BLOG TOUR STOP: REVIEW, EXCERPT, RILEY’S PLAYLIST, TEASERS, AND GIVEAWAY: Stripping Her Defenses by Jessie Lane

Title: Stripping Her Defenses (Ex Ops, #2)

Author: Jessie Lane

Released Date: October 31, 2014

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/qmRmh30oAl0

 

Blurb

He can’t change the scars on her body…
but fate will give him a second chance to mend the scars he put on her heart.

Riley Sullivan and the Ex Ops Team are headed to Miami undercover… as bikers. Following up a lead, the men will perform their investigation acting as members of the Regulators Motorcycle Club with the club’s permission. Surrounded by hardcore bikers and investigating missing strippers, Riley finds the last person he ever expected to see again—his ex-wife.

Kara Sullivan left the man she loved after a tragic accident cost them their unborn son. After years of therapy, she’s come to grips with the loss and has re-emerged from the pain a brand new person. That doesn’t mean she’s ready to face the man who inadvertently broke her heart, and who she’s hurt in return.

Riley has never stopped loving her and he never will. He’s ready to fix their marriage and move on with their lives, however Kara’s reluctance to renew their relationship isn’t their only problem. Danger lurks just around the corner… and there’s a chance she could disappear permanently.

Review

When readers first meet Riley Sullivan in Secret Maneuvers, he’s the silent, brooding man on the Ex Ops team; the one we know definitely has a story to tell because the painful expressions on his face show a past that’s scarred him deeply – a past he hasn’t been able to move away from – a past that’s about to make a reappearance in the most unlikely of places.

It’s been eight years since Riley’s laid eyes on his ex-wife, Kara. Eight long years of regret, if-onlys, and what might have beens. Now he has a chance of making things right…of telling Kara what he should have said all those years ago…of being present in her life instead of volunteering for missions and finding any excuse to leave her. But he’s going to have to get past the mask of this new Kara – a woman who has embraced her curves and her sass and isn’t willing to allow Riley past her defenses. Too bad this is one mission Riley refuses to fail, and he’s going to fight like hell to strip Kara down – mind, body, and soul, reclaiming the heart of the woman whose only ever owned his heart.

Boy does the pain run deep for these two but so does their love; Riley and Kara are high school sweethearts, so there’s a lot of history between them but mixed with all the good times is the aftermath of a tragedy that began long before Riley stopped staying home but solidified when he was away. I’m a sucker for second chance romance stories, so finding Jessie Lane’s Ex-Ops series is paydirt for me, and Riley’s character resonated with me as a reader from day one. I love that he and Kara have a chance to start over, to work past the heartbreak, and introduce one another to the new and improved people that they are. There’s real issues that they have to work through, but there’s an attraction that cannot be denied, and readers are front and center to witness Riley’s aggressive pursuit of the love of his life, and despite the battle he’s up against, he’s not giving up until her last name means something to the both of them again.

Stripping Her Defenses is a steamy and suspenseful read that illustrates the risks people are willing to take to have a second chance with the person who means everything to them. It’s a look into the things that can tear two people apart and what it takes to bring them back together despite the time and distance that’s been between them. Ex-Ops is a great series, and I can’t wait for Lucas and Declan’s stories.

A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

4 poison apples

Excerpt

How in the hell had this night gone bad so quickly? One minute, I was getting ready to dance my ass off in front of a packed house, and the next, I was reacquainted with a man I hadn’t laid eyes on in eight years. What was he doing here? And why in the world was Riley wearing a Regulators’ cut?

I’d known the Regulators for six years now, and I damn well knew Riley wasn’t a member. Ice would have asked if there was a connection the very first time he heard my last name, Sullivan, if he’d known Riley or Declan.

A loud bang vibrated against the wall next to the office door, and I winced at the familiar sound. You didn’t work or hang around a strip club run by bikers without learning what the sound of a body hitting something sounded like. The only question I had now was whether that had been Riley’s body being thrown around. I winced at the thought and my stomach felt heavy with dread. I didn’t want Riley hurt. I’d already hurt him enough by filing for divorce and disappearing after the loss of our son. I didn’t want him hurt anymore because of me. Besides, our marriage might have gone to shit, but I would always love him.

I knew better than to try and step into club business, though. Ice and the boys had taught me the rules a long time ago. I kept my ‘pretty little nose,’ as they liked to call it, out of club business, and they would always make sure club business never bothered me. I also knew anything and everything having to do with After Midnight qualified as club business since they owned and ran the place, but that was Riley out there. Could I really stand here while they possibly beat the shit out of him or worse?

I took a step towards the door, determined to do what I’d never done in the entire time of working for the Regulators—stick my nose where it didn’t belong. This might be club business, but that was my ex-husband, and I wasn’t about to let them beat the shit out of him just because he’d been shocked as shit to see me dressed in next to nothing, while getting ready to flash my tits and ass on a stage.

I hadn’t made it more than one step, though, before the door burst open, broken pieces of wood flying in all directions. Riley came barreling towards me while shaking three guys off his arms like they were nothing.

I gasped in surprise. Frozen to the spot with a hand covering my mouth, I locked eyes with a furious Riley while I heard Ice shout from the hallway, “Somebody grab that asshole before he gets to Kara!”

I could hear Declan shouting something in the hallway, but I didn’t make out the words. All I could see was Riley standing before me in all his enraged glory. All I could hear was his fast, furious breathing and stomping steps as he closed the distance between us. And all I could feel was my heart start a familiar pitter patter I hadn’t felt in over eight long years. It was proof that time simply couldn’t change some things. Like the way my mind, body, and soul reacted to the man who was now barreling towards me like an angry bull.

He didn’t make within grabbing distance of me before we heard the familiar click of a gun being armed. Riley stopped dead in his tracks at the sound, and I watched as his jaw clenched in frustration. He turned around slowly, both hands held out to his sides in surrender, and faced Hammer who held one of the largest pistols I’d ever seen, pointed at Riley.

“You take one more step towards Kara, and I’m gonna splatter your brains all over the walls and call it redecorating.” The chill in Hammer’s words sent shivers up my spine.

Stripping Her Defenses Riley’s Playlist Descriptions

The playlist for Stripping Her Defenses is huge. There were a ton of songs that helped inspire this book. I’ll warn you, there’s a lot of heart break on the playlist, but that goes hand in hand with Riley and Kara’s heart breaks.

I realized there was so much music on my playlist, that I could break it up for you ladies. So, this is Riley’s playlist. Riley is a haunted man. He’s lost so much. The wife he loved, but didn’t understand, and their son. He feels as though he’s lost his reason to keep going, but he’s not sure how to get it back either. I love Riley. His pain spoke to me on a fundamental level.

I hope all of you enjoy! XoXo Jessie

Corey Taylor, Dave Grohl, Rick Nielsen & Scott Reeder – From Can To Can’t

I can’t even begin to express how AMAZING this song is. First of all, how many bitchin’ rock songs are out there that feature classically trained cellists? Add in the front man for the band BUSH and this song will more than likely be playing in my house until the end of time. It really hit home for me though for Elena. I’m not dropping spoilers for the book here, but let’s just say that the moment Gage breaks Elena’s heart, this is the song I here for her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JzFgvdo4Pk

Papa Roach – Leader Of The Broken Hearts

Oh, Papa Roach. How I love thee. Let me count the ways. So, I’m a total fan-girl over their music. It’s safe to say they stay on repeat until my family begs me to stop before their ears bleed. This song was the first that came to mind when I thought of Riley’s pain and regrets about his ex-wife Kara. He has a profound love for her. And quite frankly, he’s a robot walking through life without her. He’s a man with a broken heart and no hope for happiness because his happiness is Kara and she’s gone.

Papa Roach – Wish You Never Met Me

Again, Papa Roach. I listen to a ridiculous amount of their music and more than likely you can find at least one Papa Roach song on each of my book’s playlist. The band has such a profound way of reaching me with their music and making me feel the lyrics. This song pertains to Riley’s pain over his certainty that Kara must have regretted him to have left him in the manner that she did.

My Darkest Days ft. Ludacris, Zakk Wylde – Porn Star Dancing

Do you see the title of that song? Yeah. This is what I listened to on repeat when I wrote my scenes of Kara stripping. I might have danced around to it in my bedroom when no one was watching… or not. 😉

Black Stone Cherry – Stay

Ohhhh I love Black Stone Cherry. And this is one of my favorite songs by them. Pay attention peeps! Florida Georgia Line COVERED this song. Black Stone Cherry is the original. Frankly I prefer the BSC version better. Anyways, this song is beyond beautiful. A representation of what one would do for the person they love. A plea for their loved one to stay. Riley’s plea to Kara to come back to him. I’d come back to Riley if he sang this song to me. 😉

Black Stone Cherry – In My Blood

A fantastic song to represent Riley’s dedication and pride in his military service. Simply, some people are born with the heart and soul of a warrior. They believe in what they’re doing and at time sacrifice the other things they love in this life, such as time with their families, to pursue the things they believe in. Riley Sullivan is one of those warriors.

Crossfade – Cold

Another song sevoted to Riley’s regrets. He never meant to seem cold and unfeeling to the problems Kara had in their marriage. He simply didn’t understand them. It was easier to run from the problem than to face it.

Other songs that inspired this book on a fundamental level were:

Metallica – Nothing Else Matters

Haley Reinhart’s cover – House of the Rising Sun

Bruno Mars – When I Was Your Man

Adele – Make You Feel My Love

Justin Timberlake – Mirror

You can check out all of these songs and more on the complete Stripping Her Defenses playlist on my website at: http://jessielanebooks.com/titles/ex-ops-series/shd-playlist/

Thanks for having me and I hope you enjoy both the music and Kara and Riley’s story in Stripping Her Defenses!

 

 

Stripping Her Defenses (Ex Ops, #2)

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Secret Maneuvers (Ex Ops, #1)

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About the Author

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Jessie Lane is the best selling author of The Star Series, Big Bad Bite Series and the Ex Ops Series.

She lives in Kentucky with her two little Rock Chicks in the making and her over protective alpha husband. She has a passionate love for reading and writing naughty romance, cliff hanging suspense, and out-of-this-world characters that demand your attention, or threaten to slap you around until you do pay attention to them.

Jessie writes Adult Paranormal and Contemporary Romance & Upper YA Fantasy/Paranormal Romance.

 

Giveaway!

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Coming Soon from Jessie Lane and Chelsea Camaron

ICE (Regulators MC, #1)

Release Date: December 8, 2014

Model: Shawn Dawson

Photographer: Golden Czermak/Furious Fotog

Cover Designer: Mina Carter

Loosely attached to Chelsea Camaron’s Hellions Series and Jessie Lane’s Ex Ops Series.

She’s an investment banker.
He’s an outlaw biker.
A little bit of heaven is about to meet a whole lot of hell.

Morgan Powell was raised to be perfect, to set an example for her sisters to follow. Her life has been dedicated to making something of her career, so she wouldn’t know what to do with a man even if you gave her an instruction manual.

Brett ‘Ice’ Grady spends his days trying to keep up with his teenage daughter, his nights consumed in Regulators’ MC business. He has no time for anything more than a casual hookup.

Two worlds collide when the dangers of his life crash into the calm of hers.

Can she go beyond her own boundaries and chip her way through to the man known to be as cold as ice?