Night After Night (Seductive Nights) by Lauren Blakely
Publication Date: April 16, 2014
Reviewed By: Reading In Pajamas/ Dawn
Rated: 4.5 Stars
**Warning: Spare panties are needed for reading this book…you’re welcome.***
Their world was sex, love, and lies.
He intoxicated her. Commanded. Consumed.
With a dirty mind and a mouth to match, Clay Nichols is everything Julia never knew she wanted and exactly what she cannot have. He walked into her life one night and unlocked pleasure in her that she never knew was possible. Possessing her body, captivating her every thought. Which makes him way too dangerous for Julia to risk her heart, given that she has a price tag on her head. She ran after one mind-blowing week with him, but now he’s back, and determined to make her his own.
No matter the cost.
She was a sexy drug to him. Fiery, unforgettable, and never enough, Julia is an enigma, and Clay isn’t willing to let her go without a fight. But she’s got dark secrets of her own that threaten to destroy any chance of happiness. She’s a wanted woman – the stakes are high, her every move is watched, and yet the lure between them can’t be denied. Can two people burned by love trust again when desire and passion are met by danger at every turn?
A sensual, emotionally-charged erotic romance from the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Lauren Blakely…
Please note: This book is intended for 18+ due to dirty talk, light bondage, and lots of sexy scenes. This ebook edition also includes the prequel novella First Night, which precedes Night After Night. The sequel, After This Night, releases May 12.
Scorching hot romance at its best! I couldn’t put it down. Julia is part owner in a bar downtown and she can’t seem to catch a break. She hasn’t met anyone, in what feels like forever, that can take her mind off of her troubles and in walks Clay, the hottest man she has ever met. Julia has two immediate needs and those two things are eight inches and a brain. She says every prayer that she knows that Clay has what she needs. I loved Julia and Clay’s fun banter and verbal for-play. Clay exceeds all of Julia’s needs by far and they heat up the pages, but struggle with secrets, their past and trust. There is a cliffhanger ending that leaves you wanting more, but After This Night, the conclusion, will be out in May so it’s not the kind of ending that will frustrate the reader with a long wait. I highly recommend this series and this book for readers looking for an emotional and steamy romance story. I loved it!
Note: Lauren Blakely included the prequel, First Night, in this ebook and I recommend reading it. It’s a great short story that sets the mood for Night After Night.
*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Lauren Blakely is an unabashed fan of clever jokes, toast, and good guys in novels. Like the heroine in TROPHY HUSBAND, she thinks life should be filled with hot men, cool clothes, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband and children, and spends her days writing both true stories and make-believe ones.
After this Night (Seductive Nights, #2) by Lauren Blakely
Releasing May 12, 2014
She holds the cards, but he doesn’t want to play her games…
Clay Nichols can’t get Julia Bell out of his mind. He’s so drawn to her, and to the nights they shared, that he can’t focus on work or business, only her. And she’s pissing him off with her hot and cold act. She has her reasons though – she’s trying to stay one step ahead of the trouble that’s been chasing her for months now, thanks to the criminal world her ex dragged her into. If only she can get out of the mess she’s in then maybe she can invite the man who ignites her back in her life, so she can have him – heart, mind and body.
He won’t take less than all of her, and the full truth too. When he runs into her again at her sister’s wedding, they have a second chance but she’ll have to let him all the way in. And they’ll learn just how much more there is to the intense sexual chemistry they share, and whether love can carry them well past the danger of her past and into a new future, after this night…
The King: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward
Release Date: April 1, 2014
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood (Book 12)
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori & Donna
Ratings: Cori 5 Stars/ Donna 4 Stars
J.R. Ward’s # 1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood continues as a royal bloodline is compromised by a grave threat to the throne.
Long live the King…
After turning his back on the throne for centuries, Wrath, son of Wrath, finally assumed his father’s mantle–with the help of his beloved mate. But the crown sets heavily on his head. As the war with the Lessening Society rages on, and the threat from the Band of Bastards truly hits home, he is forced to make choices that put everything–and everyone–at risk.
Beth Randall thought she knew what she was getting into when she mated the last pure blooded vampire on the planet: An easy ride was not it. But when she decides she wants a child, she’s unprepared for Wrath’s response–or the distance it creates between them.
The question is, will true love win out… or tortured legacy take over?
BDB fans wait impatiently all year for the next book in this incredible series and The King did not disappoint! I loved it! Without giving too much away because these books are best read spoiler free we got to hear Wrath’s parent’s story and I completely fell in love with his father. We also got the side stories of three other potential couples. I’m looking forward to all of them. J.R. Ward announced at her signing that the next book will be titled The Shadows and will include Trez and iAm’s stories. I loved this second look at Wrath and Beth’s relationship, all the hotness that comes with it and their struggle with whether to have a baby. This series is so incredibly addicting and I think it’s because it’s emotional, action packed, suspenseful and incredibly hot. They always leave me wanting more and The King was no exception. I can’t wait for the next book!
I truly enjoyed the book and was unable to put it down. I don’t want to give too much away on the story but the intrigue and emotional situations had me tense one moment and relieved the next. Which is always a good thing. I loved Wrath’s father! I will however, go out on a limb and say that I almost wish she had written Wrath and Beth as a side story and focused on someone new. Or narrowed the number of side-stories down to just a few, so those stories could be told in greater detail. That being said, I laughed, cried and bit my lip on more than one occasion and I want to read it again soon. It’s a shame that we have to wait a year to see what happens to them all.
J.R. Ward is a #1 New York Times and USAToday Best Selling author of erotic paranormal romance. She lives in the south with her incredibly supportive husband and her beloved golden retriever. After graduating from law school, she began working in healthcare in Boston and spent many years as Chief of Staff of one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation. Writing has always been her passion and her idea of heaven is a whole day of nothing but her computer, her dog and her coffee pot.
If you love fantasy, the paranormal, romance and twisty-turny stories featuring two young women in the fight of their lives then we have the book for you! Pick up Jessie Lane’s THE BURNING STAR, available now, and we have a special little teaser from the book to whet your appetite! Learn more below and be sure to enter the author’s amazing giveaway while you’re at it!
*This book is a re-release and revision from the original book. Please be aware that some things have been added, deleted or changed.* Kay’s journey of a lifetime started in the woods outside of Asheville, North Carolina. It was there that the 17 year old met a beautiful man along with a monster. The chance encounter led her to an unbelievable world that shouldn’t exist; a place where myths and fairy tales were real, and in some cases, deadly. Kay knew she would have to brave this new world if she hoped to find a cure for her terminal cancer. With a strange yet beautiful cast of characters that she would meet along the way, Kay uncovered truths that would change her life forever. However, before it was all over, it would become clear that Kay wasn’t the only one with problems. Yet another 17 year old young woman was fighting for her freedom and her life.Kira had lived in a magical world that Kay had only dreamt of. Despite this, her life had not been filled with many good things. As a matter of fact, she considered her empty, emotional solitude the only positive aspect of her life. She fought daily battles to escape abuse and torture. Trained to be an expert assassin, she was charged with kidnapping Kay and delivering her to Kira’s master, Lord Donovan. As the two young women set forth in their journeys, their paths would cross in unimaginable ways. The only question that would remain was who would come out alive and whole in the end? WARNING: This is a upper ya/young adult/new adult fictional story that includes some explicit language, graphic violence, and mild sexual situations. Recommended for ages sixteen and up.
Crystal and Melissa often live half their lives with their heads in the clouds dreaming of alpha military hunks, werewolves and kick ass heroines crazy enough to chase after creatures that they unquestionably should know better than to chase. Their first YA novel, The Burning Star, was released in May 2012. Big Bad Bite is their second novel, but their first adult paranormal romance. They are now working on their next two novels, Walk On The Striped Side and Secret Maneuvers. With these projects underway, they are looking forward to showing the rest of the world their crazy stories, heroes and heroines that often plague their minds until written, and hope you will join them on their journey!
Jagger Kennedy never went looking for fame, he just fell into it. After scoring a major modeling contract, his clean-cut good looks and charm catapulted his career. But when his actress girlfriend breaks his heart, he moves to L.A. to try his hand at acting. He’s not looking for love—he just needs to make a change.
Aerie Daniels is a woman in control … until she meets Jagger. Her surprising connection with him leaves her dazed and it’s unlike anything she’s ever felt. But just when she lets her walls fall, she makes a startling discovery about Jagger that breaks her fragile heart into a million pieces.
To keep from losing the woman who’s changing his world, Jagger is willing to give up anything—including his career. But even that might not be enough to regain Aerie’s shattered trust…
I loved Dazed! Kim Karr delivered another amazing love story! I’m a huge fan of The Connection series and was so excited to read Jagger and Aerie’s story. Jagger is River’s cousin so I knew going in he had to be hot. Plus he graces the Dazed cover with all his hotness. If I wasn’t familiar with this series I’d buy it based on the cover alone. Without giving away any spoilers, I loved how Jagger and Aerie met and how they interacted with each other. Jagger is the perfect man for Aerie. Just a beautiful love story. Dazed is a novella in the series, but it can be read as a standalone. It is a complete story. I recommend the entire series though. Connected, the first book in the series, was originally recommended to me by a reader on our Facebook page last year and I am so grateful she did because this is a series I’ll read over and over. It’s a series the reader carries with them long after they’ve closed the book. I love them and can’t wait for the next book in the series!
*Review copy provided by Berkley/NAL in exchange for an honest review.
Giveaway for 5 signed sets of Connected and Torn paperbacks (open internationally). a Rafflecopter giveaway
There’s something deliciously perverse about staring through the clear glass. All of my senses engage as I wait in line—the fragrance that fills the air as the fire crackles beneath the foil wrapped treats wafts under my nose, the beauty in each and every small package as they line the shelves with tiny dots and colored sprinkles mesmerizes me, the sound made as the silver sheet is peeled back to reveal the magnificence it holds captivates me, and the anticipation of the taste makes my mouth water. Ummm… just thinking of the first bite into the moist brown exterior with its bittersweet Belgian chocolate complimenting the flavor of the Madagascar bourbon vanilla that oozes from its inside has me trembling. The black and white cupcake—it’s simply perfection.
Amidst the skyscrapers in Los Angeles’ South Park neighborhood, Sprinkles is a gem tucked away for those of us who seek out a small piece of heaven. I don’t come here often, but when I do it’s for that one special treat. The menu describes it as, “Yin and Yang.” An ancient proverb that says, “Complementary opposites, such as light and dark, day and night, and masculine and feminine, seemingly may exist as contrary forces, but are actually interconnected.” Simply put, it says one gives rise to the other and it’s true— opposites attract. Without the vanilla inside, one could not possibly crave the chocolate outside—looking at the two parts united has me drooling.
“You know what they say about staring through the glass,” a deep husky voice says from behind me.
His words tingle my skin and my gaze snaps up. “Excuse me?” I stop short, in a daze, not even sure what he just said I was so lost in my thoughts.
He chuckles. “You know what they say about staring through the glass,” he repeats.
My eyes blink and come into focus on the upward tilt of his full lips. Then my eyes move to his smooth pale skin flecked with a light stubble, his nose seemingly sculpted even with a slight imperfection in its slope, large eyes with the most unusual gray color swirling from within, and chocolate brown colored hair framing his face in pieces—I’m not sure if he has just rolled out of bed or if product molds it just so. Either way, he is utterly beautiful.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Just be careful so you don’t fall in like Alice.” He smiles, displaying his bright white teeth.
“Again, I’m sorry but I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I notice his eyes sweep over me and my heart starts pounding.
“Through the Looking Glass,” he responds in a dangerously husky voice.
This time when he speaks I catch an accent, ever so slight but extremely sexy.
It reminds me of how Robert De Nero talks, just not as loud or fast. I continue to stare, unable to respond. I notice that his physique is long and lean. He’s dressed in worn jeans that fit him perfectly. His orange laced hiking boots scream I don’t conform. A pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses hang from the V of his gray sweater, which clings to his body perfectly. And an outdoor vest tops the outfit. It throws me off. It makes him look more like an Abercrombie model than a James Dean type. It’s a navy blue down and quilted one with a silver zipper. I don’t know why, but something about his outfit, about this man, captivates me.
“Number 98,” calls the girl from behind the counter.
He steps closer. His warm breath whispers across my neck. “Through the Looking Glass is the sequel to Alice in Wonderland. When Alice gets too close to the glass, she falls in and starts on a crazy journey,” he tells me as his arm waves in the air with a green ticket on display. Stepping closer, his gaze cuts from mine to the glass case as he hands his number to the clerk whose wearing a cute brown apron with the word Sprinkles scripted across it.
“Can I have a dozen of the black and white cupcakes?” he asks.
Suddenly alarmed, my eyes dart to the case as I watch the single remaining row of beautifully crafted cupcakes diminish until there are none left. My irritation flares as I glance at my number—97.
The beautiful stranger hands the clerk his credit card and waits to sign the slip.
“I was number 97, my number was before yours,” I say as he’s handed the bag that holds his treasure.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Here let me get the sales clerk’s attention so you don’t have to take another number,” he says.
I want to stomp my feet. I want to scream. I don’t want her attention. I don’t want another number. I want the cupcakes that he stole from me.
“Miss,” he calls draping his perfectly fit body over the case. She looks his way and with a charming grin he says, “Can you help this lovely lady? She missed her number being called.”
“Of course, I’m so sorry. How can I help you?” the girl asks averting her eyes from the man who looks like he should be on the cover of GQ magazine, over to me.
He smiles at me with a face that belongs on a billboard. “Don’t fall in.”
I swear he’s goading me. But then he tips his chin and a sexy, smoldering grin passes over his lips and I’m not so sure anymore. He turns to look at me one more time before he exits, and excitement flushes over my face. I nod a slight cursory acknowledgement, then he disappears and disappointment washes over me—he’s gone. Crap. The cupcakes are also gone. Double crap. And now I’m left wondering if he saw me staring at that flavor? Did he distract me on purpose so he could purchase them first? Urrr…I’m so angry right now I consider walking out, but when the clerk asks me what I’d like I settle for the Vanilla Milk Chocolate cakes—they are the mirror reflection of the black and whites, with vanilla cake and chocolate frosting, but they are not nearly as good.
INFORMATION ABOUT BOOK #2:
Title: TORN (Connections #2)
TORN SYNOPSIS:
Rock star River Wilde brought Dahlia London back from the brink of hopelessness with his unwavering love and devotion. But their entwined history is about to test the strength of that love…
Dahlia was certain she had found true love and met her ‘Once in a Lifetime’ when she reconnected with River. But Dahlia’s world comes crashing down when someone from her past resurfaces, and all of River’s carefully hidden secrets are exposed.
River wants to show Dahlia that life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass—it’s about dancing in the rain! But how many times can one broken heart be mended? Will River and Dahlia be able to face the turmoil together or will they be torn apart?
** TORN ** (available now – follow up to Connected)
INFORMATION ABOUT BOOK #1:
Title: Connected (Connections #1)
CONNECTED SYNOPSIS:
What if a ‘Once in a Lifetime’ could happen twice?
Suffering from a past full of tragedy, Dahlia London’s soul has been left completely shattered. Happily ever after is a far cry from reality in her world. But, when she is reconnected with her past, the bonds that form are irrefutable.
When River Wilde, lead singer of The Wilde Ones, comes back into Dahlia’s life, the intensity that fires their relationship combined with underlying feelings that have never died lead her to believe she has met her soulmate.
Struggling with confusion as old connections fade and new ones begin, Dahlia’s grief begins to lift–but guilt remains. River wants to be the one to mend all that is torn within her.
But with a past that is never really gone, can their future survive?
** CONNECTED ** (available now – first book of the series)
FIRE INSIDE: A Chaos Novel by Kristen Ashley
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori
Publication Date: June 4, 2013
Paperback Release: March 25, 2014
Rated: 5 Stars
Lanie Heron isn’t looking for love-no surprise, considering her last serious relationship nearly got her killed. So when Lanie propositions Hop Kincaid, all she wants is one wild night with the hot-as-hell biker who patrols with the Chaos Motorcycle Club . . .
For Hop, Lanie has always been untouchable. She’s too polished and too classy for his taste. But when she gives Hop the once-over with her bedroom eyes and offers him a night in paradise, he can’t say no. And he doesn’t regret it when he finds that Lanie is the best thing that’s ever happened to him-in or out of bed. Now the trick will be to convince her of that.
I loved Fire Inside! Kristen Ashley is one of my favorite authors. She always gives the readers hot, alpha men and lots of romance and she delivered with this book. This book is the second book in the Chaos Series and takes place after Motorcycle Man, which is the last book in the Dream Man Series. Lanie is Tyra’s best friend who is married to Tack, the leader of the club, and Hop is part of the Chaos Motorcycle Club. I recommend reading Motorcycle Man before this book to understand Lanie’s story. After losing her fiancé and almost dying herself, she is not looking for a relationship, but is attracted to Hop and decides to proposition him for a night of hot sex. They have an intense attraction and passion when they come together and after that one night, Hop decides he wants to keep her. He just has to convince her she belongs with him. Hop was not what I expected and really surprised me in this book. I loved him! This book was a little different then Kristen Ashley’s usual writing style, but I still loved it. Fire Inside was a hot, sexy, explosive romance that kept me captivated from start to finish. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the next one.
Go to our facebook page and comment on the giveaway post for a chance to win a paperback copy of Fire Inside.
Facebook Giveaway Link: http://fb.me/6zSspLF0e
Excerpt from FIRE INSIDE by Kristen Ashley:
Hop came out of the bathroom to see Lanie on her feet on the other side of the bed, panties on, hands twisted behind her back putting her bra on. Again.
He didn’t say a word. He prowled to her, reached out an arm the second he was close, yanked her to him and fell to his back in the bed, taking her down with him.
“Hop—” she started, pushing her weight against his arms, but he slid her off him then wasted no time rolling over her and pinning her to his bed.
“Sleep,” he ordered when he caught her eyes in the weak dawn. “After rest, I’ll get coffee, we’ll juice up, then round four.”
She blinked and breathed, “Four?”
“Got lots more I want to do to you,” he informed her and watched her eyes go soft, sexier, then her teeth came out to graze her lush lower lip, also fucking sexy, and her arms slid around him.
But she asked, “What about Tack and Ty-Ty?”
“I’ll make sure the coast is clear,” he told her.
“But they’ll see my car,” she told him.
“I’ll move it,” he offered.
Her hand slid up his back, around his shoulder, and then to his neck where her thumb moved to stroke him.
Her touch was light but, fuck, it felt good. He’d never had a woman touch him in an unconscious way like that, just a touch, a stroke, giving something that meant nothing at the same time doing it without thinking about it meant everything.
Shit.
Complicated.
“This is just supposed to be one night,” she reminded him quietly, but he saw it in her eyes. She didn’t even try to hide it. She’d bitten off more than she could chew.
He had too and he was nowhere near done eating.
She was cute. She was sweet. She was hot. She was better than he expected and he’d expected her to be pretty fucking good. All that wrapped in a package that gorgeous?
Yeah.
He was nowhere near done eating.
“Change of plans. A night and a morning and, maybe, an afternoon and, possibly, another night,” he amended, and her eyes got softer as her hand slid up to cup his jaw.
“I have to work,” she told him.
“Call off,” he told her.
“I can’t. I own the joint.” She explained something he knew, that she ran her own advertising agency. “And things are a bit crazy.”
Things were always crazy for Lanie. The woman lived crazy. She thrived on it. If there wasn’t crazy, she stirred it up because she couldn’t breathe without it.
“Babe,” he pressed his body into hers, “told you, got more I want to do to you.”
Kristen Ashley grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana, and has lived in Denver, Colorado, and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multigenerational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland, and Kristen grew up listening to the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon, and Whitesnake. Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music and love was a good way to grow up. And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
✿NEW AUDIBLE RELEASE: The Proposition: The Plus One Chronicles [Unabridged] by Jennifer Lyon (Author), Ryan Hudson (Narrator)
Audible Amazon: http://georiot.co/3xI1
RATED: 5 Stars
✿REVIEW:
I love this trilogy! I’ve read the series, but I wanted to give the audible a try too since I love the story so much. Ryan Hudson, the narrator, does an incredible job telling this story! He has an amazing voice and the way he delivers the story in different tones of voice really draws you in and makes you feel the story. He makes me want to search Audible for every romance he has narrated and listen to them all. Jennifer Lyon created a sexy and heart-wrenching romance and Ryan Hudson’s narration makes the reader really feel the emotions of her characters and it’s all delivered in a sexy voice. Hot! I loved it! My reviews for each book in this trilogy are listed below. I highly recommend it. It’s a heart-wrenching, emotional, love story about too people overcoming their past. The Plus One Chronicles was on our 2013 Favorite Romances List, but it’s a story that is going to stick with me and not be forgotten.
*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Note about Audible Books: Books are great to listen to when your driving to and from work, doing stuff around the house, working out at the gym or any other time you can’t have a book in your hands, but want to read. I listen to them on my phone with ear buds, but you can pretty much download the app to any device.
✦THE PROPOSITION (The Plus One Chronicles, Book 1) by Jennifer Lyon
Publication Date: February 26, 2013
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 4.5 Stars
✿BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Rich, sexy and volatile, Sloane Michaels has a dark agenda that keeps his heart on ice. His extreme wealth gives him the control he craves and his skills as an ex UFC fighter the tools he’ll need to extract his ultimate revenge. But when the woman he never believed he’d see again crosses his path, Sloane is caught between the vengeance he needs and a sexual conquest he craves.
Kat Thayne has been in survival mode for six years, hiding behind the sweet creations for her bakery. But when a random carjacking brings her face-to-face with her darkest fears and hottest fantasy, Kat is forced out of hiding and offered a dangerously passionate proposition. One she knows she isn’t strong enough to refuse.
✿REVIEW:
Loved it! I’ve missed Jennifer Lyon! I loved her Winged Slayer Hunter series. This book is part of a new series she started that will be 3 books. The ending left me really wanting the next book! Sloane is a hot alpha hero that is an ex UFC fighter and he owns a chain of training facilities. I thought Kat was a great female character. She is learning to protect herself after surviving an attack in her past. She doesn’t want to be dependent on a man. These two have smoking hot chemistry when they come together! This is a super steamy romance with a great plot. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a sexy romance book. I can’t wait for the next book!
✦POSSESSION (The Plus One Chronicles, Book 2) by Jennifer Lyon
Release Date: May 28, 2013
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 5 Stars
✿BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Savagely sexy billionaire Sloane Michaels ruthlessly controls his life and everything in it. Even his sex partners are carefully negotiated plus-one arrangements, including his latest, the fiery bakery owner, Kat Thayne. But Sloane’s control is challenged when his mentor becomes seriously ill, and his need for Kat, his need to possess her at all costs, rivals only his single-minded goal of vengeance for the murder of his sister.
After surviving an attack six years ago, Kat Thayne escaped her fears in the protective world of her beloved bakery. Then Sloane Michaels storms into her life, making her feel beautiful, strong and sexy. Yet as Kat pushes her boundaries and uncovers a dangerous secret in her past, Sloane’s controlling side emerges. Worried that Sloane will possess her mind, body and soul, Kat fights to keep her hard won independence. But just as Sloane demands her complete surrender, she discovers he has a dark side that could destroy them both.
✿REVIEW:
I love this series! Possession is the second book in The Plus One Chronicles and picks up where the first book, The Proposition, left off. The series should be read in order. The Plus One Chronicles is full of drama, danger, mystery, and smoking hot romance. Sloane is the ultimate sexy alpha male and pushes past all Kat’s barriers in this book. I love them together. Not only do they have chemistry and passion that will leave you sweating, but Sloane helps Kat become stronger and to get past her fears while also giving her the skills to protect herself. They both have tragedies in their pasts that are coming back into their lives in this book. Most women want to use Sloane for his money, power and connections. Kat is the first plus one relationship he has had that only wants the man, and this is making him want to possess all of her. Jennifer Lyon makes you really feel and love these characters. I can’t say enough good things about this series. They have everything I look for in great books. Possession has an intriguing plot, great characters, danger, mystery and a great love story. I loved it and can not wait for the third book, Obsession, to be released in September. Jennifer Lyon is one of my favorite authors because she always delivers a great romance story and she definitely delivered with Possession. I recommend this book, and this series for anyone looking for a great story with lots of smoking hot romance.
*Review copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
✦OBSESSION (The Plus One Chronicles, Book 3) by Jennifer Lyon
Publication Date: October 10, 2013
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 5 Stars
✿BOOK DESCRIPTION:
**Please Note: The Plus One Chronicles is a series of adult contemporary novels and are not intended for younger readers due to mature content.**
A PROPOSITION brings them together…Will an OBSESSION tear them apart?
In the explosive conclusion to The Plus One Chronicles Trilogy, obscenely rich, jaggedly handsome and still obsessed with love and vengeance, Sloane Michaels must face an impossible choice: lose the woman he loves or betray his twin sister’s memory.
Watching the man she adores destroy himself for revenge, Kat Thayne knows she should run and never look back. But running isn’t her way anymore. Kat has grown into a fierce fighter, and the man who helped her get there is the very man who needs her strength now. But as the sizzling passion and hard-won love bind Kat and Sloane even tighter together, old secrets and lies explode around them. Danger threatens. And Kat soon realizes that she’s risking more than her heart to be with Sloane…she’s risking her very life.
✿REVIEW:
Loved It! I have been impatiently waiting for Obsession to read the conclusion of Sloane and Kat’s story and I was left happy and satisfied after finishing the final book in this trilogy. I absolutely loved this trilogy! From the first book to the last we’ve seen Kat grow stronger and heal from her attack with the the training and support Sloane has given her. I loved that Sloane taught her to protect herself instead of just relying on someone else to protect her. We’ve also seen Sloane battle with his own past and loss and that all comes to a final decision in this book. Sloane and Kat’s passion and love grow binding them together throughout their story. Jennifer Lyon really made me feel for and love these characters. Heart-wrenching, emotional, suspenseful and filled with danger and passion. This trilogy is incredible! Obsession is the perfect ending for The Plus One Chronicles.
*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Jennifer Lyon, who also writes as Jennifer Apodaca, lives in Southern California where she continually plots ways to convince her husband that they should get a dog. After all, they met at the dog pound, fell in love, married and had three wonderful sons. So far, however, she has failed in her doggy endeavor. She consoles herself by pouring her passion into writing books. To date, Jen has published more than fifteen books and novellas, including a fun and sexy mystery series and a variety of contemporary romances under the name Jennifer Apodaca. As Jennifer Lyon she created a dark, sizzling paranormal series, and The Plus Once Chronicles, an emotionally sensual adult contemporary series. Jen’s won numerous awards and had her books translated into multiple languages, but she still hasn’t come up with a way to persuade her husband that they need a dog.
What a Woman Wants (A Manley Maids Novel) by Judi Fennell
Publication Date: March 4, 2014
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 4 Stars
What happens when three irresistibly sexy brothers lose a poker bet to their enterprising sister? They get hired out for her housecleaning venture. Now, the Manley Maids are at your service. Satisfaction guaranteed. It’s what a woman wants…
Resort entrepreneur Sean Manley was all set to buy an historic mansion at a great price, making a name for himself while making millions, when the seller and a poker bet change the game. Now he’s in the place as a hunky male maid and there’s one more complication: Livvy Carolla.
The house is Livvy’s inheritance. Her plan? Unload it to the highest bidder and use the cash to start her own bakery business. One look at “the help” and she’s hot to take him with her. Until she finds out he’s got a secret agenda.
But when Sean falls for the free-spirited, strong-willed Livvy, he has new ideas for the estate—and Livvy’s part in it. If all goes well, they’ll both be getting what they want. And then some.
What a Woman Wants is a fun romance that kept me smiling and laughing throughout the story. This is the first book in Judy Fennell’s The Manly Maids Series. It’s starts off with a poker game between 3 brothers and their little sister. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like the characters at first because the brothers irritated me with their thinking when it came to allowing their little sister to participate in their manly poker game. The brothers lose to their sister though and have to deliver on the bet by working for their sister’s company, Manly Maids. And yes that is exactly what it sounds like. Hunky guys clean your house for you! Ummmm yep sign me up for that service. I really enjoyed the story and I ended up really liking the characters in this book. I will be looking forward to the rest of the brothers getting their books in this fun new romance series.
*Review copy provided by Berkley/NAL in exchange for an honest review.
I have been writing for as long as I can remember, winning my first writing award in a second grade Caldecott Medal contest. Readers’ Digest gave me my very first publishing credit in April, 1994, and I was hooked. I seemed to have followed writing contests around, being a finalist in such online contests as American Title III, sponsored by Romantic Times BOOKreview Magazine and Dorchester Publishing, and two First Chapters contests, sponsored by Gather.com and Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books.
My imaginary friend was Casper the Friendly Ghost. The little ghoul even had a special place set for him at our dinner table and got blamed for many of my childhood mishaps. I grew up watching Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie and The Addams Family–my mom looked like Elizabeth Montgomery and I had a special Barbie outfit that looked like Morticia Addams’ dress. My favorite books are Bewitching by Jill Barnett and A Knight In Shining Armor, by Jude Devereaux, so it should come as no surprise that I like to write tongue-in-cheek lighthearted paranormals.
I love pop culture and manipulating language, so you’ll find lots of puns, double entrendre, plays-on-words, alliteration, clichés, and twisting of phrases, as well as several one-liners in my stories that give me a few chuckles. I studied Spanish at Penn State (Go Lions!), lived in Spain, and traveled throughout that beautiful country.
I’ve always written and still have my journal from fourth grade where, even then, my stories were full of fantastical creatures, whimsy, and magic. I wrote my first romance in 9th grade and still have that story in my memory chest. Even back then I dreamed of being a writer.
Now with kids, a husband, a house, a social life (Go Survivor Girls!), two cocker spaniels named Vixen and Raven, and a kitten named Pagan who won’t come near me unless I’ve got food, I get to live my dream of being a writer!
Title – Three Rivers Author – Chloe Barlow Genre – Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense Release Date – March 25th 2014
Blog Tour Dates – March 24th-April 4th
Synopsis
“A heartbreaking tale of letting go and learning to love again. A jaw-dropping debut novel you have to read.” – Helena Newbury, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author.
How do you start over when you gave everything to one life, one plan, and lost it all?
Althea refuses to allow herself to love again. Imprisoned in grief at twenty-four after her husband’s sudden death, she’s convinced her heart died along with him. She spends her days honoring his memory by clinging to the legal career he helped her to build and to the remaining pieces linking them together.
Griffen’s been running from his past. Despite success as an author and investigative journalist, he’s been traveling through life on autopilot. For a decade, he’s chosen perilous adventures and meaningless sex over the danger of any attachments. When he finally returns home to Pittsburgh, he’s slammed by the awakened memories and regret he’s spent years trying to escape.
A chance encounter brings them together. Their instant desire for each other – and the bond they discover between them – shocks them both. Despite her best efforts, Althea can’t resist Griffen’s charm or his intriguing proposition – if she agrees to a no-strings affair with him for the two weeks he’s in town, he swears he’ll walk away when their time is up. Assured she can test the waters of a new life while keeping her vow never to betray her husband’s memory by opening her heart to another, Althea throws herself into the escape Griffen provides her.
Their perfect plans go awry when the intensity of their connection overwhelms them. Will they risk it all on the chance of something great together…or will the power of their secrets and guilt tear them apart?
Three Rivers SOUNDTRACK
River — Joni Mitchell
La Vie En Rose — Madeleine Peyroux
All I Want — Kodaline
Little Talks — Of Monsters and Men
Ol’ Man River — Ray Charles
Change The Sheets — Kathleen Edwards
SexyBack — Justin Timberlake
Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) — Katy Perry
Blurred Lines — Robin Thicke
Let Go — Frou Frou
Sex On Fire — Kings Of Leon
Fallen (Live) — Sarah McLachlan
Sail Away — David Gray
People Gonna Talk — James Hunter
Love Is Blindness — Jack White
Into Dust — Mazzy Star
Live Like a Warrior — Matisyahu
Over the Love — Florence + The Machine
Things Will Change — Treetop Flyers
Many Rivers to Cross — Jimmy Cliff
Try — P!nk
Agape — Bear’s Den
Stronger — Kanye West
Althea — Grateful Dead
No One’s Gonna Love You — Band of Horses
Safe and Sound — Capital Cities
Reservoir — Hem
Excerpts
Excerpt #1
Griffen stroked her cheek and Althea thought how truly sorry she was to have woken him, especially because what she didn’t tell him was that tonight it wasn’t her deceased husband Jack’s face in her nightmare that turned to dust and disappeared. It was Griffen’s.
“Althea…” Griffen whispered.
“Shh. No,” she said softly as she reached up and caressed his face gently in return. “Will you just…will you please make love to me, Griffen?”
“Anytime, gorgeous.”
But it won’t be anytime anymore, Althea thought. He will turn to dust and I will be all alone. Again.
And she knew it had to be that way, because this emptiness in her heart was the penance she would always have to pay for failing Jack.
Griffen led her to the bed and they made love. It was the most tender and gentle experience of their time together. Griffen touched her everywhere, stroked her hair, kissed her face and soothed away each tear. He ran his lips down her chest and she gasped as he sucked her nipple into his mouth reverently. He somehow managed to put on a condom despite touching every part of her constantly and slid gently inside of her. She was grateful because she didn’t want any lead-in this time. She just needed him inside her, while her hands were full of his hair and his warm, giving flesh. She moaned and lifted his head from her breast to look at him.
“Baby,” he said, kissing her eyelids and finally claiming her mouth. She wrapped her legs around his, even curling her feet around his calves, desperately trying to make every inch of her body touch his.
She was so preoccupied with how full and complete she felt that her climax surprised her. This had not been about an orgasm, it was about closeness and human contact. Running off the demons of loss and fear, if only for a moment.
But Griffen didn’t know how to leave her unsatisfied. He couldn’t touch her without making her body go off like a sparkler in the backyard on the fourth of July, and even now, with his gentle lovemaking, it was no different. He groaned in her ear and came right along with her, spurring more spasms and electric shocks through her body.
“Oh Griffen, yes, Griffen,” she responded.
He leaned up and looked into her eyes, brushing her hair back from her face. His face looked so tormented.
“Oh Althea,” he said sadly over and over again, almost like a prayer, until he rolled over and held her until she finally fell into a blessedly dreamless sleep.
Excerpt #2
Althea leaned back and forced a smile and laugh as she looked around. Her brazen pretense was tossing kerosene on Griffen’s fiery emotions.
With each nervous dart of her eyes, Griffen’s heart pounded with more anger. He leaned closer and whispered hotly in her ear, “Is that better? Am I making you uncomfortable? God forbid someone thinks you aren’t a perfect widow pining away alone after all these years. That you’re still living an adult life,” he growled. “Maybe I should ignore your rules and touch you anyway. I know you like it when I do.”
“Stop it, please.” She breathed slowly, calming herself. “We can touch. Just not here.”
“Fine. I get it.” Griffen couldn’t stop how angry he felt.
The irony wasn’t lost on him. Most women he’d been with begged him to be serious with them and tell the world they were together. That had never appealed to him, until now. Yet here was this beautiful, desirable woman that he wanted to express affection to and she couldn’t bear to let anyone know they were together. He hadn’t even realized how furious it made him until he found his heart was racing and he was feeling hot with anger.
Althea must’ve sensed it because she leaned over and whispered, “No. You don’t get it, and you shouldn’t have to. This is my thing. My issue.” She looked around to see if anyone was staring at them and looked into his eyes. “I do want to touch you. I want you to touch me.” She swallowed and lowered her voice even more. “Very much.”
“Fine,” he gritted out. When he looked down at her, with her eyes turned up so full of concern while her lips parted and she panted just a little from the desire that coursed through them every time they were near each other, his heart pounded for a different reason. “I need to touch you, too…everywhere.”
“Yes, please,” she whispered.
Author Bio
Chloe is a contemporary romance novelist and practicing attorney living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband and their sweet puppy. She is a native Washingtonian that graduated Duke University with a degree in English and Chinese language. She met her husband at Duke and he brought her to Pittsburgh over a decade ago, which she has loved ever since and made her adopted hometown. She also attended the University of Pittsburgh Law School where she continued to be a book-loving nerd.
Chloe has always loved writing and although she does do it professionally as a lawyer, she cherishes the opportunity to craft her fictional novels and share them with the world.
When Chloe isn’t writing, she spends her time exploring Pittsburgh with her husband and friends. She also enjoys yoga, jogging, and all Pittsburgh sports, as well as her Duke Blue Devils. She is an avid reader and wrote her debut novel Three Rivers in her spare time. She continues her tireless legal style of research in her fiction work as well. For example, in an effort to bring authenticity to Three River’s treatment of grief and loss, she consulted with a psychologist and grief counselor during its preparation.
ECSTASY CLAIMED (Guardians of the Realm #2) by Setta Jay
Publication Date: March 28, 2014
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated: 4.5 Stars
Gregoire has spent centuries with his brother Guardians fighting for the safety and security of the Realms. Endless decades of battling mixed with bouts of mindless sex to sate his needs. Needs that haven’t truly been fulfilled since she was born. The one destined to be his bonded mate. For the last twenty five years Gregoire has kept his distance giving her time to grow into a female who is capable of handling his intense dominance.
Alyssa has done everything that was expected of her, until the day she finds out she has a mate who has left her unclaimed. Unheard of when mates are rare and coveted. Even worse is the fact that he is the most powerful of her race and a Guardian of the Realms. Furious at the rejection she decides she is now in charge of her life. No more will she allow others to rule her.
Against the backdrop of evil forces that are conspiring to topple the Realms, can Gregoire find his wayward mate before she is taken by corrupt Immortals? Can Alyssa forgive him and learn to exert her own female power while surrendering to his savage passion? And will the two of them be able to forge a mate bond that cannot be severed… or will they be forever cursed with an Ecstasy Unclaimed?
*Warning – Dirty talking, possessive alpha male; scenes of sexual exhibition; an instance of f/f; spankings and more.
An erotic romance that continues the story of the Guardians in pulse pumping style. I was afraid that the storyline would get confusing since it covers so many realms and various character side-stories but the author manages to transition in a way that maintains the continuity smoothly. Gregoire is such a strong force and I liked how Alyssa came into herself and proved to be a perfect match for him. Their romance was sizzling hot and the tense action kept me reading until the wee hours of the night. The Guardians as a whole and those surrounding them, are so much fun to learn about. Moody, funny, devoted and strong. I am loving this world and will be impatiently waiting for the next installment.
*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
✿FACEBOOK ARC GIVEAWAY: Setta Jay is giving away an advanced ebook copy of ECSTASY CLAIMED today in our Facebook Page. Stop by and comment on the giveaway post for a chance to win. Winner will be announced today (3/26) by 5PM Central.
Facebook Giveaway Post: http://fb.me/2gHOZJLki
The sad truth is that I’m not nearly as entertaining as fiction. Sigh. I am a thirty-seven year old stay at home writer, thanks to my incredibly supportive husband. We’ve been together for thirteen years and I still love waking up next to that sexy man. We lost our furry child recently, so we are childless at the moment. Our whole world revolved around her. Needless to say, I love animals, especially dogs. Okay, maybe not all animals, I’m not a super big fan of monkeys. Any animal that throws their feces kind of eeks me out. I may, or may not, have a problem with candy. I love any research that leads to Neiman Marcus’ online shoe department. Spreadsheets give me way more happiness than they should. I love to read, the dirtier the better. It all started with the naughty historical romances by Judith McNaught that I devoured as a teenager. I love reading about hot, sexy alpha males and heroines that are smart enough to live.
Sex and the Single Vamp (Entangled Covet) by Robin Covington
Publication Date: March 24, 2014
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 4.5 Stars
Cici Trent, vampire and media darling, spends her days finding true love for humans and supernaturals (the “Others”) at her dating agency. But someone is trying to sabotage her business and she needs help. Unfortunately, the best man for the job is the one who broke her still beating heart two hundred fifty-four years ago.
Deacon is a patient vampire. He’s only loved one woman in over three hundred years— Cici— and she chose another. So when she shows up in his office asking for help, he finally has the chance to lay that demon to rest. He’ll help her, but for a price—a night in his bed.
Adrenaline, mischief, and a little late-night B&E light the passion that even a couple of lifetimes couldn’t put out. But Deacon has a secret and when Cici is suddenly mortal, his deception might be the only way restore her immortality. Can love bridge the gap between a heartbeat and forever?
I loved Sex & the Single Vamp! It is Robin Covington’s first paranormal romance book and after reading it I hope it is also the beginning of a new series. I have read all Robin Covington’s contemporary romance books and enjoyed them so when I saw she was writing a paranormal romance book I had to mark it down on my list as a must read. I could not put this book down and devoured the pages. There is plenty of action. danger, conflict and smoking hot romance to hold my interest and keep me entertained. I loved the banter between the characters and just really enjoyed their story. One of the reasons I am hoping that this will become a series is because Robin Covington introduces some really great secondary characters in this book that I would love to see get their own story. If you are looking for a hot new paranormal romance I highly recommend Sex & the Single Vamp. Plus you can snag an ebook copy for $0.99 for a limited time.
*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Robin Covington loves to explore the theme of fooling around and falling in love in her bestselling books. When she’s not writing sexy, sizzling romance she’s collecting tasty man candy, indulging in a little comic book geek love, and stalking Joe Manganiello. You can find Robin at her website (robincovingtonromance.com), Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Don’t send chocolate . . . send eye candy!
Sex & the Single Vamp is my first foray into writing paranormal romance and I can admit that it was a terrifying and exciting experience. I loved writing this book.
The world-building was a blast. When I started it, I had one question: What would the world look like if we knew that “Others”vampires, werewolves, shifters, fey, and witchesreally existed and had lived among us for centuries? Would we embrace these people and remember who they were (your neighbor, co-worker, doctor and pastor) or would we be afraid and turn our backs on them?
Weaving Cici and Deacon into world events (the American Revolution, the shootout at OK Corral, for example) was so much fun and I felt a little bit like the writer of Forrest Gump. LOL.
But the heart of this story is a passion between Cici and Deacon that 254 years and heartbreak can’t extinguish. These are two people who cannot be together but who just can’t leave each other alone and they always have each other’s back.
So when Cici’s life is threatened, Deacon will forget his own pain and do whatever it takes to save hereven if it means telling the secret that will lose Cici forever.
Warning: This book contains a sexy, dominating vampire who always gets what he wants and an independent woman who won’t let a simple thing like immortality get in the way of her happiness. The author is not responsible for spontaneous combustion of the reader.
To celebrate my release, I’m giving away a $50 giftcard and 10 SWAG packs! Enter the rafflecopter for your chance to win!
EBOOK GIVEAWAY: Go to our FB post http://t.co/nYnLapcSoA and comment to enter. Winner will be announced by 5PM Central.
He let the silence fall between them as the tub filled, turning off the water when it hit the right level. He stood; his skin itched for him to get the hell out of there. He needed space. He needed to get some control over his emotions, his body.
“Water’s ready. Towels over in that basket. Stay as long as you want—the heater will maintain the temperature.”
Cici brushed past him, his body tingling where she touched him. He was hyper aware of her movements behind him, jerking slightly at the thump her high heels made when they hit the tile floor, groaning with the hiss of her minidress slithering over her skin and sliding to the floor. The swish of water as she climbed in; her sigh as she settled under the tumbling warmth. Fuck, he should leave. Where was that space he was thinking about earlier? He needed to get there.
Now.
“Come here.”
He froze. His body tensed as he willed it not to move. This was a bad idea.
“Deacon.”
He turned, her blue gaze clashing with his as steam rose around her, fl ushing her skin and making her auburn hair twist into curls that dragged and clung to her damp skin. He wanted to follow their path, licking and tasting, making her burn.
“Come here.”
He groaned. This was the time to leave. She’d want to talk and he couldn’t be trusted to keep the secrets he needed to keep for just a little while longer. One wrong slip to Cici and she’d bolt, vulnerable and too angry at him to pay attention to the danger.
“I’m…I can’t…too jacked up. My nerves are shot.”
“Your nerves are shot?” She huffed out a bitter laugh as she leaned back against the tub, eyes closed, the pale globes of her breasts breaking the surface of the water and putting her hard, pink nipples on display. “I almost got killed tonight and I need you here with me. Calm the beast and get your ass in here.”
Whoa. His cock hardened even more in the painful confines of his jeans. She was pissed and his sick, depraved mind got off on it. A new kink in his extensive arsenal.
“Look at you. You’re a goddess. Everything about you says don’t fuck with me.”
Her eyes opened, snapping to lock with his own. “Don’t make fun of me.”
“I’m not.” And he wasn’t. She was vibrating with rage and he was afraid. Afraid that her demon would reach out and grab his and he wasn’t sure he could contain the chemical reaction. He swallowed hard, loving the small burst of pain that brought him down a little. “I’m not okay tonight, Cici. I’ll hurt you.”
“Tough shit. Get the beast under control.”
“But—”
“You won’t.”
She looked at him then and he could have resisted her if she’d been a demanding shrew, but the goddam vulnerability in her eyes killed him. On the surface she was a goddess. The huntress. Diana on a rampage, but her eyes gave it away. Not far below the surface was her shimmering, open, hurting core and he had to give in to that.
His guilt, his fear, his rage would have to wait.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Don’t punish me for this later.” He reached over his head, grabbing his shirt and yanking it off and throwing it on the floor. Within a matter of seconds his jeans and boots had joined it and he was naked, his cock jutting out from his body in full arousal.
Cici drank him in, her gaze following every line of his body from the top of his head to his feet and then resettled on his groin with a flash of blue around her pupils. Deacon groaned, wrapping his hand around his dick and stroking from root to tip as she watched him, turning him on more with that look than anyone’s
touch had ever done.
Reading in Pajamas 
