Thursday, July 30, 2015

Review and Giveaway: PERFECT TOUCH by Elizabeth Lowell




Perfect Touch: A Novel
By: Elizabeth Lowell
Releasing July 28, 2015
William Morrow

Blurb

Sara Medina is a designer and art dealer from San Francisco. She matches her clients desires with fine and folk art from the world over--living up to her thriving business named Perfect Touch. She still remembers her rural childhood of hard work and poverty on the family dairy farm, but she keeps it firmly in the past as she searches out new artwork and artists that are on the breaking edge of acclaim. After she experienced the cultural riches San Francisco had to offer, she decided her life would be that of an urban career woman rather than a working mom commuting from the suburbs. With the intensive hours and travel required to grow her business to the next level, she has no time or energy left for romantic or family entanglements.

Jay Vermillion recently inherited Vermillion Sky, a ranch that nestles up to Wyoming’s Grand Teton Mountains--and the estates of the rich and restless. As a returned veteran of numerous deployments over the course of two wars, he finds himself wrestling with the demands of a ranch that has been run down during his father’s long illness. Between the urgent need to modernize and revitalize the Vermillion Sky, as well as an unexpected and vicious fight with his former stepmother over the custody of now-valuable paintings that were part of his father’s estate, Jay has no time for finding a wife and creating a sixth generation of Vermillions to ensure the family legacy continues.

When Jay hires Sara to appraise and market his father’s cache of paintings by Harris “Custer” Armstrong, neither one expects the explosive results of their eventual meeting in Jackson, Wyoming. In addition to a mutually inconvenient attraction, they a discover double murder at the edge of the ranch lands and a potential betrayal even closer to home. All trails lead to Custer’s artworks as valuable enough to kill for, especially an unknown painted rumored to be called The Muse.

As Sara and Jay unravel the motive for the killings, they both discover that love, like murder, doesn’t wait for a convenient time. On the heels of that soul-shattering realization, Sara is targeted for murder. Suddenly, the war-weary soldier finds something he is once again willing to die for…

Laura's Review: 
 This was one of those books that just felt good to read. It's hard not to like Jay and Sara right from the start - although not without flaws, they both are people with big hearts and strong character. And the landscape is almost a character itself - and Ms. Lowell's descriptions made me feel like I was reading a book with pictures. I've been to Wyoming before and it was like I was right back there again. I kind of wish the artist featured in the book had existed so I could see his paintings in real life! 
I don't know if I've been reading too many romance novels filled with angst, but the absolute lack of tension in the romance department made this story fall a bit flat for me. It was just too relaxed and easy between them right from the start. All of the drama was external to their relationship and while it created some good suspenseful moments, it wasn't quite enough to make me want to stay up all night reading. 
A nice story that fans of Elizabeth Lowell are going to love. 

3.5/5 stars

A copy of this book was provided in exchange of an honest review. 

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24871110-perfect-touch?ac=1



Buy Links:  Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo  

Excerpt:

           
There were a few moments of silence, then Piper asked softly, “Want me to come out?”
Sara hurried in the direction of the courthouse. “No need. I can handle the Vermilion paintings alone.”
“Ah, yes, Jay Vermilion. He of the deep and delicious voice. Does he look half as good as he sounds?”
“Haven’t seen him.” Sara glanced both ways and trotted across the street against the light.
“Maybe he can warm up your … spring,” Piper said.
“If I get to handle the sale of the Custer paintings, my spring will be just toasty. Yours, too. The Newcastle twins are dancing in place at the thought of owning paintings seen in The Edge of Never.”
“The what?”
“Weepy contemporary movie about a young couple who doesn’t know how to love and doesn’t have the sense to separate.”
“Ugh. If you have to be taught those things, you’ve got more problems than a movie can solve.”
Sara laughed. “I hear you, but it rocked Sundance. That’s where the Newcastle twins saw it and immediately huddled with the director, very hush-hush. The movie is probably going to rock Cannes just as hard.”
“And Custer the moderately well-known Western artist ties in how?”
“There’s a painting of his, Wyoming Spring, that’s featured prominently throughout the movie, including the heart-rending scene where—”
“Spare me the details,” Piper said quickly. “Merchant-Ivory movies make my butt numb.”
“Because of it—the movie, not your butt—the market for Custer’s works will heat up like Vegas in July.”
“What about the big auction houses?”
“The Vermilion estate has probably half of the Custers that were ever painted and nearly all of them that aren’t yet in circulation,” Sara said. “We may not need to go through a big public auction if we can act as the agents. No percentage sharing.”
“Go for it. I’ll get Lou to cover anything on this end for Perfect Touch. She’s got some downtime.”
“What happened? Couldn’t Lou seal the deal with Najafi?”
“Lou’s good, but Najafi would try God’s patience,” Piper said. “How long will you be gone?”
“If Jay Vermilion loses the paintings, I’ll be home tomorrow.”
“In that case, girlfriend, have a long stay in Wyoming.”
“You’ll nag me to come back after two weeks.”
“Not if there’s money involved. Bye. Go get those bucks!”
“Go get some yourself.”
Smiling, Sara pocketed the phone, flipped hair out of her face, and hurried along the sidewalk to meet her future.
 With her fingers crossed in her pockets.             

                        

Author Info
Elizabeth Lowell’s exciting novels of romantic suspense include New York Times Bestsellers: Dangerous Refuge, Beautiful Sacrifice, Death Echo, The Wrong Hostage, Amber Beach, Jade Island, Pearl Cove, and Midnight in Ruby Bayou. She has also written NYT best-selling historical series set in the American West and Medieval Britain. She has more than 80 titles published to date, with over 24 million copies of her books in print. She lives in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with her husband, with whom she writes novels under a pseudonym. Her favorite activity is exploring the Western United States to find the landscapes that speak to her soul and inspire her writing.

Author Links:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads
Website:  http://elizabethlowell.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethLowellFans
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/lowellwrites
GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19051.Elizabeth_Lowell



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Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Release Blast and Giveaway: LUCKY'S CHOICE by Jamie Begley


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LUCKY'S CHOICE
The Last Riders #7
Jamie Begley
Releasing July 29th, 2015
Young Ink Press


Life dealt him a dead man’s hand.

Lucky had always led a life of service, always putting his life on the line for someone else, managing to survive by pure luck and skill. After bringing an end to a multi-state drug ring, he was finally able to live the life he had wanted as a Last Rider.

A good man would walk away and not touch the curvy woman who had been tugging on his heartstrings. Lucky wasn’t a good man. Therefore, the bad-ass biker in him had a choice: once again become the man he had pretended to be and stake his claim or take the devil’s highway.

Some girls had all the luck.

Willa wasn’t one of them. All she wanted to do was give a home to the children she had made orphans. Instead, she found herself needing help from the man who had left the pulpit behind to embrace a life of sin.

Painfully shy and withdrawn, she wanted a quiet life, a simple man, and well-behaved children. The last thing she had ever expected was for Lucky to want her size twenty body and show her a passion that would lead her straight to hell. 


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"I was born in a small town in Kentucky. My family began poor, but worked their way to owning a restaurant. My mother was one of the best cooks I have ever known, and she instilled in all her children the value of hard work, and education.
Taking after my mother, I've always love to cook, and became pretty good if I do say so myself. I love to experiment and my unfortunate family has suffered through many. They now have learned to steer clear of those dishes. I absolutely love the holidays and my family puts up with my zany decorations.
For now, my days are spent writing, writing, and writing. I have two children who both graduated this year from college. My daughter does my book covers, and my son just tries not to blush when someone asks him about my books.
Currently I am writing five series of books- The Last Riders, The VIP Room, Predators MC, Biker Bitches, and The Dark Souls.
All my books are written for one purpose- the enjoyment others find in them, and the expectations of my fans that inspire me to give it my best.”

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Release Blitz and Giveaway: EVERY LAST BREATH by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Epic Finale in Jennifer L. Armentrout’s

Dark Elements Series...Who Will She Choose?

  ELB Teaser 3

Every choice has consequences—but seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Hardest of all, Layla has to decide which side of herself to trust.

Don't miss the conclusion to this stunning Young Adult Paranormal series filled with danger and romance published by HarlequinTEEN.

Grab your copy today!

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iBooks ** IndieBound ** Kobo ** BAM

 
  9780373211142_prd_proof_FCEVERY LAST BREATH Synopsis: Some loves will last ‘til your dying breath Every choice has consequences—but seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Hardest of all, Layla has to decide which side of herself to trust. Layla has a new problem, too. A Lilin—the deadliest of demons—has been unleashed, wreaking havoc on those around her…including her best friend. To keep Sam from a fate much, much worse than death, Layla must strike a deal with the enemy while saving her city—and her race—from destruction. Torn between two worlds and two different boys, Layla has no certainties, least of all survival, especially when an old bargain comes back to haunt them all. But sometimes, when secrets are everywhere and the truth seems unknowable, you have to listen to your heart, pick a side—and then fight like hell…

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iBooks ** IndieBound ** Kobo ** BAM

Excerpt: 

Roth cleared his throat. “Shortie, look…look at your hand.”
Look at my hand? Why in the world would he be asking me to do that in the midst of all the cray?
“Do it,” he said quietly and too gently.
The dread exploded in my gut like buckshot, and my gaze dropped to my left hand. I expected to see the weird marbling of black and gray, a mixture of the demon and Warden that existed inside of me and a combination I’d become almost familiar with by now. My nails had lengthened and sharpened, and I could tell they were hard enough to cut through steel, as hard as my skin, but my skin…it was still pink. Really pink.
“What the…?” My gaze traveled to my other hand. It was the same. Just pink. My wings twitched, reminding me that I had shifted.
Zayne swallowed. “Your…your wings…”
“What about my wings?” I almost screeched, reaching be‑ hind me. “Are they broken? Did they not come out—” The tips of my fingers came into contact with something as soft as silk. My hand jerked back. “What…”
Stacey’s watery eyes had doubled in size. “Um, Layla, there’s a mirror above the fireplace. I think you need to look in it.”
I met Roth’s gaze for a second before I spun around and all but ran to the fireplace I was sure Stacey’s mom had never used. Clutching the white mantel, I stared at my reflection.
I looked normal, like I did before I shifted…like I was going to class or something. My eyes were the palest shade of gray, a watered-down blue. My hair was so blond it was almost white, and a mess of waves that went in every direction like usual. I looked like a colorless china doll, which was nothing new, except for the two fangs jutting out of my mouth. I wouldn’t show them off at school, but that wasn’t what caught my attention and held it.
It was my wings.
They were large, not as massive as Zayne’s or Roth’s, and normally they were almost leathery in texture, but now they were black…black and feathered. Like legit feathered. That soft, silky thing I’d felt? It had been tiny feathers.
Feathers.
“Oh my God,” I whispered at my reflection. “I have feathers.”
“Those are definitely feathered wings,” Roth commented.
I whipped around, knocking over a lamp with my feathered right wing. “I have feathers on my wings!”
Roth cocked his head to the side. “Yeah, you do.”
He was absolutely no help, so I turned to Zayne. “Why do I have feathers on my wings?”
Zayne shook his head slowly. “I don’t know, Layla. I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“Liar,” hissed Roth, shooting him a dark look. “You’ve seen that before. So have I.”
 
“Armentrout is a major talent…I just can’t stop reading!”
--New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter
“Armentrout works her magic with swoon-worthy guys and a twist you never see coming.”
--#1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines on White Hot Kiss
  image2

And don’t miss the first titles in the Dark Elements Series!

BITTER SWEET LOVE

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iBooks ** BAM ** Kobo

WHITE HOT KISS

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** BAM ** iBooks ** IndieBound ** Kobo

STONE COLD TOUCH

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  JLA_Author-photoAbout Jennifer L. Armentrout: # 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Novel Goodreads ** Author Goodreads

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Review & Giveaway: IF YOU DARE by Jessica Lemmon

IYD_500Book Title: IF YOU DARE 
Author: JESSICA LEMMON 
Release Date: 7/21/15 
Genre: LOVESTRUCK 


 About the book: Lily McIntire is in the creepiest mansion in town. Alone. At night. Because she’s an idiot—and can’t ignore a dare from her cocky and infuriatingly hot co-worker, Marcus Black. But she'll be damned if she's going to give him the satisfaction of winning. Marcus has had a thing for Lily for ages, and he has no intention of losing this bet. His plan? Scare her out of the house, and into his arms. Once there, scaring her turns into protecting her and soon after, into seducing her. And his plan is working… Lily is having trouble relegating Marcus to the role of “asshat” as easily as before. He came to her rescue, and he’s actually funny. Charming. Sexy as sin on a stick. But Lily has a strict no-love-in-the-workplace rule, and even one night of the best sex ever won’t make her change her mind. So she’s calling everything off… Surviving a night in the mansion might just be the easy part. Surviving Marcus’s increasingly convincing advances is going to take everything she has. Losing is not an option…

  NOTE: This title was previously published November 2013 on Flaunt as a novella but has been significantly revised and lots of yummy new scenes added to give readers a full-length category romance full of humor and sizzle. 


Laura's Review: Here's the thing: I read this book already when it was a novella. And obviously completely forgot about it because I had no idea I had read it already when I signed up for this tour. It wasn't until a chapter or so in that the weird deja vu starting kicking in. But, since I couldn't remember reading it, I didn't remember how it unfolded, so I kept reading - and soon forgot I had known these people at all. The disclaimer states it had been beefed up and revised, which I think achieved its purpose because I didn't get any of that cheated/rushed feeling I get so often reading novellas. The plot is driven by the "haunted mansion," setup, but I found myself truly enjoying what happened after even more. Although I cannot guarantee I won't forget about it in a few months or years, I can say I quite enjoyed it while I was in the moment with it now. 

IF YOU DARE: 3.5/5 stars

 About the Author: A former job-hopper, Jessica Lemmon resides in Ohio with her husband and rescue dog. She holds a degree in graphic design currently gathering dust in an impressive frame. When she’s not writing super-sexy heroes, she can be found cooking, drawing, drinking coffee (okay, wine), and eating potato chips. She firmly believes God gifts us with talents for a purpose, and with His help, you can create the life you want. Jessica is a social media junkie who loves to hear from readers.

 You can learn more at: JessicaLemmon.com
 
 Twitter @lemmony

 Giveaway Info: Jessica is giving away an autographed copy of The Millionaire Affair, an autographed copy of Bringing Home the Bad Boy, and a $10 gift card to Amazon. Disclaimer: An Amazon gift card will be substituted for the books in place of the prize pack if the winner is international.
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Exclusive Blog Tour Excerpt:
He cared about her enough that he was going to continue this insane idea to keep things quiet even though he didn’t like lying to his friends. But not for long. And he needed to let her know that. She sat, legs kicking over the edge of the desk, hair rolling over her shoulders, white shirt doing nothing to hide her peaked nipples... He’d let her know later. After desk sex. “Don’t rip my buttons this time. I still have to drive home.” Why, why did rod-up-her-ass, Lily McIntire do it for him whenever she was being rigid? Probably because he knew she really wasn’t. As a matter of fact, under his hands and his mouth, she was downright pliant. Like melted peanut butter.
Mmm, too bad he didn’t have that in his food cabinet at work. “Okay, you take it off.” He smoothed his palm over her bare calf down to one rather demure heeled shoe, which he removed and tossed over his shoulder. It thudded to the floor behind him. “Do you have any idea how much those cost?” Her brow furrowed, fingers hovering over the top button of her blouse. “Nope.” He moved to the other leg, slid that shoe off, and tossed it into the metal trash can next to his desk. It hit the side with a clang. “Now ask me if I care.” She gave him a scolding look, but since she was undoing her shirt buttons – and not slowly – he didn’t mind. Not that he’d mind anyway. Lily’s scolding looks were kind of cute. “Did you get the salon plans approved?” She continued working her buttons, her attention on her shirt. By the time she was pulling it off her shoulders, he was thoroughly perplexed by this turn of conversation. “I was thinking about it today and wondering if it wouldn’t be nice to have a drink station where customers could help themselves. Coffee, tea, maybe a few nice wine selections...” He held up a hand to stop her. “Are you under the assumption that talking about salon floor plans turns me on? Because it does not.” “No, I’m not assuming anything. I’m just making conversation.” His eyes went to a decidedly plain white bra that somehow still looked sexy on her. “Why?” “Because you said you wanted to work tonight.” “On getting you naked,” he said. “But I couldn’t exactly blurt that out in the meeting, now could I?”
Before she could argue, which she was poised to do, he stopped the words in her throat by reaching behind her back, flicking the clasp on her bra, and sliding the straps halfway down her arms. “I love that they’re peach.” “What?” She blinked down at her bare breasts. “Your nipples.” He ran his thumb over one, watching it harden further under his touch. “They’re perfect.” “If you’re trying to prove you’re good at seduction, there’s really no need.” He moved her slim-fitting skirt high on her thighs. High enough to spread her legs and insert himself in between. “Careful, McIntire, that was almost a compliment.”
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Thursday, July 16, 2015

Review and Giveaway: Chasing Jillian by Julie Brannagh



Chasing Jillian
Love and Football # 5
By: Julie Brannagh
Releasing July 7, 2015
Avon Impulse

Blurb

Jillian Miller likes her job working in the front office for the Seattle Sharks, but lately being surrounded by a constant parade of perfection only seems to make her own imperfections all the more obvious. She needs a change, which takes her into foreign territory: the Sharks’ workout facility after hours. The last thing she expects is a hot, grumbly god among men to be there as witness.

Star linebacker Seth Taylor had a bad day-well, a series of them recently. When he hits the Sharks’ gym to work out his frustration, he’s startled to find someone there-and even more surprised that it’s Jillian, the team owner’s administrative assistant. When he learns of Jillian’s mission to revamp her lifestyle, he finds himself volunteering to help. Something about Jillian’s beautiful smile and quick wit makes him want to stick around. She may not be like the swimsuit models he usually has on his arm, but the more time Seth spends with Jillian the harder he falls.

And as Jillian discovers that the new her is about so much more than she sees in the mirror, can she discover that happiness and love are oh-so-much better than perfect?

Laura's Review:

This is the first book I've read by Julie Brannagh, but it won't be the last. I am a sucker for a good sports romance, and if the others in this series are as good as this one, I will definitely be going back to read them all. Even though it is part of a series, this book can definitely be read as a standalone, especially since both Seth and Jillian were both new characters and therefore their backstories were introduced here as opposed to in other books in the series.

I liked both Seth and Jillian right from the start. They both felt like people I would be friends with, and despite Seth being a super-hot super-rich pro-athlete, he still seemed unaffected by that all. Relatable even. The little bit of drama there was felt just a bit contrived and I kept waiting for something more to happen. Overall, it was one of those books that just feels good to read while you are reading it, but I'll most likely forget it by next month. 

Chasing Jillian: 3.5/5 stars



Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22608144-chasing-jillian?ac=1
Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/112833-love-and-football

Buy Links:  Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo  
                                               

Author Info
USA Today Bestselling Author, Julie Brannagh has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil. She lives in a small town near Seattle, where she once served as a city council member and owned a yarn shop. She shares her home with a wonderful husband, two uncivilized Maine Coons and a rambunctious chocolate Lab.
When she’s not writing, she’s reading, or armchair-quarterbacking her favorite NFL team from the comfort of the family room couch. Julie is a Golden Heart finalist and the author of contemporary sports romances.

Author Links:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads



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Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Lauren Blakely's Sinful Desire

We are so excited to bring you the Cover Reveal for Lauren Blakely’s SINFUL DESIRE, the second title in Lauren’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling erotic romance Sinful Nights series releasing September 22nd! SINFUL DESIRE follows a new couple in the series! Yes, technically it can be read as a standalone, but you’ll likely enjoy it more if you read the first book, SWEET SINFUL NIGHTS.

Lauren Blakely is well known for writing sexy, heartfelt and humorous contemporary romance as well as deeply emotional new adult stories --one commonality in all her books is the scorching hot sexy times. You can expect nothing different from her Sinful Nights series! First, there was SWEET SINFUL NIGHTS, and now Lauren brings you the passionate and suspenseful SINFUL DESIRE filled with sexy moments that will keep you up all night! Lauren worked with her regular cover designer, Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations, and photographer, Stephanie Bowers Photography, for this fabulous cover and we are so delighted to share it with you!

 

Sinful Desire - cover

Pre-Order Links for SINFUL DESIRE coming September 22nd

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  EXCERPT from SINFUL DESIRE: Do you know why you’re so fascinated with my tie?” he asked huskily, his eyes pinned on her. He practically fucked her with his gaze. His was so intense. His confidence set her on fire. It torched a path across her body, sizzling her skin. “Tell me,” she said, eager for more of his words. “Since you seem to know me so well. Tell me.” He brushed the backs of his fingers against her cheek. Oh god, she was dying for him to kiss her. She was so eager to feel those lips. To taste him. He grasped a wrist with one hand, yanking it up his chest, and loosely wrapping the end of his tie around her hand. “You want me to tie you up.” “How do you know that?” she asked, her voice stripped to the bones. He knew her. He read her. He could sense everything she wanted. He crowded her against the wall. Heaven Leigh belted out her song on stage. The inky black of the backstage cloaked them. “Am I wrong?” he asked, arching an eyebrow. “If I’m wrong, tell me and I’ll walk away.” She shook her head. “Are you going to take it off? Tie me up?” she asked in a voice that barely sounded like it belonged to her. It belonged to the part of her that had been untended for years. He grinned wickedly. “No. I have other ways to tie you up,” he said, and in a flash, he gripped her wrists in his big strong hands, wrapping his fingers around her, binding her as he yanked her hands behind her back. Heat flared in her body, spinning through her, settling between her legs. Her gorgeous, sexy panties were so damp right now they were useless. She ached for his touch. And she could do nothing but wait for it since she was his hostage. He was so strong, she couldn’t wriggle away if she wanted to. His thumbs dug into her wrist bones, pinning her hands above her ass, rendering her helpless. The pressure from the twist in her arms bordered on pain, and felt oh so good. His body was aligned with hers. There was no space between the two of them. Only breath. Only words as he spoke in a bare, husky voice, “Do you know what else I’ve been thinking about all day?” She shook her head. He inched closer, his mouth mere centimeters from hers. Her lips parted, so ready for him. God, she needed him to kiss her. Needed it badly. He was making her wait for it. Making her nearly ask for it. His mouth hovered so close she wanted to dart out her tongue and lick him. Draw him to her. His forehead brushed hers, and her breath fluttered. Somehow, she managed a please. Please kiss you?” he asked. “Is that what you want me to do?” She nodded, too turned on to form another word. Even a yes. “That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking about all day,” he whispered. Then he kissed her and he wasn’t gentle. He wasn’t sweet. He was rough as he claimed her mouth, kissing hard. She moaned as he drew her bottom lip between his teeth, then fused his mouth to hers. His stubble rubbed against her cheek. She’d have whisker burn later. She longed for the redness, the proof, the evidence of a bruising kiss. The kiss lit her up. She felt it everywhere. In her toes, in her hair, in her belly. And, deliciously, between her legs. Where she ached for him. She angled her hips closer as he kissed, desperately seeking contact from him. God, how she wanted him. And she didn’t even know his name.   Sinful Desire - full cover wrap   NOTE FROM LAUREN: Dear Readers: I’m so excited to share the cover of Sinful Desire with you! I’m in mad love with this cover and I hope you are too - I searched far and wide for just the right image to convey the passion, desire and chemistry between Ryan Sloan and Sophie Winston, and I think this image does them justice! The couple on this cover is a real-life couple, and their passion for each other truly shows through! I love the lush colors too and the sparkly, glamorous feel that my designer crafted in the look of the cover! Sophie and Ryan might just be my hottest couple yet, and I can’t wait for you to read their story! xoxo Lauren   Sinful Desire - CR teaser

  ABOUT SINFUL DESIRE: Scorching. Passionate. Suspenseful... Be consumed by the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Sinful Nights Series! Their passion was beyond control... Control. It’s what Ryan Sloan values most. Control of his business, control of his secrets, control of his days and nights. With the way his life spiraled in the past, he needs to stay in charge of his present. Giving up control. It’s what Sophie Winston craves. After a wildly successful career, she’s stepped away from the business world and is now focused on her work as her city’s most noted philanthropist. When she meets Ryan Sloan, the chemistry is scorching, and utterly undeniable. Their desire for each other runs red hot. He wants everything she’s willing to give him in bed, and she wants him to take her to new heights as only he can. Soon, he has to have more. All of her — heart, mind and body. The only trouble is, he hasn’t been honest about how he met her and the dangerous connection he has to her brother. When the truth is revealed, he’ll have to give more of himself than he’s bargained for or risk losing the only woman he’s ever let into his heart. SINFUL DESIRE is book two in the New York Times Bestselling SINFUL NIGHTS series, a four-book series. Each full-length novel features a new couple. This high-heat, high-stakes sexy romance series follows the Sloan family as each sibling falls madly in love against the backdrop of sin, money, greed, passion, mystery and suspense…

 

Pre-order SINFUL DESIRE and Enter to Win!

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Preorder and win special, one-of-a-kind prizes including:
One of FIVE LIMITED EDITION SIGNED PAPERBACK COPIES of SINFUL DESIRE. What makes these books a Limited Edition? Lauren has annotated certain scenes in the book and each one is unique. You will see what her thoughts and inspiration were for several of the plot twists in the book.
You will also have the chance to win:
~ Skype Video Chat with Lauren Blakely and several of your friends to discuss SINFUL DESIRE.
~ Sinful Desire Tote filled with signed books, a Vegas Prize Candle (could be worth up to $20,000), and $25 Bath and Body Works gift card.
~ $100 Gift Card to the retailer of your choice.
 

Pre-Order Links for SINFUL DESIRE coming September 22nd

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And don’t miss the first book in the Sinful Nights Series

Sweet Sinful Nights - cover

SWEET SINFUL NIGHTS!

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    Author PhotoAbout Lauren Blakely: Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and she has had eight books on the New York Times Bestseller list and thirteen on the USA Today Bestseller list. Like the heroine in her novel, FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. She loves hearing from readers! Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire. She recently released SWEET SINFUL NIGHTS, the first novel in her new sexy romance series Sinful Nights that became an instant New York Times Bestseller. Her new adult forbidden romance, 21 Stolen Kisses, hit e-readers in May and landed on the USA Today Bestseller list. This summer she'll release Consumed by You, her next title in her NYT Bestselling Fighting Fire series about sexy firemen and the women they love. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, text BLAKELY + your email address to 678-249-3375 (please use the actual + sign).  

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** SINFUL DESIRE Goodreads ** Lauren Blakely Goodreads

 
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Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Dual Review: Toxic by Kim Karr

Toxic Kim Karr

July 7, 2015
368 pages
NAL trade


He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not...

New York Times bestselling author Kim Karr turns up the heat in a smoking hot, emotionally compelling new novel that takes you into the world of Manhattan’s elite.

In Toxic, Jeremy McQueen, a sexy, intense, sometimes brooding entrepreneur goes after what he wants—the woman he left behind years ago. Phoebe St. Claire, a put together, in control socialite-turned-CEO has been drifting through life searching for something she thought she'd never find again—the right man to share her future.

Our passion was boundless. Our lust untamed. And our desire endless. He was the only man who ever made me feel alive. Then, I betrayed him.

When he reappeared, I didn’t question it. Trust rarely survives the wrecking ball, so when he let me in back in—I didn’t hesitate.

Maybe I should have.

What began as a bid to save my family business, turned into a second chance at love. It felt so romantic. Working together, side by side, with the man I loved. My dream come true.

Nothing is as good as it seems.

We had our issues, but then again, every couple does. It wasn’t jealousy, or our too-hot sex life that I should have been worried about.

It was his darkside.

I never saw the end coming, until it slammed me in the face. The question is—did he?

Was revenge his plan all along?


Laura's Review: 

This book's description really grabbed my attention - I started reading it as soon as I got my hands on the review copy - and it held on to my attention the whole way through. I pretty much read it all in a day. I'm finding that happening less and less often these days, so it's refreshing to capture that feeling again and kudos to Ms. Karr for doing it so effortlessly (and in a standalone format! Yes!)
Sure, it had it's flaws: There was something (or a lot of things) very reminiscent of Judith McNaught's Paradise, which distracted me a little from the story because I kept feeling like I'd read this one before. And I felt like some of the roadblocks thrown in along the way of their relationship (both past and present) seemed a little too convenient, but all of that was forgivable given how much I enjoyed this story piled high with angst and heartbreak. I loved that both Jeremy and Phoebe have made mistakes, and are far from perfect, but it was easy to see and feel the love they once had that never truly went away.
Maybe not quite as original as I had hoped for, but still thoroughly engaging and enjoyable.

Toxic: 4/5 stars


Tanya's Review:
    I truly enjoyed this one. I have been very hard to please lately, there have been a lot of meh books I have been reading and nothing that really grabbed me. This book had me, it has everything I enjoy, angst, a bad boy with a filthy mouth, great dialogue between characters and it made me feel. Just want to say that there is a phone sex scene that I will not be forgetting anytime soon. 
      I have not read Paradise by Judith McNaught, like Laura has so story seemed fresh and new for me. I could not help but root for Jeremy and Phoebe they seemed so in love and life just got in the way. I enjoyed this one and I think its a great summer read for all that love a romance.

Toxic:  4.5/5  Stars
   


Note: a review copy was provided in exchange of an honest review.