Fairest Of All Book Reviews

ROCK HARD (Rock Kiss Series)  Book Two

PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE

Amazon preorder:  http://amzn.to/1LMSNLJ

iBooks preorder:  http://bit.ly/1utQDee

Nook preorder: http://bit.ly/1KEyBIx

Kobo preorder: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/rock-hard-22

Releasing: March 10th, 2015

In New York Times Bestselling author Nalini Singh’s newest contemporary romance, passion ignites between a gorgeous, sinfully sexy man who built himself up from nothing and a shy woman who has a terrible secret in her past…

Wealthy businessman Gabriel Bishop rules the boardroom with the same determination and ruthlessness that made him a rock star on the rugby field. He knows what he wants, and he’ll go after it no-holds-barred.

And what he wants is Charlotte Baird.

Charlotte knows she’s a mouse. Emotionally scarred and painfully shy, she just wants to do her job and remain as invisible as possible. But the new CEO—a brilliant, broad-shouldered T-Rex of a man who growls and storms through the office, leaving carnage in his wake—clearly has other plans. Plans that may be equal parts business and bedroom.

If Charlotte intends to survive this battle of wits and hearts, the mouse will have to learn to wrangle the T-Rex. Game on.

Series Reading Order

Rock Addiction (Book One)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/WqA2rj

iTunes:  http://bit.ly/1ng9zE9

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1lPqB19

Rock Courtship (Book 1.5)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/XXjjxG

iTunes: http://bit.ly/1lzgNIi

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1pEeCy6

Meet the Author

NEW YORK TIMES AND USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series Nalini Singh usually writes about hot shapeshifters and dangerous angels. This time around, she decided to write about hot and wickedly tempting rock stars. If you’re seeing a theme here, you’re not wrong.

Nalini lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing. If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, whileAngels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. Also, don’t forget to swing by the site to check out the special behind-the-scenes page for the Rock Kiss series, complete with photos of many of the locations used in the books.

STALK HER:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Synopsis

An epic tale of revenge and love in a new romantic trilogy from the New York Times best-selling author of The Beauty Series.

Bleu MacAllister is in hiding less than three months when Sinclair Breckenridge discovers her whereabouts. Her former lover, the future leader of a criminal organization known as The Fellowship, resists the tug of his heart heartstrings in her direction. Instead, he opts to watch over his beloved from afar. And she has no idea. But Sin’s sacrifice is short-lived. His bonny lass is a hunted traitor. He fears Abram’s assassins are closing in, leaving him with one solution for saving Bleu–make her his wife. Marriage seems an easy fix for their dilemma but wedded bliss is brief when the couple finds trouble lying in wait beyond the realm of the brotherhood. Will the original revenge seeker find herself the object of collateral damage?

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00RG7HH8I

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-next-sin/id949343301?mt=11

One Last Sin – Release Date – March 23, 2015

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20623840-one-last-sin

Review

Who would have thought that a plan of revenge would introduce Bleu MacAllister to the man who would end up owning her heart! But Bleu’s love for Sinclair Breckenridge comes with a whole slew of issues, namely the Fellowship that Sin is one of the main players of and its enemies who want nothing more than to take something precious away from a group of men they despise. There’s also the issue of Bleu’s mother’s murderer, and Bleu’s desperate need to close that cold case in order to feel a sense of retribution for all that she’s been through without her mother by her side.

At the end of A Necessary Sin, Bleu’s lies caught up with her, and she did the only thing she could do – she fled back home to lick her wounds and try to get over the man who consumes her every thought. Going into The Next Sin, I wasn’t sure how long Georgia Cates was going to wait before she reunited one of my favorite book couples, but thankfully, I didn’t have too long to wait, and the way Sin comes through for Bleu in all the ways that matter only endures him to readers that much more.

But Bleu and Sin’s happy reunion is still plagued by what awaits them back in Scotland, and when they return, they’ll have to fight with everything they have to stand strong together when the pressures of the Fellowship and all that is expected of both of them consumes them from every angle.

Sin is such a rich and complex character. He evolves due to his feelings for Bleu, and he becomes a man who feels more than he ever thought he would, which is both a blessing and a curse for the environment that surrounds him.  Bleu opens him up and exposes the heart of a man whose words would make any woman’s panties melt and heart swell. There’s an intensity and a strength in Sin that is manifested due to his involvement in the Fellowship, and it is flourishes even more with Bleu by his side.

Since the beginning of the series, Bleu has been such a strong and resilient heroine, and she continues to be an enigmatic force as a member of the Fellowship and Sin’s other half. The demands placed upon her have grown since her return to Scotland due to her and Sin’s new roles, which has put an immense amount of pressure on Bleu to prove herself. But she comes through in spades, even when her back is against the wall.

Let me tell you…March can’t come soon enough! The Next Sin is an amazing follow up to A Necessary Sin. Bleu and Sin grow so much in this book, and against all odds, they are making it work, but there are things in the works threatening them, and they will have to be taken care of to ensure their happiness. A lot develops in The Next Sin, and it all points to one hell of a dramatic ending!

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

5 poison apples

Excerpt: Bleu’s POV

I touch the screen. I stroke my finger down his face but it feels nothing like the real thing. I close my eyes so I can imagine the way his scruff felt against my skin.

He rarely grew what I would call a beard. He always kept his facial hair short and scruffy. And I loved it, especially when he would drag his face down the center of my body just to hear me squeal. But the best was when he’d push the crotch of my panties aside and rub his chin up and down between my legs.

“Holy shit, Bleu. That’s him, isn’t it?” I jerk when I hear Ellison’s voice over my shoulder. “That’s the man you were with in Scotland.”

I’m so stupid. I can’t believe I’ve allowed her to sneak up and catch me looking at this photograph. I was preoccupied. That’s my only excuse.

Ellison has interrogated me nonstop about my relationship with Sin. I’ve been vague. She’s on a need-to-know-only basis. That means I haven’t told her shit. But I want to. I need someone to tell me this excruciating pain in my heart is going to ease.

“Yes.” That’s my Breck. My admission feels like a ton of bricks lifted from my shoulders.

“Damn. That is one hottie Scottie.”

“I know.” I sigh as I prop my chin in my hand. I look at the handsome face of the only man in this world besides my father who has been willing to take me the way I am.

Two men. Both know the darkness I carry inside. But they love me anyway.

I’ve lost one. I’m losing the other. And it’s killing me.

“My God, Bleu. Look at the way he’s holding you … like you’re his everything. I don’t know how you walked away from him.”

You’d be surprised by the things you can do when you’re staring death in the face.

“My job was over.”

“You haven’t told me anything about it. Or him. Was it good?”

I recall the words he used to describe what being together was like for him. “The best ever.”

“You don’t think you’ll see him again?”

“No.” I won’t if I want to continue to live.

A Necessary Sin- Book 1 of The Sin Trilogy – Release Date: Dec 29

Bleu MacAllister is consumed. A horrific childhood incident has caused every decision in her life to revolve around bringing a monster to justice. With years spent studying The Fellowship, an organized crime brotherhood of liars, thieves, and killers, Bleu will rely on her skills as a special agent to cut Thane Breckenridge off at the knees. But walking hand in hand with retribution means risking collateral damage, in the form of Breckenridge’s son Sinclair—until Sin becomes so much more than Bleu bargained for. She’s always known this undertaking would place her life in danger—she never imagined her heart would be as well.

Buy Links:

https://itunes.apple.com/book/a-necessary-sin/id945370939?mt=11

http://amzn.com/B00RIA6VI0

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Georgia resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent fourteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author and hasn’t looked back yet.

When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. When she’s being domestic, she’s listening to her iPod and visualizing scenes for her current work in progress. Every story coming from her always has a song to inspire it.

Representation: All questions regarding subsidiary rights for any of my books, inquiries regarding foreign translation and film rights should be directed to Jane Dystel of Dystel & Goderich.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Georgia-Cates/213130102082500?ref=br_tf

NEWSLETTER: http://goo.gl/ILvz8L

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/GeorgiaCates

WEBSITE: http://www.georgiacates.com/

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5228869.Georgia_Cates

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: http://www.amazon.com/Georgia-Cates/e/B005RQM69U/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1412959384&sr=8-2-ent

Title: The Gilded Cuff

Author: Lauren Smith

Series: Surrender Series Book 1

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb

Every passion has its price . . .

Journalist Sophie Ryder has been following Emery Lockwood’s story since she was a little girl. There has always been something in his haunted eyes that she couldn’t resist and now, when she’s certain he holds the key to solving a string of kidnappings, she’ll do anything to speak to him. Even if it means venturing deep into the seductive world of the Gilded Cuff, a luxurious BDSM club on Long Island’s Gold Coast and Emery’s personal playground.

From the moment Sophie enters his shadowy, sensual domain, Emery Lockwood knows this tantalizing new little sub was meant to belong to him. However, Sophie wants more from Emery than just pleasure . . . she wants his past. And that is something he isn’t willing to give—no matter who is asking. But every moment he spends with Sophie, Emery feels his control slipping and he knows it’s only a matter of time before he surrenders to her heart, body, and soul.

Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Amazon Print | Barnes & Noble Print

Excerpt

Emery held still, didn’t make a sound or move until she opened her eyes. When she did finally look up at him, he dropped his head a few inches, his nose touching hers, nuzzling her cheek.

“I’m not like other men, Sophie. Scars are a sign of strength, survival. Someday you’ll be brave enough to show me, and I’ll prove you have nothing to be ashamed of. Now, I am willing to accept the deal you proposed. Are you willing in return?”

She bit her lip. It had been her idea; she had to see it through. She wanted to see it through, even if it scared the living daylights out of her.

“Yes. I’ll do it. Your story, my submission.”

He kissed her with raw possession, his mouth showing her how wicked it would be between them. Wild, dark, and completely free. She wanted that more than anything, the freedom to let go, to give in to the erotic dreams she’d spent years ignoring but never had felt safe enough to give in to before. His kiss broke down every barrier, obliterated every part of herself she tried to hide. Sophie lifted her chin, offering him her mouth, pleading for him. Emery drew a quick breath, eyes widening before his lashes fell to half-mast, his gaze drawn to her lips.

When he took her lips, he dominated her with the depth of his claiming. She breathed him in, like drawing the first heavy breath upon waking from a thousand-year sleep. Sophie came alive in that single moment. The woman she’d been all these years since losing Rachel, the scared little girl fighting against the evils in the world, was gone. In her place was the woman she’d always wanted to be, a woman not afraid to live her life. She couldn’t shut this man out like she had her other friends or her family. No. He demanded she give in to him. Electric tingles pulsed outward from the places they touched, setting her senses on fire, fogging her mind. His kiss consumed her—enveloping her until she was lost, set adrift in a haze of desire, longing, and aching.

She felt his mouth tremble against hers; he seemed to strain to keep his possession under control, to bank the fires of his passion. His tongue slipped between her lips, thrusting in time with the rocking of his hips against hers in tiny circles. He gave up his control and took her over. His body weighed hers down, his hips rocking into hers. He could have done anything to her in that moment, and she’d have agreed to it. Sophie’s inner muscles clenched, empty and wet, yearning for him, but it was his kiss that was her downfall—almost brutal with craving, as though he was a thirsty man savoring his first sip of water from her mouth. All his focus, all his energy seemed to be on her, on her lips.

He tore his mouth from hers, panting roughly. He cursed savagely and withdrew his hands from her body. She blinked in surprise when she realized his hot hands had slid up her outer thighs beneath the mini-skirt. Her chest heaved, her breasts dangerously close to escaping the confines of her corset. Emery’s eyes slowly tracked down from her mouth to her breasts. With a rakish grin he pressed his mouth lightly on the tops of the creamy swells, his tongue darting out as he licked and nibbled a path back up to her lips. He paused, then feathered his lips at the corner of her mouth and brushed his nose against hers playfully.

Sophie whimpered at the loss when he finally drew his head back. It felt like good-bye, but that was foolish; she’d only just met him and agreed to surrender to him. They couldn’t be done.

Emery sighed, his breath uneven against her temple. His body stiffened above hers.

“Go home, Sophie. Forget me, this place. Let it be a peculiar dream, nothing more. I’m not the man for you.” His voice was harsh.

“No,” she whispered fiercely, but she wasn’t as sure of herself as she had been. She’d expected a spanking, some rough kissing. She hadn’t expected to feel so vulnerable and exposed by a man taking control of her body and owning her completely in a mere few minutes.

“You think you can really survive this lifestyle for even one minute? You’re vanilla, sweetheart. You wouldn’t ever let me tie you up and take you the thousand ways I’d like to. You’d cry when my hand came down on your ass in punishment. You’re not ready for this.”

She shook her head, furiously fighting off the swell of tears as her throat constricted. He and he alone had offered her what her secret dreams and longings had called for night after night. The phantom lovers that had tormented her to the brink of violent need in her dreams could never compare to the very real and very heavy weight of his body on hers at that moment. The devastation of that perfect kiss couldn’t be undone. The story could wait…but the need…the desperation to feel alive again…she couldn’t let go of that, not yet.

“No. Take me home with you.” She paused, calculating each word. “Please, Sir.” She was begging. There was no doubt about it for either of them, and as shocked as she was by her own impulse to beg, she prayed he’d let her go with him.

Emery’s lips twisted into a crooked smile. For a moment, she saw the boy in him, the one he’d been before his world had been utterly destroyed. The child wasn’t gone, wasn’t dead. Buried yes, but not dead. He threaded a hand through his hair and remained silent for moment. Shadows of doubt and indecision danced across his face before he finally replied.

“How can I resist?” Emery lifted himself and hauled her to her feet.

Sophie winced. Her back was bruised after lying on the stone floor beneath him. She hadn’t minded at the time—her body had been distracted by a thousand other things. But now her shoulder blades and hips screamed in protest. Emery took her into his arms, rubbing her back, massaging it with knowing hands.

“Come, I’ll summon my driver.”

“Okay.” She tried to remain calm. She was going home with Emery Lockwood. One of the richest men in America. Yet it wasn’t his wealth that made her fight off the rippling tremors at the base of her spine and in her womb. No, it was the fact that she was going home with a man who kissed her like she was the last woman on earth and time was ending. If he kissed like that, sex with him would be the Apocalypse. She’d never survive it.

About the Author

Amazon best-selling author Lauren Smith is an attorney by day, author by night, who pens adventurous and edgy romance stories by the light of her smart phone flashlight app. She’s a native Oklahoman who lives with her three pets—a feisty chinchilla, sophisticated cat and dapper little schnauzer. She’s won multiple awards in several romance subgenres including being an Amazon.com Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist and a Semi-Finalist for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award.

Connect with Lauren

Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Title: Jax (Breaking The Declan Brothers #1)

Author: Kelly Gendron

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: March 17, 2015

Synopsis

“Some boys can get rough, some don’t always listen when you tell them to stop, and some boys, they’re just monsters. You gotta be careful who you play with…” ~ Jax Declan

I’m a tease, always have been. In my teens, Jax Declan tried to warn me about staying away from the bad boys. The only boy I ever wanted was Jax. But, no matter how much I tried to play with him, he rejected me.

I haven’t see Jax Declan in years. A couple friends and I are going back to the Bayou for the summer. A little older now, and a bit wiser, I’ve decided that I’m going to find my teenage crush and I’m going to break him. This summer Jax Declan will play with me.

But the closer I get and the more I learn about the reserved, discreet, and sexy Jax Declan. Well, I’m starting to think that Jax Declan might just be one of those bad boys he tried to warn me about all those years ago.

About The Author

Kelly’s motto ~ “Bad boys, give ’em a little time and experience, and they will evolve into misbehaving men!” And what hot-blooded woman doesn’t want a naughty, all grown up bad boy?

Kelly Gendron is the author of the TroubleMaker series, the up and coming series ~ Breaking the Declan Brothers, and a few other romantic suspense novels.

When she’s not writing steamy, blush producing romances, she’s out meeting new people while representing a group of reputable nursing facilities. You can find Kelly in a quiet suburb, somewhere between Buffalo and Niagara Falls. If you Google her, she’ll pop up there too. And, please do find her. Kelly loves to hear from her readers, and meeting new people.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google | Goodreads | Newsletter | Amazon

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Gods & Monsters— Book #3 in the Scorpio Stinger MC Series

Release Date: March 2015

Add to Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22669015-gods-monsters

SYNOPSIS

I never look in a mirror. I don’t need to. If I want to see what I look like, I just look at my twin. Daemon and I are identical in every way — from the outside. That’s where it ends.

Born five minutes after me, my brother hates that he came second. It irks him that I breathed life into my lungs first. Ever since he’s been trying to steal everything I have. Everything I love.

To own it first.

Until the day I, Cobra Malone, become president of the Scorpio Stinger MC. I throw him out like the garbage he is. Rotten filth won’t be able to taunt me any longer.

How wrong I am.

Evil knows no barriers. It stops at nothing. It won’t rest until it gets what it wants. And he wants what is mine. MINE. He wants my woman. My air. My reason for living.

I’ll die before I let him take Mia from me.

Will this be a battle to the end? Till the last man is left standing?

When two wills this strong clash, there will be chaos . . . and blood.

Who will win? The God or The Monster?

Tormented — Book #4 in the Scorpio Stinger MC Series

 Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23623746-tormented

SYNOPSIS

Can there be redemption for a man with a tortured soul and a twisted heart?

Harrison:

Anger and hatred taint my soul.
I hate bikers. Especially Ryder Knox, VP of the Scorpio Stinger MC, a foulmouthed biker and the one my little sister, Jade, has fallen for.
Man against man, the biker and I fight for our beliefs, neither giving in.

A tragic loss when I was much younger changes the course of my life, leaving me with rage and fury in my heart and my gut. There is no room for love.

I make it my life’s work as a cop to wipe out the scum of the earth. It’s my singular focus. My passion. Nothing else matters. I don’t want anything more.  No relationships, no family of my own to distract me.

Until I meet Ryder’s sister, Eva. She’s off limits, but despite my best intentions, I just can’t get the dark haired beauty out of my mind. I need Eva to submit to me and give me the control I so desperately crave.

Can Eva tame the beast in me and make me human again? Can she help me redeem myself for what I put Jade and Ryder through?

Or is HELL the only place for a man like me. A man so twisted and tortured? A beast?

Eva:

Harrison. Dark. Broody.

Definitely tormented.

A beast?

Maybe he is, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting him. On some deep level we connect—I see past the damaged outer into his very soul. Can I be the one to crack through his hardened heart and bring out the real man inside he’s hiding—even from himself?

Is there redemption for a man like Harrison Summers?

Or will he drag me straight into hell with him?

Scorpio Stinger MC Reading Order

Ryder – Prequel Book #0.5 http://amzn.to/16FqI8o

Two Worlds Colliding Book #1 http://amzn.to/18YEzbA

Unchain My Heart Book #2 http://amzn.to/1CGDC3M

A Biker Christmas Novella Book #2.5 http://amzn.to/1zK5kZP

Gods & Monsters Book #3 Add To Goodreads

Tormented Book #4 Add To Goodreads

===============================================

MEET JANI KAY

Jani has been married for a long time to a special man, and her two children and their partners are the sunshine in her life. She is a voracious reader and would spend her last dollar on a book – always fascinated that for the mere price of a book, she can escape her world for a while and see through someone else’s eyes.

Besides reading, her favorite ‘thing’ is traveling – she has traveled the world, learning about the ways people live and has come to the realization that no matter where we live, we all ultimately want the same things. Her hobby – Scrapbooking – keeps her up till way after midnight and her usual subjects are her family and her travels.

Ever since she can remember, Jani wanted to write stories about people, about their lives and loves. Relationships and Happiness – arguably the most difficult things to master in life and yet exactly what everyone ultimately desires (in her humble opinion).

Website I Email I Facebook I Amazon I  Twitter I  Goodreads 

Subscribe to Jani’s Newsletter I Join Jani’s Krusader Fan Group

BLOG: http://janikaybooks.blogspot.com.au

NEWSLETTER:  http://tinyurl.com/msoblrd

EMAIL: janikaybooks@gmail.com

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

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/janikaybooks

AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Jani-Kay/e/B00E7SBHN0

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7201427.Jani_Kay

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Intoxicate, Book # 4 in the Explosive Series

Can be read as a standalone

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Day: January 29, 2015

Blurb

Marry me.

Two words Kalli Montgomery never expected to say out loud to Xavier Cruz, even though she’s been in love with the sexy, single father for as long as she can remember. Unfortunately, she hasn’t just been friend-zoned for the past ten years. No, even worse, he’s treated her like a little sister, no matter how hard she tried to prove she could be so much more. When she agrees to spend the summer as the caregiver for his daughter, Lily, she knows it’s her last chance to finally make him take notice.

As unexpected circumstances threaten to disrupt his home life, Xavier’s desperate to keep his family together. He’ll do whatever it takes, even if it means marrying a woman he doesn’t love. For Xavier and Lily, Kalli will do just about anything, even at the risk of getting her heart broken in the process.

Little does she know, sometimes love isn’t quite as unrequited as one may think. Xavier sees her-he always has. And the vow he made all those years ago never to go there with his best friend’s little sister is wavering, and it’s wavering fast. When they come up with a plan that leads to wedding bells, it’s a no brainer.

This marriage of convenience has one rule: absolutely no falling in love.

Easier said than done. Throw together a girl who believes rules are meant to be broken, and a man whose whole career revolves around following orders and you get a recipe for disaster. What could possibly go wrong?

Purchase the Book!

Amazon US | UK | CA | AU | B&N

Review

How can anyone who reads Intoxicate not fall in love with Xavier Cruz? A single father who willingly gives up everything for his daughter, Lily; she is his world, and Tessa Teevan illustrates the bond between father and daughter so explicitly that it will make readers sigh and want to smother Xavier in hugs and kisses.

Family love is an intricate part to the storyline of Intoxicate.  Even at the young age of 21, Xavier understood who his priority was, and with the help of his mother, he went about securing a wonderful life for Lily, even though she never felt her mother’s love, and it was something she so much deserved. She finds that kind of motherly/familial bond with Kalli Montgomery when she moves to Clarksville for not only a change of pace and to be closer to her brother, Kale, and her new nephew, but also because she feels it’s time to put her cards on the table when it comes to her feelings for Xavier and deal with the fallout if he refuses her. The way that both Xavier and Kalli’s friends and family go above and beyond the call of duty for each other is something that will resonate with readers in this book, and it’s one of the aspects of their story that made it such a fantastic read.

When it comes to himself, Xavier Cruz doesn’t ask for much. His focus has been his daughter since she was born, so it leaves him very little time for anything, including a personal life. Xavier is such a fantastic father, but readers can tell right away that he yearns for the kind of relationship that he sees his friends securing for themselves, and he wants it with the 16 year old girl who captured his heart all those years ago, Kelli Montgomery, even if he can’t fully admit to himself or others. I’m so glad that Teesa gave readers Xavier’s point of view because I might have wanted to murder him without it. He is all over the map when it comes to his feelings for Kalli and what he wants from her, and his reaction to her is hot and cold, which is infuriating to witness but, at the same time, completely understandable due to his back story with Lily’s mom and the fact that he hasn’t date or had feelings for someone in over two years.

Kalli Montgomery should be nominated for sainthood for everything she went through while Xavier figured out what he truly wanted, but she hangs on because he’s all she’s ever wanted and she’s just as madly in love with Lily as she is with Lily’s dad. Kalli is an incredibly selfless and compassionate woman who understands Xavier’s trepidations and does her best to assuage them. She wants Xavier…there’s no doubt about it and she’ll do what she has to do to make him see how good they are together, but she won’t compromise herself or put Lily in harm’s way, which is why Kalli is such a fantastic heroine.

Always have. Always will. No matter what.

These words perfectly describe a multitude of relationships in the story and the depths all of the characters are willing to go to in order to protect those they love from anything or anyone who may cause harm. But where the phrases truly resonate is in terms of how Kalli feels about Xavier and what she’s willing to do for not only him but his daughter as well, and while it does take Xavier a little bit longer to come to terms with the depth of his feelings for Kalli, he grows to embrace those words as well, which leads to what once was just him and his daughter to a family neither can live without.

Intoxicate is another fantastic addition to Tessa Teevan’s Explosive series. Both Xavier and Kalli are well developed, so it’s easy to understand what motivates them and why they make the choices they do, and the plotline is fluid, which allows the readers to stay in tune with everything that is occurring, not getting caught up in any unnecessary drama or missteps due to confusion.

I definitely don’t want to see this series end because I love catching up with everyone and getting another couple to their HEA. Let’s hope Tessa has a few more stories to addJ

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

4.5 poison apples

Playlist

Excerpt

Shooting a glare at him, I throw my hands up in exasperation. “Are you telling me that this whole anticipation thing is one-sided? Is it that easy for you to resist? I really need to step up my game.”

Xavier’s eyes fall to my lips for a quick moment before he looks back up at me. I see the desire in his expression, and without him even saying a word, I know he wants this, too. So why is he making me wait?

“You have no idea how much I want to kiss you right now. How many times I’ve thought of doing just that. Every time you were curled up against me on the couch, I wanted to kiss you. Every morning when you showed up, I wanted to kiss you. Every time you said goodnight to Lily and then slipped out my door? I wanted to kiss you before you left. It’s not a new development. The first time I ever saw you, Kalli, I wanted to kiss you. And I’ve wanted to ever since.”

His admission floors me. He’s told me before that he “saw” me, but I had no clue it was from the very beginning. I’m not really sure how to process it. In fact, he beats me to the punch.

“So now you know. This will be just as hard for me, but it will be so damn worth it. Because when you’ve wanted something for as long as I’ve wanted you? It’ll be the best feeling in the world when I finally get it.”

“Our first kiss will be that epic?”

“A first kiss to rival them all,” he quips, grinning at me. He holds his arms out wide. “Now, we’ll start with a hug and work our way up.”

“I feel like I’m sixteen again,” I tell him as I wrap my arms around his waist.

His hands come down to my back and he gives me a big squeeze, my head pressing against his firm chest. I love this feeling of being in his arms, him holding me close. There’s nowhere on the planet I’d rather be than right here with him. As much as I want him, I know he’s right. I don’t care when it comes. Because when it does, our first kiss will be unforgettable.

His chest rumbles as he chuckles. He squeezes me tight one last time before letting me go. “And it’s only just the beginning,” he tells me. “Have a good night, crazy girl.”

Ignite (Explosive #1) | Incinerate (Explosive #2) | Inflame (Explosive #3)

Author Bio

I’m a twenty something book junkie who is also obsessed with sports. Bengals, Buckeyes, Reds are my teams! I work for the government during the day, hang out with Air National Guard on the weekends, and have been married to my own book boyfriend for over seven years. We currently live right outside of Dayton, OH with our two cats.

If I’m not writing or looking through tons of photos of hot men, all in the name of research, then you can probably find me curled up with my Kindle, ignoring the rest of the world. I love my sports almost as much as I love my books. My other obsessions include red wine, hot men, country music, and all things Grace Potter.

Connect with the Author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Email | Goodreads

Giveaway!

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By Any Other Name

(Forbidden Series Book One)

By USA TODAY Bestselling Author J.M. Darhower

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: February 23^rd, 2015

Synopsis

A deadly rivalry.

Two families at war.

Nobody is safe, not even the innocent.

Especially the innocent.

Blood will be spilled.

Genevieve “Genna” Galante knows a thing or two about causing trouble. After all, it’s engrained in her DNA. As the only daughter of Primo Galante, notorious boss of the Galante crime family, her life is dictated by a certain set of rules… rules Genna was never very good at following.

Matteo “Matty” Barsanti never wanted anything to do with the family business, but as the first-born Barsanti son, certain things are expected of him. It’s his duty, according to his father, to help take down the enemy… even if that enemy means something to him.

A chance encounter on an elevator changes the course of lives, causing the biggest trouble of Genna’s young life. The only good Barsanti is a dead Barsanti. She’s heard it said time and time again. So what happens when she falls in love with one of them?

The story of star-crossed lovers caught in the middle of the biggest rivalry New York has ever seen, determined to make it… if only they can survive their parents’ feud.

Teaser

“A Roman Coke,” Genna mused. “What’s that?”

“It’s rum and Coke. We just call it a Roman Coke around here.”

“Because you’re Italian?”

“And because when you get drunk enough, it all just slurs together anyway.”

“Ah.” Genna picked hers up, motioning toward him with it. “So what are we drinking to?”

“Today.”

“Today?”

He nodded. “Right now, this moment. Let’s drink to it.”

Smiling, she clinked her glass with his. “Today, then.”

They threw them back at the same time. The liquor hit Genna’s taste buds and she grimaced, the vicious burn seeping down her throat and settling deep in her chest. “Ugh, is there even any Coke in this damn thing?”

Matty laughed, setting his empty glass down. “Just a splash.”

“I couldn’t tell.”

“That’s because I prefer it that way,” he responded. “Strong and rough, enough to leave a lingering ache. I like it to hurt just a bit.”

Oh good God. Those words sent a chill down Genna’s spine, one she couldn’t hide, as Matty waved for the waitress. Eyes never leaving Genna, he ordered another round of drinks.

“Another?” she asked, picking up the water to take another sip, this one to soothe the sting in her chest. “You said one drink.”

A sly smile curved his lips. “I like to keep them coming.”

“Is that right?”

“Absolutely.” Matty stood, leaning across the table, his lips near her ear. “Maybe you’ll let me show you later.”

About the Author

J.M. Darhower is a USA Today bestselling author, best known for her Mafia romantic suspense novels. She lives in a tiny town in rural North Carolina, where she churns out more words than will ever see the light of day. She has a deep passion for politics and speaking out against human trafficking, and when she isn’t busy writing (or being a fangirl) she’s usually ranting about those things.

Author’s links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmdarhower

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JMDarhower

Website: http://www.jmdarhower.com/

Cover Model’s Page (Robert Simmons)

Photographer’s Page (Eric David Battershell/FI Tography)

Cover Designer’s Page (Cover It Designs)

Tempting, inked and highly addictive. Alex is all that and more…

I’ve made a lot of mistakes – ones I’m not proud of, and definitely ones that have left their marks both mentally and physically.

Things got lonely; I got lost in my own fucked up mind and in the end it left me fucked out of my mind and unable to fight – or at least win. That life’s over for me and I’ve moved on.

Six months into tattooing at Blue’s and already I’m the most wanted and sought out tattooist. My biggest clientele consists of women.

They come into the shop, end up in my bed and we both come out happy. It’s been my release since I’ve stopped fighting. It’s become part of the “new” me.

But when Tripp reappears in my life, I can’t deny the fact that I would do anything for that girl.

So when she asks me to move in with her and her ‘boyfriend’ – our other childhood friend – I never expected for things to get so fucked up and twisted that I would find myself only more attracted to her by each passing second or wanting to protect her from everything that isn’t me.

I have worked so hard over the years to suppress my feelings for her but when I find out that her and Lucas have been having an open relationship, I have the strong urge to rip his heart straight from his chest – to destroy the very thing that keeps him breathing.

What I didn’t expect was for Lucas to ask what he did. For him to ask me to do the one thing I have secretly longed for since I was old enough to know what the need was. The second thing I never expected was the look of need that I saw in Tripp’s eyes when he asked.

One night of free passion could change our lives forever.

I never said that was a good thing either…

He looks at me, smiles and then walks past me and into the room. “Hell yes,” he groans. “It’s fucking hard now, Tripp.”
I feel my stomach flutter and my heart rate pick up from his choice of words. I can’t tell if it’s because I am happy that he’s going to agree on moving in or because the thought of him hard makes me want to jump on him and take him for a ride. He’s my best friend. I shouldn’t even be questioning myself but I can’t help it.
“Umm . . . good, I guess,” I say in response as I step up beside him in front of the water.
When I look down at his hand, I notice him adjusting the crotch of his jeans. I give him a shove and he looks over at me with a grin. “Damn, Tripp. Are you trying to make me wrestle you? You know it’s been a while but you’ve been pretty damn pushy today. I still have the skills to take you down.”
I can’t help but to laugh. “I pushed you because you were playing with your dick. Are you seriously hard right now?”
He pulls his hand away from his jeans and sure enough I see a huge bulge. I can tell it’s not fully hard, but damn! “Well what the hell do you expect when you call this the sex pool? Am I not supposed to get aroused at the thought of fucking someone in here?” I pull my eyes away from his crotch and punch his arm. “Oh come on, Tripp. Don’t be ashamed to look. We’ve known each other our whole lives. You don’t think I have sneaked peeks at your body from time to time. You know you’ve imagined how big it is before. I’ll let you have a peek if want. What’s mine is yours,” he says huskily.
He bites his bottom lip and reaches for his belt as he steps closer to me in a teasing way. The thought of his erection being so close to me gets me so nervous that I reach out with both hands and push him into the pool. My hands instantly go up to cover my mouth as he falls in with a huge splash.
I burst out in laughter as he quickly resurfaces the water and jumps out of the pool while wiping his face off. His shirt is clinging to his muscular body and water is dripping down his face and lips. It’s the most glorious site I have ever seen. Just when I think he’s about to yell at me, he yanks his shirt over his head and reaches into his pocket to toss his phone aside. He grins and closes the distance between.
“You’re getting it now.” I take in a deep breath as his, cold firm chest presses against my breasts. “You ready for me to get you wet, Tripp? I’ve been waiting for this for a long, long time.”
He’s too quick for me to even attempt to make an escape. He picks me up, wraps my legs around his waist and walks over the edge of the pool. I instantly take notice of his partial boner pressing firmly against my clit which only makes me wish we were naked.
We sink to the bottom with his hands gripping into my bare thighs while he holds me close. As soon as his feet hit the ground, he pushes up with his muscular legs and we both swim back up to the top.
I fight to catch my breath while pushing water from out of my face. “Dammit, Alex!”
I hear him laughing behind me so I turn around to yell at him, but he’s too quick and is already back behind me again. “What’s the matter? You didn’t expect me to get you so wet?”
I lean my head back and bite my lip in frustration. Him and this damn teasing. He’s really getting a kick out of this. “You’re lucky I love you so much,” I bite out.
I feel his body press up behind me before he wraps his arm around me and starts pulling me back to the edge of the pool. Once there, he picks me up and gives my ass a boost until I am on my knees, catching my breath on the smooth, wet ground. My body gets heated from the skin to skin contact and feeling his finger so close to being able to slip inside me. It’s the closest it’s been before and it steals my breath away. I chose to wear a thong today so not only did my dress ride up, but I’m sure he just got a full on view of my ass in his face.
I quickly get back to my feet and turn around to face him, now embarrassed. He’s just standing there staring up at me, his eyes unreadable. “Aren’t you getting out?”
His eyes quickly scan over my breasts before moving down to my exposed thighs and staying there. “Yeah. I’m coming.” He smiles and I give him the middle finger. “No, I didn’t mean it like that.” He laughs while pulling himself halfway out of the pool. “You have such a dirty mind,” he says in a serious tone. “I’m not sure I can handle living with someone with such filthy thoughts. You just might corrupt me.”

Get Off on the Pain (book 1) will be ON SALE for only 0.99c to celebrate the cover reveal of Something For the Pain.

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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, and Get Off on the Pain. Victoria is currently working on more releases for 2015.

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