REVIEW ~Never Tear Us Apart by Monica Murphy~

Title: Never Tear Us Apart

Author: Monica Murphy

Series: Never Tear Us Apart #1

Release Date: January 4, 2016

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Perfect for readers of Colleen Hoover, Jay Crownover, and K. A. Tucker, the first novel in this darkly sexy contemporary series from bestselling author Monica Murphy kicks off an emotionally powerful two-part tale of forbidden love.

Crazy how eight years can disappear in an instant. One look at Katie Watts, and I'm a fifteen-year-old again--the one who risked everything to save a terrified girl from her twisted kidnapper. She's grown-up now--beautiful, quiet, composed--and telling her story to the world. A story that involves me in more ways than you can imagine. She used to call me her guardian angel. Sure, I risked my life, but she was worth dying for.

I need to make contact with her. Just to ensure that she's safe.

Somehow we reconnect. We become friends . . . but I want more. I want to make her mine. And she wants me too. Does she know who I am? Has she figured me out? Not yet. But she will. In the meantime, I need to make sure that whatever hold that animal had on her is gone.

So, yeah, I'm stealing these moments with her. Savoring them. Knowing, dreading, that she'll soon find out who I really am. And everything will fall apart. All because of that twisted, perverted monster sitting on death row. Her kidnapper. A convicted serial killer.

My father.

Never Tear Us Apart is the most unconventional, non-cookie cutter book I have read in a very long time. The subject matter is a terrifying one to swallow, yet the author handles it with eloquence and a tastefulness that does not lessen the blow of the fear it evokes, but allows the reader (or at least me) and the character to see the light at the end of what has been a very dark tunnel. This book will make you uncomfortable, it will make you head spin, and it will crush your heart. It's not a lighthearted book to flip lazily through. No, it one that will gut you, capture you, and haunt you.

The best way I can explain this book is this: it's not easy. Nothing about Katie's life since her kidnapping has been easy. Nothing about Will's life has ever been easy. Nothing about the feelings they can't help but feel are easy. It's damn hard. For everyone, the reader included, to read such a torturous yet compelling love story. Because I do believe, that at the very heart of this book it is a love story. It has to be. That is the aspect I had to glom onto while I was living through the hell Katie and Will experienced at the hands of his father. They were meant to be. In the most unconventional and final way. They saved each other as children. With an emotion emerging that they couldn't even ebgin to understand. And now as adults they have accepted that connection and built on it. Yet, one big secret lies between them, and it may change everything. A trust that was tenuous to begin with ends up shattered, and my heart right along with it.

Never Tear Us Apart is for the dark, twisty, gritty reader that enjoy seeing the ugly parts of life become beautiful and lively as they were always meant to be. As I said before, it's a hard read, but I was entranced by the story, the flawless back and forth of the time jumps, and the achingly beautiful relationship that Katie and Will have is one that is full of strength neither one of them thought they had. I'd recommend this book for the reader that wants out of their comfort zone and into the fray. It was a must read for me and I'm sure the sequel will be equally as stunning and heartbreaking, but hopefully with a happy ending. After all these two deserve it.

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

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BOOK #2

Title: Never Let You Go

Author: Monica Murphy

Series: Never Tear Us Apart #2

Release Date: May 3, 2016

Lies hurt. Lies destroy. I tried my best to understand why Ethan kept his secrets but it was so hard. Until I realized that I couldn’t deny myself any longer — I needed to be with him. We needed each other. Despite my family’s wariness, the media’s fascination with us, the fact that his father still has a stranglehold on our lives, we belong together. No matter what. I will never let Ethan go. But sometimes love destroys us too, and we’re too weak to banish the demons. Especially when our demons are determined to ruin us…

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Meet Monica:

New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband and three children. She’s a workaholic who loves her job. When she’s not busy writing, she also loves to read and travel with her family. She writes new adult and contemporary romance and is published with Bantam and Avon. She also writes romance as USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson.

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EXCERPT REVEAL ~Defenseless by Corinne Michaels~

Title: Defenseless

Author: Corinne Michaels

Release Date: January 19, 2016

My life is a secret.

His life is dangerous.

We’re both stubborn, calculating, and controlling.

Mark Dixon doesn’t know what he’s getting into. He doesn’t know his games could cost us our lives. I have to do what is necessary to keep us alive, and that means guarding my heart.

But I know I’m defenseless against him, and in the end, he’ll force me to surrender.

I look around because the hair on the back of my neck prickles. “We need to get out of here.” Someone is here, watching, listening, and now it’s time to do what I do best. “I’ve missed you.” I smile while I use the tip of my finger to trace his jawline.

Mark’s eyes shift over my head as he pulls me flush against his body. We’re both facing exits. “I’ve missed you more,” he plays along.

This might just work. He’s on alert as well and senses something awry. His fingers splay across my lower back as he holds me close. “Maybe we should head back to my place so you can show me just how much.” I glance over his shoulder. His blonde hair falls in his eyes as he dips his head into my neck. I know the move, but a shiver runs down my spine.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” I release a very low moan, which I didn’t give permission to escape. Mark’s lips glide across my skin.

I’m not sure he’s acting.

I’m not even sure that I am.

Then Mark reminds me this is serious. “There are two guys behind you.” His voice is low enough that only I can hear him. To anyone passing, we’re two lovers reacquainting ourselves. “One at my two o’clock, and the other is out of my view.”

“One just passed behind you twice. I think going toward my exit is best.” I snuggle closer. “I’m ready when you are.” The double meaning is meant for anyone to hear, but Mark should know it means I’m ready to disappear. “You’ll have to keep up, though.”

He leans back while cupping my face. His lips hover over mine. “I don’t have any problems keeping you satisfied, princess.”

My pulse spikes. I know he can hear it, feel it, see in my eyes that I’m affected. My breaths are shallow as his hands slowly make their way down my arms.

“Arrogant prick,” I mutter.

I can tell he’d be an incredible lover. His overconfidence would only play to my benefit. We’re both cut from the same cloth, ready to fight for dominance. He’d win, though. I can see it in his eyes. There would be no battle, Mark has already won. Right now, he controls me. He determines whether we kiss, what it’ll be like, and for the first time in my life—I surrender.

His lips come closer. “They’re closing in,” he whispers, his eyes locked on me. “Charlie?” he asks.

“What?” My voice is barely audible.

“This will happen again when we don’t have to fight off people, and then you’ll be mine.”

I don’t have time to reply. His lips crash down on mine as he spins me around so he leads our exit. The second our mouths collide, my brain disconnects. My fingers tangle in his hair, grabbing it to pull him close. Mark’s hands hold my face to his and he continues to guide me. I know we’re moving but I have no idea to where. In this instant, I don’t care. Never has someone made me feel so desperate for them. I never lose control, never feel so lost, yet right now, I am. I’m raw, exposed, and completely vulnerable.

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Meet Corinne:

Corinne Michaels is an emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun loving mom of two beautiful children. She’s happily married to the man of her dreams and is a former Navy wife. After spending months away from her husband while he was deployed, reading and writing was her escape from the loneliness.

Both her maternal and paternal grandmothers were librarians, which only intensified her love of reading. After years of writing short stories, she couldn’t ignore the call to finish her debut novel, Beloved. Her alpha Navy SEALs are broken, beautiful, and will steal your heart.

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RELEASE DAY REVIEW ~Wicked Lust by Sawyer Bennett~

Title: Wicked Lust

Author: Sawyer Bennett

Series: The Wicked Horse #2

Release Date: January 5, 2016

My Rating: 5 stars

Cain Murphy is as big and bad as they come. After serving in the Marines, he’s returned home to Wyoming and now works as head of security at the exclusive sex club, The Wicked Horse. His job is to protect not only the patrons, but to zealously guard the secret existence of the club itself.

Sloane Preston is all about discovering secrets. As an undercover reporter, she’s determined to reveal the truth behind the facade of The Wicked Horse and expose it for all the world to see. She just didn’t count on her pathway into the club coming at the hands of one gorgeously scarred and bad ass bouncer who manages to easily possess her body and soul.

While Cain’s not looking for anyone to catch his eye, Sloane did it all the same, and he’s not bemoaning the fact that she’s as wickedly kinky as he is. As both get caught up in the sinful fantasies that only The Wicked Horse can create, secrets and loyalties will be tested and hearts will risk being broken.

**Warning: this book has sex in it. Lots of sex. Dirty sex. The Wicked Horse Series is a bit different than what Sawyer Bennett normally writes. While you’ll still enjoy fabulous characters, a suspenseful story, some witty banter and an epic romance, there’s just… a lot of sex. You’ve been warned.

Holy Cow! This book is going to one of those books that stay with me for quite some time. Sawyer Bennett has created a new level of eroticism, romanticism, and sinful delight with Wicked Lust. This book is built on the trope of lies will destroy. And oh boy will they. It's a train wreck waiting to happen, but on the journey there you will be scandalized and love every minute.

Cain and Sloan are explosive at best, and thrilling at their worst. They're terrifically wrapped up in the most epic lust story of all time, but when true emotions breakthrough and every bit of foundation they've built their lives on begins to shimmy and shake, the drama will be just as explosive as their sexcapades.

Fair warning this book is NOT for the faint of heart. With a steamy menage, and some serious erotic moments solely between Cain and Sloane I wouldn't be surprised if this book spontaneously combusted. This is one of those books that whisks you away from reality and plants in you in a fantasy land. One where any fantasy is likely to come true. This book just cements my love of this series and there are so many more men from The Wicked Horse/The Silo that I just HAVE to read about. These men are sexy as sin, but when they fall, they fall harder than most. And every bit of seeing the demise of Woolf and Cain into true love is a delight. 

Happy Reading!

*ARC provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*

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The WICKED HORSE Series

AVAILABLE NOW

Title: Wicked Fall

Author: Sawyer Bennett

Series: The Wicked Horse #1

Release Date: July 28, 2015

Never in your wildest dreams could you begin to imagine all the filthy and depraved things that go on inside The Wicked Horse. Step inside and Woolf Jennings will make every one of your dirty fantasies come true.

He’s covered in a facade of deception. An enticing blend of multi-millionaire and hot-as-hell Wyoming rancher, those that think they know Woolf Jennings admire his abilities to preside as CEO of his family’s cattle and oil empire. But only a privileged few truly understand what fuels the glitter of depravity in those gorgeous blue eyes. Only a few know he’s opened up a sinfully erotic and private sex club named The Wicked Horse right at the base of the beautiful Teton Mountain range.

Sweet Callie Hayes has returned home to Wyoming and is looking forward to starting her life over again. After a night of impetuosity, she’s managed to put herself right in Woolf’s line of sight… the man who she foolishly offered up her virginity to years ago and was flatly turned down.

Now Woolf is seeing that Callie is all grown up and has a kinky side to her that leaves him as confused as it does turned on. Worse yet, both Callie’s dirty desires and sweet heart are getting under his skin, and making Woolf question everything he’s ever believed about himself.

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COMING SOON

Title: Wicked Need

Author: Sawyer Bennett

Series: The Wicked Horse #3

Release Date: April 19, 2016

Rand Bishop’s dreams of Olympic gold were shattered years ago but he’s left that all behind, settling into a new career and lifestyle that would make any man jealous. While he may not be competitively racing down the ski slopes anymore, he’s just as happy getting his rocks off as a Fantasy Maker for The Silo.

He’s good at what he does.

Damn good.

But while life couldn’t be better for Rand, it seems to be falling apart for Catherine Lyons Vaughn, the dark haired, brown-eyed beauty that has captivated an entire sex club.

Having spent years degrading herself on her husband’s whim and now left destitute after his death, Catherine has hit rock bottom. With nothing but her body to peddle, Catherine is merely trying to figure out how to survive in a harsh, cruel world. Lucky for her, Rand has taken her under his tattooed wing, and he’s determined to give her a safe life where she can be the woman she was always meant to be.

Now all Catherine has to do is believe she deserves the chance.

**Warning: this book has sex in it. Lots of sex. Dirty sex. The Wicked Horse Series is a bit different than what Sawyer Bennett normally writes. While you’ll still enjoy fabulous characters, a suspenseful story, some witty banter and an epic romance, there’s just… a lot of sex. You’ve been warned.

Links to Buy:


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