Fairest Of All Book Reviews

Triple Play by Sloan Johnson
Publication Date: September 29, 2015
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBT, Romance, Sports

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Drew Jackson seemed to have it all. He has a family who loves and supports him, a tight circle of friends, and is a rising star with the Milwaukee Mavericks. Then, it all begins to unravel. Cam, the only man he’s ever loved, falls head over heels for Drew’s teammate. He makes a critical mistake in the playoffs that he’s not sure he’ll be able to recover from. And then, his world really crashes around him…

Eric Sapp may no longer play for the Mavericks, but he’s still one of the guys. No one could have imagined how much his life would change when he agreed to help his former teammates mourn the end of their run for the pennant. After stopping a brutal attack, Eric is forced to face the feelings that’ve been growing for his roommate, Drew. That’d be much easier if Drew wasn’t hell-bent on pushing everyone away as he recovers.

Neither of them were counting on Bryce Shaw. He and Drew enjoyed the one night they spent together, but knew it was unlikely they’d be anything more since they lived in different parts of the country. After Bryce is relocated to help a failing LGBT homeless outreach, he wants to explore something more with the Mavericks’ short stop.

As much as Eric wishes he could be the one to help his friend, he knows Bryce holds the key to Drew’s recovery. Will pushing the two back together be the biggest mistake of his life or will they all learn there is strength in numbers?

 

 

Review

In baseball, triple plays are a rarity; it takes extreme precision and teamwork in order to execute a play with multiple players involved. But it’s also more than that…everything has to be moving in tandem because one slip up can destroy a carefully constructed unit.

I’m not usual one to discuss life using a baseball analogy but it only seems fitting for Drew’s story because it’s titled Triple Play and that is exactly how many people are involved; although, it’s not on the baseball field…

In reading the previous two books, I had a good amount of background knowledge on Eric and Drew, but Bryce was still an unknown character. But from the start of the text, I knew, in a way, that Bryce was going to be the one that solidified everything between the three of them because he had the emotional strength to do so. He took charge and pushed when he needed to in order to make both Eric and Drew see that society’s view on things didn’t matter because what they felt for each other and what they gave to each other worked for them in a way that made sense and felt right so to hell with anyone who disagreed or looked down on them for their choices.

But having three people exist in one relationship can get messy and stressful; there are a lot of different emotions to take into account and handle with care, and for an author to explore three varying perspectives, it’s sometimes difficult to present a full insider’s view of the main characters’ thoughts and feelings when there are three people involved and equal exploration needs to be provided in order to truly see how their polyamorous relationship works. At times, I found it difficult to truly understand how Drew, Bryce, and Eric made everything work despite their dominating personalities and tense reactions to situations because I didn’t feel privy to all three perspectives at the various intense moments. I wanted to experience more of the development of their feelings and truly witness how it went from just fooling around and having fun to deep rooted feelings between all three, and while at times, I did feel like I got a pretty good look at some aspects of their commitment to each other, there were other times that I wished for more.

That being said, I truly enjoyed Drew, Bryce, and Eric’s story because of the lessons taught through Drew’s ordeal as well as Bryce’s commitment to help LGBT teens who have nowhere to turn or live. It filled me with a sense of pride to see three strong gay men work to help those who needed their support and do more than throw money at the issues. The latter part of the book truly illustrated how the three men had grown and transformed through one another’s guidance, pushing, and commitment, which is all anyone wants to experience in a relationship.

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

3.5/4 Poison Apples

Also in the Series

About Sloan Johnson

Sloan Johnson is a big city girl trapped in a country girl’s life. While she longs for the hustle and bustle of New York City or Las Vegas, she hasn’t yet figured out how to sit on the deck with her morning coffee, watching the deer and wild turkeys in the fields while surrounded by concrete and glass.

When she was three, her parents received their first call from the principal asking them to pick her up from school. Apparently, if you aren’t enrolled, you can’t attend classes, even in Kindergarten. The next week, she was in preschool and started plotting her first story soon after.

Later in life, her parents needed to do something to help their socially awkward, uncoordinated child come out of her shell and figured there was no better place than a bar on Wednesday nights. It’s a good thing they did because this is where she found her love of reading and writing. Who needs socialization when you can sit alone in your bedroom with a good book?

Now, Sloan is a tattooed mom with a mohawk and two kids. She’s been kicked out of the PTA in two school districts and is no longer asked to help with fundraisers because she’s been known to lose herself with a good book and forget she has somewhere to be.

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Royal Savage by Victoria Ashley releases on December 20th and you can pre-order now for only $0.99!

Cover Designer’s Page (Cover It Designs)

Cover Model’s Facebook Page (Josh Mario John)

Goodreads

I CAN’T CLOSE MY EYES… I refuse to. Every time I do, all I see is blood, death, and pain. I can feel it – almost taste it, bringing me back to that night.
It doesn’t matter that I’m still breathing; I no longer need it, I no longer want it. I despise it along with everything else around me.
The only thing I long for is to fucking fade away. I’ve given up. Until her at least…

AVALON.

She comes into my world, knocking me on my ass.
It turns me on to have her around me. Makes me want to wrap my hand around her tight little throat and fuck her until she feels my pain, feels the monster in me, but also makes me want to protect her from the very thing that she should be afraid of… me.
Once she sees the damage that I’m capable of; she’ll look at me like everyone else around me does: with fear.

Avalon Knight
HIS EYES… THE DARKNESS IN them draws me to him, making me want to taste him, feel him… and save him. I shouldn’t have gotten on the back of his motorcycle that day. I know that now. Colton warned me. I was told it was dangerous. I was told that nothing would be the same. He was right.
ROYAL is dangerous, dark, and seductive; the very thing that keeps me hanging on, willing to give my last breath just to touch him… breathe him in.

He’s savage, inked, and highly captivating. So different from his brother…
He’s hazardous to my health, mind, and body, yet the only thing that I crave. I want to free him. I want to change his mind, but I’m afraid that he’s already too faded…

 

Amazon US: http://tinyurl.com/RoyalSavage-US

Amazon CA: http://tinyurl.com/RoyalSavage-CA

Amazon UK: http://tinyurl.com/RoyalSavage-UK

I freeze at the sight before me, not sure what the hell to do. Do I run? Close my mouth maybe? Yeah, that might be a start.

A man is hanging upside down on a bar, his arms crossed over his chest, doing sit ups. He’s shirtless and full of tattoos, his defined muscles flexing as he moves with little effort. I can’t make out what he looks like, except that his body is lean, muscular and splattered in ink. Every exposed inch of it, stopping at his neck.

There’s a small lamp on a table in the corner, giving off just enough light to see that he’s there and covered in sweat.

He stops mid lift and growls when he notices the door is open. Every muscle in his body stiffens and before I know it, he maneuvers his way off the bar and jumps down to his feet.

He stands up straight, his sweats hanging low off his slender waist as his muscles tense up again. He clenches his jaw, before taking a step toward me and stopping just close enough for me to see his face.

My breath hitches in my throat at his beauty and becomes even harder to catch when I look into his pale gray eyes. All that reflects there is pain and darkness. It gives me a chill that runs all throughout my body, but makes my legs quiver with desire at the same time.

His head is slightly tilted forward, allowing a strand of his blonde hair to fall into his eyes as they slowly roam up my body, stopping on my face. He doesn’t say a word. He just looks up into my eyes, making my blood run cold. He looks deadly; like a fucking lethal machine, ready to strike. His arms are flexed by his sides with his hands clenched into fists and he’s at least six feet one.

I don’t know whether I want to run away or into his bed, wherever that may be. His eyes are so powerful and demanding that I can’t even talk. It’s like he has some kind of power over me. I just stare back like a fool and hope that I won’t fall to my knees.

That is until I feel a hand on my shoulder, shaking me out of my revelry. I jump and a small scream escapes my throat as I turn around to see Jax. He looks pissed and I know that I’m in trouble.

Victoria Ashley grew up in Rockford, IL and has had a passion for reading for as long as she can remember. After finding a reading app where it allowed readers to upload their own stories, she gave it a shot and writing became her passion.

She lives for a good romance book with tattooed bad boys that are just highly misunderstood and is not afraid to be caught crying during a good read. When she’s not reading or writing about bad boys, you can find her watching her favorites shows such as Sons Of Anarchy, Dexter and True Blood.

She is the author of Wake Up Call, This Regret, Slade, Hemy, Cale, Get Off on the Pain, and Something for the Pain. Victoria is currently working on more releases for 2015.

Victoria’s Facebook Page

JONQUILS FOR JAX, The Rousseaus #1
(The Blueberry Lane Series #12) by Katy Regnery

Publication Date: 8.5.16

Jacqueline “Jax” Rousseau is vivacious, rich, smart and beautiful…but that doesn’t mean she’s lucky in love: she’s dated doctors, lawyers, actors and politicians who’ve all managed to end up disappointing her. In fact, she’s on a self-imposed hiatus from love when she has an unpleasant run-in with her neighbor’s gorgeous new landscaper, Gardener Lenox. Jax is not accustomed to gruff, ill-mannered men that can’t be charmed, but something about Gard intrigues her, and if she can find her way through the armor that surrounds his heart, she also might find a love that won’t let her down.

Apple iBooks Pre-Order Link: http://ow.ly/SWS8x
Kobo Pre-Order Link: http://ow.ly/SX0tX
Goodreads link for TBA list: http://ow.ly/SWXi3

MARRY ME MAD, The Rousseaus #2
(The Blueberry Lane Series #13) By Katy Regnery

Publication Date: 9.2.16

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 and experience. 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.

Apple iBooks Pre-Order Link: http://ow.ly/T8uVj
Kobo Pre-Order Link: http://ow.ly/T4uZV
Goodreads link for TBA list: http://ow.ly/SWXky

J.C. AND THE BIJOUX JOLIS, The Rousseaus #3
(The Blueberry Lane Series #14) By Katy Regnery

Publication Date 10.7.16

Jean Christian “J.C.” Rousseau’s reputation as a charming flirt has been well-established in Philadelphia, and he’s never had trouble winning a woman’s heart. So, when Libitz Feingold, the best friend of J.C.’s sister-in-law, Kate, comes to Philly to help out during Kate’s final weeks of pregnancy, J.C. is shocked to discover that the prickly New York-based gallery owner and jewelry designer is completely immune to his charm. Recruited to help her set-up a local gallery, it’s not long before he starts to fall for her, but he’s going to have to rely on more than mere flirtation if he wants a shot at winning her heart.

Apple iBooks Pre-Order Link: http://ow.ly/TmPZ2
Kobo Pre-Order Link: http://ow.ly/T4vbI
Goodreads link for TBA list: http://ow.ly/SWXmP

THE WORLD OF BLUEBERRY LANE
Artist: Paul Siegel
Based on the bestselling series by Katy Regnery

Signed prints, photo prints, mugs and keychains can be purchased at http://www.katyregnery.com!

WHO ARE THE ROUSSEAUS?

“Wes wants to know what we think of the Rousseaus.”
From across the table, Stratton’s head snapped up from canoodling with Valeria. “We think they’re assholes.”
–Wild about Weston, The English Brothers #5

Dear Readers,

I have to tell you…my mind has been writing the stories of Jax, Mad and J.C. Rousseau ever since they were first mentioned in The English Brothers’ books:

Scorchingly-hot flirt J.C., who has charmed the pants off a hundred women, but longs to find one who will challenge him to be more.

Strong, smart, sassy, go-getter Jax, who rocks stilettos, barely takes a breath between words and for whom true love has been strangely elusive.

Sweet, gentle Mad, who has always wished she had half the sass of her twin and longs for more drama and adventure in her ho-hum life.

I know that you are all going to fall head over heels for this trio of hot siblings and their loves, including some already-introduced characters (Libitz Feingold and Cortlandt Ambler) and some new (Gardener Lenox!)

You may not realize it, but if you’ve been reading the Blueberry Lane Series from the beginning, you already know quite a lot about Jax, Mad and J.C.. But for you newbies, I thought I’d compile a few quotes from previous books to get you all better acquainted. Without further ado…here’s a recap.

MEET Jax, Mad & J.C.!!

Love,
Katy

PS — Don’t forget to pre-order now on iBooks and Kobo. Barnes & Noble and Amazon pre-orders will be available next summer! For more information about the Rousseaus, visit my website HERE.

Jacqueline “Jax” Rousseau

♥“Hi, Molly,” said the woman to her left. “I’m Jacqueline Rousseau. J.C.’s sister.”
“But everyone calls her Jax,” said the stunning woman sitting beside Jax. “And I’m Madeline Rousseau, but everyone calls me Mad.”
“Jax and Mad,” repeated Molly, offering them both a friendly smile, while puzzling internally about such odd nicknames.
–Wild about Weston, The English Brothers #5

♥ Touching the mouse on her laptop gingerly, she scrolled through a series of Jax-selfies taken an hour ago at the same party Kate had been attending: Jax looking dark-haired, dark-eyed and fierce, hand on a jutted hip in front of a skyscraper-shaped ice sculpture…Jax and her twin sister, Mad, pursing their red, shiny lips for the camera…Jax posing with one of the Ambler sisters, her index finger caught between her teeth, somehow managing to look both sexy and bored-to-tears at once…
Kate kept skating through pictures and status updates, chuckling softly at a quip about stiletto heels and rainy spring nights. Though they’d been childhood acquaintances, Kate had only recently gotten to know adult-Jax through a month’s worth of online lurking, and she liked the feisty young brunette.
–Kiss Me Kate, The English Brothers #6

♥When their father had passed away a few years ago, they’d started the Rousseau Trust together as a way of investing his vast fortune. Last year, Jax had come on board after making a decision to attend law school. –Kiss Me Kate, The English Brothers #6

♥Lilliane Rousseau beamed at Jacqueline and Madeline, who had recently insisted they be called Jax and Mad in an episode of ridiculous teenage folly that would almost certainly blow over by next week. –Kiss Me Kate, The English Brothers #6

♥ “He’s such a weirdo,” said Jax, shaking her head at her older brother.
“I guess it’s time to go,” agreed Mad with an embarrassed sigh.
The twins shimmied to the edge of the trampoline, making it ripple and breaking Étienne’s connection to Kate as she unclasped his hand.
–Kiss Me Kate, The English Brothers #6

♥Jessica turned to Kate. “Do you ever remember hearing about a thing between Jax Rousseau and Cort Ambler?”
“Cort?” Kate pursed her lips. “I don’t think so.”
Jess nodded, knowingly, moving Cort’s tiny place card away from the Rousseaus. “I do.”
–Bidding on Brooks, The Winslow Brothers #1

♥Suddenly the brunette turned around, and Preston realized it was Jax Rousseau, his next door neighbor from adjacent Chateau Nouvelle. He had recently heard that Jax had joined a competing firm in entertainment law, though he hadn’t had a chance to congratulate her yet…or tease her a little bit about stealing her clients. –Proposing to Preston, The Winslow Brothers #2

♥ “Jax Rousseau, meet Elise Klassan. Elise, this is Jax.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too,” said Jax, with a smile that doubled her considerable beauty. “I loved you in The Awakening. Hey! Let’s take a selfie!”
Surprised but charmed by Jax Rousseau’s exuberant request, Elise nodded. “Sure.”
Cheek to cheek, Elise smiled for Jax’s camera and watched the brunette load the picture onto Facebook before they sat down side by side on the couch. Gene pulled up a chair across from them.
“So, Elise…like I said, Jax is one of the Assistant Producers on the project, and she’s also our legal contact in Philly.” He turned to Jax. “Want to fill her in on the rest of the details, precious?”
“I’d love it!” said Jax, flashing her million megawatt smile and turning her whole body to face Elise. “High Society is my favorite movie of all time, so obvi I love The Philadelphia Story…when I bought the rights to re-make a modern version and sold them to Warner, it was under the condition that all shooting would take place on-site at my family’s estate in Pennsylvania. You know, my little way of memorializing my childhood home.”
“Wow,” said Elise, realizing that despite this woman’s apparent youth, she was a mover and shaker. “I love it…but, the rest of your family doesn’t mind? Filming on location can be…intrusive.”
Jax shrugged. “We don’t actually live there anymore. My oldest brother recently relocated to New York. My twin sister and I have a condo in Philly. My other brother lives with his fiancé, but they’re getting married at Chateau Nouvelle this winter, which is why we need to start filming right away. I promised Étienne and Kate we’d be finished by October at the latest.”
“Chateau Nouvelle?”
“The name of the estate,” explained Jax. “They all have names in Haverford.”
–Proposing to Preston, The Winslow Brothers #2

Madeleine “Mad” Rousseau

♥Their other sister, Mad, had gone a completely different direction with her life, and was the Assistant Children’s Librarian at one of the larger branches of the Philadelphia Public Library. Mad didn’t have the stomach for business—of all the Rousseau children, Madeleine Rousseau was the sweetest, kindest, most tender-hearted. –Kiss Me Kate, The English Brothers #6

♥Étienne gave her a look then turned back to Mad, who picked up her coat from an arm chair and quickly shrugged into it.
“I have to get back to the library,” she said, giving her brother a quick kiss, her cheeks still flaming.
“Already?”
“She’s very important,” said Jax, waving goodbye to Mad and tugging Étienne forward. “Young minds to mold and all that.”
“Dinner on Friday night?” Étienne called after Mad.
“Yes. At J.C.’s place,” she said, stepping into the waiting elevator as the glass door whooshed closed.
He turned back to Jax. “What’s up with her?”
“Boy, you’re dense.”
“Am I?”
“Hells, yes.” Jax cocked her head to the side. “Can’t you tell? She’s in love. Obvi.”
“What? What the hell? With who?”
“Whom,” corrected Jax.
“With whom is our baby sister in love?” he asked, realizing that Jax had somehow maneuvered him down the hall to his office.
“I could tell you,” said Jax, “but then I’d have to kill you. And I like you way too much for murder.”
–Kiss Me Kate, The English Brothers #6

♥Kate bit her bottom lip wondering if he’d laugh at her dream of sponsoring a special needs feline shelter in Philadelphia. “There isn’t a shelter just for special needs animals in Philly. I was thinking…”
“About starting one? I bet my sister, Mad, would give you a hand. She’s a softie too.”
“I always liked Mad,” said Kate, loving it that he’d jumped on board without ridiculing her or second-guessing her plans.
–Kiss Me Kate, The English Brothers #6

Jean Christian “J.C.” Rousseau

♥Alex tracked Jessie with his eyes as she shook hands with some friends of Cam’s, and his fingers fisted as he watched J.C. Rousseau look down at her breasts, then widen his smile. –Anyone but Alex, The English Brothers #3

♥Alex English stepped up to the mic next and introduced himself with an off-color joke. J.C. Rousseau laughed beside Molly, the low rumble pleasing.
“Do you know Alex?” J.C. asked her.
“Everyone knows Alex,” whispered Jax, to her left.
“Not me,” said Molly, smiling politely at J.C.’s younger sister.
“And not you,” growled J.C. at Jax, with a direct look.
“Shut up, J.C.,” said one of the Winslow brothers from across the table. “He’s reformed.”
“Alex? Never.”
The Winslow brother seated next to the older Story sister—Molly believed his name was Cameron—looked like steam was about to come out of his ears. “Shut it, Rousseau. Ferme la douche, huh?”
J.C. chuckled softly beside her, not the least bit bothered by the Winslows’ hot-headed warnings.
–Wild about Weston, The English Brothers #5

♥Swinging his eyes to her other side, Weston clenched his jaw. J.C. Rousseau. After Alex, the Rousseau brothers were the most notorious flirts of Blueberry Lane. Damn. –Wild about Weston, The English Brothers #5

♥Weston wasn’t sure what was going on between Alex and Kate, but now wasn’t the time to find out. J.C. Rousseau was Barrett’s age, which meant that Barrett probably knew him best. He leaned over Kate a little. “Barrett, what’s J.C. like?”
“Solid businessman. Good with figures. Brokers international deals between—”
“Sweetheart,” said Barrett’s fiancée, Emily, gently. “That’s not what Wes is asking.”
“What’s he asking?”
Emily’s eyes widened and she licked her lips.
“Oh,” said Barrett, his whole body shifting closer to Emily. “Oh.”
“Barrett?” said Weston. “I’m over here.”
Barrett turned back to Weston, but his eyes were darker and Weston noticed his hand snake out and grab Emily’s, pulling it possessively into his lap.
“What’s he like with women? Charming. Smooth. He dated Hope for a while before Alex did. But, I don’t hear bad things about him. He’s certainly no Étienne…”
–Wild about Weston, The English Brothers #5

♥ “Ah, Weston. You English brothers take yourselves so seriously. We French have far more fun.” J.C. winked at Molly before turning away from them and sauntering back to the table. –Wild about Weston, The English Brothers #5

♥ “So Barrett, Emily, Val, and I were hanging out at the bar. Suddenly J.C. Rousseau sidles up, all oily with his stupid toothy smile, and starts talking to Barrett about some piece of property that he and his siblings own in New Orleans, and how they want to unload it.”
Only Stratton would call J.C. Rousseau—a man so darkly handsome women literally swooned when he smiled—oily and toothy. She grinned, then refocused.
–Kiss me Kate, The English Brothers #6

♥ Étienne’s face lightened again. “So? How’s Libitz?”
“She’s good,” said Kate, closing her briefcase and relaxing into her seat. “She owns an art gallery in SoHo. She calls herself prickly, but I think Lib’s just an acquired taste…and she still calls me on all of my crap.”
“So, she’s still your best friend?”
Kate nodded. “Oh, yeah. I can’t imagine not knowing Lib.”
“Based on what you told me, I always thought she might be a good match for J.C.,” said Étienne, his eyes twinkling.
“Lib with a W.A.S.P.? Fat chance.”
“Hey, now…we’re not W.A.S.P.s. First of all, we’re neither Anglo, nor Saxon. We’re French. And second of all, we’re Catholic.”
Kate chuckled, conceding his point. “Still…debonair player J.C. with prickly little Lib? I don’t see it.”
“She’d call him out on all of his shit,” said Étienne, cocking an eyebrow and daring Kate to disagree.
“That she would,” agreed Kate, smiling and shaking her head because she couldn’t imagine it ever happening. With nil threshold for bullshit, Lib would likely deck J.C. before he could even make a pass at her.
–Kiss Me Kate, The English Brothers #6

Meet Declan and Elizabeth in Ilsa Madden-Mills  new fighter romance!

★★ PURCHASE Dirty English Today!★★

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1VMSen6

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1G7I4vq

**Dirty English is a modern love story inspired by Pride and Prejudice**

A scarred fighter.

A girl with rules.

One night of unbridled passion.

There are three things you need to know about Elizabeth Bennett: she’s smart as a whip, always in control, and lives by a set of carefully crafted rules. She’s learned the hard way that people you love the most always hurt you in the end.

But then she meets Declan Blay, the new neighbor at her apartment complex.

A tattooed British street fighter, he’s the campus bad boy she’s supposed to avoid, but when he saves her from a frat party gone bad, all her rules about sex and love fly out the window.

She gives him one night of unbridled passion, but he longs for more.

With only a cardboard-thin wall separating their bedrooms, he dreams of possessing the vulnerable girl next door forever.

One night. Two damaged hearts. The passion of a lifetime.

Review

The British are coming! The British are coming! And, boy are readers ready for them, especially when they come in the form of two deliciously, irresistible twin hotties, Declan and Dax Blay. Declan is a swoon worthy hero who has so much heart and fight in him that there isn’t any obstacle he can’t overcome, which is good because he’s going to need that determination or no quit attitude to claim his Unicorn girl regardless of how much she tries to push him away.

I read a lot of college romances, so when I find one that becomes so much more than the qualities of its genre, I revel in its story line and complex characters, which is exactly what I did with Dirty English.

I’m a high school English teacher, so I know all about Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, and I love to see classics modernized in a way that allows current society a small glimpse into Austen’s world and the passion and drama that she put her characters through in order for them to learn and grow. Ilsa Madden-Mills gives her readers a much more contemporary Elizabeth Bennett and a more manly Mr. Darcy in Declan Blay, but at the heart of Elizabeth and Declan’s story is the realization of what kindred souls can give to one another and how faith and self-worth can be restored by opening one’s heart and taking a chance despite the potential heart break. Elizabeth and Declan’s love story may be more angst riddled and more dramatic, but it still holds true to the ideas and values that Austen wanted her audience to realize – hope, second chances, and a way to set one’s heart free.

Elizabeth Bennett is a heroine that readers can’t help but love because her fortitude is inspiring. No one should have to endure the events that Elizabeth has, but even though the darkness threatened to consume and break her, she continued to fight, and she made herself rise above the pain and heartache despite wanting to give up on multiple occasions. Elizabeth wasn’t entirely healed; in fact, she worked hard to close herself off to almost everyone in order to avoid any further devastation, but Declan gave her no other option but to allow him into her life and eventually into her heart and heal her through his compassion and strength.

Declan Blay is a scarred hero as well; he might not be fighting the kind of demons that Elizabeth is, but he’s still been put through the wringer in a way that has made him overly cautious of women and his faith in them has been all but destroyed. But there’s something about Elizabeth Bennett that draws Declan in from the start and even though he fights with himself over pursuing her, claiming she’s not the one for him, he can’t deny he wants her in every way possible and he’ll do what it takes to restore them both.

Mr. Darcy has nothing on Declan Blay; in fact, with his tattoos and fighting skills, Declan easily surpasses Mr. Darcy and epitomizes every imaginable connotative meaning of Dirty English!

Boy do I love Ilsa Madden-Mills – her writing, her characters, her sexy scenes, her angst filled torment – EVERYTHING about her stories works for me in lasting ways, and I can’t wait to see what she’ll have for readers in Dax’s story!

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

4.5 Poison Apples

 

Excerpt

“Come to my apartment and spend the night with me.” I touched his face, my fingers stroking the softness of his sensuous lips. “Just one night and we can make this shitty world disappear.”

He exhaled. “A one-night stand?”

“Yeah.”

He cupped my chin. “Someone hurt you, didn’t they?”

My lips tightened. No one at Whitman knew about Colby except for Shelley and Blake, and I sure as hell wasn’t telling him. He’d judge me like everyone else had in Petal, North Carolina. “That’s none of your business.”

“I see.” His eyes searched mine until I felt like a bug under a microscope. “What if I wanted more than just one night?”

“Then your hands can let go of my hips now.”

He removed his hands slowly, the tips of his fingers grazing mine. “This may surprise you, but I don’t sleep with every girl I kiss.”

I’d been rejected. Again. “Blake said you got around, that you used—”

“And you believed him?” His voice was incredulous. “Dude is in love with you and he saw exactly how we looked at each other tonight—”

“Looked at each other? What are you talking about? You refused to dance with me and then you ran off with your girlfriend. Not to mention I just kissed you and you didn’t even care.” I threw my hands up.

“I wanted to fuck you the minute you walked in that party,” he snapped.

“Then why don’t you,” I bit out, tossing back my shoulders.

“You think you want me?” he said tightly. “You can’t handle me, Elizabeth. I can see it in your eyes. You’re scared of something, maybe not me, but something.”

My eyes went to his black eye.

He let out a harsh laugh. “Ah, that’s what you’re afraid of. You want the real truth? You told me tonight you didn’t like violence, but I’m an arsehole who uses his fists. That’s who I am.”

“What do you mean?”

His gaze was intense, dark and low, his face struggling as he fought to find the right words. “I’m in a fight club for money. I show up at warehouses and fight other blokes. Sometimes I beat them so bad they need medical attention. A few times, I’ve been beat to unconsciousness. I’m everything you need to stay away from.”

I inhaled, anger and lust and excitement all riding me. Anger that he was pushing me away, lust for the alpha male in him, and God help me, the fighting thing repelled me and excited me at the same time. “I don’t want to stay away from you. I want you to fuck me and stop making excuses for why you can’t.”

My words seemed to snap his taut restraint.

He pulled me back in his arms, his lips fusing with mine unerringly. His tongue plundered me in a sensual way my body had craved for years. I wrapped my arms around his neck, my anger morphing into all-out desire as he turned us and pressed me against the wall.

Yes, yes, this is what I craved.

A passion to remind me that I was real, not just some sad excuse of a girl who chose to exist on scraps of love.

Before I knew it, he’d shoved my robe off, his hands sculpting my shoulders, massaging them as he ravaged my mouth. I reveled in the warmth of his hand on my neck as his mouth skated down, kissing the hollows of my throat, sucking on my collarbone.

“Like this?” he asked, his voice dark and gravelly. “You want me to take you up against this wall?”

“Yes,” I moaned. Gone. Past caring as long as he kept his hands on me.

Out of control, my brain whispered, but I beat back the dark warnings as his warm hand found my breast and squeezed, his fingers rolling my nipple between his thumb and forefinger.

I gasped in pleasure and arched my back to get closer to his body, ignoring the fear that pricked at the surface.

The rules girl in my head stamped her foot and yelled at me. I ignored her.

But even if I wanted to stop right now, I couldn’t. My tongue tangled wildly with his, my hands pulled at his hair, spurring him on, his hand palming my breast and then tugging. Sharp sensations of need went straight to my core.

“Is this what you want? Something quick where we just take what we want and forget each other the next day?”

No. Not that. Not like the way he said it, like it was something dirty.

“Yes, like that,” I whispered against his shoulder, my mouth on his skin, tasting him as my teeth bit down.

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills writes about strong heroines and sexy alpha males that sometimes you just want to slap.

She’s addicted to all things fantasy, including unicorns and sword-wielding heroes in books. Other fascinations include frothy coffee beverages, dark chocolate, Instagram, Ian Somerhalder (seriously hot), astronomy (she’s a Gemini), Sephora make-up, and tattoos.

She has a degree in English and a Master’s in Education.

When she’s not pecking away on her computer, she shops for cool magnets, paints old furniture, and eats her weight in sushi.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

You can stalk her on her website as well as get signed books: http://www.ilsamaddenmills.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorilsamaddenmills?pnref=lhc

IG: https://instagram.com/ilsamaddenmills/

Twitter: @ilsamaddenmills

Ilsa Madden-Mills’ other books:

VERY BAD THINGS

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1RH9CJY

iBooks: http://apple.co/1gl5Yaj

BN: http://bit.ly/1bOyH2g

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1D0BVw5

VERY WICKED BEGINNINGS

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1K5NvX8

VERY WICKED THINGS

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1NvRIr5

iBooks: http://apple.co/1mVS3Wo

BN: http://bit.ly/1mT1cDB

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1C9EZt3

VERY TWISTED THINGS

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

iBooks: http://apple.co/1eN7Clh

BN: http://bit.ly/1KK0ljh

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1BHcK4R

 

GIVEAWAY

SIGNED PAPERBACK OF DIRTY ENGLISH

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Licked by Brooke Blaine

Date of Publication: November 11, 2015

Blurb

As the owner of Licked, an eclectic ice creamery and bar, Ryleigh Phillips doesn’t have time for that love stuff. Serving up Nibble My Nuts sundaes and Drunken Sailor boozy shakes are as close to an orgasmic affair as she’s had in months thanks to her expanding empire—until the night of her ten-year high school reunion.

About Brooke Blaine

Find Brooke Blaine Online

The Persuasion of Molly O’Flaherty

(The London Lovers Book 1)

Release Day: October 21st

Synopsis

One playboy billionaire.

One heartbroken heiress.

One sham marriage.

What could go wrong?

***

That’s what notorious playboy Silas Cecil-Coke thinks as he returns to England to persuade Molly O’Flaherty to marry him.  Certainly, their brief fling last year ended in heartbreak (and a black eye,) but matters are different now.  Molly must marry to save her company, and if she must, Silas is determined that he’ll be the man she chooses.

But between the bitter memories and the competing suitors, Silas discovers that wooing a bride is no easy task, unless, of course, he decides to stop playing fair…

***The Persuasion of Molly O’Flaherty is a 40,000 word novella and is the first of the London Lovers duet.  It is not necessary to read The Seduction of Molly O’Flaherty first.  It is intended for mature audiences only.***

Goodreads

Amazon ~ http://amzn.to/1RiNZiC

Review

Sierra Simone’s historical erotica is a decadent journey through the secret lives of the upper class who take sensuality and sexuality to the extreme and leave nothing to the imagination as they explore their deliciously deviant sides with a group of people who yearn for release in all kinds of kinky and seductive ways.

In the Markham Hall series, Simone acquainted readers to Julian’s group of lustful men and women, and on more than one occasion, we were privy to how their parties transpired after they indulged in dinner, drinks, and dancing. But in The London Lovers’ series, Molly and Silas, two people who sought pleasure at every opportunity, begin to want to go a different path – away from the carousing and multiple partners, but with a man like Silas – one who cannot refuse a willing woman – ideas like love and commitment are not perverse enough to be of interest, but when he searches for what’s missing in his life, it all comes down to Molly O’Flaherty and his desperate desire to have her all to himself. But if he can’t do the same and have Molly’s best interests at heart in his persuasion, both Silas and Molly will be left with nothing because both have crossed more lines than they ever thought possible, and there might not be a way back from their revelations and actions.

Sierra Simone does an amazing job of crafting characters who are complex and dynamic – ones who are constantly transforming and surprising one another with their change in personality and outlook, and to my disbelief, changing my views on them as well.

Silas is way more than he appeared to be in the Markham Hall series. His easy going temperament is still present, but there’s an intensity to him that only Molly can bring out and boy does she test his control and gentlemanlike nature on more than one occasion. Molly brings out the dominant in Silas to the point where he craves to top her, command her, and make her submit to him.

But if there’s one thing that Molly won’t allow herself to do, it’s be controlled by any man, especially one who can never truly be hers for more than one reason. Since she was 14, Molly’s done what she’s had to do to keep her father’s company going…to keep his legacy intact. She’s sacrificed her body and her personal desires in order to ensure she remains at the helm of a company she’s given everything to and refuses to let go.

Molly won’t be easily persuaded to do anything that would risk her company, but how can she convince herself to give up any more than she already has? How can she let go of the one person who she so desperately needs to find peace and calm in the chaotic world that threatens to finally undo her?

Sierra Simone leaves a bevy of questions unanswered at the end of The Persuasion of Molly O’Flaherty and knowing what’s to come for them, will leave readers uneasy because a marriage is going to take place, but who will be the groom?

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

4.5 Poison Apples

GIVEAWAY

$25 Amazon Gift Card & Signed paperback Omnibus of The London Lovers Series (as soon as it becomes available)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Coming Soon

The Wedding of Molly O’Flaherty

(The London Lovers Book 2)

Release Date: November 23rd

Synopsis

One empty bed. One bold plan. One tragedy that changes everything. *** Silas Cecil-Coke is not a man who is easily dissuaded.  So when Molly leaves his bed without a word of goodbye, he is even more determined to save her from her enemies and claim her as his bride.  But neither of them are prepared for the betrayals and tragedies that await them before they can even approach the altar…

***The Wedding of Molly O’Flaherty is a 40,000 word novella and is the second of the London Lovers duet.  It is intended for mature audiences only.***

Goodreads

Pre Order Link: Amazon ~ http://amzn.to/1GlYk70

About the Author

Sierra Simone is a former librarian who spent too much time reading romance novels at the information desk. She lives with her husband and family in Kansas City.

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/blzNNn

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Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sierra-Simone/497450453680395?fref=ts

Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/953848401332729/

Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7369992.Sierra_Simone?from_search=true&search_version=service

Goodreads fan group: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/166241-sierra-simone-books

 

Synopsis

Beau McIntyre is driven by a past smothered in blood and covered in bruises. Though tragic, it’s help shape his future and define the man he’s become.

Day in and day out, he’s reminded of his failures in the faces of the women he saves. But what happens when one girl threatens to blow all of that apart? Will Beau lose his grip on the controlled lifestyle he abides by?

Mackenzie Moore is running from a past she needs to forget. A past that has molded her into a woman living in fear. One fateful night, her carefully constructed world is pulled down around her, forcing her to make a decision she’s not sure she can live with.

Turning to the Knights Rebels MC for help is the last thing she wants, but everything she needs.

Can Beau save her once again, or is what she running to far worse than what she’s running from?

Excerpt

“Kenzie, I’m heading out. Will you be all right on your own?” I call out to her but receive no reply. Her door is ajar a few inches, so I knock, letting the force push it open further.

She is standing there. Her pert tits take my attention first and instantly my cock stirs back to life. She doesn’t stop to cover herself and I don’t look away.

“I’m heading out.” I manage some cough mumble thing, my throat becoming dry. She doesn’t say anything and her eyes don’t leave me. I should turn away, let her change in private, but I’m lost in the sight of her.

The soft glow of her bedside lamp highlights her against the dark room but even from this distance, I can see every one of those goose bumps glazing her skin.

We continue to stand silent for what feels like hours, until the soft whisper of her nightgown falling to the floor shocks me back, like the first momentary sonic boom that fills the skies on a Fourth of July weekend. My eyes follow its descent, pausing at the lace covering her pussy.

Jesus, fuck, turn around, man.

I swallow past my hunger and try to will myself to leave, but fail when her fingers hook into the side of her lace panties.

“Mackenzie, don’t.” My warning comes out strangled, my resolve slipping, but it doesn’t stop her. She continues to undress, sliding her panties down her legs then stepping out of them, leaving her completely exposed to me.

She’s beautiful. Fucking perfect. Every fucking inch of her. But there’s an innocence to her. One touch, one taste is going to destroy me.

What the fuck is wrong with you, man? Go to her. Fucking take her.

“Darlin’,” I say with a heavy breath, forcing my eyes away from her naked body and back up to her face. Her pink, plump lips, swollen from our kisses, slightly part as she draws in a long breath.

“You’re making this really fucking hard to stay away.” My voice cracks as my gaze catches her hand sliding between her legs.

“If you’re not going to help me, then leave.” Her voice is barely a whisper as her finger slips between her pussy lips disappearing from view. And fuck it turns me on.

Before I realize what I’m doing, my legs carry me to her. Not giving it a second thought, I slap her hand away from her pussy and pull her naked body to me. She comes willingly, a small cry filling the room at my touch.

“Fuck,” I groan, knowing I’m close to losing control. “I need you to think this through, darlin’. Be real fucking sure, ‘cause once we start, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop,” I tell her when her chest hits mine.

“I’ve never wanted anything more, Beau.” My name coming from her lips in a plea cancels out all my reservations, and before I can comprehend what’s happening, I have her on her back on the bed.

Pulling off my cut and shirt in record time, I flip the button of my jeans. Mackenzie comes up on her elbows and watches as I lose my jeans.

“Holy shit, you have it pierced.” She looks down at my cock, intrigue turning to wonder.

“I have two.” I point to the Apadravya piercing. The small barbell runs through the head of my penis. I then pull to show her the Frenum piercing on the underside of my cock.

“Did they hurt?” She bites her lip, her eyes not leaving the piercing.

“I survived. Had it done years ago.” She nods but doesn’t say anything.

“You keep looking at me like that and I don’t think I’ll last long,” I admit. Her inquisitive eyes move from my piercing up to my face and I realize it wouldn’t matter what way she looked at me. I’m wound up so fucking tight from not having my cock in a woman for God knows how long, I’m not going to last long regardless.

“Like what?” She looks back down at my cock and it bounces its own hello.

“Like you want to wrap your mouth around my dick and milk it dry,” I offer the visual, the picture playing out in my mind.

Yep, there is no way I’m going back on this, now.

“No one has ever spoken to me like this before.” Her teeth graze her bottom lip, and I don’t know if she’s afraid of me, or fucking turned on.

“You want me to stop talking to you this way?” I ask, placing a knee down on the bed and moving over her.

“I don’t think so.” She lays back, her dark hair spilling around her.

“You don’t think so? It’s a yes or no question, darlin’.” I keep my eyes on her, like I need to memorize every inch of her body.

“No,” she answers instantly.

“Then I won’t.”

Review

Book 4 in River Savage’s wonderfully written Knights Rebels MC series has an interesting title because it speaks to an all absorbing passion; one that is sometimes seen as foolish or fleeting. But those meanings don’t even begin to describe the things that Beau McIntyre and Mackenzie Moore are infatuated with because while they may have strong feelings for each other as the story progresses, first and foremost, the passion that they have is for surviving and protecting…for righting the wrongs that they had no control over and giving others a safe place to land after their lives have been upended due to abuse.

Beau’s need to help victims of abuse stems from his inability to help his sister; every woman that he saves from her husband’s fists is someone who doesn’t have to endure what his sister had to when all he could do was live with his regret of not helping. In a way, Beau seeks his redemption through the assistance he provides, but when it comes to Mackenzie, there’s more to their connection besides him saving her and offering her a second chance and regardless of how much Beau believes he’s not what she needs because of his tastes in the bedroom, he can only fight his feelings for her and send her mixed messages for so long until their close proximity drives both of them to act on their lust for one another.

Through the years of her abuse and subsequent escape, Mackenzie has become a good liar, never allowing anyone to see through her mask of calm and being able to bullshit anyone into believing what she wants them to accept as true. Mackenzie can’t pull her usual tricks on Beau though because he sees through her games and gets to the heart of her issues. But Beau doesn’t even seem to realize how far Mackenzie has gone…how deep her issues are and how much giving up control to a man she trusts, specifically Beau, allows her to feel alive and safe for the first time in years.

Beau wants to own Mackenzie; he wants to control her pleasure in the only way he knows how, and he won’t settle for anything less, and River Savage does a great job at moving Mackenzie slowly towards her willing submission because a woman who’s used to being dominated by a man in negative ways will not give herself over to another easily and so even though the mixed messages and steps forward and back that Beau and Mackenzie experience are incredibly frustrating for them and readers, they’re all essential at making sure they’re in it for the right reasons and it’s something that can heal them both instead of hurt them more.

Beau and Mackenzie’s story illustrates and speaks to the damage abuse causes for the person who is abused and those who have to witness it and try to help. There are some dark and dangerous scenes in the text that prove how easily men can become monsters as well as saviors. Savage doesn’t sugar coat anything; she wants readers to understand how deadly these situations can be, especially when it comes to powerful men who other people turn a blind eye to, which is more realistic than most people believe.

I adore the Knights Rebels MC men, and I love the fact that Beau becomes part of the pussy whipped boys’ club. It’s only right after all of the shit he’s given to Nix, Sy, and Jesse. I can’t wait to see who’s going to fall next!

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

4 Poison Apples

 

 

Excerpt