Blog Tour! Distraction by Aurora Rose Reynolds

Title: Distraction
Series: Underground Kings
Author: Aurora Rose Reynolds
Genre: Adult Romance
Publication: February 2, 2016 (ebook, paperback)
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Distraction: The great intensity, novelty, or attractiveness of something other than the object of attention.
Sven is a man who takes pride in his ability to separate himself from his emotions. He's a man who knows who he is and where he’s going in life, a man who needs no one, because needing someone, anyone, is a weakness.
His past taught him love isn’t enough.
Maggie wants the happily ever after, but has never picked the right men, or stuck around long enough, to build a forever. It’s always been easier to get out early, before emotions make things messy.

When Maggie wakes up naked in Sven’s bed, with no memory of the night before, these two must be honest about their feelings and face their fears, so they can build a future together.
Will love be enough for them to get their happy ending together, or will a threat from outside strike them down before they ever have a chance?

EXCERPT

“You’re not allowed on the club floor anymore,” I state firmly. 

“I’m going to find the guys who hurt my sister,” she states, and I see the determination in her eyes that make me proud and pissed at the same time. 

“If you come, you come to my office, and if something happens down there”—I point to the club floor over my shoulder—“you’ll be the first to know.” 

“Why would I come to your office? I need to be at the bar where I can see what’s going on.” 

“You just got the job as my new assistant,” I tell her, watching her frown while wondering what the f*ck I’m doing. This chick is a distraction I do not need right now, or ever for that matter. 

“I already have a job,” she says as her frown grows deeper. 

“Well, quit. You’re here every night, Mags, and you don’t leave ‘til the club closes at one. I can tell by the bags under your eyes that you’re exhausted.” 

“Why would you want me to work here?” Now, isn’t that the million dollar question? 

“Either take me up on my offer, or I’m going to have a restraining order placed against you and you won’t be allowed within a few hundred feet of the club.”  I shrug like it’s all the same to me. 

“You know this is malarkey, right?” she stands and I take her in fully for the first time tonight. Her loose, sheer, black dress is cinched with a thin belt emphasizing the dip in her waist between her full hips and breasts. Her hair is down in a mass of messy waves, and her makeup is subtle but still draws attention to her eyes, which look even more golden now that she’s standing in front of me looking pissed off. 

“I’m not messing around with you anymore either. You take me up on my deal, or I’ll call the police and have them escort you off the premises,” I tell her, ignoring the fact I’m getting hard just looking at her.

“This is total crap,” she mumbles, looking around before meeting my eyes again. 

“Take it or leave it.”

“Jeez, can I have a second to think?” she cries, and I feel my lips twitch, so I rub my hand down over my mouth to hide it. 

“Ten,” I state, watching her eyes narrow. “Nine…eight…seven…” I continue counting, watching as she looks at me like she’s ready to kill me. “Six,” I raise a brow. “Five…”

“Fine!” she yells when I open my mouth to finish my countdown. 

“Thought so,” I say triumphantly. 

 “You’re such a…you’re such a bigasterd,” she growls.

“A what?” I ask, and I can’t help it, I laugh at that one. 

“When do I start?” she asks, ignoring my question while red spreads across her cheeks and down her neck. 

“Tomorrow. Be here at five, and I’ll show you around the club and tell you your responsibilities.”

Okay, I’m not going to lie here, I’ve been waiting for Sven. He’s was always so mysterious in everyone else’s story. So when we were told his would be coming soon, I was super excited. I couldn’t wait to see the kind of girl who could tame him. I also couldn’t wait to see how he would treat that girl.

I didn’t expect Maggie. She’s a bit of a contradiction, really. One minute she’s feisty and fierce, the next minute you get a glimpse at her insecurities. She’s a persistent little thing, I will say that. I don’t want to give away the story, but there are things about her that surprise me. 

So, opening scene, you’re immediately thinking-Sven. Whadda douche!- No joke. But if you’ve been keeping up with the Until series as well as Underground Kings, you know Sven is who he is. He makes no excuses, and he doesn’t have to. That is part of the reason I’ve been dying to get my hands on his story. It was actually quite entertaining to watch him fall in love.

Okay, these two, from the very beginning you can see their chemistry. Of course, with most stories of love, there will be misunderstandings. There will be issues. And that ending….Woah! I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy the Alpha males and their feisty women. Time to see for yourself if these two make it to the over the hurdles finish line.

Additional Books in the Underground Kings Series

Assumption (Book 1)

Amazon Barnes & Noble iBooks Kobo

Obligation (Book 2)

Amazon US Barnes & Noble iBooks Kobo

 About the Author:Aurora Rose Reynolds is a navy brat who's husband served in the United States Navy. She has lived all over the country but now resides in New York City with her Husband and pet fish. She's married to an alpha male that loves her as much as the men in her books love their women. He gives her over the top inspiration everyday. In her free time she reads, writes and enjoys going to the movies with her husband and cookie. She also enjoys taking mini weekend vacations to nowhere, or spends time at home with friends and family. Last but not least she appreciates everyday and admires it's beauty.
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Blog Tour: Without Me by Chelle Bliss

THE LAST MEN OF INKED BOOK IS NOW AVAILABLE!

Synopsis:

I’d led a selfish existence.

I liked who I was. Hell, I loved myself. Women threw themselves at me and I took what they offered without remorse. I promised them nothing. I sank my teeth into life, holding on to the bitch like my very existence depended on it. Time passed. Women came and went. The second I let my guard down and released the hold I had on life… What was my award for such carelessness? A love so spectacular and heart wrenching that it threw me for a loop. When I was in too deep to escape, my greatest fears became reality. This is my story. My downfall. My salvation.

Grab your copy today!

Amazon - http://bit.ly/WithoutMeAmazon Barnes & Noble - http://bit.ly/WithoutMeNook iTunes - http://bit.ly/WithoutMeItunes Kobo - http://bit.ly/WithoutMeKobo

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***This book is intended for mature audiences***

Ah, Anthony Gallo. I've been waiting for you! And I was not disappointed. Without Me was an awesome conclusion to the Men of Inked series. 

Anthony Gallo is the oldest of the Gallo clan. He's never needed love, he has his family, his job at the tattoo shop his family owns, singing for his band just for fun, and all the women he could ever want. What else does he need? What else indeed. This is where Max comes in. She doesn't give him the time of day, and like most men that have women falling right out of their panties, when they cross a woman that tells them to get lost...well, now she has his attention.--What do you mean, get lost? But, but, but, I'm me!! I'm the most awesome person walking the planet. I can make you feel pleasure you've never felt before! Get lost, PAH!!--And so, the chase begins. And let me just tell you, it was a hell of a chase. 

See, Anthony is supposed to be this huge a**hole, right? And maybe it's just me, maybe it's because, a-hole or not, I really really appreciate a raw and honest character. I'm a sucker for the a-hole's. I think honesty is the most important thing in the world. Now, while Anthony is supposed to be this a-hole, I didn't really get that from him. At least, not to the extent that I'm sure some would. But, like I said, I like em like that. Anyway, I adored Anthony. I knew I would, though. Max on the other hand, not so much. I didn't much care for the way she kept the pushing away and pulling back with Anthony. I understand there were things at play that caused a lot of the hot and cold, but at the same time, Anthony didn't deserve that. So...I mean, with censoring myself a bit here, she pissed me off. She could also be super sweet. I don't know, I suppose I'm a bit on the fence about her.

The Gallo's, have I mentioned how much I love that bunch? I really do. I know they are a made-up family, but they are an awesome made-up family. Hey, maybe they aren't made up at all. Maybe Miss Bliss has a family just like the Gallo's or she knows a family just like them. I have no idea. All I know is I'd love to be a fly on the wall at one of their Sunday dinners. We get all the usual characters in Without Me. All the fuzzy warm feelings that the Gallo's cause. Let me just say this, though. I loved Anthony. I loved Thomas, Joey, and Izzy as well. But not any of them can beat out my love for Michael, he's still my number one Gallo!! Anyway, if you haven't picked up the Men of Inked series, do it! What are you waiting for? Big, strapping, hot men. Crazy headstrong, independent women that take no crap. What's not to love about that?

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About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Chelle Bliss is an American author who writes stories about real-life scenarios with fantasy Alpha males. Her works include humor as well as steamy sex. Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Start Reading the COMPLETED Men of Inked Series!

Throttle Me ~ Book 1: http://amzn.to/1ApcSSD Hook Me ~ Book 2: http://amzn.to/1ApcUKf Throttled ~ Book 3: http://amzn.to/1mUoWko Resist Me ~ Book 4: http://amzn.to/1t5S6TG Resisting ~ Book 5: http://amzn.to/16tyOBl Uncover Me ~ Book 6: http://amzn.to/1yM3Leu Without Me ~ Book 7: http://bit.ly/WithoutMeAmazon

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Review: Quarterback Draw by Jaci Burton

Quarterback Draw
by Jaci Burton
Expected publication:
February 3rd 2015
by Berkley Trade

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Playing For Keeps

Grant Cassidy knows how to be a football star—flash that dazzling smile, throw the winning pass, get the girl. But while the hot quarterback loves the game and the lifestyle, no woman has come close to catching his heart. Then he matches wits with a smart, gorgeous model, and Grant finds himself wanting more than a fling.

Supermodel Katrina Koslova might live in a world of glitz and camera flashes, but she works hard to provide for the family that relies on her. She doesn’t have time for fun—much less a boyfriend—but Grant seems determined to be the exception to Katrina’s rule.

Their explosive chemistry is undeniable, but Katrina’s afraid to let go and rely on anyone but herself. Grant intends to ease her fears and prove he’s a man of style and substance.

So I absolutely LOVE Jaci Burton's book. I've read a few in this series and I've enjoyed them all. They're all very sexy and hot. However as much as I enjoyed this book, I would like to point out what I didn't like. (Small spoiler: Highlight to view) I really didn't quite "get" the need to make Katrina a virgin. It really didn't add to the story in my opinion. Also, I can't tell you how many times I've rolled my eyes because this girl just wouldn't embrace the thought of possibly having something real with Grant. I'll continue my rant about this later.

I really loved that this book is based on Katrina and Grant, but we get to meet and fall in love with Grant's whole family, and take a huge liking to Katrina's siblings. I absolutely love the page time with Grant's family and enjoyed reading every word. The bond that his family has just jumps out of the pages. I really hope that Jaci Burton writes more books about all his siblings. I know the next one is about Tucker, so YAY! The Cassidy boys are gonna make sexy reads.

Though she was a strong woman, Katrina really wasn't a character I adored. She was only 17 years old when her mom died. She immediately stepped up and took care of her siblings. Yet, despite all that, now being 27 years old, I felt she still needed to grow up a little bit. She hesitated about everything. Whenever someone in the book would call her "Grant's girlfriend" she fought the urge to correct them. The idea of being in a relationship scared the bejesus out of her. I get that she's been independent and on her own for so long, but OMG it was just overboard. I really wished I could have told her to "Shut up! Sit down and enjoy the ride!" I love when books bring out these types of emotions in me, though. 

Grant was awesome. lately I haven't found myself swooning over male characters. But I really liked him. I felt that his feelings for Katrina came so easy to him. It's like he knew he liked her and wanted to spend time with her. And he made it happen. He started to genuinely have feelings for her siblings and did things for them because he knew they would like it. And he showed tons of love for his family. He was definitely a great catch. His character was written well in my opinion. I truly enjoyed reading about him.

I really did enjoy reading Quarterback Draw. It was extremely sexy! Jaci Burton knows how to write a sizzling sexy scene for sure. Grant and Katrina for sure had great chemistry in the bedroom. I truly enjoyed seeing their relationship blossom. And in my opinion, Katrina redeemed herself. I would love to get sneak peeks about all these characters in other future work. I give Quarterback Draw a 4 stars. It's a definite Good Choice for Reading.

Review: Contradiction by Tiffany King

Contradiction by Tiffany King
Expected publication:
January 6th 2015
by Berkley Trade

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When everything starts spinning out of control

. . . Three years into college, Tressa Oliver’s life is a nonstop party. She’s skating by in her classes, and there’s no shortage of drinking, dancing, and general hell-raising. The only aspect that hasn't been much fun: She can’t shake the toxic jerks that always seem to gravitate toward her.

It will take someone totally wrong . . .

Trent Lawson is the classic anti-bad boy: smart, boring, and way too serious. To a wild girl like Tressa, there’s no way in hell they’re compatible—especially since Trent seems to see straight through her defenses.

To set her right.

When a college prank goes terribly wrong, Tressa starts to suspect that her partying ways are leading nowhere fast. Now she has to turn to the last person she ever thought she’d ask for help—and quickly discovers that there’s more to Trent than meets the eye . . .

Review: Braving The Elements by K.F. Breene

Title: Braving The Elements
Author: K.F. Breene
Series: Darkness Series book 2
Genre: Paranormal
Expected Publication: March 21, 2014

Sasha has always known she was different, but now she also knows that the shadow men she’s seen all her life, are real. With a life goal of fitting in, Sasha hopes her strange abilities will finally make true friendship a possibility. Unfortunately, her magic doesn’t function like everyone else’s. What she thought would make her belong, sets her apart now more than ever.
Stefan, all but promised to a different woman, has tried to keep his mind on his duties instead of the irresistible and free-spirited human. But when she is threatened, he can’t keep his distance anymore. He realizes he’ll stop at nothing to keep her safe, and more importantly, make her his. 
Just when one thing clicks into place, another spirals out of control. Stefan’s clan isn’t the only group that would benefit from an extremely rare type of magic. And their enemies will stop at nothing to get what they want.
Braving the Elements is the second novella in K.F.Breene’s long awaited Darkness series. Sasha’s story is one of discovery, awareness, and understanding, and is jam packed with action, humor, sexual tension, and an overwhelming desire for final acceptance.

Review: Pieces for You by Genna Rulon

Title: Pieces For You

Author: Genna Rulon

Series: For You (book 2)

Genre: New Adult/Contemporary Romance

Publication: December 17, 2013 (340 pages)

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Samantha Whitney survived unimaginable tragedy only to discover she had been betrayed by a man who claimed to love her. Shattered, Sam spends months at a safe haven trying to piece herself back together. Ready or not, the time has come for her to return home.
As Sam struggles to resume a life that no longer feels familiar, she finds unwavering support in an unexpected, familiar face. Confronting Sam’s raw emotions and open wounds head-on, Griffin manages to take two steps forward for every step she retreats. 
But when Sam is once again threatened, Griffin must decide how far he is willing to go to protect the woman he wants…knowing the cost of her safety is the risk of losing her.
Pieces For You is a captivating journey of survival, healing, and sacrifice—teeming with honesty, humor, unexpected twists, and love’s unsurpassed endurance.begin to plague Sam, it is Griffin she is forced to turn to.
• This story is appropriate for readers 18+

This is Sam's story, it starts in The Phoenix Centre, the place where she has gone to try and heal mentally, and physically. She's gone through an unimaginable tragedy, and she's just trying to pick the pieces of herself up and put them back together again. She never imagines that Griffin, the bartender from her favorite hang out spot, would become such an important person in her life.

I love Sam, she went through this horrible experience and she's trying with everything she is, to get her life back to a semblance of normalcy. This girl is so strong. She was raped, beaten, and broken, left to die, and she isn't willing to let that break her. I know she isn't real, obviously, but she's definitely one of the more inspirational character's I've ever read about. Griffin, that guy is phenomenal. He is patient, caring, and understanding. Sam is IT for him. He's been secretly in love with her for a while. He was devastated to learn what happened to her, and now all he wants to do is be there for her and protect her. Oh, he is perfect.

I think this story is probably pretty good insight to what victims struggle with. The questions, the self worth issue, and where the blame should actually be directed. I'm not going to pretend that I understand what it's like to go through anything like that, because I don't, but this story made me feel like it would be easier be more understanding, I guess, I'm not really sure. It made me all feely, and emotional and things like that. I LOVED it. It was even better than Only for You. Genna Rulon did an outstanding job writing something beautiful.

This is the story of a rape victims survival, and all of her worries and fears, it isn't a fluffy read. There are things in it that may be hard for some to read. It's also a story about love, friendship, and trust. This is a fantastic book, if you can stomach the not so wonderful things that make the story what it is. Loved it. I'm definitely going to be on the look out for more Genna Rulon in the future.

Review: Only For You by Genna Rulon

Title: Only For You
Author: Genna Rulon
Series: For You (book 1)
Genre: New Adult/Contemporary Romance
Publication: December 6, 2013, 390 pages

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All Everleigh Carsen wanted to do was complete her final semester at Hensley University and begin the life she planned.
When a wave of violent crime seizes campus, Everleigh is persuaded by her best friend to attend a school sponsored self-defense seminar, where she meets volunteer instructor, Hunter Charles. After Everleigh’s biting sarcasm induces Hunter to eject her from class, an explosive relationship is born.
Everleigh is determined to forget the striking man, but fate—that fickle shrew— continuously intervenes. Unable to escape him, she casts Hunter as her prime adversary. The only complication…Hunter is resolutely pursuing his vindication…by any means necessary. Verbal warfare ensues, and despite Everleigh’s ingenious efforts, in Hunter, she has finally found her equal.
Only For You is a compelling tale of friendship, desire, and redemption—brimming with witty characters, intelligent dialogue, unexpected twists, profound sorrow, unfettered hope, and love’s unassailable perseverance.
Only For You is a blend of comedy, mystery, and romance, which offers laughter, suspense, tears, love and friendship.
• This story is appropriate for readers 18+

Oh, what can I say about this baby? I LOVED it, that's what! Ev and Hunter have some off the chain chemistry. Ev is kind of a hard ass, she's extremely intelligent and very vocal. After Hunter kicks her out of his class, and after a few bouts of verbal sparring, Ev decides she has met her match with Hunter. I loved Hunter, tall, dark, and handsome. His great style was, whatever, as far as I was concerned, but it did make Ev question his sexual preferences, as well as his not immediately falling under her spell. So, she decides to invite him into her friends only club. I kept thinking this girl is crazy. Why would she think Hunter is gay? He is very clearly not gay. I mean, I know why she thought that, which I will not share, but seriously chick?

Back to the story line though, there is a lot of uncertainty for the female students at Hensley. As Hunter and Ev grow closer, as well as Hunter and Sam, his only concern is the safety of two of his best friends. Hunter has secrets that he obviously can't share. Something that Ev has a hard time accepting, and I can't really say I blame her. There are quite a bit of things that happen in Only for You that some people may not like to read about. Fortunately for me, I like my books with a lot of depth, and this book has that. Yes, it is a love story, but it's also a lot more than that.

Now, normally it doesn't seem relevant to me to discuss a book cover, but did you see that gorgeous cover? Man, that thing is beautiful. Not just because of the hot guy either, I think it's the contrasting colors that drew me in originally. I'm not sure why I don't generally talk about covers, especially considering they are usually the reason I read the synopsis, and then skim the reviews.

I would recommend this book to people with skin that is a little tougher. It does have some pretty intense violence, and rape references. I know those are things that some people don't want to read about, and that's understandable. But this story is so good, I loved it.  

Author Spotlight: Guest Post + Giveaway by Melissa Schroeder!

Hello, everyone! My name is Melissa Schroeder and I am one of the featured authors AAD. First, a big thanks to Damaris for inviting me to be on the blog.

In case you don’t know who I am, I write historical, contemporary, paranormal and futuristic romances, in heat levels ranging from sensual to erotic. I am a military wife who is suffering through her last two years of active duty with her husband stuck in a BUG PLACE.

Today, I am here to talk about Callum, the first of my five book paranormal series The Cursed Clan. I came up with the concept a few years ago when I was at a writer’s retreat in Texas (another bug state I have had to endure). I knew I wanted to write Highlanders, but I wanted to make it contemporary with some paranormal. I am a big fan of Karen Marie Moning’s work and I will admit, reading her highlander books inspired this series.

Of course, you can’t have a good Highlander book without a brooding hero and we get that in spades with Callum Lennon. He’s the laird and is doing everything he can do to break the curse his clan has suffered for centuries.

Here is a little tidbit from Callum and there is a contest after it.

THE CURSED CLAN: CALLUM

ARe preorder

See the trailer:

As Laird, Callum Lennon feels he has always failed to protect his cousins. Callum’s impulsiveness caused the death of his father and the experience has scarred not only his body, but his soul. From that point on, he made sure to always go with the more logical choice in every matter. When his younger cousin Angus finds clues that might help break the curse, Callum begrudgingly hires Phoebe Chilton to investigate. Callum doesn’t like bringing outsiders into their family affairs. Their life would become fodder for the tabloids if anyone were to find out about the curse. It doesn’t help that the instant he meets Dr. Chilton he’s attracted. But, he doesn’t really have a choice because she might be their last hope.

An expert in archeology, Phoebe has always been dwarfed by her parents’ shadow. Their high standards had her in college by thirteen and earning a second PhD by twenty-two. But her career and her broken marriage have left her needing something more than just diplomas and degrees. She wants to prove that her interest in legends, especially Celtic legends, is as important as her parents’ work. When the Lennon family contacts her, she sees the opportunity to win a massive research grant. With a long-time rival breathing down her back, she jumps at the Lennons’ offer her, hoping it will ensure her the grant. But uncovering the Lennon family secrets, and her attraction to Callum, could prove more than she can handle.

Forces outside the family are determined to ensure that they fail. When an old enemy threatens both the well being of the clan and the fragile new love, Callum will have to choose between believing his mind or his heart.

Excerpt:

Callum Lennon was another story altogether.

Before coming to Scotland, she had researched the Lennon family, especially their leader. It was her way. Any smart woman would do the same before embarking alone on a mysterious trip like this. Other than the fact that he headed up one of the most successful corporations in the UK—if not the whole bloody world—Phoebe found precious little else. No pictures, no personal information. A man with this sort of money usually took pains to be seen out, a beauty on his arm, attending benefits, galas and whatnot. Truthfully, though, she doubted any photo could have lived up to the flesh and blood man standing before her. And what beautiful flesh it was.

From his expression to his dress, black suited him. Ebony hair, peppered with bits of gray, was cut ruthlessly short. Like his office, he was dour, and more than likely, predictable as a schedule. Where his cousins seemed approachable, Callum’s demeanor was a red light.

The only thing appealing about him, other than the fact that he possessed one of the best bodies she’d ever seen, was his eyes. The shape of them would be considered bedroom sleepy, seemingly half-closed. The lazy sensuality was belied by the vigilant alertness she sensed in his study. This man missed nothing, but that wasn’t their most amazing quality.

The color held her almost mesmerized. Deep blue, a completely boring description, would not do justice to their beauty. She had never seen that particular shade, as if there was something unworldly about them. And when light struck them in just the right manner, there was a hint of green. She’d sigh over them, if it wasn’t a completely adolescent thing to do. She’d just have to wait until she was in her room alone. With the lights turned out.

“First, we need to talk contracts.” The burr in his voice had thickened since she’d first heard him speak, making her belly flutter. When his words registered, she sighed in regret. Such a beautiful man, completely out of her league, but she’d hoped they’d work on friendly terms.

“No. First, we need to talk about what you want me to do.”

He didn’t respond for a moment, clearly taken back by the fact someone disagreed so openly with him. There was a flash of irritation and something akin to admiration—which was an odd combination, to be sure—in his gaze.

“There is no discussion of anything until you sign a contract. We, meaning Lennon Enterprises, must protect our name.”

He crossed his arms over his broad chest and gave her what she was sure his most intimidating stare. Silly man, didn’t he know anything about her? She was handling professors who were just as intimidating when she was barely thirteen. And nothing would stand between her and the grant she needed to complete her most important work ever.

“No. As I discussed at length with Angus before I traveled here, I made it very clear that once I arrived I wanted information up front. I will sign a confidentiality agreement, but I will not sign a binding contract. I understand the need for secrecy, but I assure you there is no problem. I have a reputation that far exceeds even your vaulted standing in the business community.” One ebony brow rose in aggravation or respect for her snooping. “All I know is that it’s a serious matter dealing with an artifact you found and need help translating. We will work much better together if I understand what I am dealing with.” She offered him her best business smile, the one she used on interviewers and donors.

“I’ll no’ risk my family name, our honor, to be sold to the highest bidder. The information you could gather would be more valuable on the open market.”

Her temper wasn’t quick to ignite, but was a dangerous thing once it did. And Callum Lennon was perilously close to burning.

She took a deep breath. Then another. “Are you questioning my integrity? That something in your twisted logic thinks I would take what information you give me and sell it, my reputation be damned?”

By the time she finished her voice had risen almost to a shout, but the moment she stopped talking, deadly silence filled the room.

Callum’s eyes flashed and narrowed. “I doona know or care about your reputation. I have a policy for dealing with this situation. I willna have my family used.”

She counted backwards from ten, then did it twice more. Questioning her honor, was he? Granted, she wasn’t being completely honest with him, but she knew if she rolled over on this one, he would either be suspicious of her motives or think he would win every argument.

Phoebe pushed herself to her feet even as she told herself smacking a six and a half foot broody, totally delectable Scotsman wasn’t a good idea.

“Phoebe.” She didn’t even flinch when Angus tried to interrupt. “Dr. Chilton.”

She ignored the worry in the younger cousin’s tone. Locked into stare-down with his cousin, Angus’s voice didn’t completely register. The room, and everything in it faded away, until only she and Callum remained. Fire leapt in his eyes, showing his barely-controlled temper. His rigid stance bespoke his command over his emotions. He probably hadn’t said even a tenth of what he was thinking, and she was already offended.

She was no coward, but she tended to work with people, negotiate. Her parents had taught her from an early age to be diplomatic. So, it was complete surprise that the urge to push him further, question his integrity, and make him slip over the edge of control, almost overwhelmed her.

Before she could stop herself, she stepped closer to the desk. His expression shifted, turning from anger to something that resembled…lust? Her heart tripped over itself, and her nipples tightened against her cotton bra. His nostrils flared. A charge filled the air, drifting over her, heating her. Bloody hell, every drop of moisture in her mouth evaporated.

Something primal that she’d never experienced before leapt in her blood. Her breath tangled in her throat. All she could think of was touching him, moving her hand over his flesh. Bare flesh.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And that was their first meeting. So, for the contest, you can have your choice of anything in my backlist in digital, that is still in print. Just tell me, would you rather have a modern day or historical Highlander, and why?



RULES:
- Must be 18 or older to enter this giveaway.
- OPEN International - As long as you have a way to read the ebook you choose.
- Winner will be chosen at Random.
- Winner will be announced on our Facebook & Twitter Page.
- Contest Ends January 23rd.

To enter simply answer Melissa's questions in comments below. Make sure to leave a way to contact you if you should win.

"Would you rather have a modern day or historical Highlander, and why?"

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Review: Black Ties and Lullabies by Jane Graves

Black Ties and Lullabies by Jane Graves
Mass Market Paperback, 400 pages
Published June 28th 2011 by Forever
Ages 18 and Over

A good girl can be bad for one night...

Bernadette Hogan doesn't make mistakes. Not when it comes to caring for her mother, and not at her job protecting Texas's most eligible—and infuriating—bachelor. Maybe that's why she's overcome with guilt after one tiny indiscretion: a passionate fling with her boss that's left her confused, intrigued...and pregnant.

but can a bad boy be good for a lifetime?

To self-made millionaire Jeremy Bridges, women are like fine wine: if held for too long, they sour. But one wild night with Bernadette changed all that. She makes him laugh, she makes him think, and soon she's going to make him a father. For the first time, Jeremy wants to be a one-woman man. So how can he convince the fiercely independent Bernadette he's ready to change from partying playboy to dependable dad—and become the loving husband she deserves?

I love this book! It's so entertaining and I was immediately hooked from the beginning to the end. I started it right before bed, and the next thing I know it was well past one in the morning and I still didn't want to put it down. I had to force myself to stop reading and get some sleep. I just got so lost in the story that I lost track of time.

I am so in love with Jeremy! At first you want to reach in the book and slap some sense into him. You feel for Bernie and can easily put yourself in her shoes. He can be arrogant and snarky, but when you read about his past and who he is today, you understand him. He grew up with nothing and everything he is today is because of how hard he pushed. Bernie was also a great character and honestly, her attitude reminded me of myself. She was me in so many ways and some of the decisions she had to make and the way she handled everything, would have been the same way I would have done it. I also think that the way Jeremy and Bernie handled their little situation was very respectable.

I am so happy I read Black Ties and Lullabies. It was so much fun to read and I am now a fan of Jane Graves and will be keeping an eye out for her other books. A Good Choice for Reading!

5 out of 5 Stars!

Review: Radiant Desire by Inara Scott

Radiant Desire by Inara Scott

Paperback
Expected publication: October 2011 Entangled Publishing
AGES 18 AND OVER

The object of every man’s fantasy just lost her wings…

Kaia Verde is one of the four Faerie Handmaids of Zafira, Queen of the Fey. To redress an ancient wrong done to Zafira by a human king, the Handmaids make sport of mortal men, seducing and humiliating them. When Kaia sets out to seduce Garrett Jameson, but ends up being the one surrendering to pleasure, Zafira is furious. Kaia’s punishment is simple: make Garrett fall in love with her by the summer solstice, then break his heart, or face eternity without her wings—or her soul. To make the task harder, Zafira tells Kaia she cannot use her faerie magic or charm to lure Garrett into her bed.

…and now she’s losing her heart…

Kaia thinks her task will be relatively easy—as a faerie, she understands lust, and can love be much different? But once she is living among the humans, Kaia discovers the race she once disparaged is far more complex and beautiful than she imagined. She learns before she can break Garrett’s heart, she must find a way to heal it. And eventually, discovers that losing her wings may be a far easier price to pay than losing her heart.

Radiant Desire is the first book in Inara Scott's brand new series, Handmaids Seduction. I am a huge fan of Inara Scott's YA novel, The Candidates, that when I heard she had an adult series I was eager to get my hands on a copy. Thank goodness for Netgalley!

Radiant Desire starts off with Queen of the fey, Zafira, sending Kaia to the human world to seduce and bring to his knee's a human by the name Garrett. Kaia thinks this will be an easy task, but when she meets Garrett for the first time things are a lot harder than she had expected. It's almost as if Garrett can resist her charm. After working even harder towards her goal, Kaia finally gets what she wants and more. The handmaids are not supposed to get any pleasure out of what they do, nor are they supposed to feel anything towards any of the human males that they are sent out to seduce. And that is exactly what Kaia gets with Garrett. Not only did she allow him to pleasure her, but she also finds him very fascinating. Kaia’s world is quickly turned upside down and now because of her mistake a lot is at stake.

Garrett at times made me want to scream. He was a bit pushy and controlling, but at the same time you sort of understood him. He was protective of what was his and those he cared about. One minute I was so annoyed with him, and the next I just found him super sexy. I think I felt every emotion Kaia was feeling towards him LOL. Their relationship felt very real and throughout the whole book I was dying to know how it all played out. It remains a big mystery till almost the near end exactly why Zafira choose Garrett and why he was so important to her. It was a nice surprise. I think Inara Scott did a great job and she has created a world that you can easily get lost in. Other than the whole fey thing, some of the subjects that Scott touched on really do happen in the real world.

Radiant Desire will make you laugh, want to scream, and have your stomach full of butterflies. There's a little taste of everything for those who love romance. I really enjoyed this book and hope there will be more to come. It's a great beginning to a great series. A Good Choice for Reading!


4 out of 5 Stars!

Blog Tour/ Review: Kingdom of Childhood By Rebecca Coleman

The Kingdom of Childhood by Rebecca Coleman
400 pages
Published September 20th 2011 by Mira
AGES 18 and OVER

The Kingdom of Childhood is the story of a boy and a woman: sixteen-year-old Zach Patterson, uprooted and struggling to reconcile his knowledge of his mother's sextramarital affair, and Judy McFarland, a kindergarten teacher watching her family unravel before her eyes. Thrown together to organize a fundraiser for their failing private school and bonded by loneliness, they begin an affair that at first thrills, then corrupts each of them. Judy sees in Zachthe elements of a young man she loved as a child, but what Zach does not realize is that their relationship  for Judy only the latest in a lifetime of disturbing secrets.

Rebecca Coleman's manuscript forThe Kingdom of Childhood was a semifinalist in the 2010 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Competition. An emotionally tense, increasingly chilling work of fiction set in the controversial Waldorf school community, it is equal parts enchanting and unsettling and is sure to be a much discussed and much-debated novel.

       
My Thoughts:

     I have to applaud Rebecca for writing a book that I think everyone else would be afraid too. Kingdom of Childhood is about a teacher starting a sexual affair with a teenager at her school. I have to admit that this is a sad story. And the truth is I actually feel bad for the main character Judy because I can see why she felt that starting a sexual relationship with Zach wasn't an issue. Having both characters experience things in life that can be mind altering. And those kind of experiences make children think some actions are okay. They're unaware of the consequences behind these actions. If only Judy as an adult had the love she yearns from her own husband then maybe she wouldn't have turned to this little boy. And if maybe Zach had proper guidance, maybe he wouldn't have made the choice to become involved with a teacher. I feel bad for both of these characters.

     This book literally captivated me from the very beginning. I felt glued with just the prologue, and by that it had me gripping the book, speeding reading. Because I knew what the book was about I felt like I couldn't stop reading because at any moment something would happen. And that alone, was from the prologue. I just keep feeling like an "OMG" moment was coming up and that feeling alone wouldn't allow me to put the book down.

     However, after being drawn in, the story goes back and forth from the present to back when Judy was a child in Germany. And that kind of thing in a book turns me off. Though I'm not a fan of books that go back and forth, I never got confused or lost with it. So that's good. But as you read into her past, you can see why she didn't hesitate to fornicate with a teenager. She herself had an inappropriate relationship with a young adult as a child. Maybe some other readers may not think it's inappropriate but I did. I wouldn't allow my child to have that kind of relationship. That is if I were aware of it. I'm very involved in my son's life so I hope I wouldn't miss the signs if something like this were to happen. I feel most, if not all children that are involved in these kind of relationships are because their parents aren't aware of what's happening in their children lives as much as they should be. It's actually very sad if you ask me because I can bet this is happening a lot more than we're aware of.

     As I continued reading, the author goes into details of Judy's past which further explains her actions as an adult. In my opinion, Life is a cycle. As a child, what you witness and experience will mold you into the person you become as an adult. And also these negatives experiences will probably repeat themselves in adulthood and continue on to your children if one don't break the cycle.

     The relationship between the two was doomed to fail from the start. There's no way you can get away with this kind of affair and no one notice. It's just sad. They both feeling neglected and they find comfort in one another. But as things progress, you can see where exactly their relationship starts deteriorate. And the events that happen afterwards have you at the edge of your seat and gripping this book. This book was so so good. It's just so sad how everything happened. And I feel bad for Judy, because if she just would have had the affection she yearned for, maybe this wouldn't have happened. I don't know. I just couldn't help but feel for her. This book was simply amazing. 5/5 stars and a absolutely most definitely Good Choice for Reading.

Review: The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis

The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis
Mass Market Paperback, 348 pages
Published March 28th 2011 by Forever
AGES 18 and OVER

Two Men Are One Too Many . . .

Tara has a thousand good reasons not to return to the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. Yet with her life doing a major crash-and-burn, anywhere away from her unfulfilled dreams and sexy ex-husband will do. As Tara helps her two sisters get their newly renovated inn up and running, she finally has a chance to get things under control and come up with a new plan for her life.

But a certain tanned, green-eyed sailor has his own ideas, such as keeping Tara hot, bothered . . . and in his bed. And when her ex wants Tara back, three is a crowd she can't control-especially when her deepest secret reappears out of the blue. Now Tara must confront her past and discover what she really wants. If she's lucky, she might just find that everything her heart desires is right here in Lucky Harbor.

I have been waiting for Ford and Tara's story since Simply Irresistible. I was so curious to find out what exactly went down between the two and how they were going to find themselves again. I just couldn’t help but fall for these two characters.

The Sweetest Thing is book two and pulls you into the minds of Ford and Tara. Tara has always been a controlling person. She needs things to run her way and she needs to be on top of it all. Anyone can ask for help, but she will never say yes. Tara and Ford have a history that goes back to when they were in high school. Ford is the only male that manages to throw things off track for Tara. She will never admit it, or show it to anyone, but he really knows how to stir things up inside of her. They have so much chemistry, but Tara pushes him away as hard as she can. But eventually when something keeps coming after you, it’s bound to catch you right? Well, Ford wasn't going to give up and I am glad he didn't LOL.

It was nice to finally learn their full blown history. Some parts were very predictable, but that's okay. I wanted the story to go in the direction that it did. It’s funny, heart breaking, and very steamy. And when I say funny, I mean funny. They live in a small town, and in small towns everyone knows your business. So it didn’t take long for the town to get involved in their relationship and start holding polls on which hot and juicy male Tara will end up with. It made the paper and was all over Facebook LOL. It was hilarious! Of course I voted for Ford.

This is a really good series and so far I’ve liked every book I’ve read by Jill Shalvis. I love Romance and I recommend adding this series to your TBR pile.

4 out of 5 Stars!

Review: Angels of Darkness by Cynthia Eden

Angels of Darkness by Cynthia Eden
Book One in The Fallen Series

Paperback, 352 pages

Expected publication: November 29th 2011 by Brava
Ages 18+ - Romance

As an angel of death, Keenan’s job is to collect the souls on his list. He’s carried out his duty for two thousand years and never faltered once. Until he meets Nicole St. James. When the moment of death comes, Keenan hesitates, and instead of taking Nicole, Keenan touches the vampire who’s attacking her.

Cast out of heaven for disobedience, Keenan plummets to earth. Six months later, he finally manages to track Nicole to a bar in Mexico. He’s stunned to discover that the woman he remembers has undergone a dramatic change—she’s become a vampire. And when he realizes that she’s the target of all manner of enemies—other vampires, demons, even shifters—he’ll do whatever it takes to protect her, even if all hell breaks loose… 

Angel of Darkness is the first book in Cynthia Eden's new series, The Fallen. It introduces you to new characters, but inside of the same world from her previous books. Somehow they all connect. 

Keenan is the Angel of Death. He collects souls and has been doing it for thousands of years. Never once has he had any problems or has he gotten attached to any of the souls on his list. That is until he meets Nicole. Who, for whatever reason, brings everything inside of him to life and he can't help but feel when she's around. This is all very new to Keenan. He has never known what it's like to have emotions. Things quickly get out of hand and Keenan becomes one of The Fallen. Even with everything that has happened to Keenan, he still can’t help his feelings for Nicole. He searches for her for six months and when he finally finds Nicole, the story just gets even crazier from there. You don’t know who the good guy is and who the bad guy is. If you are familiar with Eden’s books, then you know what type of rollercoaster ride she can take you on.

Angel of Darkness is a great start to another great series. I don’t doubt the following books in this series will be amazing! I was hooked from page one to the very end. I love Eden’s books and love how lost I can get inside of her worlds. She is a great writer with one wild imagination. I recommend Angel of Darkness and any book she has ever written. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

5 out of 5 Stars!