Book Tour for Sail Away With Me by Kate Deveaux (Review & GIVEAWAY)

I'm ending the year on a steamy note by bringing you the fun and flirty read, Sail Away With Me by Kate Deveaux.  Keep reading to get a taste of this book along with my impressions of it.  You can learn even more about this book by visiting the other blogs hosting this tour.  Make sure to fill out the form below for your chance to win a $50 Amazon GC and 1 of 5 e-copies of this book too!

Before Jody Carter and her three best friends ever set foot aboard the luxury cruise ship, Jody falls into the arms of uber hunky celebrity guest Taggart Keith, when he saves her shoe from falling to the depths of the sea. Their attraction is undeniable, but the recently divorced single mom knows the last thing she needs is to complicate her life in just seven short days. But that’s exactly what happens when Jody throws caution to the wind for once in her life and gives into a week of sensational pleasures.  Taggart helps her discover her more sensual side — one tantalizing night at a time.

EXCERPT:

“Hey there, Jody,” he called out.
“Oh, hi….Taggart,” she said with surprise, pretending she hadn’t seen him.
“We really have to stop meeting like this.” He smiled and walked towards her   down the narrow hall dotted with luggage.
She laughed nervously at the cliché that was proving all too true if she was to keep her sanity. “I guess so. Well, this is my room.” She fidgeted with her keycard as he came up beside her.
“Mine’s just down the hall.” Taggart pointed behind him, but he just stood there, his tall frame close to her. She looked up at him, overly aware of the scent of sandalwood, one of her favorites. Very masculine.
“Mmm...coincidence,” she said, the hallway becoming smaller by the minute when he flashed that boyish smile, with one corner of his mouth raised. Cocky, but undeniably sexy at the same time.
Unable to break the gaze, she tried to insert the keycard into the lock, not paying attention to what she was doing. The card grazed the slot and she forced her eyes away from his.
“I guess you didn’t find your friends after all?” he inquired, leaning casually against the wall, as she slid the keycard all the way in the lock.
Caught red handed at her own lie, she smiled down at her shoes. “No, I didn’t.”
“So you can have that drink with me after all,” he stated flatly, placing his hand over hers as she held the key in the lock.
Her heart pounded in her chest. She couldn’t move a muscle. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said.
He frowned but left his hand on hers. “Because?”
Because? Her mind raced. She couldn’t tell him it was because she was afraid. Afraid how her body trembled when he was near, how her cheeks burned and her sex thrummed.
“I’ll wait,” he said with a devilish grin eyeing the keycard still in the lock.
“I really don’t think it’s a good idea, is all.”
“You already said that,” he said straight faced, but she could see the playful look in his eyes. As he removed his hand, he continued to lean easily on the doorframe, his face close to hers as if he had all the time in the world to wait for her to be ready. He was close enough she could see the barely visible laugh lines when he smiled and the slight five o clock shadow on his chiseled jaw.
“Look Taggart,” she said, just saying his name made her heart beat faster. “I’m not ready for…” her heart beat rapidly thinking about just what she wasn’t ready for… to be intimate with a man.
“Ready for what?” he teased. A flush of desire rushed through her. He was playing with her, flirting with her.

BUY LINKS:  RED SAGE  |  AMAZON  |  BN

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

I was at first drawn to this book for the superficial reason of the heroine having the same name as me.  By reading it though I found an entertaining and super steamy read, realistic in its depictions of romance for a single mother trying to juggle many roles and the ups and downs of a supportive group of friends.  This story took us from the exotic locations visited during a cruise to the homey feeling of small town America and how that affects a woman's actions in the dance of love.

Jody is still recovering from a divorce and the belief that she's frigid.  Her friends take her on a cruise to relax, put the past behind her, and enjoy her newly-single status.  A flying shoe leads to a life altering encounter with the charmingly seductive writer Taggart that has her channeling her inner vixen in an unexpectedly spontaneous relationship that will end in a week.  Their week together is like a fantasy with its numerous scorching sexual encounters and non-stop romantic words that every woman longs to hear.  Jody's not normally the type to act so wantonly but knowing things will end soon have her diving into everything Taggart offers wholeheartedly.  She's shocked when they both admit to feeling more but with such different lifestyles she doesn't see a future for them.  Taggart's not like any man she's met before though and is surprised to find him on her doorstep trying to make a permanent place in her life until his possessive agent gets in the way.  Jody is an average woman trying to juggle the roles of mother, daughter, and bread earner which leaves little time to be a sexual creature.  Almost every sexual interlude therefore had a frantic feel to it as their relationship always seemed to be ticking away.  Jody's a loyal friend as well as was seen in the many secondary plot lines revolving around her girlfriend's trials and tribulations.  These scenes were realistic but felt a bit intrusive at times and took away from the romance between her and Taggart.  I admired Jody and her striving to be independent, she's a modern-day woman and I was rooting for her HEA every step of the way.

Taggart is the kind of man every woman wants to meet!  He's sexy, charming, rich, and says every romantic word a woman wants to hear.  He sweeps Jody off her feet in a whirlwind of sex, seduction, and empowering compliments.  He also doesn't take no for an answer and even though he and Jody live very different lives he wants a life with her and will do whatever necessary to claim her.  Taggart's great with her friends and easily ingratiates himself with them as well as her son.  On almost every level he's perfect, except when it comes to his relationship with his overly possessive agent Felicity.  Her antics are over-the-top in her dealings with Jody as jealousy has her accusing and threatening Jody, and ultimately Taggart, at every turn.  Taggart's excuses for her and tendency to forgive because of their complicated past left me a bit disillusioned and frustrated by him.  Even though these issues are ultimately dealt with in a quickly glossed over finale it left his image a bit tarnished in my eyes.

From start to finish Ms. Deveaux has created a story that nicely blends reality with a scorching hot fantasy-like romance.  With its likable heroine and her supportive group of friends there's a feeling of girl power permeating the story as they protect each other at every turn.  The hero is almost perfect and left me swooning numerous times throughout the story.  Though certain aspects of the story felt like a Lifetime movie in the melodramatic and over-the-top reactions, I still found much to enjoy between the pages.  Fans of hot romance and soap opera action will find this appealing too and have me looking forward to reading more from this author.

My rating for this is a B.

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

AUTHOR INFO:

Kate Deveaux is a contemporary erotic romance writer and die-hard romantic. A former wedding planner, she has always been “in love” with love! Kate is currently working on several fictional stories – each filled with sexy romance, heroines who are no shrinking violets and heroes who make your heart skip a beat. She is a member of Savvy Author, Romance Writers of America (RWA) and their erotic romance chapter, Passionate Ink. Kate currently resides with her husband in Arizona.

WEBSITE:  http://www.katedeveaux.com
FACEBOOK:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kate-Deveaux/349294291841235
TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/KateDeveaux
PINTEREST:  http://pinterest.com/katedeveaux

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review of The Race is On by Lily Velden

Hollywood heartthrob Jaxon Moncrieff and Liam Lassiter are finally on the same page: committed and in it for the long haul. Now they just have to prepare for the inevitable fallout when they reveal their relationship. Between Jaxon’s career and Liam’s need to prepare for a life in the limelight, they decide to wait until filming of Jaxon’s latest project has wrapped.

Unbeknownst to them, the relentless paparazzi photographer Rafael Cacciatore, aka the Hunter, notices a change in Jaxon and is determined to be the first to break the story of who has captured Jaxon Moncrieff’s heart. In the meantime, Liam and Jaxon have enough on their plate working out the not-so-little issue of how and when Jaxon will come out to his family. The paparazzi aren’t even on their radar. The race to out Jaxon is on, and Liam and Jaxon don’t even know it.

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Just when it seemed like things were heading in the right direction for new lovebirds Jaxon and Liam, life interferes in a realistic and heartbreaking way in this compelling and engaging read that picks up moments after the previous book (Same Page) ended.  Life is almost perfect as these two caring and loving men find their relationship deepening, they're happy and the sex between them is crackling in its intensity.  They find themselves growing closer, sharing daily intimacies, and long for the moment when they can admit their love to the world.  While Jax wants to admit the truth now, Liam is nervous about the ramifications of coming out.  These fears are realistic and presented in a believable way that had me rooting for them to reach their HEA no matter what it took.  Before that time though it's an emotionally draining, heartpounding, and rocky road for the two of them mostly due to outside forces.

Ms. Velden tells this story from three different viewpoints, that of Jax and Liam as well as the determined paparazzi Rafael.  For Jax and Liam life is good, they spend as much time together as Jax's filming schedule allows with each free moment bursting with sexual intensity.  These two are clearly in love and it's an infectious feeling of joy they exude whenever they're together.  Rafael's seen the change in Jax too and wants to know who's putting that smile on his face and will stop at nothing to discover the truth.  Rafael is extremely determined, and though his profession seems overly intrusive, he does have a code of morals by which he conducts himself.  It was intriguing seeing this aspect of fame and the inadvertent damage it can do to people.

Along with the highs of a sweet and sexy romance comes the lows of a life put in danger from an obsessive fan.  This event led to many tear-filled moments and reiterated the close connection between Jax and Liam as they coped with a devastating incident.  This story's emotional roller-coaster ride kept me on the edge of my seat with tissues close by as Jax and Liam, and us readers, were put through the wringer.  It was a realistic read that kept me glued to the pages of this melodramatic story that continues to depict the immensely satisfying relationship between two enticing men who are perfect for each other.  Surrounding them are an entertaining cast of secondary characters who add a bit of heartwarming humor to this emotionally heavy read and added even more to my enjoyment.  From start to finish Ms. Velden has once again captured an engagingly realistic moment in the lives of two men struggling to find happiness in an intrusive world and I'm left in awe of the feelings she's roused in me as I await the next installment in this series.

My rating for this is an A.

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

Book Blast for After Dark by Gena Showalter & Kait Ballenger (GIVEAWAY)

I'm honored to be hosting the wonderful Gena Showalter today, along with Kait Ballenger, and their new paranormal anthology After Dark.  Keep reading to get a glimpse of this book and visit the other blogs hosting this tour in support of this decadently delightful read.  Make sure to read the giveaway info below for your chance to win a $100 Amazon GC, big swag packs from both authors, and a secret gifting of the first chapter of an upcoming book!

A Timeless Seduction
A Unique TemptationAnd a Whole World of Dark Desires…

From New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter….

The Darkest Angel

Winged warrior Lysander has been alive for centuries, and yet he's never known desire—until he meets Bianka. Spawned from the bloodline of his enemy, the beautiful but deadly Harpy is determined to lead the untouched Lysander into temptation. He may try to evade her attempts, but even the most iron-willed demon assassin can resist for only so long….

And from debut author Kait Ballenger….

Shadow Hunter

Vampire hunter Damon Brock's newest assignment with the Execution Underground is Rochester, New York, a city crawling with the undead. But he isn't the only hunter in town gunning for vamp blood. Tiffany Solow is fierce and ruthless when it comes to slaying the monsters that destroyed her family—and she works solo. But being alone is no longer an option when she meets the mysterious hunter who wants more than just her turf. Forced to unite against the local covens, the line between good and evil blurs when they must decide between their lifelong beliefs…and their newfound desires.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON KINDLE  |  AMAZON PAPERBACK  |  BN

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

In order to enter, you must email a picture, screen shot or attach a copy of your receipt from your purchase of either the MASS MARKET PAPERBACK or MASS MARKET EBOOK version of After Dark. 

PLEASE NOTE:   It MUST be the MASS MARKET format to be eligible for the giveaway.

Email your receipts to kaitballengergiveaway@gmail.com

PRIZE PACKAGES:

GRAND PRIZE:
Two (2) random entrants will each receive a $100.00 gift card to Amazon.

FIRST 10 ENTRANTS:
will receive a giant SWAG pack that contains a signed bookplate plus bookmarks from Gena along with SWAG from 50+ authors, courtesy of Book Monster Promotions.

FIRST 50 ENTRANTS:
will receive a goodie bag from Kait that includes bookmarks, magnets, pens and other goodies.

FIRST 500 ENTRANTS:
will receive the first chapter of Immortal Hunter, Book #2 in Kait's Execution Underground series for an exclusive peek.  

You have until 1/10/14 to purchase your Mass Market edition and submit your receipt.  Winners will be announced by 1/15/14.

Book Tour for Blue Moon Brides by Anne Marsh (Review & GIVEAWAY)

To end the week we have a super steamy trio of books that make up the paranormal series Blue Moon Brides by Anne Marsh.  Keep reading to get a glimpse of these books along with my impressions of them.  Make sure to fill out the form below for your chance to win a $25 Amazon GC and a digital copy of one of these books too!

TEMPTED BY THE PACK

(Blue Moon Brides, 1)

Once in a blue moon…

For Rafer Breaux, life in the Louisiana Bayou is harsh, violent—and deeply sensual. The Cajun werewolf lives for his Pack and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep his brothers safe. The longer a wolf lives without a mate, the harder it becomes for that wolf to shift back. To remember that he is a man—and not a monster. And those mates can only be found during a blue moon. When a blue moon finally rises, Rafer will need every weapon in his sensual arsenal to tempt one special woman into his arms and the heart of the Pack.

The Pack hunts for mates

Fighting to keep her family farm, Lark Andrews isn’t looking for love. Even if the very sexy Breaux brothers make her dream of hot bayou nights spent in their arms. When the blue moon leads Rafer to her door, however, Rafer has her rethinking her position on all work and no play. Now, the bayou nights are heating up as Rafer fights to convince her, one sensual touch at a time, to give love and passion a chance. But Rafer isn’t a one wolf deal. Is there room in Lark’s heart—and bed—for Rafer and his Pack?

BUY LINKS:

DIGITAL:  AMAZON  |  BN  |  ARe  |  KOBO

PRINT:  AMAZON

AUDIO:  AUDIBLE

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

As the first book in this series the groundwork is laid for a highly sexualized journey of wolf shifting brothers trying to find their Mates with the help of the Blue Moon rising.  With vampires still their mortal enemies as the vampires want their pelts to keep them safe in daylight, the shifter numbers are dwindling so finding a Mate is important.  Rafer has been drawn to flower seller Lark for a long time and is hoping the Blue Moon proves what he already feels for Lark.  Though he knows they belong together he understands how hard it will be for her to adjust to his pack life.  He's willing to fight for her love and fight to keep her happy in a human world if need be.  Fight he must though in an action-packed sequence between his clan and vampires seeking to take Lark and her home which proves his devotion to her.

Lark has been told stories about the dangers in the bayou and is at once scared yet intrigued.  She's a bit naive about the dark side though and unprepared to protect herself in a fight which was a bit exasperating when danger arrived.  She's drawn to the dangerous yet sweet side she sees in Rafer but it will take a lot to get her to fully understand pack life and that accepting one means accepting all.  Theirs is a journey full of protectiveness and steamy sexual encounters that creates a compelling beginning in a paranormal journey to HEA for a group of immensely sexy brothers.

My rating for this is a B.

PLEASURED BY THE PACK

(Blue Moon Brides, 2)

Dre and Landry Breaux do everything together. Fishing, fighting—and loving. A whole lot of loving. When the blue moon leads these Cajun werewolves to their fated mate, however, they’re ready to reform. Now, they’ll fight to keep the woman of their dreams safe from the evils lurking in the Louisiana bayou—and to tempt her into taking a chance on two of the bayou’s sexiest bad boys.

Mary Jane Johnson is no heartbreaker. Running from a troubled past, the bayou captain wants only to be left alone. When she takes a pair of bayou bad boys on board, however, Dre and Landry have her rethinking her need for space. These two big males have promised to take orders—all of her orders. Suddenly, she’s dreaming of getting as close as possible… to both of the Breaux brothers.

BUY LINKS:

DIGITAL:  AMAZON  |  BN  |  ARe  |  KOBO

PRINT:  AMAZON

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

The Blue Moon is out in full force showing a shifter group of brothers their designated Mates in this second installment in the series.  For twins Dre and Landry they're happy to find their match in the strong-willed boat captain Mary Jane as opposed to the hardened beauty and mechanic Riley.  Though Mary Jane's not a conventional beauty they're drawn to the woman behind the boyish clothes though she feels unprepared for the men's mutual erotic appetites.  She doesn't believe in the love, care, and concern they express as she grew up in a family of rage that has left her relying only on herself and them having to work very hard to win her over both as a pair and as individuals.  Vampires continue to be their enemy and put these designated Mates in danger which leads to a fast-paced story that has them going into hiding to keep the woman they've grown to love safe.

Dre and Landry are opposites in their natures.  Dre is quiet but highly sexualized.  He's more in tune with his wolf side than his brother and has more scars to prove his closeness to the animal.  Landry is a sexy charmer who first gets the girl's attention before bringing her into a relationship with his brother.  He's playful and exudes confidence and it's easy to be drawn to the both of them in this steamy and entertaining story.

My rating for this is a B+

CLAIMED BY THE PACK

(Blue Moon Brides, 3)

The rising of the Blue Moon will lead the Pack to their destined mates… but some women are hard to claim.

Alpha to the bone, Cajun shifter Dag Breaux must find his Blue Moon bride to preserve his humanity. Each passing day sees him lost further and further in the shift, more wolf than man. Emotions and feelings are foreign territory for Dag and all he has to offer his newfound female is raw, passionate sex and protection from the centuries-old vampire stalking the Louisiana bayou.

Bayou mechanic Riley Jones stands on her own two feet. Always. She doesn’t need or want Dag’s infuriating brand of protection. Plus, she has secrets of her own that she’s desperate to keep. But there’s no denying the passion that burns between them and in the arms of her rough and tough shifter she discovers a darkly sensuous, no-holds-barred loving. When the vampire threatens Riley’s nearest and dearest, she must ask herself if resisting Dag’s mate claim is worth losing everything she cares about… or if teaching her wolf to love is worth the risk.

BUY LINKS:

DIGITAL:  AMAZON  |  BN  |  ARe  |  KOBO

PRINT:  AMAZON

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Of all the brothers, Dag is the one closest to being taken over by his wolf half.  He's the quiet one, desperate to find the Mate to keep him from becoming lost from a past of dark deeds, but unaccustomed to doing what it takes to win a woman over.  After saving the outspoken and strong-willed Riley from vampires he thinks he finally has the chance for his own HEA but will have to put the domineering ways of his past behind him to earn her trust and love.  Dag is a sexy beast whose actions speak louder than words.  He admits he's not good at romance but is more than willing to learn.

Riley is a strong-willed woman more than capable of taking care of herself.  She wants to be thought of as an equal but is more than willing to take satisfaction in the sexual delights Dag offers.  She has secrets she's keeping though that might lead to problems as her jealous brothers come to her rescue when the vampire problem escalates.  Theirs is a battle of wills and of the sexes that is fun to watch and immensely satisfying in its conclusion.  Though the story drags a bit in the latter half it's still the steamy and erotic relationship between Dag and Riley that keeps things interesting.

My rating for this is a B-

*I received all three of these books from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Anne Marsh writes sexy contemporary and paranormal romances because the world can always enjoy one more alpha male. She started writing romance after getting laid off from her job as a technical writer—and quickly decided happily-ever-afters trumped software manuals. She lives in Northern California with her family and six cats.

Website: www.anne-marsh.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/anne_marsh
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anne-Marsh/225897900782649
Newsletter: http://ymlp.com/signup.php?id=geumewqgmgb

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

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Book Review of Caught Up In You by Roni Loren

The girl who has spent her life running is about to be caught . . . by love.

After a shaky past, Kelsey LeBreck’s future is looking good. She’s been saving money for culinary school with her earnings from The Ranch, a private BDSM resort. Even better, she’s landed a day job where she can practice baking and flirt with her favorite customer. However, having secret fantasies about Wyatt Austin is where it has to end. If there’s one thing Kelsey knows can derail her, it’s a relationship. But when a danger from her past threatens to steal her fresh start, the intense executive may be the only one who can help her.
Wyatt doesn’t have room on his agenda for dating, but something about the pretty young waitress stirs desires he thought were long buried. So when he needs someone to pose as his girlfriend at an important business retreat and finds out Kelsey needs to go off the grid for a while, he can’t resist making her an offer. Soon, Kelsey learns that Wyatt’s power in the boardroom is no match for his power in the bedroom, and she wonders if her heart will survive. Because Wyatt Austin is a man who gets what he wants, and now he wants her.

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Things are still steamy in this fourth installment of the Loving On the Edge series as the road to a HEA for the cool, calm, and collected Wyatt and troubled Kelsey is a rocky but satisfying one.  From start to finish the heat is on as Kelsey tries to fit into the rich and classy lifestyle from which Wyatt comes from.  It's difficult though for a girl from the poorer side of the tracks who's made bad decisions that led to drugs and stripping to feel as though she belongs which keeps a subtle barrier between them throughout most of the story and will require a grand gesture from Wyatt to break down that barrier.

We've seen glimpses of Wyatt throughout the series and he's a serious and staid man, the complete opposite of his carefree brother Jace, completely devoted to business as his cold father raised him to be.  It turns out though that he has a dark side that he's kept hidden out of shame and fear.  He was once a Dom who failed the Sub in his care and he's scared that might happen again when he starts a BDSM relationship with the fragile Kelsey.  He's kept those dark needs hidden from past partners but she brings out the masterful side in him as seen by their numerous scorching sexual interludes.  A business retreat with Kelsey as his companion leads to a glimpse of the happy and fun life Wyatt could have if he just allows it. Her past comes back to haunt the loving foundation they've slowly built though and it will take a big leap of faith from both of them to finish making the happy future they both ultimately want in a very romantic and heartwarming conclusion.  Wyatt is an admirable hero who sees only the good things in Kelsey.  He never judges her and only wants to make her happy after her sad and disappointing past.  He gives her strength which in turn gives him the strength to step out from behind his father's shadow and become the man he was truly meant to be.

Kelsey is an unexpected heroine, compelling and multifaceted as seen by her current sweet school girl persona and her stripper drug-fueled past.  She makes no excuses for her past which is refreshing and admirable.  She doesn't dwell on it but struggles to make sure that sadness doesn't drag her back to that dark time.  She's immensely attracted to Wyatt but knows he could be her downfall, so she fights to keep their relationship purely unemotional. That's hard to do though as his sweetly romantic gestures and uncompromising faith slowly win her over and have her thinking of the L-word which has her running once again with him in pursuit which leads to a tear-induced finale.  Kelsey is a likable heroine, outspoken and loyal to her sister.  She wants to better her life but wants to do it on her own which causes a few hiccups as Wyatt's answer to many problems is money.  Kelsey is the kind of heroine you don't see everyday and I found myself rooting for this realistic and strong-willed woman defending herself against the rich snob's judgments.

This was an enjoyable addition to Ms. Loren's series though the storyline felt a bit familiar at times.  At its heart this was a story about opposite's attracting, two people from different social statuses, that are drawn to each other through their sexual needs.  That premise has been in play from the first book and, with The Ranch playing a part in each story, will remain a part of the overall series until the end.  The sexual encounters are hot and varied in intensity.  The focus is mostly on the main couple but there's the occasional extra participant to add some extra spice.  With so many sex scenes you'd expect a story lacking in emotions but that's not the case as these two were put through the emotional wringer before reaching their richly rewarding HEA.  It was nice getting to see past characters as it added to that sense of family this series inspires.  The deepening brotherly bond between Jace and Wyatt was funny and sweet and showed a more playful side to Wyatt than ever before and showed the positive influence Kelsey had on his life.  We also got to see Kade and the hints and set-up to his story being told next that has me panting to get my hands on. The Loving On the Edge series continues to excite and I look forward to many more stories being told.  Those wanting a hot story with an entertaining storyline should definitely add Ms. Loren to their list!

My rating for this is a B+

*I bought this book with my own money for my personal bookshelf.