Category Archives: romance reviews

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE by Jill Shalvis

 

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THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE: A Heartbreaker Bay Novel by Jill Shalvis

Publication Date: September 27, 2016

Synopsis

img_4193If she has her way…

Willa Davis is wrangling puppies when Keane Winters stalks into her pet shop with frustration in his chocolate-brown eyes and a pink bedazzled cat carrier in his hand. He needs a kitty sitter, stat. But the last thing Willa needs is to rescue a guy who doesn’t even remember her…

…He’ll get nothing but coal in his stocking.

Saddled with his great-aunt’s Feline from Hell, Keane is desperate to leave her in someone else’s capable hands. But in spite of the fact that he’s sure he’s never seen the drop-dead gorgeous pet shop owner before, she seems to be mad at him…

Unless he tempers “naughty” with a special kind of nice…

Willa can’t deny that Keane’s changed since high school: he’s less arrogant, for one thing—but he doesn’t even remember her. How can she trust him not to break her heart again? It’s time to throw a coin in the fountain, make a Christmas wish–and let the mistletoe do its work…

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Donna review 4.5 stars

This is a light and airy romance that just made me feel good. Willa and Keane are both easy to like, surrounded by their meddlesome friends that made me smile, and just enough tension to keep the story exciting. The easy camaraderie between them all made me want to move to Heartbreaker Bay and be a part of the group. I like when that happens. My only complaint would be that Willa frustrated me a time or two with her indecision. Overall it was a smooth sexy romance that wouldn’t let me put it down. If you’re looking for some stress-relief, this is it.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Excerpt

She watched Keane take in the two newest Christmas trees, one in front of O’Riley’s Pub, the other in front of Reclaimed Woods, both decorated in simple red and gold balls. The only sound around them was the soft trickle of the water flowing from the fountain and some lovelorn crickets mourning the dawn’s lack of warmth.
“Legend states that if you make a wish with a true heart, true love will find you,” she said.
He met her gaze. “Legend also states that if you put your tooth under your pillow the Tooth Fairy will leave you cash.”
She slowed, as always the fountain calling to her to make a wish. Keane slowed too, looking at her with a question.
She searched her pockets for change, but could only come up with a dog treat. “Damn.” It was the swear jar’s fault, all her spare change always ended up in there.
“What?”
“I wanted to make a wish,” she said.
A small smile crossed his face. “You want to make a wish? You’ve lived here for how long and you’ve never made one?”
“Oh, I have.” She paused. “I like to.”
This garnered her a raised brow. “How many times have you wished?”
She bit her lower lip.
“More than once?”
Well, crap. How had they gotten on this subject? “Um…”
“More than…five?”
“Gee, would you look at the time?” she asked and tried to go but he caught her and brought her back around, his smile now a broad grin.
“Fine,” she said. “If you must know, I toss a coin in every time I walk by.”
He lost the battle with his laughter and she stared at him. Seriously, he had the best laugh. “It worked for Pru, I’ll have you know,” she told him. “She wished for true love to find Finn, and then he fell in love with her.”
And Willa had been wishing ever since, even knowing how ridiculous and silly it was.
“So…you’ve been wishing for true love for who exactly?” he asked.
She stared at him in dismay. How had she not thought this through? “Me,” she admitted, slapping her pockets because surely she had even a penny. “But I intend to fix that right now. I’ll just wish for love for someone else.”
“Who?” he asked warily.
She narrowed her eyes at his fear. “You. Got any change?”

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Buy Links

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B&N

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Giveaway

$25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the Author

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s sexy contemporary and award-winning books wherever romances are sold and click on the blog button above for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp

Review & Giveaway: LOVING YOU EASY (Loving on the Edge Series) by Roni Loren

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LOVING YOU EASY (Loving on the Edge Series, Book 9) by Roni Loren

Publication Date: September 6, 2016

Genre: Erotica/ Contemporary Romance

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img_4070Three lovers really click in the latest from the New York Times bestselling author of Call on Me—

Cora has an amazing sex life. She’s beautiful, daring, and the most popular submissive in Hayven. Too bad none of it’s real…

IT specialist Cora Benning has figured out the key to her formerly disastrous love life—make it virtual. In the online world of Hayven, she’s free of her geek girl image and can indulge her most private fantasies with a sexy, mysterious master without anyone in her life discovering her secrets. Until her information is hacked and she finds herself working to fix the breach under two very powerful men—one who seems all too familiar…

Best friends and business partners Ren Muroya and Hayes Fox were once revered dominants. Then Hayes was wrongfully sent to prison and everything changed. Ren wants to get back to who they were. Hayes can’t risk it. But when they discover the new IT specialist is their online fascination, and that she’s never felt a dominant’s touch, the temptation to turn virtual into reality becomes all too great…

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Cori 4.5 Stars

I loved this book! A computer geek and two hot alpha guys? Yes, please! I love this series because each book is a scorching hot romance with a unique twist. Sometimes the book features a couple and sometimes it’s a threesome. Loving You Easy is Cora, Hayes and Ren’s story. All the characters have individual relationships and Roni Loren weaves their relationships and interactions with each other seamlessly. Loving You Easy was sexy, naughty and had secrets and danger that kept me on edge. I loved all the characters and the scorching hot romance had me fanning myself. I highly recommend this entire series for erotica romance lovers. Each book can be read as a standalone in any order you choose and Roni Loren has fun hero categories on her website for readers to choose from if you’re looking for a specific type. Grab this one, start at the beginning of the Loving On the Edge series or go to her website and pick a hero. 

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

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*Graphic from Roni Loren’s Facebook Page.

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READ AN EXCERPT ONLINE HERE

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*Graphic from Roni Loren’s page.

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Kindle | Amazon PBK | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

AMAZON SERIES LINK

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Giveaway

PAPERBACK COPY

ENTER ON FACEBOOK POST HERE

*Winner will be announced Friday (9/23) on Facebook. Reading in Pajamas is responsible for this giveaway. Must be over 18 to enter. 

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Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son.

If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that’s it. She is the National Bestselling Author of The Loving on the Edge series from Berkley Heat.

Social Media Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Spotlight, Review & Giveaway: LEVI’S BLUE by M. Leighton

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LEVI’S BLUE by M. Leighton

Publication Date: September 19, 2016

Synopsis

imageFour beautiful days. Three steamy nights. One breathtaking love.

Levi Michaelson. He caught me when I fell. Literally.

He wanted four dates. Four opportunities to prove I could trust him. Four chances to change my mind about him.

I agreed.

Probably not my smartest decision. He was everything I knew to avoid—gorgeous, charming, sexy as hell—but I couldn’t help myself. When he touched me the whole world disappeared. I should’ve known I could lose myself to him, that he could be the one man to destroy me.

I guess it’s true what they say—some things are too good to be true. And Levi Michaelson might just be one of them.

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Cori 4.5 Stars

I’m obsessed with Levi! When you finish a book and immediately miss the characters you know it was a great one. Levi’s Blue was a great book! There was secrecy about this book when M. Leighton sent out requests for reviewers. To fully experience the story there are things the reader should discover as they read the book. We didn’t even get a title. I usually require so many details before picking up a book, but I signed up for this one without knowing anything about it because I know M. Leighton is a great storyteller. I’m so glad I did because I thought Levi’s Blue was beautiful love story with unique twists that had my emotions all over the place. I highly recommend it. Don’t read any spoilers before hand and get lost in a great romance.

*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Excerpt

Now the evening is coming to an end and we’re making our way back to the hotel. The night is balmy, the air sweet with the scent of flowers and beignets, and the man at my side is insinuating himself under my skin more and more with each step, each breath. Each heartbeat.
Levi’s body is plastered to my side. Or maybe my body is plastered to his. I don’t know which, and I don’t really care. I only know that air can’t even get between us.
And yet I want to be closer.
So much closer.
His fingers are linked with mine, and his thumb is making an arc over my palm. I feel every brush of his skin like a touch to my core. A sweep over my most sensitive place, back and forth, winding me tighter and tighter, fueling an ache that has been days in the making.
My breaths start to come faster, and all my attention shifts to where our bodies meet, to every point of friction along my arm, across my hand. My skin is hypersensitive, the rasp of the material of my dress over my naked body enough to cause a moan to hover at the back of my throat. It’s like I can feel my own blood pumping through my veins, bathing my nerves, setting them on edge.
I’m on fire with only one way to douse the flames.

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Buy Links

Kindle: http://amzn.to/2cYjs03
B&N: http://smarturl.it/LevisBlueBN
iBooks: http://smarturl.it/LevisBlueiBooks
Kobo: http://smarturl.it/LevisBlueKobo
Goodreads: http://smarturl.it/LevisBlueGR

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Giveaway

EBOOK COPY OF LEVI’S BLUE 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Ebook claim code will be gifted from Amazon and paid for by Reading in Pajamas.

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About the Author

New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, M. Leighton lives in the deep South with her super-hero husband and super-smart maltipoo. She has a fondness for coffee and chocolate, loves the color red, laughs at almost anything and often stares out her window, daydreaming of far-away places.

Sign up for my newsletter! Get new release notices, updates, exclusive teasers and giveaway opportunities. Also, come visit my website, too! Look around, see what you find.

If you like to chat, you can connect with me in Laid-back with Leighton, my private Facebook group.

You can also connect with me on some pretty cool sites like these:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

Or you can always email me. However you like it best is great with me. I love hearing from you!

Also, if you like music, you might like to know that I do, too, and that it plays a big role in my inspiration. For that reason, I create a playlist for each book I write, adding the songs that inspire me as I go. You can find all my playlists here on Spotify.

Visit Amazon.com’s M. Leighton Page and shop for all M. Leighton books http://amzn.to/2cbgNir

Review: SKIN DEEP: Station Seventeen Book One by Kimberly Kincaid

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SKIN DEEP: Station Seventeen Book One by Kimberly Kincaid

Publication Date: September 20, 2016

Genre: Romantic Suspense/ Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

img_4058Where there’s smoke…

For firefighter Kellan Walker, checking his emotions at the door doesn’t just keep him on the level. It keeps him alive. A gut-wrenching find at the scene of a blaze threatens to blow his ironclad composure, but when the detective assigned to the case is the same woman who put his sister’s life at risk three months ago, all bets for Kellan being calm, cool, or collected are definitely off.

There’s bound to be fire…

Keeping people safe is Isabella Moreno’s number one priority, no matter how tough the case. Working without solid leads and with the gorgeous, broody firefighter who believes she’s responsible for endangering his sister on a previous case isn’t ideal. But someone is hurting women in the here and now. Isabella will do whatever it takes to find justice.

As Kellan and Isabella reluctantly team up to catch a criminal, they realize they have more in common than they’d ever imagined. With every move, the stakes grow higher and the passion sizzles hotter, but can they race against the clock and the odds to catch a killer? Or will they lose their hearts–and their lives?

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Donna review 4.5 stars

Ms. Kincaid has delved deep into the nitty-gritty of romantic suspense in this thrilling novel, while keeping her trademark writing style. Kellan is a strong, sexy firefighter who gets thrust together with an equally strong cop. He and Isabella have an unpleasant history but boy do they work through that problem! I enjoyed the pace of their relationship and especially how sexy and hot it grew. The danger threatening them flowed well with the perfect bad guy, and I found myself tensing a few times when things got tough. It was intriguing enough that I forgave some of Isabella’s predictable actions. All in all, a riveting book to start off this new series. I can’t wait for book two!

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

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Excerpt

Kellan took a step back on the pavement. He’d done what he’d come here to do. Moreno was safe at her car. The scene around them was secure. He needed to go before he did something stupid. “I guess I should get out of here. I called in for the first couple hours of my shift tomorrow, but I still have to punch the clock at oh nine-hundred.”
“Oh.” Isabella swiveled a glance over the quiet street. “Did you park nearby?”
Ah, hell. “No, I…walked.”
“You walked?” Her tone painted the question as a direct descendant of are you crazy? and screw it. He nodded, letting one corner of his mouth drift up into a half-smile.
“I was in the Army. I’m used to humping it places. Anyway, the trip’s not too far.”
At Moreno’s lifted brows, he caved the rest of the way. “Okay, okay. My apartment is six miles from here. But the walking clears my head.”
It would have to do for an explanation, because if she thought the walking part was nuts, he was pretty certain the whole I walk to get my emotions in check otherwise there’s a decent chance I’d fucking self-destruct thing would go over like a two-ton boulder.
“If you say so.” Isabella laughed, the soft, throaty sound hitting him right in the center of his chest. “Six miles is kind of a lot, though, and you’ve already done it once tonight. Do you want a ride?”
Kellan realized in that moment that she’d stepped toward him to regain the space he’d given her; that suddenly, her body was very much within touching distance, and that despite the warning coming from the small corner of his brain still allowing rational thought, the darker, baser rest of him wanted nothing more than to make their earlier kiss a prelude to better things. Hotter things.
Naked things.
“I’m not sure that’s such a good idea,” he said, the roughness in his voice spotlighting the words as a lie. But the hungry look in her eyes, along with the current of want burning in his veins at the sight of it, was the product of circumstance and nothing more. They’d just snuck into a sex party thrown by a highly dangerous criminal and garnered a lead that would blow Isabella’s case wide open. Of course they were wired. They probably had more adrenaline winging through their bodies than blood right now. But Kellan of all people knew that actually acting on those keyed-up endorphins was dangerous as hell.
Fuck, he wanted her anyway.
Isabella’s catlike smile—this one genuine, sweet and sexy and shared like a naughty secret—ensured he wouldn’t get a blink of sleep tonight, even after the six-mile haul home. “Not a good idea,” she repeated. “Because?”
He weighed his options. Saw that he had no good ones. And went with the truth.
“Because if you give me a ride back to my apartment, I’ll be tempted to ask you to come upstairs.”
“Ah.” But rather than retreating or clamming up in awkward silence, Moreno tilted her head to bring her mouth mere inches from his. “Is that what you want? For me to come upstairs with you?”
“Yes.” His honesty flew out, hot and unchecked.
Isabella met it with a twist of her lips that made his cock go hard and his pulse rush fast against his throat.
“Get in the car and ask me upstairs, Walker. My answer’s not no.”

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Buy Links

$4.99 Kindle | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

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About the Author

imageKimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance that splits the difference between sexy and sweet. When she’s not sitting crosslegged in an ancient desk chair known as “The Pleather Bomber,” she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. Kimberly is a 2011 RWA Golden Heart® finalist who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food is love. She resides in northern Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
 

Review: BANG: B-Squad Book Two by Avery Flynn

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BANG: B-Squad Book Two by Avery Flynn

Publication Date: September 12, 2016

Genre: Contemporary Romance/ Romantic Suspense

Synopsis

cracked metal plateFreelance investigator Isaac Camacho has a weakness for bitchy blondes, and no one fits the bill quite like former beauty queen and gold digger Tamara Post. She’s sexy, feisty and on the run from a cult leader. Complicated women? Oh he loves them almost as much as he loves watching Tamara act like a total ice queen when he knows she burns white hot.

Calculating opportunist Tamara Post never cared what anyone thought about her—except for her sister. But when her sister dies, it’s up to Tamara to hide her teenage niece so the girl’s dictatorial father can’t marry her off to one of his disciples. The last thing Tamara has time for is Isaac—a man who flirts as well as he fills out a pair of worn jeans and whose stubborn determination to help makes it hard to act as if she’s really as cold as she appears.

When the bad guys find her, there’s only one person Tamara can depend on to help keep her alive until her niece is safe. But once the life and death chase is on, it’s not just their lives Tamara and Isaac are risking…but their hearts.

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This was a fun, fast paced story that kept me eagerly reading to see what happens next. Of course, Isaac is a super-hottie with charm to spare. I like how Ms. Flynn kept that southern charm from becoming too overblown. Tamara is a determined woman who has learned to show others just what she wants them to see. I did have a hard time liking her, but I cared too much for her goal to let my indifference get in the way. Which is a good thing because it was worth the read. Overall it was a sexy romance with enough action to keep you glued to the pages. I am a fan of the B-Squad and will wait impatiently for the next installment.

*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

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*Graphics from Avery Flynn’s Page 

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Excerpt

http://averyflynn.com/bang-b-squad-book-two-sneak-peek/

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Buy Links

Kindle | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

AMAZON SERIES LINK

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About the Author

imageAvery Flynn has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip.

She fell in love with romance while reading Johanna Lindsey’s Mallory books. It wasn’t long before Avery had read through all the romance offerings at her local library. Needing a romance fix, she turned to Harlequin’s four books a month home delivery service to ease the withdrawal symptoms. That worked for a short time, but it wasn’t long before the local book stores’ staffs knew her by name.

Avery was a reader before she was a writer and hopes to always be both. She loves to write about smartass alpha heroes who are as good with a quip as they are with their *ahem* other God-given talents. Her heroines are feisty, fierce and fantastic. Brainy and brave, these ladies know how to stand on their own two feet and knock the bad guys off theirs.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter | Amazon Author Page

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: THE ONE REAL THING by Samantha Young

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THE ONE REAL THING by Samantha Young

Publication Date: September 6, 2016

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Synopsis

imageWelcome to Hartwell, a quiet seaside escape where uncovering old secrets could lead one woman to discover the meaning of a love that lasts…

While Doctor Jessica Huntington engages with the inmates at the women’s correctional facility where she works, she’s always careful to avoid emotional attachments in her personal life. Loss and betrayal taught her that lesson long ago. But when she comes across a set of old love letters in the prison’s library and visits the picturesque town of Hartwell to deliver them to their intended recipient, she finds herself unable to resist the town’s charm—and her attraction to the sexy owner of a local bar proves equally hard to deny.

Since his divorce from his unfaithful ex-wife, Cooper Lawson has focused on what really matters: his family and the boardwalk pub they’ve owned for generations. But the first time Jessica steps into his bar, Cooper is beyond tempted to risk his heart on her.

Yet as their attraction grows hotter and Jessica remains stubbornly closed off, he begins to realize it will take more than just passion to convince her there’s only one real thing in life worth fighting for…

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Excerpt

Why did it feel like having sex had complicated things so much? Usually sex was complication-free for me.
But before that night I’d been completely sure that Cooper was interested in exploring something more with me, and now I was freaking out that his interest would wane now that he’d had me.
I shook my head slowly. “No. It was good.”
He scowled, his arms tightening around me so much there wasn’t an inch of space between us. “It was better than fucking good, Jessica.”
I scowled back and pushed at his chest for some breathing space. “Well, I’m sure you’d know all about that.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“You use the word ‘fuck’ a lot.”
“It’s a good fucking word.”
I was tempted to laugh at how disgruntled he sounded and he seemed to catch my amusement because his hold on me eased.
“What’s going on in your head, Jess?”
I thought about evading this conversation. I’d never had to have an adult, open conversation with a man about sex. However, I realized, somewhat reluctantly, if I wanted something more with Cooper Lawson I was going to have to give him more than I was used to giving.
I couldn’t change his past, but I could figure out what it was he wanted in the future by just being honest and asking the question.
“You still want something with me, right? This”—I gestured behind me to the table—“it wasn’t just about sex.”
“No,” he said. “It’s not just about sex.”
As I heaved a sigh of relief, he let go of my waist to cup my face in his hands, dipping his head down to mine so our noses almost touched. He stared deep into my eyes and I shivered. I felt like he was trying to see right into my soul.
“I’m in this for the long haul, Doc. I was before you walked into my bar tonight, but now, after the best fucking sex of my life, after how wild that was, there’s no way I’m letting you walk out of here without me.”
And there he went doing it again.
His words resonated deep within me along with giving me that deep, sexual belly flip of arousal.
My fingers curled into the top of his biceps. “Best sex of my life, too,” I murmured. “It stunned me a little. Confused me . . . I thought maybe . . . you . . . this was old hat for you . . .”
He gave me a crooked grin. “You think I make a habit of fucking women in my bar.”
“You could,” I said. “You are definitely a man who could pull that off.”
Cooper threw his head back in laughter and I pressed my body deeper into his to feel his joy.
And then he wrapped his arms around me and hugged me.
Just as I’d suspected, he was a really good hugger.
When he pulled back he was smiling gently at me. “You’re the only woman I’ve had in my bar.” He let me go only to take my hand in his. “No one sits at that table anymore.” He gestured to the scene of the best sex we’d both ever had. “It’s now a shrine.”
“You can’t do that!” I was mortified at the possibility of people finding out why there was a table in Cooper Lawson’s bar that no one was allowed to sit at.
“I can. It’s my bar. I think I’ll even carve ‘Coop and Doc were here’ on it.”
Finally getting that he was joking, I made a face. “Funny.”
“You’re slow on the uptake tonight,” he teased.
“My brain was just frazzled by the orgasm to beat all orgasms.”
He squeezed my hand. “You up for more brain frazzling?”
I shivered at the thought. “Definitely.”
His eyes darkened. “Let’s go back to my place.”
Exhilarated by the prospect, I followed him, and it wasn’t until we’d stepped outside the bar into the cool night air that I said, “I don’t suppose you know where my panties are?”
“I do, actually.” He led me to the back of his bar to the parking lot. A dark-colored GMC was the only truck there.
“Um . . . could I have them, please?”
He stopped me at the passenger side of the truck, pressing me up against the car. “Why?” he whispered against my lips before he kissed me deeply. He came up for air a few seconds later. “You’re not going to need them where we’re going.”
The nagging pressure between my legs increased. “You are so very, very good at stringing the exact right words together.”
He kissed me again.
“You’re just good with your mouth in general,” I murmured.
Cooper grinned and brushed his lips over mine. “In the truck, Doc.”

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Cori 4 Stars

The One Real Thing was a great start to Samantha Young’s new romance series, The Hart’s Boardwalk Series. I’m hooked and will be grabbing each book as they come out. Each book in this series will be standalones about different couples in this little seaside town Smanatha Young has created. The details and descriptions made me feel like I was in Hartwell and interacting with all the people who lived there. I loved Jessica and Cooper together. The romance was slow building, but steamy and the storyline drew me into the characters lives. I love this new town with unique and interesting characters. The One Real Thing was a beautifully written love story. I can’t wait to visit Hartwell again when the next book comes out.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review. 

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Buy Links

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Samantha Young’s Amazon Page

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Giveaway

5 copies of THE ONE REAL THING by Samantha Young! (open internationally)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the author

Samantha Young is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the On Dublin Street series, including Moonlight on Nightingale Way, Echoes of Scotland Street, and Fall from India Place, as well as the standalone novel Hero. She resides in Scotland.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Review: RUTHLESS (A Lawless Novel) by Lexi Blake

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RUTHLESS (A Lawless Novel) by Lexi Blake

Publication Date: August 9, 2016

Synopsis

imageThe first in a sexy contemporary romance series featuring the Lawless siblings—from New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake.

The Lawless siblings are bound by vengeance. Riley, Drew, Brandon, and Mia believe the CEO of StratCast orchestrated their parents’ murder twenty years ago to steal their father’s software program. And there’s only one way Riley can find some solid evidence…

Heir to the StratCast legacy, Ellie Stratton hires a new attorney to handle a delicate business matter—and she’s shocked by her attraction to him. Over the course of a few weeks, Riley becomes her lover, her friend, her everything. But when her life is threatened, Ellie discovers that Riley is more obsessed with settling an old score than in the love she thought they were building. And Riley must choose between a revenge he’s prepared for all his life and the woman he’s sure he can’t live without…

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Check out an EXCERPT and BOOK TRAILER here: 

http://www.lexiblake.net/books/lawless/ruthless/

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Cori 4.5 Stars

I picked up Ruthless based on the author and cover alone. The cover is so pretty that I want to pet it and I love Lexi Blake’s books. Ruthless was incredible! This new series is a spinoff of Lexi Blake’s Masters and Mercenaries series. The Lawless series will have a book for each of the brothers in the Lawless family, but their sister Mia has a book in the Masters and Mercenaries series, Dominance Never Dies. You don’t have to read it before picking up Ruthless, but if you want to follow the complete storyline I’d read it first. I’m so excited about this series after reading Ruthless. The Lawless Series is all about the Lawless siblings seeking vengeance for their murdered parents and Ruthless is Riley and Ellie’s story. Their story was full of deception, secrets, intrigue, passion and suspense. I loved it! I love a good mystery and Lexi Blake delivered that with some hot romance! I highly recommend this new series and can’t wait for the next installment. I’ll be devouring it as soon as I can get my greedy little hands on it.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

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Buy Links

Kindle | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

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Lexi Blake’s Lawless Series is a spinoff from her Masters and Mercenaries Series. The Lawless series is about a family and if you would like to read Mia’s book before this one you can check it out here:

Dominance Never Dies (Masters and Mercenaries Book 11) by Lexi Blake for $4.99 http://amzn.to/2aRGUKI

Masters and Mercenaries Series Link: http://amzn.to/2aRKu7B

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About the Author

imageNY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Author Page

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Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Reaper’s Fire: Reapers Motorcycle Club by Joanna Wylde

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Reaper’s Fire: Reapers Motorcycle Club by Joanna Wylde

Publication Date: August 9, 2016

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imageimageNew York Times bestselling author Joanna Wylde returns to the “wild and raw”* world of the Reapers MC with the story of Gage and Tinker…
The club comes first.

I’ve lived by those words my whole life—assumed I’d die by them, too, and I never had a problem with that. My Reaper brothers took my back and I took theirs and it was enough. Then I met her. Tinker Garrett. She’s beautiful, she’s loyal, and she works so damned hard it scares me sometimes . . . She deserves a good man—one better than me. I can’t take her yet because the club still needs me. There’s another woman, another job, another fight just ahead.

Now she’ll learn I’ve been lying to her all along. None of it’s real. Not my name, not my job, not even the clothes I wear. She thinks I’m nice. She pretends we’re just friends, that I’ve still got a soul . . . Mine’s been dead for years. Now I’m on fire for this woman, and a man can only burn for so long before he destroys everything around him.

I’m coming for you, Tinker.

Soon.

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Excerpt

“I can’t believe how late it is,” Tinker said, yawning, and I realized the movie had ended. Now she stretched upward, the blanket falling to her waist as her boobs pushed forward.
God, how much should a man be expected to take?
I should’ve stayed away from her completely—that’d been the plan—but something had snapped when I’d seen her out in the courtyard. Couldn’t remember the last time I’d met a woman like Tinker. She was smart and sexy and funny, and she worked damned hard to take care of her family and business. Sure, I wanted to fuck her—you’d have to be gay not to—but I respected her, too.
“I should probably get going,” she said, offering me a smile so sweet I wanted to bite her lips. “I like to check on Dad before going to sleep, and I’ve got to be up early in the morning. I’ve got to package orders for the courier tomorrow—if they aren’t ready by two p.m., I’m screwed.”
I considered rolling over on top of her. Pushing her down into the couch cushions, shoving my leg between hers, and showing her what a real man feels like.
“Cooper?” she asked, looking confused. I blinked a couple times, forcing myself to focus on her face.
“I’m going to watch another one,” I told her, because I’m a goddamn masochist. “You sure you’re ready to head out?”
She frowned, and I could almost read her thoughts. Yes, she should leave. But she wanted me as much as I wanted her. And yeah, I realize that makes me sound like an egotistical ass, but this wasn’t my first rodeo. I saw the lust in her eyes, and the way she licked her lips and stared at my mouth. This wasn’t a one-way street, not even close.
“I guess I could stay a little longer,” she whispered. Christ, she was so sweet and soft. I wanted to bite her even more now. Suck that pouty lower lip into my mouth and shove a finger up her ass.
Break her.
You’re one sick fuck.
Why yes. Yes, I am. Thanks for noticing.
I managed to control the urge, catching her hand instead, giving it a friendly squeeze like some kind of pathetic tool. Her fingers tightened on mine, then she pulled away and snuggled back down under the blanket, raising her feet to rest on the coffee table. I grabbed the remote and clicked through the menu.
Tomorrow I’d do my job. I’d fuck Talia and spy on Marsh and look for any kind of weakness that might end this situation, the faster the better. Tonight, though . . . Tonight I’d pretend this wasn’t a waste of time.
Goddamn, but my dick hurt.
The next hour was torture.
Tinker sat next to me, all cute and classy and absolutely refusing to make any kind of eye contact. I don’t know how she felt, but to me the sexual tension hanging in the air was thick and heavy. I kept thinking about her hand in mine—small, but strong. The hand of someone who knew how to work hard. So far as I knew, Talia had never held down a job, let alone supported herself.
The couch shifted, and I glanced over to find Tinker sliding deeper into the cushions, drawing the blanket up to her chin. Our legs were maybe six inches apart. She shifted again, and then her hand bumped mine under the blanket. She jerked it back quickly, and I caught the hint of a flush on her cheeks. That was another thing I liked about her—her skin was so pale that I could see every hint of arousal.
Grabbing her hand, I pulled it over to rest on my thigh. This was a really bad idea, so I pointedly refused to think it through. Her hand tensed at first, then relaxed into my strength. My cock swelled against the fabric of my jeans, just inches from her fingers—it’d be so easy to push her hand toward it, wrap it around my painfully swollen dick, and just go to town.
Tinker’s fingers gave a quick squeeze—almost more of a spasm—and I bit back a groan.
Yeah, okay. Really, really bad idea. I should get off the couch and shut this shit down right now, because I couldn’t afford to blow things with Talia just yet. Instead I found myself leaning toward Tinker, bumping shoulders.
God.
I’d grown a pussy. No other explanation, because I couldn’t figure out why the hell else an adult man would sit holding hands under a damned blanket like a kid.

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Cori 5 Stars

I loved this book! I love this entire series, but I think this one is one of my favorites. I not only loved Gage, I loved Tinker too. Tinker and her friends were so much fun and Tinker herself was someone I would want to be friends with. I was rooting for her throughout the whole book. I wanted sit on her front porch with her and watch Gage mow the yard shirtless and drink wine. Joanna Wylde creates characters that feel so real that the reader feels like they’re in the story too. Reaper’s Fire was an exciting, emotional and sexy read that kept me flipping the pages from start to finish. Each book can be read as a standalone, but I recommend you start at the beginning to fully enjoy the series and characters. I highly recommend the entire series. Joanna Wylde delivers hot bad boys in beautiful love stories. Reaper’s Fire is going on my Top Favorites of 2016 list.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

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Buy Links

Kindle: http://amzn.to/1SAZswv
Amazon PBK: http://amzn.to/1OPlDcb
iBooks: http://apple.co/1JUbzxl
Nook: http://bit.ly/1mzrJaD
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1Uu6bXu

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✿Reapers Motorcycle Club Series by Joanna Wylde✿
✦#1: Reaper’s Property (Re-Released for $3.99)
✦#2: Reaper’s Legacy
✦#3: Devil’s Game ➢ Review 5 Stars 
✦#4: Reaper’s Stand ➢ Review 5 Stars 
✦Silver Bastard (Silver Valley) ➢ Review 5 Stars
✦#5: Reaper’s Fall ➢ Review 5 Stars
✦#6: Reaper’s Fire (Releasing 8/9/16)

Amazon Series Link: http://amzn.to/1OPnuOl

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imageHave you heard?
Reaper’s Property by Joanna Wylde has a NEW COVER!

Meet Horse & Marie for ONLY $3.99 (normally $7.99)
Author’s Note: This book was originally released through a small publisher in 2013. This independent edition has been lightly edited, and contains a bonus short, “Sticky Sweet” (originally published on the author’s website) and a Q&A with the author.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1UFmvDA
iBooks: http://apple.co/2a26FZ2
Nook: http://bit.ly/2a26zRw
Kobo:http://bit.ly/29NmSxQ

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Giveaway

Signed copy of Reaper’s Fire

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Joanna Wylde is a New York Times bestselling author and creator of the Reapers Motorcycle Club series. She currently lives in Idaho.

Social Media Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 Check out this Guest Post from Joanna Wylde:

 ✦S.I.L.V.E.R. Bastard Blog Tour – V is for Villain Guest Post from Joanna Wylde http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-2hk

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Spotlight, Review & Giveaway: DARE TO STAY (The Sons of Steel Row #2) by Jen McLaughlin

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DARE TO STAY (The Sons of Steel Row #2) by Jen McLaughlin

Publication Date: August 2, 2016

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Synopsis

imageFans of Katie Ashley, Joanna Wylde, Kristen Ashley, Sophie Jackson and Katee Robert will be thrilled by this dark, steamy series, from the New York Times bestselling author of the Out of Line novels, where one gang of criminals knows just how being bad can be so good…

Bruised and bloodied on Boston’s mean streets, Chris O’Brien is reeling from the loss of his childhood best friend. But after barely escaping a hit placed on his head, Chris is desperate to live. A safe haven comes to mind – the home of the perfect girl from his childhood, Molly Lachlan. Before he has fully considered what it would mean to involve her in his mess, he finds himself on her doorstep.

When Molly agrees to let Chris inside her home, she realizes she’s also letting him into her life. Danger and desperation are coming off him like steam, and yet she can’t bring herself to turn him away. His bad boy charm always had a hold on her, but now there’s a soulfulness and sorrow in him that she’s never seen before. And despite the heart-stopping risk of helping him, she hopes against all reason that he’ll stay…

The stakes are dangerously high…and the passion is seriously intense. Follow the exploits of the Sons of Steel Row in Dare To Run and Dare To Stay.

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Excerpt

Doug nodded, his lower face smeared with blood. “Yes, sir.”

“Good.” I pointed at the crates. “Now, wipe the blood off your face and get the rest of these unloaded. And make sure you clean up after yourself. We don’t need a blood trail.” I threw a scathing glance at the rest of the crew, who’d done nothing but watch. “That goes for all of you.”

They all jumped into motion like obedient worker ants, including Doug. No one spoke, but they exchanged silent glances as they moved the crates out of the container and into the truck that would carry the goods to the old ware- house outside Steel Row where we stored our inventory. I’d busted their buddy’s nose, but in this world? That earned you respect.

They wouldn’t mess with me again.

Chris, my best friend and another lieutenant, came over to me, crossing his arms as he got closer. He watched me with an appreciative light in his brown eyes. Chris was the one exception to my no-trust rule. He’d gotten me into this world, against all odds, and had been there for me when I’d needed him most. “You handled that well.”

It was sick that beating some dude up was a way to earn praise in my career field, but it was what it was. This life was the only life I ever would know. And that was ne by me. “He deserved it for being a dick.”

“That’s because none of these guys take you seriously.” Chris lowered his head, his brown hair hiding his eyes from me, and studied his nails. His green T-shirt pulled at his muscular arms, and his ink spread all the way down to his wrist. He’d been in the gang since he’d been a teen, like me. He’d joined because his pa had been a member, so this life had been carved out for him from the moment he came into this world.

Those weren’t my reasons for joining.

Hell, I wouldn’t know my father if I passed him on the street. When my mother was alive, God rest her soul, I’d doubted if she’d even known who he was, either.

“Yeah, well, that’s their mistake.” I straightened my sleeves. “Not mine.”

He looked over at the crew, who definitely had a new sense of urgency in their movements. “Maybe because you’ve been in lockup the past two years. They didn’t know who you were, besides the fact that you got put away for assault, and now you’re here, bossing them around on the docks.”

Chris and I had always been tight. When I’d been doing time, he’d come to visit me twice a month. Kept me posted on the happenings in the real world. He’d visited more than my actual brother had, but that was no surprise. I’d always looked out for Scotty, but Scotty wasn’t exactly the sentimental type of guy who put a priority on family visits. And that was fine, too. “I hadn’t been planning on being here at all. This isn’t my department. I came because of the damn ATF. And Scotty has some chick on the line.”

“Since when do you care what Scotty wants when it comes to this shit?”

I shrugged. “Since I spent some time behind bars . . . Scotty and I aren’t as close as we once were. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to let him play chicken with the feds. He’s too damn cocky for his own good.”

“So he’s off fucking some girl while you stick your neck out for him? Like usual?” Chris rolled his eyes.

I moved my shoulders, wanting nothing more than to get the hell out of here. They were almost finished, so I’d be free any minute now. Free. Funny choice of words. I’d never be free. Not really. The closest I got to free was when I walked down the Freedom Trail. “Yeah. Basically.”

“You’ve got to stop treating him like a kid. He’s twenty- four now.” Chris looked at me, studying me too close. Chris was the only one who caught glimpses of the real me. “He’s not the little boy you need to protect anymore. He can take care of himself. A little too well, maybe.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.

“Nothing, man. Nothing at all.” He shuffled his feet and stared at the guys as they did a final check of the shipping container. “I heard you almost got taken down inside. What happened?”

I shrugged. “Someone jumped me from behind on the way out of lunch. I fought him off long enough to keep my life, but I didn’t get a clear look at his face before the guards dragged him away. A buddy on the inside said he looked like a new guy but couldn’t point him out. It all happened too fast.”

“You almost died.”

Laughing, I scratched my head. “Yeah, well, I didn’t, did I? Good thing I’m out, safe and sound, now,” I drawled.

Chris rocked back on his heels. “You suspect something, don’t you?”

“Don’t you?” I looked at Chris. “You can’t bullshit a bullshitter. I see it in your eyes. You know something’s up.” “Maybe I do. Maybe I don’t. But a smart man never talks.” Chris dropped his hands at his sides and whistled through his teeth. As he walked away, he said over his shoulder, “Not in this world.”
“Not even for his blood brother?”

Chris paused, his broad shoulders tight. “Not even then.”

“Glad to see you haven’t forgotten me, brother,” I said, pressing my fingers over the old scar in my palm. One of the two Chris and I had made all those years ago on the railroad tracks behind my home. Ma had been pissed at me for deliberately cutting myself. If it’d gotten infected, it would have meant medical bills we couldn’t afford. I’d gone to bed without dinner that night. “Have a good night.”

Chris spun on his heel and came back, his cheeks red and rage in his eyes. “You know nothing. Nothing. You weren’t here, asshole. You were gone, and the whole thing went to shit. You left me to fend for myself in the damn Sons of Steel Row all by myself.”

I cocked a brow. “Excuse me for getting arrested.”

“Ha-ha, so funny, fuckwad.” Chris clenched his fists. “You want me to tell you what I think? You want it that bad?”

I forced myself to shrug. “If you feel so inclined, sure.”

“I think someone is putting all his players into motion, and it all started the second we got word that you got parole.” Chris looked me up and down, his nostrils flaring. “And I suggest, brother, that you watch your back.”

I held my hands out at my sides, forcing a carefree grin . . . even though I felt like anything but. “I always do. It would take a ghost to sneak up on me.”

Chris shook his head. “Don’t be so damn cocky. It just might just be your downfall.”

“Or it just might be my protection.”

“Whatever, man,” Chris said, locking eyes with me. “Whatever.”

As he walked away, I dropped the grin and fisted my hands. “Thanks.”

Chris didn’t say anything. Just walked up to the newly loaded truck, the men in either the cab or their own vehicles. He tapped the back of the truck to signify that all was well, and the truck took off. Chris followed behind it in his car, the others falling in line behind him. He’d make sure everything got to the warehouse, unpacked, and inventoried. I stared at the convoy as it disappeared from sight, then turned around and left, making sure to keep my steps whistled “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

No matter what I did, I couldn’t show my certainty that Chris was right. I’d been thinking the same thing, so hearing it straight from the mouth of the only man I trusted in this world? Yeah, that pretty much answered my unasked questions. It seemed clear as day that this was an inside job, and that meant . . .

Someone in Steel Row wanted me dead.

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Cori 5 Stars

I loved DARE TO STAY even more than I loved DARE TO RUN! I started picked up the first book in this series because of the cover alone. The covers are that hot. The books live up to the covers though. This series delivers the hot romance. DARE TO STAY is the second book in Jen McLaughlin’s Sons of Steel Row series and can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading the first book before picking up this one if you want the complete storyline. DARE TO STAY is Chris and Molly’s book and they are perfect for each other. I love the bad boy/ villain heroes matched up with good girls. Their chemistry was off the charts. I fell in love with Chris! He’s this tortured bad boy hero and the more I read about him the more I wanted to be Molly in this book. Isn’t that what we all want in a romance book? This series is on my “must have immediately and devour” list and I’ll be waiting impatiently for the next book. I highly recommend this series for romance lovers who love a bad boy hero.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

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Buy Links

Kindle: http://amzn.to/1Mn0nKS
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/1VcPQcH
B&N: http://bit.ly/1NzTtSQ
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1JeGJ27
iBooks: http://apple.co/1Ylkgwz

CHECK OUT BOOK 1 IN THE SERIES:
DARE TO RUN (The Sons of Steel Row #1) by Jen McLaughlin
REVIEW 4.5 Stars: http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-3Os
Kindle: http://amzn.to/1QuZtSt
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/1HZcyLJ
B&N: http://bit.ly/1Rrlh1K
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1HDfUZa
iTunes: http://apple.co/1QvrQ3f

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Giveaway

$5 GIFT CARD

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the author

imageJen McLaughlin is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of sexy books with Penguin Random House. Under her pen name, Diane Alberts, she is also a USA TODAY bestselling author of Contemporary Romance with Entangled Publishing. Her first release as Jen McLaughlin, Out of Line, hit the New York Times, USA TODAY and Wall Street Journal lists. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter | Goodreads

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Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: WANDERLUST by Roni Loren

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WANDERLUST by Roni Loren

Publication Date: July 19, 2016

Genre: Contemporary Romance

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Untitled-5From the New York Times bestselling author of the Loving on the Edge series and Off the Clock, a story of sex, love, rock & roll, and a reporter who’s about to learn a new meaning for staying on top of her assignment…

Restaurant critic Aubrey Bordelon is never at a loss for words to describe her meals in the fancy restaurants of New Orleans. But after her magazine’s high-profile music reporter falls ill, she finds herself out of her element and in a sea of screaming fans awaiting Wanderlust’s lead singer, Lex Logan. The sound of his voice gives her goosebumps, and the stage presence of the hard-bodied rock star takes her breath away. So when he pulls her onstage for a sexy stunt, she knows she’s in real trouble.

Lex doesn’t want to pretend that the sparks on stage between him and Aubrey never happened, but it certainly makes the fact that she’s writing a story on his band all the more dangerous. The last thing he needs is some nosy reporter revealing their problems to the world. But the sexy Southern belle doesn’t give up easily, and soon, he’s wondering if the best way to chase her off the story is to coax her into his bed…

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Cori 5 Stars

I loved everything about Wanderlust! It was just so much fun! A sexy rockstar hero and a good girl reporter were a great mix. This was one of those books I curled up with and didn’t put down or sleep until I finished reading it. I haven’t read a book by Roni Loren I haven’t loved. She has a writing style that just works for me and she creates great characters. Wanderlust was another instant favorite for me with great characters, a great plot and steamy romance. I’m really hoping the rest of the characters get their own books too!  I recommend this one for romance lovers looking for a feel good summer read. Wanderlust is a book you can pick up and get lost in for a while. 

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

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Aubrey managed to stay focused during the end of Darkfall’s performance, putting her journalist hat on. But when they left the stage, time seemed to crawl. Bodies shifted. Voices were too loud. Claustrophobia started to claw at her. Maybe this had been a bad idea. Maybe she couldn’t handle this. But the third time she checked the time on her phone, the smoky lights of the club dimmed, indicating the start of the show. Here we go. She took a deep breath. Within seconds, the voices of a thousand rabid fans whipped into a screaming frenzy.
A few seconds earlier, she’d worried that bad memories were about to overtake her, but now she found herself leaning forward in anticipation, the trapped feeling falling away. The energy of the crowd pulsed through her, the excitement infectious. Her foul mood from earlier began to slip from her shoulders like the shedding of a heavy coat. The band members, barely visible silhouettes under the cover of darkness, filed onto the stage and took their posts. The drums sliced through the roar of the crowd first—a thump-thump-thump so loud her bones vibrated. When the strobe lights began flashing and the guitars kicked in, a crush of bodies pressed against her as everyone surged closer to the stage in one collective mass.
All of the band members were in place except for the lead singer. The woman next to Aubrey screamed Lex’s name and hopped like a caffeinated rabbit, waving and flailing her arms. Wow, Aubrey couldn’t remember ever being that excited about anything—especially not about anyone. If the chick wasn’t careful, she was going to pass out from sheer anticipation—or from excessive bouncing in a way-too-tight bustier. Either one could lead to fainting. Luckily, she didn’t have to wait long.
Aubrey heard his voice before she saw him. Gravelly, dark, and powerful—the vocals of Wanderlust’s Lex Logan washed over her with a rush of heat. Goose bumps pricked her arms. Center stage was still black, but she craned her neck, trying to get a glimpse of the man behind the sound. As if responding to her silent desire, the spotlights flipped on and illuminated the singer. The screams in the audience rose to an octave only female voices could reach. Aubrey wanted to shout along with them, but all air had evacuated her lungs.
The crowd around her became a blur of noise and colors, and all she could focus on was the man at center stage. If she had seen pictures of Lex Logan, she really must not have been paying attention. The six feet of lean, hard-bodied rock star sent her pulse into instant overdrive. Dark hair. Bright eyes. And full sleeves of colorful tattoos. Holy hell. She shifted to the left and stood on tiptoes to get a better, full-length view. Heat rippled across her skin as Lex looked out at the audience and curled his lips into a smile. Confident. Seductive. Wicked. That smile said volumes. That smile made promises.
He gripped the mic stand and bent over, belting out a note, causing his shaggy, dark hair to fall over his eyes. Sexuality, raw and unadulterated, rolled off him in waves. And now she got it. Got what the girl next to her was having palpitations over. Aubrey wanted to drown in that voice—fall in and never come out. She closed her eyes and let the sound resonate through her, her body swaying with the motion of the crowd around her.
A gruff voice interrupted her blissful moment. “Hey, watch it, lady.”
Her lids snapped open. The man next to her glared.
“Huh?”
“Watch your goddamned feet,” he barked. “My toes aren’t made of steel.”
She dropped her gaze to her heeled boots and assumed she must’ve stepped on the guy’s feet. “Sorry,” she yelled over the music, but the man had already turned to face the stage again. She gave herself a mental shake. What the hell is wrong with me? I’m supposed to be working, not drooling over the subject of my assignment.
She had to get a grip or her story would end up reading like a teen idol website. Lead singer of Wanderlust, Lex Logan, is totally hot! He’s six foot two inches tall. His favorite color is black. Likes long walks in dark alleys. Prefers blondes who wear dental floss. Okay, so the last part probably wouldn’t make it into Tiger Beat, but still. She needed to pay attention to the music, the show, and how tight the performance was or wasn’t. That’s what she was getting paid to do. Not to admire how firm Lex’s abs looked through that snug black T-shirt or how his inked arms flexed when he gripped the microphone.
The song ended and the band launched into the next track. Aubrey tried to hone in on the other band members, watching Lex only when she couldn’t avoid it. She shut her eyes often so that she could listen to the notes, the quality of the vocals, the crisp sound of the instruments. By the fourth song, she had returned to some sort of professional mode, taking mental notes at a rapid clip.
When the song finished, Lex sauntered to the edge of the stage to address the audience. “How’s everyone doing tonight?”
Screams answered him. He gave an easy laugh, clearly comfortable being the center of attention.
“I’m glad y’all are having a good time. We are, too. New Orleans definitely knows how to throw a party.” He put his hand against his brow to shield his eyes from the spotlights and squinted at the sea of people below him. “Turn up those house lights. I want to see these beautiful faces.”
Female voices reverberated off the walls as the lights above the crowd switched on. A redhead a few steps away from Aubrey lifted up her shirt as soon as Lex’s eyes traveled in her direction. Nice. What was this? Mardi Gras? Lex smiled and gave a little nod of acknowledgment to Boob Job Girl, but otherwise didn’t comment.
“You know, I’m feeling mighty thirsty, and I heard a rumor that New Orleans is home of the body shot,” Lex said, continuing to survey the audience with a sly smile. “So I’m thinking, that maybe I should try one tonight. What do you think?”
The shouting of the crowd increased.
“Now all I need is . . . a willing victim,” Lex continued. Bustier Girl began her bouncing routine again and waved her hands frantically trying to catch his eye. Lex paced across the stage, taking his time, holding his finger up and preparing to point to the chosen one.
Aubrey put her money on Miss Augmentation, but he passed that section up without a glance. As he neared Aubrey’s end of the stage, his eyes landed on her exuberant neighbor. The girl’s scream turned shrill. “Pick me! Me! Me!”
Lex lowered his hand ready to point and then shifted his gaze, locking eyes with Aubrey. Her breath caught. Oh, shit. Seconds seemed to tick by, but she couldn’t pull away from the stare. She managed to wag her head slowly back and forth. No. No. No.
He smiled, lowered his finger, and pointed directly at her. “You. The sexy brunette in the black T-shirt.”
Her stomach took a nosedive.
“Come on, I won’t bite,” Lex said, waving her forward. “Unless you ask nicely, that is.”
The girl next to Aubrey shot her a glare that could have curdled milk. The sea of fans parted as if she’d suddenly morphed into royalty, and she forced her leaden feet to cross the few yards to the barricade. Her heart took up residence in her throat, threatening to jump out. This was a disaster. She silently cursed the bouncer from backstage. If she had met the band beforehand, she would’ve never ended up in this position. Building a professional relationship with the band after this was going to be next to impossible.
Hands patted her back and shoulders as the two bouncers flanking the stage helped her climb over the metal barrier. Lex squatted at the edge of the stage, all wicked grin and guyliner, and stuck his hand out. He cocked his head, beckoning her closer in a way that spoke without the words. Come on over, lamb, said the wolf. This will only take a minute.

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Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son.

If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that’s it. She is the National Bestselling Author of The Loving on the Edge series from Berkley Heat.

Social Media Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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