Monday, June 29, 2015

RELEASE BLITZ: Be My Temptation by Rachel Brookes

Be My Banner
Series: Book 2 of The Crawford Brothers (can be read as a standalone).

~Synopsis~
One night connected them.
One decision separated them.
One craving tempted them.

Ashlyn Hart was done with men, or at least those outside of her books. After stupidly falling for the charms of her cheating ex and having her heart broken yet again, she decided to create a new life. One that involved a career change, a new wardrobe, and the possibility of moving abroad. There was just one hurdle: the confident, stubborn and insanely-tempting Josh Crawford.

Josh Crawford hid behind the cliché bachelor lifestyle and a never-ending parade of women. He knew the game and played it well, but the night he tasted perfection four years ago never left him. Back then, he made a spur of the moment decision, one that he has battled with ever since. But beneath the playboy façade was a yearning that wouldn’t disappear. A craving for the only woman who could bring him to his knees: Ashlyn Hart.

Two weeks changes everything.
One night unravels the deepest of desires.
A simple taste unleashes memories that can’t be tamed.

When the girl who dreams of a happily ever after collides with the guy who lives the ultimate cliffhanger, what ending awaits them? Will fear overshadow love? Will the past play hindrance to the future, or will temptation conquer it all?


BMT cover
Amazon   Amazon UK    Amazon AU    Amazon CA 

Rachel
Rachel Brookes is the author of The Breathe Series and The Crawford Brothers and lives on the east coast of Australia where beaches, kangaroos and surfers roam free. She spends her days writing stories that contain a dash of drama, a cup of romance, a spoonful of sexiness and delicious men to season. She is crazy for The Walking Dead, a fan of long island iced teas, a cupcake creator and a lover of book boyfriends. Rachel sometimes forgets to eat, sleep has become non-existent and more often than not she can’t remember the last time she cleaned her apartment, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. When she steps away from her laptop, you’ll find her reading, people watching, taking photos and planning her next big adventure. She is also obsessed with social media, so come say hi.


BMD

love p

Thursday, June 25, 2015

COVER REVEAL: Tattered on My Sleeve by Autumn Jones Lake

Series: Lost Kings MC #4
 Release Date: July 28, 2015

~Blurb~
Trinity Hurst.

That girl fucking owned me the minute I laid eyes on her. At twenty-one years old she already had a cold, calculating wall around her. The walls she built up around herself were designed to keep guys like me away. Underneath her tough girl exterior lay something sweet and vulnerable that I very much wanted to explore.

I had her first.

I fell in love with her.

Then we fucked everything up.


 
Wrath. 

His name should have been lust. Pure, soul-shattering lust was the deadly sin I felt when I looked up—way up—into his ocean-blue eyes. I should despise bikers. I should most definitely steer clear of this one, the Sergeant-at-arms of the Lost Kings MC, with his thick, muscled arms, and low sensual voice. My normally impeccable self-preservation instinct vanished the minute he walked in the door. Like everything else in my life, I fucked it up. And he’s never going to forgive me.


Wrath and Trinity met when the Lost Kings MC was on shaky ground. After three perfect nights together, Wrath knew she was it for him. But Trinty’s dark past was about to catch up to her and the Lost Kings MC was her only hope for protection. One misunderstanding led to a chain of mistakes that pushed them apart for years. When long-buried secrets are finally revealed, Wrath will stop at nothing to fix things and make Trinity understand—she belongs to him.
Cover Design: AJ Lake
Pre-Order Links
$2.99 PRE-ORDER PRICE
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS
~Available Now~

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU






AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU






AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU



AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU






~Author Bio~
As an only child, Autumn kept herself entertained by making up all sorts of stories. For a long time, life and school dimmed her enthusiasm for creative writing. But as soon as she rediscovered her love of storytelling, she put her fingers to the keyboard and hasn’t looked back.

Her favorite books to read are mystery, thrillers, horror, romance, erotica and urban fantasy. Her favorite thing to write is romance. All of her stories have to include a hunky hero and an optimistic ending.

When she’s not writing, Autumn spends time listening to music, going to concerts, and driving her family nuts. She enjoys reading, gardening, acting, and collecting nail polish. (Her husband says she shouldn’t be allowed to include gardening in her list of hobbies, because she makes him do all the work, but that’s not relevant.)

Autumn lives in Upstate New York with her husband and their three rescue dogs. She is actively involved with several dog rescue groups and her local RWA chapter.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

BOOK REVIEW: Badass in My Bed by Rae Lynn Blaise

4.75 Stars

“Rachel-who-is-moving” is a good girl cellist leaving Chicago for a job with the Boston Symphony. “Dylan-with-no-last-name” is the tattooed hottie she meets at a bar in her final days in town. He emanates that bad boy vibe, and he’s exactly what Rachel’s friend thinks she needs in her regimented, no thrills lifestyle. 
“Something tells me he knows exactly how to make things fit. And style isn’t really an issue when no one’s wearing clothes.”
Mesmerized by his presence, Rachel takes a chance and takes Dylan home. And then things turn steamy, their already simmering chemistry burning hot. 
“‛Pretty soon, I’m the one who’s going to be giving the orders….Don’t worry so much, Rachel. I might not be nice, but you’re going to like it. I promise.’”
It’s about stepping out of your comfort zone, finding similarities where appearances highlight only differences. For a shorter read, this one really packs the punch both with the steamy scenes sprinkled with hints of romance and character development that endears you to both characters. There’s clearly more below the surface for both of them. Told via Rachel’s first person point of view, Dylan is a bit of a mystery man to Rachel and though readers should be able to connect the dots, it’s a lot of fun to see where this is going. I’m definitely looking forward to part 2.

   

Monday, June 22, 2015

BLOG TOUR: More Than Water by Renee Ericson

More Than Water Tour Banner
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

~Synopsis~

It doesn’t feel right. It doesn’t feel wrong. It just...feels.

EJ Cunning, an art history major, dates musicians. Foster Blake, a chemical engineering major, can’t sing a tune. They’re not each other’s type. They’re coworkers.

Then, one night leads to sex—sex between friends—which leads to an agreement. It all seems so simple—but nothing ever is.

Many layers build a person’s facade.

Look into the depths for what’s hidden within.

It’s more than water. It’s a story—a living and breathing substance beyond the reflective surface.


~Book Review~

5 Stars

Evelyn Jane “EJ” Cunning is a senior Art History major who really wants to be an artist but her rich socialite parents don’t exactly “support” the arts. EJ is a bit of a free-spirit (with the exception of the suppression she suffers from her uptight mother), speaks without filters, and changes her hair color with the seasons. Foster “Fozzie” Blake is a senior Chemical Engineering major completely focused on his studies. To the point he doesn’t date! He sports comic book t-shirts and glasses, enjoys the occasional periodic table drinking game, and dirty talks in chemical elements. (Yes, you read that right.) If it weren’t for their shared library work study job, they’d probably never have met since their interests are in far different fields.

But after one drunk night at the bar (a very cute page-turning scene, btw) the seemingly nothing-in-common pair hook up and to their surprise they’re more compatible than they think. (Forget the Bunsen burners, this is where things start to heat up!) 
“‛That’s quite an impressive beaker you have…’” –EJ
“‛You were checking out my instrument?’” –Foster
Told via EJ’s first person point of view, she is such a refreshing female character with healthy self-esteem and who isn’t timid or intimidated easily.   
“I’m adopting a new rule until morning. If I feels good, it is good.”
Foster is…ah Foster.  I’m completely in love with nerds after reading this book!  As a contemporary romance hero he’s quite original with a whole new spin on the studious science guy stereotype. He’s smart; he’s witty; he’s attentive. Foster is the all-round good guy who knows his way around the bedroom just as well as the chemistry lab. 
“He’s making me hot and bothered. That’s what he’s doing. My wet panties are accumulating the evidence.”
EJ and her Fozzie have some serious chemistry together (no pun intended), and they have plenty of cute banter both as friends and friends with (exclusive) benefits.

The author does a great job of incorporating details of each of their majors into the story and the romance. Art and chemistry comes together in an intriguing way that unfolds (along with the title) through the course of the story.  This is a fun, light-hearted new adult steamy romance about following your heart and standing up for your dreams.

There is no insta-love here as the characters’ relationship develops naturally and time wise realistically. And while they agree on a no-strings-attached arrangement I adored how they only had eyes for each other.

When I closed the last page I wasn’t quite ready to stop reading about EJ and Foster. I really enjoyed them both, and I highly recommend them! Science has never been so sexy J Heck, I might have even tolerated chem in college if I’d have had a Fozzie of my own ;-)

Amazon US • Amazon UK • Amazon AU • Kobo

~EXCERPT~
“Ow. Fuck,” I cry out in protest.
“Sorry.” His sinful mouth drops to my neck, distracting me from the recent injury. “Do you want me to get some ice?”
“Only if you’re going to get kinky with me.”
“Are you into that sort of thing?”
“Not ice. That shit’s cold.”
Foster drops us to the bed, half-falling on top of me with a mistimed and misjudged thump.
“No ice,” he confirms, righting himself a bit. “Got it.”
He removes his black frames, and I grab them from his hand before he has a chance to stash them away. I settle them over my face. The prescription on the lenses is so minor that my already drunken vision is barely distorted.
“Do I look smarter?” I ask, playfully pointing my index finger to my cheek.
“Definitely.”
Ducking his head, Foster connects his lips to the skin on my neck and then the space under my chin while slipping his hand under my blouse and over my bra-covered breast. I fumble with the hem of his shirt tucked into his pants. Then, I pull his clothing upward, and like a total amateur, I manage to get it stuck around his neck. He lets out a half-gagging, half-choking sound before rescuing me from my sloppy seductive efforts by removing the layer of fabric himself.
My hands are like magnets being drawn to his firm chest, and they connect with his comforting skin.
Skin. Skin. Skin.
Warm skin.
Toned.
Fucking sexy-as-hell and all-over-me skin.
I-want-to-feel-more-of-it skin.
My mouth runs along his collarbone.
He tastes good, too—a combination of man and mint.
Foster lifts my top over my head before dropping it to the bed, and then he reaches behind my back. I sit up to assist him in the effort of de-clothing me. He tugs at the hooks on my bra a few times.
“Fucking girl clothes,” he says, flustered, yanking at the force field of intimate apparel. “These damn hooks.”
“You can formulate a hydrogen bomb, but you can’t undo a bra?”
“The university doesn’t offer classes on this shit.”
“I’ll complain to the dean.”

UPDATE: Get the short story holiday sequel!
More than Kisses
Book Review

Renee Ericson

Renee Ericson is the author of the These Days series.
Originally from the Midwest, she now resides in a small town just outside of Boston with her husband and three children.

Most winters, Renee can be found on the slopes of the White Mountains skiing with her family. During the summer months, she likes to spend every spare minute at the beach soaking up the sea air. All those moments in between, she is talking to imaginary characters and caring for her children.

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Wednesday, June 17, 2015

COVER REVEAL: Player by Joanna Blake

playercr
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release: June 2015
synopsis2
JOCK, SPORT, MEATHEAD, PLAYER. I hate them all. Especially this one. He's rude, he's crude and he thinks he is God's gift to women.

James Fitzpatrick might have started out on the wrong side of the tracks, but his skills on the football field have brought him fame and glory. Now he's forgotten where he came from.Hell, he's even forgotten me, the snot nosed brat from next door. So much so that he hits on me when he comes in to eat at the barbecue place I work at to pay my way through school. But the jokes on him when I turn him down in front of all his meathead buddies. No one has ever turned down James. There's a reason he's got a rep as being talented on and off the forty yard line. And now he's determined to make me pay with a pound of flesh.

Thing is, I've got some moves he hasn't seen yet. It's going to be a long, hot season.

PLAYER is a stand alone book with a guaranteed HEA and no cheating!

Player ecover-1
Cover Credits:
excerpt
 “Yo’ Fitz! Your turn man.”

I looked up to see Kyle grinning stupidly as the stripper finished grinding on him. The song was ending and Kyle had his hands all over the dancer’s generous ass. The girl, Crystal something or other, was only wearing a g-string. Her tanned skin gleamed in the dim light.

I drank deeply from my twenty dollar beer. Thankfully drinks were free for the team. As were the lap dances. And anything else that might arise.

Players frequently went home with the dancers from the club. I had myself more than once. The girls were severely hot and more than accommodating. Not to mention flexible.

I shook my head. To be honest, I felt kind of disgusting the last time I woke up next to a girl whose makeup was smeared all over the pillow case. And the sheets. And my cock. When I was drunk, then yeah, I didn’t mind so much. But after...


If I was honest, I preferred the natural look. Like that gorgeous brunette in my economy class. She might be a freshman, but she had all the right equipment. Huge green eyes, a cute nose, gorgeous lips, and the best tits I’d seen in my entire life.

My God those tits could stop traffic. Not to mention her legs were about a mile long. They’d look nice wrapped around me as I drove in and out of her sweet little box.

I adjusted my junk. I was hard just thinking about it.
The dancer walked towards me with a question in her eyes.

“I’ll pass.”
I wasn’t drunk enough to enjoy this tonight. Even after winning yet another game. I should be riding high but instead I just wanted to be alone.
The thing was, I was hardly fucking ever alone.
My teammates, the fans, girls. I was the center of attention. Non stop.
Growing up, I’d had the opposite problem.


My mom had worked two jobs. Sometimes three. And we’d still been dirt poor.
Fuck, poorer than that.
Mud poor.

If you’d ever seen the neighborhood I grew up in, it was probably on the news. Some reporter talking about crime rates. Or how depressed the south side of Chicago was. And how everyone who lived there was either a vandal or a hoodlum.

Or both.
I’d like to say that I hadn’t been one of those criminals but that would be a lie. I’d jacked car stereos, bikes, anything. The only thing that had saved me from ending up in prison was football.
The game of kings.


Player-1

authorbio2

Joanna Blake loves good old fashioned romance, men who open doors and work with their hands. Hot Blooded Heroes is a series of sizzling stories about True Blue American men and the women who love them. She's thrilled to be collaborating with Pincushion Press on her new series! Come along for the ride!
XoX,
Joanna

 photo wwJOMP_zpshoprvdce.jpg

COVER REVEAL: Darkness Lurks by J.L. Drake

Series: Book 1 in the Darkness Series
Release date: July 21, 2015
Genre: Romance/Suspense

~Synopsis~
Emily McPhee has struggled to overcome her father’s death...
It’s not easy, but Emily finally has the life she wants. She’s an A student at Orange University and has a comfortable home and a great circle of friends. She’s also in love with handsome Orange PD officer Seth Connors. He doesn’t seem to return her feelings, though, so she tells herself his friendship is enough.

Jimmy Lasko is a psychopath, and Emily is his greatest obsession…
Lasko knows what he wants—what he deserves—and has the deadly skills and unending patience to get it. What he wants is Emily, and he is watching and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. That time is coming soon; he’ll make sure of it.
A sense of unease settles on Emily, but is the danger real or imagined?

When Emily begins hearing noises and suspects someone has been in her house, Seth urges her to get a roommate. But after a search, she realizes a certain attractive cop would be the perfect choice, and Seth moves in.
Seth loves Emily, but fears his feelings might make it difficult to protect her.
In all areas of his life, Seth sees himself as a protector. He’s determined to keep Emily safe, but he pushes the captivating blonde away in an attempt to stay objective. However, after her stalker makes a failed attempt to capture her, Seth can no longer deny his feelings. 

With help from Seth’s police colleagues, he and Emily set out to identify the person hunting her before it’s too late. But is it worth the risk to bait the trap with what he wants most?

~About the Author~

J. L. Drake was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, later moving to Southern California where she now lives with her husband and two children. When she is not writing she loves to spend time with her family, travelling or just enjoying a

night at home. One thing you might notice in her books is her love of the four seasons. Growing up on the east coast of Canada the change in the seasons is in her blood and is often mentioned in her writing. An avid reader of James Patterson, J.L. Drake has often found herself inspired by his many stories of mystery and intrigue. She hopes you will enjoy her books as much as she has enjoyed writing them.


~Giveaway~

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

BOOK REVIEWS: Vipers Den (1-3) by J.B. Heller

Vipers Den: Part One Piper & Kade

 4 Stars

Piper runs an edgy beauty salon, the Vipers Den.  Kade Benson is a hunky computer geek and her brother’s best friend since high school.  Piper thinks she can’t stand him or maybe she’s jealous of his friendship with her brother, but either way the initial proposition of being his fake girlfriend is not something she’s ever coveted.

Till she gets a taste of him.
“Apparently it wasn’t so much that I loved to hate him, but more so I hated that I loved him. It was a revelation that was for sure.”
Kade has a clingy stalker ex on his tail and he needs to send her a message. He also has a long standing crush on Piper so why not kill two birds with one stone. When a fake relationship turns the tables on their real one and opens Piper’s eyes, things get steamy!
“Every thrust meant something, it told her what I couldn’t say out loud.”
This is book one in a novella series so it’s a quickie stand-alone read, but it still serves up a cute story.  Piper is a strong, independent girl, running her own businesses and not cowering at the threat of Kade’s creepy stalker.  It was refreshing to see a heroine with balls who confronts the enemy head-on rather than being a weak, scared victim of jealousy.  Kade is quite the sexy book boyfriend. He’s cooks in the kitchen and takes control in the bedroom. What more could you want?


  

Vipers Den: Part Two Pixie & Jake

3.75

Pixie Cole is Piper’s elfish stylist at the Viper’s Den but she was once Tia Malone. But the life she ran away from threatens to return the day Jake Kennedy walks into the shop.  A blast from the past, Pixie isn’t ready to face all the memories Jake evokes.  But Jake wants her back.
“We were a pair; it was destiny that pulled us apart, but it was also destiny that brought us back together.”
This second novella in the series isn’t as light-hearted as the first, and Pixie doesn’t have the brass that Piper does, although Piper and Kade do make appearances as the supporting characters this time around.  On one hand I felt like the backstory on Pixie was a little vague and yet what was hinted at probably wasn’t something I really wanted to read about so maybe it’s best that way.

There’s a little bit of a love triangle in this one, but Pixie just has to follow her heart and let go of her fears.  The question is can they take it slow.
“’Trust me when I say I would rather have you pinned against that wall, sinking my length deep inside of you, than be having this conversation.’”
Overall, a sweet story of overcoming the past, building a new life, and finding a place where you belong. 


Vipers Den: Part Three Tay & Nate

3.5 Stars

Taylor Jane Seymour, 33, is a stylist at the Viper’s Den.  Nate Summers is a nail technician there.  They’ve both had the hots for each other for years but neither has stepped up to the plate. Till now.

Now being Tay’s decision to have a baby on her own. That revelation propels a streak of possessiveness in Nate that he’s never felt before with a woman, and he’s ready to volunteer for the sperm donor job. 
“’I don’t want another man’s baby growing inside your beautiful body, I don’t want another man touching you full stop…’”
I thought Tay and Nate had a lot of initial chemistry. More so than Pixie and Jake in the previous one. Things seemed to be really heating up. 
“’You sure I can’t just slip it in right now? I can feel how wet you are for me, Tay, you’re so wet it’s seeping through your underwear.’”
But that’s where the budding romance and heat factor took a turn. Tay was so set on her “plan.” I honestly felt her “method” took away from the potential steam factor. I really wanted to see her lead more with her heart and emotions instead of trying to making it so “clinical.”  There’s was a great build-up that fizzled out and honestly made me lose interest in the story.  And while these are novellas, the ending felt a bit abrupt, the premise of the story not seen the whole way through. I hope we get more glimpses of Tay and Nate in future books, but I really felt this one should have carried them through to term. 

Monday, June 15, 2015

COVER REVEAL: Quarter Mile Hearts by Jenny Siegel

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 7, 2015

~Synopsis~

Following an accident injuring her dad, twenty-four year old Leigh Storm returns home to the town she was once so desperate to escape.

It is only a matter of hours before she runs into Max ‘Manwhore’ Morgan. Dark eyed and dangerous to her heart, he is the very last person she wants to see. It might have been four years since she saw him last, but there’s no denying the chemistry between them is as potent as ever. Max makes it clear he isn't about to let her run again, even if he is the one thing Leigh vowed to herself she would never date: a street racer.

After racing tore apart her own family and left a path of destruction in its wake, Leigh decided long ago that it is not the life she wants for herself. But when a wager gone wrong threatens her dad’s livelihood, Leigh must go against everything she believes in. 

This time there's more at stake on the quarter mile than just the family business—she’s risking her heart as well.


Follow Jenny Siegel at:

BLOG TOUR: Suspicion at Sea by Amie Nichols

 Ellie and Justin will soon learn everything can change in the blink of an eye.

Genre:  Romantic Suspense
Cover Designer:  Sara Eirew
Release Date:  June 2, 2015
GOODREADS


When FBI Agent Ellie Marks goes on vacation to Bailey Island in Maine, she plans on having a relaxing few weeks to reset her mind. After an extreme undercover mission and being shot, she needs some time to forget everything horrible that has happened in her life.

She doesn't plan, however, on meeting Justin Bennett, an ex Navy Seal. An instant attraction forms like neither have ever experienced, bonding them.

A mysterious disappearance of three of the island's residents begins a chain reaction of secrets that changes everything they thought they knew.

The only thing Justin knows for sure is that he doesn't plan on letting anything get in the way of his and Ellie's happiness. 



Grabbing her by the waist, I lift her up off the rock and hold her there, staring into her eyes.
“Why won't you tell me where you work?” I ask. She pushes on my shoulders, and starts laughing. “I kind of like you, and I would like to know more about you,” I tell her as she stops struggling and gets serious.
“You kind of like me?” she repeats.
“Yeah, I kind of like you, a lot.” I slide her down so her face is even with mine. Her breath hitches, our lips inches from touching.
“I'm an FBI agent,” she whispers, her eyes watching me.
“Really?” I put her down. “You're not here investigating the disappearance are you?” I am suddenly suspicious as all her questions come to mind.
“No, God no,” she instantly says. “I swear, I'm here on vacation. I didn't know anything about it until I got here.” She senses my change and reaches out to touch my arm.
“You've just been kind of elusive.” I look down at her hand on my forearm.
“That has nothing to do with anything other than a woman being careful.” She drops her hand and crosses her arms over her chest.  “Do most women you meet spill their life history to you in the first hour?” Now the tide changes as she starts to get feisty about it. “Do you want my bank account number, or how about my social?” She is getting fierier right before my eyes and I laugh, it's innocent and sexy at the same time.
“Okay, I'm sorry.” I can't stop laughing as she fumes. I bend at the knees and wrap my arms around her waist again, this time throwing her over my shoulder. “Do I need to throw you in the ocean to cool you off?”
“Justin, put me down.” I can hear amusement in her voice so I don't put her down, but start walking toward the water, and she wraps her arms around my chest.
“Just so you know, if I'm going in so are you.” She has a death grip on me and I have no doubt that she will not be letting go. It doesn't stop me as I continue to walk into the water.
“Justin,” she squeals as the cold Atlantic Ocean hits her legs. She'll have to let go when her head hits the water. At least that's what I think, but she doesn't and I'm totally submerged before I let go of her tiny waist. This woman is stubborn and I love it. She comes up from the cold water for air, inhaling deep.  I pull on her arm to bring her back to me when she struggles in the waves. I'm anchored, being used to the waves, and her body smashes into mine. Once again we are face to face.




I've have met some amazing woman on my journey so far, and have learned so much. (Sometimes the hard way.) I've been like a sponge soaking up all the information I can on how the publishing world works. It's been a rollercoaster ride with its ups and its downs. 

No matter what, I will never regret anything I've done. You can't succeed if you don't try, and if you don't try you won't succeed. One of my favorite quotes "If the dream is big enough the facts don't matter".
Some other info about me, I love my family, friends, wine and anything caffeinated. I also love writing HEA. For the same reason I won't watch a movie that I know will make me cry, (with the exception of Steel Magnolias) I will never write a book without a HEA. There might be a few twists and turns, a cliffhanger or two. But ultimately my stories will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. For me, reading is entertainment, a way to escape this crazy insane world. If a book leaves me feeling sad, mad or gut wrenched, it is not for me. There is enough gut-wrenching sadness in this world, I don't need to read about it too. 

I started writing four years ago, and have no plans on stopping. So keep your eye on me because with the help of some amazing people and my wonderful fans, this girl is going to be on the New York Times bestselling list someday.



Friday, June 12, 2015

BOOK REVIEW: Hold Me by Anna Zaires

Hold Me_1600x2400
4.5 Stars
  
“There’s no need for words. I saw her, I wanted her, and I took her.”
That’s how Nora and Julian’s story started in Twist Me. Here’s where the story concludes.  Hold Me picks up where Keep Me left off.  It continues the psychological journey that Julian’s abduction of Nora sparked for the both of them while introducing new obstacles for them to overcome.

There more role reversal again this time, though of a different nature than in Keep Me. While Julian toys with his good side:
“…the emotion I felt was so foreign that I didn’t recognize it at first. It was joy. Pure, unadulterated joy.”
Nora wrestles with her bad side:
“I know it’s ironic that the man who brought all the darkness into my life is helping me cope with it, but it’s been that way from the beginning.”
Nora remains a fully cognizant captive heroine, always evaluating her situation, questioning the dichotomy of her existence—her life before and after Julian; and this allows her character to grow and evolve rather than exist as a one-dimensional female victim, not that Nora’s character ever was, even in book one.   
“Nora’s middle-class sensibilities are clashing with her instincts. She knows what society dictates she should feel, and it bothers her that the actual emotions she’s experiencing are quite different.”
Nora encounters moments of self-loathing; Julian expresses emotions of guilt, regret, and love? Julian’s character in this final installment exhibits a deeper range of emotions than we've seen before while still keeping his hard, dangerous, sexy edge that readers and Nora feel in love with. 
“I know exactly how cats feel when they play with mice; this kind of thing is fun.”
In subtle scenes and through twists of the plot, controversies such as Stockholm Syndrome, Nora and Julian’s sexual first encounter, and Julian’s initial intentions are all addressed and perhaps finally put to rest. The questions raised in this book concern the future of Julian and Nora’s relationship when the past started out as it did.  
“I want to believe in the illusion of his caring, in the mirage of his twisted love, and so I let the dark memories fade, leaving me in the brighter present.”
As with the previous books, Hold Me delivers an engaging story, Nora and Julian’s romance pulling you into the pages, despite its dark nature.  There’s plenty of erotic scenes, emotional scenes, a few heartbreaking ones, and sufficient twisted humor moments to make a roller coaster ride.

The previous book whetted my appetite for more interactions between Julian and Nora’s parents, and this one delivers on developing the Leston’s as characters and exploring their responses to Julian and Nora’s situation. 
“Seeing Julian in my parents’ house is a bit like encountering a wild tiger in a suburban mall—it’s bizarre in a scary way.”
The only drawback for me came in the later half. While the climax/violence of the previous books fit with the background plot of Julian’s profession, the enemies this time felt a little too coincidental and slightly contrived, though the action scenes no less exciting. The “fall out,” though handled well, left me disappointed alongside Nora and Julian. (Trying really hard to keep this spoiler free.) I understood how the plot-point operated to get Nora and Julian to a point where they needed to be to move forward as partners, yet I still felt cheated on reading about their next stage in life. It felt a little like book three ended at a similar place as book 2 with future life events still unseen.

None the less, it's still a really good story, and I feel that fans of Nora and Julian will enjoy it and be happy with the tone of the ending. 

Amazon US    Amazon UK    B&N    Kobo   iBooks    Goodreads 


If you haven’t started the series yet, no better time to 1-click now! Here's my praise of the previous titles.

#1 Twist Me remains my favorite! I loved how perfectly it ended, setting up book 2 yet still giving it a bit of a feel of a standalone. You could stop there but you’re so engrossed in Nora and Julian that you’ll want more.  I loved the suspense aspect of this book. Though all three books have twists, this appeals to the mystery lover in me as well. At times I wasn’t sure what to think and for that it wasn’t predictable and kept me on my toes….and up late at night reading ;-) 

#2 Keep Me definitely delivers on giving more of Nora and Julian, developing both their characters and their relationship.  I loved how this saga continued to twist perceptions, making Nora become stronger despite and possibly because of her captive status. That’s deliciously twisted and amazingly refreshing.  And it’s a rare find. Many captive stories present either weak, victimized heroines or brazen ones that come off reckless rather than strong.  Nora instead shows acts of strength while still enlightening us with her inner monologues of fear and confusion that keep it real.


~About the Author~
anna zairesAnna Zaires fell in love with books at the age of five, when her grandmother taught her to read. She wrote her first story shortly thereafter. Since then, she has always lived partially in a fantasy world where the only limits were those of her imagination. Currently residing in Florida, Anna is happily married to Dima Zales (a science fiction and fantasy author) and closely collaborates with him on all their works. After graduating from the University of Chicago with a degree in Economics, Anna spent eight years on Wall Street analyzing stocks and writing research reports. In 2013, she became a full-time author, pursuing her lifelong dream of writing romance novels.  Dima Zales is the love of her life and a huge inspiration in all aspects of her writing. Every book Anna writes is a product of their unique collaborative process. In addition to reading and writing, Anna enjoys drinking tea (coconut oolong, anyone?), watching addictive TV shows, and discussing book ideas during long walks with her amazing husband.

She loves hearing from her readers, so please don't hesitate to contact her through her website or connect with her on Facebook, where she hangs out way too often. Also, please visit her husband and collaborator, Dima Zales, at www.dimazales.com and check out their fantasy & science fiction books.
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Read the blog's previous interview with Anna Zaires: HERE