Blog Tour: “City Beautiful” by C. M. Foss – My Review, Book Trailer & Teasers

Title: City Beautiful

Author: CM Foss

Release Date: June 29, 2015

Find on Goodreads

Patrick Thompson is all city, all the time. A young doctor, once full of passion, now disillusioned by the practice, he sets off across the country, intent on a small breather before a fresh start.

Ivy Lang loves the country way. So much so that she’s created a place where others can experience her ideas of the fundamentals for both mind and body. The life is perfect for her, carefully cultivated by her own hands.

He’s waiting for something to inspire him.

She finds inspiration all around her.

But when a chance meeting turns their worlds upside down, can they come together to create something beautiful?

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

My Review

Complimentary copy received by the author in exchange for an honest review

It is no secret that I adore C. M. Foss. Both of her previous novels were – and still are – 5 star reads for me, and “City Beautiful” surpassed my expectations tremendously, leaving me with the meanest book hangover I have not experienced for a long time. But it is the kind of hangover that I crave, and I am so thrilled about it, actually.

Now, as usual, there is no reason to recap the story for you, and this review may also be slightly shorter than others because there are so many twists and turns that I do not wish to unearth for you. You all know how much I loathe spoilers – but here are my thoughts.

The way Ivy has moved forward after having experienced one traumatic event after the other is admirable; she is a fighter, plain and simple, and how she has chosen to lead her life is actually quite fascinating. Has she completely overcome her past heartaches? No, of course not, and I was a bit sad with the way she held herself back from truly living her life to the fullest in the beginning…But it is understandable.

And then Patrick comes along…What. A. Guy. At a crossroads in his life, I absolutely loved seeing how he became infatuated with Ivy, and how spending only 24 hours with her made him take stock of his life; he may not have changed the course of his path right away, but I loved reading how he developed throughout his and Ivy’s journey in life. That is the beauty of this story, in my opinion: the way one meeting with another person has the ability to change you in some way or another.

Miss Foss possesses a knack of writing romance novels that are so realistic: her characters could be your neighbours – the cool ones 😉 – that you would like to spend an evening or two with, and her ability to paint a vivid scene in colours with her words is just beautiful. She has a no-nonsense, no-filter type of writing that I hope you will see as well once you read her books. Finally, I love how she manages to make me both cry and laugh within the span of one scene, because that shows so much talent.  

All the characters in “City Beautiful” have an important role to play, and I am glad to see Lissa and Ethan in particular – the main characters of “Shiver” – and Ivy’s friend, Ginnie, was such a joy to get to know as well.

If you are looking for a romance novel with quirky, loveable characters…one that provides humour mingled with the heartache…If you want some swoony scenes mixed with the sexy…and if you long to lose yourself in a book that will both surprise and astonish you: this is the book for you. I highly recommend it to all romance lovers, and I know that I will read this book over and over again in the years to come.

Miss Foss: thank you, again, for causing a major book hangover. I am one happy bookaholic. ❤

CM Foss is a hopeless romantic with a love for the written word. When she was little, her mom would ration her books so she wouldn’t go through them too quickly. It didn’t matter, she would just re-read. She’s always been an avid equestrian, competing in the top levels of Three Day Eventing by age seventeen. CM now resides in Northern Virginia with her husband and kids where they own and operate their own equestrian business, as well as raising grass-fed, sustainable meats. She doesn’t have this thing people call “free time”, but she does spent a weird amount of time writing, reading, playing with her kids, milking goats, and drinking wine, while avoiding bananas at all costs. Other books by CM Foss include Shiver and Swoon.

Facebook | Website | Pinterest | Goodreads

Blog Tour: “Beautiful Liar” by Tara Bond

SYNOPSIS

Reliable
Nina Baxter has her life all mapped out. She wants to work hard, take care of her younger sister and not end up like her drunk of a mother. Most of all, she plans to stay away from bad influences.

Reckless
Alexander Noble doesn’t give a damn about anything or anyone. The heir to an unimaginable fortune, he’s never had to do a day’s work in his life, and devotes himself to pleasure and partying.

When opposites attract…
From their very first meeting, Nina knows Alex is bad news, and vows to stay away from him. But as their paths continue to cross, she can’t help being drawn to him – especially when he makes no secret of his interest in her.

Can they resist the pull?
For the first time ever, Nina is on the brink of following her heart. But can she believe Alex when he tells her to trust him? Or is he just another beautiful liar?

ADD TO GOODREADS

My Review

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I would like to begin this review by stating that this is not your typical “good-girl-meets-millionaire-bad-boy” if that is what you are thinking after having read the blurb. Obviously, I will not spoil the plot for you, but I will say that I was pleasantly surprised by how the story of Nina and Alex progressed, and that I was fully invested in it until the very end.

Nina Baxter is young, responsible…and desperate. Her life with an alcoholic mother is, to say the least, less than stabile, and the way Nina struggles to make ends meet while upholding some sort of normalcy of the life of her sister, Alice, felt very realistic to me. And when Nina finds her situation to become worse than it already is, she is forced to make a decision that she does not want to. But is that not always the way when we are at the lowest point in our lives?

Nina turns to the one person she is reluctant to meet which puts her in the footpath of Alexander Noble: a very rich, high society playboy, who she, quite clearly, should steer away from. However, certain events occur that force her to become better acquainted with him, and a budding attraction between them forms between them and grows by each encounter. Eventually, this makes Nina long to toss her control and rules away for once. To stop being the responsible daughter and merely live. The trouble is if she can trust Alex with her heart…or not?

There is no doubt about the fact that Nina and Alex are complete opposites, but as you read the book, you learn that they may not be that different from each other where it truly matters. And while I applauded Nina for being so good at taking care of her younger sister, for doing her utmost to keep them together, I was also happy to see that she, in some ways, is just like any nineteen-year-old girl: that things can become too much for her. The fact that even she yearns to be selfish from time to time instead of the grown-up only adds credibility to her character, in my opinion.

Alex is an interesting character; and one that is a bit difficult to get a handle on in the beginning. He has secrets – or that is what it seems like to Nina – and he leads a life that is so far away from her own. But I have to say that the more I got to know him, the more I was able to empathise with the person he truly is, and what I saw made him rather endearing to me. Yes, he does have the “bad-boy” persona, but he is still different from other BBFs I have come across lately, and I like that.

Miss Bond manages to convey the differences between poverty and wealth very well in her book; her imagery is very vivid, and her vocabulary is vast. Her writing is engaging, easy, and emotional, and I was fully immersed in ‘Beautiful Liar’ until the very end. Granted, there are also a lot of steamy scenes which is part of the reason I read romance novels – why beat about the bush? – and I liked that I did not get all the answers handed over to me on a plate right away. There are a few twists and turns that I did not see coming but which I believe only heightened my reading experience, and I liked the pace and setting of it very much as well. I do wish, however, that the ending had not seemed so rushed as it did, but that is just my personal opinion, of course.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I am looking forward to seeing more of Miss Bond’s work in the future.

 

 

UK PURCHASE LINKS:

EBOOK

Kindle / iBooks / Nook

PAPERBACK

Waterstones

Amazon

Foyles

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tara Bond grew up in Surrey, England. She read History at Cambridge University, before working in various sensible office jobs. She lives in London with her husband, and loves reading and writing, as well as watching movies and TV box sets. Her guilty pleasures are cocktails and chocolate desserts.

SOCIAL LINKS

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Book Tour: “Silver Bastard” (Silver Valley #1) by Joanna Wylde – My Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

SYNOPSIS

First in the new Silver Valley series from the New York Times bestselling author of the Reapers Motorcycle Club Novels

Fourteen months. For fourteen months, Puck Redhouse sat in a cell and kept his mouth shut, protecting the Silver Bastards MC from their enemies. Then he was free and it was time for his reward–full membership in the club, along with a party to celebrate. That’s when he saw Becca Jones for the first time and set everything in motion. Before the night ended he’d violated his parole and stolen her away from everything she knew.

Five years. It was five years ago that Puck destroyed Becca and saved her all in one night. She’s been terrified of him ever since, but she’s even more terrified of the monsters he still protects her from… But Becca refuses to let fear control her. She’s living her life and moving forward, until she gets a phone call from the past she can’t ignore. She has to go back, and there’s only one man she can trust to go with her–the ex-con biker who rescued her once before.

Puck will help her again, but this time it’ll be on his terms. No more lies, no more tears, and no more holding back what he really wants…

ADD TO GOODREADS

My Review

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

MC books are one of my favourite genres to read even though they are rarely about all the “hearts and flowers” stuff; if written well, they are raw, gritty, incredibly sexy and with some heavy issues to address. Not having firsthand knowledge about MC clubs and their dealings, I cannot say that I know much about that lifestyle; however I would venture a guess and say that the way Miss Wylde writes her stories seems to be very realistic. At least, that is the opinion of this bookaholic.

The story about Becca and Puck is absolutely not an easy one to read: and you will come to realise that very early on in “Silver Bastard”. Having said that, theirs has already become one of my favourites, and I will try to explain why – and not provide any spoilers, of course.

To say that their love story is a tumultuous one would be an understatement. Becca comes from a very violent background, and although Puck’s is similar, he has the advantage of being a man and not a woman. Whereas he has always embraced this lifestyle, Becca shies away from it – and you most definitely cannot blame her for wanting nothing to do with it. So how will these two be able to come to an understanding while, at the same time, able to form a deep connection and remain it?

I really came to like Becca as I read this book: she knows that she has issues, yet she does everything in her power to work through them and get to a healthy place. She can be rather funny, and her inner musings made me laugh a lot. But my heart also bled for her so many times. I admire her strength and her determination to reach her goals in life. On some occasions, perhaps, she also managed to frustrate me a bit, but when I reminded myself of her age – and thought about her upbringing – her stubbornness and unwillingness to let go at times were quickly forgiven. Because they are valid and understandable.

Puck is most definitely a rather terrifying man – but his job description demands that of him. He has to be scary in order to be a biker, and he makes no excuses for it. And I do not believe he should. He is absolutely an alpha male, one who goes after what he wants; and despite keeping his distance from Becca for years, he reaches a breaking point and gives in to his need for her. I admire him for that; yet he can also be sweet in his own way, thus causing this romantic to swoon a bit from time to time. There is an edginess – a fierceness – to this man that drew me in from the very beginning, and, in the end, I found him to be perfect for Becca.

Miss Wylde has a particular writing style that I have come to enjoy very much. I like her no-nonsense sense of telling her stories while, at the same time, bringing a bit of dry humour into it. As a reader, I could really feel the passion she harbours towards her characters, and I always enjoy getting to know her secondary characters as well. In this particular story, Danielle and Blake – and their own drama – were very interesting and funny, but they do not take the focus away from Becca and Puck at all.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this MC romance. Yes, it was unpleasant at times. Yes, it could be difficult to read certain parts of it. But when all is said and done, it was also a fantastic love story, and I will absolutely read it again in the future. And when I feel this way about a book? That I want to come back to visit the characters and become lost in their story all over again? That is the best feeling ever! And the reason I call it a favourite book of mine. ❤

It’s Live!

 

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

iBooks

Enjoy the excerpt!

Ignoring him, I settled back on my stool and surveyed the room. We sat in Becca’s section, and what I saw wasn’t making me happy. I knew she was a good waitress, but she’d just started here and it showed. Not only had she fucked up several orders, she didn’t quite seem to get the rhythm of the bar. That wasn’t my problem, though.

My problem was that despite these fuckups, nobody seemed to mind. I had a nasty suspicion this was due to her perky tits, friendly smile, and tight little ass that seriously just needed a bite taken right out of it.

She really, really needed to get a new job—every man in the place wanted her. Including me. Especially me. I hated them. All of them. I shifted uncomfortably, because just like every time I shared a room with her, my pants had gotten tight.

Torture. Becca was just so fucking fine on every level, and not just her looks. There was something about the way she carried herself . . . I couldn’t put my finger on it. Like she was dancing through life to some song nobody else could hear. Never met another woman like her—she wasn’t just sexy, she was a survivor and I admired that.

She’d grown up so much since the first time I’d met her. Bigger boobs, a nice fullness to her ass that was nowhere close to fat but would be perfect to hold tight while I fucked her. Her lips had plumped, too, and over the years she’d gained a sparkle in her eyes that turned her from pretty to 100 percent spectacular.

Not to mention how she’d tasted.

Nearly blew in my pants when I’d taken that mouth. Just the memory got me hard. Make that harder. Fucking basket case.

When I’d pulled up to find her sitting outside with Collins, a thousand murder scenarios ran through my mind. And yeah, I know I covered that already, but if anything ever deserved empha- sis, this was it. Collins needed to die. I didn’t care how nice he was. After that I’d throw Becca on the back of my bike and make a run for the hills . . .

Okay, so there were a few problems with the plan, the top one being she hated me. Or she should—I’d certainly given her cause. Boonie nudged me.

“Did I mention you’re pathetic? You want her, take her. Other- wise let it go because you’re an embarrassment to all men in general and to the Silver Bastards in particular.”

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joanna Wylde is a New York Times bestselling author and creator of the Reapers Motorcycle Club series. She currently lives in Idaho.

Stalk Her: Website | Facebook | Twitter |  Goodreads | Rock Star

GIVEAWAY

Signed Paperback of Silver Bastard (3 copies)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK!

Blog Your: “Come To Me Recklessly” (Closer To You #3) by A.L. Jackson – My Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

BLURB

From the New York Times bestselling author of Come to Me Softly comes another irresistible new adult romance in the Closer to You series.
His heart was turned off…
Until she turned him on…
Christopher Moore gave up on the idea of love years ago. Now, his life is an endless string of parties and an even longer string of girls. Enjoying the physical perks with none of the emotional mess, he’s convinced everyone that he’s satisfied—everyone but himself.

Samantha Schultz has moved on with her life. Finishing her student teaching and living with her boyfriend, she’s deluded herself into believing she’s content. But there is one boy she never forgot—her first love—and she keeps the memory of him locked up tight. She will never allow any man to break her the way Christopher did.

When Christopher’s sister and her family move into a new neighborhood, Christopher is completely unprepared to find Samantha living at the end of the street. Memories and unspent desires send them on collision course of sex, lies, and lust. But when guilt and fear send Samantha running, Christopher will have to fight for what has always been his.

“No one tells a story about “The One” with as much beauty and tragedy as AL Jackson does. You can’t read her words without having them sink deep inside of you and sticking around like a favorite memory.” ~ New York Times bestselling author Jay Crownover

ADD TO GOODREADS

My Review

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

A.L. Jackson is without a doubt one of my all-time favourite authors. On every page, you can feel the love she has to her characters, but she is also kind of an evil author due to all the things she makes them suffer. But that is alright, you know: it simply means that her stories are realistic. Nothing comes easy in life, so why should we expect that in books?

Samantha and Christopher’s love story, however, is perhaps particularly cruel, and I sometimes found it difficult to keep reading this book. But I have to confess that I do love my angsty romance novels, and this one definitely fits into that category.

Samantha has settled in life. It is not easy going after one’s dreams, and she has, quite frankly, given up on many things. Is she content in life? On many levels, yes. But where is the passion? The zest for life she used to possess? Well, it disappeared when Christopher did – and I do not consider this reveal to be a spoiler, everyone: if you read the blurb, you will know that this is a book about second chances and how to overcome past hurts.

Christopher is equally merely drifting through life, leading one that consists of plenty of parties and hook-ups, but there is more to him than just a player, of course. But he hides his pain from the outside world, and he is very good at it. (Deceiving people from your real emotions is easy to do, after all.)

One day, Samantha runts into Ally, Christopher’s younger sister, and her husband, Jared, and this chance encounter sets a ball in motion that leads to Samantha and Christopher meeting again. Will they both have the courage to face up to their pasts? Or will they run away from the heartache that is bound to be reopened? Will they find it in their hearts to trust again?

You will have to read the book in order to get the answers to these questions, of course? 😉

One of the things that mesmerised me in CTMR is the fact that the story is told from dual POVs, AND the chapters change from past and present as well. Miss Jackson never made me feel lost or confused, and I want to applaud her for her clever writing. More importantly, though, it gave me the sense that I was there, inside the book, acting as a spectator, as if I was standing on the sidelines in every scene, to Samantha and Christopher’s romance, and that shows true talent: when an author manages to make me experience the story unfolding, thereby making me forget the real world for hours on end.

There were times I wanted to slap Christopher for his cruel words to Samantha – in turn, I wanted to shake some sense into her as well every now and then. But I also believe that their personalities fit the overall conflict very well, and I would not change them in any way. Also, Miss Jackson’s poetic and passionate storytelling skills made me forgive her characters and their sometimes unnecessary indecisiveness about certain matters.

I do really love this book. It is filled with angst, as per usual in this author’s stories, and there is plenty of pain and heartache – yet also hope and laughter. Not forgetting romance, of course, and steaminess.

Miss Jackson, thank you for giving us Samantha and Christopher tumultuous love story. I have been waiting for it for a long time, and my romantic heart applauds you for having written, yet again, a book where the characters are flawed and real and where you, on every page, feel all the emotions – the good and the bad – I am sure you want us, your readers, to experience. ❤

Buy Now
Amazon
B&N
iBooks

Enjoy the excerpt!

By the waist, he lifted me, pinning me to the wall with the hard planes of his body. I could do nothing but wrap my legs around his hips. He rocked against me, the friction of his jeans igniting that fire, the threat of Ben fueling those flames. He buried his face in my neck as if he didn’t want to see, his bite aggressive as he turned to nip at my jaw, at my chin, moving to my lips. “Told you I wouldn’t let you go. Not ever again.”

His frenzied voice ached with regret.

“Never,” I told him, grinding myself on his erection that was pressed tight between my thighs. I felt desperate to erase the distance Ben had tried to wedge between us.

Christopher seemed even more fractured over it, unable to fathom the idea of what Ben had tried to force on me.

“I just got you back and he’s trying to take you away.”

“I’m here…I’m here.”

“Here,” he said as if a demand, tearing at my clothes, overwrought as he rushed to palm every inch of exposed skin. My shoulders were pressed to the wall, my chest heaving with harsh breaths. He pushed up my shirt and dragged off the cups of my bra. My breasts felt heavy and full as he looked on them with a stuttered groan. He splayed his hands across my back, dragging me forward, and his mouth was there, drawing my nipple into his hot mouth, sucking hard before he turned to the other.

I bucked, my hands fists in his hair.

He wrapped an arm low around my waist, his body leaving mine for a fraction of a second, and without setting me down, he dragged my shorts and panties from my legs. Fumbling, he pushed his jeans and underwear down around his thighs.

Without warning, he thrust into me.

I cried out from the perfect invasion.

No condom.

No heed.

Christopher took me completely.

Recklessly.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Take This Regret and Lost to You, as well as other contemporary romance titles, including Pulled, When We Collide, If Forever Comes, Come to Me Quietly, and Come to Me Softly.
She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.
Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement; this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children.

To stay up to date with important news on A.L. Jackson, including new releases, sales, and exclusive specials and excerpts, text “jackson” to 96000 to subscribe!
Newsletter

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Instagram @aljacksonauthor

Tsu

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK!

 

Blog Tour: “Love M.D.” by Rebecca Rohman – My Review, Excerpt, Playlist & Giveaway

Title: Love M.D.

Author: Rebecca Rohman

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance with Elements of Suspense

Release Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2015

SYNOPSIS

As an accomplished interior designer in San Francisco’s Bay Area, Zoe Jenkins is used to transforming empty spaces into masterpieces. She leaves little square footage in her personal life for anything outside of her thriving business and a renewed relationship with her twin brother. After a decade spent ripped apart by circumstance and an entire ocean’s distance she depends on no one but him. Until a sexy surgeon walks into her life.

Although Zoe can’t deny her attraction to the charming and benevolent Morgan Drake, he’s on her mental list of everything she should avoid. Past experience taught Zoe that dating clients compromises business. Add a not-yet-dissolved marriage to the mix and Doctor Hottie is definitely Doctor Off-limits.

Dr. Morgan Drake is surprised at the undeniable chemistry he feels when he’s in the same room as Zoe. The strikingly beautiful and introverted designer he hired to fill his new-start, new-city home makes it abundantly clear there will never be anything between them. But twelve years of medical school breeds persistence. He sets out to pursue the pants off Zoe Jenkins and show her what her empty spaces are missing.

But intense passion and amazing sex have a way of masking secrets—secrets that unravel a dangerous web of drugs, fraud and corruption that turn Zoe’s empty, quiet spaces into a world where nothing is as it seems. With her life on the line, the good doctor responsible for her fiercest betrayal might just be the only one worthy of her finest interior masterpiece—this time, of her heart.

 ADD TO GOODREADS

MY REVIEW

Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

I have been a fan of Rebecca Rohman’s ever since I read “Love, Lies & The D.A.” last year, thus making me very eager to get my hands on her latest book, “Love, M.D.”. So when it became available, you can imagine how happy that made me feel.

Seeing as this is a romantic suspense novel, I can only imagine the care with which the author has to take when writing it: the plot must be believable, yet the author has to take great care in not revealing what it is until the very end (or close to the end, anyway). I have mentioned this is previous reviews I have written, but I will do so again: I really do believe that this is one of the hardest genres to write, however fascinating it must be at the same time.

And because of this novel being a romantic suspense, this review will not be as long as my others because I fear that I will end up revealing too much; and that would be a great disservice to you, and to the author, of course.

Zoe Jenkins is a very successful businesswoman who does not let much get in the way of her success. The relationship with her twin brother, Zach, is one that is truly strong, and I loved the particular banter only siblings know how to make while in each other’s company – the author truly manages to convey the tight bond and love they share for one another in a fun and realistic way. But back to Zoe: early on in the book, I came to like her a great deal, actually, despite her stubborn streak as far as the delectable Doc Morgan Drake goes. 😉 Her reluctance to allow people to see beneath her skin is understandable, given her background and past heartaches, and I enjoyed seeing how she, bit by bit, opened up for the possibility of a different future. All in all, she became a character that I grew to love.

As for the delicious doctor, Morgan: he is passionate about his work – which, by the way, really is admirable – and the many facets to his personality were very intriguing, always making me eager to learn more about him. Just like Zoe, he can be stubborn, and the approach he takes as to making her see that he is one of the good guys made my romantic heart go all soft. He is quite the alpha in the ways that count – 😉 – but his vulnerabilities also shine through in Miss Rohman’s words. This is a man who has scars, just like Zoe, but he is less reluctant to let go of the past than she is, and I do like that he is not afraid to admit that he wants to explore things with her. Yes, he make mistakes, but that only makes him human in my eyes.

These two characters are far from perfect – but when do we want characters to seem that way? No, we have two people who both have to learn to trust, to let go of their pasts completely in order to find happiness. True, their road is far from smooth, but I dare say that is never the case in the real world, either, and I, for one, love stories when the author manages to make me believe that they could happen in the real world. I am very happy to say that Miss Rohman made me believe completely in this one.

The plot…well, I will not say that much about it. It made me cry. It made me angry. It made me rather scared, too. There are many twists and turns that I never saw coming, and I loved it!

To sum up my review: if you are looking for your next romantic suspense, I would definitely recommend that you choose this one. Do not be alarmed about the length of this book – honestly, that never bothers me – because the pace and flow of the story is rather fast, but not too hasty, in my opinion. There is plenty of romance and steamy scenes that, I believe, will make you swoon, and, lastly, there is a cast of very colourful and interesting secondary characters which only compliment the story without taking the focus away from Zoë and Morgan.

Miss Rohman, this was an amazing read for me! I truly enjoyed it, and it is definitely one of the best books I have read this year. ❤

EXCERPT

The next morning, I wake to an empty bed. I slip on some panties and one of Morgan’s shirts and head downstairs in search of him. Peaches and Pixie bask in the sun by the pool, watching him as he swims.

He’s already made a pot of coffee, so I pour myself a cup and sit outside on one of the Adirondack chairs facing the pool. My crew comes to greet me, but Morgan is engrossed in his swimming and does not appear to notice me. I suspect this might be part of his daily routine—his body contours tell me that. He looks up, and a broad smile stretches across his face when he sees me. His hair lies all back as he propels his body out of the water by his palms.

“Good Morning,” I say.

“Good morning to you, too.” He kisses me and wraps a nearby towel around his hips. “Hungry? I was going to make you some breakfast.”

“Maybe a little,” I respond.

“Good, because I prepared everything already,” he says, stretching out his hands to help me up. “I just need to fix the eggs.”

In the kitchen, as he scrambles eggs on the stovetop, I circle my arms around his almost naked body from behind.

He switches off the stove and turns to face me. “Did you sleep well?”

“A little. It was more than the last few weeks, so I guess that’s a step in the right direction.”

He raises my body and places me on the island, pecking me softly on the lips.

“I could prescribe something to help you get some rest, or I can recommend something herbal. You hardly sleep anymore.”

“I know. Maybe in a few days if things don’t improve.”

“Let’s go on a trip somewhere. It’ll take your mind off things.”

“We’ll see. Jada invited us to go on a getaway with their family. I don’t know the specifics yet, but I think it might be a good idea.”

“Let me know as soon as you have the details so I can make sure my shifts are covered. It’s easier to change things around at the clinic. I want to see you smile again.”

He kisses me softly on my neck and my lips, and I’m surprised when I feel the need for more than just his sweet caress. Circling him in my arms, I slowly part my lips, and feel his tongue gently graze mine. I pull him closer by the towel that surrounds his hips and slip my hands over his groin.

“I miss you,” I whisper.

“I miss you too, baby.”

I’ve woken him and as I massage his arousal, I take pleasure at the feel of his hands roaming over my body. He lifts his shirt over my head before slipping his tongue into my mouth. I pull the towel away and push his trunks down as far as I can stretch. With my foot, I shove them further until they drop to the floor. He kicks them away while I glide my hands over his rock-hard erection.

“How do you want it?” he asks.

“Go down on me,” I reply, deepening our kiss. “Then I want you to screw me from behind.”

He places one of my legs on the countertop and slips the fabric of my thong to the side. I welcome the feel of his fingers slipping between my folds as he circles them above and inside me.

As he devours my lips, I relish the feel of his firm body against my palms. He lowers his head, planting soft kisses on my neck, then he circles my breasts. Moments later, he pulls my panties away.

He lowers his head and teases me with kisses circling my core. With his tongue, he starts a pleasurable onslaught of licking and sucking my clit, intermittently and forcefully moving his fingers over me. The heat rises between my thighs but I pull away, reserving my release.

“Oh God, babe. I need you inside me.”

He pulls me off the counter and turns me around so my back is to his front. He places one of my thighs on the surface, pinning it in place with his arm then he slowly enters me from behind. Slowly, slowly moving in and out of me.

“Zoë, you feel incredible,” he whispers, nibbling my ear. With his fingers, he begins an endless assault on my front.

“Oh Jesus, Morgan…harder,” I cry as my body becomes submerged in pure sexual pleasure.

Bending me over the counter, he gives me what I crave, what I so desperately desire.

“Oh yes, Morgan.” My knees go weak. I know I’m close to losing all control.

“No way, not yet,” he says, slipping out of me. Holding my hand, he walks me to the living room sofa. He sits, centering his body in the middle, leaning back. I’m about to straddle him when he stops me.

“Come here, baby. I want to taste you all over again.”

He raises my leg above his shoulder, and places it on the back of the couch. He sits up, and with two fingers, repeatedly penetrates me and unleashes his tongue over me again.

Tingling sensations exude through my thighs. “Oh God, yes, babe.” I tighten my grip on his hair, basking in the pleasure that he is so eager to give me.

Finally, he relents, and I lower my body over his erection. I move slowly and sensually over his arousal, grinding my hips into his. He sits up and clasps his hands in mine as I rotate my body over his. Sounds of raw sex fills the room—the continuous sounds of his reentry, the sexual cries that escape my lips, his labored breathing and groans as I bury him inside me.

“Yes, Zoë, yes,” he says, holding me by my hips, slamming me firmly above him and taking over my lips once more. Sitting back, I repeatedly pound my hips into his, while circling my core with my fingers.

“Oh fuck, Zoë,” he shouts then pulls me close in his arms, boring inside me. I feel him continuously spasm, and as I rapidly continue to circle my pleats, I join him in his prolonged release.

I lay with my head against his chest, breathing heavily. We relax while he folds me in his arms and kisses me tenderly on my lips. I can’t help but get distracted and erupt in laughter when Peaches sits watching me, slowly twisting her head as if she’s utterly confused.

“What’s so funny?”

“We have an audience,” I laugh. Now Pixie has joined her, too.

He sits up, “What? They never saw you have sex before?”

“No, they’re virgins. We’re corrupting my poor animals.”

“That must have been quite the show.”

I coil on top of him, and it is while I’m there that I realize today, for the first time in almost three weeks, I laughed.

“I’ve missed hearing you laugh.”

I kiss him again. I don’t want to think about why I’ve not been able to laugh.

LOVE M.D. SOUNDTRACK

1. OneRepublic, Counting Stars
2. Lenny Kravitz, Fly Away
3. Au Clair de la Lune
4. Sarah McLachlan, Angel
5. Chris Isaacs, Wicked Game
6. Claude Debussys, Clair de Lune
7. Jason Mraz, I Won’t Give Up
8. Ella Fitzgerald, What are you doing this New Year’s Eve
9. Regina Spektor, My Dear Acquaintance (A Happy New Year)

BUY LINKS

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

Amazon IN | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Amazon DE | Amazon ES

Amazon NL | Amazon JP | Amazon BR | Amazon MX

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebecca Rohman, is a wife and designer currently living in the Northeastern United States. She was a former Sales Manager for a tourist magazine, and for many years prior, she first did Marketing for a jewelry company, and later a fine wine distributor.

About fifteen years ago, she started writing her first romance novel, Uncorked just to purely entertain herself. It was not until early in 2012 when she decided to complete it, and share it with the world. The story was published in February of 2013. Her second novel Love, Lies & The D.A. was released in February, 2014. Love M.D. is her third novel.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

www.RebeccaRohman.com

Facebook Rebecca Rohman | Facebook Love M.D.

Goodreads | Twitter | Pinterest | YouTube | Google+ | Tsu

GIVEAWAY

SIGN UP HERE

GOOD LUCK!

Blog Tour: “Deep” (Stage Dive #4) by Kylie Scott – My Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Title: “Deep” (Stage Dive #4)

Author: Kylie Scott

Genre: Nev Adult / Contemporary Romance

Release Date: 31st March, 2015

SYNOPSIS

Positive. With two little lines on a pregnancy test, everything in Lizzy Rollins’ ordinary life is about to change forever. And all because of one big mistake in Vegas with Ben Nicholson, the irresistibly sexy bass player for Stage Dive. So what if Ben’s the only man she’s ever met who can make her feel completely safe, cherished, and out of control with desire at the same time? Lizzy knows the gorgeous rock star isn’t looking for anything more permanent than a good time, no matter how much she wishes differently.

Ben knows Lizzy is off limits. Completely and utterly. She’s his best friend’s little sister now, and no matter how hot the chemistry is between them, no matter how sweet and sexy she is, he’s not going to go there. But when Ben is forced to keep the one girl he’s always had a weakness for out of trouble in Sin City, he quickly learns that what happens in Vegas, doesn’t always stay there. Now he and Lizzie are connected in the deepest way possible…but will it lead to a connection of the Heart?

ADD TO GOODREADS

My Review

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

The Stage Dive Series by Kylie Scott has been one of my favourite series from the very beginning, and I have been eagerly anticipating the final book, “Deep”, ever since I learned it would focus on Ben, the sexy bass player, and Lizzy, the younger sister to Anne.

The thing most college students dread happens to Lizzy, and I enjoyed the way Miss Scott managed to convey all the different and conflicting emotions Lizzsy goes through once she learns that she is pregnant. I have to confess that I was a bit sceptical at first, but the more I read this book, the more I came to admire Lizzy for the way she chooses to handle her situation. Furthermore, she is a very witty and strong character who had me chuckling quite a bit, and I really appreciate that fact in the books I read. It was easy to understand why she fell for Ben, and even more so to cheer her on whenever she seemed confused and sad about certain aspects of his character.

Ben is the typical rock star: he revels in his freedom, and in the fact that he can have whatever his heart desires because of his stardom. Having grown up with not much money, it is not difficult to understand why he does things a certain way. He was, however, also a bit of a douche towards Lizzy, but, again, his reasons were valid – at least up to a certain point. Also, the way he reacts when he hears about the “bun in the oven” is not that farfetched: who would not freak out just a little bit when learning about an unplanned pregnancy?

These two characters share a very evident attraction towards one another, but I have to say that the way they become friends first is one of my absolute favourite parts of this story. Ben and Lizzy are perhaps not so different from one another – not deep down, anyway – and I really hoped that things between them would be resolved in a way that it would not ruin the relations they have with the rest of the Stage Dive band members and their girlfriends.

Miss Scott has, as always, a very compelling and engaging way of telling her stories. Her writing always pulls me in from the very beginning, and it was no different with this book. I really love how she is able to incorporate wit and banter even when certain scenes may not exactly call for it, and I also admire her for not taking the easiest route all the time.

The reasons that “Deep” is not given my highest rating is the fact that I sometimes failed to connect completely with Ben; in many ways, I had trouble understanding some of his actions, and I would have loved to have had a few chapters written from his point of view. The other reason is that the ending was a bit rushed to me, but, as usual, please remember that these issues are subjective – thus, mine alone – and I daresay that many of you will disagree with me on these two points. But I have always given you my honest opinions, and it would be wrong of me to ‘change my ways’, if you will, if I did not continue to do so.

I feel a bit sad that this series has come to an end, because it has provided me with many laughs, tears, and swoon-worthy moments; “Deep” is definitely steamy, Lizzy is a truly interesting character, and Ben is incredibly sexy…I firmly believe that you will enjoy this last instalment to this series, and if you have not read any of Miss Scott’s books before, I strongly urge you to read these. I guarantee that they will make your romantic heart go all aflutter.

Enjoy the excerpt!

His laughter, it didn’t really sound the smallest bit amused. “Christ. You’re done here.”

“Ah, no. I’m actually not. Now see, this is where we have a problem.” I folded my arms. Then unfolded them because like fuck I’d look defensive. He was the one in the wrong, not me. “You’re not prepared to take me, or my feelings, seriously. What you want is to hide away in Mr. Too Cool for Commitment land and just play with my affections when it suits you. Okay, I’ve accepted that. But none of that means it’s okay for you to come in here and act like you’re the boss of me. None of it.”

“That so?” he asked, leaning down so that we were almost nose to nose.

“That’s so, baby.” I play-punched him in the shoulder, which it should be noted, I barely came up to. Okay, so maybe the alcohol on a mostly empty stomach had made me slightly/lots braver/sillier. “So why don’t you take your little caveman jealous tantrum bullshit somewhere else. See, I do this funny thing I like to refer to as whatever the fuck I want. Understand?”

He just stared.

“And as pretty as you are with your beard and your muscles, you are too damn tricky and . . . complicated and shit for me.”

“I am?”

“Yes, you are. Are you finally seeing my point here?”

“You bet.”

“Excellent. So take your hotness elsewhere, kind sir. I want no part of it!” Huh. I had so told him. Drunken bravado was the best.

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

iBooks

 

Stage Dive Series Reading Order

“Lick” (Book One)

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

iBooks

“Play” (Book Two)

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

iBooks

“Lead” (Book Three)

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

iBooks

“Deep” (Book Four)

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

iBooks

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kylie is a long time fan of erotic love stories and B-grade horror films. She demands a happy ending and if blood and carnage occur along the way then all the better. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and one delightful husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.

Kylie is represented by Amy Tannenbaum at the Jane Rotrosen Agency, New York.

Stalk Kylie Scott: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

Win a SIGNED SET of the Stage Dive Series

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK!

Blog Tour: “Confess” by Colleen Hoover – My Review

 

 

Title: “Confess”

Author: Colleen Hoover

Genre: New Adult / Contemporary Romance

Release Date: 10th March, 2015.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Tour Host: The Hot Bed

SYNOPSIS

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a new novel about risking everything for love—and finding your heart somewhere between the truth and lies.

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…

ADD TO GOODREADS

 

My Review

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

One of the difficult aspects of being a book reviewer, in my opinion, is when you sit down to write one of a book from one of your favourite authors: because how will you be able to put all your thoughts and feelings down of a book you loved when you feel that your words will be inadequate? It is not merely enough to say that you loved it, of course.

“Confess” by Colleen Hoover is, without a doubt, a wonderful story about loss, love, heartbreak, hope, and, to me at least, a story about finding your inner strength and let it shine. It is a story about how two individuals – Auburn and Owen – cross paths in a seemingly coincidental way, and how that one meeting ends up being the catalyst of future events. In some way, I am tempted to believe that there actually is such a thing as fate even when I am not usually the type of person to believe in it, but this book has made me rethink my beliefs a bit. And that is the power of a great storyteller: when the author makes you question and reconsider previously unwavering thoughts on a concept. It seems to me that Colleen Hoover always manages to make me do this, actually.

The title itself will instantly make you intrigued as to the plot of this book, and I believe that the many twists and turns will also make your heart constrict because you will be surprised on more than one occasion. The main characters, Auburn and Owen, have secrets. Some are of the light-hearted kind whereas others are more complicated. It would be a great disservice to you if I were to reveal any of them, obviously, so I will not do that. But I can reveal a few confessions of my own as to the feelings I went through while reading this book:

Confession #1: The prologue had me in tears.

Confession #2: Auburn and Owen made me chuckle, laugh, cry, and swoon.

Confession #3: The many facets to the characters had my head reeling.

Confession #4: This is not a “simple” love story; it is complicated; it is difficult; it is uplifting. In short: it is realistic.

I am of the firm belief that you will fall head over heels in love with both Auburn and Owen; they are easy to love. Auburn has quite a battle on her hands, but nothing will stop her from conquering it, and you have to admire that kind of tenacity. Furthermore, her sweet yet stubborn character traits made me really enjoy getting to know her: this woman does not give up.

Owen also has a battle to fight – and you quickly learn why that is – and it was at times very difficult to read how he chooses to handle it. It was, however, never something that made me less sympathetic towards his character. His passion for his art is evident, the driving force behind it quite unique. He is sweet, caring, and funny…Not without faults, of course, but that is what makes him a believable character in my eyes.

There are quite a colourful and interesting cast of secondary characters appearing in “Confess”, and I have to say that I would like to get to know some of them even better. Not that they pull your focus away from the main story, of course. But I do wonder about them, and I love when that happens in a book.

No one, in my opinion, can doubt the very unique penmanship of Miss Hoover’s. Her at times no-nonsense kind of writing – including the dry humour many of us have come to associate with this author – as well as the love story which will make you cry are all evident in this book. If you are already a fan of hers, I believe that these are a part of the reason why you love her books as much as I do.

I realise that this is a somewhat different kind of review from the ones I usually write, and maybe I have even confused you a bit. I am sorry if the latter is the case. But like I told you in the beginning of my review, I have been very uncertain about how to write it. And this is, I am afraid, the best I can come up with.

Miss Hoover, I loved every moment of “Confess” – I know I will read it many times in the future, and I hope you will never run out of heartbreaking – yet hopeful – love stories to tell us. ❤

 

UK PREORDER LINKS

Ebook

Kindle

iBooks

Kobo

Nook

Pbook

Amazon

Waterstones

Foyles

WHSmith

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

(from Amazon.co.uk)

Colleen Hoover lives in the United States with her husband and three children. She loves to write in her spare time and prefers stories that are both humorous and heart-wrenching. Her goal through writing is to give readers a pleasant experience that will leave them viewing life from a slightly different angle. To read more about this author, visit her website at http://www.colleenhoover.com

SOCIAL LINKS

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Blog Tour: “Through Infinity” & “thanks for the memories” by Libby Austin – My Review & Giveaway

 

Synopsis

Candice and Jason Woodruff had everything going for them: a strong marriage, the family they’d dreamed of, and successful businesses. When they made their wedding vows, they promised to love each other through infinity and beyond…but Candice doesn’t remember making that vow. Candice doesn’t remember the last eighteen years.
After a medical emergency, Candice awakens to find herself a married mother of four. She’s surrounded by a loving family of strangers, but Candice struggles to claim an identity while learning to be a wife and mother.
Candice is no longer the same woman Jason fell in love with all those years ago. Can they learn to love each other in this new reality?
Through Infinity is one woman’s journey as she rediscovers the love of her husband and children. But will that new found love be strong enough to carry them through infinity and beyond…

 

Synopsis

Jason knew Candice’s biggest Christmas wish was to remember the past eighteen years. As Thanksgiving approached, Candice retreated further within herself. Jason enlisted the help of their family and friends to grant Candice’s wish. Each shared their cherished memories and placed them in a tin. Surprised to find the collection of tins, she couldn’t help but wonder what was inside.

With each memory, Candice felt a little more connected to the life and people she’d forgotten in the wake of her accident. Each one brought a sense of fulfillment and longing. When Christmas day arrived, would Candice be able to say thanks for the memories?

ADD TO GOODREADS

My Review

Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

What would you do if you woke up one morning unable to remember the last twenty years of your life? How would you feel? And would you want to get your life back exactly the way it was, or would you make some changes? First of all, it is probably safe to say that most people, including me, would be incredibly scared, angry and, perhaps, feel rather lost and unable to wrap their heads around it.

“Through Infinity” & “thanks for the memories” by Libby Austin tell a very moving and heart-warming story about Candice who wakes up with amnesia. Believing herself to be only twenty-three years old, imagine the heartbreak of learning that she is, in fact, forty, and that she has been married for fifteen years. Oh, and let us not forget the fact that her and her husband, Jason – who she does not remember, either – have four children. To say that Candace is scared and confused would be an understatement.

This is a story about how one woman finds herself in a situation few of us cannot even imagine, and about what she has to do in order to get her life back. In this process, she has to re-learn even some very simple things – things we take for granted – and, in doing so, find out if the life she has led up to this point is the one she truly wants. And how can you know that if you cannot remember a vast number of years? How do you cope? Moreover, how does your family and children cope with a loved one having amnesia?

I have to say that the struggles Candice go through were close to tearing me to pieces. I also feel that despite her initial panic about her situation, she handles her recovery in a very admirable way, and I really came to like her. The fact that her husband, Jason, stands by her every step of the way gives a whole new meaning to the following line of the wedding vows: “for better or for worse”, and reading about their life as he helps Candice fill in the blanks was very enjoyable to me.

Miss Austin has, in my opinion, written a story in such a way that you cannot help but take pleasure from her words, and this is not a sad story, mind you. There are plenty of moments when I found myself chuckling because of the humour and dry wit in which the author has chosen to write her book – especially in the scenes involving Candice and Jason’s children – and I also believe that the journey Candice goes through is pretty easy to relate to.

All in all, I would definitely recommend “Through Infinity” & “thanks for the memories” to lovers of second-chance love stories – well, that is what I would call it anyway, because of the lack of memory the heroine has to suffer through. There are some tears, some laughter, some feel-good moments, and these all play a massive part of whether or not I enjoy a romance novel.

PURCHASE LINKS

“Through Infinity”

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

“thanks for the memories”

US Amazon | Amazon AU | Amazon UK | Amazon CA  | Barnes and Nobles | Kobo | Inktera | Google Play

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

One day some words came to mind, so I wrote them down. Soon the words became sentences, which formed paragraphs, which, in turn, formed chapters. Before long, those words had become a book.

When I’m not reading or writing, I’m a wife, mother, and business owner. I’ve lived on the Gulf, East, and West Coasts, but as a born and raised Southern girl, my favorite will always be the Gulf Coast. There’s just no place like home…

 

SOCIAL LINKS

Libby’s Webpage

Facebook Author Page  

Facebook Friend Page 

Twitter

Libby Austin Google+

Goodreads

tsu

 

Here’s the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK!

Blog Tour: “Taming Me” (Cover To Covers #5) by Alexandrea Weis – My Review, Excerpt, Author Interview & Giveaway

Title: “Taming Me”

Series: Cover to Covers #5

Author: Alexandrea Weis

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance

Release Date: February 2, 2015

Lexie Palmer is a writer in search of the perfect story.

When a case of mistaken identity introduces her to the charismatic dominant, Garrett Hughes, she discovers her salvation. In hopes of penning an accurate portrayal of the BDSM lifestyle, Garrett agrees to educate Lexie.

She eagerly places herself in Garret’s capable hands, but what starts out as just business with the sexy Mr. Hughes takes a turn toward the unexpected.

Soon, Lexie becomes immersed in his world, and finds Garret taking control of her life. Her experiences with Garrett may be providing wonderful material for her book, but how far is she willing to go to for her story?

Lexie Palmer is about to get a lesson in submission that she will never forget.

Amazon Amazon CA Amazon UK Amazon AU smashwords iTunes

Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

It has now been a year since I was introduced to Alexandrea Weis and her books for the first time, and her ability to create stories that are engaging, lifelike, and filled with romance have made her become one of my favourite authors. There is just something about her books that always draw me in from the very beginning, and I can honestly say that “Taming Me” did the same as the other novels I have, so far, had the pleasure of reading: I lost  myself in the love story, yes, but, moreover, the characters, Lexie and Garrett, made me realise that, although people – in my opinion, at least – deep down do not ever change, they do have the ability to evolve and become better at making compromises in order to find happiness.

As ever, I will endeavour to write a completely spoiler free review, so I will not necessarily provide you with a rundown of the plot – because that is not the way I write my reviews – however, I cannot avoid it entirely, of course.

Lexie Palmer, a somewhat successful romance novelist, has hit a rut: her books are not selling as well as they used to, and so she needs to come up with a completely new approach to find inspiration for her next novel. Luckily, a chance meeting in a park seems to do the trick, and her fascination with the life of Garrett Hughes commences. Because as soon as Garrett reveals that he is a Dom, a new story begins to form in her mind, and Lexie manages to convince Garrett to depart with his insider knowledge into the BDSM lifestyle; but as time passes, Lexie finds herself becoming more and more interested in this intriguing man, instead of the Dom, and the question is if she will be able to let go of her preconceived notions about how a relationship should be like and take a chance? And is Garrett actually who he says he is? Hmm. Well, you will have to read the book in order to find out. 😉

Lexie is a wonderful character: independent, strong, and determined to succeed as a writer. She is rather jaded when it concerns men, but that is due to her failed marriage. And you cannot really question that or blame her for feeling that way. I loved seeing her evolve from this rather “playing-it-safe” woman and into one willing and, mostly, unafraid to take chances.

Garrett was first introduced to us in the “That Night With You” – the previous book of the Cover To Covers Series – and I have to confess that I have been looking forward to getting his story ever since. To be perfectly honest, he is quite the enigma: a successful architect, elusive, and not someone to reveal his innermost thoughts until the very end. This, to me, does not mean that he is a frustrating character, though that could very well have been the case; no, the subtlety of this man, the way he speaks and educate Lexie, intrigued me so, and I could not help but think that this man has a very specific agenda when it concerns her…but what is it? In the end, Garrett bares his soul completely, and that made me fall in love with him entirely.

The title of this book is, in my opinion, spot on: because who will be tamed, Lexie or Garrett? I see both of them as being pretty stubborn characters – on the surface, at least – and they refuse to let go of their stubbornness throughout most of the story; however, that is not to say this is wrong. No, these characters have trust issues, and I enjoyed seeing them tear down their walls, bit by bit, until, in the end, they find the courage to trust in one another completely. You cannot truly love another person if you do not have trust – not in my opinion, anyway – and Lexie and Garrett are pretty good examples of this fact.

I cannot profess to know a great deal about what the BDSM lifestyle is like in the real world, but Miss Weiss manages to paint a very vivid, believable picture of it, and it definitely appears to be a topic very well researched. The setting of the book, New Orleans, is interesting and captivating, and you get the sense that this may be just the perfect city when is concerns the pleasures that are of a sexual nature: it is more open, more free, if you will, and definitely not frowned upon to have “different” tastes.

The storytelling skills of Miss Weis are, as always, unique and engaging; Lexie and Garrett may be fictional, but they could actually be real people: that is how believable and genuine they are. Furthermore, the pace of the story flows really well, and the dry wit and banter between all the characters made me chuckle or even roll my eyes in amusement a time or two.

I have nothing but praise for this book, and I can honestly say that, out of all the books of Miss Weis’ that I have read and marked as favourites? This one tops them all. Thank you for a lovely reading experience, Miss Weis! And thank you for always satisfying my romantic – and, at times, cynical – heart with your love stories. ❤

“When I punish a sub, I want to make the punishment memorable, but in another way I want to make it reinforce their submission to me.” He removed his tie, curling it about his long fingers.” Punishment is about withholding pleasure; tempting, promising, but never giving.”

I was mesmerized by the way the cool gray silk was laced in and around his fingers. I hurriedly gazed down at the drink in my hand.  “So what do you do, spank them, tie them up, what?”

He took my drink and put it on the table. “Would you like a demonstration?”

“No.” I shrank away, picturing being held over his lap and spanked like a child.

He leaned toward me, holding up his tie. “If you want to truly learn about my world, Lexie, you must experience it.” His face inched ever so close to mine. “I promise I will not hurt you,” he softly added.

His thin lips hovered in front of me as I considered his offer. He had a point; perhaps I needed to experience what he did to his subs in order to be able to write about it. As his dark brown eyes seared into me, my resistance slipped away.

“All right, fine.” I sat back against the sofa. “But I’m only agreeing to do this for the sake of the book.”

“Of course. It’s all about the book.” He stood from the sofa and went to the middle of the room. “Come here.”

Taking in a deep breath, I stood up and approached him. Without my heels I came right under his chin, and I could see the slight dimple there. I had never noticed that before.

“Turn around,” he commanded.

Sighing at the insistence in his voice, I did as he asked, wishing he could just ask nicely for once. When his hands went to the zipper on the back of my dress I almost pulled away, and then remembered his words from previous encounters. I had to relax, and I had to trust him.

“You didn’t pull away,” he whispered as the zipper slowly eased downward. “You’re learning.”

“I’m getting—”

“No talking. You never talk when I’m punishing you.”

I snorted. Silly me.

After he had pushed my black cocktail dress off my shoulders, I stood calmly as the fabric slid down my body and gathered about my ankles. Standing before him in my underwear and strapless bra did not seem like such a feat anymore. Maybe I was getting the hang of this; and then another thought hit me. Or maybe I wanted to be naked in front of him.

His fingers lightly stroked along my shoulders and then his deep voice said, “Put your hands behind your back.”

Still not sure what to expect, I complied, and soon I felt the silk tie being wrapped about my wrists and secured tightly. At this point, I should have been getting concerned. Every instinct I had was screaming at me not to go along with his plans, but at a certain point in a relationship there comes a time when belief in another person outweighs reason. We want to believe someone will be kind to us, love us, or take care of us no matter how many times our past has taught us otherwise. This was that moment for me. I believed Garrett would not hurt me, and I knew then that I trusted him.

When his hands left my wrists, they began working their way down my back until his fingers hooked the top of my black silk panties. He eased the panties down my hips and all the way to my ankles. Lifting my right foot and then my left, he removed the underwear and dress from about my feet.

The cool air in my apartment was making my flesh dance with goose pimples, and when his hand cupped my behind, the chill turned into a rush of heat.

“On your knees,” he said behind me.

With a little awkward effort I got down on my knees. I prepared myself for a few slaps on my butt, thinking that was what he had in mind for my punishment. But when he kneeled behind me and pushed my head over to the hardwood floor, my stomach clenched. Feeling so exposed only compounded the rush of adrenaline racing through me. My heart was pounding and my breath was coming in nervous gasps. I stayed like that for a few minutes, waiting for him to touch me, spank me … do something.

Keep reading – I hope you enjoy the interview with Miss Weis!

 

Hello Alexandrea,

Thank you so much for letting The Danish Bookaholic Blog run an interview with you. I have been looking forward to it for some time now.

Here goes:

 1. What does a typical day look like for you?

My day starts and ends with my animals. I get up, feed furry people and spend the day juggling their needs and my writing. I do spend several hours a day on the computer, usually with dogs at my feet or a squirrel in my lap. When I am not writing, or tending to the zoo, I am an avid runner.

2. Where do you find the inspiration for your books?

Anything can bring a story to mind. Things just pop into my head, usually when I am driving … don’t ask me why. I’m not sure how the process works, and that is probably one mystery I don’t wish to know about. I just get an idea and it builds, until it needs to be written down.

3. What, in your opinion, is the most challenging aspect of being a self-published author today?

PR! Without a doubt getting your name out there is tough. There are so many books, so many writers that you have to really struggle to stand out. It’s a real challenge.

4. Out of all the books you have written, which one is your favourite? (If you have one, that is?)

My favorite is always my first, To My Senses, with The Ghosts of Rue Dumaine running a close second. I love those stories, the heartache and the poignancy of the characters still gets to me. I guess your first book is like a first love … unforgettable. 

5. How did you research the BDSM life style in your latest book, “Taming Me”? 😉

LOL! I should probably say lots of hands on experience, but my husband would die! Thank God for Google. Although, I did interview a few Doms about their methods for handling subs. This is New Orleans and there are lots of bars in the French Quarter where such individuals hang out, and are surprisingly open to talking about their lifestyle. However, I already have 4-legged Doms in my life, telling me what to do all day long, so I kind of had an idea of where to start.    

Again, thank you so much for stopping by!

Amazon Amazon CA Amazon UK Amazon AU

B&N smashwords

Alexandrea Weis is an advanced practice registered nurse who was born and raised in New Orleans. Having been brought up in the motion picture industry, she learned to tell stories from a different perspective and began writing at the age of eight. Infusing the rich tapestry of her hometown into her award-winning novels, she believes that creating vivid characters makes a story moving and memorable. A permitted/certified wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Weis rescues orphaned and injured wildlife. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans.

To read more about Alexandrea Weis or her books, you can go to the following sites:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK!

 

HOSTED BY:

Blog Tour: “Kick” (Savage Saints MC #1) by Carmen Jenner – Teasers, Purchase Links, Excerpt & Giveaway

Title: “Kick” (Savage Saints MC #1)

Author: Carmen Jenner

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: 26th January, 2015.

SYNOPSIS

When I was ten, my father indoctrinated me into the family.

A brotherhood who would fight, protect, and give their lives for one another. A club whose ties ran thicker than blood, murkier than the dirt and grime that tainted my soul. Stronger than the bonds that connected me to my own family.

A band of brothers where loyalty was kept and paid in a currency of blood.

When I was twenty-seven, I betrayed that brotherhood.

I’ve spent every day since running, avoiding paying back that debt.

My name is Daniel Johnson, and I have betrayed everyone I ever loved.

This is my story—if you’re screwed up enough to want to read it.

***Warning: KICK contains graphic violence, profanity, drug use, and explicit sexual situations of a taboo nature. Intended for an 18+ audience only. Not intended for pussies.***

ADD TO GOODREADS

 

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1z3NZL8

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Jwnbb8

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

iBooks: http://tinyurl.com/m4mjlqk

Kobo: http://tinyurl.com/l3soqkc

Enjoy the excerpt!

 

“You gotta let go now, Princess. I gotta hand you over.”

Her panicked gaze meets mine. “He’ll shoot you.”

“No, he won’t.”

“Yes, he will.”

I smile down at her. “What are we just gonna stand here forever, you in my arms, your dad holding a gun to my head? If he shoots me, he shoots me. Ain’t nothing I can do about that, Princess. At least I’ll know I did one thing right.”

She takes a deep, shaky breath. “I’d be dead if it weren’t for you.”

I nod, because it’s true. If Slayer hadn’t come at a deal, Prez would’ve eventually killed her, and he’d have tortured her some more first. “Promise me somethin’?”

“What?”

“Get on your feet and then get the hell outta here. Prez will come looking for you again. He’s not a guy who likes to lose. Take as much money as you can, and get the fuck away from this life, otherwise you’re gonna wind up filling a body bag way too young.”

Lauren is wrenched away from me then. She screams as the Italian carts her off toward the clubhouse, flailing and slapping at him despite her injuries.

“Daniel!” she screams, reaching out toward me as he struggles to get her inside. Without thinking I take a step forward, but I’m attacked from behind. My knees go out from under me and I’m shoved face-first into the ground. Some heavy motherfucker sits down on my back. I buck, trying to unseat him, but I’m whacked in the back of the head until I stop.

“Well, isn’t that fuckin’ touching? The Angel scum, in love with my daughter? Didn’t I warn you away from her once before?” Slayer asks, circling me like a predator circles prey. The biker using me for a chair shoves his gun against the back of my skull.

“Yeah, I did,” Slayer continues, and he motions for the guy on top of me to force me to stand. I’m dragged up by the hair and presented to Slayer. “At the rally, where she fuckin’ went missin’!” His red, blotchy face almost touches mine. He’s so close I can see the blood vessels snaking out from the corners of his eyes. He’s fucking high. His daughter’s been locked up, raped, beaten, treated like a fuckin’ animal over some shit that she shouldn’t even have to know about, and the arsehole’s gettin’ high as a fuckin’ kite instead of findin’ her? He makes me sick. He’s everything I hate about the life. And he’s more than likely exactly where I’ll end up, because this is what we are—this is what livin’ in the club gets you: bitterness, enemies, and a shit-tonne of bad blood.

KICK Book Trailer: http://tinyurl.com/o84xd5g

 

Join the KICK Release Day Party: http://on.fb.me/1t9xQnN

Support the KICK Thunderclap campaign: http://bit.ly/1EcrVCz

Enter the KICK Paperback Giveaway: http://bit.ly/1t9xYnn

Visit the Saint Savage MC official website:  http://savagesaintsmc.blogspot.com.au/

Additional books by this author

 

Welcome to Sugartown

Amazon: http://amzn.to/13X0U6S

B&N: http://bit.ly/1yjefiK

iTunes: http://bit.ly/1skhr98

 

Enjoy Your Stay

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1tqG4Bc

B&N: http://bit.ly/1zaoEhy

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

 

Greetings from Sugartown

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

B&N: http://bit.ly/1qw1Jbs

iTunes: http://bit.ly/1yjeZ7w

 

Welcome to Sugartown Website:

http://www.welcometosugartown.blogspot.com.au/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carmen Jenner is a thirty-something, USA TODAY Best Selling Author, doctor, pilot and CIA agent. She’s also a compulsive, flagrant prevaricator who gets to make things up for a living.

While Sugartown may not technically exist, Carmen grew up in a small Australian town just like it, and just like her characters, she always longed for something more. They didn’t have an Elijah Cade, though.

If they did, you can be sure she would have never left.

SOCIAL LINKS

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK!