Book Tour for Freak Show by Lani Lynn Vale (REVIEW)…..

 Ms. Vale continues to fly through the air with the greatest of ease in this second installment in the Welcome to the Circus series as a star pro footballer (and single father) finds himself drawn to a woman who's the star of the show...but clearly struggling under the weight of performing.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of 

Freak Show by Lani Lynn Vale, along with getting my impressions of this emotional and charmingly endearing romance, then add it to your bookshelf too!

Slone Day, defensive end for the Longview professional football team, has a lot on his plate.

He’s at the peak of his career, he’s a single father raising a girl that’s border line genius and can’t seem to find the time to date. Let alone see someone seriously.
He’s perfectly content living his life as it is.
Then he goes to a circus.
There, he meets a woman that literally takes his breath away.
And in one bold, crazy, this is probably going to backfire move, he not only asks the woman out. But he invites her to spend the next two weeks with him while she’s recovering from an incident.
***
There she is, a practical invalid who can’t go anywhere without being babysat, experiencing a crisis in the middle of a public setting, when she spots him.
The moment that Caristonia Singh meets Slone, she realizes her life is about to change.
Meeting men when you work in a circus is practically impossible. That’s why she’s the inexperienced girl that doesn’t know how to act around a hot guy.
A really big, really sexy, holy crap he could toss me over his head and make it look easy, guy.
From the moment he comes to her defense—family can be dicks sometimes—she starts falling.
But nothing good ever lasts when it comes to the circus life.
People come and go. No one ever stays.
But Slone is dead set on proving her wrong, but she’s learned firsthand that nothing good ever lasts.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  iBOOKS  |  BN  |  KOBO

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

The Welcome to the Circus continues to shine courtesy of its unique setting, a larger than life feeling when it comes to the storyline, and its delightful and immensely appealing main couple and its surrounding secondary characters.  The Singh Family Circus offers a bit of something for everyone to see, but behind the scenes things don't run nearly as smoothly with personal issues and danger from an unknown person rocking the foundation the family has tried to build.

Caristonia "Ari" Singh is the Queen of the Big Cats, showing them off to the world while keeping them under control.  Her home life is far from controlled however thanks to her less than loving family.  In the first book in this series her family seemed caring and supportive for the most part, with the occasional family squabble.  In this book however, her family was far less likable.  They seemed almost cruel at times in their antics with her, particularly the behavior of her twin.  With each hurtful moment one after another adding up, and with health issues becoming increasingly dangerous for her career and everyday life, she's desperate to get a break from her family and the circus...Enter single dad footballer, Slone Day who offers her sanctuary!  Ari's an amazing woman, one who gets put through a lot with each turn of the page.  She's a loving, caring, quirky woman who tends to be a bit quieter than her twin.  Her family's mocking and joking antics sometimes turn cruel which left her with no support.  These moments broke my heart and seeing Slone come on the scene to defend her had me cheering and instantly falling in love with him.

Slone Day first made an appearance in a previous book where his story of being a single dad began.  That story expands here with him and those around him driving this story in this engaging and fast-paced romance.  Slone's a wonderful hero with an equally delightful daughter, a super smart little girl who contributes many funny comments to the story.  Slone accepts Ari quirks and all, accepts her unconditionally from the moment their eyes meet.  He gives her the support and the protection her family should be giving her.  He's a hero in every sense of the word, both as a father to his genius daughter and as a lover to Ari.

This was a fast-paced read with a romance that built over Ari's two weeks away from the circus.  It was a combustible connection between Ari and Slone, balanced out by them actually getting to know each other.  They shared their fears, their dreams, along with the reality of their lives and how their relationship might be affected.  I loved all the past characters who made appearances and seeing how their appearance tied all of Ms. Vale's backlist together.  While frantically turning the pages of this compelling romance my heart was beating crazily, waiting with bated breath for the identity of the stalker...while discovering another cliffhanger that left me screaming yet ready for more.  Ms. Vale has captivated me, keeps me thoroughly entertained with heart pounding romances and compelling characters in a cleverly crafted world that keeps calling to me.

My rating for this is an A.

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

Book Teaser for Steele by Pepper North……

 

A woman down on her luck finds protection from a strong-willed man who quickly becomes determined to keep her safe forever in this steamy series starter.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Steele by Pepper North, then start counting down the days until this first installment in the Shadowridge Guardians MC series hits shelves on June 13th!

“Little girl, I’m only going to ask one more time…”

Things have not been going Ivy Jenkins' way recently–well, until Steele Mattson rescues her. Being thrown away like garbage does a job on a woman’s self-confidence and bravery. Add in scrambled memories from a head injury and Ivy knows she qualifies as a hot mess, even if she is the assistant bank manager.

Steele’s father established the Shadowridge Guardians MC. He’s as dedicated to protecting the good citizens of his city as he is to creating the perfect weld on an old-school chopper, and he doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty to take care of problems. When he finds the petite woman in a very bad situation, he dives in to help. What he doesn’t expect is to discover the rescued treasure is his.

He’ll stop at nothing to hunt down those who endangered her and make them pay.

Combining the sizzling talents of bestselling authors Pepper North, Kate Oliver, and Becca Jameson, the Shadowridge Guardians are guaranteed to give you a thrill and leave you dreaming of your own throbbing motorcycle joyride.

Are you daring enough to ride with a club of rough, growly, commanding men? The protective Daddies of the Shadowridge Guardians Motorcycle Club will stop at nothing to ensure the safety and protection of everything that belongs to them: their Littles, their club, and their town. Throw in some sassy, naughty, mischievous women who won't hesitate to serve their fair share of attitude even in the face of looming danger, and this brand new MC Romance series is ready to ignite!

PRE-ORDER here.

AUTHOR INFO:

Ever just gone for it? That's what USA Today Bestselling Author Pepper North did in 2017 when she posted a book for sale on Amazon without telling anyone. Thanks to her amazing fans, the support of the writing community, Mr. North, and a killer schedule, she has now written more than 70 books!

Enjoy contemporary, paranormal, dark, and erotic romances that are both sweet and steamy? Pepper will convert you into one of her loyal readers. What's coming in the future? A Daddypalooza!

Stay up on the latest news and get insider updates and previews of Pepper's stories HERE.

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE  |  BOOKBUB AUTHOR PAGE  |  FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE  |  GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE  |  INSTAGRAM  |  PINTEREST  |  TIK TOK  |  TWITTER  |  WEBSITE  |  YOUTUBE

Book Teaser Blitz for Steele by Pepper North….

A woman down on her luck finds protection from a strong-willed man who quickly becomes determined to keep her safe forever in this steamy series starter.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Steele by Pepper North, then start counting down the days until this first installment in the Shadowridge Guardians MC series hits shelves on June 13th!

“Little girl, I’m only going to ask one more time…”

Things have not been going Ivy Jenkins' way recently–well, until Steele Mattson rescues her. Being thrown away like garbage does a job on a woman’s self-confidence and bravery. Add in scrambled memories from a head injury and Ivy knows she qualifies as a hot mess, even if she is the assistant bank manager.

Steele’s father established the Shadowridge Guardians MC. He’s as dedicated to protecting the good citizens of his city as he is to creating the perfect weld on an old-school chopper, and he doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty to take care of problems. When he finds the petite woman in a very bad situation, he dives in to help. What he doesn’t expect is to discover the rescued treasure is his.

He’ll stop at nothing to hunt down those who endangered her and make them pay.

Combining the sizzling talents of bestselling authors Pepper North, Kate Oliver, and Becca Jameson, the Shadowridge Guardians are guaranteed to give you a thrill and leave you dreaming of your own throbbing motorcycle joyride.

Are you daring enough to ride with a club of rough, growly, commanding men? The protective Daddies of the Shadowridge Guardians Motorcycle Club will stop at nothing to ensure the safety and protection of everything that belongs to them: their Littles, their club, and their town. Throw in some sassy, naughty, mischievous women who won't hesitate to serve their fair share of attitude even in the face of looming danger, and this brand new MC Romance series is ready to ignite!

PRE-ORDER here.

AUTHOR INFO:

Ever just gone for it? That's what USA Today Bestselling Author Pepper North did in 2017 when she posted a book for sale on Amazon without telling anyone. Thanks to her amazing fans, the support of the writing community, Mr. North, and a killer schedule, she has now written more than 70 books!

Enjoy contemporary, paranormal, dark, and erotic romances that are both sweet and steamy? Pepper will convert you into one of her loyal readers. What's coming in the future? A Daddypalooza!

Stay up on the latest news and get insider updates and previews of Pepper's stories HERE.

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE  |  BOOKBUB AUTHOR PAGE  |  FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE  |  GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE  |  INSTAGRAM  |  PINTEREST  |  TIK TOK  |  TWITTER  |  WEBSITE  |  YOUTUBE

Book Release Blitz for Dangler by Colleen Charles……

A hockey player planning for his future after leaving the sport gets injured in a devastating accident that changes everything...including his plan to stay away from love.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Dangler by Colleen Charles, then add this emotionally intense fifth installment in the Vegas Venom series to your bookshelf!

My future is planned, and it doesn't include a relationship.

The last one destroyed me. I was in love...but she was in love with my money. So, I'm done with that.
Instead, I'm throwing my energy into mentoring the younger players on the team and planning for the end of my NHL career. Since I only speak in three word sentences, my next move is going to shock everyone.
Once I hang my skates up, I want to be a full-time country singer/songwriter. No one knows that I write music and perform, but I'm cocky enough to know it’ll happen. I’ve got the talent. I’ve got the drive. Nothing is going to stand in my way.
Until a freak accident on the ice causes enough damage that I lose my voice. I don't know if I'll be able to talk....let alone sing, again.
It's in physical therapy where I meet her. Kingsley. She's the best therapist around and if anyone can get me singing again, it's her. But the more time I spend with her, the more I have to remind myself of my no-relationships rule.
And when I enter a songwriting contest, it turns out, Kingsley has entered too.
Now crushes don’t matter. She's my competition.
And I have a new rule: Don’t get close to Kingsley and my heart won’t get broken.

BUY here.

AUTHOR INFO:

Colleen Charles is the USA Today Bestselling author of Perfectly Imperfect Romance for perfectly imperfect readers.

Take a chance and join her...you won't be sorry you did.

Colleen loves to hear from her readers, and she answers all communications personally.

FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER  |  EMAIL  |  WEBSITE (Get a FREE full-length exclusive novel as a new subscriber)

Book Teaser for Dangler by Colleen Charles……

 A hockey player planning for his future after leaving the sport gets injured in a devastating accident that changes everything...including his plan to stay away from love.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of Dangler by Colleen Charles, then start counting down the days until this fifth installment in the Vegas Venom series hits shelves on May 26th!

My future is planned, and it doesn't include a relationship.

The last one destroyed me. I was in love...but she was in love with my money. So, I'm done with that.
Instead, I'm throwing my energy into mentoring the younger players on the team and planning for the end of my NHL career. Since I only speak in three word sentences, my next move is going to shock everyone.
Once I hang my skates up, I want to be a full-time country singer/songwriter. No one knows that I write music and perform, but I'm cocky enough to know it’ll happen. I’ve got the talent. I’ve got the drive. Nothing is going to stand in my way.
Until a freak accident on the ice causes enough damage that I lose my voice. I don't know if I'll be able to talk....let alone sing, again.
It's in physical therapy where I meet her. Kingsley. She's the best therapist around and if anyone can get me singing again, it's her. But the more time I spend with her, the more I have to remind myself of my no-relationships rule.
And when I enter a songwriting contest, it turns out, Kingsley has entered too.
Now crushes don’t matter. She's my competition.
And I have a new rule: Don’t get close to Kingsley and my heart won’t get broken.

PRE-ORDER here.

Book Cover Reveal for Dangler by Colleen Charles……

 A hockey player planning for his future after leaving the sport gets injured in a devastating accident that changes everything...including his plan to stay away from love.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of Dangler by Colleen Charles, then start counting down the days until this fifth installment in the Vegas Venom series hits shelves on May 26th!

My future is planned, and it doesn't include a relationship.
The last one destroyed me. I was in love...but she was in love with my money. So, I'm done with that.
Instead, I'm throwing my energy into mentoring the younger players on the team and planning for the end of my NHL career. Since I only speak in three word sentences, my next move is going to shock everyone.
Once I hang my skates up, I want to be a full-time country singer/songwriter. No one knows that I write music and perform, but I'm cocky enough to know it’ll happen. I’ve got the talent. I’ve got the drive. Nothing is going to stand in my way.
Until a freak accident on the ice causes enough damage that I lose my voice. I don't know if I'll be able to talk....let alone sing, again.
It's in physical therapy where I meet her. Kingsley. She's the best therapist around and if anyone can get me singing again, it's her. But the more time I spend with her, the more I have to remind myself of my no-relationships rule.
And when I enter a songwriting contest, it turns out, Kingsley has entered too.
Now crushes don’t matter. She's my competition.
And I have a new rule: Don’t get close to Kingsley and my heart won’t get broken.

PRE-ORDER here.

Book Release Blast for The Voices Are Back by Lani Lynn Vale (REVIEW)….

 The time never seemed right for this compelling couple, a single father ex-con and a woman with health issues and an uncaring family, who finally get their chance of happiness if they can manage to push through all the roadblocks thrown their way.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of The Voices Are Back by Lani Lynn Vale, along with my impressions of this fifth installment in the Gator Bait series, then add it to your bookshelf too!

Her: Just a word, yet one person came to mind. Morrigan St. Pete.

The woman that’d been hounding my every step since the day she was born.

From the moment we first comforted each other in the hospital, to the day that I left her to follow her dreams, I knew that she was my one.
Through marriage, divorce, and a prison sentence, I had low expectations when it came to her ever coming around to my way of life. What kind of woman wanted a man that’d been to prison, had a child that disliked him and everything he stood for, and had zero prospects in life?
But then she popped into my life again, and that feeling of suffocation slacked off for the first time since I let her go.
***
The first time I tried to come back to Aodhan, I found him married with a kid on the way.

The second time I tried, he was heading to jail.
As one would say, the third time is the charm, right? Wrong.
The third time, he was divorced, fresh from prison, had a kid, and was again with his ex-wife.

That was the final nail in my coffin. I decided to give up.
I would do anything and everything I could to avoid him. Hiding wasn’t beneath me.
I only wish he’d stuck with my plan, because the moment he sees me again, it’s like he’s seen the light. Avoiding him is impossible when he goes out of his way to insinuate himself into every aspect of my life.
If only life was as perfect as my dreams.

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  iBOOKS  |  BN  |  KOBO

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Ms. Vale continues to entertain with this latest installment in the Gator Bait series, a story of second (and third) chances for HEA between two unique characters clearly meant to be together.  Though this is a story set in the MC world, the focus is less on the suspense and Club workings, and more on the love and emotional connection between two longtime friends who danced around being more throughout the years.  With each turn of the page I became more and more invested in the main couple, occasionally pulled out of the sensual haze surrounding them by the rough around the edges narrative, but despite that I still found myself falling for them hook, line, and sinker.

Aodhan McBanks has been a part of Morrigan's life since the day they were born, with her through the issues with her family and her poor health, loved her and labeled her "the one" in his heart and mind...but the time to claim her never seemed right.  She ends up being the "one who got away" until the day she passes out...right into his arms.  From that moment on the usually quiet man makes his feelings known through possessive words and deeds that put a smile on my face.  An alpha side emerges that shows him to be drool-worthy and sexy in his journey to show Morrigan that he's truly worthy of her.  Him calling her "Little Mama" still warms my heart and tickles my uterus.

Morrigan St. Pete is another of Ms. Vale's perfectly imperfect heroines...a plus-sized woman with heart issues and a disability that makes her pass out whenever her heart rate rises dramatically (POTS) which leaves her vulnerable and puts her in danger when the episodes occur.  Her mother tried to kill her before she was even born, while her father doesn't trust doctors and thinks Morrigan is faking her issues, which has left her lonely and feeling like she has to do everything on her own.  I was drawn to Morrigan from the very start, drawn to her perseverance and strong will to get up every time she's knocked down.  Needless to say, her blood family is one that pulls her down which is why she goes out to make one of her own choosing in a journey that warmed my heart.

The romance between Aodhan and Morrigan was a long time coming!  The connection between them was steamy from the start, full of unrequited love bursting at the seams, while adding in sweetness and sentimentality.  Morrigan's disability wasn't one I'd heard of before but it showed the toughness of this heroine in seeing her dealing with it and as a person with a disability myself I felt especially connected to her. Throughout the story Aodhan was a strong support who never saw Morrigan as less than as they dealt with POTS together.  On a whole, Ms. Vale's inclusion of POTS in the storyline was seamless and gave readers another of her characters to root for.  Along with such a perfectly imperfect main couple was an equally intriguing cast of secondary characters, some who became part of Morrigan's found family for all the love and support they showed her. Among those characters, and one who stands out the most, is Folsom...a caring friend to Morrigan who bursts onto the scene and shows herself to be larger than life.  She's bold and brash and I hope to see more of her in the future!  Aodhan’s son, Bowie, was a highlight too for his unexpected behavior.  As we get closer to the end of this series I realize how much I'm going to miss these unique characters...but until the end comes I'm going to gobble up each new release with a smile on my face.

My rating for this is an A-

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

Book Release Blast for Bad Dogs by Riley Nash (REVIEW)…..

 From the first page to the last readers will find this an intense story of two struggling souls finding love and acceptance in each other's arms in this dark read that weaves an epic web of empowerment.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Bad Dogs by Riley Nash, along with my impressions of it, then add this first installment in the Dirty Strays series to your bookshelf too!

I see you, Roman. You want to fight me, and then you want to be so good for me.

Kink is a rich man’s game—high-end clubs, dungeons full of toys. I’m a dirt-poor trailer park boy who makes all his own gear. But I have a plan. If I can film viral BDSM videos, I can rake in enough cash to get my friends and I out of here before we become another gang violence statistic.
First, I need a sub, someone beautiful and obedient. Anyone but the new boy that just moved into town.
He’s huge and feral and angry, he never speaks, and he’s living in the same house as a cop. He couldn’t be a worse choice. But when I look into his eyes, the flash of submission I see there has me obsessed.
I want him. And I, Scout Moreno, always get what I want.
A gritty, emotional story featuring BDSM, a smaller dom/bigger sub, praise kink, a secret relationship, and found family.

BUY here.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Wow!  I'm left emotionally drained after reading this unforgettable story, left feeling bruised but hopeful by the connection formed between Roman and Scout.  It's a dark read, an unvarnished look at harsh truths between two people who've experienced the worst that life has to offer, and managed to emerge from the wreckage to find their HEA.

Roman's a larger than life character from the moment he comes on the scene, but he's also a broken man beaten down by his police officer brother in scenes that repeatedly broke my heart.  Adding to Roman's struggles is the fact that he's mute, a condition made worse in stressful situations or around certain people...which his brother also uses to his advantage.  Whereas Roman used to have his grandparents for support, and as a safe haven, their deaths have left him emotionally adrift and he now harms himself when his anger gets to be too much.  His grandparents raised him and their loss is vividly depicted, leaving a profound impact on him that brought tears to my eyes. Throughout this epic tale I was drawn to Roman, wanting to hug the (truly) gentle giant's pain away, while desperately wanting SOMEONE (anyone) to just LISTEN to him. Roman's mutism was a compelling foundation between him and Scout as their togetherness became a new safe haven for him, a place for acceptance as Scout (and his friends Becks and Dallas) learned sign language in order to communicate easier with him.  This new-found family put a smile on my face, showing that even in darkness there are moments of brightness courtesy of Scout and his friends.

Scout too got put through the wringer, coming from a childhood of poverty and surrounded by drug addicts, getting left on his own at a young age.  He didn't give up without a fight though, determined to make a better life for himself and those he calls family.  He's a protector at his core, determined to do whatever necessary to give comfort, and he becomes laser-focused on Roman the moment he sets eyes on him. Theirs was a relationship that was truly touching, one nicely balanced between sweet words/deeds along with the eroticism of a beginning dom/sub connection.  Scout gave Roman the chance to just BE, gave him an outlet to ease his mind and body, and it was from there that they moved into their more erotic connection.  Their encounters for the internet luckily weren't the focus which allowed lots of encounters to be depicted that were full of heart and soul, moments that warmed my heart and were like a warm blanket giving comfort to them both.

From the first page to the last, with each turn of the page, this became an epic and unforgettable read.  It was a tale that takes you from the lowest of lows to rewarding highs, bringing together two broken and bruised men in a healing balm of love and acceptance.  Scout and Roman are beautifully brought to the pages, a perfectly imperfect pairing that just feels right, and I hope to see more of them in future installments.  Those installments I hope will bring readers greater insight into Becks and Dallas as the end of this book sets things up very temptingly for these sweet and supportive secondary characters...along with giving me a new author for my auto-buy list!

My rating for this is an A.

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

AUTHOR INFO:

Riley Nash, based in the rainy PNW, writes M/M romances about boys who fall hard, face the darkness, and never give up on each other.

Fueled by cute dogs, those weird Coke with Coffee drinks, and projecting my personal issues onto handsome men and making them fall in love.

Book Release Blast for Aro by Marie James (REVIEW)…….

 A job gone wrong leaves a man bruised and broken inside and out, at the caring mercy of their team's female psychologist, in this emotionally intense romance set in the MC world.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Aro by Marie James, along with my impressions of it, then add this 24th installment in the Cerberus MC series to your bookshelf!

It takes a lot to shake me, and even when I’m upset, most people wouldn’t even know it.

There was just something about the last job that kept me from keeping my cool.
I know how dangerous it is, and knew even better when I had to be carried away that day, becoming literally less of the man that entered that compound.
I was ordered to rest, recover, and recuperate, all under the watchful eyes of the team’s psychologist.
She was there to get in my head, to watch for signs that I may be a danger to myself.
She became my outlet, the calm to the storm trying to take over in my head.
There would be no problem with what we were doing because the possibility of returning to work with the Cerberus MC was never going to happen, and if there was an off-chance I would, walking away would be easy, right?

BUY LINK here.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

As the 24th installment in the Cerberus MC series you'd think that Ms. James would be running out of steam.  That's far from the case though as this story is one heckuva rollercoaster ride of emotions as a wounded man's difficult recovery takes an unexpected turn towards romance as he and the team's female psychologist start connecting on a deeper level.  From the very first page to the last readers will be taken on an intense journey that will put them through the wringer right alongside the main characters.

This time around it's former US Marine Josh ‘Aro’ Aroco who takes center stage with Ms. James piling on the pain after he's severely injured in a mission gone horribly awry.  For a man who's always been seen as formidable, it's truly heartbreaking to see him at his lowest upon starting his recovery.  Aro's always been seen as competent and controlled, focused in his plans for the future...or at least he was, before a single moment changed his life irrevocably.  He's now a man bruised and broken, inside and out, that will result in a lengthy recovery that leaves him full of uncertainty, leaves him riddled with anger and depression, and a bit of fear over possibly losing the one place where he always wanted to belong.  His life's out of control as each day is a struggle and though he loves having his teammate (Dr. Brynn ‘Slick’ Sullivan) by his side during his recovery, he's unsettled by the feelings she engenders in him and that grow more conflicted with each turn of the page.  I hurt for Aro throughout his recovery, could relate to his feelings of powerlessness with me being disabled too, and I applaud Ms. James handling this issue in a careful and respectful manner.  With him feeling like he no longer has a place in his MC family, he comes to rely more and more on Brynn, valuing her strong and steady support in scenes that soon turn romantic.

Brynn's a likable heroine throughout this story, one who's strong-willed with an attraction to Aro that she's always kept hidden.  Her being with Aro during his journey of recovery though makes it impossible to keep those feelings hidden any longer, especially as Aro is fighting his feelings for her too.  Time alone for just the two of them turns into a sensual haven with all sorts of lines crossed.  Returning to the real world soon becomes a big test for their relationship though as he thinks himself unworthy of her now, pushing her away as he sees himself holding her back...but he wants her nonetheless.  With each turn of the page these two put each other through a lot of unnecessary pain, a lot of extra angst by not talking to one another.  Too many assumptions, too much fear, and not being able to move on from the past were this pair's worst enemies.  Throughout this book they frustrated me, there were times their actions gutted me, and times that their interactions made me blush.  Despite my occasional annoyances with the journey these two undertook, I still found myself invested in their pairing.  I was still rooting for them to find their HEA, cheering on Aro in a difficult journey of recovery that was emotional and epic.  It was a well-crafted addition to the series that showed the bonds of brotherhood stretching but not breaking.  By "The End" I'm left emotionally battered but definitely satisfied, counting down the days until the next installment in the Cerberus MC series hits bookshelves!

My rating for this is an A-

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

AUTHOR INFO:

Let's see...where to begin...

I'm inching up on the BIG 4-0. The gray hairs are doubling what seems like daily, and the wrinkles and laugh lines are more pronounced than ever.

I have an amazing husband (Married just over 15 years.)

We have two boys we're doing our best to raise as respectful gentlemen.

I have a master's degree in criminal justice which I used to work as a juvenile probation office until deciding to write full- time in June of 2019. So that means there's usually always some criminal/law element to my novels.

If I'm not writing; I'm reading.

My favorite genres recently are bully/reverse harem and enemies to lovers. Maybe I'm reliving my traumatic teen years through the girls who actually end up with the boys. (Not that I would change my history since it's gotten me exactly where I need to be!)

I love coffee. I miss carbs. Music is LIFE. I try not to be too serious.

FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE  |  TWITTER  |  BOOKBUB  |  INSTAGRAM  |  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE  |  GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE  |  NEWSLETTER  |  WEBSITE

Happy National Hug a Musician Celebration With Rock On & Rock Hard by MJ Roberts (REVIEW)…..

 Fans of rockstar romances have much to celebrate today!  So grab your favorite tale of rockstar love, get comfy on the couch wrapped in a blanket, and enjoy a few hours of re-reading happiness.  There's another reason to celebrate today as well...Happy National Hug a Musician Day! MJ Roberts is celebrating it with her rockstar romance, ROCK HARD and ROCK ON: Kenner Brothers Book 8.  So definitely check them out and grab a rockstar to hug today!  You can even grab these books for FREE on Amazon from 11/14-11/19 HERE.

ROCK HARD

Drummer Ryder Chord has been living half a life since he was sixteen and his twin sister was murdered. He throws himself into his music. When Lexi Evanovich joins the band, life becomes almost tolerable. Until one day when the rest of the band isn’t there and Ryder and Lexi have to share a hotel room: with only one bed.

Rule number one of band-dom: You never sleep with anyone in the band.

Rule number one of bro code: You never sleep with anyone’s sister. You definitely never sleep with your best friend’s little sister.

Rule number it’s so obvious it’s a count even a drummer can keep: You Never. Ever. Sleep with your best friend’s little sister when she’s in the band…and he is too.

EXCERPT:

Around 2:19 AM I finally fall asleep. At around 3:30 there’s a soft knock on my door. I’m fully awake in an instant. I jump up, run to the door and throw it open.
“Lexi, what’s wrong!” I put my hands on the side of her face. I search her expression, which seems, I don’t know, slightly scared. Which makes me worried.
“Lexi, what is it?” I ask.
But she doesn’t say anything. She just stares up at me. She’s wearing a short, silk burgundy- colored robe I’ve never seen before.
“Lexi, what is it?” I ask again. “What do you need?”
“You,” she says.
I blink. I stare down at her, and my brain refuses to understand. My tongue plasters to the roof of my mouth. Lexi reaches up and touches my biceps, and the spell that has me frozen is temporarily broken.
“Ryder? Ryder, say something.”
I blink again.
“Lexi. I’m not sure what you mean. I’m right here.”
Her voice is soft. So soft I have to bend down a little to hear her. I’ve been playing drums long enough that I have a bit of hearing loss.
“I haven’t been able to sleep since Detroit.”
I straighten up. “Sure you have,” I say like an idiot. “You don’t toss and turn.” I think of myself, the hours I spend staring at the ceiling of my own bunk.
“But I don’t really sleep, not well.” Lexi takes a step closer, and the smell of bursting orange blossoms wafts up.
“Ryder...” she says softly.
She opens the sash of her robe, and it reveals a mostly see-through, burgundy-tinted babydoll nightgown that barely reaches the top of her thighs.
I groan. “Lexi, we can’t.”
She closes that last inch between us and plants a tiny kiss on my chest. The barest of touches. And I snap.
I grab her, haul her up my body, and smash our lips together. All the pent-up need and want I’ve been so good at keeping caged in, tethered, is pulsing out into her. I fist her hair, tilt her head, and plunder her mouth.
God. She tastes so good. Incredible. God. Fuck.
“Lex...” I say as I break away.
“More,” she breathes.
“We shouldn’t,” I manage.
“Right,” she says, but then she kisses me again, and fuck, I don’t give a damn, because, yes, this is Lexi, and all I can think about is tasting her again, more, yes. How soft her tongue is and how out of control I am. I carry her to the bed and part of me tries to reel it in, take it slow, but I don’t want to. Not even a little.
I want to devour her. Every single inch.
Lexi. My Lexi.
Yes.
The blood is pounding in my ears. I can’t think, everything becomes a haze of pure lust, heat, a throbbing sound of need, the contrast between hard and soft, and the perfection of our rhythm together.
I manage to break for a second. “Lex, are you sure?”
“So sure.”

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FIND MY REVIEW ON GOODREADS here.

ROCK ON (Kenner Brothers Book 8)

Knife-Edge “Ears” Kenner is the well-known lead guitarist of Dirt Cherry. He sees the woman who makes his heart race and she doesn’t recognize him, doesn’t answer his pick-up lines, doesn’t even look at him. What do you do if you think you meet the woman of your dreams and she acts like she doesn’t hear you?

Lucy Shaanti lives her whole life in silence. Between work, school, volunteering, and overwhelming family obligations that threaten to crush her, she doesn’t need a rock star with an even rockier past.

Will Knife-Edge be able to convince Lucy to risk everything to give them a shot?

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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

As a fan of rockstar romances I've found much to enjoy about the previous books in this series...and the books found in the series of sequels.  The rockers are loud, vividly depicted, and oh so sexy in what they show the world.  When they find their other half though a sweet and romantic side emerges that makes them even easier to love.  The hero in this story will need all the help he can get as he attempts to woo a sheltered young deaf woman who's weighed down by cultural and familial pressures, fighting against prejudice to prove that hardened rockstars can be the perfect gentleman when the right woman comes along.

Knife-Edge had a rough childhood until he was adopted, along with the other members of Dirt Cherry, into the Kenner family when he was young.  Until then, his life was one stressor after another that left him pulling out his hair and that led to his trademark of wearing a bandana on his head.  To help him further he learned meditation techniques that he frequently employs as his bandmates sometimes become a bit too much.  He'll especially need those techniques as he traverses the rocky road to winning Lucy's heart. Knife-Edge was a truly kindhearted guy, someone who went out of his way to be a part of Lucy's life by immediately learning ASL (along with his bandmates), figuring out how to incorporate her deafness (cleverly and sweetly done actually) into his world of music, along with encouraging her to be more than what she's been defined as thus far.  Every step of the way he showed her respect, showed her her true worth to him, in a slow burn romance that was a bit too slow for me at times.

Lucy Shaanti was born deaf, the daughter of Indian parents who are also deaf, and yet another member of an extended family who's deaf.  She works in IT but doesn't seem to love her career.  She's also coming to the end of her college career while spending time losing herself in the world of online games.  All in all, life seemed a bit boring for Lucy...until she caught the attention of rockstar Knife-Edge and soon found herself on a sweet and endearing journey that had him wooing her non-stop.  Lucy was hesitant at first about his attention as there's a big secret she's keeping from him that makes their relationship more complex.  Her being deaf doesn't seem like too big of a challenge to him, but the cultural implications are much bigger as Lucy doesn't want to disappoint her parents or be shunned by her family for not going through with the plans they have for her.  Her parents also feel anger towards the hearing community and hold all those who hear accountable for those few who hurt and mocked them.  Though I liked Lucy, I wish she'd been a bit tougher.  For far too long she let her family rule her life, accepting their demands far too easily.  Through their actions her parents made her weaker in my eyes, made her dependent instead of independent in a world where she needs to stick up for herself and roll with the bumps and bruises of life.  Maybe my having a disability makes me more frustrated to see Lucy treated as a child than the average reader, but I was definitely happy that Maddie (the lone hearing member of the family whose backstory intrigues me and who I’d love to see more of too) and Knife-Edge were there to help Lucy start living life to the fullest instead of hiding from it as her parents planned.

The author dealt with the issue of disability head-on, usually in a respectful way but one scene involving a stranger on the street was cringe-worthy.  The author clearly did her research though and came up with some clever ways to combine the hearing/deaf world, romantic ways too.  Issues of culture were also dealt with in ways that were realistic and fueled the narrative in a meaningful way.  Knife-Edge was a truly wonderful hero (after a bumpy first meeting) and was always Lucy's biggest champion, showing respect by letting her set the pace, but bringing on the steam when it's time.  The other members of Dirt Cherry were their usual loud and funny selves, but were definitely there to support Knife-Edge as shown by their willingness to learn ASL.  There was a playfulness to their banter, sometimes crude but always showing that they cared when all was said and done.  Hair-Trigger was especially loud this time and as one of the last single men standing he was definitely in playa mode.  An interaction with an equally larger than life woman left an impression on me, as well as him, in a crackling connection I hope to see more of in the future.  This was another solid read in a series that's been enjoyable so far, so fans of rockstar romances have yet another book to add to their shelves.

My rating for this is a B-

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

AUTHOR INFO:

M. J. Roberts is a writer, editor, and teacher – with more than two million copies of her stories in circulation worldwide, Roberts is well loved for creating characters who feel as real as your most cherished friends. Roberts works to diligently create believable, lovable characters, witty dialogue, prose ripe with metaphor, exciting plot twists, action that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and romance scenes that sizzle.

Roberts is a multiple award-winning author including first place in the prestigious Summer Lovin’ Romance Literary Contest 2015 for the novel Risk Your Heart.

Roberts also writes under the pen name Natasha Action. Roberts is originally from New York but lives in the southern United States for the purpose of endless comic material.

She’s married to a professional musician (A.K.A. The Rock and Roll God) because she is too busy tormenting imaginary characters and counting her blessings to pursue her longtime dream of Rock n’ Roll stardom herself.

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