Thursday, June 23, 2016

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT ~Last Kiss by Laurelin Paige~

Title: Last Kiss
Author: Laurelin Paige
Series: First and Last #2
Release Date: June 14, 2016

My Rating: 5 Stars!

A GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE FILLED WITH DARK DESIRES AND DANGEROUS SECRETS…

Emily Wayborn has made a decision.

She might not fully trust handsome and deadly Reeve Sallis, but he is the one person that gives her what she needs. With Reeve she can finally be herself. Submitting to him is the only thing keeping her grounded as the rest of her life falls apart. But the hotelier is a master at keeping secrets and as she continues her quest for answers someone is making sure she doesn’t find them.

Time is running out and she is questioning everything she thought she knew about friendship and love. She must now make an impossible choice that will determine if she will survive with her heart...or her life.
“Oh, hi! I didn’t see you there.” I sounded flustered and on edge. “Sorry to have surprised you.” The man’s head tipped toward me. “Emily, right?” he asked, as he exhaled a puff of smoke. 

I squinted at him, trying to place him, but I couldn’t. In fact, I was certain I hadn’t seen him before. He had to be one of the ranch guests, which didn’t explain how he knew me. “That’s right,” I said tentatively. “I don’t think we’ve met.” 

He tilted his head as he took another slow draw from his cigarette. “Nope. We haven’t.” Even in the dark, I didn’t miss the hungry way his eyes groped my frame. 

He took a step toward me, and I readied myself to run. Just then, the front door slammed open. I looked up to the porch to see a couple of Reeve’s men leaving the house. W hen I turned back, the man wasn’t there anymore. I glanced around and caught sight of him circling around behind the building. 

A man didn’t run off that easily if he hadn’t had ill intent. 

I shivered. I wondered if all of the guests were that creepy. No wonder Reeve was wary of them. Suddenly, I wanted to run and tell him about the encounter. 

Then, at the top of the stairs, I noticed his door was shut, which meant he was in there. But what if he wasn’t alone? What if the conversation with Amber at dinner had led them to his bedroom? 

Before I let myself get worked up, I looked to Amber’s door. It was shut too. It was the first time I’d seen it closed since her arrival, and my mind jumped to a hundred different possible conclusions. Maybe she was exercising her new babysitter-free status. Maybe she was puking again in the bathroom and wanted privacy. Or she was making out with one of the ranchers. Or crying over whatever Reeve had said to her after I’d left them. 

Or she wasn’t in there at all. 

I could easily knock on her door to find out, but I wasn’t sure I could face her if she answered, and I was absolutely sure I couldn’t take it if she didn’t. 

Hoping I would be better equipped to handle the situation after a good night’s sleep, I retreated to my own room with a sigh of resignation. 

Though it was late enough to go to bed, my emotions were too frazzled for sleep. And I was cold. My evening walk had set a chill in my bones that lingered even in the warm house. W hile I wished it was Reeve warming me up, a hot shower would be just as effective at raising my body temperature and would also calm my nerves. 

I stripped, tossing my clothes onto the chair in the corner of my room, then went to start the shower. I turned the water on without getting in, sticking my hand under the stream until it was hot enough. Then I crossed to the linen closet at the other end of the bathroom and picked out a couple of towels. When I shut the door, I turned back toward the shower and nearly jumped out of my skin. “Reeve!” I patted my breastbone, trying to calm the thudding in my chest. “Goddammit, you scared the hell out of me.” Between his sneaky arrival and the lurking cowboy outside, I wouldn’t have been surprised if I was on my way to a heart attack. 

His lip curled up with amusement. 

I scowled. “I’m glad you think sending me to an early grave is funny.” But I wasn’t really irritated by his arrival in the least. I was glad, and I was certain the accelerated tempo of my heart rate had as much to do with his appearance at all as it did with the element of surprise. 

He leaned his hip against the vanity and folded his arms across his chest, a position that highlighted both his broad shoulders and toned biceps. “You like it when I keep you guessing,” he said dismissively, not an entirely inaccurate statement, though it was a bit discomforting that he knew it so well. 

“And I like you on your toes,” he added, his eyes dark as they slid the length of my body. I felt them like silk as they caressed over the slopes of my breasts, down the plane of my stomach, zeroing in on the landing strip above my pussy. Suddenly I’d warmed up quite sufficiently, the pool of moisture between my thighs as hot as the steam gathering in the room.

I met his scrutiny with ogling of my own, biting my lip as my eyes landed on the large bulge at the front of his pants. He was bare- foot, and I tried not to wonder if that meant he’d been undressed once already in the evening. Tried not to wonder if it was his first or second erection of the night.

Bringing the towels in front of me as a much-needed barrier, I mirrored his crossed arms. “What are you doing here, anyway?” He shrugged. “You wouldn’t come to my bed so I had to come to yours.”

It was surprising how easily happiness bubbled in my chest. Teasingly, I threw his words from the night before back at him. “This isn’t my bed.”

He was already walking toward me. “It’s close enough.” The towels fell to the floor as he seized my hips and turned my back to the counter. His mouth captured mine, greedily stealing my breath and sense of reason with his lips and tongue.

God, I was hungry for him. I roved my hands over his chest, wanting to touch all of his body at once, delighting at the hard muscles that met the underside of my palms. He was solid every- where. A wall of strength and potency that could so easily over- power me. I was weak in his presence, incapable of anything except to yield.

A warning bell sounded in the back of my head, though, urging me to get my wits together and address . . . something. It was difficult to remember what exactly when his hands were on my breasts, squeezing and pinching. The bite of pain sent jolts of electricity through my nervous system, signals that my brain read as pleasure. Pleasure I couldn’t resist.

This book, this book, this book. I think that's it. That's my review. No, in all seriousness this book means business. I can't quite explain it without giving a lot of pertinent information, but think dark, gut-wrenching, and outside of the box. Ms. Paige has given her readers a book that delivers that and so much more. Last Kiss will be that book that leaves you just gaping like a guppy fish. There was a lot of "Oh, s**t", "Son of a --!", "MOTHER TRUCKER!!" and "Well, f*-k". I mean quite literally, I don't think I've ever been so vocal about my reactions to a book before. 

I will admit, I kind of saw the ending coming from book one (FIRST TOUCH), but experiencing getting to that ending packed on a huge wallop. I finished this book a few weeks ago and I STILL feel a little bruised up from it. I'll warn readers again, like I did in my review of book one, this is not your mother's, or even sister's romance. It's a rough one. It's twisted, and it gets even more twisted in this book. You never really know if you want to judge or empathize with Reeve and Emily. I think by the end I was definitely doing a mixture of both. But what I love about this book is that is IS so different from all of the other books on the market right now, the writing was incredible, the concept is ASTOUNDING, and the delivery left me gasping. It's not all sunshine and roses, but it's intense, dark and gritty. The kind of book you revel in for an escape. 

Be warned, it's not a true romance, but an interpretation of one. Reeve and Emily are anything but conventional. Truth be told they're a little screwed up, but it works for them, and THAT'S what I like reading about. Two souls who have gone through unimaginable times that find a safe space in one another, find a home for their hearts. And that's exactly what Laurelin Paige achieved. A story that despite its extremities, and at times, crudeness, makes sense. I might not be able to relate to the relationship of Reeve and Emily, but I sure as hell enjoyed reading their journey to solace. 

*Note: my omission of any mention of Amber in this review was intentional. I could go off on a tangent about her involvement in the story, but all I can say is to get an appropriate understanding of how she fits in is to read it. Nothing I could write would do justice for the wicked web Ms. Paige wrote surrounding Amber. 

Happy Reading!
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*







USA Today and New York Times Bestselling Author Laurelin Paige is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead, or dreaming of Adam Levine. She's also a proud member of Mensa International though she doesn't do anything with the organization except use it as material for her bio. She is represented by Rebecca Friedman.



Tuesday, June 21, 2016

REVIEW ~Unbreak My Heart by Lorelei James~

Title: Unbreak My Heart
Author: Lorelei James
Series: Rough Riders Legacy #1
Release Date: June 20, 2016

My Rating: 5 Stars
Sierra
Seven years have passed since I fell for Boone West. The brooding bad boy. We were friends, even when I secretly wanted more, but I settled for what he offered. After he left Wyoming—and me—I grew up. Moved on. Or so I believed until he blew back into my life with the scorching force of an Arizona desert wind.

I’m not that innocent sixteen-year-old girl anymore—I’m a businesswoman who swore never to settle again. But this older, wiser, hotter version of Boone unsettles me. How am I supposed to resist his megawatt smile and his built-army-strong body? Especially when he’s inserting himself into every aspect of my life? Now he’s determined to prove he can offer me everything that he couldn’t before—and he’s the only man that can fix the heart that he broke.

Boone

Joining the army? Best decision I ever made. Even though it meant I had to leave her behind. Sierra McKay. The wide-eyed beauty, who saw more in me than I saw in myself. I didn’t dare offer her anything more than friendship, because one kiss, one touch and I wouldn’t have had the guts to go.

I’ve worked hard to become the man I am. I have a career. A purpose. After a chance encounter with the one woman I never forgot—I’m not leaving anything else to chance. Now that I’ve chased her across three states, I’m ready to demonstrate that the passion we couldn’t act on before burns hotter than ever between us. And I’ll use every weapon in my arsenal to show Sierra McKay that she’s always been mine.

Ahhh... Hear that? That's the sound of coming home to those dirty-mouthed, deliciously sexy cowboys that Lorelei James is so famous for. It's been a hot minute since I drowned myself in the amazing world of the McKay's and oh, what a way to get reacquainted. Unbreak My Heart is book one in the Rough Riders Legacy series, about the McKay children. They've definitely done a lot of growing up since we last saw them and Sierra and Boone have both taken life by the balls and made something of themselves. But the time has come for Boone to make his move. That move he would have died to make before he left Wyoming, and the only woman to ever hold his heart. Yes, he still has every reason to stay 10,000 miles away from her, but he just can't. Sierra is it for him, so he'll follow her, and wait for her as long as he needs to. But of course Sierra was never one to live by a man's schedule, even if it is the man that stole her heart 7 years ago when he joined the Army. They've both got their reasons and reservations, but most of all they've both go that spark that ignites when they get close. But will that be enough to bridge the love almost lost, and the changes and shattering truths to come?

This book blew my mind. I mean, we all know Lorelei can write a bad*** book, but Unbreak My Heart took it up a notch. She made it a book that set up future Legacy novels, but also gave the readers time to get to know Sierra and Boone as adults, together and apart. And that's where it went right. Readers need that time to know them and their lives. There is a LOT of ground to cover, but also it gave me a solidification for their hot and heavy romance to become a concrete relationship. I truly enjoyed every word of this book and I can't wait for the books to follow it. 

Sierra and Boone will make you (please pardon the rhyme!) swoon. These two just fit together. They're not perfect, but they sure as hell are perfect for one another. But there's also a lot of growing up they do in UBMH. And the best part is they do it together. I honestly wanted to start re-reading this book the minute I finished it. I didn't want it to be over, though is was satisfying to a T. You can expect the unrivaled steam and sex, along with a gripping story that will leave you both content and dying for more. A must-read for the summer!

Happy Reading!
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*



Lorelei James is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of romances in the Rough Riders series, the Blacktop Cowboys® series, the Mastered series, the Need You series and the Legacy series.

Lorelei also writes dark, gritty mysteries under the name Lori Armstrong. Her books in the Julie Collins and Mercy Gunderson series have won Shamus Awards and the Willa Cather Literary Award. Lorelei lives in western South Dakota.

REVIEW ~Smolder by Karen Erickson~

Title: Smolder
Author: Karen Erickson
Series: Wildwood #2
Release Date: June 21, 2016

My Rating: 5 Stars

Lane Gallagher wants Delilah Moore - bad.

He's imagined the sexy brunette in his bed more times than he can count.

She's everything he's ever wanted, but the only problem is…

She's his brother's ex.
For years, the stoic sheriff's deputy has fantasized about the sweet, bubbly dance teacher who stirs his deepest desires. But Lane's too loyal to ever move in on forbidden territory and he knows that while he can look, he definitely can't touch. Fighting his attraction to Delilah is nearly impossible, but the infuriating-and incredibly sexy-woman seems determined to drive him crazy.

And she's bringing him to his knees. One smoldering kiss at a time.

I loved book one, IGNITE, but SMOLDER set the bar a little higher. Delilah and Lane are the couple that you want to root for. They would just be so perfect together if Lane would ever just GIVE. IN. Ugh that man is infuriating, but is such a deliciously, sweet way. There is a lot of push and pull with these two. Delilah is in full force, but Lane has is reservations about the two of them. However, the table turn a bit. When Lane gives in just a bit we see Delilah start to run. And in the end, it's anyone's guess as to who will be standing. 

SMOLDER packs a huge punch for a shorter read. Delilah and Lane's characters were both fleshed out incredibly well and the entire world that Ms. Erickson has built with the supporting characters is enticing and relatable. I would love to see more stories from the Wildwood group. 

This book was highly enjoyable, and a perfect beach read for me. I will be waiting not so impatienly for the third Gallagher brother's book. while still reveling in the emotional impact from SMOLDER. 

Happy Reading!
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*




USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson is a firm believer in romance and happily ever afters. The author of too many contemporary romance books to count, she lives in central California on 14 acres of property with her husband, three kids, one dog and too many cats. Being a romance writer and bringing her characters to life is her greatest dream come true.

IGNITE, her newest release, is the first in her new Wildwood series with Avon Impulse.

Friday, June 17, 2016

ARC REVIEW ~Last Kiss by Laurelin Paige~

Title: Last Kiss
Author: Laurelin Paige
Series: First and Last #2
Release Date: June 14, 2016

A GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE FILLED WITH DARK DESIRES AND DANGEROUS SECRETS…

Emily Wayborn has made a decision.

She might not fully trust handsome and deadly Reeve Sallis, but he is the one person that gives her what she needs. With Reeve she can finally be herself. Submitting to him is the only thing keeping her grounded as the rest of her life falls apart. But the hotelier is a master at keeping secrets and as she continues her quest for answers someone is making sure she doesn’t find them.

Time is running out and she is questioning everything she thought she knew about friendship and love. She must now make an impossible choice that will determine if she will survive with her heart...or her life.

This book, this book, this book. I think that's it. That's my review. No, in all seriousness this book means business. I can't quite explain it without giving a lot of pertinent information, but think dark, gut-wrenching, and outside of the box. Ms. Paige has given her readers a book that delivers that and so much more. Last Kiss will be that book that leaves you just gaping like a guppy fish. There was a lot of "Oh, s**t", "Son of a --!", "MOTHER TRUCKER!!" and "Well, f*-k". I mean quite literally, I don't think I've ever been so vocal about my reactions to a book before. 

I will admit, I kind of saw the ending coming from book one (FIRST TOUCH), but experiencing getting to that ending packed on a huge wallop. I finished this book a few weeks ago and I STILL feel a little bruised up from it. I'll warn readers again, like I did in my review of book one, this is not your mother's, or even sister's romance. It's a rough one. It's twisted, and it gets even more twisted in this book. You never really know if you want to judge or empathize with Reeve and Emily. I think by the end I was definitely doing a mixture of both. But what I love about this book is that is IS so different from all of the other books on the market right now, the writing was incredible, the concept is ASTOUNDING, and the delivery left me gasping. It's not all sunshine and roses, but it's intense, dark and gritty. The kind of book you revel in for an escape. 

Be warned, it's not a true romance, but an interpretation of one. Reeve and Emily are anything but conventional. Truth be told they're a little screwed up, but it works for them, and THAT'S what I like reading about. Two souls who have gone through unimaginable times that find a safe space in one another, find a home for their hearts. And that's exactly what Laurelin Paige achieved. A story that despite its extremities, and at times, crudeness, makes sense. I might not be able to relate to the relationship of Reeve and Emily, but I sure as hell enjoyed reading their journey to solace. 

*Note: my omission of any mention of Amber in this review was intentional. I could go off on a tangent about her involvement in the story, but all I can say is to get an appropriate understanding of how she fits in is to read it. Nothing I could write would do justice for the wicked web Ms. Paige wrote surrounding Amber. 

Happy Reading!
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*







USA Today and New York Times Bestselling Author Laurelin Paige is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead, or dreaming of Adam Levine. She's also a proud member of Mensa International though she doesn't do anything with the organization except use it as material for her bio. She is represented by Rebecca Friedman.