaws, which were self-induced, but once she found her backbone I couldn't have been prouder.  The highlight of this story though was Mike...dreamy, sweet-natured, who says and does everything you want a boyfriend to say and with each turn of the page I too fell in love with him.  This whole series has been entertaining, with each rocker a decadent delight, but with Mike taking center stage this series ends on a perfect note.

My rating for this is an A-

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


AUTHOR INFO:

A resident of South Central Pennsylvania, JAMIE SHAW's two biggest dreams in life were to be a published author and to be a mom. Now, she's living both of those dreams and loving every minute of it. When she's not spending time with her husband and their young son, she's writing novels with relatable heroines and swoon-worthy leading men. With her MS in Professional Writing and a passion for all things romance, her goal is always to make readers laugh, cry, squirm, curse, and swoon their pants off, all within the span of a single story. She loves interacting with readers, and she always aims to add new names to their book boyfriend lists.


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

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Monday, February 27, 2017

Book Tour for No One to Hold by Arell Rivers (Review & GIVEAWAY)


As a reader obsessed with rock star romances I found myself quickly caught up in the ups and downs of the romance between a man who's just now discovered the perfect woman after her being in his life for years and the woman who's dedicated to her career.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of No One to Hold by Arell Rivers, along with my impressions of this book, then discover even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour.  In honor of this first installment in the Hold series make sure to enter the giveaways below for the chance to win signed print copies of all three books in this series as well as the chance to win a digital copy of this book too!

Succumb to Cole Manchestertalented, witty, charming, sexy and oh-so flawed—a womanizing rock star whose shallow life is transformed when he experiences love for the first time.
From the outsideCole Manchester seems to have it all: looks, fame, money, awards and womenWhen tragedy strikes, he realizes how hollow his life is, and opens the door to the one thing he’s never considered … finding loveHe’s inexplicably drawn to the quiet wallflower whoworks on his team, a line he knows he shouldn’t cross.
After devastating heartbreaks, all Rose Morgan wants is to blend into the woodwork. Working at her dream job as a publicist, she’s safely hiding in plain sight. Until her client, the sexy Cole Manchesternotices her. Rose must ignore her desires in order to protect her bruised heart … andkeep her prized career.
Cole needs Rose to teach him how to love. Rose needs Cole to teach her how to trust. Together, they form a bond ignited by passion but fueled by insecurities. When her mother’s interference collides with his fan’s twisted plot, Cole and Rose may find themselves with No One To Hold.

EXCERPT:

I put my arm around her shoulders, positioning the camera to take a selfie of us. But as I’m about to take the photo, I shake my head. Reaching over, I take off her glasses and click the shot.
“Why did you do that?"
“Because I want this picture to capture the real us. No barriers."
Rose sucks in her breath and I can’t hold back any longer. The brilliant colors from the setting sun bring out the beauty of her blue eyes and silky reddish-brown hair. Her gorgeous body is like a siren calling my name. I must taste her. Wrapping her in both my arms with the camera off my shoulder, I look deeply into her ice blue eyes. Desire and anxiety seem to be at war in them.
“Don’t be nervous, Rose. I’ve wanted to kiss you for a long time."
Add surprise to the list of emotions blasting from her eyes, right before they close. I can’t prevent this kiss any more than the waves can avoid crashing into the rocks. I stop a hair’s breadth from her lips and inhale her unique scent. My mind registers the smell of flowers and the ocean. Her face tilts up toward mine in silent assent. I’m lost.
Finally, our lips meet in soft exploration. I move my hands down her back, pulling her soft body against mine. Her lips yield to my demands without hesitation. Her hands hesitantly climb up my naked chest and encircle my neck. She emits a low moan.
That little sound encourages me to deepen the kiss. Her mouth opens. Soon our tongues are exploring and caressing. My cock hardens as passion erupts between us. Needing to feel more of her, my hands move lower on her back until they meet her ass. Her body is molded to mine. Cupping her luscious cheeks, the final bit of my restraint is gone. I crush her against my body, knowing full well she can feel my rock hard erection against her stomach. Her boobs rub against my chest in time with her erratic breathing. She moans again. Or is that me?

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

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


MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

As a fan of rock star romances there was much that drew me to this story. From the delicious rocker whose fame is just starting to go worldwide, caught up in the superficiality of the music world while dealing with the death of his mother, to the young woman devoted to her job and torn by her feelings, this story kept me on edge.  Add in a stalker whose actions become more aggressive as the story progresses, and the nefarious actions of a woman whose job is all about images, and you end up with a romance full of highs and lows that culminate in a jaw-dropping conclusion.

Cole Manchester's fame gave him endless women and a life controlled by others to sate the public's appetite for what they expect of rock stars.  It gave him everything he thought he wanted until the day his mother died of cancer and he was forced in to reevaluating his life.  Seeing everyone around him finding love has him longing for the same, and after numerous disastrous blind dates, finds himself drawn to a woman who's always been there for him.  Theirs isn't a romance without roadblocks though as her commitment to her job pushes him towards other women despite his proclamations of love.  As doubts regarding her feelings for him, as well as her mother's prejudices, start driving a wedge between them their bond starts unraveling leaving readers guessing as to what comes next.  Cole's immensely appealing despite his being a player early on. His mother's death makes him realize how empty his life is, and knowing she wants more for him, sets him on a path to finding someone that wants him for himself. Seeing him so vulnerable when it came to finding a forever kind of woman had me aching for him.  His loyalty and commitment to those he cares for was also appealing and had me rooting for him as he struggled to win over the serious-minded Rose.  Once he committed to Rose though he showed it wholeheartedly amongst their friends and family, as she wanted to keep it out of the public eye out of fear for her job, which left me saddened over his being relegated to being a dirty little secret.  Despite how deep his feelings for Rose are she ultimately pushes him too far in a moment that changes everything for them.

Rose grew up with a mother burned by love one too many times which left her disillusioned when it comes to that feeling.  A one night-stand that she comes face-to-face with once again, as well as an ex who broke her heart, has her doubting the feelings Cole engenders in her.  Love has proven to be fleeting for her which has her devoting herself completely to her work where she's the brains behind her boss's questionable tactics.  Though she comes to care for Cole her self-doubts eat at her and have her repeatedly choosing her work over what they could be if she just let go.  Weighing even more heavily on her are threats from an obsessed fan that bring danger ever closer to her.  When a blatant dismissal of Cole leads to a morning of regrets for everyone, the HEA that was once in reach now seems impossible.  In some ways I liked Rose as she was smart and strong-willed, focused on making something of herself.  She did show a duplicitous side occasionally which left me uncomfortable and doubting her time with Cole.  He treated her like a queen, supporting her in everything she did, yet she refused to claim him out loud.  She was happy to reap the decadent delights he lavished on her but wouldn't profess her love for him.  Her final act left me frustrated with her but still holding out hope that she and Cole can reconnect.

From start to finish this was a romance that kept me on edge.  From a romance that always seemed to be on shaky ground to an obsessed fan that always seemed to be on the periphery I was left in constant chaos.  Cole was a good person ready to be a man and find a woman worthy of him.  At times I thought Rose would be that woman as their connection was crackling, seen through numerous scorching encounters, but when it came to love she was running scared.  Her job in public relations also made me question her devotion as her job relied on perpetuating lies, putting Cole in a position where she was left to doubt him.  My biggest quibbles with this book relate to her and I can only hope she starts listening to her heart in the next installment.  While waiting for that next installment readers will have much to mull over from the fall-out of Cole's drunken night in Las Vegas.

My rating for this is a B.

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

THE NEXT BOOKS IN THE HOLD SERIES...

HARD TO HOLD (BOOK #2):  AMAZON (US)  |  AMAZON (UK)  |  AMAZON (AU)  |  KOBO  |  BN  |  iBOOKS

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD (BOOK #3):  AMAZON (US)  |  AMAZON (UK)  |  AMAZON (AU)  |  KOBO  |  BN  |  iBOOKS

AUTHOR INFO:

For as long as Arell Rivers remembers, she has been lost in a book. During her senior year in college, she picked up a Danielle Steel novel … and instantly was hooked on romance.
She started writing her first novel, No One to Hold, because the characters were screaming at her to do so. The story started coming out in Arell’s dreams and attacking her in the shower, so she took to the computer to shut them up. But they kept talking.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Arell has what some may call a “checkered past.” Prior to discovering her passion for writing romance, she practiced law, was a wedding and event planner and even dabbled in marketing. She lives with a very supportive husband and two mischievous cats. When not in her writing cave, Arell can be found making dinner in the crock pot, working out with Shaun T or hitting the beach.
She hopes you enjoy her stories about driven men, strong women and the passions that ignite!


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

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


PRIZE IS A DIGITAL COPY OF THIS BOOK!

-GIVEAWAY IS OPEN TO ALL!

-To be entered, TELL US WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT ROCK STAR ROMANCES, ALONG WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDY. (NO EMAIL ADDY=NO ENTRY)
-Winner chosen using random.org
-GIVEAWAY ENDS AT 11:59 PM CST ON 3/3.

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Early Book Review for Riot by Tillie Cole


Stolen by the Arziani Georgian crime mob as a child, 152 was raised and conditioned to be a Mona—the most subservient of the Arziani Blood Pit slaves.
Gorgeous and kind, she has been and under the imprisoning influence of the Type B drug and under the command of the Blood Pit Master’s sister, Mistress Arziani, for most of her life, until the Master calls her back home to Georgia.
He wants her under his total control, and Master always gets what he wants.
But when 152 is gifted to the Blood Pit’s fearsome champion death match fighter as a prize, 152 suddenly finds out that the men who appear most brutal, may just own the kindest hearts. And love may be found, even when living in hell.
Freedom, family, love, 152 will have to fight for what she wants and ultimately make an impossible choice.

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

From the moment the Scarred Souls series started Ms. Cole invited readers on a dark and desperate journey, with a few bright spots along the way, that has culminated in an uplifting and powerful conclusion with this fourth installment.  Throughout these four books readers have witnessed cruelty and depravities from a world that time forgot, a world that was hidden but ready to erupt with feelings of rage always present, in stories that stayed with me long after I finished them.  With this installment readers get greater insight into the Blood Pits and the fighters residing there, along with other castes whose lives are just as dire.  From the monebi who are used for sex, to the chiri who are slaves, it's a tale of forgotten people used as entertainment for the entitled.  It's a tale too that ultimately pulls at your heartstrings while leaving you on edge from the first page to the last.

Fighter 901 is Champion of the Blood Pits, taken from an orphanage as a child and stripped of his identity and made into a killer through drugs, torture, and an instinct to survive.  Seeing his fellow fighters brought down by love has led to a lonely existence as he's turned down every monebi sent to him and kept himself from bonding with other fighters.  He doesn't want to give Master a weapon to use against him, but the moment 152 is sent to him his life changes irrevocably.  She's sent by Master as a Trojan horse to make the increasingly arrogant 901 vulnerable, but the more time they spend together the more determined he becomes to make a life for themselves outside of the Pits.  Along with discovering that his name's Ilya, he also soon discovers a plot that will bring Master to his knees, in an exhilarating conclusion that has his heart driving him towards the light.  Ilya's a hard man when we first see him, cold and determined to keep to himself.  He's unrivaled when it comes to fighting which has him pushing his boundaries a bit too far when it comes to Master, who sees Ilya as his Pit Bull, making no moves unless he deems it.  Wanting to bring him to heel though has Master sending his favorite monebi to crack the hardened warrior but the exact opposite happens as their growing love for each other drives him to finally stand up to Master.  Seeing Ilya's evolution, as love reawakened his heart and soul, was both heartwarming and painful as love in their world was in constant peril.  Being able to define feelings of love and happiness ultimately empowered him and had him fighting Master's vile manipulations in scenes that had me cheering right along with my heart racing.  With each new joy he found, from a simple kiss to a smile, it endeared him to me and had me aching for the lost little boy he once was along with the hardened man he's become.

152's life has been one of loss and numerous heartbreak from the moment she and her brother were taken as children.  She was used to keep him under the control of Master's sister until the day they were torn apart and she was chosen to be the High Mona of Master, bound to his bed by drugs and force.  She's left with nothing but fragments of that time, dreams of a boy sworn to save her.  Being Master's favorite means being at the whim of his constantly changing emotions.  He's truly psychotic, obsessed with her, unleashing his rage on her for how he feels.  His hatred of 901 is even greater though which is why he's willing to send 152 to his Pit Bull.  Her early interactions with 901 leave her fearful of his anger and coldness, but subsequent encounters have them bonding over their ability to talk in Russian and heartfelt talks that have them finding support in one another.  As she starts to care for him she becomes stronger, taking more risks to show him how she feels.  Discovering that she's named Inessa, along with the appearance of a heavily scarred man, open the floodgates of her heart and soul to give her the strength to finally stand up for herself.  It's an act that had me cheering but also fearing what the fallout would be as Master realized what she'd done.  Inessa's an unlikely heroine early on as she was completely beaten down, letting things happen around her without taking much notice.  Being around her chiri, Maya, opens her eyes to what others in their world experience.  It becomes the impetus to finding strength and solidarity with others.  As she comes to care for Maya she also starts falling for Ilya.  Her choosing him, finding a moment of joy in his arms, has her dreaming of more and holding out hope for HEA just as Master's anger is set to take her life from her.

With each installment in this series I became more and more immersed in this world and the men and women fighting to survive in it.  Though you can read this book on its own you'll definitely want to read them all as each story leads readers ever closer to the ultimate HEA.  The narrative of this story is made richer by knowing what came before, gives the story a more emotional impact seeing everything Inessa's brother went through before to rescue her now in her most desperate moment.  Ms. Cole's depictions of the Pits and the role of the monebi and chiri are vivid and pull at your heart while making you cringe with how bloodthirsty people can be to those they see as lesser.  The fight scenes had my pulse racing feeling each blow as it were my own, desperately rooting for 901 and his fellow warriors.  Master was a twisted villain whose moods were erratic, leaving readers on edge trying to anticipate how he'd lash out next while rooting for him to get the ending he so richly deserved.  The beginning of this story had a very solitary feel to it courtesy of Ilya's emotional wall, a feeling of oppression and desperation as Master reigned supreme.  By the end though there was a feeling of brotherhood, an empowerment, and a feeling of solidarity to find freedom which left me full of hope.  Everything that came before, every loss and every tear shed in pain, led to this story.  Though I'm sad to see it all come to an end, Ms. Cole couldn't have wrapped it up any better as all the previous darkness culminated here with a bright shiny bow.


My rating for this is an A.

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

Friday, February 24, 2017

Audiobook Spotlight on Sweet Spot by Lucy Felthouse


Readers have embraced the proliferation of m/m-themed romances, so it's time to give equal attention to the ladies today with this lesbian novella set in the sports world and featuring the voice talents of Xanthia Bloom.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of the f/f-fueled Sweet Spot by Lucy Felthouse, then get ready to hear it in all its enticing and exhilarating glory when you add this audiobook to your library!


Virginia Miller is an up-and-coming tennis star. She’s gone from a ratty tennis court in a park in south London, England, to the world’s top training facility—Los Carlos Tennis Academy in California. In awe of the talent around her, Virginia is all the more determined to make the most of the opportunity and show that she’s worthy of her place there. Her mentor, Nadia Gorlando, has every faith in her.
But Virginia finds herself distracted—Nadia, as well as being a top-notch tennis player, is seriously sexy, and Virginia’s mind keeps wandering where it shouldn’t. Will her crush get in the way of her career, or can she find a way to push the other woman out of her mind before it’s too late?

REVIEWS:

“Sweet Spot was a fun ride. This is a great choice for anyone in the mood for a well-developed tale whose secondary story lines are nearly as interesting as the main event." - Long and Short Reviews

“There are a lot of little subplots within this novella, which usually this spells disaster for a shorter length story. But Lucy Felthouse is an experienced author who knows how to tell a story, and tell it well… for anyone who enjoys a hot lesbian story featuring tennis and two likable characters, Sweet Spot is a fabulous read." - 4 out of 5, Night Owl Reviews

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON (US)  |  AMAZON (UK)  |  AUDIBLE (US)  |  AUDIBLE (UK)  |  iTUNES (US)  |  iTUNES (UK)

BUY THE eBOOK here.


AUTHOR INFO:

Lucy Felthouse is the award-winning author of erotic romance novels Stately Pleasures (named in the top 5 of Cliterati.co.uk’s 100 Modern Erotic Classics That You’ve Never Heard Of, and an Amazon bestseller), Eyes Wide Open (winner of the Love Romances Café’s Best Ménage Book 2015 award, and an Amazon bestseller) and The Persecution of the Wolves. Including novels, short stories and novellas, she has over 150 publications to her name. She owns Erotica For Alland is one eighth of The Brit BabesFind out more about her writing at http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk, or on Twitter or FacebookSign up for automatic updates on Amazon or BookBubYou can also subscribe to her monthly newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/gMQb9

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Book Tour for Becoming Dragon by Eve Langlais (GIVEAWAY)


Fans of the paranormal will be drawn to this romance of dragon shifters and its tale of one trying to find a home after being experimented on while wanting to hide from the truth.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Becoming Dragon by Eve Langlais, and its steamy tale of acceptance and empowerment for those seen as "others", then add it to your bookshelf.  You'll also get to know more about Ms. Langlais through a quick Q&A, then find out even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour.  In honor of this first installment in the Dragon Point series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $50 bookstore GC and 1 of 3 print copies of this book too!

LET'S CHAT WITH MS. LANGLAIS...

TSP:  Have you ever had an imaginary friend?
EL:  I had hundreds as a kid. And no I’m not crazy. I was, and when I have the time, still am a huge book worm. I made friends with so many characters in my youth; Anne of Green Gables, Nancy Drew, the Bobsey Twins. I used to imagine being a part of their groups and going on adventures.
TSP:  Do you have any phobias?
EL:  Bugs, especially spiders. You want to see a grown woman scream then show me an eight legged hairy arachnid. Shudder.
TSP:  Do you listen to music while writing? If so what?
EL:  Nope. I like absolute silence when I write. I get into a mental zone where I listen to the characters talk and just transcribe what they’re saying and doing.
TSP:  Do you ever read your stories out loud?
EL:  Sometimes when I’m editing, I will read it aloud as I go along to ensure it flows, especially dialogue. But I only do that if no one is home lol.
TSP:  Tell us about your main character and who inspired him/her.
EL:  Brandon is a guy who thinks he’s destined to be alone. Experiments have left him looking less than human and he thinks no one could ever love the monster. And then he meets Aimi and she tilts his world upside down.

Can he embrace the beast within?
I’m a monster. That’s what Brandon thinks when he flees the medical institute that changed him. Living a normal life isn’t in the cards for him because, while he can hide his scaly skin, his wings are hard to miss. So he runs and lives in the shadows where monsters belong. What he didn’t expect to find were others just like him, and they call themselves dragons. Or so Aimi with the violet eyes tells him when she pins him to the ground.
Seriously, though, dragons?
He doesn’t want to believe, but the evidence is mounting. Not helping his resolve is the fact that the woman with the silver hair doesn’t fear the monster and wants to claim him.
However, before he can think of his own happiness, he has to rescue his little sister. Uncle Theo kidnapped her, and Brandon will do anything to get her back, even if he must embrace the monster within to become the dragon.

EXCERPT:

“Are you looking for compliments?” Her lips curved. “I claimed you because you intrigue me. It is hard enough to find an unmated male, but to find one who is handsome and strong and not a mama’s boy…” She reached out a hand to trace his lower lip. “That was not a prize I could ignore."
“I won’t be owned.” His uncle and Andrew and Bittech had thought to own him once upon a time. He wouldn’t let that happen again.
“But I take ever such good care of my things. Wait until you see my hoard.”

FIND MULTIPLE BUY LINKS here.

AUTHOR INFO:

A New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author...
Hello, my name is Eve. I’m a stay at home mom who writes full time in between juggling my three kids, hubby, and housework, I write hot romance with a bit of a twist. I like strong alpha males, naked chests and shifters. Lots of different breeds of shifters. I am also extremely partial to aliens, you know the kind who abduct their woman and then drive them insane…with pleasure of course.I love to write, and while I don’t always know what my mind is going to come up with next, I can promise it will be fun, probably humorous and most of all romantic, because I love a happily ever after.

FACEBOOK  |  WEBSITE  |  TWITTER

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Book Tour for Going Down Hard by Carly Phillips (REVIEW)

Ms. Phillips has created a ton of sexy bad boys throughout her writing career and with this latest release readers are introduced to another sexy billionaire who came from poor beginnings who's drawn to the rich girl whose family his parents once worked for.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Going Down Hard by Carly Phillips, and its romance of opposites attracting with grudges over the past getting in the way, along with getting my impressions of this book too.  Once you get a glimpse of this third installment in the Billionaire Bad Boys series make sure to add it to your bookshelf!

A stand-alone Billionaire Bad Boys novel.
Billionaire Bad Boys: Rich, Powerful and sexy as hell.
Derek West rose from poverty to take the tech world by storm. He's sexy, confident and gets any woman he wants. And who he wants is Cassie Storm, the rich girl he’s never been good enough for.
She’s desperate to save her family company and there’s only one man who can help. But Derek isn’t interested in helping. He wants to possess both the company and the woman he’s never been able to forget.
His plan? To screw her out of his head. Except once he’s had a taste of Cassie, he doesn’t want to let her go. Her family remembers where he came from, and they won’t allow it. When the truth about their pasts comes to light, though, it may be Cassie who’s going down hard.

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

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

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

She was the rich girl and he was the boy whose family kept their home clean and their gardens beautiful, they saw each other every day but never talked until one fateful night.  They found a connection that night, but in the harsh light of day hurtful words, familial and peer pressure, and socioeconomic differences tore them apart before they even had a chance to start.  Years later, he's become a man of wealth and wanted by many while she's struggling to find acceptance from her father and take control of the family company that's in jeopardy.  Derek West is the key to getting what she wants, but she also wants him as the spark that ignited that one long ago night has become a fire burning in her heart and soul as she looks for forgiveness and hopefully more in this steamy story of opposites attracting.

Cassie Storm was always the good child, doing exactly what was expected of her.  The moment she agreed to share a bottle of beer with Derek though, her life was forever altered.  How she saw herself and all the superficiality around her had her swearing to be her own person, too bad that change didn't happen before she hurt the young man next door.  Guilt has been her companion ever since and once she meets him again she sets out to make amends.  He's become even sexier over the years which leads to tons of sexual tension balanced with her trying to get him to move on from the past.  Just when things start looking up between her and Derek her nefarious brother and his lies force the past back into the present and put their HEA in doubt.  Cassie's always been made to feel inferior to her brother simply because of her being a girl.  Her father's always put him first and it had me aching for her as she's devoted to the company and the grandfather who started it.  She doesn't judge others like her father and brother and is now brave enough, and strong enough, to call them out on it which had me cheering.  Her and Derek are combustible from the moment they meet as teens and that connection is just as strong as adults. She was able to seamlessly find a place in Derek's life, never making him feel that she wanted anything more than his affection and acceptance.

Derek's always been a hard working man, close to his family, but wanted something more.  Fate might have taken his father but it smiled on him when it came to the tech world which made him a billionaire.  Feelings of rage over the Storm family's actions long ago fueled him and tainted how he saw Cassie throughout the years, but meeting her in person changes everything.  He's drawn to her on every level, and as he struggles to put the pain of his past behind him, he can't help growing closer to the woman she's become.  Though her brother's machinations reminds him of what he's lost it also shows him what he's found as he and Cassie weather the storm that Spencer unleashed. Through it all I found Derek a sweet and loyal son who's always there for his mother taking her advice when it's needed most, along with helping Cassie when her family leaves her adrift.  He's a sexy beast full of confidence too which he doesn't hesitate to unleash on Cassie the moment they reunite.  From there he charms in one erotically-charged encounter after another in a romance with very little angst.

As this is the third installment in the Billionaire Bad Boys series readers get glimpses of the previous couples to see how they're fairing.  It's a brotherly connection between Derek and his business partners that has them protective of each other, especially where Cassie's concerned early on, as well as mocking and playful interactions.  Derek and Cassie picked up right where their one clandestine encounter left off with things quickly progressing between them to keep me turning the pages furiously to see them work towards HEA one steamy encounter at a time.  Derek and Cassie were a compelling couple working to put the past behind them and make a relationship based on who they've become. The issue of what led to his parents losing their jobs did play a large part in the story though, and though the resolution came as no surprise to me, it nicely tied up many strings and put a bow on these two strong-willed people's HEA. Alongside this engaging main couple came a slew of secondary ones that showed them as an extension of family and helped set up the next installment in this series.  It's a story that I'm greatly anticipating as the emotionally damaged Kendall longs for her own HEA with the shadow of the man who used her hanging over her.  On a whole this was a satisfying read with appealing characters that's a nice set-up for the future while presenting a romance about overcoming preconceived notions to give readers an uplifting conclusion.

My rating for this is a B+

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

THE PREVIOUS INSTALLMENTS IN THE BILLIONAIRE BAD BOYS SERIES....

GOING DOWN EASY (Book 1)
Billionaire Bad Boys: Rich, Powerful and sexy as hell.
Billionaire Kaden Barnes has a reputation for being difficult and always getting his way.
Enigmatic and exacting, he's unable to keep an assistant for long. Enter his newest hire, Lexie Parker. She's no-nonsense, efficient and all business… She's also hot as sin and soon starring in Kaden's dirtiest fantasies.
As their passion for each other reaches a boiling point, neither can control the explosive outcome when they finally give in to their desires. He may think he's calling the shots, but for this bad boy, going down easy has never felt so good.

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

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

GOING DOWN FAST (Book 2)
A stand-alone Billionaire Bad Boys novel.
Billionaire Bad Boys: Rich, Powerful and sexy as hell.
Lucas Monroe dropped out of college only to become a multi-billionaire and tech world God. He can have any woman he desires in his bed, but the only woman he's ever wanted is off limits and always has been. When Maxie Sullivan finds herself in dire straits, the only man she can turn to is the one she's always secretly loved: her childhood best friend.  Can they trust their hearts and make a future, or will their complicated pasts stand in the way.
This bad boy is going down fast...
And going down fast has never felt so right.

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

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


AUTHOR INFO:

After a successful fifteen-year career with various New York publishing houses, and over 40 sexy contemporary romance novels published, N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carly Phillips is now an Indie author who writes to her own expectations and that of her readers. She continues the tradition of hot men and strong women and plans to publish many more sizzling stories. Carly lives in Purchase, NY with her family, two nearly adult daughters and two crazy dogs who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. She's a writer, a knitter of sorts, a wife, and a mom. In addition, she's a Twitter and Internet junkie and is always around to interact with her readers.