Fairest Of All Book Reviews

PRE-ORDER NOW! The Season: Kaufman 

by Nicole Edwards

Coming October 25th, 2016!

About the Author

Marry Me Mad is one swoonworthy read! You don’t want to miss it on October 21st!

Blurb

Did you fall in love with The English Brothers? Were you hot for the Winslows? Katy Regnery’s New York Times bestselling Blueberry Lane series continues with The Rousseau siblings in 2016!

For as long as Madeleine “Mad” Rousseau can remember, she’s been the “sweet” twin to her sister Jax’s “sassy.” But after an especially painful break-up, Mad decides she’s had enough of being sweet. Children’s librarian during the day, she begins visiting Philly’s seedier nightspots on a quest for adventure. When Cortlandt “Cort” Ambler, the ex-boyfriend of Mad’s sister, Jax, saves her from disaster on one such evening, an unlikely friendship is born between the rebellious librarian and the moonlighting pianist…and two broken hearts begin a journey toward being whole again.

Get to know the families of Blueberry Lane!

*All books in The Blueberry Lane Series can be enjoyed as standalone novels.*

Make sure you don’t miss the start of the Rousseau series!

Jonquils for Jax is now available!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2dZgec2
Nook: http://ow.ly/4nopYG
iBooks: http://ow.ly/SWS8x
KOBO: http://ow.ly/SX0tX

PREORDER JC AND THE BIJOUIX JOLIS!
releasing November 29, 2016

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2dQaZJ1
Nook: http://bit.ly/2d15qsq
iBooks: http://apple.co/2dPbTJ8
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2dZigsU

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Regnery started her writing career by enrolling in a short story class in January 2012. One year later, she signed her first contract and Katy’s first novel was published in September 2013.

Twenty-five books later, Katy claims authorship of the multi-titled, New York Times and USA Today Blueberry Lane Series, which follows the English, Winslow, Rousseau, Story, and Ambler families of Philadelphia; the six-book, bestselling ~a modern fairytale~ series; and several other standalone novels and novellas.

Katy’s first modern fairytale romance, The Vixen and the Vet, was nominated for a RITA® in 2015 and won the 2015 Kindle Book Award for romance. Katy’s boxed set, The English Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1–4, hit the USA Today bestseller list in 2015, and her Christmas story, Marrying Mr. English, appeared on the list a week later. In May 2016, Katy’s Blueberry Lane collection, The Winslow Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1-4, became a New York Times E-book bestseller.

In 2016, Katy signed a print-only agreement with Spencerhill Press. As a result, her Blueberry Lane paperback books will now be distributed to brick and mortar bookstores all over the United States.

Katy lives in the relative wilds of northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, where her writing room looks out at the woods, and her husband, two young children, two dogs, and one Blue Tonkinese kitten create just enough cheerful chaos to remind her that the very best love stories begin at home

Website/Newsletter Signup | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Here’s an insider’s look at who Amy McKinley is and what it’s like to be an author as well as some fun information about her:) 

When did you decide to become a writer?

I think I’ve always wanted to be a writer but when I was young I didn’t understand how to turn that path into a career. It wasn’t until a few years ago when I started working for a creative company that it clicked. While I interviewed for the position I realized I wanted to write a novel.

Why do you write?

I crave the creative outlet. I love when I’m figuring out the plot and the puzzle pieces begin to fall into place, or the scene changes because the characters throw a curve ball.

Do you write every day?

It’s heaven to do some form or writing every day but it doesn’t always work that way. Family and life intervene. If I’m able to plot, write, or edit I’m thrilled and usually manage to do so in some form at least five days a week. If it’s been too long since I’ve sunk into writing a story the urge to do so is all consuming.

Do you listen to music when you write?

Absolutely. I have several playlists that fade into the background as I type. I don’t even notice the music but it seems to aid in creativity.

Where do your ideas come from?

They’re everywhere. Sometimes, just the sound of a particular laugh, a word someone says, or a smile will be the first conceptual spark that develops into something amazing. Although, ideas often come at the most inopportune time: in the shower, driving, or just before falling asleep. I’ve learned to keep notepads in several locations.

Do you work to an outline or do you prefer to see where an idea takes you?

I love to outline. I think that’s the control freak in me. It helps me to see where the story is going and if all the parts are where they should be. That way I can easily shuffle things around if needed. But there are times I’ll sit down and write out a scene because it has to be done.

What are your thoughts on writing a book series?

I love writing a book series. It gives readers, and the author, more time with characters we’re not ready to let go of.

What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?

Keeping the reader (and I am one of them) engaged with strong, well-developed characters, setting, and plot.

Who edited your books and why did you select him/her?

Cassiel Knight was the editor assigned by the Champagne Books for my novels. She was wonderful to work with and I look forward to future endeavors with her expertise.

Who designed your book covers?

Champagne Books assigned Trisha FitzGerald as the cover artist for both Hidden and Taken. She did a great job designing the covers.

Rapid Fire Questions:

Favorite color?

Blue. Almost all shades except pastel.

Favorite season?

Fall. The colors are beautiful and I like the cooler weather.

Favorite TV show?

Oh…there are several as we DVR them. How to list only one? Hmm. I’ve been watching iZombie lately. We watch Modern Family, Big Bang Theory, and The Flash. I still love watching re-runs of Will and Grace. There are more but I’m going to stop!

Favorite movie?

It’s a toss up between the Bourne Identity movies and August Rush. I adore romantic comedies but there are too many competing in my head to name.

Favorite quote?

There are two. I love the strength and power of this quote:  “Sometimes I wonder if love is worth fighting for. Then I look at you and I’m ready for war.” ~unknown.

“Legend says, when you can’t sleep at night, it’s because you’re awake in someone else’s dream.” ~unknown.

Phobias?

Mirrors, just at night. Yep, that’s pretty weird. When I was young I woke up in the middle of the night and saw a very distinct face in the mirror—not my own. Of course a blood-curdling scream ripped through the house until the offensive mirror was removed. Ever since then I tend to overt my eyes from the mirrors if I’ve just woken and it’s night.

Check out Amy McKinley’s books here:

Amy McKinley’s Amazon Author Page

 

 

 

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jay Crownover returns with her most complicated hero yet,

in the first book in the romantic suspense series The Breaking Point. 

 

Don’t be fooled.

Don’t make excuses for me.

I am not a good man.

I’ve seen things no one should, done things no one should talk about. Honor and conscience have no place in my life. But I’ve fought and I’ve survived. I’ve had to.

The first time I saw her dancing on that seedy stage in that second rate club, I felt my heart pulse for the first time. Keelyn Foster was too young, too vibrant for this place, and I knew in an instant that I would make her mine. But first I had to climb my way to the top. I had to have something more to offer her.

I’m here now, money is no object and I have no equal. Except for her. She’s disappeared. But don’t worry, I will find her and claim her. She will be mine.

Like I said, don’t be fooled. I am not the devil in disguise… I’m the one standing front and center.

Order HONOR in ebook or paperback, releasing 10/18/16

Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo 

Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | Amazon Australia

Add to your Goodreads

Review

There’s never been a character who’s personified the setting in which he lives like Nassir Gates. Even without his backstory, it was crystal clear that he belonged in the Point…he belonged in a place that was shrouded in death, darkness, and destruction, and he used its evil components to build an empire…to become the devil himself…half monster/half man with the sins and scars of his past to fuel his future – one that made him feared…made him a target, but also made him a hell of a lot of money and allowed him to take the keys to a devious and demented kingdom and control all aspects of it with only one look…with only one order.

But power breeds enemies and despite how unaffected Nassir is by the soulless environment he lives in, he has a weakness, and it comes in the form of a feisty vixen who has owned him body and soul since he first arrived on the scene, ready to make a name for himself and become the devil he was meant to be. Nassir and Keelyn have danced around each other for far too long and now that Nassir is in a position to build his kingdom up, he needs the right queen by his side, and he won’t settle for anyone but Key because even if she doesn’t realize it yet, she’s Nassir’s equal in every way…she’s his perfect match and while they’ve taunted and tormented each other for years, Nassir understands that the only way to solidify Key by his side is to prove to her that she’s strong enough to stand next to him and that he won’t treat her like a possession or take away her independence, he’ll just claim her as his and offer her the keys to his devilish empire.

The Point might not look like an environment where honor can be acquired, but it’s exactly for that reason that righteousness has its place in the city’s sludge and indecency, and while it’s definitely not most people’s view of the word, those people who are willing and able to fight for something they believe in, regardless of what side of the law it’s on, will find a way to make their own kind of honor in a dwelling that seems to do nothing but chew people up and spit them out, leaving them with nothing.

Nassir has garnered respect from others, even if fear is the motivator, of his intelligence and abilities, and he uses that to manipulate and mold his empire, looking out for himself and those who mean something to him. Key is the center of Nassir’s world, even when she was fighting to not be, so his honor comes in the form of his care for her…his protection of her…his love for her and his ability to become “a real boy” despite his past…despite his devilish ways.

Nassir epitomizes all of the Point’s nastier aspects and he wears them well, refusing to be someone he isn’t and finding a way to use what was forced upon him and what he was taught in order to call his own shots and work for his own cause.

Key also uses the Point’s dark allure for her own gain, and even though she didn’t want to take a walk with the devil, there’s no other journey she would take because he accepts her for who she is and what she wants out of life and they both fight like hell to achieve the power and respect that solidifies their rule as the King & Queen of the Point.

I absolutely adored Nassir and Keelyn’s story. Jay Crownover did an amazing job of characterizing just how anti-heroic Nassir is in a way that actually allowed him to be a man of scruples just on his own terms and in his own way. The storyline was exactly what I was hoping Crownover would give her readers. Nassir has already been through hell and he continues to dominate that setting with a multitude of enemies gunning for him, but Crownover doesn’t create any elaborate power plays against him or exacerbate situations that put Nassir and Key in any greater risk than they already are just because of who they are. The issues and events that do occur are justified and make sense due to Nassir’s position and Crownover clearly illustrates how sins of the past can easily damage the present/future in ways that were never recognized, forcing Nassir to realize that there is always a choice to be made and consequences to deal with regardless of which path is taken.

A copy was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss.

5 Poison apples

Excerpt

KEELYN

              Maybe if I hadn’t spent the last six months slinging pancakes and greasy hash to hungover hipsters and avoiding the too-curious eyes of the cops who like to hit up the diner for early-morning breakfast, I would have noticed the ominous shift in the air.

              Before I came to Denver six months ago, my senses had been honed to pick up on the slightest threat. Before, anything that might be dangerous, that might put me in peril, had made my skin tingle, made everything inside of me vibrate with awareness. Now I had settled into a simple, dreary rhythm. Every day was the same as the one before it and there was no outside threat constantly hounding me, hunting me, haunting me. I let my guard down. I had gone soft, and as a result the biggest danger of them all managed to slip into my new normal without giving any kind of hint he was there.

              My nonslip shoe—that were probably the ugliest things ever made but absolutely necessary considering the greasy food the tiny kitchen pumped out—squeaked on the laminate floor as I made my way over to the lone patron who had taken the last available seat in my section. The massive plastic menu completely covered his face, but the Rolex on his wrist and the perfect cut of his suit jacket let me know he wasn’t my typical kind of customer. There wasn’t a flannel shirt or police blues in sight, and as I got closer, a whiff of something exotic and familiar engulfed my senses and stopped me in my tracks. Of all the things I had left behind, he was the one I had tried hardest to forget.

              The tingling across my skin spread. My tummy tightened. Blood rushed loudly between my ears. My shaking fingers curled around the pen in my hand like a weapon. Before I could pull it together and walk away, the menu lowered and I was pinned to the spot, immobilized by eyes the color of spice rum.

              They were wicked eyes. Eyes that saw far too much and gave nothing away. Eyes I daydreamed about. Eyes that caused me to wake up in a cold sweat. Eyes that turned me inside out and shook me up as they made a slow perusal from the top of my head to the tips of my god-awful shoes, returning to my face and staying there as I struggled to keep my shit together.

              He slowly put the menu down on the cracked tabletop and leaned back in the booth. He was strikingly out of place here and I absolutely hated how that sexy twist of his mouth, a mouth that I dreamed about almost every night, made my traitorous heart flutter and my pulse kick.

              I was also strikingly out of place here, but I’d learned to fake it. He, obviously, never bothered to fake anything. He wasn’t a man with virtuous intentions and he never pretended to be.

              Gone were the mile-high stilettos that I always wore. In their place I now donned work shoes that prevented me from falling on my ass as I ran food and dirty dishes to and from the kitchen. I was hiding in plain sight, knowing that the last place on earth anyone who might come looking for me would check out would be this greasy spoon. This was the opposite of me and the life I had always lived, so even though I could afford better, craved more, this was where I needed to be…until he showed up.

 

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About Jay Crownover

Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men, The Point,and the Saints of Denver series. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she’ll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

 

 

Laura Kaye’s RIDE HARD, the first novel in Laura’s Raven Riders Series, is on sale for a very limited time for only $1.99! Be sure you grab it and pre-order RIDE ROUGH, the second novel in the Raven Riders Series releasing April 25, 2017! A sexy romantic suspense, you might’ve first met the Ravens in the Hard Ink world, but this series stands on its own and is even sexier, edgier, and grittier! The Raven Riders Series takes you on a new adventure and kicks it into overdrive!

Get Ready for RIDE ROUGH with an exclusive excerpt AND a Sale on RIDE HARD!

 

A NOTE FROM LAURA KAYE

OMG you guys! I’m so excited! Because the first book in my new Raven Riders series is on sale for the first time AND I’ve got an advance excerpt from the second book here for you to enjoy! The Raven Riders is a new sexy contemporary romance series, and a spin-off from my Hard Ink world, about a different kind of a motorcycle club with a protective mission. Ride Hard tells the story of a naïve woman on the run who’s been rescued by the jaded and tormented president of the Raven Riders, who learns that she’s strong enough to save herself and the man she loves, too. Ride Rough is a second-chance love story that is so hot and emotional that I absolutely adored writing it! I hope you’ll check both out!

Now, enjoy this delicious tease from Ride Rough, coming 4/25/17, and grab your copies of BOTH! Thanks for reading! ~ Laura Kaye

Excerpt From Ride Rough

It was one of Maverick’s favorite dreams.

He and Alexa had gone up to Swallow Falls in Western Maryland for a weekend getaway and were staying in one of the mini cabins at the state park. After a day of hiking and swimming and picnicking outside, they’d come back to their cabin tired and ready to crash, but getting naked for showers had sidetracked them for hours. And even once they finally fell asleep, Maverick was hard and ready every time he woke up, and he took her again and again, falling asleep still buried inside her . . .

And fuck if he wasn’t ready right now.

He burrowed his face in Alexa’s soft hair and banded his arm around her stomach. His hand filled with the soft mound of her breast. He pulled her back against his chest and ground his erection against the swell of her ass.

“Maverick,” she moaned.

Hell, yeah. He nuzzled her neck, kissed her there, tasting and nipping and sucking. God, he needed in her. “Fuck, Alexa,” he whispered.

Her hand gripped his. “Maverick.”

He rolled her under him and crawled on top of her, his body falling into the cradle of her spread thighs.

“Uh, Maverick.”

He frowned and kissed her jaw, her cheek, her mouth.

It was the kiss that did it. Something wasn’t right. The memory playing out in his sleep-fogged mind didn’t feel like the reality confronting his physical senses. His eyes blinked open.

And he found himself lying on top of Alexa. Not in the cabin at Swallow Falls years before. In the gray morning light of his house. Her wide hazel eyes stared up at him.

He reared off of her in an instant. “Fuck,” he said, coming to stand by the couch. Alexa looked stunned—and so fucking sexy that Maverick barely resisted crawling back on top of her. She lay on her back in his clothes, on his couch, her knees drawn up and falling out, her hair sleep-mussed and sexy. Jesus. He adjusted himself, unable to hide his raging hard-on, and scrubbed at his face. “Goddamn dream. I’m sorry, Alexa. I didn’t mean to do that.”

“You . . . you were dreaming. Of me?” she whispered.

His gaze narrowed. “Don’t ask a question you don’t want the answer to.”

She swallowed and licked her lips. “What if I do want it? The answer,” she added.

Years of need and longing roared through Maverick like a drug he’d mainlined. His thoughts spilled out unfiltered. “Damnit, Al. You’re laying there in my clothes in my house with your thighs spread after I’ve just woken up holding you. My skin smells like you. And I’m sporting an erection because of you. Don’t fuck with me.” The words came out harsher than he intended, but she couldn’t play with him. Not on this. Not when he cared so much. Not when he wanted so much.

Her mouth dropped open and her chest rose and fell a little quicker. “I’m not playing a game. I want to know.”

Planting his hands on his hips, Maverick studied her. Her beautiful, languid body. Her pretty, open face. Her eyes, honest and free of pretense. He felt pulled in a million directions. Between wrong and right, between taking advantage and taking care, between giving in and opening himself up to a world of hurt. “I was dreaming of you. Of us. Up at Swallow Falls.”

“That night we—”

“Yes,” he growled.

“Maverick—”

“Fuck.” He dropped his chin to his chest and closed his eyes. Trying to be bigger than his base needs. Trying to put her before himself. “Whatever is about to come out of your mouth is not a good idea.”

“Mav—”

“I mean it, Al—”

“Maverick!” she nearly yelled. “Listen to me.”

His gaze cut up to hers in time to see her sit up a little and take off her shirt. Well, his shirt. Then she laid back again, her eyes on him, drinking him in, inviting him in. “What if I do want it?” she whispered.

Something inside him snapped.

He was on her in a second. Body covering hers. Hands going to her warm skin. Mouth tasting her everywhere—her shoulder, her throat, her cheek. His chest pressed against her breasts, her hard nipples evident, her excitement palpable. And then his mouth found hers. On a triumphant groan, he claimed her, his lips sucking, his tongue penetrating. His big hand found her breast and kneaded at the soft mound.

And Alexa was right there with him. Moaning, kissing him, clutching on to him. Her thighs wrapped around his hips and her fingers twisted in his hair.

Bad idea bad idea such a fucking bad idea.

Why did bad ideas have to feel so good?

About Ride Hard (Raven Riders #1)

Now on sale for $1.99 for the first time & for a limited time!

Brotherhood. Club. Family.

They live and ride by their own rules.

These are the Raven Riders…

Raven Riders Motorcycle Club President Dare Kenyon rides hard and values loyalty above all else. He’ll do anything to protect the brotherhood of bikers—the only family he’s got—as well as those who can’t defend themselves. So when mistrustful Haven Randall lands on the club’s doorstep scared that she’s being hunted, Dare takes her in, swears to keep her safe, and pushes to learn the secrets overshadowing her pretty smile.

Haven fled from years of abuse at the hands of her criminal father and is suspicious of any man’s promises, including those of the darkly sexy and overwhelmingly intense Ravens’ leader. But as the powerful attraction between them flares to life, Dare pushes her boundaries and tempts her to want things she never thought she could.

The past never dies without a fight, but Dare Kenyon’s never backed down before… 

Order on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Add to your Goodreads

About Ride Rough (Raven Riders #2, 4/25/17)

Maverick Rylan won’t apologize for who he is—the Raven Riders Motorcycle Club Vice-President, a sought-after custom bike builder, and a man dedicated to protecting those he loves. So when he learns that the only woman who has ever held his heart is in trouble, he’ll move heaven and earth to save her.

Alexa Harmon thought she had it all—the security of a good job, a beautiful home, and a powerful, charming fiancé who offered the life she never had growing up. But when her dream quickly turns into a nightmare, Alexa realizes she’s fallen for a façade she can’t escape—until sexy, dangerous Maverick offers her a way out.

Forced together to keep Alexa safe, their powerful attraction reignites and Maverick determines to do whatever it takes to earn a second chance—one Alexa is tempted to give. But her ex-fiancé isn’t going to let her go without a fight, one that will threaten everything they both hold dear.

Order on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Add to your Goodreads

About Laura Kaye

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense, including the Hard Ink and upcoming Raven Riders series. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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These Royals will ruin you…

From mortal enemies to unexpected allies, two teenagers try to protect everything that matters most.

Ella Harper has met every challenge that life has thrown her way. She’s tough, resilient, and willing to do whatever it takes to defend the people she loves, but the challenge of a long-lost father and a boyfriend whose life is on the line might be too much for even Ella to overcome.

Reed Royal has a quick temper and even faster fists. But his tendency to meet every obstacle with violence has finally caught up with him. If he wants to save himself and the girl he loves, he’ll need to rise above his tortured past and tarnished reputation.

No one believes Ella can survive the Royals. Everyone is sure Reed will destroy them all.
They may be right.

With everything and everyone conspiring to keep them apart, Ella and Reed must find a way to beat the law, save their families, and unravel all the secrets in their Twisted Palace.

USA!: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M9C7U18
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01M9C7U18
CANADA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01M9C7U18
Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01M9C7U18
Germany : https://www.amazon.de/dp/B01M9C7U18
France: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B01M9C7U18
Spain: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B01M9C7U18
Italy: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B01M9C7U18
Netherlands: https://www.amazon.nl/dp/B01M9C7U18
Japan: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01M9C7U18

Review

Twisted Palace, the title of the third book in Erin Watt’s The Royals series, foreshadows the state of not only the Royal homestead but also the society of Astor as a whole because it may look beautiful on the outside with all of its money, power, and prestige, but as Erin Watt takes readers inside the maelstrom that’s brewing due to Brooke’s death, we see firsthand that the ugliness within always finds a way to wrap itself around anyone and anything that gets in its way.

Secrets, lies, and manipulation have been the state of affairs in Astor since Ella Harper entered this picture perfect world in Paper Princess, and as readers wade through the shitstorm that’s settled at the Royals’ door, we grow to understand that it’s not necessarily the Royals who will ruin everyone in their path…it’s more that with one accusation…one arrest warrant…one societal view of a murder suspect, the Royals’ royal place in Astor will crumble to the ground, perhaps living a family without their prince and a princess without her knight in tarnished armor.

The first aspect of The Royals series that lured me in was the world that Erin Watt created. The Royals’ society is flashy, egoistical, and there’s an established hierarchy that dictates all aspects of life. The Royal men have dominated this domain, forcing everyone to bow down to them and support their every whim. But times they are a changin and with Reed ensconced in a murder case and the Royals’ decision to allow trailer trash into their home and their hearts, the reign of the Royals is under fire, and as their weaknesses are being exposed, Ella’s ready to run while Reed chooses to fight regardless of how hopeless it may be.

I’m 100% Team Reed…in fact, I’m 100% Team Royal because while this family may be one hell of a hot mess, as a united front, there’s nothing they can’t do, and Ella Harper…O’Halloran…Royal becomes the backbone and the salvation of the Royal family, providing them with a much more enlightened view of the world they live in, especially in terms of who and what matters most.

I truly hope readers haven’t seen the end of the Royals because there is so much more of their story to tell…the other Royal princes need to find their princesses and the King of the Royals needs to find a way to move past the revelations that rocked his world at its core and work out exactly what he wants his life to be.

4.5 Poison Apples

Title: Hidden (Five Fates, Book 1)

Author: Amy McKinley

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release Date: November 2, 2015

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26249544-hidden

Synopsis

Cursed since birth, hunted by gods, and desperate for love—Jade never stood a chance.

Half-demon, half-goddess, Jade’s fate makes her a pawn in an epic battle among the gods. Hidden on Earth with her sisters, she successfully avoids the Oneiroi—the dream gods—bent on her destruction until the prophecy, long dormant, awakens a dark shadow within her.

Roen, a reclusive Worr demon known for his battles against the Oneiroi, is called to protect Jade. Together they must unlock their mysterious connection and find a way to beat back destiny. Can she outsmart the prophecy, change her fate, and find love—even when she learns who is connected to her destruction?

Purchase your copy today!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2cAVBBf

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2djbGx9

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1Kyxj0F

IBooks: http://apple.co/1OxxqlC

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1OMINoV

Champagne Books: http://bit.ly/29x84CD

Excerpt from Hidden

Hades kissed his wife, Persephone, one last time before reluctantly relinquishing her above ground, where her mother impatiently waited.

“Behave while I’m gone, Hades.” Persephone traced a pink-kissed nail along her husband’s dark jawline.

He was loathe to shave too often as the rough stubble against her skin excited her. “Six months is ridiculously long,” he murmured against her lush lips. “Find a way to meet me at the meadow.”

Mischief danced in her eyes as she stepped onto the boat which would ferry her along the River Styx, leading her out of the Underworld. “It’s a date,” she purred, blowing her husband a sultry kiss.

That woman slays me. He watched until she was out of sight. Once his bride was gone, his attention returned to his beloved Underworld and the current state it was in.

Hades leapt onto his chariot. A resounding crack split the air as he commanded his four black horses to lead him past boiling lava pits and stalagmites to the deepest, fiery pits of the abyss—Tartarus.

Creatures scampered out of his way. Fallen angels and demons went about their business—lest they draw his anger—as he thundered past. Tormented screams echoed off cavernous walls and pools of fiery despair. His pulse roared in his veins. He reveled at what he was about to see…

The Fates’ curse had begun.

Reining his steeds to a halt, he dismounted, his black boots crunching on a mixture of bones and jagged pieces of rock. Amidst the prisons, the things of nightmares tortured imprisoned souls.

A laugh rumbled up from his gut and rolled out. He threw back his head then ran his hands through his black hair, freeing it from its tie. Pers wasn’t here right now, due to his brother, Zeus’s, acquiescence to Demeter.

Hades ignored the slow burn in his chest at the thought of his wife being gone for six long months and focused on the game of persecuting his brother instead, for he knew a thing or two about Aiesa’s offspring that Zeus did not.

An ear-splitting scream rent the air, snapping Hades out of his thoughts. New souls.

He knew who sent them. Although he benefitted from so many entering his domain, his brother would not be happy.

What a perfect time to pay Zeus a visit.

Read the series!

Taken (Five Fates, Book 2)

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Synopsis

Forged through a childhood trauma and cursed by the Fates, Layla vows never to be at another’s mercy. With determination and training she evolves into a deadly weapon and quiets her inner demons—until the prophecy activates, shattering her peace. The gods who want her dead converge and the hunt to end her life truly begins. The skills that Layla honed for protection become an unconscious tool for death and destruction, threatening not only the gods but her family.

Entrenched in clan turmoil, Thaull’s life hangs at a precipice. He’s faced with a condition known only to his kind, the soul-divide. If not dealt with, his soul will rip in half and he will turn into an unstoppable, ice-cold killing machine. As he hunts the traitor within his Phantom Warrior clan he worsens. A fragile thread of hope remains. The love of a female, freely given, can save him. Through a premonition of an alluring demigoddess, he gambles his very existence in the chance she will be his salvation.

She will go dark from her curse. He will go numb from his. To survive, Layla must risk trusting another or become another.

Excerpt

It wasn’t a good day. Eerie dreams haunted her. The past had resurfaced and functioning was difficult at best. Unease crawled along her skin, sunk its talons into her bones, and dragged her into the abyss. As a mere child in a trap laid, she’d been unprotected, exhausted, and the Oneiroi had neared. Tactile memories surfaced against her will. Just as before she’d barely escaped the brush of their deadly power. Now…there was no escape.

They’re coming.

Images bombarded her, and she squeezed her lids closed. Go away. But they wouldn’t. Sinking into a corner of her shop, back against the wall, she dropped her head into her trembling hands, fisting handfuls of hair. The Oneiroi had been hunting her ever since she was born and wouldn’t stop until she was dead. Jade beat the prophecy—will I?

Once, long ago, she’d inadvertently drawn the Oneiroi, and glimpsed what was to come. Deep in the recesses of her mind, she knew what had begun it all. Her. A pawn by another, she had lured the ones who started her nightmare. The details of that secret she kept to herself, unwilling to bring it to the light of day. She knew the immense power the Oneiroi wielded as they’d approached. It didn’t matter what drove them to hunt her. She feared she wouldn’t survive.

Ever since then, she’d focused on gaining strength and training to attain invincibility. She’d find a way so no one could defeat her. Curling her fingers around her knife, she found its heavy weight comforting.

“Layla! Oh, gods…what happened?” Kepri fell to her knees before her.

Layla’s head jerked. A whimper escaped her lips when her sister’s hand lightly brushed a strand of her hair away from her face. She wasn’t ready to be touched, not yet. Hate this.

How had Kepri arrived and she’d not realized? Layla’s grip stiffened on her blade, needing its grounding reassurance.

“Layla…talk to me.”

All she could do was stare; her body didn’t want to respond, aside from the shaking. Her corner seemed the safest place, and words…they were too difficult, her throat too constricted. Her sister’s eyes were saucer wide and concern swam in their depth until… That look.

“Okay, sweetie, time to get up. We’re going to do what you always do and maybe a stiff drink on top of it.”

Inside, Layla recoiled as Kepri helped her up, draping her arms around her, buffeting her against the world. I can do this. It wasn’t real. I’m no longer a child.

Kepri forced her to choose several throwing knives from the weapons wall. Leading her out in the fresh air, she tucked a blade in Layla’s empty hand. “Okay, let ’er rip. Oh, what the hell.” She grinned widely, winking. “I’ll go first.”

The loud thunk of the knife hitting the wooden round secured against a tree registered like a balm on Layla’s brain. She ran her thumb over the smooth steel, flipping it, testing its weight before she, too, let it fly. Each throw worked to seep strength back into her body, as did the stiff bourbon laced with ambrosia Kepri forced on her.

Minutes ticked away. Layla kept silent. Her sisters all worried and continued to barge in on her solace here in her glen, thinking she should be surrounded by others, or at least them. She cringed inwardly; generally she loved their visits even though her privacy was precious to her. Well, today they were right to worry. Didn’t mean she liked these rare occasions witnessed.

“So…are you ready to talk to me?” Kepri pressed, flipping a riot of long, blonde curls over her shoulder.

Shrugging, Layla threw a few more times, automatically retrieving the knives before answering her. “No. It’s the same as always.” They know that. She leveled her sister a warning look before facing the target again. “And I don’t want to talk about it.”

Kepri’s voice quieted as she spoke. “Layla, she can’t get to you.”

Why? Why were her sisters compelled to talk about it, or check up on her for this reason? “Look, Kepri, I realize that, all right?” Struggling not to slip back into the place she’d just fought to get out of, she worked to explain what Kepri didn’t quite understand. “She used magic on me. She was in my head, and at times it’s like she never left.”

Kepri looked as if she was about to say something, but thought better. Shock. They all needed to realize she wasn’t going to talk about it. So much easier with Zayden. He just accepted her, scars and all. He didn’t push.

Layla scowled as her sister moved closer. Why did she have to be so tall? Kepri’s height annoyed her too. Feeling small sucked. Shifting her focus, she launched her knives again. With each progressive strike, her hands shook less, her confidence returning.

Thankfully, her headstrong sister kept quiet, giving her the space she needed. Soon, the sounds around Layla lost their edge, as did the intensity that ground on her nerves; the cool morning breeze acted as a balm. The moodiness of the glen was replaced with a crisp, beautiful day. She inhaled the first full breath in unrestricted lungs and glanced at Kepri with the beginnings of a smile until her sister opened her big mouth and asked about the order she was waiting on.

“Seriously, Kepri? I’ve got a lot on my plate right now.” Pressing her lips together, Layla walked to the target and yanked out the knives before she faced her sister once more. With the activation of the curse and her past riding her hard, she didn’t need one more thing to worry about. Her sister coming around, risking herself, wasn’t what she wanted.

Layla motioned to her workshop. “They’re in there, completed. Look, sis, I can’t take on any more right now. I’m swamped. You need to hold off and really, I prefer filling orders for Shoeld, not this realm.” Wary of the backlash of her stubborn sister, she crossed her arms and tensed for the potential verbal barrage.

“Listen, I’ll cut you some slack since you’re obviously going through—” Kepri motioned to Layla’s entire being. “—something. But I need the medieval pieces you craft for my collections. They aid all of us. Each connection I establish is a possible step in the right direction toward an answer in breaking the curse.”

“You can’t be certain of that.” Layla scrunched her nose at Kepri’s self-absorption. “I get that they help you to talk with more people, which in turn connects you to even more ancient artifacts, and you scry for answers.” Answers I need. “Come on, Kepri, you are not the only one looking.” Layla took a step back, rubbing her forehead. “I’m sorry, I get that it helps you, but I need a break.” Silence met her apology.

With a curt nod, Kepri gave a tight-lipped smile.

What she really needed was Kepri to stay away, aside from figuring out the change she sensed inside her; she worried about who was coming.

About The Author

Amy McKinley is a freelance writer and author of the Five Fates Series. She lives in Illinois with her husband, their four talented teenagers, and three mischievous cats. You can find her at www.amymckinley.com

Author Links

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PROLOGUE

CALEB

MY father always said I would know when the right woman came along. He was such a wise man. When it happened, I didn’t even question it because the process was so effortless. I just fell into her . . . because my heart knew her right away.

Knew she was the one for me.

I’d known her for years actually. She came to Blackstone Island to live with her grandmother after her parents were killed in a car crash. A devastated fifteen-year-old trying to adapt to a new life in a new place, trying to find where she fit in to a world so different from where she’d come—a forty-square-mile resort island off the Massachusetts coast where her grandmother ran the household at Blackwater, the family ancestral home.

Should have known of her, that is.

Our paths didn’t cross that I am aware of, but it’s possible. I rarely visited the island in those days because I was a twenty-three-year-old junior executive fresh out of Harvard Business School, learning everything I could about the family business. I traveled the world, enjoying the excitement of international boardroom deals by day and socializing at off-hours business affairs by night. I worked hard at both. Affairs, liaisons, one-night stands had all come and gone without a backward glance. Nameless faces and unremarkable encounters filled my nights whenever I wanted them to. The hopping nightlife of the big cities with even bigger players vying for a piece of the pie became my normal. I embraced every aspect that came with the lifestyle. Wealth, sexual favors, a certain celebrity born out of my name, all collected with barely any effort. For the next eight years, I had the world in the palm of my hand as I went about amassing a personal fortune in addition to increasing the family coffers.

Or so I thought.

I didn’t yet know what was missing from my life. Until her. And then, when I realized exactly who she was, and how fate had gotten the last laugh on me, it was already far too late. She’d bewitched me utterly. And furthermore, I knew she had no idea who I was or what ties connected us.

Maybe that’s what made her so intoxicating?

I didn’t know and I didn’t care because it made absolutely no difference to me. I wanted her with a primal desire I could barely understand, yet I embraced that desire wholeheartedly because I was incapable of doing anything else with it. How could I not? She had enchanted me.

However, once my brain managed to catch up, it wasn’t quite so effortless to accept this new and unfamiliar reality of feeling something for a woman beyond the unquestioning curiosity of when and if we might fuck.

I struggled against the idea of her at first for a few reasons. She was too young. My mother would never approve of us together. Others in my world would probably chew her up and spit her out, destroying her sweetness. But I soon found out my heart didn’t give a flying fuck about any of those reasons. The heart wants what it wants, and I’d discovered that for my heart, “want” was all wrapped up in the package that was Brooke Ellen Casterley.

The death of my father from the evils of cancer was an eye-opener for my siblings and me. Money can buy a lot of things, but it can’t stop the grim reaper from calling on you if it’s your time to go. Death was called the great equalizer. And it truly was. Wealth is a trivial thing when it’s only extra fuckin’ zeros on a balance sheet that makes any difference between lives lived. Doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor when you die, because none of it counts at the end. You leave this life the same way you come into it. You go out alone and take nothing. “There has to be more to life than making money, son,” he told me at the end. He took hold of my hand and squeezed as hard as his frail strength could manage so as to make me understand the importance. He had regrets and wanted to share with me what he’d learned to prevent me from making the same mistakes. I understood him clearly.

The most essential value my father tried to teach me along with my brothers and sisters was the idea of family. Family took precedence over money. “Take care of the family first and the wealth will grow, Caleb,” he said.

A strong family moving forward was the only thing that truly meant anything at the end of the day.

The Blackstones had been here on the island since the days when the Mayflower made its treacherous journey to the untamed American shores. As the eldest son it was my duty to make sure the Blackstones would still be here a hundred years from now.

My plan to fulfill my duty included her. It wouldn’t work any other way for me. I knew it the first time I ever felt the heat of her eyes as they burned me from across the room.

I knew it down in my bones.

I was going to marry that lovely, beautiful girl from England, and she would be mine.

Are you ready for Caleb Blackstone?

Filthy Rich by Raine Miller releases on November 15th! #BlackstoneDynasty

Pre-order TODAY!

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Blurb

Billionaire Caleb Blackstone lives in the glamorous world of wealth and success, with every material luxury. But the moment he sees Brooke Casterley, none of that matters. Caleb is filled with a raw, undeniable need that he can’t ignore…for a girl who is so completely different from everything and everyone he’s ever known.

Only Brooke isn’t looking for love. She knows all too well just how much damage the wrong guy can do. Still, what sane, broke British girl can resist the charms of an incredibly sexy, chivalrous billionaire? What starts as flirtation quickly turns into all-consuming passion. Nothing could have prepared her for the searing heat of Caleb’s touch—or just how much she craves him.

Their whirlwind romance is the stuff of high-society fantasy—but for every moment of pleasure, there is a cost. Past mistakes and tragedy shadow them both…and falling for him might be the kind of trouble she can’t afford.

About the Author

Raine Miller has been reading romance novels since she picked up that first Barbara Cartland book at the tender age of thirteen. And it’s a safe bet she’ll never stop, because now she writes them too! Granted Raine’s stories are edgy enough to turn Ms. Cartland in her grave, but to her way of thinking, a hot, sexy hero never goes out of fashion. A former teacher, she’s now writing sexy romance stories full time. She has a handsome prince of a husband, two brilliant sons, and two bouncy Italian Greyhounds to pull her back into the real world if the writing takes her too far away. Her sons know she likes to write stories, but gratefully have never asked to read any, thank God! Raine loves to hear from readers and to chat about the characters in her books. You can contact her at raine_miller@ymail.com or visit www.RaineMiller.com to sign up for updates and her newsletter with links to upcoming books. Join us on Facebook at the Raine Miller Romance Readers group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/raine_miller

 

From NYT Bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes a swoony new standalone romance…

THE SEXY ONE! 

Want a romance guaranteed to make you melt?

Get ready to fall in love with THE SEXY ONE!

“Swoony, passionate and oh-so-romantic!”

~NYT Bestselling author K Bromberg

“Insanely romantic and so genuinely charming…”

~Fresh Fiction

From the NYT Bestselling author of MISTER O, comes a sexy new standalone romance…

Let me count the ways why falling into forbidden love is not my wisest move…
1. She works with me every single day.
Did I mention she’s gorgeous, sweet, kind and smart?
2. She works in my home.
Playing with my five-year-old daughter. Teaching my little girl. Cooking for my princess. Which means…
3. She’s the nanny.
And that makes her completely off-limits…But it doesn’t stop me from wanting her. All of her.

***

The other nannies in this city don’t call him the Sexy One for nothing. My boss, the amazingly wonderful single father to the girl I take care of every day is ridiculously hot, like movie star levels with those arms, and those eyes, and that body. Not to mention, the way he dotes on his little girl melts me all over. But what really makes my knees weak are the times when his gaze lingers on me. In secret. When no one else is around.

I can’t risk my job for a chance at something more…can I? But I don’t know how to resist him much longer either…

With all the heat, heart and humor readers have come to expect, this newest standalone will make you laugh, swoon and feel like you’re falling in love!

Amazon Paperback | iBooks | Kobo | Barnes & Noble  

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A swoony, forbidden standalone contemporary romance, THE SEXY ONE is a forbidden love story, the romantic tale of a single father falling head over heels for the smart, kind and beautiful nanny. Resistance is hard as these two fall deeply in love while she works in his home. But forbidden romances are fraught with their own challenges, and nothing comes easily for this couple. Told in dual POV, THE SEXY ONE is being called Lauren Blakely’s most romantic novel yet. THE SEXY ONE is swoony, sweet, hot and forbidden.

“A good old-fashioned love story with a forbidden twist.”

~Bookalicious Babe Blog

Add it to Goodreads here!

Review

Out of all of Lauren Blakely’s men, I think Simon Travers has just romanced his way to the top of my list. I fell completely in love with this hot single dad in The Sexy One because he’s the real deal; he’s a man who intensely loves his daughter, and he values his time with her. He also knows how to use his words to bring a woman to her knees because his passion for life and his intelligence is a deadly combination. Simon Travers isn’t perfect, which only further endears him to me because he knows he’s made mistakes, but he also doesn’t regret how everything in his life has played out because it has brought him to Abby.

Abby Becker is Simon’s perfect match despite the fact that he’s 8 years older than her and has a much different lifestyle due to his 5 year old daughter. For 7 months, she has kept her feelings for Simon suppressed because she doesn’t want to cross a line that she can’t come back from, but the fact that her feelings seem to be reciprocated may just be worth the risk.

The Sexy One’s story line may sound a bit cliché since it’s a dad falling for the nanny, but there is nothing formulaic about Simon and Abby’s feelings for one another nor is he cheating on his wife or neglecting his child due to his attraction to her. Sometimes temptation is too great…sometimes the untouchable and off-limits is not meant to end up that way because it’s clear to anyone who sees Simon and Abby together that they make each other’s lives richer and their connection resonates off of them during every interaction, every gentle caress, and every passionate act.

I don’t know what magical formula Lauren Blakely uses in order to create these swoonworthy, flawed alpha males she continually graces her books with, but I for one hope the magic continues indefinitely because Blakely’s men are the kind of guys who romance readers love to read about and there’s nothing wrong with a little smutty day dreaming and book boyfriend swooning to pass the time until Blakely introduces us to her next guy;)

4.5 Poison Apples Review

Excerpt 

This man can kiss. His lips taste so good as he kisses me with a tenderness and a hunger that’s entirely new in my experience.

This kiss vibrates and spreads through my entire body, as if I’ve been shot full of liquid beauty, like gold and silver flow through my veins. He slides his tongue across mine, and I want to grab him, straddle him, and just kiss the daylights out of him, even in this crazy, dangerous cab.

I hardly care that our first kiss isn’t on a moonlit balcony or under the stars. This kiss was inevitable, especially after the last few nights, all these days, and then this afternoon. All our moments have been marching to this as Simon kisses me with such reverence that I want to melt into him. I rope my fingers through his soft hair, and I truly can’t believe I’m making out with Simon Travers in the back of a cab after we watched a documentary on zebras.

I wish I could say that alarms sound, telling me how risky it is to kiss the man I work for. But all I hear is the rapid beat of my heart, leading me closer to him.

Simon runs his thumb along my cheek, and that soft touch makes me tremble. Somehow I wriggle closer, my breasts pressed to his firm chest. He groans. It’s carnal and masculine, almost like a warning. But neither one of us heeds it. We simply can’t stop. We’re those people. The kind who go crazy in public. I feel insane right now. Crazy and wild and reckless.

His hands are on my face, then my hair, and then the back of my head. He is all heat and passion. The way his lips sweep over mine, the way his tongue explores my mouth, and most of all, the way he holds me—it all makes me want to grab those strong shoulders of his and slam him down on top of my body. I want to feel him slide my wrists over my head, pin them, and then smother me in kisses everywhere. I want to let go beneath his mouth, arch into him, urge him to explore my body the way he seems to want to.

The car jerks to a stop.

Abruptly, we separate, but only slightly.

He blinks and breathes out hard as he glances around. We’re all the way in Columbus Circle. Holy shit. We kissed for blocks upon blocks.

My lips miss his. I thread my hand into his hair. “We shouldn’t do this,” I say, though it hardly sounds like a protest as his hair falls through my fingers.

His eyes float closed, and his mouth is open, his breath coming in harsh pants. “We definitely shouldn’t do this,” he says, his voice low and smoky as he sighs deeply at my touch.

“You’re my boss,” I say, pointing out the obvious.

“You’re my—”

Whatever he was going to say next is cut off when he brushes his lips against my forehead, then over my face, dusting my cheek, my eyelids, my jawline.

My skin sizzles. My stomach flips. I want to live inside this kiss. “Don’t stop,” I murmur as his lips mark me.

He travels to my neck, and I tilt my head to the side. He layers kisses all along the column of my throat, the delicious mix of his rough stubble and his soft lips sending sparks to my very core. My body is hungry, eager for him, and I’m going to need a new word for want because what I feel for Simon is so much more than that.

It’s yearning. It’s non-negotiable. I have to have him.

“I don’t know that I can stop with you, Abby,” he whispers, and my name falling from his lips is exquisite and sensual.

In it, I hear his complete and utter need for me, and it’s thrilling—because it matches my heart. It matches my body, too.

Celebrate the release of The SEXY ONE! Enter to win a NIGHT OF ROMANCE, including a $100 gift card to your favorite restaurant, Signed copies of Big Rock, Mister O, and Well Hung, $25 gift card to Fandango, $25 gift card to 1-800 Flowers, and a $25 gift card to Victoria’s Secret or Bath and Body Works for 1 winner.

Second and Third place prizes include a Signed copy of Well Hung and $25 Amazon Gift Card.

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About Lauren Blakely

Since self-publishing her debut romance novel CAUGHT UP IN US three years ago, Lauren Blakely has sold more than 1 million books. She is known for her sexy contemporary romance style that’s full of heat, heart and humor. A devout fan of cake and canines, Lauren has plotted entire novels while walking her four-legged friends. She lives in California with her family. With eleven New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than sixty times. Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire as well as standalone romantic comedies like BIG ROCK, MISTER O and WELL HUNG, which were instant New York Times Bestsellers. In the fall she’ll release THE SEXY ONE, a swoony contemporary romance. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter at laurenblakely.com/newsletter.

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