Fairest Of All Book Reviews

 

Their love led to a lie.

Their truth led to the end.

Scottish enigma Brigs McGregor is crawling out from the ashes. After losing his wife and son in a car accident – and, subsequently, his job – he’s finally moving forward with his life, securing a prestigious teaching position at the University of London and starting a new chapter in the city. Slowly, but surely, he’s pushing past the guilt and putting his tragic past behind him.

Until he sees her.

Natasha Trudeau once loved a man so much she thought she’d die without him. But their love was wrong, doomed from the start, and when their world crashed around them, Natasha was nearly buried in the rubble. It took years of moving on to forget him, and now that she’s in London, she’s ready to start over again.

Until she sees him.

Because some loves are too dangerous to ever rekindle.

And some loves are too powerful to ignore.

Can you ever have a second chance at a love that ruined you?

The Lie is a second-chance romance with a dark, forbidden twist.

iBooks pre-order – geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-lie/id1061522210?mt=11

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27570367-the-lie?from_search=true&search_version=service

 

Kindle: bit.ly/MasteredKindle
Amazon Paperback: bit.ly/MasteredAmazon
Nook: bit.ly/MasteredNook
B&N Paperback: bit.ly/MasteredBN
iBooks: bit.ly/MasterediBooks
BAM: bit.ly/MasteredBAM
Google: bit.ly/MasteredGoogle
Kobo: bit.ly/MasteredKobo

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Breathless Trilogy comes the first novel in the Enforcers series—a bold new direction in erotic romance that explores the games men and women play, and the price they’re willing to pay for pleasure.

What he wants, he takes with no remorse or guilt.

She stood out in his club like a gem, unspoiled and untouched. A lamb among wolves, she clearly didn’t belong. Drawn to her innocence he watched as she was surrounded by men who saw what he did—but no one but him could touch her. He summoned her to his private quarters. He sensed her fear. He also recognized the desire in her eyes. And he knew she wouldn’t leave before he possessed her. She had no need to know his secrets. Not until he had her under his complete and utter control.

What he wants, she isn’t sure she can give him.

The moment he told her want he wanted, she couldn’t resist. Instinct told her to run, but her heart said stay and walk the fine line between pleasure and pain. Though she wasn’t sure she could ever completely surrender, the primal part of her wanted to try, even knowing this man could break her in ways she never imagined. Because once he possessed her, he owned her and it would be too late to turn back. She can only pray that he doesn’t destroy her in the end.

Coming May 2016: The Enforcers Book II: Dominated

Review

This book has me so conflicted…at times, it totally turned me off, and I was supremely annoyed at both the hero and the heroine for their actions and attitudes. Other times, I understood why Drake was the way he was and how that actually helped Evangeline to feel cherished and loved. The parts where Drake’s partners interacted with Evangeline were my favorite because those scenes truly illustrated what an honest and genuine person could do for even the toughest badasses around, and I have to say that Silas is, by far, my favorite secondary character, and I can’t wait for his story.

There are going to be mixed reviews for Drake and Evangeline’s story because some readers will view Evangeline as extremely weak and docile while others will have a hard time not placing Drake in the alpha asshole category with no hope of getting out of it even when he shows his humanity towards Evangeline. I absolutely felt both of those reactions during parts of the story, but I also witnessed Evangeline’s strength, especially at the end of the text, which gives me hope that in the follow-up story, Evangeline will guard her heart more and look out for herself without worrying about the repercussions.

In my opinion, Drake has a lot to make up for heading into Dominated, and I’m not quite sure how he’s going pull that off because his need for control and the necessity of having no weaknesses is not something that will get him the results he demands. By requiring absolute submission and expecting all orders to be followed since it is his world and his rules, he’s set himself up for a less than stellar outcome, because as he’s stated quite frequently, Evangeline is nothing like his “usual” women, and for that reason, he needs to create a new set of standards and be willing to bend and compromise in order to keep the one woman who just might be his perfect match, but for a man whose lifestyle is meticulously controlled, the casualties of this new arrangement with Evangeline may not end well for anyone involved, especially the man who commandeered her presence in his carefully constructed lifestyle.

Overall, I enjoyed Mastered. There were parts I found problematic, especially the cyclical nature of Evangeline’s self esteem issues combined with her out of character tongue lashings of Drake’s men and, at times, Drake himself. I understand that Evangeline’s outward demeanor is due to a variety of factors, but the way it’s overly emphasized throughout the entire text made it difficult to take those other moments of tenacity at face value. I also have a big issue with Evangeline’s so called best friends, and I hope Maya Banks explores those relationships in book 2 because for how much they cared for and helped Evangeline in the beginning of the story to then have no part in her life because she chose to stay with Drake just didn’t work for me, and I need some insight into why that would happen. There’s work to be done in a multitude of areas in order for Evangeline and Drake to work through their issues, and I’m sure Drake’s partners/brothers will have a thing or two to say about his latest actions, and as Maya Banks has demonstrated multiple times throughout Mastered, I would not want to be the one to face the wrath of his enforcers, especially since they all have grown quite fond of Evangeline.

A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

At times a 3….other times a 3.5….still other times a 4

Overall: 3.5 Poison Apples

 

REEVE IS HERE!  

Meet Reeve & Emily in First Touch by Laurelin Paige! This highly anticipated release is NOW LIVE!  Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1jxIMYq

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1InTooo

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

iBooks: http://apple.co/1QcYmW7

Google Play: http://bit.ly/1lWuKkT

 

Blurb

When Emily Wayborn goes home to visit her mom while on hiatus from her hit TV show, she receives a voicemail from her former best friend, Amber. Though the two were once notorious party girls, they haven’t spoken in years. Although the message might sound benign to anyone else, Amber uses a safe word that Emily recognizes, a word they always used to get out of sticky situations during their wild days. And what’s more chilling than the voicemail: it turns out that Amber has gone missing.

Determined to track down her friend, Emily follows a chain of clues that lead her to the enigmatic billionaire Reeve Sallis, a hotelier known for his shady dealings and play boy reputation. Now, in order to find Amber, Emily must seduce Reeve to learn his secrets and discover the whereabouts of her friend. But as she finds herself more entangled with him, she finds she’s drawn to Reeve for more than just his connection to Amber, despite her growing fear that he may be the enemy. When she’s forced to choose where her loyalty lies, how will she decide between saving Amber and saving her heart?

 

About the Author

Laurelin Paige is the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Fixed Trilogy. She’s a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Game of Thrones and the Walking Dead, or dreaming of Michael Fassbender. She’s also a proud member of Mensa International though she doesn’t do anything with the organization except use it as material for her bio.

STALK HER:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

 

Colton Donavan is back in ACED
January 11, 2016!

Synopsis

Rylee and Colton’s ride continues…

One moment. Six years ago.

The night she made the world around me so much more than just a blur. Now it’s the catalyst that threatens to tear us apart.

Our happily was supposed to be ever after. So why do I feel like it’s slipping through my fingers?

How can one moment, when our world seemed so right, resurface and cause our perfect life to spiral out of control?

I can’t lose her.

She’s my checkered flag.

Now available for Pre-order!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1mIdFvf

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iBooks: http://apple.co/1hML059

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

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1NX9mb5

Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1OVtIjs

Excerpt

“I talked to my parents. To Tanner. To Shane.” My voice fades off as the disbelief I have to take stock and let him know the damage control I’ve done takes hold. Unsure how to respond to me when he’s always so sure, he just nods his head as our eyes hold steadfast. “I just don’t know…” My voice is so soft, it sounds so very different than the storm of anger that rages inside me, and yet I can’t find it within me to show my emotions. I can feel his fingers tense from my comment, see his Adam’s apple bob from the forced swallow, and notice the tick of muscle as he clenches his jaw.

“We’ll get through this.”

The condescending chuckle falls from my lips, the first break in my fraudulent façade because it’s so damn easy for him to say. “I know.” Voice back, emotion nonexistent, tone unsure.

Colton stares, willing me to say more but I don’t. I just match him stare for hollow stare as images of myself from Google flickering through my mind. Finally he breaks out connection and reaches his fingers to pinch the bridge of his nose before blowing out a sigh.

“Scream at me, Ry. Yell. Rage. Take it out on me. Do anything but be silent because I can’t handle when you’re silent with me,” he pleads. All I can do is shake my head, dig down within myself to will the emotion to come. When I can’t find the words or the feeling behind them, it unnerves him, worries him. “I’m sorry, baby. Were we stupid? Maybe. Do I regret it?” He shakes his head. “I regret all of this, yes, but that in general? No. So many damn things happened that put you and me where we are now. So for that? I’m not sorry. You pushed me that night, made me question if I could give someone more of myself.” He reaches his free hand up to brush a thumb over the line of my jaw. His touch reassuring, his words helping soothe the sting of our situation.

“It’s not your fault,” I say, trying to ease the concern in his eyes.

“Maybe not directly . . . but I made you color outside of your perfectly constructed lines . . . do something against your nature, and look what happened. I’m so sorry. I wish I could make this right,” he says, dropping his head as he shakes his head in defeat. “All I can try to do is mitigate the damage. That’s it.” He throws his hands up. “It’s killing me because I can’t fix this.” The break in his voice and the tension in his body would have told me everything I needed to know even if he hadn’t uttered a sound.

I look at my achingly handsome husband, so distraught, so desperate to make wrongs right that aren’t his to be held responsible for. And seeing him as upset as I am makes me feel a little better and allows me to dig into the deep well of emotion. I finally find the words I need and want to tell him. The decisions I came to last night when I sat on the deck and considered the life-altering situation we were in.

“Stop. Please quit beating yourself up over this. I don’t blame you.” I pause, my teeth worrying my bottom lip as I put words to my thoughts and wait for him to hear that last sentence.

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love.

She’s a mixture of most of her female characters: sassy, intelligent, stubborn, reserved, outgoing, driven, emotional, strong, and wears her heart on her sleeve. All of which she displays daily with her husband and three children where they live in Southern California.

On a whim, K. Bromberg decided to try her hand at this writing thing. Since then she has written The Driven Series (Driven, Fueled, Crashed, Raced), the standalone Driven Novels (Slow Burn, Sweet Ache, Hard Beat, Aced (a new Rylee and Colton novel releasing 1/11/16), and a short story titled UnRaveled. She is currently working on new projects and a few surprises for her readers.

She loves to hear from her readers so make sure you check her out on social media.

Connect With Kristy

Facebook • Twitter • Website • Goodreads

Favorite Authors and Best Reads of 2015

I’ve read 275 books this year, so it’s extremely difficult for me to choose my top ten; 

for that reason, I decided to give readers my favorite authors and reads of 2015!

So….Here they are

Favorite Authors – in alphabetical order by author’s last name

Click on the Author’s Name to Reach Their Amazon Pages

Sawyer Bennett  

I adore Sawyer Bennett’s writing; it’s sexy and sweet and her characters are complex and well written! Her Cold Fury Hockey Series is one of my absolute favorites!

 

 

Tillie Cole

Tillie Cole is truly in a category of her own when it comes to her willingness to write outside of the box and bring readers to the edge of darkness and destruction.

Emma Hart

Emma Hart continues to be one of my top go to writers. She creates amazing characters and story lines – ones that keep my heart racing, my emotions swirling, and my panties in need of changing;)

Jay McLean

Jay McLean is an amazing writer whose new adult stories pull readers in from the very beginning due to her wonderfully crafted story lines and her multifaceted characters who stretch and grow as Jay takes them on a whirlwind of adventures that cannot help but alter their lives. A lot of her characters have been through horrific experiences, and while they want to give up and surrender to the pain, the consistent message that is explored throughout these heart wrenching stories is that in order to survive, you fight, and when you don’t feel like you can do it anymore, you reach out your hand and hold on tight to the people around you who would willingly lay down their lives to make you happy.

Penny Reid

If I could read Penny Reid’s writing every day, I would because there’s something so seamless about the settings and characters she creates. She sets herself apart from most romance authors because she doesn’t try to glamorize anything or try to impress. She writes from her heart and strays outside the box with her witty exchanges between characters and her realistic perceptions of life, love, and the idea of happy living.

Pepper Winters

I am absolutely in awe of Winters’ ability to dive into the darkness and manipulate it the way she does in order to bring readers a captivating and mind boggling story of corruption, betrayal, and loss as well as love, redemption, and sacrifice. I love that Jethro and Nila’s tale is so much more than good vs. evil because nothing is ever as clear cut as that idea and by illustrating the multiple dimensions of those two concepts and proving that there are always exceptions and complications to them, it serves as a reminder that history doesn’t have to repeat itself and one’s fate/destiny can be changed as long as that person is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure a new future occurs.

Rachel Van Dyken

Rachel Van Dyken continues to captivate me with every book that she releases in her Eagle Elite series. She weaves a story that is the perfect blend of suspense, angst, passion, mayhem, and loss. Each time Van Dyken provides insight into one of her Mafia Men by way of his own story, I see them in a new light, focusing beyond his role as a criminal and murderer because Van Dyken allows readers insight into what lies beneath their place in the criminal world…beyond the guns, blood, and unredeeming acts. We see each one through the eyes of the woman who loves and claims him, and we get the full picture because many of the relationships do not start off at all like soulmates should, which makes their connection even more intriguing.

Aly Martinez

Aly Martinez continues to amaze me with her writing and character development in her newest release, Fighting Shadows. Martinez allows her readers inside her characters’ heads, providing them with an up close view of their emotions and the thoughts that force them to act out and hurt those closest to them. Flint’s anger, frustration, and pain is palpable right from the beginning of the text, and as Flint begins to change and adjust, readers witness his transformation and cheer him on as he gets his act together and becomes part of his family again, moving forward not looking back.

Top Reads of 2015 – in no particular order:) 

Perfect Ruin by Nashoda Rose

Perfect Ruin is a fantastic read that continues to illustrate the ease in which Nashoda Rose can blend suspense, drama, and eroticism into one cohesive story line. The circumstances and events of the text are seamlessly shown and amped up by the unique layers that Rose exposes in Kai and London. Both Kai and London are stripped of their humanity and used in ways that are cruel and reprehensible, but even though they have fractured and yielded to the manipulation and control, they take back the power along the way until they learn how to create an impenetrable façade – one that protects their true selves until they can be freed and no longer ruined.

Asa by Jay Crownover
Asa has never spoken truer words and that introspection applies to every hero in Jay Crownover’s Marked Men series. None of the alpha males are perfect – each of them has been shaped by his past, which has both empowered and inhibited him. Each of the girls who has stolen the hearts of her tattooed hottie is the perfect balance to his intensity and darkened soul and has marked him, both inwardly and outwardly, just as much as he has done to her, and I’ll admit – marked me just the same.

Him by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen

I am a huge fan of M/M books; they deal with real issues faced on a daily basis and work to prove the idea that love is love, and Him clearly sends that message in one sexy, emotional, and highly entertaining read.

Avenging Us by Gina Whitney

Gina Whitney created Abel with so much depth and complexity that his character continues to twist and bend, attempting to get at the heart of who he was…who he is as Gia helps to change him and who he will be with his Beauty and his Angel. Abel will always be the broody alpha male who demands control and submission from Gia, but Gia’s love allows him to be a contented man who only wants to protect what’s his and shower her with love and affection – things she never had while growing up.

Sustained by Emma Chase

I absolutely loved Jake’s story; it was amazing to witness Jake’s transformation, and while there were setbacks, and I wanted to punch him a time or two, he steps up in really big ways and learns to love the idea of commitment and more.
Emma Chase once again proves why she reigns as a writer of the male pov, but even more than that, her character and relationship building in Sustained is phenomenal, and it’s part of the reason why I’ll always read her stories!

Overtime by Toni Aleo

Overtime is definitely an emotional read, which makes perfect sense because there’s a lot of pain and scars to try to heal between Jordie and Kacey, and Toni Aleo’s writing makes readers feel EVERYTHING! She captures Jordie’s torment so well through her word choice and characterization. I sensed his anguish, his desperation, his desire to change.

Trust by Ella Frank

The conclusion to Logan and Tate’s story is swoonworthy…hot as hell…heartfelt. It’s everything I wanted their ending to be. I don’t think I’ve ever been more attached to another book couple like I am with Logan and Tate.
Ella Frank definitely needs to create another set of boys for readers to drool over!

Perfectly Imperfect by Harper Sloan

Boy did Perfectly Imperfect have my emotions all over the place! Willow’s journey is heartbreakingly painful and beautifully poignant. There’s a bevy of angst and drama created by external forces and just as much sweet, steamy, and touching moments that will have every female reader wishing for their own Kane Masters.

Every woman at some point in her life will be Willow Tate. I am Willow Tate. Willow Tate is so much more than a character; she’s a reality; she’s a constant self perception; she showcases everything that’s wrong with society’s expectations and everything that’s working against young girls loving themselves and their bodies regardless of what society says.

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder but I agree with Jim Henson that it “may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid misinformed beholder a black eye!”

Be the change you wish for yourself. Be impenetrable. Because you’re worth more than you know.

Salvation by Ahren Sanders

I absolutely adored everything about Ember and Robbie’s story. It’s a text full of raw emotions felt by both the characters and readers alike. I laughed; I cried; I swooned; I raged. Ahren Sanders allows her readers into the complicated and at times dark minds of both Ember and Robbie, so we understand how much their individual torment has shaped their lives. There’s guilt over things out of their control; there’s anger over the situations they were forced to endure, and there’s an immense amount of pain and suffering still to be dealt with and the only way Ember and Robbie will conquer it is to rely on one another, which is easier said than done, especially for Ember, because for the longest time, there hasn’t been anyone in her corner, and she’s only relied on herself.

King/Tyrant by T.M. Fraizer

T.M. Frazier is truly a gifted writer; her ability to weave a story that is both dark and dangerous as well as witty and charming is a feat that not many authors can perfect and she does it every time she crafts a tale. I can’t get enough of her multi-dimensional characters who are complete enigmas for what they’ve been through and how they react to their circumstances, and to me, Preppy, is the ultimate sidekick who continues to be felt and heard even after he goes off to have his own party!

Beneath These Scars by Meghan March

I absolutely loved Beneath These Scars, and Lucas Titan is by far my favorite of Meghan March’s heroes because he is who he is and he doesn’t give a shit, at least externally, what others think about him. He may take drastic and underhanded steps to get what he wants, but that’s because he’s used to taking care of himself and fighting tooth and nail for what he wants. His scars come from his relationship with his deceased father and every step he has taken since his father’s death has been to prove that he’s a better man than his father ever was in terms of his intelligence and drive to succeed. I never hated Lucas in the other books in the series because at some level, I understood his game plan and I saw that there was more to him than his duplicitous ways.

Unlawful Justice by K.C. Lynn and K. Langston

“Seek the truth and you will find justice.”

Those are definitely words to live by, but in a society that currently thrives on retribution, it’s extremely difficult to toe the line of justice when injustice, vengeance, and distrust are barreling in from all sides.

There are so many lessons in this book, and even though they’re ensconced in a place of hatred, prejudice, and heinous acts, readers will understand the authors’ messages and leave the text understanding what’s at stake when wrong prevails over right and injustice threatens to supersede justice.

Secret by Kindle Alexander

Secret is a definite must read. It’s another heartwarming and sexy as hell read from Kindle Alexander. It focuses on the realistic issue of coming out or living a lie and the consequences of both options. Dylan definitely needed someone like Tristan to show him exactly what he’s been missing and Tristan also gave Dylan the courage to put his wants and needs first for once. I absolutely loved the characters and how the storyline played out. Everything about this book worked for me and I’m so glad I was given the opportunity to read it.

Thick Love by Eden Butler

I adore Eden Butler’s writing; there’s something quite lyrical about it, which allows for a smooth read, and the way Butler develops her characters leads readers to truly understand them to their core, which is essential in Ransom and Aly’s story because there’s an immense amount of inner turmoil that both characters experience and in order to grasp all of the self inflicted torment, readers must be aware of what makes the characters who they are – their past experiences, their current mental state, and their innermost feelings.

 

 

Hooked By Love is finally here!

But to understand the end – you must first start from the beginning…

BOARDED BY LOVE

(Bellevue Bullies #1)

Jude Sinclair here, hockey player for the Bellevue Bullies and lover of all ladies. Hockey’s in my blood, and not to sound full of myself, but I’m good at it…really good. The draft is within my reach—it’s mine to take—but that’s not the only reason people know my name. They know me because of my way with women. They know the score, and I aim to please. I just tend to stay away from repeat performances. In other words, I don’t do relationships beyond my family and friends. I’m happy with life. However, I should warn you that my story and how I see it playing out is about to change due to a certain redhead on campus.

She’s beautiful. Stunning. Breathtaking.

She’s my game changer.

***
He’s trouble from the moment I see him. I don’t know what I’m thinking, but from the moment I meet his gaze, I’m his. It’s a scary feeling.

I’ve never trusted anyone outside my aunt and uncle—and even that took months. I didn’t have it easy growing up. My mom was usually strung out, and she didn’t give me a second thought. Drugs and the men who paid her were more important to her. It was horrible, but I’m stronger today. Because of my past, security is what I need most. Money assures me that I can take care of myself today, tomorrow, and next month. I don’t want to ever be hungry or go without again, so I work hard for every penny.

Oh, by the way, I’m Claire Anderson. I’m a hard-studying sophomore at the University of Bellevue, dancer for the school dance team, and a burlesque dancer at a club, but that’s my secret.

You may think you know how our story ends, but you have no clue. It’s not easy falling in love… or living happily ever after. At first it may seem so, but when is anything worth having ever won without a fight?

Especially when you’re boarded by love.

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

CLIPPED BY LOVE

(Bellevue Bullies #2)

Things are heating up for the Sinclair boys! With one already in the NHL, Jayden Sinclair is hoping to be next!

This has been the toughest year of my life. I watched my brother go into the draft without me, my mom got divorced, and the weight of my family’s issues is heavy on my shoulders. I feel like it’s my job to fix everything while working my butt off in school and trying to make my game better. I have to go into the draft. It will give my family the support they need, and it will prove that I’m good enough. But to get there, I have to show I can be the best captain for the Bellevue Bullies. The spot is mine—no one can take it. First though, Jude is making me go on a brother’s weekend. Innocent enough, I guess…until I see her. She’s the biggest competitor I’ve ever faced. Not only for my spot but also my heart. It’s hard to ignore someone like Baylor Moore.

***

I don’t lose. I can’t. My dad has bred me to be the best in anything I do. I am driven, I am smart, and I am going to be the first woman in the National Hockey League. No two ways about it. I’ve worked too hard. I’ve been through too much not to have what I want. I know I can do it. I will make my dad proud, and no one will stand in the way of that. That is, until I let him in. He scares me. He makes me feel. And he could very well be the one person who can make me want more than just to win.

We both have the same goal. Victory. But how do you compete against the person you want to win? It’s not easy. Love isn’t something you can control. It isn’t like a puck that can be handled by a stick.

No, it has a mind of its own and does what it wants.
Neither of us saw it coming, and we really don’t know if there is a way to score, especially when you’re being Clipped by Love.

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HOOKED BY LOVE

(Bellevue Bullies #3)

Things are out of control for the Sinclair boys! With two already in the NHL, Jace Sinclair is ready to follow in his brothers’ HUGE skates in the last Bellevue Bullies novel…

Jace Sinclair here, and I’m amazing. There is no other way to describe me. I am the leading scorer for the Bellevue Bullies, I’m the captain, and people love me: my family, my teammates, my coach, and the NHL. This is my last year in college–I already have one foot in the draft. Hockey keeps me warm even when it’s freezing. It’s always there when nothing else is. And it pushes me to be the best I can be. It’s my one and only love.

That is, until I see her against a tree with a guitar.

Avery.

The last thing I wanted was to meet anyone. My heart is on the bench because of what happened with my parents, and I don’t want that for myself. I don’t want to be hurt by anyone. I can’t give them that power.

But my heart is begging for ice time, and I can’t control it around her.

* * *

I’ve always been in the background. No one has ever had time for me and that’s fine; I’ve learned to cope. Coming from a family where hockey is life, the last thing I want is some big, burly hockey player charging at me. I don’t have time for it, but Jace Sinclair isn’t one to be deked around.

I didn’t want to meet anyone. I didn’t want to end up freezing the puck with him. It’s not what I want.

I have demons.

I have issues.

Living in the shadows, no one even knew until it was too late. But Jace wants to know.
He wants me.

And that scares me the living hell out of me.

We were so worried about what would happen if we fell, but we never thought what could happen in the process of falling. We never saw it coming. But it’s here, and the repercussions are not pretty.

We should have known that there is no way out of the zone when you are being Hooked by Love.

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***Review***

Boy are the Sinclair boys something else! They’re an amazing trio of hockey studs whose love of the game can only be rivaled by their love of their family and the girls who own their hearts.

In Hooked by Love, readers finally get the youngest Sinclair’s story, and at the beginning, Jace is all about benching his heart and having fun this year; he’s going to focus on hockey and the draft and experience as many puck bunnies as he can. He’s going to live up to his eldest brother’s reputation, pre-Claire, and get that number one spot just like his brothers before him. But with one look, Jace finds himself all in with a girl whose baggage makes her detest the game Jace loves and is so closed off that he has to work his ass off to make her his woman.

All Avery has ever wanted is to be loved and put first for once, but even when Jace does just that, she doesn’t know how to handle it because her fears and anxiety consume her and force her to hold back way more than she should. Avery struggles with self confidence every where but with her music. Her goal is to see her name in lights, living out her dream as a musician and proving to her parents and her brothers that she matters regardless of how they’ve acted towards her, her entire life.

Neither Jace nor Avery was looking for a relationship – their goals were all they could see, but now that they’ve found one another, they have to adjust their plans because as much as they want to succeed in their future careers, they want their lives to include one another regardless of how difficult it may be.

Toni Aleo always delivers a highly emotional and intense story and that’s exactly what she does with Jace and Avery’s story. Jace is done living in his brothers’ shadows, and he’s out to prove to himself and to everyone else that he might be the youngest, but he has the drive and the strength to be the best at the game his entire family adores. But this wannabe player is so much more than his last name or his hockey prowess. He’s an extremely caring and compassionate person who loves with his whole heart, which is both a blessing and a curse. There’s a depth to him that very few people, outside his family see, but Aleo allows readers that insight and by giving us who Jace really is, we understand why, despite the amount of turmoil that Avery puts his life in with her lack of communication and full disclosure, he’s willing to see beyond Avery’s scars and dishonesty and prove to her that he’ll never let her down.

Avery is pretty much a hot mess, but Aleo makes it more than clear why Avery can easily lose herself in the past. She wants Jace, but she also wants her dream, and she doesn’t think she can have both, but she’s willing to try to make things work with Jace because he’s proven himself to her on more than one occasion that she’s it for him. Avery’s back story is not pretty and what she puts herself and Jace through due to that baggage is emotionally draining, at times, for both her and Jace as well as readers. Jace and Avery take two steps forward and one step back on multiple occasions, which almost destroys them both, and as Toni Aleo takes readers through their highs and lows, we see firsthand why Jace and Avery are more than worth the effort.

Hooked by Love is about family; it’s about fighting for one’s dreams; it’s about making difficult choices that might not seem like the right ones but choosing them anyways because it’s right for the situation. Jace and Avery aren’t perfect; in fact, they make a string of bad decisions that almost cost them everything. But despite the difficult times, they more than prove that without each other, they’ll never be whole and their dreams will never feel fully fulfilled.

Lame Line Larry and No Dating Diane may have thought their connection was only for one night, but Toni Aleo illustrated how they were hooked on each other from the start and would work until the final minute to prove that they’re both worth any struggles that come their way.

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

4.5 Poison Apples

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Sunday night

“Honey, you need to get laid,” Blaze bellowed before tossing back another shot of tequila. “You know, by some outrageously hot guy who’s gonna pin you against the wall and make you beg for mercy.”

I tossed my shot back before I answered her. “Not gonna happen.”

“Please don’t tell me that Adrian was the last guy you got horizontal with.” Blaze’s expression turned serious. “That dude’s the world’s biggest douche.”

“Can’t argue with you there,” I told her, pouring another shot. The last thing I wanted to do tonight was talk about Adrian. Or anyone, for that matter.

I’d spent the entire day at the shop handling three walk-ins, all of whom had wanted tattoos that took more time to prepare for than to actually ink. And now, I wanted to sit back, get wasted, then pass out and sleep until I felt better.

“How was the sex with him, anyway?”

“With who?” I asked, playing dumb.

Blaze narrowed her eyes at me. “Adrian.”

I didn’t miss a beat before I said, “Boring.”

“Really?” Blaze snorted. “I always heard rock stars had it going on.”

“Yeah, well, I think rock stars are the ones who started that rumor.”

Blaze grabbed her shot glass. “You’re probably right about that.”

We downed two more shots, and our laughter continued until the front door opened and in walked Gavin.

As soon as he stepped in the doorway, he stopped cold, watching the two of us closely.

“Wussup, Gav?” Blaze greeted him, her words slurring. She looked at me and grinned. “He’s an outrageously hot guy,” Blaze said in what she probably assumed was a whisper but wasn’t.

“I definitely am,” he agreed, that mischievous smirk on his face. “Is this party just gettin’ started? Or are we about to turn on the decision-maker lights?” Gavin closed the front door behind him and tossed his coat onto one of the barstools, his eyes never straying from us.

“The night’s still young,” Blaze informed him. “Can’t say the same about you, though.”

Gavin continued to watch us. “How much have you had?”

“Not enough,” I admitted, reaching for the bottle to pour more shots. “Now quit acting like an old man and come drink with us.”

“Hold up,” Blaze said, snatching the bottle out of my hand. “Not until he pays the ten-dollar buy-in fee.”

“Buy-in?” A crease formed in Gavin’s forehead. “What the hell’s a buy-in fee? This ain’t poker.”

Blaze pointed a finger in his direction. “I paid for the booze, and you gotta buy in if you want some. Ten dollars.”

Gavin grabbed his wallet out of his back pocket, flipped it open, and pulled out a five-dollar bill, then tossed it in Blaze’s lap.

“Dude, who’s the one who’s been drinkin’ tonight?” Blaze slurred. “That ain’t ten bucks.”

“No, but you bought cheap booze, so there’s a fifty percent discount.”

“Fine. Whatever.” Blaze snatched up the money and tucked it into her bra.

I smiled at Gavin. “Grab another shot glass.”

After a quick detour to the kitchen, Gavin returned, setting his glass down beside the other two, then dropping onto the couch beside Blaze.

With an unsteady hand, Blaze filled all three but ended up with more on the glass table than in the shot glasses.

“What’re we drinking to?” Gavin asked.

“Hot guys nailing us to the wall,” Blaze blurted.

I rolled my eyes.

“Ain’t no guy nailing me to the wall,” Gavin grunted. “Hot or otherwise.”

For whatever reason, I found that funny and ended up downing my shot and nearly shooting it out of my nose.

“I’ve got a question,” Blaze said when the laughter died down.

“No questions from you tonight,” I said immediately, glancing over at Gavin.

As usual, Blaze ignored me. “I wanna know why the two of you have never had sex.”

“Not a question,” Gavin grumbled.

“Okay, fine,” Blaze snapped. “Have the two of you ever had sex?”

“Eww. No,” Gavin and I said in unison.

“Are you fucking serious?” Blaze did not sound convinced.

I placed my shot glass on the table but waved Blaze off when she started to pour me another. “Dead serious.”

“Why?” She looked genuinely confused.

“Because he’s not my type?”

Blaze’s eyes bounced back and forth between us before landing on me. “But he’s hot.”

Yeah, well, I didn’t think so. “I don’t see him like that.”

Gavin was watching Blaze intently and I knew this wasn’t going to be good. For the longest time, I’d gotten the impression that these two had a thing for one another. Although Blaze pretended to be interested in other guys—or maybe she wasn’t pretending—I got the feeling that if Gavin told her to get naked, she’d do it in under three seconds flat.

“What about you two?” I asked, realizing the liquor was now talking for me. “Why haven’t the two of you hooked up?”

Gavin grabbed the bottle and poured another shot, but I noticed he didn’t answer. I looked at Blaze.

“Y’all are best friends,” she said, as though that made some kind of sense.

“So?”

“So, you and I are best friends,” Blaze added.

“Does that make us all best friends?” I asked, trying to do the math in my head.

“No,” Gavin noted. “It means we’re not willing to sacrifice that friendship.”

“Oh.” I watched the two of them for a moment. Then it dawned on me what he meant. “Oooh.”

*Inked on Paper Copyright 2015, Nicole Edwards Limited.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Nicole Edwards lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, their three kids, and four rambunctious dogs. When she’s not writing about sexy alpha males, Nicole can often be found with her Kindle in hand or making an attempt to keep the dogs happy. You can find her hanging out on Facebook and interacting with her readers – even when she’s supposed to be writing.

Nicole also writes contemporary/new adult romance as Timberlyn Scott.

Nicole would love to hear from you!

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Title: SPARKS FLY

Author: Bella Cruise

Genre: Full length contemporary romance

Publication Date: December 27, 2015

 

Blurb

When Ginny Austen left home, she took her big dreams and her broken heart with her. She needed to escape her small town, but most of all, she needed to escape Luke Porter. Her first love, and her first heart break.

But when a new job sends Ginny right back to where she started, the past she tried so desperately to leave behind reappears in the form of broad-shouldered, smart-mouthed hunk, Luke who is impossible to resist and determined to make up for lost time. He still plays a mean game of pool and is super skilled between the sheets, but this new and improved Luke is ambitious, successful, and hiding pain of his own.

** Sparks Fly was previously published as Beach Wedding, and contains all new, additional material. **

 

About the Author

Bella Cruise is a Florida girl turned California beach babe. She loves to travel and explore new places, and currently works as a nanny to two adorable little girls. For a close-up view of her crazy life (and favorite cupcakes!), you can find her on instagram @bellacruisewrites.

Connect with Bella

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About Tarah Scott

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Are you ready to submit in Subordination by Katie Ashley!

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Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1NrvMOW

 

Blurb

When Sophie Jameson first became a domme at Club 1740, it was more out of financial necessity than it was for personal pleasure and sexual exploration. But over the years as she rocked her leather corsets and boots while wielding every crop and flogger imaginable, she grew to love the thrill and adulation that her clients brought her. But all along, her path in life and her heart was with a different profession—one she was planning to embark on at the summer’s end.

And then he changed everything. Tall, dark, impossibly built—William was the complete opposite of whatever image a male sub conjured up. After all the subs, Sophie finally felt true lust and desire. Although he was the proud stallion who needed breaking, he became the one to make her break all her rules and let down all her walls.

But it was just supposed to be for that one night, but an accidental encounter days later outside Club 1740’s protected walls had the two seeing each other in a different light—as simply Sophie and William, not Domme and sub. While they should have parted ways, they couldn’t. While they should never have gone back to her place, they did.

And that simple mistake has a serious price for both of them.

Review

Katie Ashley builds an interesting dynamic in Subordination in the fact that while Sophie definitely has Domme tendencies, outside of her job as a Mistress, she doesn’t live that lifestyle, so a relationship outside of the club with William posits its own complications to not only their personal lives but their professional ones as well.

For five years, Sophie has kept her job as Mistress Juliette a secret from everyone – only working at Club 1740 so that she can help pay for her father’s medical bills and provide for him and her brother. Outside of the club, she’s just Sophie – a 24 year old who’s worked her ass off for her family and herself, earning two degrees and obtaining a job as a high school English teacher. Despite working diligently to keep her job separate from her personal life, her decision to play with a non-client sub on her last night as a Professional Domme leads to exploring her dominating ways outside of the club and taking a risk not only on her heart but her profession as well because if anyone learned that Ms. Jameson, the English teacher, used to be Mistress Juliette, the Domme, his teaching career could be over before it really begins.

I’ve read quite a few BDSM books but very few have been with a female Domme, so not only did I enjoy that twist on most of the stories I’ve read, but Katie Ashley also introduced me to another aspect of the lifestyle that I didn’t know about – the difference between a Lifestyle and Professional Domme. I found that contrast extremely interesting and explained in a way that makes sense even for people outside of the BDSM lifestyle.

I absolutely adored Sophie and William’s book. The sacrifices that Sophie made for her family showcases the kind of person Sophie is and experiencing her as Mistress Juliette as well as Sophie illustrates just how well Katie Ashley crafted her heroine because even though Sophie’s Domme persona has only ever been professional, she does need the control in her real life as well. Experiencing William as a sub was definitely eye opening; I just wished I understood a bit more as to why he enjoys that position, but I completely understand that this was Sophie’s story and her relationship with William was what allowed her to feel free in a way that she’s never felt, even with the complications that arise due to their personal interest in each other.

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

4.5 Poison Apples

Excerpt

Keeping his head bowed, he asked, “Mistress, will you give me the honor of pleasuring you?”

“No.”

“But why?”

I swept my hands to my hips. “Are you being insubordinate with me?”

“No, mistress. I just wish you would consider my offer.”

“And why is that?”

“Because I want to please you. I want to make you come as hard as you made me.”

“Sorry. The answer is still no,” I replied as I took the rope over to the sink to be disinfected.

When I turned around, surprised filled me at the sight of William on his feet again. His gaze still remained averted from mine. “Look at me,” I commanded.

He raised his eyes to stare at me full on as I walked back over to him.  Although he was trying to mask it, I could tell he was hurt by my refusal. “I want you to understand that it’s not you—you didn’t do anything to displease me. I don’t receive pleasure from any of my subs.”

“You should,” he insisted.

Cocking my head at him, I said, “You should remember how to talk to your mistress.”

Instead of appearing apologetic, he took a step forward. “May I at least kiss you?”

As I gazed at his earnest expression, I didn’t see what it could hurt. “Fine. A kiss and then you go on your merry little way.” I poked a finger into his breastbone. “And you tip me well.”

William smiled. “Yes, Mistress.”

I stood toe to toe with William and tilted my chin. “Kiss me,” I instructed.

He dipped his head, and he closed his eyes. At the slight brush of his lips against mine, a shiver of anticipation shot down my spine. I felt like I was thirteen again with a boulder of anxiety in my stomach as the boy I liked kissed me behind our barn. When he deepened the kiss, he brought his arms around me, molding me to him. The kiss was everything—passionate, intimate, and affectionate. It felt like rediscovering a lost emotion—a lost part of me.   

Needing more, I sucked his tongue inside my mouth. The moment I gave him the green light, a switch flipped inside William. The reverent way his mouth had worshipped mine was replaced with a desperate conquering. His tongue battled along with mine, sucking, licking, devouring. An ache began to build between my thighs, and I pressed my hips against William’s.  

His hand left the small of my back to wrap around my braid. He tugged on it, pulling me back to look at him. “I want to taste every part you, not just your mouth.”

Breathless from our exertions, it took me a moment to find my voice. “I told you I don’t do that.”

“Why should you deny yourself?”

Staring into his handsome face, I wondered the same thing. All these years, I’d never taken any pleasure for myself. There had been subs I’d been attracted to like Owen. Not all of them were interested in reciprocating pleasure, but many were. And I told them all no.

As I stood molded against William’s warm, overpowering body like a second flesh, I didn’t want to argue anymore. I wanted to let go. I was a twenty-four year woman who had pretty much sacrificed her life for work, school, and her family. I couldn’t remember the last time an orgasm hadn’t come from a vibrating device.

Dipping his head, William’s breath was warm against my ear. “Please let me make you come.”

At the thought of what his mouth could do on my pussy, I whispered, “Yes.”

 

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About the Author

Katie Ashley is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon Best-Selling author. She lives outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her daughter, Olivia, and her two very spoiled dogs. She has a slight obsession with Pinterest, The Golden Girls, Harry Potter, Shakespeare, Supernatural, Designing Women, and Scooby-Doo.

With a BA in English, a BS in Secondary English Education, and a Masters in Adolescent English Education, she spent 11 1/2 years educating the Youth of America aka teaching MS and HS English until she left to write full time in December 2012.

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