January 5, 2016

Spotlight & Review: SEDUCTION IN SESSION (The Perfect Gentlemen) by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake

Seduction in Session (The Perfect Gentlemen, Book 2) by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake

Publication Date: January 5, 2016

Genre: Contemporary Romance/ Romantic Suspense

Privileged, wealthy, and wild: they are the Perfect Gentlemen of Creighton Academy. But the threat of a scandal has one of them employing his most deceptive—and seductive—talents…

Recruited into the CIA at a young age, Connor Sparks knows how dirty the world can be. Only when he’s with his friends can he find some peace. So when an anonymous journalist threatens one of the Perfect Gentlemen, Connor vows to take down the person behind the computer, by whatever means necessary—even if it means posing as his target’s bodyguard.

Publishing a tabloid revealing Washington’s most subversive scandals has earned Lara Armstrong the ire of the political scene—and a slew of death threats. To keep herself from ending up a headline, Lara hires a bodyguard, a man as handsome as he is lethal.

When the bullets start to fly, Lara is surprised to find herself in Connor’s arms. But as they begin to unravel a mystery that just might bring down the White House, Lara is devastated when she discovers Connor’s true identity—and finds herself at the mercy of forces who will stop at nothing to advance their deadly agenda.

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Seduction in Session is another sexy thrill ride in Shayla Black and Lexi Blake’s Perfect Gentlemen series. Seduction in Session is book 2 in the series and I recommend reading the first book, Scandal Never Sleep, before picking up this one. Each book is about a different gentlemen in a group of powerful men that met in boarding school and I love them all! Connor and Lara’s story was incredible! It had passion, mystery, and all the feels. I recommend this book for romantic suspense lovers that want a hot love story with the mystery. I can’t wait to read the rest of the Gentlemen’s stories. This series is a favorite and I can’t wait to see what Shayla Black and Lexi Blake have in store for us next.

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

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“What belongs to me? Be specific. I want the words.”
“My pussy belongs to you. I belong to you. No matter what I do, I know I belong to you. I love you. I love you so much, Connor.” She poured her heart into those words, willing him to believe her.
“And I belong to you. No matter what I fucking do. You remember that. You take those words and memorize them because no matter what happens, they’re true and they’re going to stay true. I won’t let you take them back. Ever.”
She wouldn’t want to. “I love you.”
“That means everything to me, princess.” He withdrew his fingers and gripped her hips. She felt his erection probe between her thighs. “I’ve never wanted anything the way I want you. Remember that, too.”
She couldn’t reply because the head of his cock breached her in one hard thrust. He didn’t ease into her or give her time to adjust. He gave her every inch he had, holding her hips and forcing himself inside her. She was invaded and dominated. He controlled and conquered. A shock of tingles rolled through her body. She whimpered.
“Push back against me,” he commanded.
She thrust back and tossed her head at the feel of him sliding in to the hilt. It was almost too much. He held himself steady, and his left hand slid up to her breasts. He shoved the bra above her mounds and cupped her as he pulled out and stroked back in. He thumbed her nipple then gave it a twist.
“Never again, Lara. I swear to god if you lie to me again, I won’t be responsible for what I do to you. I’ll tie you to the bed and I won’t ever let you leave again. Your whole life will be about taking my cock. You won’t see the fucking outside world. You’ll spend every day on your back and your knees and any other way that pleases me.”
She found him endlessly amusing when he was angry. Somehow she couldn’t see him actually turning her into a sex slave, but she was sure in the moment it seemed like a viable option to him.
He twisted her nipple again, and a pleasurable pain shimmered through her. She responded before he could do it again. “Yes, Connor. I won’t see the light of day. I understand.”
“I’ll chain you to me, Lara.” He anchored his hands back on her hips as he thrust in and out of her body in rough, rhythmic strokes. “I won’t let you leave my sight. Fuck, you feel so good.”
She let her head fall back, giving over to the euphoria of having Connor inside her. He was so big. When he filled her, she always had a moment when she wasn’t sure she could handle it, but she ached to try. And once she succeeded in accommodating every inch of him . . . She groaned. There was nothing like it. There was certainly no one like him.
He caressed every bit of her skin that he could reach, her breasts and her belly, the curves of her waist and hips, before he found her clitoris again and strummed it—fucking her with force all the while.
Lara pressed back against him. If she hadn’t, the strength of his thrusts would have sent her headfirst into the wall. Still, he didn’t hold back. He simply picked up the pace and she moved with him. The push and pull of his strokes formed a rhythm she sank into. Over and over his cock sank deep before he dragged back out, sensitizing her flesh and drawing her to the edge.
She groaned as he toyed with her clitoris in earnest now.
“I can’t hold out. You feel so good. You’re so hot and tight around me. Come for me, princess.”

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~*~*~*CHECK OUT BOOK 1*~*~*~
SCANDAL NEVER SLEEPS (The Perfect Gentlemen, Book 1) by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake
Review 5 Stars: http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-2R4
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ABOUT SHAYLA BLACK

Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than forty novels. For over fifteen years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold well over a million copies and been published in a dozen languages.

Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past seven years.

Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her teenage daughter, and a very spoiled cat. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

Shayla’s Links: Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

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ABOUT LEXI BLAKE

New York 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.   Her first novel, Their Virgin Captive: Masters of Ménage, Book 1, was a collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Shayla Black. There are six more books available in the series: Their Virgin’s Secret, Their Virgin Concubine, Their Virgin Princess, Their Virgin Hostage, Their Virgin Secretary, and Their Virgin Mistress.   In addition to the Masters of Ménage series, she is the author of the Masters and Mercenaries series. The first nine novels, The Dom Who Loved Me, The Men with the Golden Cuffs, A Dom is Forever, On Her Master’s Secret Service, Love and Let Die, Dungeon Royale, A View to a Thrill, You Only Love Twice, and Master No are available now, along with the novellas Sanctum, Unconditional, Dungeon Games, Cherished, Luscious, Adored, and Just One Taste. The tenth novel, From Sanctum with Love, is coming February 23, 2016, along with a new novella, Devoted, on April 12, 2016.  In 2013, Lexi also began releasing her urban fantasy series, Thieves. The full series, Steal the Light, Steal the Day, Steal the Moon, Steal the Sun, and Steal the Night, are available now on Amazon. The first two books in a spin-off of the series, Ripper and Addict, were released in 2015. Look for Sleeper, the next book in the spin-off series, to be released in Fall of 2016.   Lexi again collaborated with Shayla Black in a new series The Perfect Gentlemen. The first book, Scandal Never Sleeps, is now available. Book two, Seduction in Session, will release on January 5, 2016, followed by book three, Big Easy Temptation, on May 3, 2016.

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January 4, 2016

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Off the Clock: A Pleasure Principle Novel by Roni Loren

Off the Clock: A Pleasure Principle Novel by Roni Loren

Publication Date: January 05, 2016

Genre: Contemporary Romance/ Erotica

FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE LOVING ON THE EDGE NOVELS, THE FIRST IN A SENSUAL NEW SERIES

Overtime has never felt so good…

Marin Rush loves studying sex. Doing it? That’s another story. In the research lab, Marin’s lack of practical knowledge didn’t matter, but now that she’s landed a job at The Grove, a high-end, experimental sex therapy institute, she can’t ignore the fact that the person most in need of sexual healing may be her.

Dr. Donovan West, her new hotshot colleague, couldn’t agree more. Donovan knows that Marin’s clients are going to eat her alive unless she gets some hands-on experience. And if she fails at the job, he can say goodbye to a promotion, so he assigns her a list of R-rated tasks to prepare her for the wild clientele of The Grove’s X-wing.

But some of those tasks are built for two, and when he finds Marin searching for a candidate to help her check off her list, Donovan decides there’s only one man for the job—him. As long as they keep their erotic, off-the-clock activities strictly confidential and without strings, no one will get fired—or worse, get attached…

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Great way to start the year off! I always love Roni Loren’s books but this one really blew me away. I fell in love with Dr. Donovan West. He is the perfect mix of hot nerd and sexy alpha male. I also loved Marin because she’s a heroine readers can root for. Off the Clock was incredible! Scorching hot romance, great characters and an emotional storyline had me hooked. I couldn’t put it down and can’t wait to see what Roni Loren has in store for us next in this exciting new series. If you haven’t read anything by Roni Loren yet this is a great book to start with and if you’re a fan you’ll love this new series. It’s a book you’ll just enjoy reading and feel satisfied when you’re done. I highly recommend it for erotica romance lovers. I just loved it!

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

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Marin moaned when he parted her lips to deepen the kiss, and a swift rush of arousal flooded her, making the neglected parts of her throb and ache. His tongue stroked hers, teasing with a rhythm she could only imagine in other places. Her nipples became hard points, straining for touch, and her sex pulsed between her thighs. She wanted to rub herself on him like a cat, find relief. He seemed ready to oblige. Donovan backed her into the wall, his body aligning with hers and his hand sliding down to knead her hip like he was barely restraining himself from tearing off her clothes. Heat against heat, hardness growing against her belly. She was dying. She needed this. God, did she need this.
But a swift knock sounded behind him, shattering the protected moment and blasting through her lust-drunk brain. Marin gasped, and Donovan jumped back and dropped his hands to his sides like she had burned him.
The door swung open, and Ysa poked her head in. “Hey, guys I—” Her words faded as her gaze bounced between them. “Uh, sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Poker face. Poker face. Poker face. Marin pushed off the wall and fought hard to look like everything was fine even though her cheeks were burning hot, her lips slick, and her body pulsing in time with her frantic heartbeat. She had a feeling she was failing miserably at pulling it off. They may as well have a neon sign above their heads that read In Flagrante Delicto.
Donovan, on the other hand, owner of the world’s most impenetrable therapist mask, looked cool and unaffected as he tucked his hands in his pockets, presumably to hide his burgeoning hard-on, and looked at Ysa. “Not interrupting. What’s up?”
Ysa glanced between the two of them again but kept her thoughts to herself. “Just wanted to let you know your nine-thirty is here.”
Marin gave her a quick, tight smile. “Thanks. We’re on our way.”
Ysa gave them one last questioning look and then shook her head and disappeared back out into the hallway. When the door shut, Marin put her hands over her face and groaned. “Son of a bitch. Now there’s more grist for Dr. McCray’s rumor mill. I cannot believe I just did that. Here. With you.”
Donovan stepped into her space again and took her wrists in his hands, gently tugging them away from her face. “Take a breath. It’s okay. Ysa didn’t see anything. And even if she figured it out, she would never say anything to anyone.”
But Marin hardly heard any of it with her head spinning and anxiety rushing through her. “God, how could I be so stupid? I don’t know what I was thinking. I just—”
“It’s not your fault, Marin,” he said, his voice gentle. “I crossed the line first.” His mouth hitched up. “Plus, I should know not to stand that close to a woman who spent all night watching porn.”
A sharp laugh burst out of her, her nerves bubbling up and out. “Right. I’m bound to grab anyone within reach to use for my lecherous purposes.”
Donovan looked down at her for a long second, some of that heat from earlier returning, burning her slowly. His hands flexed around her wrists. “I wouldn’t mind being used by you, Marin.”
Her stomach dipped.
“I didn’t make the offer last night because it would’ve been a selfish move. And a risk. But I want you in my bed. Know that. It’s not altruistic. Or professional. And it’s out of line.” His voice was like water gliding along her skin—smooth, clear, quietly powerful. He lifted her hand and flattened it against his chest over the inner pocket of his jacket. “But if you decide you might want that anyway, know there isn’t a thing on this list that I wouldn’t love to check off for you. Completely and thoroughly. I could make you shameless, Rush.”
She could barely hear him over the roaring sound in her ears. How the hell was she supposed to form words after that?
He released her hands and stepped back but kept her pinned beneath that white-hot gaze. “So if you ever need me . . . off the clock, you just have to ask. And if you want me to go to hell and steer clear, that’s all you’ve got to say, too. It’s your call.”
Everything inside her was buzzing. Her mind had gotten hung up on the words completely and thoroughly. He wasn’t going to pressure her, but the look in his eye said he could rock her celibate world right off its fucking axis. The temptation was like a bright, glittering thing blurring her vision.
But taking that offer would come with a price. Keeping things secret. The risk of being caught. And there would be a time limit. He didn’t do relationships. This would just be sex.
Really hot, really intense sex.

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Out of Print Library Card Tote Bag filled with Books

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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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December 15, 2015

BLOG TOUR: Q&A, Review & Giveaway: My Kind of Wonderful (Cedar Ridge) by Jill Shalvis

1. Finish this sentence: My heroine will never…
Stop loving Hud Kincaid. She will however at times want to hit him over the head with the closest blunt object…

2. Finish this sentence: My hero will always…
Always always always be utterly baffled by the way the female brain works. Good thing Bailey is extra patient with him.

3. What scene from MY KIND OF WONDERFUL was the most fun to write?
Well, there were many, but the one that sticks out right now has got to be Hud’s reaction when Bailey tells him she wants a one-night stand and although her first choice is him, she is willing to make a list if he isn’t interested.

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My Kind of Wonderful (Cedar Ridge) by Jill Shalvis

Publication Date: December 22, 2015

Bailey Moore has an agenda: skiing in the Rockies, exploring castles in Europe, ballroom dancing in Argentina. Now that she has a second lease on life, she’s determined not to miss a thing. What she doesn’t realize is that item #1 comes with a six-foot-one ski god hot enough to melt a polar ice cap. She doesn’t want to miss out on him either, but Hudson Kincaid isn’t the type of guy to love and let go. And as gorgeous as Cedar Ridge is, she’s not planning to stick around.

As head of ski patrol at his family’s resort, Hud thinks he’s seen it all. But never has he run into someone like Bailey. She might look delicate, but her attitude is all firecracker. And her infectious joy touches something deep within him that he’s been missing far too long. Now he’ll just have to convince Bailey to take a chance on her biggest adventure yet . . . something rare and all kinds of wonderful.

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*Graphic from Jill Shalvis’s Facebook Page.

I enjoyed this crisp light romance. The characters are fresh and fun so that I was smiling from the start. I just love how the siblings interacted, even when they got serious; it made me feel like I was a part of it all or at least made me wish I were. Bailey was open and optimistic on a lot of things but guarded on others so she in effect, illustrated how we all think from time to time. And Hud, well he was all kinds of closed off alpha with a guarded molten center so it was enjoyable to watch how they came together with the aid of all those around them. All in all it was a fun sexy romance that still has me smiling.

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

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*Graphic from Jill Shalvis’s Facebook Page.

10 Copies of MY KIND OF WONDERFUL

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New York Times 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 bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Social Networking Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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December 9, 2015

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: MISCONDUCT by Penelope Douglas

MISCONDUCT by Penelope Douglas

Publication Date: December 1, 2015

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Fall Away series who never fails to deliver a “powerfully written contemporary love story…”*

Former tennis player Easton Bradbury is trying to be the best teacher she can be, trying to reach her bored students, trying to forget her past. What brought her to this stage in her life isn’t important. She can’t let it be. But now one parent-teacher meeting may be her undoing…

Meeting Tyler Marek for the first time makes it easy for Easton to see why his son is having trouble in school. The man knows how to manage businesses and wealth, not a living, breathing teenage boy. Or a young teacher, for that matter, though he tries to. And yet…there is something about him that draws Easton in—a hint of vulnerability, a flash of attraction, a spark that might burn.

Wanting him is taboo. Needing him is undeniable. And his long-awaited touch will weaken Easton’s resolve—and reveal what should stay hidden…

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Yummy! Misconduct is scorching hot! It’s a well written forbidden love story of a teacher and a student’s father. Tyler Marek is irresistible! I just loved him. He’s a dynamic and sexy politican use to getting his way while Easton is a heroine readers can route for. I loved the banter and interactions between Tyler and Easton. The ways Easton challenges Tyler and the ways Tyler breaks through Easton’s walls. I really enjoyed their story. I recommend Misconduct for erotica romance lovers looking for a standalone book that delivers a great love story with the hot sexy times. Penelope Douglas is a great storyteller!

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

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Source: Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/pin/515310382342622117/

Attendees laughed and danced inside, while the two of us, alone in the cold night with only a few other people lounging around the large balcony, carried on with our stolen moment.
“I should really get back, though,” I suggested, pulling away.
My brother was no doubt looking for me.
But he reached out and grabbed my hand, narrowing his eyes. “Not yet,” he urged, looking behind me toward the ballroom.
I stopped, not making a move to take away my hand.
He stood in front of me, his chest nearly touching mine.
“You’re right,” he whispered, his breath falling over me. “I don’t really like a lot of those people, and they don’t really know me.” His voice turned hoarse. “But I like you. I’m not ready to say good night yet.”
I swallowed, hearing the soft trickle of a slow jazz tune drifting out from the ballroom.
“Dance with me,” he commanded.
He didn’t wait for a response.
Sliding a hand around my waist, he guided me in, and I sucked in a sharp breath, my body meeting his for the first time.
Raising my arms, I put my right hand on his shoulder and my left hand in his as I let him lead me in a small circle, remaining in our own small, private space. Chills broke out down my arms, but I didn’t think he noticed.
I let my eyes fall closed for a moment, not understanding what made him feel so good. My hands tingled and my legs felt weak.
There was rarely ever a time when I felt drawn to a man. I’d felt attraction and passion, and I’d enjoyed sex, but I’d never opened myself up to someone long enough to connect.
Now I found myself not wanting this evening to end any way other than in his arms.
That’s where I wanted this to go. I didn’t need his name, what he did for a living, or his family history. I just wanted to be close to someone and feel good, and maybe that would be enough to satisfy me for the next few months until I needed someone again.
Shaking my head slightly, I tried to clear my thoughts.
Enough, Easton. He was good-looking and interesting, but I didn’t see anything in him that I hadn’t seen in any other man.
He wasn’t special.
Looking up, I asked, “You’re not enjoying the party, so what would you rather be doing right now?”
He shot me a small, sexy smile. “I like what I’m doing right now.”
I rolled my eyes, covering up how much I also liked him holding me close. “I mean, if not this?”
He twisted his lips, looking me over like he was thinking. “I’d be working, I guess,” he answered. “I work a lot.”
So he’d rather be doing work than schmoozing and drinking at a Mardi Gras ball? I dipped my head, breaking out in a laugh.
“What?” He pinched his eyebrows together.
I met his eyes, seeing the confusion. “You prefer work,” I stated. “I can relate to that.”
He nodded. “My work challenges me, but it’s also predictable. I like that,” he admitted. “I don’t like surprises.”
I instantly slowed, nearly stopping our dance.
I said the same thing all the time. I never liked surprises.
“Everything else outside of work is unpredictable,” I added for him. “It’s hard to control.”
He cocked his head and brought his hand up to my face, running his thumb along my cheek.
“Yeah,” he mused, leaning in while his hand circled the back of my neck possessively. “But there are times,” he said softly, “when I like to lose control.”
I closed my eyes. Jesus.
“What’s your last name?” he asked.
I opened my eyes, blinking. My last name? I had kind of liked keeping specifics off the table. I didn’t even know his first name yet.
“Easton?” he pressed.
I narrowed my eyes. “Why do you want to know that?”
He stepped forward, charging me slowly and pushing me backward. I had to keep backing up so as not to fall. “Because I intend on getting to know you,” he said. It sounded like a threat.
“Why?”
“Because I like talking to you,” he shot back, his voice thick with a laugh he was holding in.
I hit the wall behind me and stopped, glancing over at the people sitting at the table across the balcony.
He closed the remaining distance between us and dipped down until his face was a couple of inches from mine.
I locked my hands behind my back, instinctively tapping the wall with my fingers and counting in my head. One, two, three—
“Do you like me?” He cut me off, a playful tilt to his lips.
I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. I turned my head, but I knew he saw it anyway.
“I don’t know,” I answered casually. “You might be too much of a gentleman.”
The corner of his lips curled, looking sinister, and he threaded his hand around the back of my neck and through my hair, gripping my waist with the other and pressing his body to mine.
“Which means I’m still a man, only with more skill,” he whispered against my lips, making my breath shake. “And there’s only one place I won’t be careful with you.”

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Penelope Douglas is the author of the New York Times bestselling Fall Away series. She has her Masters of Science in Education from Loyola University in New Orleans and she currently lives in Las Vegas with her family.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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December 8, 2015

Spotlight, Review & Giveaway: Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz

Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz

Publication Date: December 8, 2015

Genre: Romantic Suspense

No one does romantic suspense better than Jayne Ann Krentz. Now, the New York Times bestselling author of Trust No One and River Road delivers a novel that twists and turns into a read that will leave you breathless.

Madeline and Daphne were once as close as sisters—until a secret tore them apart. Now it might take them to their graves.

They knew his name, the man who tried to brutally attack twelve-year-old Madeline in her grandmother’s hotel. They thought they knew his fate. He wouldn’t be bothering them anymore…ever. Still their lives would never be the same.

Madeline has returned to Washington after her grandmother’s mysterious death. And at the old, abandoned hotel—a place she never wanted to see again—a dying man’s last words convey a warning: the secrets she and Daphne believed buried forever have been discovered.

Now, after almost two decades, Madeline and Daphne will be reunited in friendship and in fear. Unable to trust the local police, Madeline summons Jack Rayner, the hotel chain’s new security expert. Despite the secrets and mysteries that surround him, Jack is the only one she trusts…and wants.

Jack is no good at relationships but he does possess a specific skill set that includes a profoundly intimate understanding of warped and dangerous minds. With the assistance of Jack’s brother, Abe, a high-tech magician, the four of them will form an uneasy alliance against a killer who will stop at nothing to hide the truth….

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I enjoyed this mysterious who-done-it. It seems that there was danger at every turn and done so that you weren’t sure who the culprit was for sure. I wish I had warmed up to Madeline but she just didn’t do it for me so I couldn’t figure out why he fell for her. I liked Jack and his brother a lot and Madeline’s friend added to the story as well. If you like sexy murder mysteries that span decades then this is the book for you.

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

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Hardback Copy of Secret Sisters

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Jayne Ann Krentz is the author of more than fifty New York Times bestsellers. She has written contemporary romantic suspense novels under that name, as well as futuristic and historical romance novels under the pseudonyms Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick, respectively.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Complete Book List

December 3, 2015

Review: Bring the Heat: A Sugarland Blue Novel by Jo Davis

Bring the Heat: A Sugarland Blue Novel by Jo Davis

Publication Date: December 1, 2015

The author of On the Run and the Firefighters of Station Five series once again proves that nothing is hotter than loving a man in uniform—or more dangerous…

Being on the Sugarland P.D. means never backing down, no matter how intense the case—or how dangerous the attraction…

Captain Austin Rainey knows all too well that being a good cop sometimes means gaining some bad enemies. After his ex-wife is killed, he finds himself on the wrong side of the law, trying to prove he’s innocent of her murder. The last thing he needs is a distraction—especially of the irresistible female kind…

Medical examiner Laura Eden has always found Austin more than a little intriguing, but she’s kept her feelings under wraps. Now she’s determined to do her job and clear his name—but as her investigation brings them into close proximity, she can’t deny the attraction between them—or resist the temptation he presents.

But Laura and Austin soon realize their budding feelings might be more than emotionally perilous. Someone is coming after everyone Austin holds dear—and Laura might be the next one in the line of fire…

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Wow! This is an explosive story that had me biting my nails from the start. Laura was the perfect woman to help Austin, a strong man dealing with catastrophic events, struggle through all that life has thrown at him. I loved how the author conveyed Austin’s vulnerability while maintaining his strength. That is a hard edge to balance and it was done beautifully. The officers with Sugarland have such a great relationship and the people around them pull you in so that you feel you’re a part of it all. The bad guy was horribly perfect for this story. He made me cringe and want to “go get him” like the others. If you can’t tell, I loved it.

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

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

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✦SUGARLAND BLUE SERIES BY JO DAVIS ~ READING ORDER✦

✦Novella 0.5: Armed and Dangerous ➢ Kindle | Nook | Kobo

✦Book 1: Sworn to Protect ➢ Kindle | Amazon PBK | B&N | Kobo

✦Book 2: Hot Pursuit ➢ Kindle | Amazon PBK | B&N | Kobo | Review 4.5 Stars

✦Book 3: In His Sights ➢ Kindle | Amazon PBK | B&N | Kobo | Review 4 Stars

✦Book 4: On the Run ➢ Kindle | Amazon PBK | B&N | Kobo | Review 4.5 Stars

✦Book 5: Bring the Heat ➢ Kindle | Amazon PBK | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

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National Bestselling author Jo Davis is best known for her popular Firefighters of Station Five series written as Jo Davis, and her dark, sexy paranormal series Alpha Pack, written as J.D. Tyler. PRIMAL LAW, the first book in her Alpha Pack series, is the winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award in Paranormal. She’s also been a multiple finalist in the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, a finalist for the Bookseller’s Best Award, has captured the HOLT Medallion Award of Merit, and has been a two-time nominee for the Australian Romance Readers Award in romantic suspense.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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November 30, 2015

Spotlight, Review & Giveaway: A SEAL Forever (West Coast Navy SEALs, Book 3) by Anne Elizabeth

A SEAL Forever (West Coast Navy SEALs, Book 3) by Anne Elizabeth

Publication Date: December 1, 2015

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Even a hero needs someone to believe in him…

Parkour instructor Maura Maxwell has always denied her attraction for her bachelor neighbor because she’s seen his revolving door of women and doesn’t want to become another notch on his belt. But the man who rescues her from a sudden storm isn’t the one she thinks she knows—he’s Master Chief Declan Swifton of SEAL Team Five, and he literally sweeps Maura off her feet.

Just as his teasing and tenderness start to work their way into Maura’s heart, Declan and his team are called in for a dangerous op in the Middle East. The man who returns is facing the toughest fight of his life, and he needs Maura by his side more than ever…

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I enjoyed the story but wish that the characters were given more depth so I could relate to them more. That being said, it was a nice sweet romance that gave you plenty to think about. The courage and strength they had pushed them to fulfil their lives and show that love is a precious thing.

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

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Master Chief Declan Swifton of SEAL Team Five rolled over the side of the Rigid-hulled Inflatable Boat and slid soundlessly into the Pacific Ocean. The RIB took off without even a comment from the operator, leaving Declan to sink farther into the drink.
The temperature cooled as he swam away from the surface. Fish skirted the edges of his thighs, small shimmers of movement against his skin. He scissor-kicked his way forward. The ocean currents caught him, dragging him in the direction they wanted to go, toward shore. He lay with his arms at his sides, frog-kicking only. Above him, he could see the afternoon sunlight glistening and frothy foam chasing away the glassy surface. Down here things were different…calmer. Peaceful, in a way few souls would understand, and yet he knew that even he would have to surface soon.
His lungs would start to ache and burn, his gut would begin to feel as if it would cave in, and that would force him to either head topside or drink in the salt water. But there was still time. This was the water in front of Imperial Beach and the apartment he lived in. He knew it very well.
Scanning the ocean floor, he gauged it would be about thirty seconds until he reached one of the many rocky sandbars out here. He’d have to pull up before then, or the force of the current would smack him against the side.
As his body began to complain, he used both arms and legs to draw himself upward. Breaking the surface, he opened his mouth and drew in air like a thirsty man would gulp water.
The waves bounced him like a buoy. The tide was coming in and the wind was picking up momentum. Looking at the sky to the east, he could see that there would most likely be a storm today. Over his should, to the west, he spied a wave coming his way large enough to take him to shore. It would reach him in about thirty seconds.
Dec took a long, slow breath and appreciated the sun dropping into the horizon. The colors were extraordinary; orange and gold dappled the horizon as the blazing ball of light attempted to sink before the moon lifted higher in the sky.
His hands flexed, cupping the water. It had been a hot day, and the sun’s rays had heated the top of the ocean, making the surface feel like a warm bath, loosening his muscles. Three months ago, he’d been in waters so frigid, with actual ice caps—the memory still made him cold. But here, the Pacific Ocean off California’s Imperial Beach, was a slice of heaven.
Coming in from the east were some nasty-looking cumulonimbus clouds. Seeing the lightning arc way off toward the distant desert, he decided it was time to go in, and right on cue, here came a perfect wave.
Swimming at top speed, Declan pushed his way through another changing current, one that sought to drag him into faster-moving waters. He went over a higher sandbar, having no intention of going to Mexico today, and increased the reach of his stroke. With single-mindedness he worked his way into the more placid surf as he homed in on a large stretch of beach.
The SEAL felt a few sea lions swimming around him, and one nosed him in the gut and another in his back a few times, assessing whether or not he’d play. Not this time, my friends. He continued swimming without engaging. If he stopped to play, he’d be out there for hours.
Switching to the breaststroke, his arms protested. His platoon had switched their training this month to desert-warfare techniques, and he’d been sweating his balls off in the heat. He managed to learn a thing or two, even now, after all of his years in the Teams. But it felt good to be back in the ocean, his element. He’d live in the deep blue like a Jules Verne character if he could.

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A Navy SEALs Fun Fact from Anne Elizabeth

The mind follows the body and the body follows the mind—be thoughtful in how you feed it.

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Kindle $6.15 http://amzn.to/1X1cQsy
Amazon PBK $7.99 http://amzn.to/1NVbWNR
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1O3JffD
Apple: http://apple.co/1M6H7Dj
Books a Million: http://bit.ly/1M6Hrlt
Indie Bound: http://bit.ly/1O3JEPe

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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New York Times bestselling author Anne Elizabeth is an award-winning romance author and comic creator. With a BS in business and MS in communications from Boston University, she is a regular presenter at conventions as well as a member of The Author’s Guild and Romance Writers of America. Anne lives with her husband, a retired Navy SEAL, in the mountains above San Diego.

Social Networking Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

November 29, 2015

Spotlight & Review: Make Me Stay (Hope, Book 5) by Jaci Burton

Make Me Stay (Hope, Book 5) by Jaci Burton

Publication Date: December 1, 2015

The New York Times bestselling author of Love After All and the Play-by-Play series delivers a new novel about how love sometimes has plans of its own.

Having left his hometown of Hope years ago, only one thing could persuade architect Reid McCormack to come home for a lengthy stay—the challenge of renovating a historic building. But once the job is finished, he’ll be headed back to Boston, no matter how much he’s drawn to beautiful florist Samantha Reasor.

Samantha watches over her elderly grandmother and pours a piece of herself into every floral creation she designs. Her crush on Reid has been blooming for a while now, but she’s reluctant to act on it. A temporary fling isn’t what she’s looking for, even if Reid is smoking hot and super sexy. She wants a real, permanent, forever kind of love.

Two people with different goals couldn’t possibly work, and yet as their attraction grows into something deeper, maybe falling in love is the one thing Samantha and Reid can build a future on.

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I immediately fell for Reid and Sam, not to mention all their friends and family. This story just made me feel a part of everything going on from the start, which is just the way I like it. Make Me Stay is a feel-good romance that has you smiling and also getting a little choked-up at times. I especially loved the dog who bears a strikingly similar name to my cat…for the same reason too. I loved it!

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

Read Excerpt Here: http://jaciburton.com/books/stay.php#excerpt

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

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The Hope Series by Jaci Burton – Amazon Series Link
Novella: Hope Smolders
Book 1: Hope Flames
Book 2: Hope Ignites
Book 3: Hope Burns
Book 4: Love After All
Book 5: Make Me Stay

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After spending too many years to count in the high stress business world, New York Times and USA Today Bestelling Author Jaci Burton is happy to be living her dream of writing passionate romance. She has written over forty-five novels and is contracted to write ten more. Jaci has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business that she is thrilled not to be using in the corporate environment anymore. She grew up in Missouri but migrated to California, where she lived for thirteen years, but now makes her home in Oklahoma with her husband and five dogs. She enjoys being outdoors in the summer and she and her husband are avid Harley riders.

Jaci writes in multiple genres, from erotic romance to romantic suspense to contemporary romance. She has won the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award, and has been nominated for the award four times. She has been a finalist in the Bookseller’s Best and National Reader’s Choice Awards, and has won The Romance Studio’s CAPA Award four times.

Social Media Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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ENTER JACI BURTON’S CONTEST ON HER SITE HERE: http://jaciburton.com/contest.php#enter

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November 28, 2015

Review: Mischief Under the Mistletoe: Holiday Hotties Just Waiting To Be Unwrapped

Mischief Under the Mistletoe: Holiday Hotties Just Waiting To Be Unwrapped

Nineteen contemporary holiday hotties, just waiting to be unwrapped from your favorite NY Times, USA Today, Amazon Bestselling, and Award Winning Authors. This anthology won’t last long. Grab it while it’s HOT!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1LwTHOe
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1fCHBF1
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1NQIuFV
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1UZ8AdV
iBooks: http://apple.co/1JblRsq
Nook: http://bit.ly/1NDf7Jb

Mischief Under the Mistletoe Box Set Includes:

Kristin Miller – The Bad Boy Meets his Match
When lingerie-store owner Cora Brennan plans a getaway at a quaint mountain retreat, she never expects to reunite with the playboy she spent a memorable night with in college. Can they finally admit their true feelings for each other before love is lost to them again?

Claudy Conn – Collide & Burn
Charlie knows when she first sees Wade Devon that he is trouble. Wade likes to win. It is what he does and he wants her…no strings attached. She has to ask herself, should she, or shouldn’t she.

Melanie James – Snowflakes, Exes, and Ohs
With two men vying for her affection, Abbie’s heart is torn between the two. One has always been there for her, no matter what. The other left when she needed him the most.

Mindy Klasky – Fly Me to the Moon
Lexi thinks she’s recovered from the fire that burned her years ago. But when she falls for PTSD-ridden army veteran Finn, she learns how deep some scars can be.

Holly S. Roberts – Ruck
Van, one of the best players in rugby and the hottest player between the sheets is looking for a holiday miracle. His brother won the girl and Van’s heart is broken. Could the gift of a lifetime be his for the taking or will this bad boy ruck it up again?

Stephanie Rowe – Wrapped Up In You
Can the Christmas magic of a coastal Maine island heal two broken souls when a winter storm strands them together?

Diane Rinella – It’s A Marshmallow World
One Christmas, Darla was given a mystical gift, along with an ominous message. Years later, meeting Chris puts her head in a spin. Could it be that gift from long ago holds the key to their happiness?

Kate Angell – Snow One Like You
A Vermont Christmas Eve blizzard forces Allie to close Hartley’s General Store. Her best friend Rhys arrives by snowmobile, not wanting her to endure the snowstorm alone. A playful kiss under the mistletoe warms more than their hearts.

Kimberly Kincaid – Play Me
Sophie Drayton has seen enough of the wild life to know that Emilio Barrett is bad news. But the sexy stripper has secrets of his own. Will Sophie’s past come back to haunt her, or will Emilio prove that a bad boy can be also be a good man?

J.D.Tyler – One Last Miracle
After a case gone horribly wrong, FBI Agent Mark McClendon retreats to his late grandfather’s isolated cabin, determined to escape his pain. He’s completely unprepared to find himself falling for his pretty new neighbor–but when the past comes gunning for him, Mark’s newfound love may mean the difference between a second tragedy and a holiday miracle.

Robin Covington – When You Open Your Eyes
War tore Gabe and Ellie apart and three years later, he’s almost given up any hope that she’ll come back to him. When she returns just before the holidays, he wants nothing more for the damaged, stubborn woman he loves to stay forever but she’s ready to run as soon as the gifts are opened. Chased by her nightmares, Gabe’s only hope of keeping Ellie is to convince her that he’ll be there when she opens her eyes.

Suzanne Ferrell- Close To The Mistletoe
When teacher Holly Murphy walks into Westen’s only bar to help her friend celebrate a divorce, she doesn’t expect hot carpenter Nick Fisher to save her from an embarrassing situation. His heated kisses awakens something deep inside her, but when someone sets his sights on Holly, will Nick be the one to protect her close to the mistletoe?

Kathy Ivan – Yours For The Holidays
At her hospital’s annual Bachelor Auction, event organizer, Dr. Alanna Reeves, is blindsided when the tables are turned and Blake Donovan offers a huge donation–for her! Can a trip to Florida for the holidays help them discover their true feelings or drive them apart forever?

Selena Laurence – Prince of the Press
Marcus Ambrose, the newest face in political media, is one hot ticket. But when he meets his brother’s down-to-earth secretary Renee, his own heart takes a knock. Can Marcus’s famous ‘full-court press’ convince the woman of his dreams to take a shot at love?

Jennie Marts – Worth the Shot
Addison Cavanaugh had one rule: Do not date hockey players. So kissing the newest trade to her dad’s team should have been off-limits–even if he is hot enough to melt the ice. Is the new player worth the shot or is she is risking her heart in a game she can’t possibly win?

Teri Riggs – Finding True’s Love
Six months after True’s last boss viciously attacked her, she’s ready to take her therapist’s advice and go back into the work force. She wants her life to be normal again and working for another man will be a giant step towards that goal. Nick has been betrayed by a pretty face for the last time and has sworn off relationships. Or so he thought until the day his new assistant, True Kelly, walked into his office.

Jennifer Theriot – Unwrapping Noel
Noel Calabrese hates Christmas as much as she hates her life. While in the Napa Valley on a business trip, she meets Leon Hallas. Could this sexy, silver fox be her ticket to happiness?

MJ Fredrick – Bluestone Christmas
Come back to Bluestone, Minnesota for Christmas, where single mom Willow Branson has moved from Texas to make a home with her daughter. But moving from a Texas winter to a Minnesota one is more challenging than she expected, and handsome handyman Chase Granzer is more than happy to help her adapt…and keep her warm.

Deb Julienne – All I Want For Christmas
Rafe Donnelly hates everything to do with the holidays. Ali Sanders is a single mother, juggling two jobs and missing most of her son’s childhood. Who knew a little boy’s Santa wish could change so many lives?

Wow, this collection of 19 stories has something for everyone. From sweet to spicy and everything in between. I didn’t read one where I didn’t smile and a few had me purring too. Some of them were longer than the others but each one had something to add. Besides, they were perfect for reading in between household chores. Now I can mention the price! I can’t believe you get so much for so little. I had planned to write a little something about each story but the review would be the length of one of the stories so I will let you read the synopsis and anticipate like I did. I enjoyed this anthology and can only imagine the fun the authors had writing it.

*Review copy purchased on Amazon.

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November 20, 2015

Sampler Tour, Review & Giveaway: Target Engaged (Delta Force Series) by M.L. Buchman

This December starts off with a bang as M.L. Buchman releases TARGET ENGAGED, the first in his brand new (and action-packed) Delta Force series! To celebrate his new release, Sourcebooks Casablanca is sharing the first six chapters of Target Engaged for FREE! Click here to download the first six chapters and check out a special note from M.L. Buchman below.

A Note from M.L. Buchman

Dear Reader,

Welcome to my newest series: the first women of Delta Force. I can’t begin to tell you how much fun this was to write.

Most of us know little more about Delta Force than the Chuck Norris movies (which leave a lot to be desired) or perhaps we only know the name. In researching my Night Stalkers series, I kept running into these guys. They are the elite of Special Operations Forces. They are at a level of SEAL Team 6, and most would argue they were even beyond that. They are the ghost and shadow warriors who helped take down drug lord Pablo Escobar, capture Noriega, were undoubtedly behind the locating of Saddam Hussein, and are the main reason that Al-Qaeda abruptly stopped being a topic in the Iraq War when over three thousand of their leaders were swept off the board.

Yet the Pentagon states that they don’t exist. Fascinating.

And while they often work with undercover female operatives, no woman has yet managed to kick in the front door on one of the most arduous selection programs in the military.

I decided to change that.

Carla Anderson stepped forward to take the challenge. She is a not a woman out to prove she can match any man, she’s out to prove that she can beat them at their own game.

And that was the first thing that I loved about writing this series.

In the Night Stalkers, the women were strong, excellent, and determined.

To be a Delta Force woman, Carla had to add enough attitude and drive to plow through all obstacles which just made her so much fun. Nothing was off the table when it came to her attitude or her actions.

And that was the second thing I came to love about this series launcher, Target Engaged. Being Delta Force, they really do operate outside so many bounds. They are sent to do the tasks that no one else can. To that I added the additional challenge that Robert Ludlum gave to Jason Bourne (though I’m quoting the movie): “I don’t send you to kill. I send you to be invisible. I send you because you don’t exist.” I’m pretty convinced that this is part of Delta’s mission.

It is occasionally said by retired Delta Force operators (as the on-duty ones never speak): “If we’d been sent in to take down bin Laden, you still wouldn’t know how it was done.” To bring that to life gave me a permission as a writer to run my characters into hard and strange places and be just a little gonzo doing it.

But writing is a give and take, and I can’t begin to tell you how much the characters I created shaped my telling of this story. I like to think that they had as much fun as I did bringing this story to life.

I hope that you enjoy the reading even half as much as I enjoyed the writing!

M.L. Buchman (the Oregon Coast, November 2015)

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Get to know the Carla, and the entire Delta Force team by reading the first SIX chapters of TARGET ENGAGED for free! Just click here to download them! To get you started, we’ve included the first few pages below:

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Target Engaged (Delta Force, 1) by M.L. Buchman

Publication Date: December 1, 2015

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Book 1 in M.L. Buchman’s thrilling NEW Delta Force series

Delta Force: The most dangerous elite counter-terrorism force on the planet
• The deadliest shooters •
• The most out-of-the-box thinkers in any military •
• Will die to get the mission done •

Sergeant Kyle Reeves: The premier soldier of the new recruits
Sergeant Carla Anderson: The first woman of Delta Force

If the training doesn’t kill them, their passion may—but Kyle Reeves and Carla Anderson blast right in. Show no fear. Have no fear. Then they get the call. The most powerful drug-smuggling ring in Venezuela needs a takedown, and Delta’s newest team leaps into the deep jungle to deliver. Giving their all? Not a problem. Giving their hearts? That takes a new level of courage.

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If this book is any indication of how the new series will be then I am more than ready to keep reading. I loved how it followed the group through selection and training to show how they all melded together. Kyle is strong, smart and of course sexy; with an easiness that I loved. Carla was strong and driven yet she had a normalness about her that I really liked. She never tipped into witch territory and for that I am thankful. The author did a good job keeping the technical stuff at a level where you believed where you were but it didn’t overshadow the story. And what a story. The dangerous ops and the sexy romance kept me frantically reading. This is romantic adrenaline junkie’s kind of book. I can’t wait for the next one to see which member’s turn is next and what trouble they’ll find themselves in.

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

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1HbzzAk
Apple: http://apple.co/1jZ6Q6Z
BAM: http://bit.ly/1W9AKqy
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Kobo: http://bit.ly/1RsIhKu

FIREHAWKS SERIES INFORMATION

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M.L. BUCHMAN BOOK BUNDLE

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M. L. Buchman has over 35 novels and an ever-expanding flock of short stories in print. His military romantic suspense books have been named Barnes & Noble and NPR “Top 5 of the year,” Booklist “Top 10 of the Year,” and RT “Top 10 Romantic Suspense of the Year.” In addition to romantic suspense, he also writes contemporaries, thrillers, and fantasy and science fiction.

In among his career as a corporate project manager he has: rebuilt and single-handed a fifty-foot sailboat, both flown and jumped out of airplanes, designed and built two houses, and bicycled solo around the world.

He is now a full-time writer, living on the Oregon Coast with his beloved wife. He is constantly amazed at what you can do with a degree in Geophysics. You may keep up with his writing at http://www.mlbuchman.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | YouTube

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