Title: The Shameless Hour (The Ivy Years, #4)
Author: Sarina Bowen
Genre: NA | Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 14, 2015
Tour Hosted by: As the Pages Turn

Synopsis

The girl who’s had everyone meets the boy who has no one.

For Bella, the sweet-talking, free-loving, hip-checking student manager of the Harkness men’s hockey team, sex is a second language. She’s used to being fluent where others stutter, and the things people say behind her back don’t (often) bother her. So she can’t understand why her smoking hot downstairs neighbor has so much trouble staying friends after their spontaneous night together. She knows better than to worry about it, but there’s something in those espresso eyes that makes her second guess herself.

Rafe is appalled with himself for losing his virginity in a drunken hookup. His strict Catholic upbringing always emphasized loving thy neighbor—but not with a bottle of wine and a box of condoms. The result is an Ivy League bout of awkwardness. But when Bella is leveled by a little bad luck and a downright sinister fraternity stunt, it’s Rafe who is there to pick up the pieces.

Bella doesn’t want Rafe’s help, and she’s through with men. Too bad the undeniable spark that crackles between the two of them just can’t be extinguished.

Purchase The Shameless Hour

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Review 

Bella ~ I love a heroine who isn’t afraid to be herself…who owns her actions and doesn’t care how others view her. But while that’s definitely a big part of who Bella is; she also uses her promiscuity as a crutch – a way to keep her heart out of relationships because it’s been too unreliable and she’s spent too long feeling like she was incapable of being loved back.

Bella’s the female equivalent of a manwhore, so I guess she’d be called a slut, but I don’t see her that way. The term has such a negative connotation and it leads to shaming while when a male is promiscuous, he gets high fives and women flock to him. There’s such a double standard when it comes to the sex lives of males and females, and I love that Sarina Bowen addresses that issue and proves how those prejudices lead to irreparable repercussions.

In the Shameless Hour, Bella becomes a pawn in a game that she doesn’t want to play and the backlash of that act almost destroys her, but with Rafe’s compassion and support as well as her ability to fight back, Bella works to become the brazen vixen that she used to be.

Rafe is a fairly quiet and even tempered hero. He’s strong and determined, but his calming presence is what allows him to get through to Bella. They may seem like an odd couple…in fact, for most of the book they wouldn’t be classified as such thanks to Bella’s stubbornness, but he’s exactly the type of guy Bella needs to prove to her that giving her heart away to the right person is definitely worth the risk.

Bella and Rafe’s story deals with topics that all readers can relate to in some way – bullying, shaming, betrayal…these are all issues that society is faced with on a consistent basis. They damage, ruin, and destroy, and if they continue to be broadcasted in a negative light through various media facets, like stories, perhaps, society will feel the need to truly change.

Thanks, Sarina, for showing that these issues should be anything but glorified!

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

4 poison apples

The Shameless Hour ~ Excerpt

I held her a little closer as we danced. The band had no vocalist, but I could hear Louis Armstrong’s voice in my head. Give me… a kiss to build a dream on. “I’ve always loved this song,” I confessed.

“Wait, really?” Bella stood up taller so she could look me in the eye. “Have you listened to the lyrics? The guy gets a single kiss, and he basically says that it’s enough — he’s just going to fantasize about it for the rest of his life. I mean… what a rip.”

I bit back a smile. “It’s romantic.”

“It’s unsatisfying,” she countered. “Here, I’ll show you.” Before I knew what was happening, Bella came closer. Her silky thumb stroked once across my cheekbone. Then she stood up on her toes and kissed me.

The first press of her sweet lips against mine stopped my breathing. Though you couldn’t have paid me to resist her. Sheer instinct made me lean into that kiss with my entire being.

Bella’s mouth melted onto mine, and a needy little sound issued from the back of her throat. Heaven. I deepened the kiss, and our tongues touched once. She tasted of red wine and desire. An electric pulse traveled the length of my body. Unbidden, my hands pulled her closer, my fingers in her hair…

The sound of applause brought me back to earth with a thunk. The song had ended, and the band segued into some kind of swing tune. Bella and I broke apart on a gasp. For a second we just stared at each other. “See?” she said eventually.

But I didn’t have the faintest recollection of the point she’d been trying to make. “What?”

Amusement tickled her features. “Never mind. I hear my wine glass calling me.” She tugged on my hand.

Books in the Ivy Years Series

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About Sarina Bowen

Sarina Bowen writes steamy, angsty contemporary romance from Vermont’s Green Mountains. (Her ancestors began logging and farming Vermont during the 18th century. These were rugged, outdoor types without benefit of a laptop or a good latte. It boggles the mind.) Sarina enjoys skiing, skating and good food. She lives in Windsor County, Vermont, with her family, eight chickens and too much ski gear and hockey equipment.

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Giveaway

The giveaway is open internationally and ends 05/03/2015

(1) An Ivy Years Notebook (It’s super cute)

(1) eBook box set of Ivy Years #1-3

(1) Signed paperback of The Year We Fell Down

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Blurb

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Flynn & Aria Roberts have had plenty of ups and downs during their seven year marriage. Everyone warned them not to wed so young – that they’d be missing out on the key years when people grow from young adults to mature individuals.

The only thing holding them together now is their

love for each other, and even that is becoming questionable.

To save the marriage, and the family they’ve already started, Flynn and Aria come up with an unconventional solution to help them find what’s missing in their relationship.

The only problem is doing so involves rediscovering themselves completely, even if it requires them to be unfaithful.

Can a marriage survive

when vows are broken, or will chance encounters prove they’ve been missing out all-along?

Fulfill your deepest Desires

Give in to Temptation

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Caroline led me upstairs to the guest room. We both sat down on the bed and she started on me right away about it. “Look, I’m not trying to push you away, I just think there’s more to your problems than sex. I’m afraid we’re going to complicate your situation if we go through with something tonight. I need you to really think about what’s at stake here.”

“You said it yourself. It’s just sex. I want to have fun, feel alive, and be able to have sex that isn’t the same every single time. I want to witness two people connect in ways I never knew possible. I want to be able to know how to seduce someone without worrying they’re appalled by my appearance. I need something fresh and new. That’s why I’m doing this.”

“I don’t know, Aria. It might be a bad idea to add fuel to the fire.”

“Don’t back out now. Please. I’ve come this far. I want to do it.” She was wrong about me. Nothing could stop me from going through with it. I’d pumped myself up for the occasion.

“Do what? You said you wanted to watch, but I don’t think you really do. I feel as if this is some way to secretly pay your husband back without screwing a stranger. It’s wrong. Revenge will give you nothing but regret.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do. It’s obvious.” She fidgeted with her hands as she spoke. I was feeling angry. This wasn’t the friend who wanted to help me. She was pushing me away like everyone else had in my life. “Aria, you don’t want to be a swinger. You’re intrigued by the idea of it. I think you struggle from a chemical imbalance that causes you to be confused. All the signs are there. You’re indecisive, compulsive, and sometimes depressing to be around. I adore you. You know that. I’m just telling you how I see it. I want to help.”

“No, you don’t know me at all.” I stood up and backed away from her, crossing my arms over my chest. I didn’t want to feel this way. I hated thinking about my past and what my childhood was like. “My mother is bipolar. She was always depressed and her mood swings were unbearable,” I admitted in a whisper. “She’d leave for days and come back acting as if nothing happened. When she was off her meds it was worse. I never knew what to expect, and I couldn’t count on her for anything. I’m not like that. I’m a good mother. I’d never leave my daughter.”

“You know that’s hereditary, right?”

I shrugged. “It can’t be true. I’m nothing like her.” As the words exited my lips I knew I was fooling no one. The truth was more obvious than ever before. “I’m twenty five years old and I want to learn more about sex and my body. That’s all this is, I assure you. I have fantasized so many times about watching and being watched. I want to experience it at least once in my life. I want to know if it’s as pleasurable in person. Is it wrong to want to be naughty for once in my life? How long do I have to play the role of being perfect and innocent? Maybe I have desires I need to fulfill. Maybe it’s time I have a sexual bender and get it out of my system. Now, I appreciate you caring about me, but you have nothing to worry about. I’m all in for tonight. You’ll see. I need this, Caroline. Please don’t back out on me. It’s not like I can ask someone else. I don’t want to wait and do it later, because I’ll either chicken out or take Flynn back and feel horrible for cheating. I feel like something inside of me is broken. I’ve never been good enough in my own eyes. Right now I’m prepared, I’m ready to explore my sexuality. I’m comfortable with you. I trust you. I know you won’t let me take it too far. You’ll keep me safe, and that’s why I’m ready for this.”

Caroline stood up and walked toward the door. “I’ll do whatever you need me to do. I value our friendship. I just don’t want you to have regrets, Aria. You don’t have to do this to be my friend. I like the person you are, and I’m here for you no matter what. I hope you’re not mad.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m just nothing like my mother. She wouldn’t have stuck around with Flynn like I have. She would have given up. I just know I’m never going to be satisfied until I know for sure he’s all I want.”

“Okay, then it’s settled. See you in a bit,” she replied with a fake smile.

I didn’t frown until the door was closed. I wasn’t about to let her back out of our plans tonight. Even if it was revenge, I was still going through with it. I was tired of being the only person who felt inexperienced. Flynn cheated on me. Why was it so wrong for me to have some fun too? If I didn’t like it I’d stop. It was that simple.

 

Jennifer Foor is an award winning Contemporary Romance Author. She’s best known for the Mitchell Family Series, which includes ten books.

She is married with two children and spends most of her time behind a keyboard, writing stories that come from her heart.

WEBSITE: http://www.jenniferfoor.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferFoorAuthor

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/jennyfoor

AMAZON AUTHOR: http://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Foor/e/B007QVEKI E/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1408370369&sr=8-2-ent

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The Reckoning (Hard to Resist #2)

Blurb 

Jack Dalton was charismatic.

Johnny Outlaw was irresistible.

Two sides of the same man, passionate about two things—music and Holliday Hughes. With her intoxicating mix of strength and vulnerability, confidence and sex appeal, he couldn’t get enough of her.

Together, love was a storm of chaos and calm. When fame became a force to be reckoned with, could their love hold them together or would their notoriety tear them apart?

“This isn’t how our melody goes. This isn’t how we were supposed to play out.”

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/qafq4fe

Hard to Resist Series

The Resistance (bk 1)

ONLY $0.99

Amazon US:http://amzn.to/1DvzZK5

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Qg3DMk

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

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Amazon Audiobook: http://tinyurl.com/q9deomq

The Reckoning (bk 2)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1E3EA91

iBooks: http://apple.co/1Gge2Vq

The Redemption (bk 3)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1E3Emia

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

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

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

About S.L. Scott

S.L. Scott is a former high-tech account manager with a journalism degree pursuing her passion for telling stories. She spends her days escaping into her characters and letting them lead her on their adventures. Live music shows, harvesting jalapenos and eating homemade guacamole are her obsessions she calls hobbies. Scott lives in the beautiful Texas hill country of Austin with her husband, two young sons, two Papillons and a bowl full of Sea Monkeys. Her novels include The Resistance, The Redemption, The From the Inside Out Series, and the Welcome to Paradise series

Connect with S.L.

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FACEBOOK

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Synopsis

How do you fix a love that’s been broken beyond repair?

For years, Cassie Taylor tried to forget about Ethan Holt. He was the one great love of her life, and when he failed to return her love, a part of her died forever. Or so she thought. Now she and Ethan are sharing a Broadway stage, and he’s determined to win her back. Claiming to be a changed man, he’s finally able to say all the things she needed to hear years ago, but can she believe him? What makes this time different from all his other broken promises?

Ethan knows he can’t change their tumultuous past, but if he’s going to have any chance of being with the woman he loves, he’ll need to convince Cassie that her future belongs with him.

Don’t miss this stunning conclusion to the unforgettable love story that captivated over two million fans online.

Amazon: http://smarturl.it/BrokenJulietAmz

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Title: Waiting for the One

Author: L. A. Fiore

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release: April 28th

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Synopsis

Saffron Mills has lived all of her almost thirty years in Harrington, Maine—a small town where fishing is plenty, but available men are far too few. Yet it’s not just her dating dry spell that draws her to recent arrival Logan MacGowan. Tall, dark, and handsome, with emerald-green eyes and an impossibly hot body, Logan is a gorgeous enigma whose silence she takes for indifference…until one unforgettable chance meeting, when pent-up attraction ignites into the most intense encounter of her life.

In this quiet, quirky town, no one knows that Logan’s alter ego is famous sculptor and tabloid darling David Cambre. In New York, he had all the wrong kind of attention, but in Harrington, he’s found peace, privacy…and Saffron. She’s witty, forthright, and so much sexier and stronger than she knows. But how do you protect the love you’ve been waiting for when your own lifestyle could be destined to rip it apart?

AmazonUS | AmazonUK | AmazonCA | AmazonAU | B&N

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L.A. Fiore is the author of several books including: Beautifully Damaged, Beautifully Forgotten and Always and Forever. She’s also the social secretary for her two children, a tamer of ill-mannered cats, the companion to one awesome dog and married to her best friend. She likes her wine red, her shrimp chilled and her social gatherings small and intimate.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon Page | Twitter

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Don’t forget to come party with L. A. Fiore on her Facebook Author Page.

She will celebrating her release of Waiting For The One, on May 5th from 8:00 – 9:00 PM EST

She will also be celebrating on May 7th from 3:00 – 4:00 PM EST (For International Readers)

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Toni Aleo is the author of the Nasvhille Assassins series: Taking Shots, Trying to Score, Empty Net, Falling for the Backup, and Blue Lines.

When not rooting for her beloved Nashville Predators, she’s probably going to her husband’s and son’s hockey games and her daughter’s dance competitions, taking pictures, scrapbooking, or reading the latest romance novel.

She lives in the Nashville area with her husband, two children, and a bulldog. Read more about Toni here.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads 

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Title: Kissing Madeline (Dearest, #3)

Author: Lex Martin

Release Date: April 27, 2015

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Cover Design by: Krista Ritchie

DEAREST CLEMENTINE (Dearest, #1 – Clementine & Gavin)

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Twenty-year-old Clementine Avery doesn’t mind being called bitchy and closed off. It’s safe, and after being burned by her high school sweetheart and stalked by a professor her freshman year of college, safe sounds pretty damn good.

Her number one rule for survival? No dating. That is until she accidentally signs up for a romance writing class and needs material for her latest assignment. Sexy RA Gavin Murphy is more than happy to play the part of book boyfriend to help Clem find some inspiration, even if that means making out…in the name of research, of course.

As Gavin and Clem grow closer, they get entangled in the mystery surrounding a missing Boston University student, and Clem unwittingly becomes a possible target. Gavin tries to show Clem she can handle falling in love again, but she knows she has to be careful because her heart’s at stake…and maybe even her life.

FINDING DANDELION (#2 – Jax and Dani)

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When soccer all-star Jax Avery collides with Dani Hart on his twenty-first birthday, their connection is instantaneous and explosive. For the first time in years, Jax isn’t interested in his usual hit-it and quit-it approach.

But Dani knows better. Allowing herself a night to be carefree and feel the intensity of their attraction won’t change anything when it comes to dealing with a player. So when Jax doesn’t recognize Dani the next time he sees her, it shouldn’t be a total shock. The fact that he’s her new roommate’s brother? That’s a shock.

Dani doesn’t regret that night with Jax, just the need to lie about it. Since her roommate has made it clear what she thinks about her brother’s “type” of girl, the last thing Dani wants is to admit what happened.

Jax knows he’s walking a fine line on the soccer team. One more misstep and he’s off the roster, his plans to go pro be damned. Except he can’t seem to care. About anything… except for the one girl who keeps invading his dreams.

Despite Jax’s fuzzy memory of his hot hookup with his sister’s friend, he can’t stay away from her, even if that means breaking his own rules. But there are bigger forces at work–realities that can end Dani’s college career and lies that can tear them apart. Jax realizes what he’s losing if Dani walks away, but will he sacrifice his future to be with her? And will she let him if he does?

About the Author

Lex Martin writes new adult novels, the sexy kind with lotsa angst, a whole lotta kissing, and the hot happily ever afters. When she’s not writing, she lives a parallel life as an English teacher. She loves printing black and white photos, listening to music on vinyl, and getting lost in a great book. Bitten by wanderlust, she’s lived all over the country but currently resides in the City of Angels with her husband and twin daughters.

Connect with Lex

Dearest Series Fan Group | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Blog

Giveaway!
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Review

Desolation is the one book in the Jokers’ Wrath MC series that I’ve been waiting for ever since readers were introduced to Santana’s broken little sister, Pippa. I wasn’t sure how a young girl who was forced to be a slave for five years could cope and heal in a harsh and dark motorcycle world, but Bella Jewel proves that regardless of the environment, being surrounded by family and love is exactly what is needed to thrive, even when there are setbacks.

Pippa is definitely a heroine that will pull at reader’s heartstrings. She’s soft spoken and submissive. She has a difficult time with confrontation and standing up for herself due to her circumstances. Pippa has been through hell, and it’s definitely going to take an immense amount of strength and determination to persevere, but with her badass biker and a slew of family and friends who love her by her side, Pippa can find a way out of the darkness and become the woman she wants to be.

From the onset, Bella does an amazing job of developing Pippa’s character from the innocent, broken angel to a woman who fights for what she wants. Her transition is not easy and her doubts and inadequacies are heart breaking, but she understands that she’s the victim in all of this and needs to do what she can to take back her life. Because Desolation is told through Pippa’s perspective, readers see how truly naïve and unworldly she is, which is exactly how she should be because she’s still struggling to find her place and fit in, but as she gains the courage to put herself out there and take action, her forcefulness grows, which is clearly expressed through her internal thoughts and her outward voice.

The flashbacks to Pippa’s time as a slave are difficult but necessary. They help to illustrate all that she endured and why she’s having such a difficult time returning to society. They also show the connection she has with Rainer, an essential bond to her in order to continue to cope with everything she’s faced with before she’s saved by her biker family.

One thing I would have liked to have been given is Tyke’s point of view…it definitely would have helped to understand him better and not want to throttle him for his insensitive actions. But I also understand why Bella kept it solely in Pippa’s voice because it’s her returning to herself and becoming whole that allows her to claim Tyke and be claimed in return.

At the end of Desolation, Pippa is no longer empty or destroyed; she’s no longer a shell of who she used to be before her captivity because she forced herself to change…she forced herself to grow and prove to herself and those around her that she may be little, but it doesn’t mean she can’t be fierce…she may be sensitive but she’s not weak.

I’m sad to see the Jokers’ Wrath MC series end, but I love the fact that Bella introduces readers to a few of the characters in her new series. Raide Knox definitely has a story to tell and Bella and Max’s story intrigues me after gaining a bit of insight about them.

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

4.5 Poison Apples

Bella Jewel is a self published, USA Today bestselling author. She’s been publishing since 2013. Her first release was a contemporary romance, Hell’s Knights which topped the charts upon release. Since that time, she has published over five novels, gaining a bestseller status on numerous platforms. She lives in North Queensland and is currently studying editing and proofreading to further expand her career. Bella has been writing since she was just shy of fifteen years old. In Summer 2013 she was offered an ebook deal through Montlake Romance for her bestselling modern day pirate series, Enslaved By The Ocean. She plans to expand her writing career, planning many new releases for the future.