Blog Tour: Absolution by Amanda Dick

 

Jack McKenna is a man with two very distinct pasts.

One ended with a car accident involving his girlfriend, Ally, and a split-second decision with horrific consequences. Desperate to escape the guilt, he carved out a new life for himself. Four years spent hiding in the shadows, punishing himself for not having the courage to go back to her. Then, out of the blue, a phone call forces him to face up to everything and everyone he left behind.

Ally Connor’s life was split in two - before the car accident that shattered her spine, and after Jack’s sudden disappearance. Abandoning her when she needed him most, she fought hard to make it back from the brink. The face she shows to the world is strong and courageous, but behind the mask, the pain is burrowing deeper.

But fate had more in store for these two broken souls than either could have imagined. A funeral, a homecoming and a journey of self-discovery that would change both their lives - if they let it.

Suddenly, the secrets they want to hide from each other are the very secrets that could make them whole again.

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Amanda Dick is a night-owl, coffee addict, movie buff and music lover. She loves to do DIY (if it's not bolted down, she'll probably paint it, re-cover it or otherwise decorate it) and has tried almost every craft known to man/womankind. She has two sewing machines and an over-locker she can't remember how to thread. She crochets (but can't follow a pattern), knits (badly) and refrains from both as a public service.

She believes in love at first sight, in women's intuition and in following your heart. She is rather partial to dark chocolate and believes in the power of a good vanilla latte.

What lights her fire is writing stories about real people in trying situations. Her passion is finding characters who are forced to test their boundaries. She is insanely curious about how we, as human beings, react when pushed to the edge. Most of all, she enjoys writing about human behaviour - love, loss, joy, grief, friendship and the complexity of relationships in general.

After living in Scotland for five years, she has now settled back home in New Zealand, where she lives with her husband and two children.

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BOOK REVIEW: Sociopath: Legacy by Lime Craven

2 Stars (rough average as this was extremely difficult to rate by the numbers)

*This review may contain some general spoilers but they are all things I wish I would have known going in, and I couldn’t write an honest review without mentioning them.*

They say writing is cathartic. I hope that’s true for book reviews. This one is meant to finally purge the book-hangover from my system.  I wish there was literary brain bleach to cleanse the images of the last third of the book from my mind. Prior to that I was jotting down glowing praise for a story that had five star potential written in its pages. So let’s go there first.

Sociopath: Legacy is the sequel to Sociopath.  You’ll need to read that one first as the sequel continues the story of media mogul, Aeron Lore, his cutting penchant, and his twisted courtship of Leo Reeves. This time though Aeron is not the big bad crazy. That distinction goes to…

Blood Honey 

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but real life is sorely lacking in ritualistic serial killers. Hands up—who’s bored of terrorists?”

Blood Honey is slicing girls of every age up and putting them on display, each with a distinct term of endearment smeared on their skin. Initially it provides an intriguing mystery to this erotic-romance thriller.  There were so many possibilities with this and for a long while it paced far from predictable. (Though perhaps the answer was always there in the title.) Usually predictable is a negative in books but here, I later realized, it might have been welcomed, allowing me jump ship before that brain bleach was needed.

But back to the positives, we learn more about the past as well as get more insight into Aeron and Leo’s current relationship. Despite the “drama” between them in book one, we find Leo back at Aeron’s side. Their relationship is the epitome of love-hate in a romance if there ever was one. It truly captures a couple with love but distrust, distain but attraction.  You’ll find plenty of “love-hate” banter among sparring couples in romance, but this is something totally different.  It’s dark and potentially deadly, yet the narrative always keeps it light…in the first half or more. (Man I wish I didn’t have to make that distinction). 

“‘There’s a fine f*cking line between love and hate, Leo. I like the line. We’ll be the line. Okay?’”

Aeron is a captivating narrator. He’s not someone you’d want to know in real life (that could be dangerous…or dicey) but he’s witty and intelligent as he, along with Leo this time, narrates their tale. Thought-provoking definitions start off each chapter once again. In the first book and most of this one, Lime Craven does a superb job taking readers into the world of a functioning sociopath. It’s not the crazy most people assume. Instead it’s a world of cunning, manipulative, and resourceful ways that invites danger. She is very talented with her writing style.

But then the book takes a turning point. It honestly felt like someone else took over writing. Aeron and Leo’s story has always had dark undertones, but both the first book and the first half of this one were always kept light by the witty narration. But the last third of this book takes a turn and not for the better. It becomes unabashedly dark and disturbing while at the same time the reveals and the unraveling of the plot become clichéd.  Blood Honey’s identity for one. (Darth Vadar’s voice still ringing loudly in my head).

Meanwhile, characters that were growing and evolving, becoming such fully developed characters that it felt like the two books were coming together into a perfect picture, begin to slip and become weak, victimized, and lost.  While the cutting obsession would have been a trigger warning for some readers since the first book, a few new ones need to go up for this one (detailed violence and rape)!  The book finally lost me on the later. It’s far too over-used as a degrading plot device for women in fiction that suppresses them and presents them as the weaker, helpless sex. My feminist hackles were raised that Leo’s character crashed just when she was starting to take off.

I was devastated at how the story from the climax through the end played out and struggled to finish it. This section would be a definite one star rating. On top of the gruesome violation that was sickening, the resolution of the story becomes a sinking mess in some Maldives island waters.  My head was swimming in questions of who some characters really were (existentially, not literally), backgrounds that needed more explanation, red herrings, and several plot points that felt dropped (including ones from the first book). Oh and there's a ghost (WTF?) 

The final ending is unsettling. It was ewww & unbelievable. I couldn’t tell if it was meant to be depressing or a twisted attempt at an HEA. (For the record, it was not an HEA in my book. For others, it might be up for interpretation.)

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*Note: I had the wonderful opportunity to interview author Lime Craven and the characters of Aeron and Leo after the previous book.  You can read those interviews as well as my 4.5 star review of Sociopath: HERE.  Lime is a talented writer who obviously put a lot of time into her books. So I want to stress that I post this mixed review (at a delayed date due to the policy of the promotional company) out of my belief in the extreme importance of honest reviews. 

BLOG TOUR: Jax by Kelly Gendron

Series: Breaking The Declan Brothers #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: March 17, 2015

~Synopsis~

“Some boys can get rough, some don’t always listen when you tell them to stop, and some boys, they’re just monsters. You gotta be careful who you play with…” ~ Jax Declan

I’m a tease, always have been. In my teens, Jax Declan tried to warn me about staying away from the bad boys. The only boy I ever wanted was Jax. But, no matter how much I tried to play with him, he rejected me.

I haven’t see Jax Declan in years. A couple friends and I are going back to the Bayou for the summer. A little older now, and a bit wiser, I’ve decided that I’m going to find my teenage crush and I’m going to break him. This summer Jax Declan will play with me.

But the closer I get and the more I learn about the reserved, discreet, and sexy Jax Declan. Well, I’m starting to think that Jax Declan might just be one of those bad boys he tried to warn me about all those years ago.

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 ~Book Review~

4 Stars

Jax is the first book in the Breaking the Declan Brothers series, and Jax, 30, is the oldest of the Delcan Brothers and the object of Emmie Rue’s desires when she returns, for the summer, to the Bayou where she grew up. Em and her two friends hatch a plan to snag each of the brothers, her one friend having previously dated Slate and her other friend having not yet met Zeke.  

The best part of the story is most definitely the seriously hot banter between Jax and Em that is laced with fun innuendos.  Reading their dialogue is a lot of fun and the strong point of the book.

“‘Let’s get something clear here. When we f*ck, if I tell you to do something, it’s so that I can regain control over not you, but myself.’” —Jax

Jax is pretty alpha male with some rough tendencies. From the glimpses of the other brothers, I think it’s probably safe to say he’s the most settled, mature one, focused on staying in control.  

“He’s a breath stealer, a thought hog, and a pussy nagger. He consumes my ability to think, and with every look, every damn word he teases my raging womanly desires.” — Emmie Rue

Emmie calls herself a tease and she probably is. Even though she’s a college graduate, sometimes she still seemed like a little girl trying to play a big girl game. Honestly, a lot of the characters often felt closer to twenty than thirty.  A little more background or development with Em might have helped me connect with her more.

The premise and a few situations felt a little contrived, but it’s a quick and steamy read told via Em and Jax’s alternating first person POV.  If you're looking for a sexy read, this is one to check out. The ending sets up the next book/couple and a sample of Slate, coming later this year, is included. 

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 ~Alternate POV Scene~

(Mature Content)

…from behind me, heels click on the hardwood floor. Fuck! I shake my head. Some chick must be following me. Well, that’s what I get for jumping in the ring tonight. Damn, groupies. I thought this shit only happens to Zeke, not that he doesn’t welcome it. God love him, but my little bro’s a man-whore. I continue toward the door, maybe the chick will get the hint.

“Jax!”

My feet come to a halt and I slowly smile. I know that voice. Can’t say that I’m not happy to hear it, my cock certainly is, that fucker jumps a few inches. I uncurl my lips, glance over my shoulder, and let my eyes stroll down Emmie Rue, surveying the tight shirt hugging her perky tits, the short skirt revealing her slender thighs and those high heels...dammit. I’m a sucker for high heels. My cock jumps another inch. I flash my eyes to hers. “What are ya doing back here, Em?”

She struts her perfect little figure on over to me and sets her hands on her hips. “I think the bigger question is what the hell were you doing out there? You fight?”

I turn around. Hands taped and balled at my sides, sweat dripping down my naked chest, I shrug, “Sometimes.” Man, I don’t know how long I’m gonna last. Not sure, how much longer I’m going to be able to hold back from taking her, from fucking that sassiness right out of her fine, sassy-ass.  

“Do you own this place?”

“Zeke, Slate, and me, yeah.” I swipe a hand over my sweat-soaked hair. “Look, I gotta take a shower,” I say. Fully aware that for her safety I need to distant myself from her attainable body.

She takes a step closer. Her eyes glide down my ready-to-fuck body, but they don’t make it to my feet. Not helping matters, they take a momentary pause at my growing rod. Then, from beneath the hoods of her lids, she peers up at me. “You want some company in the shower?”

“Now, Emmie Rue,” I drop my hand from my head, “you don’t wanna go teasin’ me,” I say, hands clutching and releasing at my sides. I’m tryin’ real hard to restrain myself here.

Her brow arches. “Maybe I do.”

“No. You don’t,” I chuckle. “I’m not one of your boy toys you can play with.”

“Who says,” she places a finger on my chest and runs it down along my tattoo, following the tribal art to the waist of my shorts, getting real close to that danger zone, “I’m looking for a toy?”

“Oh, you’re lookin’ for somethin’, but the games I like to play aren’t always nice,” I snatch her wandering hand, “and I can assure you that I don’t always follow the rules.”

“What rules?” Her sly eyes slant up at me.    

Fuck! She is tempting. I laugh, not about to give in to my cock that easily. I release her wrist. “The kind of rules beauty queens expect.”

“I’m not that girl anymore.”

“Yeah. Maybe not.” My eyes drop to her mouth. “Still, I’d take you to a place where even all grown-up princesses are afraid to go.”

“Well, then, it’s good that I’m not a princess, either.”

“No?” I grin down at her, wanting badly to believe it.

Her head tilts and she smiles up at me. “No.”

“Well, then,” I say, ready to challenge her, curious to see just how far she’s willing to go to prove it, “show me you’re not afraid to get dirty. Get on your knees.”

Just as I thought, her smile slowly wanes. “What?”

“Get down on your knees and suck my cock.”

Her eyes go wide. She opens her mouth, then shuts it. She looks to the left then the right. Damn, is she considering it? Shit! My cock thumps to full capacity. “But,” her eyes snap back to me, “anyone could come along and see us.”

“And?” I arch a brow.

“They’d see me sucking your cock.”

“And?” The side of my mouth lifts a little.

“And… and that’s just not right.”

“I warned you, there’s no right or wrongs when it comes to me,” my grin spreads.

As predicted, little Emmie Rue, she’s not ready for me…yet.

 ~About the Author~

Kelly’s motto ~ "Bad boys, give 'em a little time and experience, and they will evolve into misbehaving men!" And what hot-blooded woman doesn’t want a naughty, all grown up bad boy?

Kelly Gendron is the author of the TroubleMaker series, the up and coming series ~ Breaking the Declan Brothers, and a few other romantic suspense novels.

When she's not writing steamy, blush producing romances, she's out meeting new people while representing a group of reputable nursing facilities. You can find Kelly in a quiet suburb, somewhere between Buffalo and Niagara Falls. If you Google her, she’ll pop up there too. And, please do find her. Kelly loves to hear from her readers, and meeting new people.

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COVER REVEAL: Etched in Stone by Mayra Stratham

Release Day: April 14,2015 

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Series: Book 2 in Six Degrees Series

~Synopsis~

One look, one moment and I was completely defenseless.

One touch, one embrace and I was utterly consumed.

One kiss, one caress and that's all it took.

One look and thirty-four year old Parker Stone knew his life would never be the same. She called to him unlike anything ever had in his life, sparking an unbridled desire and captivating him completely.

One touch and twenty-eight year old Liz Del Rio wasn’t sure she’d be able to walk away. Experiencing a life full of disappointment and heartache, she wasn't looking for a relationship, let alone love and all the risks that came with it. Every time life had taught her the same lesson: not to let people in because they always leave and when they leave, it leaves scars upon your soul.

One kiss sealed their fate and they knew they would never be able to live without one another.

.Liz and Parker embed themselves into each other's world. Passion burns bright and fast, but what happens when your lives are connected in ways you could have never imagined?

Secrets from Liz's past threaten to break not only what they have, but who she is as they learn that once love is etched in stone nothing can make it crumble.

~Also by the Author~

CROWN'S CHANCE AT LOVE ( Six Degees 1) 

(SHOULD BE READ FIRST)

Mayra Statham resides in California. She is married with kids. Her addiction to romance novels and being an avid reader in the genre has made her dream come true. She enjoys going to book signings with her sister. She also loves  helping others indies by promoting their work. Some of her favorite authors are Kristen Ashley & Roxie Rivera . She loves being contacted by readers. 

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BOOK REVIEW : Jem by Michelle Abbott

3 stars

Jem grew up with an abusive father who was resentful of his very existence. But at age four he met his “Angel,” Devon—the slightly older little girl who befriended him and made him not feel ashamed.  Fast forward and Jem is eighteen, living on his own since the age of sixteen. His rough, violent upbringing has left him with anger issues, and that’s the first impression Devon has of him when she meets him again for the first time. Only Devon doesn’t know it’s her precious Jem and thus is the beginning of msunderstandings and misconceptions that plague their love story. 

I had a hard time connecting with adult Devon. She’s quick to judge strangers but naïve and too trusting of her abusive ex-boyfriend, the father of her child. I’m also not a fan of weak female characters and Devon’s actions in regard to her ex made me lose a lot of respect for her. I also craved a little more background on how she got involved (and stayed involved) with Connor in the first place, given her more solid, supportive upbringing and first hand knowledge of abuse with Jem as a child.

The premise has a lot of promise, and I liked Jem and Devon’s childhood bonding as the groundwork to their future coupling, but too many missed moments in the present and the lack of getting to know each other again as adults lessened the romantic vibe. The story addresses several heavy issues but never in detail or in terms of how the characters really rise above their hardships.  The bones to a deep story are there but the characters and plot needed fleshed out more. Overall, I think I simply craved more budding romance for a couple that so longed for each other. 

Jem is a stand-alone, first person POV told by both Devon and Jem. 

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Michelle Abbott lives in the UK and hates describing herself in 3rd person. She's a self-published author of new adult romance, and likes to write about heroes who begin as the underdog and are protective of their girl. She's an avid reader of romance, is addicted to coffee and loves wine and chocolate, so yeah, not the most healthy eating and drinking habits :-) She spends way too much time online when she should be writing. She collects teddy bears and occasionally knits a couple of rows on a sweater she started years ago, which she may eventually finish in time to wear for her funeral :-)

She is also the author of Just Stay. Read the blog's 4.5 Star Book Review & Author Interview: HERE

COVER REVEAL: An Obsession with Vengeance by Nancy Haviland

Series: Wanted Men #3

Publication Date: July 21, 2015

Genres: Contemporary, Organized Crime, Romance

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~Synopsis~ 

Maksim Kirov is a mobster who gets what he wants, both at his posh gentleman’s club in Hell’s Kitchen and in the bedroom. Sexy, dangerous, and obsessed with control, he’s risen through the ranks to become a highly respected leader in the tight-knit Tarasov crime syndicate. He rules with an iron fist…until he meets Sydney Martin.

The Australian-born Sydney is determined to refuse Maks’s advances, despite their electrifying chemistry. The owner of a neighboring nightclub, Sydney rules her own domain. But when a deal with a Mexican drug cartel goes terribly wrong, she has no choice but to turn to Maksim and the Tarasov organization for protection. Could giving in to their intense attraction be what saves both Maks and Sydney? Or will their all-consuming passion—and her shocking secret—destroy their lives?

In the hot and scandalous third installment of the Wanted Men series, lust and loyalty clash in New York’s mob underworld.

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Also in the Wanted Men series...

A Love of Vengeance
Wanted Men #1
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Synopsis: Once the most feared member of an Italian Mafia crime family, Gabriel Moretti returns to New York at the request of his mentor, Russian crime boss Vasily Tarasov. Vasily needs someone he can trust in Seattle to protect his estranged daughter, Eva Jacobs, while he avenges the murder of the young woman’s mother. Gabriel is unstoppable in a fight, whether he’s using fists, blades, or bullets; but innocent, onyx-haired Eva may just be the most dangerous—and beautiful—thing he’s come up against.

Intense sparks fly between the two, tempting Gabriel to mix business with pleasure while in the Emerald City. But once word gets around that Gabriel has shown up in New York, Stefano—his vengeful brother and the de facto head of the family—decides that Eva is the key to ending the feud between them…permanently.

In this pulse-pounding romantic thriller set against the backdrop of New York City’s storied underworld, loyalties will be tested, secrets will be told, and mob justice will be served.



The Salvation of Vengeance
Wanted Men #2
Amazon - PRINT- B&N- Audio  Goodreads

Synopsis: Only something as important as her best friend’s wedding to mob boss Gabriel Moretti could allow Nika Paynne a reprieve from captivity. Her abusive husband has kept her under his thumb with footage of her beloved brother, Caleb, killing another man. But the respite from her violent life isn’t the only draw. Vincente Romani—Gabriel’s deadliest guardian—will be one of the best men at the wedding, and Nika has lingering thoughts about the fascinating mobster…covetous thoughts that may put her life in danger.

With the heartbreak he’s suffered and the brutality he effortlessly delivers, Vincente knows he’s the last person who can offer Nika a happily-ever-after. But his vow remains. He will do everything in his power to free his redhead from her violent prison—even if that means losing her forever.

In the second thrilling and passionate Wanted Men book, a dangerous line is drawn between loyalty to the mob and loyalty to one’s heart.


Nancy Haviland writes about her alpha mobsters and their ladies from her home near Toronto, Ontario. She has three children, an arrogant but playful kitty named Talbot, and she adores her Tim Horton's coffee, as any self-respecting Canadian would. She writes contemporary romantic suspense but will happily read anything that involves two people smooching.

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BOOK REVIEW: Getting Dirty By Mia Storm

2.5 Stars

Blaire Leon is a sixteen going on seventeen year old high school Senior taking college courses at a local university. (Don't get Julie Andrew's Sound of Music tune in your head though, Blaire is no Liesl Von Trapp. Instead blast the Arctic Monkey's "Do I Wanna Know," the inspiration for this couple.)

Caiden Brenner is a twenty-five year old graduate student/teaching assistant working on his Ph.D and interviewing for an adjunct professor position in the following year.  That age difference and her minor status might put off some readers. (Note: Caiden doesn't know she's a minor right away though). Personally I didn’t have issues with it.  Their involvement under California law (where the story is set) makes it a crime, but other states have lower age of consent laws. "Consent" is a huge theme in this story.  Set in another locale, Blaire and Caiden's relationship might not be as taboo. And sometimes age is just numbers.

Blaire is fairly grown-up for 16. Her parents have embraced a laissez faire parenting style since the day her and her brother were born so they’ve basically raised themselves. Caiden, though technically nine years older, doesn’t exactly exhibit that huge of a maturity difference. He’s still a college student completing his degree and doing work-study jobs on campus. He’s not really living in the “real world” yet either so their lifestyles don’t seem very different. In fact, they share a common bond of unconventional upraisings where social, emotional, and  financial parental support has been scarce. So maybe that’s why their age difference didn’t rub me the wrong way like it might have if the characters had been depicted differently.

I loved how the author addressed their “student-teacher slash minor-adult” quandary right off the bat and quite eloquently through Blaire’s poetry expressions and their Don Juan English lit studies discussions. This was done superbly as their coursework mirrors their life and raises questions accordingly.

Their chemistry is easily felt, their encounters steamy, and I thought this was gong to be one of those amazing, intense couples that really touch your heart. Had it continued to move at that pace with the characters falling in love as they explored the classics in a secret relationship, it could have been amazing. But then the story takes off fast, the student-teacher dilemma slams full speed again, and as it work towards the climax, it goes off the rails a little. I’m not a fan of extensive angst. If you love a full dish, then dig in. But if you prefer it as simply a small side order, then you’ll be frustrated with the plot as it advances.

Wherein lies the issue I did have with the story that kept me from giving it a higher rating —There is extensive involvement between Blaire and her brother’s friend Nate, and Caiden and his fellow grad student Hannah.  This is also where some readers will need a trigger warning and others will be frustrated at the inclusion of sex scenes with other people rather than advancing and further developing Blaire and Caiden’s romance. (I really needed more "falling in love" and less "intalust" to understand why Caiden was willing to risk so much.)  It’s a very sexual book; unfortunately, it’s not all encounters between the H and h. For my romance reading enjoyment, if I’m engaged in the main couple, then I need the sex scenes to stick to just them once they get together. I don’t want to see or hear about them with someone else, especially when it monopolizes a large portion of the book. And Blaire’s relationship with Nate…..well to avoid spoilers I’ll simply say that it would have been less revolting and better crafted if Nate was more of a gray character than... well what he was. 

This is listed as book 1 in the Jail Bait series. I’m a bit curious where the series is headed. Getting Dirty has an epilogue, although it would be nice to see more of Caiden and Blaire together and without so many hardships. In this story, bluntly put, they are both crapped on enough ;-)

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COVER REVEAL: Behind the Lens by Heather Dahlgren

Release Date: April 24, 2015

~Synopsis~ 

The only thing Kallie Gregory ever wanted to do was take photos. She’s been doing it for as long as she can remember. Having succeeded in becoming an up and coming photographer, she is living her dream daily. She’s not willing to risk anything to ruin what she’s built.

Jax Burke has been living his dream. He’s one of the most sought after male models with his sexy look, muscular body and brilliant tattoos that are becoming increasingly more recognizable. He has no problem getting anything that he wants, including the ladies.

When Kallie and Jax meet there’s an instant connection. They become fast friends and spend the majority of their time together, both realizing how much they have in common with their dreams and goals. The closer they get to each other, the stronger their attraction becomes.

Only problem is, Jax is willing to risk it all for a chance at love, but Kallie is not.

Is it possible for Jax to convince Kallie to see what is behind the lens?

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REVIEW/RELEASE: Hate F*@k (Vol.2) by Ainsley Booth

4 Stars

So about last night… That’s probably the best way to sum up the opening to the second volume of Hate F*@k. Yeah, a little awkward and uncertain for Hailey as the scandal of Cole’s arrest heats up. Gives new meaning to the term “walk of shame.” ;-)

Still Cole insists… 

“‘Nothing about last night was a mistake.’” 

Cole is just as sexy and (mostly) in control as ever while becoming more and more of a book boyfriend. Hailey, I’m still still forming an opinion on, but the story is engaging and it’s a quick read.

In this installment, the crime-drama/political intrigue aspect is kicked up, the stakes get a little higher, and the f *@king gets less hateful...but no less heated.  Could it be these two are falling in love? 

“‘You’re deep inside me, Hailey. That’s all I know. And this scandal will fade away, replaced by something else. And you’ll still be inside me.’”

We get more glimpses of The Horus Group in this one and possibly a hint at the next couple in the series…Are the Brownings the next hate f*@k???

A new cliffhanger is established as a lead-in for Vol. 3. It's’s a serial so you had to expect it would end that way. And April isn’t that far away…we hope ;-)

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*Read the blog's previous author interview with Ainsley Booth: HERE*

RELEASE BLITZ: Katie in Love by Chloe Thurlow

~Synopsis~

Katie Boyd has nothing in common with Tom Bridge, the volunteer doctor she meets at a party – except in bed she finds a passion to match her own. Tom is intense, puzzling, a man who cares about others and compels Katie to question her own life drifting through the hip clubs and London party scene.

When Tom returns to his post in a Sri Lanka orphanage, Katie isn’t sure if their passion was lit by its brevity, or if love, unexpected and not entirely wanted, has edged its way into her life. Should she go back to being who she always was? Or follow Tom into the unknown?

Katie in Love is a compelling erotic-romance that will grip readers as they follow Katie’s journey to an ending they may have expected – but not in the way they expected it.

Brilliantly written and coolly self-aware, Chloe Thurlow was described by KM Dylan on Amazon as “…the Anaïs Nin of our times.” With Katie in Love  – her sixth novel – Thurlow reveals a writer at the height of her powers.

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Chloe Thurlow is the girl at the bar at 2.00 in the morning who looks like she should have gone home and maybe has no home to go to. Look out for her, she's the one scribbling in a notebook. When she's not writing, she likes dancing, pizza, ice cream, swimming in moonlight, hairless chests and broad shoulders. She writes a naughty, subversive blog @ www.chloethurtlow.com

REVIEW/RELEASE BLITZ: Pleasured by You by Steph Nuss

~SYNOPSIS~ 

One night of pleasure turns into a summer full of lust.

Fletcher Haney owns several businesses all over New York City, gaining him access to tons of beautiful women. He has no intentions of stopping his womanizing ways, until he sees her again.

She’s the ultimate heartbreaker he can't forget.

Pastry chef bombshell, Bayler Jennings knows she can have any guy she wants, but when her only memorable one-night stand confronts her, she breaks all of her rules.

He’s the love ‘em and leave ‘em flavor she craves.

But as the seasons change, this two-of-a-kind pair fights falling in love in the city, and they’ll soon realize that with pleasure always comes pain.

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SERIES ORDER AND PURCHASE LINKS 

  

All books in the series can be read as a Standalone 

Book One: Wanted by You - Currently Free

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Book Two: Fantastized by You

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Book Three: Pleasured By You  

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BOOK REVIEW: Pleasured by You by Steph Nuss

4.25 Stars

In the previous book in the Love in the City series readers were given a hint at a chance encounter between Harper’s younger sister Bayler Jennings and Maverick’s buddy, Fletcher Haney.  Now in book 3 we get the scoop on their anonymous yet salacious hook-up that leaves two no-strings-attached singles reconsidering their rules. 

“We were covered in sweat, trying to catch our breaths. The room smelled of sex and the bed’s sheets were tangled around us.
            ‘Now, that…is how you ring in the new year…’”

Fletcher and Bayler are both cute, sweet, and independent.  Though in the past they embraced the love ‘em and leave ‘em before morning lifestyle, we quickly see in this story that they both have so much more to offer. 

“Seriously? Why did he have to have everything I liked? I liked baking; he had a bakery. I liked the beach; he had a beach house. I liked sex; he had a package he knew how to use.”

Yep, Fletcher is a total catch. And did Bayler also happen to mention that he looks and smells like an Armani ad?

There’s lots of fun friendship moments as this series is about a great group of friends who stick together. The previous couples make plenty of appearances including scenes for the most special moments of their lives.

But the real charm for me in this tale came from the side story with Fletcher and Bayler’s Littles. They are an adorable addition of young love, and I hope at some point they get their own story. They helped illustrate the integrity of Bayler and Fletcher’s characters, and it was fun watching Bayler and Fletcher in their Big roles.

Pleasured by You is told via Bayler and Fletcher’s alternating first person point of view and while part of the series can also be read as a stand-alone.

Want to learn some extra personal tidbits about this cast of characters?….Keep reading for an exclusive character interview!  *May contain some spoilers*

 CHARACTER INTERVIEW: 

5 Questions PLUS with the Love in the City Characters

   

Welcome Fletcher, Bayler, Maverick, Harper, Carter, and Elly to the Book-Bosomed Book Blog! You all are such great friends and fun couples so here are some questions to let readers get to know you a little more intimately ;-)

Q1. First question is for the girls: Bayler, Harper, and Elly—you made such a great team. What group sport or activity do you think the guys should take up next time around that you would enjoy being the spectators?

Elly: I’d like to see Carter in some tight baseball pants.

Bayler: Gross, that’s our brother.

Elly: His ass was made for baseball pants. It’s a shame he’s only good at basketball.

Harper: Maverick’s ass would look amazing in baseball pants, too.

Bayler: Well, I’d prefer Fletcher in a sport where he’s half naked, but nine innings of his ass in tight pants would do.

Q2. As a trainer, Maverick knows all about the body; but you guys must have a favorite part on your women. Carter, Mav, and Fletcher—which spot on your lady holds a special place in your heart…or hand?

Carter: Her hair. Elly’s red hair was the first thing I noticed about her.

Fletcher: For me, it was Bayler’s back in that backless dress on New Years.

Maverick: I love Harper’s curves and her tattoos, but I’m really going to miss her baby bump.

Fletcher: You know you could just knock her up again.

Maverick: We can’t have sex for another six weeks.

Fletcher: WHAT?! That’s a rule?

Maverick: Her body has to heal, Fletch.

Carter: I can’t wait for Elly to start showing.
Maverick: It really is incredible.

Fletcher: I can’t believe that’s a rule.

Q3. Fletcher picked out a sexy little outfit for Bayler in the kitchen; Bayler, if you had Harper design a special outfit for Fletch would you put him in a

A. G-string for the beach

B. Silky boxers for the bedroom

C. Chaps (with nothing else) for your own trip to the rodeo ;-)

Bayler: Oh, what a fun question! He’d kill me if I put him in a G-string. Silky boxers are hot but I’m going to have to go with C: Chaps, especially since I know for a fact he can ride for longer than eight seconds.

Q4. Bayler bakes some amazing cakes. Elly and Harper— if you wanted a special treat for Carter and Maverick’s birthday, what sexy design would you hire Bayler to create? And would you jump out of it?

Elly: I would have her make a red velvet cake with a pin-up version of me as the topper, and then I would jump out of it dressed exactly like the pin-up cake topper.

Harper: That’s an adorable idea, Elly! Instead of jumping out of a cake, I would have Bayler come over while Maverick’s at work and have her decorate me in a bunch of chocolate cake and frosting, like a sexy chocolate bikini. Then let him have me for dessert.

Q5. Maverick and Carter, Fletcher was such a sweetie grocery shopping for Bayler when she was on the mend. If Harper and Elly were laid up, could you find all their favorite items in the store and even buy some personal ones without getting embarrassed?

Carter: Oh yeah. When Elly had her cancer scare, I made her a care package of all her favorite snacks. I will admit, I’ve never had to buy any of her feminine stuff, like tampons, only because she’s never asked me to, but I’ve known her for a long time so I’m pretty aware of her favorite things. Plus, I grew up with two sisters; personal female products stopped bothering me a long time ago.

Elly: I’m totally putting tampons down on the grocery list next time!

Maverick (laughing): I could buy Harper’s personal items without a problem. When she was pregnant with our daughter, I did a majority of the grocery shopping, so I’ve come to learn all of her favorites. Unfortunately, during her pregnancy, her favorites changed often, but now that our little girl is here, I’m learning what both of my girls like and dislike all over again.

Harper: Mav is the cook in the house. He’s much better at the grocery shopping than I am.

Bayler (points to Fletcher): While I appreciated Fletcher shopping for me while I was mending my sprained ankle, I will say he has a problem with hoarding.

Fletcher: Hey, when you grow up with grandparents from the 1920s, you learn to buy multiples of everything so you never run out.

Bayler: But it’s not the 1920s, so why do you need two extra shampoos?

Fletcher: Because the store could be out when the first extra runs out.

Bayler: I’m sure another store would have it.

Fletcher: I’m not arguing with you about this again. I’m not a hoarder.

Bayler: Agree to disagree.

Last but certainly not least, here are five rapid fire questions for everyone brave enough to answer. Take them any way you please!

#1   Bite, lick, or suck?

Carter & Elly: Suck!

Maverick: Lick!

Harper: Suck and lick!

Fletcher: Bite!

Bayler: Suck!

#2   Ocean, pool, or hot tub?

Carter & Elly: Hot tub

Maverick: Pool

Harper: Hot tub

Fletcher & Bayler: Ocean

#3   Chocolate, Strawberry, or Vanilla?

Carter: Strawberry

Elly: Chocolate

Maverick & Harper: Chocolate

Fletcher & Bayler: All three

#4   Top, Bottom, or Behind?

Carter: Top

Elly: Bottom

Maverick & Harper: Behind

Bayler: Top

Fletcher: Behind

#5   1, 2, or 3….kids?

Carter & Elly (in unison): 2!

Maverick (smiling): 4

Harper (jaw-dropped): Four? How about 2!

Bayler (biting lip nervously): 1?

Fletcher: Uh, hell yeah just 1. Did you know we have to wait to have sex after you give birth!? I’m not going through that more than once.

  

Thank you so much gang! And a super big thanks to author Steph Nuss!!!

~MEET STEPH NUSS~

Steph Nuss was born and raised in rural Kansas, where she currently resides with her black Labrador son named Gunner. She grew up with a passion for reading and writing. When she’s not immersed into the land of fiction, she enjoys listening to music that came before her time, watching movies and reruns of her favorite shows, and hanging out with her family and friends. She also has a bachelor’s degree in psychology that she’ll never use…unless she’s profiling her characters of course.

 

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