Friday, October 30, 2015

Release Day Blitz: Fusion (Explosive #5) by Tessa Teevan

FUSION - release - BANNER

Fusion (Explosive #5) by Tessa Teevan
Release Day: October 30, 2015
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Cover Models: Don Allen and Faith Danielle
Photographer: Kelsey Keeton at K. Keeton Designs
Cover Designer: Robin Harper at Wicked By Design






Where do babies come from?
The question every parent dreads hearing has finally fallen from the lips of six year old Ava Banks, the curious, precocious little girl that you fell in love with in Ignite. Jeremy and Sierra, normally blunt as can be, struggle to find the right words to answer her. So instead, they rewind sixteen years to that one fateful day where a game of Seven Minutes in Heaven inevitably led to life-long romance filled with laughter, love, and many, many mishaps along the way.
Falling in love with your best friend? It's the most incredible thing in the world. But when a love comes so easily, will it truly be able to last? When the world comes crashing down around you, can even the strongest relationship withstand great tragedy?
Stay tuned for lots of laughs, teenage awkwardness, a few tears, and most of all, mullets. Because what good love story doesn't do business in the front, and party in the back?
**While Fusion is a standalone romance, it’s best read after Ignite.
Ignite (Explosive #1)





4 Stars

I love stories when childhood best friends become a forever HEA with each other. And that is exactly what Jeremy and Sierra's story is about. Their friendship since eight years old is a fairy tale of BFFs and ending up in a life long relationship with each other.  

Sierra is the older sister of Lexi, who we met earlier in this series. And Jeremy is their next door neighbor. Fusion begins when their daughter, Ava, who is a doll with a big personality asks where babies come from. And that starts the story of the parents re-telling their little girl of their relationship.

This books takes you to the day Sierra moved in next door to Jeremy at the age of eight and they immediately began their BFF relationship. This part of the book is so cute, it's one of the best flashback friendships I've read! Throughout this book, we follow how Jeremy and Sierra's friendship grows while these two grow into their teen years and eventually adulthood. 

There were plenty of sweet moments between these two characters and just a little bit of angst. 

Fusion is a super sweet read and always looking forward from the author.  




“It’s fine, Jeremy. I promise. I have no problem being the Tod to your Copper. Or the Joey to your Dawson. That’s who I am.” She hesitated for a brief moment. “That’s who I’ll always be. You’re my best friend, Jeremy. It’s okay that you don’t see my boobs. Hell, it’s probably better that way.”

My stomach plummeted and if I was man enough to admit it, my eyes burned with an unexpected rush of tears. I stepped back, out of the streetlight so she couldn’t see me. It was a move she misinterpreted, but before I could find a single ounce of courage, she was waving goodbye and running into her house, leaving me there to watch her go.
Something I never wanted to do again.

It wasn’t until after Sierra left for Ohio and I had a chance to reflect on her words that I realized what she’d said. Dawson and Joey, as of right then, weren’t even speaking. Copper and Tod went their separate ways, and even though their friendship remained, they were still apart for the rest of their lives.

I didn’t want to be Copper anymore. I sure as hell didn’t want to be Dawson.
But it was too late. I’d lost my chance. I’d missed my window. Sierra was gone and there was nothing I could do about it.

Jenna was right.

I was an idiot.
Playlist
 
About the Author

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

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

Connect with the Tessa


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Tuesday, October 27, 2015

ARC Review: Friction by Sawyer Bennett

At the powerhouse law firm of Knight & Payne, winning comes first and ethics a distant second. Leary Michaels uses her female charms to daze opponents, and it’s always worked well—until now. On her most personal case yet, she finds herself going up against a defense attorney just as skilled, shameless, and seductive as she is.

Reeve Holloway has never met a woman as sure of her own sexuality, or as ruthless in wielding it, as Leary is. But he won’t be toyed with. What Leary starts, he’ll finish—in the courtroom, the bedroom, or any-damn-place he wants. The sex is uninhibited, electrifying, and absolutely against the rules. Reeve’s job is to ruin Leary’s case…even if it destroys her in the process and costs him the woman he’s come to love.






NOW LIVE: Purchase Friction on Amazon!




5 Steamy, Legal Stars

I can't get enough of Ms. Bennett's books. I love her writing, her stories, her characters and each new book gets better and hotter!

Friction is gonna make you blush. 

Leary Michaels is a powerhouse when it comes to representing clients who need it. She has learned from the best--her reclusive boss, Midge. Leary works her charm, her looks and her brain to win a case. And she only takes case that means something to her. She frowns upon big corporation/legal firms who is only looking for the dollar amount. 

Her next big challenge is going head-to-head with the new (and very hot!) defense attorney, Reeve Holloway. Reeve is also ruthless in the courtroom, but when he comes face-to-face with Leary, he loses all sense of rational thinking and can't control his attraction to Leary. 

Leary plays the game and her next game is having a no relationship, no work-conflict fling with Reeve. But the more time these two attorneys spend time together in the courtroom and in the bedroom, feelings start to run deep.

But as we all know, there can only be one winner in a case and the "friction" between Leary and Reeve can cause a lot of pain and careers could be destroyed. 

Friction is full of steamy romps and sexual attraction. I loved these two characters together. They are one of my favorite book couples! Now, I'm hoping Ford will get his own book and a nice little HEA. 

Blog Tour Stop/ARC Review: The Fall Up by Aly Martinez

I wanted to jump.
He made me fall.

As a celebrity, I lived in the public eye, but somewhere along the way, I’d lost myself in the spotlight.

Until he found me.

Sam Rivers was a gorgeous, tattooed stranger who saved my life with nothing more than a simple conversation.

But we were both standing on that bridge for a reason the night we met. The secrets of our pasts brought us together—and then tore us apart.

Could we find a reason to hold on as life constantly pulled us down?

Or maybe there’s only one direction to go when two people fall in love at rock bottom—up.
 





Maybe there’s only one direction to go when two people fall

in love at rock bottom—up.


3.5 Stars

The Fall Up is a standalone read that will take you through many emotions. It's a love story that shows how two people who are emotionally hurt can find love by chance. 

Levee is a famous pop singer. On the outside she has it all: fame, fans, fortune and the grand lifestyle of a rock star. But deep down, she struggles with her own demons. She's lost and looking for an out. Any out...

But when a mysterious, hot, tattooed strangers finds her standing on the bridge the past few nights, he becomes her savior. 

Sam Rivers has been watching the mysterious woman for the past few nights and  hoping she doesn't do what he thinks she is doing up on that bridge in her disguise. He ends up approaching her and even though she wears a disguise every night, there's something about this woman that Sam is drawn to.

After revealing who she really is to Sam, their attraction to each other doesn't change. Even though her celebrity life is chaotic, Sam feels the need to be with her and help her through her demons. And she ends up helping him in return with his past ghosts.

The Fall Up takes you a roller coaster of emotions that these two characters go through to be able to move forward in life; learn to love each other and more importantly they learn to love themselves and rid an past guilt. 



a Rafflecopter giveaway






“Thank fuck!” Sam said, swinging the door open before Devon even had the car in park.
“Oh, this isn’t my place. We’re just dropping Devon off. I’m about twenty minutes across town?”  I tossed him a sugary smile then boldly shifted my hand into his lap, purposely brushing the bulge under his denim.
Grabbing my wrist, he narrowed his eyes and called out, “Devon, I’m gonna need to borrow a bedroom.”
I burst out laughing as Devon cursed loudly.
“Fine. This is my place. No smoking inside though,” I snipped as I climbed from the SUV.
“You better have some seriously exciting extracurricular activities to keep me distracted, then.”
“I have Ping-Pong!”
“Not exactly what I was thinking.” He mischievously cocked his head. “But I guess paddles and balls are as good a start as any.” Dipping down, he hoisted me over his shoulder. “Point me to the Ping-Pong table, my lady.”
I didn’t. I laughed hysterically as he carried me inside. Then I directed him to my bedroom instead.
I heard Devon locking up the house as Sam deposited me on the bed.
“Jesus. This view.”  He pushed the curtains back. “Why the hell would you ever go up to the bridge when you have this here?”
“I don’t know,” I answered, pulling my earrings off and placing them on my nightstand.
Oh, but I knew. It might not have been what had originally sent me up that bridge, but it was why my feet carried me back every night. And that very reason was currently standing in front of me with entirely too much clothing on.
“You want a beer?” I asked, sliding my shoes off.
“Nah, I’m good.” He faced me, and I could tell something was off with his demeanor. He didn’t inch any closer. Instead, his lips were tight and his eyes uncomfortably flashed around the room.
It suddenly didn’t feel like Sam standing in front of me at all.
He felt like a stranger who had just come face-to-face with Levee Williams.
Damn it.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Are you about to freak out?” I whispered, nervously moistening my lips.
He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m not really sure yet. But I’m gonna need you to stop licking your lips long enough for me to figure it out.” His mouth cracked into a wide grin, and my shoulders relaxed.
Now that was a flash of my Sam.
“Want to tell me what’s going on?” I asked.
“It’s just… I think this is the first time I’ve realized that you’re some big-time celebrity. I might be in over my head here, Designer Shoes.”
“I just make music, Sam.” I returned his smile and very slowly prowled in his direction. “Imagine how I feel though. You’re Samuel Nathan Rivers. A tough, tattooed furniture designer who makes six figures a year but is too afraid to tell his mommy he votes democratic.” I giggled as he frowned humorously. Stopping in front of him, I dragged a fingernail down his chest then teased the waistband of his jeans. “Have you considered that maybe I’m the one who’s in over her head here?” I leaned forward to nip at his lips, but he spun us around.
“Excellent point. I’m going to need you to try really hard to keep it together, Levee. You haven’t even seen my six-pack and huge cock, yet.” He smirked and attempted to return my nip, but I stepped out of his reach.
“You brought beer and chicken?” I feigned excitement.
That one corny joke was all it took to bring my Sam back completely.
With a sexy smile and a coy shrug, he seductively backed me toward the bed. “What can I say? I like to be prepared.”
“Clearly,” I breathed.
He moved in close so his lips were only a centimeter away, but for as much as I wanted him, it was agonizing. “Clearly,” he repeated, his smoky yet sweet breath breezing across my mouth.
His strong arm looped around my waist, tugging me against his chest, while I stared into his hooded eyes, eagerly waiting for him to make a move.
Any move.




About the author
Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five, including a set of twins. Currently living in South Carolina, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.
After some encouragement from her friends, Aly decided to add “Author” to her ever-growing list of job titles. Five books later, she shows no signs of slowing. So grab a glass of Chardonnay, or a bottle if you’re hanging out with Aly, and join her aboard the crazy train she calls life.


Monday, October 26, 2015

Release Day Blitz: Blood & Loyalties by Ryan Michele




Author: Ryan Michele
Genre: Mob/Mafia Romance
Release Date: October 26, 2015  
Cover Designer: Melissa Gill MGbookcovers 
Photographer: Kruse Images & Photography 
Cover Model: Josh McCann

Family meant everything.


Good, bad, right, wrong, legal, illegal—none of that mattered when it came to family. Family was and always would be number one.
 

Catarina Lambardoni stayed on the legal side of the family businesses by running Lambardoni Enterprises. Professionally, she was beyond successful. In her personal life, however, she was not, having just walked in on her boyfriend cheating on her.

Jag Maratelli, the boss’s right hand, worked extremely hard to sustain his position in the family and honored it with his life. When he was summoned to the East Coast for an unexpected meeting, a chance encounter with Catarina and one look into the fire within her made him a very determined man.

The chemistry between the two scorched hot, and Jag had been with enough women to know Catarina was something special, something he couldn’t allow himself to walk away from. Life had other ideas, though, when a betrayal in the family sent him two thousand miles away from her while danger lurked closer than anyone realized.

Would their connection be strong enough for both of them to pursue more?

Or would people and events from the past and present make that choice for them?





Blood and Loyalties By Ryan Michele ©Ryan Michele 2015

Chapter 1—Catarina

“You stupid fucking bitch!” Antonio seethed like a pussy as he looked up from the filthy-ass floor of the bar, holding his throbbing crotch. 

I laughed, tossing my head back for good measure. Bitch was the worst he could come up with? I had been called worse than that at work when I lost a client’s millions on a bum deal. 

I lifted the pointed heel of my black, stiletto boot and plowed it hard into his windpipe, crushing it as he gasped for breath, his eyes wide with fear. He needed to be taught a lesson about fucking over a Lambardoni. It didn’t come without repercussions, and I wanted to be the one to teach him. 

Unfortunately, I knew my bodyguards had called my brother Val. They always did when shit with me happened, and if I didn’t get on with it, Val would ruin all my fun. I was more than capable of handling this weak, pathetic asshole. Val should know that. He and my other brother D had trained me to fight and shoot a target with precision, but something about being “the sister” gave them the right to be overprotective and overbearing, even if I was older than both of them. 

As I removed my foot, one of his hands wrapped around his throat as the other continued to grip his aching crotch. The stupid fucker didn’t know whether to grab his balls or neck, his arms flailing in both directions as he rolled from side to side, trying to ease the pain. He gasped for breath, the look of confusion in his eyes laughable. I did pack one hell of a powerful knee thrust, though. No doubt his balls were shoved so deep inside he could taste them in his mouth. 

Wicked thoughts crept in my head. Using my best weapon of the moment—the hot ass boots my cousin Kiera had insisted I wear for the night—I picked a spot on his rib cage and began kicking it over and over, plowing into him, hoping like hell the blows would crack the fuckers. It was the least he deserved. 

I moved with him at each turn he tried to make, hitting him dead in the same spot. He grunted and attempted to bat my foot away with his hands as he tried to hold himself at the same time. His less than stealthy attempts only made him look like a bigger pansy-assed bitch. It was amazing how much actual joy I felt from watching him struggle. 

He tried to curl up in the fetal position, the dirt from the floor coating his clothes and both sides of his face. He groaned, taking each hit, but it didn’t feel like enough. The fucker didn’t even have the balls to really fight back. 

“Catarina, what the hell happened?” Kiera said loudly at my side, trying to compensate for the music blaring in the distance. She was my cousin, best friend, and pretty much sister in every way that counts. Regardless, my focus stayed on the fucker on the floor as I stepped farther back from his withering body. 

When Kiera and I had decided to come out to the club to let off some steam from a brutal week at work, I hadn’t realized I would be getting a hefty workout like this instead of on the dance floor. 

I stared down at the man I’d thought loved me, who had said I was the one for him. The only one. Stupid. I should have known by now that the only reason men found any interest in me was because of my father and family. Each one seemed to want that pivotal “in” to the business, and for some reason, they thought I could get it for them. 

I knew Antonio wanted to move up in the ranks with his family, but it wasn’t in the cards for him. That right there should have been a huge red flag for me, but I had trusted him when he told me if he couldn’t move up in his own family, he didn’t want to move up at all. 

Lies. All fucking lies.







Ryan Michele has a huge obsession with reading, which only came to life after her best friend said she had to read Twilight. After reading that series, her entire world changed in the blink of an eye. Not only was she sucked into new worlds and all of the wonderful words authors put down on paper, she felt the urge to begin to write down the characters that played inside of her head. In doing so, Safe was born. When she’s not reading or writing, she spends time taking care of her two children and her husband, enjoying the outdoors and laying in the sun.

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ARC Review: Walk Through Fire (Chaos #4) by Kristen Ashley

Millie Cross knows what it's like to burn for someone. She was young and wild and he was fierce and even wilder-a Chaos biker who made her heart pound. They fell in love at first sight and life was good, until she learned she couldn't be the woman he needed and made it so he had no choice but to walk away. Twenty years later, Millie's chance run-in with her old flame sparks a desire she just can't ignore. And this time, she won't let him ride off . . . 

Bad boy Logan "High" Judd has seen his share of troubles with the law. Yet it was a beautiful woman who broke him. After ending a loveless marriage, High is shocked when his true love walks back into his life. Millie is still gorgeous, but she's just a ghost of her former self. High's intrigued at the change, but her betrayal cut him deep-and he doesn't want to get burned again. As High sinks into meting out vengeance for Millie's betrayal, he'll break all over again when he realizes just how Millie walked through fire for her man . . .



Walk Through Fire is releasing on October 27. Pre-Order/Purchase on Amazon!



5 Chaos Stars

Queen of MC book is back. Ms. Ashely knows how to make me read NON-STOP, when it comes to her books, especially when it's about her Chaos MC boys. Bad boy Logan "High" Judd is still angry and bitter, when his only love, Millie Cross walked away from him twenty years ago, without warning. 

Now Millie is back, and High has no interest in rekindling with her, but wants to pay her back. He's determined to win and leave her high and dry as she did to him many years ago. 

I loved Millie Cross' character. She is smart, independent, but never gotten over her love for Logan. She had her reasons on why she left twenty-years ago. And ugh..seriously, this woman is selfless. It made me love her more and wanting her to get her HEA with Logan. But Millie never moved on with her life, just living it empty and pretending it was all good. 

So when her and Logan cross paths after twenty years, their reunion was not good. Logan was an absolute ass to her. And after that she was done. Over it and over him.

That's until Tyra and some of the Chaos ladies stick their nose in Millie and High's business! What I loved about Walk Through Fire is that we get more of Tyra, Tack, and some of the Dream Men ladies in this one. And I loved it! It's another great book from my all-time favorite author! It's filled with plenty of alpha male bossiness, lots of steamy scenes and plenty of chaos and drama in the life of these guys. Can't wait for more, and I'm hoping Hound gets a book next...



Friday, October 23, 2015

Cover Reveal: The Game Plan (Game On #3) by Kristen Callihan



Releasing November 1, 2015
​Pre-Order Links
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1OFq8LU
iBooks: http://apple.co/1GQdm5a



A beard-related dare and one hot-as-hell kiss changes everything.

NFL center Ethan Dexter’s focus has always been on playing football and little else. Except when it comes to one particular woman. The lovely Fiona Mackenzie might not care about his fame, but she’s also never looked at him as anything more than one of her brother-in-law’s best friend. That ends now.

Fi doesn’t know what to make of Dex. The bearded, tattooed, mountain of man-muscle looks more like a biker than a football player. Rumor has it he’s a virgin, but she finds that hard to believe. Because from the moment he decides to turn his quiet intensity on her she’s left weak at the knees and aching to see his famous control fully unleashed.

Dex is looking for a forever girl, but they live vastly different lives in separate cities. Fi ought to guard her heart and walk away. But Dex has upped his game and is using all his considerable charm to convince Fi he's her forever man.

Game On​.




I grin up at him. “You know, before this, I’d have taken you for a hard rock, or maybe even a bluegrass fan.” 

“It’s the beard, isn’t it,” he asks. 
“And the man-bun.” 

He laughs, a short rumble of sound. “Want me to let it down?” 

Yes. Maybe. 

“Not necessary. Man-buns are hot. I blame Jason Momoa. There was only so much watching him bang Khaleesi the female population could take before they wanted their own Khal Drogo.” 

Shit. I really don’t know what the hell I’m doing. Because it sounds a lot like flirting to me. Instinct tells me flirting with Ethan Dexter isn’t something to do lightly. And there’s the fact that I don’t go for athletes. At all. I don’t care how fit they are. Or how confident. I don’t like sports. Football bores me. Oh, I know tons about the sport—kind of impossible not to in my family—but I don’t want to pretend that I care when I’d rather talk about other things. 

Dex’s eyes crinkle again, and he turns toward me, leaning an elbow on the table. “Doesn’t Momoa have a beard?” 

I wave my hand. “Who has time to look at his beard when his muscles are on display?” 
I most certainly do not look at Dex’s phenomenal arms. 

“So your stance on beards is?” His gaze so strong I feel it in my toes.
My breathing picks up. “Don’t particularly like them.” 

It’s the truth. And yet I can’t help but look at his. It’s dark, framing his mouth, which should be a turnoff for me. Only it draws all my attention there. To the shape of his mouth—the upper lip a gentle curve, the lower lip fuller, almost a pout. There’s something slightly illicit about the whole effect. 

I clear my throat, glance up, and find him watching me through lowered lids. He doesn’t seem particularly put out by my frankness. 

“What don’t you like about them?” 
Is he serious? 

He stares at me. 

I guess he is. 

Taking a quick sip of my drink, I search for an answer. “They’re just so…fuzzy. Prickly.” 
He moves in, not crowding me, but putting himself at arms’ reach. He smells faintly of cloves and oranges. It must be his aftershave or cologne, but it works for me. 

I’m distracted by it and almost jump when he speaks again. “Do you know this based on experience, or are you making an assumption?” 

My gaze narrows. “Aren’t you the philosopher.” 

“You didn’t answer the question.” 

“Fine. Assumption.” 

His lips quirk. “You should find out if your assumption is true before you condemn the beard.” 

“Is this some sort of creepy way to get me to touch your beard?” 

A challenge flashes in his eyes. “There are a few guys at the bar sporting beards. You could go ask them. But I figure since we know each other…” 
“Not that well.” 

“You’d rather ask a stranger?” 

“You’re assuming I care enough to ask, Slick.” 

His teeth shine white in the shadows of the club. “I know you’re curious. You’re fairly twitching with wanting to know.” 

I flatten my hands against the table and glare. Is it just me, or is he closer? Close enough that I can see his eyes are hazel, lighter around his cornea with a starburst pattern. I wish I could see the colors, but he’s painted in shades of blue and gray right now. 

And he’s watching me. Patient. Calculating. Tempting.

“It’s always the quiet ones,” I mutter before taking a breath. “Okay, I’ll pet your fuzzy face.” 

“Hold up.” Without hesitation, he reaches for my drink and takes a sip. “Liquid courage.” 
A strangled laugh leaves me. “Because I’m sooo scary.” 

“You have no idea, Cherry.”

I think I growl at him. I definitely want to give his precious beard a good, hard tug. But he simply lifts his brows at me. “Get on with it, then.” 

This cheeky bastard is totally playing me. And here I am falling into his trap. Because I cannot look away from his beard now. More specifically, his lips, which are parted just slightly. An invitation. A dare. 

Shit. I’ve never been very good at ignoring a dare. 

I hate that my hand trembles as I reach up to touch him. He stays perfectly still, his arm casually slung on the edge of the booth behind me, his body turned toward mine. But I don’t miss the way his breathing has kicked up just slightly. 

I hesitate, shy almost. Hells bells, I’m only going to touch a bit of facial hair. Why does it feel like we’re two kids tucked in a dark corner, playing a game of “I’ll show you mine”? 
Annoyed with myself, I close the distance between us.