BLOG TOUR: Masquerade by Georgia Le Carre

Masquerade

AN EROTIC ROMANCE

(18+ due to mature themes and sexual content)

Love is deceptive...

Fiery Billie Black thought she knew all she needed to know about her own sexuality, but that was before one night of animalistic passion with the ultra gorgeous and mysterious Jaron Rose. Tall, blond, charming and wealthy, he was the epitome of an Alpha male. 

In the morning he promised he would call.  
He didn't.

Six months later, just as Billie had finally managed to free herself from the memories of that night, he arrives on the scene again. Suddenly, all the feelings that burned so intensely
are reignited and she finds herself becoming quickly entangled with her
enigmatic lover. The passion is incredible, unforgettable, unbelievable, but
Jaron Rose is not all that he seems—he wears more than one disguise…and he is
hiding a big secret.

Billie is about to find out what that is… 

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BOOK REVIEW: Masquerade by Georgia Le Carre

 5 Stars

mas·quer·ade

• an action or appearance that is mere disguise or show 

• to go about under false pretenses or a false character; assume the character of; give oneself out to be

While you ponder the definition of the title and how it fits with the story, let me first give a little background on the book. Masquerade is a stand-alone or a spin-off of the Billionaire Banker series. If you haven’t read (and I hadn't), it’s not necessary to enjoy this one, but here’s a few details that might be helpful.

Billie Black’s character originates in the BillionaireBanker series about Billie’s friend, Lana.  Initially (the first chapter or two) I felt like I walked into the middle of Billie and Jaron’s story so I didn’t quite connect with them in their opening scenes. But then Billie gives the backstory on how they met and I started to become enthralled with their attraction to each other.

Billie has teal hair and blue spider tattoos adorn her neck and shoulder. Billie has also only been interested in women up until her meeting with Jaron in a club one night. Loaded on booze and drugs, Billie perceived her attraction to him to be substance induced. Jaron Rose, aside from being a man, is not her type. He’s completely alpha, demanding, and in control. And Billie is not the one to submit…till now.

 “The power struggle between us makes my skin tingle, but he is also my sexual soulmate. Between us there are no inhibitions. Nothing is out of bounds.” —Billie

As the story opens though, Jaron has shown up at Billie’s door after never calling her again and then running into her at an art exhibit where he was with his girlfriend, Ebony. Oh and the reason he gives for why he’s reappeared now? For sex.

Yes, jerk moves. I was not initially keen on Jaron. 

“He is the unfaithful lover and I am his bit on the side.” —Billie

That right there didn’t make me warm and fuzzy for him. But Jaron is a hulk of a man, captivating, and blonde. He takes what he came for, with instructions for his return the next day. Meanwhile, Billie is left to deal with his girlfriend.

Jaron and Billie banter, and it’s dirty, gritty, and steamy. Oh there is no holds bared on what they will say to each other. Or do! 

“That’s the first time…I’ve been slapped by a woman while I’m still inside her.” — Jaron

Why didn’t Jaron call? But why did he keep her phone number? 

“What’s found and lost will be found again.” — Jaron

While Billie tries to resist him, she still feels the pull. Jaron is shrouded in mystique. And his initial jerk persona gives way to a deeper soul, more intricate person beyond the facade. The dichotomy from Jaron in the opening scenes to the fuller picture that Billie and the reader come to know is part of the enjoyment. His many layers, his masks—all part of him, and ultimately…somehow none are really flaws.  So along with Billie, the reader begins to fall for Jaron too. (Oh total book boyfriend!)

Who really is Jaron Rose? Will Billie get to see behind his fronts? 

“‘I’m not like anybody you know, Billie. I don’t get scared of danger. I get excited.’” — Jaron

Without revealing too much, Jaron is a thrill seeker with the ultimate question being how far is he willing to go? 

“’What’s more important? How many breaths you take? Or how many moments take your breath away?’” — Jaron 

Jaron turns Billie’s world upside down, and yet Billie remains head-strong. Even as she sorts through the nature of her sexuality she is not wish-washy or weak. Billie is a strong female character, and I loved how she resisted letting Ebony get to her. You don’t see that nearly often enough.

Meanwhile, Jaron and Billie act out fantasies (these are some original love scenes) and indulge thrills (your life will seem dull in comparison). It is dreamy, steamy, and enigmatic.  The story is loaded with hot, dirty, and well detailed sex scenes; an air of mystery; and elements of fantasy and adventure.  I ultimately enjoyed every page which never drags and flows well.  And by the end I adored Jaron and craved more than just the one chapter told via his point of view. The boy is seriously hot and alluring!

“‘I was carving my name into your heart.’” — Jaron

If you want a hot, hot, hot erotic read with a daring, dirty-talking bad boy, put this at the very top of your TBR list.  It’s a gem of a sultry tale with characters that are far from stereotypical.

~Character Interview~

Want to learn a little bit more about Jaron Rose and Billie Black? Well here’s “Five Questions with Jaron Rose” and “Five Questions with Billie Black.”  And a big thanks to Georgia for her time and for such a sexy and intriguing book.

Five Questions with Jaron Rose of Masquerade

Q1. Jaron—You live for thrills and turned Billie’s world upside down, but what’s the biggest thrill Billie has given you?

A. I taught Billie to fall from the sky, Billie taught me to let go and fall into a secret sky where inside each moment hundreds of veils are removed one by one.

Q2. Jaron—Is there any thrill (extreme sport/sexual/illegal activity, etc) that you wouldn’t do?

A. Yeah, I wouldn’t sell arms, get into the heavy drug trade or traffic humans. And murder’s another thing I’m not too keen on either. :)

Q3. Jaron—Name something that offends you.

A. I wanted to say lying politician. But that would be unnecessary since they all lie all the time! So I’ll just leave it at politicians.

Q4. Jaron—You wouldn’t be caught dead, where?

A. I would be caught dead anywhere alarms can go off! LOL!

Q5. Jaron—If Billie was a jewel, which one would she be? Describe her like you would a gem.

A. Billie is a jewel. A blue diamond. She sparkles even in the dark.

Five Questions with Billie Black of Masquerade

Q1. Billie—You and Jaron indulged in a lot of fantasy fulfillment, what would your ultimate honeymoon fantasy entail?

A. All I’ll say is it doesn’t involve crabs! LOL

Q2. Billie— How would Jaron complete this sentence about you? "Billie is a natural born..."

A. Headcase! 

Q3. Billie—Does Jaron have any habits that annoy you? If so, what are they?

A. Yeah… he’s too damn blonde and self-assured.

Q4. Billie—You wouldn’t be caught dead wearing, what?

A.  A plain while blouse and a black A-line skirt.

Q5. Billie—If Jaron was an alcoholic drink, which one would he be and why? 

A. Vodka. Can’t get enough!

 ~Author Bio~

Georgia Le Carre lives in England, in an old 19th century romantic cottage surrounded by a magical garden filled with fruit and walnut trees. When she is not feeding words into her laptop, she is either curled up in bed with a box of chocolates and a good read, or lost in a long walk in the woods. Especially on moonlit nights.  And often with the man of her dreams.

Follow Georgia:

Amazon    Facebook    Twitter    Goodreads   Email

Giveaway:

-Win 3 Ecopies of Masquerade and 1 all new Kindle!

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GIVEAWAY: Ember Casey Spotlight Feature

Ember Casey has offered a giveaway of her Cunningham Family series for the blog's Facebook Halloween Party! His Wicked Games box set and Her Wicked Games box set are up for grabs!

In the books, Lily Frazer must play Calder Cunningham’s sexy games.

So to enter to win:

• Go to Facebook and...
• Like Ember Casey’s page
• Like Book-Bosomed Book Blog’s page
• In the comments on this giveaway's FACEBOOK post (pinned at the top of the blog's FB page), tell us your favorite party game? (public or private party) ;-)

 Giveaway closes at 11:59 pm (EST) Halloween night 

*Facebook is not responsible for the giveaway.
*Ember Casey will provide the winners with their ecopies

~About the Books~

His Wicked Games

Lily would do anything to save the Frazer Center - even take on Calder Cunningham. The arrogant billionaire is willing to give her the money he promised, but there's a catch - she must win it from him. And the games he has in mind aren't exactly...innocent.

#1 His Wicked Games

#2 Truth or Dare

#2.5 Sweet Victory

Box Set: His Wicked Games

Her Wicked Games

Louisa Cunningham just needs someone to take her away. It doesn't matter if she knows his name. Or if he knows hers. Actually, it's better if he doesn't know hers.

#1 Her Wicked Heart

#1.5 Take You Away

#2 Lost and Found

Box Set: Her Wicked Games

~About the Author~

Ember Casey is a USA Today bestselling author who lives in Atlanta, Georgia in a den of iniquity (or so she likes to tell people). When she's not writing steamy romances, you can find her whipping up baked goods (usually of the chocolate variety), traveling (her bucket list is infinite), or generally causing trouble (because somebody has to do it). Her first contemporary romance, His Wicked Games, was published in June 2013.

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BOOK REVIEW: Oh, Naughty Night! by Leslie Kelly

Looking for a holiday themed romance? Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas...take your pick; this one covers it all.

Oh, Naughty Night! (Harlequin Blaze) by Leslie Kelly

3.5 Stars

Oh, Naughty Night! is the story of Lulu Vandenberg and Chaz Browning, spanning from Halloween through Christmas although a large part of the book deals with Halloween night.  Lulu and Chaz were neighbors growing up, their mothers are best friends. But there wasn’t exactly friendship between them. Lulu was the tormenter to a rather awkward Chaz. Now as adults they are living in the same city again and, in costume out celebrating Halloween, Lulu spots a very grown up, head-turner Chaz and sparks fly. Only Lulu may recognize him, but Chaz does not recognize her in her witch’s disguise. They dance, they flirt, and the night gets risky and steamy. But identities remain guarded. When Chaz’s sister appears on the scene, Lulu bolts before she can be discovered.

Now Chaz is looking for his mystery woman, and he becomes even more confused when the only other girl to rival the attraction he feels for his fantasy witch is Lulu, who he reconnects with as friends.

The story is a fun, holiday romance. While there is misunderstanding, there is no angst. It’s a sweet, sexy, and light-hearted read.

Can Chaz forgive Lulu’s deception? Will the other women in Chaz’s life come between them? Or will his job separate them instead?  A Christmas miracle might be just what they need to overcome all the obstacles they know are standing between them as well as the ones they don’t seem to realize.

I particularly enjoyed the scene where Chaz ascertains Lulu’s deceit.  It was cute, humorous, and then eventually quite heated.  There are quite a few naughty scenes to keep the heating brewing too.

My big drawback with the story was the 3^rd person narration. I have a strong preference for 1^st person POV when it comes to romance stories.  Lulu and Chaz were both likeable, but I could have felt connected with them so much more if it would have been told from their alternating point of views. With a narrator telling their feelings instead of hearing it from the characters themselves, there were just too many times that my attention veered off since I wasn’t inside their heads.

The supporting characters are also likeable, and Lulu’s friend’s Amelia gets her own holiday story in New Year’s Resolution: Romance, an anthology coming in January 2015.  I can’t say my interest in Amelia was ever perked throughout Lulu’s story, but a book on Sarah and Lawrence, Chaz’s sister and Lulu’s brother, would be interesting. 

Copy provided by NetGalley for review.

AMAZON     GOODREADS     B&N

The Party Continues...

The blog's Facebook page Halloween Party isn't over yet! Like the page and follow all the events.

Tonight, debut author G.K. Moore will be there to talk about her forthcoming release Covert, a romantic suspense.  Then Thursday, three contemporary/new adult romance authors will be there. Join the fun! Treats (aka giveawys) too.

Wednesday, October 29th
7pm G. K. Moore

Thursday, October 30^th:

6pm Cory Cyr
9pm Lyla Payne

10pm Tara Oakes

BLOG TOUR: Addicted After All by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Available October 31, 2014
GOODREADS

Two addicts. One epic love story. 

Prepare for the worst. 

That’s what Lily and Lo try to do when Jonathan Hale schedules an “important” meeting. The problem: after being swept into the public eye and battling their addictions, they’re not sure what the worst is anymore. 

In a sea of many changes—including Ryke & Daisy living with them—Lily realizes that the best part of her fluctuating hormones might just be the worst. 

Her sex drive is out of control. 

Loren knows that she’s insatiable, but he’s not giving up on her. She’s too much a part of him. And as he carries more and more responsibility, some of the people that he loves doubt his resolve. 

In the conclusion to their love story, Lily & Lo stand side-by-side to fight, one last time, for their happily ever after. 

**AUTHORS' NOTE**
Due to the 2-year gap between Addicted for Now (Addicted #2) and Addicted After All (Addicted #3), you must read Thrive (Addicted #2.5) or the Calloway Sisters spin-off series before reading Addicted After All.

Ever since Lily's sex addiction became public (in Addicted for Now), Celebrity Crush -- a popular tabloid -- has been reporting all sorts of crazy things about the Calloways. And like most gossip sites, what you believe is true is up to you. The only people who know what really happened are the parties involved – which you can read about in Addicted After All (available October 31st). But for now, here’s an article to tease you with all the shenanigans to (possibly) come.

GIVEAWAY:

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Krista & Becca Ritchie are identical twins. They write New Adult books that make you cringe, gasp, and go ooh-la-la. (If you do that sort of thing.) They are currently working on the spin-offs and final books in the Addicted series. Connect with them on twitter and their website: kbritchie.com

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COVER REVEAL: A LIL' LESS HOPELESS by Tara Oakes

~Book Description~

Jay and Lils' epic tale of true love has unfolded, first in A Lil' Less Broken, followed by A Lil' Less Lost, and now concludes in the third installment of Tara Oakes' thrilling Kingsmen MC saga.

Jay has proven his loyalty over and over... that he is willing to do whatever necessary for his one true love, his Lil' one, Julia. She just so happens to have an uncanny ability to find herself in need of that loyalty time and again.

What happens when the tables turn and it is Lil's who must risk it all to save her ol' man? To prove once and for all, to him, and to the MC they call family that she is no longer the little girl they've known. But instead, is a fierce ol' lady determined not to stand idly by as everything she has worked so hard to regain is threatened. 

WARNING***
This novella is intended for those 18+ of age and contains strong language, sexual content, and adult situations. 

AMAZON PREORDER

Book Review: A Lil' Less Broken (#1)

Book Review: A Lil' Less Lost (#2)

***Join Tara on Thursday, October 30th 2014 when she takes over Book-Bosomed's Facebook Page at 10pm, Eastern time.***

Find Tara Oakes on her Social Media

Facebook:Tara Oakes
Twitter:@Lil_Oakes

BOOK REVIEW: Forked by Melanie Harlow

~Book Description~

Twenty-eight year old Coco Thomas knows the recipe for disaster:

1) Agree to plan last-minute engagement blowout for spoiled Mafia princess before you realize her choice of caterer is Nick Lupo, a despicably gorgeous young chef with a hot new restaurant in town, a reality TV show victory, and a romantic past with you—one that did not end well.

2) Strike a deal with Nick in which you agree to spend a weekend with him in exchange for his services, under the strict conditions there will be no talking about the past, no second chances, and definitely no sex.

3) Violate all three conditions within 24 hours and spend two glorious days remembering what made you fall for the sexy, egotistical bastard in the first place, and why it hurt so much when he broke your heart.

Add one road trip, plenty of good scotch, and endless spoonfuls of chocolate cake batter drizzled over your body and licked off inch by oh-my-God-yes-right-there inch, then just admit it.

You’re totally FORKED.

 GOODREADS

 Book Review: Forked (Frenched #2) by Melanie Harlow

4.25 Stars

Coco Thomas, 28, runs a successful party planning business with her friend Mia (See Frenched for Mia’s story). But Coco is not raking in enough cash to put a down payment on the dream house slash fixer-upper that she’s fallen in love with.  Mia is willing to help, as in forgo her half of the commission on any events while’s she out of the country for her wedding, so when the next client walks in the door, Coco hopes she’s the angel she needs.

Her angel of money turns out to be the local mob boss’s daughter, and she has quite an extensive list of requirements for her engagement party.  500 people, champagne fountains, ice sculptures—her client wants the works for the following weekend. But it’s the last detail that’s almost the deal breaker. The Italian American Princess wants famous burger chef Nick Lupo, also known as Coco’s ex, to grill for the party.

So what happens when two exes from an impulsive young marriage meet again after seven years? Well first they air their dirty laundry in public. It’s quite a fun scene with reveals and mistakes from their past. But Nick knows how to wear her down and soon she’s agreeing to spend the weekend with him—but with her rules.

Can Coco let a weekend with Nick be nothing more than a temporary time travel to their past or will feelings get in the way?

In Nick’s kitchen, author Melanie Harlow quickly turns up the heat between Nick and Coco, yet she avoids the pitfalls of insta-lust. The past relationship that Nick and Coco shared is always clearly felt. They are two old lovers who were also great friends at the core. It's apparent that their ultimate problem is not love or attraction but trust and security.  

The first part of the story is really cute, fun, and super sexy. I liked both characters and was rooting for them to reunite. The author did a great job of presenting the issues from their past alongside the attraction Coco and Nick obviously share. But somewhere during their weekend trip, Coco started to rub me the wrong way a little. I totally understood that she felt hurt and betrayed by how Nick previously handled their relationship, but he seemed like such a prince in the present so it was hard to not want her to give him another chance. 

“‘What boy sits with someone’s grandmother for two hours if he doesn’t love her?’”

You tell her Granny!

And then Coco freaked out about something that I felt she prematurely over-reacted to, and it requires some suspicion of disbelief at how immediately these college educated adults thought they could get an answer. (Even modern testing isn’t that quick. It wouldn’t have been accurate.) So I was glad it turned out the way it did as that part felt added simply for drama. I definitely enjoyed her friend Erin as the voice of reason at that point as Coco was just going overboard with the “sign” thing.

There were also a few things that seemed to have potential for more fun and adventure (Angelina's party) and re-connection (her tattoo???), but were not explored. Still, overall it’s an enjoyable read—sexy turned romantic—about lost chances, second chances. Forked is book 2 in the Frenched series but is easily read as a stand-alone.

Will Coco finally let Nick explain? Can she handle the answers? Are they worse than she thinks? What will Nick have to do to prove himself and win his ex-wife back?

For a fun, steamy read with substance but no teary angst, grab a copy today…

AMAZON     B&N

COVER REVEAL: Missing Link by Addison Jane

Samantha Ashley knows the true meaning of betrayal. 

When her father gets involved with evil, high powered Charlie, in order to bail himself out, he hands her over as payment. Charlie now owns every part of her. A fate over the years she has come to loathe, but accept. A chance at a normal life seems unattainable. She will never feel the touch of a man she loves, never be able to exist outside of Charlie's strict confinements.

Lincoln (Link) Davids is sexy and fearless. One touch from him lights her skin on fire. One night she rescues Link from Charlie's evil clutches. Link vows to save her from her prison but she's determined to push him away, knowing that Charlie would delight in ripping him to shreds.

Charlie is becoming more abusive, demanding her submission and threatening her life. With Link's promise of protection, will she finally find the strength to run, or will Charlie's increasing aggression finally cause her to lose more than just her freedom.

Kris at CK Creations

GOODREADS

About The Author
Hi! I am Addison Jane!
I come from a small country called New Zealand.
I have always had a strong love for reading and writing and Missing Link, whilst not the first story I have written, is the first I will be releasing.
My favourite genre is romance, specifically MC, rockstar and young adult.
I'm a single parent to a beautiful little girl, we live in a quiet little town and I have a small but amazing group of close friends.
My other passion in life is working with kids! I work with them part time along with going to school to complete my graduate diploma.
I am fortunate enough to have a great support base, whom without them, I would never have stepped out of my comfort zone and pushed myself to share my writing with you all!
-AJ

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COVER REVEAL: #1 Crush by Kaia Bennett

Nicole Langley’s #1 Crush has always been Gabriel Roberts, but settling for being a friendly acquaintance has had to be enough.

Gabriel has always seen Nicole as his good friend’s very pretty, but extremely off limits baby sister.

Then a hot summer day and an even hotter discovery pushes them over the lines of friendship, over the lines of unrequited desire, and into each other's arms.

Will they indulge and move on? Or will this crush turn into something more, something deeper? Something that leaves loose ends begging to be tied…

Publication Date: December 2014

GOODREADS

~EXCERPT~

Gabriel's room.

She paused, peeking through the slightly closed door to the bed within. She had been in there once or twice when Gabriel had a new CD for her to download, or a book he’d recommended she read. He’d moved in a little over a year ago when Jackie and her boyfriend Ian had to get rid of their last roommate, who had almost set the couch on fire when he’d invited his loser friends over to get high. That guy had been crass, sloppy, and late on the rent more than a few times. Gabriel was none of those things. He had a relatively decent job at an employment recruiting firm while he saved up money to play music full time and get his own place. He tried to keep his messes inside his space, though he wasn't usually around much to make any. And if he did smoke, he had yet to set anything on fire.

He put all the guys she dated to shame and served as the image she used to relieve sexual tension more times than she could count. In her mind he was tender and sweet, touching her skin reverently, laying gentle kisses all over her body. He would take his time making her wet, unlike the last asshole she had gone out with who thought a few licks and a dry finger was all that was required before he could stick it in. Gabriel would know better, would ask her if she was ready and then ease himself in carefully. He would tell her he had been waiting so long for this moment as he stroked her into a frenzy, making her come over and over again with the power of his strong body and gentle words.

Just the thought of it made her body shiver, and before she knew it she was pushing open the door and stepping inside his personal space. Her body hummed just thinking about how he slept in that bed, the sheets rumpled and unmade from when he woke earlier that morning. She thought of the glimpse she caught of him when he came out of the shower. Those tattoos stood out red and black against the sides of his v-shaped torso, the towel riding low on his narrow hips.

Thank goodness he had been oblivious to the pair of brown eyes surveying him from over the edge of the couch.

Now she was standing where he had been when he closed that door. She let her hand run over the dresser as she walked quietly inside, her fingers tapping over his brush, his comb, the deodorant he used. She picked up the bottle of cologne he used and opened it, breathing in the intoxicating scent.

She put the cap back on, careful to place the bottle back where it belonged, and surveyed the rest of the room. Beside the dresser was a pretty nice entertainment center, and on the other side of that was his bookshelf. She had nearly creamed her panties when she found out it wasn't just for show, that he did in fact read when he got the chance, and that they shared similar taste in books. A ridiculously huge rack of CDs and his propped up guitar filled the far corner of the room. The walls were lined with posters of his favorite musicians, as well as mementos from shows he and his band played.

Below those posters was the bed, which was simple. It had metal rungs for the headboard with white sheets and a steel grey comforter. She could still see the indent of his body in the mattress, the curve in the center of the pillow where he rested his head each night. On either side of the bed were small tables with a few drawers each, where pictures of his family and friends rested. She was tempted to open up those drawers and see what he kept in them, but she resisted. She didn't intend to go snooping through his things. All she wanted to do was be in his space, to see the side of him she wasn't usually allowed to see, at least not for long periods of time. Instead she swept her hands over the sheets, letting her legs brush against them where they drooped to the floor.

Nicole wondered as she brought her knee up onto the bed what it must be like to be a girl in this bed with him. Did he sleep with a lot of girls? She knew of at least one girl when he first moved in, his ex-girlfriend Marta. At the time she asked herself what the fuck kind of name was Marta? In this case, it was the type of name a gorgeous half-Indian, half-Spanish girl would have, the kind with long dark hair, golden, almond-shaped eyes and a tall, lithe frame with curves in the all the right places. Her skin was rich toffee compared to Nicole's milk chocolate with red undertones, her height and build making Nicole feel like an overly curvy dwarf, even if she was average in terms of height, and her curves were welcomed by plenty.

What kind of girl did he sleep with now that his ex, Marta, was out of the picture? Nicole only got to visit her sister occasionally during breaks from school, so she never got to see exactly what kind of girl besides Marta could make Gabriel take a second look.

She brought her other knee onto the bed. Resting on all fours, she pretended she was that girl, the one that he wanted. What would it be like to have him lying in this bed next to her, his hips barely covered by these sheets? She crawled closer to the center of the bed, smiling seductively, pretending she was crawling toward a deliciously naked Gabriel instead of the cold indent of his body, when her knee landed hard on something tucked under the sheets. The sound of the TV turning on startled her, as did the image that popped up on the screen. Her mouth dropped, her eyes widened…

Giveaway:

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Kaia Bennett is a native of New Jersey, a college graduate and U.S. Army veteran who loves music, movies, astrology, tattoos, martial arts, animals and, of course, the written word. She heard the siren call of the writer as a teenage girl, but took her sweet time answering it until she had lived and loved enough to share her work with the masses.

She is an erotic author who loves to write stories with diversity, depth, realism and viscerally hot encounters that flirt shamelessly with the taboo. A lover of all genres and a voracious reader, she aims to write stories that are transformative for her characters and readers alike.

Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

COVER REVEAL: Chasing Jenna by Micki Fredricks

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: November 27, 2014

Goodreads

Twenty year old Jenna Clausen has one chance to change her life… and she's going to take it.

Leaving the darkness of her life two hundred miles behind her, Jenna arrives at the one place that could save her…college. Pushing her fears aside while gathering all of her courage, she steps out into her new life, and right into the sights of Cale Davis.

Cale is part of the most elite house on campus simply called, The Brotherhood. It’s an exclusive house with one rule for membership, either you are born into The Brotherhood or you’re not. Cale makes it a priority to get what he wants…and he wants Jenna. He sets a plan into motion to make Jenna his.

There is however, one flaw to Cale’s plan, Ryan Kitson. Also a fellow Brother in the House, he is a Cale-approved study partner for Jenna. But when her feelings for Ryan start to grow, Jenna has another decision to make….one she couldn't possibly have understood the dangers of.

She suddenly finds herself engulfed by a lifestyle so dark and twisted she can’t find a way out. On the run and unsure who to trust, she spirals deeper and deeper into her nightmare. Jenna struggles to put all the pieces together until it finally becomes clear… The decision she made to save her life, might actually be the one that ends it.

**This book is a Romantic Suspense for mature audiences, 18+ due to dark topics with references to both sexual and violent situations.*

Giveaway

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~Excerpt~

The empty notebook page stared back at me, making my restlessness worse. I chewed on my pen, another nervous habit of mine, as the instructor blabbed on about study guides and scheduled quizzes.  This morning had gone so far off track, I wasn’t sure how to recover.

I shifted casually in my seat, acting like I couldn’t get comfortable. Honestly, it was to sneak looks at Ryan.  Leaned back into his seat, one arm draped over the back of his chair and the other resting on his leg, his bad boy demeanor on full display. He was so confident in himself, so comfortable in his own skin. 

 I sighed quietly and shifted in my seat again, glancing over at him. He looked like the perfect student, until I noticed a smirk forming. He ran his tongue over his bottom lip and nipped at the side of it with his teeth.  Without looking at me, he reached into his bag and held out a piece of paper. It was his schedule.

Keeping his eyes down, he leaned into me and whispered, “Why don’t you look to see if we have any other classes together? You’re making me self-conscious with all that staring.”

A small gasp slipped from my lips and it felt like the floor dropped out of the room. Not only had I been caught, but he called me out. Somehow this morning just got worse.

  I reached for the paper but he grabbed my hand.  Amusement flared in his blue eyes as he pulled me toward him. He was enjoying my embarrassment a little too much.

“And please, a favor?  Stop twirling that pen around in your mouth like that. Unless you have an evil plan to make me, and every other guy in here, fail this class miserably.”

My shoulders slumped as I tried to fight back the humiliation that rolled through me. I looked away immediately and hid my face behind his schedule. He chuckled as he leaned back into his chair, the sound of it warmed my heart.

About The Author

If they’d known about ADHD when I was little, my Ritalin dosage would’ve been OFF THE CHARTS!!  It goes without saying; I spent A LOT of time by myself after the teacher moved my desk out into the hallway. ** Silver lining**  With all that alone time on my hands, I used my imagination to make the world interesting. When I was little, people said I had an "active imagination". In elementary school, teachers called me a "daydreamer".  My high school counselor said I needed to “learn how to focus" and my college professors warned me to "buckle down".  Before I knew it, it was time to “grow up.” So that’s what I did. I grew up, got married and had five kids. I work as a full time nurse, active in my church, part of the most amazing book club, blog about books with my best friend and cart small humans to school, football, theater, dance ect. Oh yeah...and write a bit when I can and now people say I’m "talented."  Moral of my story: Hug your kids, embrace their differences… love them for who they are. Someday, the traits you think are struggles now…Might be what makes them the happiest! Micki lives in small town Iowa with her husband, kids and a fat Cocker Spaniel named Joey. She is the author of Winds of Darkness, released in February of 2013 and Chasing Jenna, to be released Thanksgiving Day, 2014.

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REVIEW/RELEASE BLITZ: Prisoner by Skye Warren and Annika Martin

~Synopsis~

He seethes with raw power the first time I see him—pure tattooed menace and rippling muscles in shackles. He’s dangerous. He’s wild. He’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

So I hide behind my prim glasses and my book like I always do, because I have secrets, too. Then he shows up in the prison writing class I volunteered to teach and he blows me away with his honesty. He tells me secrets in his stories, and it’s getting harder to hide mine. I shiver when he gets too close, with only the cuffs and the bars and the guards holding him back. At night, I can’t stop thinking about him in his cell.

But that’s the thing about an animal in a cage—you never know when he’ll bite. He might use you to escape. He might even pull you into a forest and hold a hand over your mouth, so you can’t call for the cops. He might make you come so hard, you can’t think.

And you might crave him more than your next breath.

 GOODREADS

~Book Review~
  4.5 Stars

A class project teaching writing within the prison community is not the assignment Abigail Winslow was hoping for. An undergrad student and bookworm, Abby is prim and proper on the outside, but on the inside she wrestles with her own demons.

Her unease with the prisoners is compounded further when she sets her sights on inmate Grayson Kane. And he sets his eyes on her. But Grayson has a multitude of reasons for his interest in Abby. Despite her fear of him, Abby is also drawn to him, and his writings intrigue her enough to research his past.

 “There are so many gaps between the scared boy he was then and the scary man he is now.”

Grayson’s more than your typical bad boy. He has a calculating, criminal mind, and he’s existed so far in life via a ‘kill or be killed’ lifestyle.  He’s a hardened criminal and a damaged soul, but is his heart completely cold, unworthy of real love?

Grayson gets off on the reaction he incites in Abby…and when she corrects his grammar. ;-) They have a very interesting dynamic—the things that attract them to each other…well, it’s certainly not things you ordinarily see. But that makes for some intriguing as well as enjoyable, original scenes (i.e.The library/their “nerdy outlaw date”). There is major chemistry between Abby and Grayson right from the beginning, and as their relationship grows, the more intense it becomes. By the end, I was really moved. 

“Some people have a relationship that’s sunshine and roses. Ours is darkness and vengeance.”

By the very nature of their relationship—convict/teacher, captor/hostage—this is not a conventional romance.  It’s dark, blooming in the shadows and existing on the outside of the law. It’s often about who has the power, but it’s also about seeing each other’s darkest secrets and loving the other person for them. The energy between them awakens something within both of them that they need.

Told via Grayson and Abby’s alternating first person point of view, readers gain insight into the damaged lives of both characters and along the way their pasts are gradually revealed. Abby’s was traumatic but Grayson and his gang’s was truly heart-breaking, and this is where the compassion for Grayson begins to emerge.

Though they seem quite different on the surface, underneath they understand each other more than it would appear. And these damaged aspects of both characters, but particularly Abby, are what make the story work and the relationship seem plausible.

The plot is very engaging and once you get into it, it’s hard to put down. The opening at the correctional facility sets up their uneven (and sometimes alternating) balance of power and control, and then the action kicks in and the story takes you on a ride. Throughout what follows, Abby, though smart and resourceful, grapples with her feelings and reactions to Grayson, some of which understandably change with the situations and some of which shift a little abruptly.

There’s suspense, action, adventure, and some gritty romance. It’s also a story about the ties that bind and the moments that form lasting bonds. Is Grayson worthy of Abby? Will Abby fall for Grayson? Will Grayson’s crew get their revenge and will they ever accept Abigail? Can Abby help Grayson discover the things he needs to be whole even if they aren’t the things he thinks he needs or deserves?

For the most part I liked where they ultimately ended up (both emotionally and literally/physically). The end setting is rather unique and mirrors the people that it conceals—dark and damaged on the exterior; the capacity for beauty on the interior. There’s a ton of potential for more stories with Abby and Grayson and his crew, of which Grayson seems the first to have the capability to transcend beyond their past. (Oh yeah, these other men need women too.) The ending isn’t really a cliff-hanger but it does leave more of the story to be told; questions of their ultimate freedom, survival, and redemption unanswered.  I’m going to assume that was done on purpose to segue into future books in the Criminals & Captives series. I’m certainly on board to read more and find out what happens next.

~Coming January 2018~

Hostage (Stone's Story)

BOOK REVIEW

~Prisoner Excerpt~

Heavy bars close behind me with a clang. I feel the sound in my bones. A series of mechanical clicks hint at an elaborate security mechanism beneath the black iron plating. I knew this would happen—had anticipated and dreaded it—but my breathing quickens with the knowledge that I am well and truly trapped.

“Can I help you?”

I whirl to face the administrative window where a heavyset woman in a security guard uniform stares at her screen.

“Hi,” I say, pasting on a smile. “My name is Abigail Winslow, and I’m here to—”

“Two forms of identification.”

“Oh, well, I already filled out the paperwork at the front desk. And showed them my IDs.”

“This isn’t the front desk, Ms. Winslow. This is the east-wing desk, and I need to see two forms of identification.”

“Right.” I dig through my bag for my driver’s license and passport.

She accepts them without looking up, then hands me a clipboard with a stack of papers just like the ones I’d already filled out.

I’ve been dreading this day for weeks, wishing I’d been assigned any other project but this one. You’d think I was being sent here for a crime. My professor—the one who’d forced me into this—warned me that prisoners were not always receptive to outsiders. Apparently nobody here is.

I complete each form, arrange the pages neatly on the clipboard, and bring them back up to the window. The guard accepts them and gives back my IDs…still without looking at me.

My hands clench and unclench, clench and unclench while the guard eyes my paperwork.

Seconds pass. Or are they minutes? The damp chill of the place seeps in through my cardigan and leaves me shivering.

Leaning forward, I read the name tag of the guard. “Ms. Breck. Do you know what the next steps are?”

“You can have a seat. I have work to do now, and then I’ll escort you back.”

“Oh, okay.” I glance at the bars I just came through, then the open hallway opposite. “Actually, if you just point me in the direction of the library, I’m sure I can—”

Thunk. The woman’s hand hits the desk. I jump. Her dark eyes are faintly accusing, and I wish we could go back to no eye contact. How did I manage to make an enemy in two minutes?

“Ms. Winslow,” she says, her voice patronizing.

“You can call me Abby,” I whisper.

A slight smile. Not a nice one. “Ms. Winslow, what do you think we do here?”

The question is clearly rhetorical. I press my lips together to keep from making things worse.

“The Kingman Correctional Facility houses over five thousand convicted criminals. My job is to keep it that way. Do we understand each other?”

Heat floods my cheeks. The last thing I want to do is make her job harder. “Right. Of course.” I shamble back, landing hard on the metal folding chair. It wobbles a little before the rubber feet stop my slide.

I understand the woman’s point. She has to keep the prisoners in and everyone else out, and keep people like me safe.

I reach down and pull a book from my bag. I never leave home without one, even when I go to classes or run errands. Even when I was young and my mother used to take me on her rounds.

Especially then.

I would hide in the backseat with my nose in the book, pretending I didn’t see the shady people who came to her window when we stopped.

A little green light above the barred doors flashes on and there’s an ominous buzz. Somebody’s coming through, and I doubt it will be a library volunteer. I slide down.  

Pretend to be invisible.

It’s no use. I peer over the top edge as a prisoner saunters through the door, and my pulse slams in my throat double time.

He’s flanked by two guards—escorted by them, I guess you’d say. But they seem more like an entourage than anything. Power vibrates around him like a threat.

Read, read, read. Don’t look.

The prisoner is half a foot taller than the guards, but he seems to tower over them by more than that. Maybe it’s his broad shoulders or just something about the way he stands, or his imperiously high cheekbones. The dark stubble across his cheeks looks so rough and unforgiving I can feel it against my palm; it contrasts wildly with the plushness of his lips. His short brown hair is mussed. There’s one scar through his eyebrow that somehow adds to his perfection.

The little group approaches the window. I can barely breathe.

“ID number 85359,” one of the guards says, and I understand that he’s referring to the prisoner. That’s who he is. Not John Smith or William Brown or whatever his name is. He’s been reduced to a number. The woman at the desk runs through a series of questions. It’s a procedure for checking him out of solitary.

The prisoner faces sideways, spine straight, the corner of his mouth tilted up as if he’s slightly amused. Then it clicks, what else is so different about him: no visible tattoos. Tough guys like this, they’re always inked up—it’s a kind of armor, a kind of fuck you. This guy has none of it, though he’s far from pristine; white scars mar the rough skin of his hands and especially his forearms, a latticework of pain and violence, a flag proclaiming the kind of underworld he came from.

The feel of brutality that hangs about him is compelling and…somehow beautiful.

I drink him in from behind my book—it’s my mask, my protective shield. But then the strangest thing happens: he cocks his head. It’s just a slight shift, but I feel his attention on me deep in my belly. I’ve been discovered. Caught by searchlights. Exposed.

My heart beats frantically.

I want him to look away. He fills up too much space. It’s as if he breathes enough oxygen for twelve men, leaving no air for me at all. Maybe if we were in the library and he needed help finding a book or looking something up, then I wouldn’t mind the weight of his gaze.

No. Not even there. He’s too much.

Two sets of bars on the gate. Handcuffs. Two guards.

What do they think he would do if there were only one set of bars, one guard?

My blood races as the guards draw him away from the window and toward the inner door, toward where I sit. His heat pierces the chill around me as he nears. His deep brown eyes never once meet mine, but I have the sense of him looming over me as he passes, like a tree with a massive canopy. He continues on, two hundred pounds of masculine danger wrapped in all that beauty.

Even in chains, he seems vibrant, wild and free, a force of nature—it makes me feel like I’m the one in prison. Safe. Small. Carefully locked down.

How would it feel to be that free?

“Ms. Winslow. Ms. Winslow.”

I jump, surprised to hear that the woman has been calling my name. “I’m sorry,” I say as a strange sensation tickles the back of my neck.

The woman stands and begins pulling on her jacket. “I’ll take you to the library now.”

“Oh, that’s great.”

That shivery sensation gets stronger. Against my better judgment, I look down the hallway where the guards and the prisoner are walking off as one—a column of orange flanked by two thinner, shorter posts.

The prisoner glances over his shoulder. His mocking brown gaze searches me out, pins me with a subtle threat. Though it isn’t his eyes that scare me. It’s his lips—those beautiful, generous lips forming words that make my blood race.

Ms. Winslow.

No sound comes out, but I feel as though he’s whispered my name right into my ear. Then he turns and strolls off.

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About Annika Martin

Annika Martin is a New York Times bestselling author who loves writing stories about criminals – some of her tales are dirty and fun (kinky bank robbers!) others are dark and intense (Prisoner collaboration). She also writes gritty, sexy romantic suspense and urban fantasy as RITA-award winning author Carolyn Crane.

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About Skye Warren

Skye Warren is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of dark romantic fiction. Her books are raw, sexual and perversely romantic.

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