Friday 31 July 2015

Review: Laird Wolf - Vivian Arend

He’s a wolf in a kilt. That pretty much says it all…

Pulling off a rescue mission at a remote castle in Scotland should be an easy task for lone wolf Damon Black. He’ll flash some muscle, show a little Alpha power, and do whatever it takes to ease Addie MacShay’s fears. But the woman who throws herself into his arms and cries boyfriend is more intriguing than anticipated. The sexy she-wolf’s got more curves, more tantalizing scent, more of everything he desires.

Addie’s job cataloguing an estate at the Sterling-Wylde Manor is complicated by the ongoing discovery of new wills and the two creepy heirs who won’t leave her alone. But her fake boyfriend turns out to be a far greater threat—not only is he fun and flirtatious, he looks delicious in a kilt. She craves his touch, but with her empathic skills on overdrive, touch is the last thing she needs.

Damon’s fighting his unruly inner beast. Addie’s fighting their incredible sexual pull. They’ll both have to lower their guard to make this more than a Highland fling.

Takhini Shifters Series:
(This is a spin off off the Granite Lake and Takhini Wolves series but can be read separately)
Copper King (Novella)
Laird Wolf (Novella)

Granite Lake Wolves Series:
Wolf Signs (Novella)
Wolf Flight (Novella)
First Howl (Short Story free on Vivian's website)
Second Howl (Short Story free on Vivian's website)
Wolf Games (Novella)
Wolf Tracks (Novella)
Wolf Line (Novella)
Wolf Nip (Novella)

Takhini Wolves Series:
(This is a spin off from the Granite Lake Wolves series but can be read separately)
Black Gold
Silver Mine
Diamond Dust
Moon Shine

Visit Vivian Arend's website for more information

Review:
Laird Wolf is the second novella in Vivian Arend's Takhini Shifters series and although these characters have made appearances in the Takhini Wolves books these stories are designed to be completely stand alone so it doesn't matter if you've read the previous books or not. For anyone who is familiar with the series this fits into the time line just after Copper King and before Black Gold.

Cataloguing the contents of a remote Scottish castle for the estate's executor should be easy for Addie but things are complimented by the discovery of multiple wills and the fact that she is being hounded incessantly by two of the potential heirs. Feeling creeped out and unsafe Addie calls her best friend for assistance and Lillie sends lone wolf Damon to protect her. Damon has never wanted a mate or a pack, he's always been happy to live his life on the outside, but Addie brings out all his protective instincts and he's not quite sure what to do with his feelings. One things for sure, he won't let the weird cat shifters who are fighting over the castle harm her, but after that anything goes.

I loved Damon when we met him in Copper King so I was really happy to discover he was getting his own story, he's such a fun guy and it was great to get to know him better. Damon has the strength of an alpha but after a traumatic experience when he was a teenager he has never got along very well with his inner wolf, they never really see eye to eye and he fights against his wolf instincts. Both of them are in full agreement over one thing though - the need to keep Addie safe, they are both intrigued by her and neither of them wants to let her go. Addie is a rare omega wolf and her unusual abilities make it very difficult for her to get close to anyone. She is drawn to Damon but worried about letting him close because skin to skin contact will allow her to see his innermost thoughts.

I really enjoyed the romance between these two, the banter between them was great and they make a cute couple. Addie may have asked for assistance but she's still more than capable of standing up for herself, it's just nice to know she has some back up for when she needs it. I loved how strong she is and that she isn't willing to back down when she's set her mind on something. Damon was sweet and protective and they had great chemistry. Although this is a novella and a fairly quick read I never felt that the romance was rushed, we get to see them become friends and get to know each other and it was easy to believe that they actually had a chance of making their relationship work, even without the whole werewolf mating bond going on.

If you're looking for a fun, sexy story then you can't really go wrong with any of the books in this series. Vivian Arend is one of my go to authors because she never fails to give me an enjoyable story that leaves me with a smile on my face.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

Other reviews of this book:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Kindle:

Spotlight: Laird Wolf - Vivian Arend (Extract + 2 Giveaways!)


As a huge fan of Vivian Arend's I'm excited to be taking part in the blog tour to celebrate the release of Laird Wolf, the latest novella in her Takhini Shifters series. This story can be read as a stand alone but people who are familiar with the series will recognise the main couple from their previous appearances. I always love reading Viv's books, she's great at writing light hearted, sexy romances and Laird Wolf is such a fun story. I'll be posting my full review later today so make sure you check back to read it. In the meantime I have a bit more information about the book, a fab excerpt and a couple of brilliant giveaways for you to enter.

He’s a wolf in a kilt. That pretty much says it all…

Pulling off a rescue mission at a remote castle in Scotland should be an easy task for lone wolf Damon Black. He’ll flash some muscle, show a little Alpha power, and do whatever it takes to ease Addie MacShay’s fears. But the woman who throws herself into his arms and cries boyfriend is more intriguing than anticipated. The sexy she-wolf’s got more curves, more tantalizing scent, more of everything he desires.

Addie’s job cataloguing an estate at the Sterling-Wylde Manor is complicated by the ongoing discovery of new wills and the two creepy heirs who won’t leave her alone. But her fake boyfriend turns out to be a far greater threat—not only is he fun and flirtatious, he looks delicious in a kilt. She craves his touch, but with her empathic skills on overdrive, touch is the last thing she needs.

Damon’s fighting his unruly inner beast. Addie’s fighting their incredible sexual pull. They’ll both have to lower their guard to make this more than a Highland fling.

Buy links:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
iBooks
Kobo
All Romance eBooks
GooglePlay



About the Author:
Vivian Arend in one word: Adventurous. In a sentence: Willing to try just about anything once. That wide-eyed attitude has taken her around North America, through parts of Europe, and into Central and South America, often with no running water.

Her optimistic outlook also meant that when challenged to write a book, she gave it a shot, and discovered creating worlds to play in was nearly as addictive as traveling the real one. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of both contemporary and paranormal stories, Vivian continues to explore, write and otherwise keep herself well entertained.

Website: www.vivianarend.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/vivianarend
Facebook: www.facebook.com/vivianarend
Newsletter: www.bit.ly/1f0Bcgk


Extract:

He laid a hand on her shoulder, tugging her to face him. “You interested in an experiment?”

Heat radiated from where his hand rested, but nothing untoward happened on an emotional level.

“Does it involve wandering the halls searching for cold spots where the damned still cling to the earthly place of their untimely demises?”

Damon grinned. “That’s on tomorrow’s agenda. Tonight I thought maybe…”

He slid his thumb back and forth, stroking over her shirt. He might as well have used a Taser on her; the electric response of her nerve endings was off the charts.

“You’re…touching me.”

“Over your clothes.” Concern and restrained passion slipped around her like a protective cocoon.

“Any negative reactions?”

“Other than my mouth has gone dry and my heart is pumping fast enough to drive a motorboat, no reactions at all,” she offered drolly.

He hummed in approval, his gaze following his hand as he trailed his fingers down the front of her T-shirt. Caressing the curve of her breast, slowing as his fingertips slipped over the tight tip of her nipple. “You said there was a connection between us. There’s one hell of an attraction, for sure.”

Addie groaned as he pinched, arching into his touch as he opened his palm and cupped her. “That feels amazing, but we can’t… I mean, I feel guilty.”

Damon chuckled as he leaned down and pressed his lips to the upper slope of her breast. “Guilty because we’re going to fool around?”

“I can’t touch you,” she complained. “Except over your clothes.”

“Maybe, maybe not, but why are you rushing?” Damon slipped off the couch and between her legs, pushing them apart so he could kneel in front of her. “Focus on the experiment. Put your hands on my shoulders and keep them there.”

Giveaway 1:


To celebrate the release of Laird Wolf Vivian is giving away one 6” Kindle, along with an assortment of shifter books, AND a wolfie in a kilt! You can enter via the Rafflecopter form below, winners will be contacted directly by Vivian or her assistant to arrange sending out the prizes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway 2:

I also have an ebook copy of Copper King, the first book in the Takhini Shifters series, to give away to one of my readers. You can read my review of Copper King HERE.

To enter all you need to do is leave a comment below stating which format you would like to receive your ebook in (mobi or epub) along with a way to contact you if you're the winner (your email address or Twitter ID). The giveaway will run until the 14th of August and a winner will be chosen at random from all the entries shortly afterwards.

Thursday 30 July 2015

Release Blitz: Every Last Breath - Jennifer L Armentrout (Extract + Giveaway)


The Epic Finale in Jennifer L. Armentrout’s

Dark Elements Series...Who Will She Choose?


Every choice has consequences—but seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Hardest of all, Layla has to decide which side of herself to trust.

Don't miss the conclusion to this stunning Young Adult Paranormal series filled with danger and romance published by HarlequinTEEN.

Grab your copy today!



Every Last Breath Synopsis:

Some loves will last ‘til your dying breath

Every choice has consequences—but seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Hardest of all, Layla has to decide which side of herself to trust.

Layla has a new problem, too. A Lilin—the deadliest of demons—has been unleashed, wreaking havoc on those around her…including her best friend. To keep Sam from a fate much, much worse than death, Layla must strike a deal with the enemy while saving her city—and her race—from destruction.

Torn between two worlds and two different boys, Layla has no certainties, least of all survival, especially when an old bargain comes back to haunt them all. But sometimes, when secrets are everywhere and the truth seems unknowable, you have to listen to your heart, pick a side—and then fight like hell…

“Armentrout is a major talent…I just can’t stop reading!”
--New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter

“Armentrout works her magic with swoon-worthy guys and a twist you never see coming.”
--#1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines on White Hot Kiss

Extract:

“Oh my God!” This time my hand connected with his arm. “You’re going to be in so much trouble, Roth! So much trouble.”

He shrugged a shoulder. “Defended myself.”

“Defended myself.” I mimicked him, bopping my head back and forth. “You can’t just go around killing Alphas, Roth!”

“You killed those angels?” Stacey asked, so I guessed she did remember them.

He sent her an innocent grin. “Well, I didn’t, but…”

“Roth!” I shouted, backing away before I started choking the ever-loving life out of him. “This is not a joke. You—”

He was damn fast when he wanted to be. One second he was several feet away from me and the next he was there, clasping the sides of my face. He lowered his head so he was eye level with me. “There are rules, Shortie.”

“But—”

“Rules that even the Alphas have to abide by. They cannot attack me without physical provocation. If they do, they tick the Boss off, and then the Boss retaliates in a way that makes what the Lilin could do look like child’s play. I’m not just some random demon. I’m the Crown Prince. They took a swing at me, and I defended myself. End of story.”

But he had provoked them—maybe not physically, but he wasn’t an innocent bystander in this. As the shock ebbed, there was a different kind of bitter pill to swallow. What if Roth had gotten his rules wrong? What if more Alphas were even now on the way to avenge their brethren?

“I’m going to be okay.” His eyes held mine as he stepped closer, lining his booted feet up with mine.

“Nothing is going to happen to me. I promise.”

“You can’t make that promise,” I whispered, searching his gaze intently. “None of us can.”

His hands slid back and he curled his fingers in my loose hair. “I can.”

Those two words were like throwing down a gauntlet to the whole universe. I lowered my gaze as he dragged my hair back, tucking both sides behind my ears. It was then, as he slowly withdrew his hands, that I remembered we were not alone.

I jerked back and my gaze collided with Zayne’s. For a moment, I let myself really see Zayne. I hadn’t almost killed him. I had almost done something much, much worse than that. When a Warden lost their soul, they turned into a horrific creature. I knew that for a fact, because I’d seen what had happened to a Warden after their soul had been taken from them. I’d almost done that to Zayne, and he was still here, standing by my side.

A hole opened up in my chest as I saw the keen wariness in his stare. My stomach twisted something awful and I opened my mouth, but I didn’t know what to say. My heart and head were suddenly tearing in two very different directions. Fortunately, I didn’t get the chance to say anything.
“I leave you alone for a few hours, and you let Thumper fry and eat an Alpha.”

Yelping, I spun around as Stacey screamed. Cayman stood in the center of the destroyed living room. He’d come out of nowhere. Poof. There. He wore dark trousers and a white dress shirt he appeared to have gotten bored with when it came to buttoning it up, and his blond hair was loose around his angular face. When it came to the demon pecking order, Roth had once explained that as an Infernal Ruler, Cayman was middle management. He was kind of like the demon-of-all-trades, and I had a feeling he was more than just a…um, coworker of Roth’s. Whether Roth claimed it or not, they were friends.

“That was quick,” Roth commented, folding his arms across his chest.

Cayman shrugged. “It’s a sign of the times, man. It’ll probably be on some Alpha’s Facebook wall within the hour.”

Alphas had Facebook accounts?



Don’t miss the first titles in the Dark Elements Series!

BITTER SWEET LOVE

WHITE HOT KISS

STONE COLD TOUCH

About Jennifer L. Armentrout:

# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA.

She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.


Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Every Last Breath Jennifer L Armentrout is giving away a signed set of the entire Dark Elements series to one lucky winner. You can enter using the rafflecopter form below. The winner will be contacted directly by the author or her assistant to arrange sending out the prizes.


Wednesday 29 July 2015

Review: Frail Human Heart - Zoe Marriott

Mio has finally succeeded in banishing the Goddess of Death's plague spreading monsters - but only by making the most terrible sacrifice. Emotionally devastated, Mio isn't sure she has the strength to fight on and risk losing someone else she loves.

But she has no choice. With the final battle in the war between gods drawing closer and all hell literally breaking loose in London, the only things standing between the mortal world and an apocalypse are Mio and her sword.

Don't miss the final instalment in The Name of the Blade series.

The Name of the Blade Trilogy:
The Night Itself
Darkness Hidden
Frail Human Heart

Visit Zoe Marriott's website for more information.

Review:
It's no secret that I love Zoe Marriott's writing, I've been a fan of hers ever since I picked up Shadows on the Moon (which is still my favourite of her books and one I would HIGHLY recommend if you haven't already read it!) and her Name of the Blade trilogy has been outstanding. I'm always a little wary of trilogies because more often than not at least one of the books ends up being a disappointment but I knew that wouldn't be the case here and I'm happy to report that Frail Human Heart ends the series on the biggest possible high.

I think all readers were probably left reeling at the end of Darkness Hidden (well I know I was!) so it's been a long wait for this book. Mio paid the ultimate price for saving the world and I was absolutely heartbroken right alongside her. Now she's grief stricken and terrified of losing anyone else that she cares about, she knows that she has to stop Izanami but she's worried about the upcoming battle and doesn't think she'll survive it. Luckily her friends and family aren't going to let her face her enemies alone, it was great to see how everyone had Mio's back and I loved that they all have a role to play in what is happening.

I really don't want to say much about the plot but you should be prepared for epic battles, terrifying monsters, heartbreak and grief but also the strong bonds of love between friends and family. Zoe Marriott is an expert when it comes to Japanese mythology and I've loved the variety of creatures she has introduced us to from the friendly kitsune like Hikaru to the horrifying Jorogumo and many more in between. I have to also give a shout out to the side characters because they've all been fantastic and I particularly loved some certain developments in Jack's love life but I'm not going to say more about that for fear of spoilers. Frail Human Heart was an absolutely fantastic conclusion to this trilogy and I'm sure fans are going to love it just as much as I did.

Source: Received from Walker in exchange for an honest review

Other reviews of this book:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle

Blog Tour: Frail Human Heart - Zoe Marriott


I'm the biggest fan of Zoe Marriott's Name of the Blade trilogy so I'm thrilled to be taking part in the blog tour today to celebrate the release of the final book Frail Human Heart. This is an absolutely stunning finale to the series and I loved every minute of it, I'll be posting my full review later today but in the meantime I have a fab extract to share with you now.

Mio has finally succeeded in banishing the Goddess of Death's plague spreading monsters - but only by making the most terrible sacrifice. Emotionally devastated, Mio isn't sure she has the strength to fight on and risk losing someone else she loves.

But she has no choice. With the final battle in the war between gods drawing closer and all hell literally breaking loose in London, the only things standing between the mortal world and an apocalypse are Mio and her sword.

Don't miss the final instalment in The Name of the Blade series.

The Name of the Blade Trilogy:
(links will take you to my reviews)
The Night Itself
Darkness Hidden
Frail Human Heart

This is the third extract from Frail Human Heart and follows on from part 1 (posted on The Pewter Wolf) and part 2 (posted on Kit Kats Can Read). Part 4 will be available tomorrow on Teens on Moon Lane.

Extract 3 from Frail Human Heart, 
book 3 in the Name of the Blade trilogy by Zoe Marriott

“She wasn’t down there, was she?” Jack said as I straightened up. “Do you think you were wrong about what you saw – dreamed – whatever?”

“No.” The deep white claw marks gouged in the grubby cement of the walls proved that my mental image of poor Rachel’s desperate struggle down there, the way she had lashed out in her pain as she fought against the transformation, was real. But I couldn’t exactly share that with Jack.

“She must have got herself out and away before we arrived. She didn’t know we were coming to look for her.”

“Why was she down there in the first place?” Jack asked, pacing away and then back again. “What was wrong with her? What happened while I was in that hospital?”

“All right, there are a lot of questions to be answered, but the best thing we can do is head home…” my father began in his usual commanding tone.

Jack was too worked up to listen. She spun back to face me. “Are we in, like, immediate danger from anything horrible right this minute?”

I cast an apprehensive look at the royal-blue sky. It wasn’t full dark yet, but the harsh orange glow of the streetlights behind the hospital made the shadows seem more intense, and my instincts were urging me to head for sanctuary. My parents’ house, warded against supernatural attack by the London Kitsune, was the only truly safe place for us – the one safe place left in the city, probably.
But we’d already seen, on multiple occasions, that darkness was no more dangerous than daylight. Plenty of creatures from the Underworld hunted equally well in either. And Izanami had just suffered a devastating defeat. She was surely going to need some time to recover from seeing her plans turn to dust.

Reluctantly, I shook my head. The bones in my neck creaked. My dad made an exasperated face and folded his arms.

“All right then, tell me what is going on with my sister,” Jack demanded. “I know it’s bad. She came to the hospital. She was talking with someone else’s voice – it said it was the Nekomata’s mistress – and her eyes were all black.”

Well, shit. I rubbed my hand over my face wearily. “I didn’t know that.”

“Rachel was supposed to be with you, Mio. You were supposed to be keeping each other safe.” The words were edged with an accusation that cut me more painfully than a knife in the gut.

“I tried my best. I did, Jack. She wasn’t … herself. The bite – the Nekomata bite – changed her.”

Changed her? What? How? Did you know that could happen?”

“Of course I didn’t. When we left the hospital, she told us that she felt wrong. Different. She couldn’t control her temper. Kept snapping for no reason. The tooth marks on her neck disappeared. She got fast and really strong. Stronger than me. Right after you called us she lost it. She attacked me and…” No. Can’t say his name yet. “Then she ran off.”

At her sides, Jack’s hands trembled, then slowly curled into fists. “You let her go?”

Sometimes the only thing you can do is let go…

I flinched from the memory of his voice. “I couldn’t stop her.”

“You let her go and you didn’t tell me. You didn’t call me. I can’t believe this. She’s my sister. I had the right to know she’s turning into some kind of monster!”

“She isn’t turning into a monster,” I said flatly. I could see that my lack of emotion was riling Jack up even more, but I didn’t have anything else to offer her. I was so bloody tired. “That explosion of power that healed you and banished the Shikome? It fixed Rachel, too. She’s OK now.”

At least, as OK as anyone could be when their soul had been invaded by darkness and they only just escaped before the point of no return.

Relief and gratitude passed fleetingly over Jack’s face. Then the anger was back. She took a step into my space, poking my shoulder. “Then where is she? Why should I believe anything you say when you’ve been keeping all this shit a secret from me the whole time?”

“Jack,” Hikaru, his face chalky and drawn with tiredness, interrupted firmly. “I can tell you’re upset but this isn’t—”

“You stay out of it. You, too, Mr Yamato!” Jack snapped at my father as he opened his mouth. “This is between me and her. And you’d better not try to bullshit me, Mio, because I know you and I can see right through it. What the hell were you thinking?”

********************

Next Stop for Zoë is Teens on Moon Lane. Click here to check it out and, if you haven’t already, pick up your copy of Zoë’s The Name of the Blade series at your local bookshop or online at Amazon, Book Depository, Waterstones.com and WHSmith.


Zoë Marriott is the author of many critically acclaimed and beloved books, including The Swan Kingdom, which was long-listed for the Branford Boase award, and Shadows on the Moon, which won the prestigious Sasakawa Prize and was an American Junior Library Guild Selection. Zoë lives in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. Visit Zoë’s blog at thezoe-trope.blogspot.co.uk or her website at ZoeMarriott.com. Follow her on Twitter (@ZMarriott).

Don't forget to check out the rest of the stops on the Frail Human Heart blog tour for more extracts, deleted scenes and interviews with Zoe!

Tuesday 28 July 2015

Review: Hard Evidence - Pamela Clare

Sexy, thrilling, unputdownable.
Take a wildly romantic ride with the I-Team.

After the murder of a teenage girl, investigative reporter Tessa Novak has her sights set on the mysterious man seen lurking near the crime scene as the culprit.

The man was Julian Darcangelo, an undercover FBI agent, closing in on the trail of a human trafficker and killer. Tessa's accusations could blow his cover, and he wants her off the case.

But just as Tessa has made Julian a target of interest, she is now a target of the killer. And, as they are forced to trust each other, their physical attraction escalates as intensely as the threat from a ruthless murderer who wants to see both of them dead . . .

I-Team Series:
Extreme Exposure
Heaven Can't Wait (Novella)
Hard Evidence
Unlawful Contact
Naked Edge
Breaking Point
Skin Deep (Novella)
First Strike (Novella)
Striking Distance

Visit Pamela Clare's website for more information.

Review:
When investigative reporter Tessa Novak witnesses a young girl being gunned down in a drive by shooting she becomes determined to find out what happened to her. Her investigation leads her to Julian Darcangelo, an undercover FBI agent, who she initially suspects of being the young girl's murderer. The last thing Julian needs is a reporter drawing attention to him, he has been working for years to bring down a ring of human traffickers and he's closer than ever to getting justice for their victims. It's not only a case of keeping Tessa quiet though, he also needs to keep her safe now that she's drawn attention from the dangerous gang who will think nothing of destroying as many lives as it takes to keep the money rolling in.

Hard Evidence is the second book in Pamela Clare's I-Team series and I enjoyed it even more than the first. This is a fantastically written series with great characters, intense story lines, incredible action and steamy romance. I love how realistic these characters are, witnessing the shooting has a lasting effect on Tessa, not only does it make her realise how precious life is but it also brings out her protective instincts. It may be too late for the girl who was killed but she wants to get answers for her family and she wants to make sure the same thing doesn't happen to someone else. She's incredibly brave to keep looking for answers even when it becomes clear that she is attracting dangerous attention but she isn't stupid and she knows when she needs to ask for help. I loved how courageous Tessa was and I liked that she had a strict code of morals that she wouldn't cross, even to get a story, which is something that can't be said for her boss.

Julian has spent years working this case, his dedication has cost him everything and it's all he can focus on. Good men died fighting this gang and Julian will do whatever it takes to bring them down permanently. The last thing he needs is a reporter getting in the way but Tessa brings out all his protective instincts and he has to keep her safe, it's not easy for him to trust her though and he worries that anything he tells her will turn up printed in the next day's newspaper. Although the two of them are instantly attracted to each other I was pleased that it took time for them to learn to trust each other and to start working together. Julian was very secretive and broody but he's also quite sweet when he wants to be and he was definitely sexy as hell.

I think one of the things I love most about this series is how much insight it gives into some horrific crimes, Pamela Clare does a great job of showcasing how human trafficking victims are treated in this instalment and it's not always comfortable reading. It never feels gratuitous but it's definitely a learning curve and it shows how important it is that we have people like Julian and Tessa out there putting their lives at risk to stop the bad guys. As much as parts of the story are quite dark this series still contains a lot of humour which helps to lighten the mood. The reporters on the I-Team all have a great bond and I loved seeing their interactions, they were protective and caring but also very nosey and enjoy snooping on each other. I also thought the blend of romance and suspense was pretty much perfect, we get a whole heap of action but the relationship development was satisfying too. This is quickly becoming a favourite series and I can't wait to start the next book.

Source: Received from Headline Eternal in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Heaven Can't Wait - Pamela Clare

A sexy romp featuring the characters from Pamela Clare's popular I-Team series. Lissy Charteris and Will Fraser are two weeks away from getting married when Lissy suggests they put a bit of traditional romance into their lives by giving up sex until their wedding night. Though Will thinks it-s a crazy idea, he's not about to admit he can't do it. The two end up making a bet, vowing not to be the first to ask for sex. But what starts as a bet turns into a game of no-holds-barred seduction -- winner take all.

I-Team Series:
Extreme Exposure
Heaven Can't Wait (Novella)
Hard Evidence
Unlawful Contact
Naked Edge
Breaking Point
Skin Deep (Novella)
First Strike (Novella)
Striking Distance

Visit Pamela Clare's website for more information.

Review:
Heaven Can't Wait is a novella in Pamela Clare's I-Team series but I think it's best to point out that this is more of a straight up contemporary romance than a romantic suspense like the rest of the series. It's an excellent read and one I'd definitely recommend but if you go in looking for suspense then you could end up disappointed. What you'll get instead is a super hot, incredibly sweet and sexy romance between two fantastic characters and if you're anything like me you'll love every minute of it.

Lissy and Will are crazy about each other and with only two weeks to go before their wedding everyone knows it. Lissy wants to make sure their wedding night is special so she suggests to Will that they hold off on having sex until the big day. Will isn't keen on the idea but when Lissy turns it into a bet with the first person to ask for sex having to pay a forfeit he can't resist. Egged on by a few of their friends they both set out to make the other cave first and it doesn't take long before things are really spicing up between them.

This was a fab little novella and it was a great way to get to know some of the side characters from the series a little better. We also get cameo roles from some other familiar faces which was nice but I loved that Lissy and Will were the real focus of the story. They are a fantastic couple who are clearly madly in love, the sex was scorching and the banter between them and their friends was incredibly amusing. If you're looking for a quick, hot read then you really can't go wrong with this and I'd highly recommend checking out the rest of the series too.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Kindle:

Monday 27 July 2015

Review: What Emma Craves - Amanda Abbott

It took a lot for Pete Slater to convince his wife, Emma, to move to the suburbs. But once she arrived, she found it had a deliciously steamy underbelly. Her neighborhood is filled with hook-ups, affairs, and scandal. It's better than any reality TV show.

But Emma finds she isn’t satisfied any more. After seeing Piper and Michael become adventurous again as a couple, it's made Emma realize that's what she wants in her own life. She craves to be noticed again. She decides what the two of them really need is a vacation. The STD girls throw her a travel shower, gifting her some sexy starters, and she and Pete are off to the Bahamas.

Their destination is a super exclusive resort situated on a tiny island where anything and everything can happen. When they meet a young couple at the airport, who end up in the suite next to theirs, things go from fun to incredibly steamy fast. Emma drives Pete crazy flirting, and it pays off. For the first time in their marriage her husband is jealous of another man. What Pete does to win her back turns out to be exactly what Emma craves.

*This book is off the charts hot. It contains: explicit sex, group sex, and voyeurism.

Pushing the Boundaries Series:
What Caroline Wants
What Piper Needs
What Emma Craves
What Gillian Desires (release date to be confirmed)

Pushing the Boundaries, Sexy Singles Series:
(This is a spin off from the Pushing the Boundaries series)
Sun Kissed
Future titles and release dates to be confirmed

Visit Amanda Abbott's website for more information

Review:
I've been a huge fan of this series ever since I picked up the first book so I was really excited to start What Emma Craves. We've already had the chance to learn quite a lot about this couple's extracurricular activities in the previous stories but I was looking forward to getting to know them both a bit better. Emma and Pete have always been more than happy to invite other couples to join them in the bedroom, it's something that they both enjoy and it's never caused an issue in their relationship before. Recently things have been changing for Emma though, she loves her husband like mad but she feels like they're losing the connection that has always made them such a strong couple. She misses the way things used to be and knows that something needs to change. Hoping a break will help them reconnect they have booked a holiday to an exclusive resort on an island where anything goes but will it really give them the chance to rebuild their relationship?

Although this story is undoubtedly hot I have to admit I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the previous instalments. I have always liked Emma but there were times I found myself really frustrated with Pete and the way he was so completely oblivious to her feelings. It felt like she was pushing herself to do things that she wasn't necessarily comfortable with because it was what he wanted and even when he noticed her reticence it didn't seem to bother him. I'm not saying he forces her into anything but you could tell her heart wasn't in it and that took some of the enjoyment out of it for me. I was actually really pleased when Antonio started paying her so much attention and showing her what it was like to actually have someone put her first for a change. This was when the story really started to take off for me and I enjoyed seeing Pete realise that Emma had other options, his jealousy showed that he really did care for her and it shook some sense into him.

There was one side character who got on my nerves from the beginning, Mallory just seemed so self centred and whiny and I couldn't for the life of me understand why Emma ended up becoming friends with her. I especially didn't like the games she was trying to play and it wasn't until right near the end of the book that I believed she was actually trying to help Emma and Pete rather than break them up. I think she was one of the main reasons I didn't like this book as much as I could have.

One thing I definitely enjoyed was the beautiful island setting, it was very easy to picture the decadent resort and it's definitely somewhere I wouldn't mind visiting. I also loved the growing bond between Emma and the other women from the series. There were some great moments between them and I loved the holiday shower they threw along with the gifts they gave Emma. There is a lot of humour in the interactions between them and I'm definitely looking forward to reading Gillian's book because I think it's going to be brilliant.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Blog Tour: What Emma Craves - Amanda Abbott (Extract + International Giveaway)


Today is the release day for What Emma Craves, the third book in Amanda Abbott's incredibly hot Pushing the Boundaries series. I absolutely love these books so I'm excited to be able to give away copies of the latest instalment to some of my readers. I'll be posting my review of What Emma Craves later today so make sure you check back but in the meantime I have some more information about the book and an extract to share with you before we get to the giveaway I'm sure you're all eager to enter!

It took a lot for Pete Slater to convince his wife, Emma, to move to the suburbs. But once she arrived, she found it had a deliciously steamy underbelly. Her neighborhood is filled with hook-ups, affairs, and scandal. It's better than any reality TV show.

But Emma finds she isn’t satisfied any more. After seeing Piper and Michael become adventurous again as a couple, it's made Emma realize that's what she wants in her own life. She craves to be noticed again. She decides what the two of them really need is a vacation. The STD girls throw her a travel shower, gifting her some sexy starters, and she and Pete are off to the Bahamas.

Their destination is a super exclusive resort situated on a tiny island where anything and everything can happen. When they meet a young couple at the airport, who end up in the suite next to theirs, things go from fun to incredibly steamy fast. Emma drives Pete crazy flirting, and it pays off. For the first time in their marriage her husband is jealous of another man. What Pete does to win her back turns out to be exactly what Emma craves.

*This book is off the charts hot. It contains: explicit sex, group sex, and voyeurism.

About Amanda Abbott:
Amanda Abbott lives in the Midwest. She's the author of many books, both on her own and some published in New York. She loves traveling, seeing the world, and above all she loves to write. These stories have blossomed out of her pure love of all kinds of romance, but especially humor + sexy combined. Taking the question of "what if" and making it real was an absolute thrill to write. And there's more in the hopper! To keep up with new series and new releases, head to her website www.authoramandaabbott.com and be sure to sign-up for her newsletter!

Website: http://www.authoramandaabbott.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorAAbbott
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmandaAbbott
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13778727.Amanda_Abbott?from_search=true
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/1GzfRb1

Extract:

Emma ducked down into the bushes as the car drove down the street. She peeked out of her hiding spot and saw it was the Dwyers, an elderly couple who lived three doors down from her and Pete, driving their dated black Cadillac. They were coming home from church, as usual. Emma was crouched in a very unladylike position, but the wait would be well worth it. She was situated directly under the McCrays’ garage window, waiting for the show to begin.

It happened without fail every Wednesday night at ten thirty-seven, when Candace arrived home after her weekly hot yoga class.

When she could, Emma always snagged a front-row seat.

Another car came down the street, like clockwork. A second later the McCray garage door engaged, rolling up smoothly, the vibrations shaking Emma’s shoulder where she leaned against the siding. Emma stood and watched as Candace pulled her leased Audi RS 5 into the spot right next to the window.

Emma knew it was leased, because Candace was an avid talker. Candace was a forty-one-year-old unhappily married stepmother to three older children. She enjoyed her boxed Chardonnay, and over the years she’d filled Emma’s ears with more than Emma had ever needed to know about her, including how stretched she and her husband were financially to maintain the lifestyle they felt they deserved.

The “lifestyle,” according to Candace, was expensive cars, lavish vacations, and diamond jewelry glittering around her neck. The unhappiness that accompanied it was considered a typical side effect and had become an accepted sacrifice.

To Emma, however, living the lifestyle were nights like this, when Candace stole a moment of pleasure all to herself. Candace just didn’t realize that she was actually involved in a different kind of “lifestyle” altogether—the sexual kind.

Most people didn’t.

Instead, they refused to name it, because that would make it real. So they engaged in affairs and sneaked around instead of choosing to be open with their sexual desires.

Emma never begrudged Candace for stealing a tiny slice of happiness where she could. If this was the only place she could get it, so be it. Plus, it was entertaining as hell to watch. Candace was a beautiful woman, tall, curvy, with long blonde hair. She had to be gorgeous, since she was Kyle McCray’s trophy wife. Kyle was a fifty-five-year-old misogynistic asshole who traveled more than he was ever at home.

And when he was around, he was trying to screw everything he could get his meaty hands on. He’d come on to Emma several times over the years, but she’d always fobbed him off like a pro, insulting him so intelligently he never quite knew how brutally he was getting the brush-off.

Emma watched as Candace emerged from her car. The woman carefully set her purse and keys on a small shelf by the door and went to stand in front of the fender of her car. A moment later, there was a small noise as the side door opened and closed.

Justin walked toward Candace like he was in need of a meal and hadn’t eaten for weeks.
It was the same every single Wednesday.

They didn’t embrace or touch each other affectionately.

They never did. Justin had his dick out before he reached Candace, who had leaned over the hood of the Audi, bracing her palms on the hood. Emma always pondered whether the car hood was hot or not, but it didn’t bother Candace in the least.

Justin came up behind her and peeled her yoga pants down with one hand.

Emma could see that Candace was still sweaty. Most of the time she was—she must prefer it that way. Justin pushed his cock into her with little preamble and began a pounding rhythm that sent the Audi rocking in tandem to his thrusts.

Candace tried to keep her moans quiet, but Emma could hear them through the glass. Emma knew Candace loved every minute of this and craved it like nothing else in her life.
Emma knew the feeling.

Every time Emma’s husband, Pete, touched her, she felt a rush like that. She couldn’t get enough.
Justin was a twentysomething friend of Candace’s oldest stepson. He worked as a waiter at a restaurant nearby. Although he was on the skinny side, he was tall and knew how to use his cock. Emma knew where he worked only because she’d spotted him at the restaurant on a few occasions. Candace had mentioned Justin once in passing about a year ago, and Emma had gotten the drift that Candace knew Justin’s mother—and that they might even be bridge partners.

Oh, the scandal of it all!

That’s what Emma adored the most.

There was titillation in watching these acts, no doubt about it, but it was the naughtiness and the secrets that gave her the ultimate enjoyment. The suburbs—a place she’d never, ever thought she’d live—were absolutely teeming with adultery, scandal, and sexual mayhem! It was better than any reality TV she’d ever watched. Probably because it was all live.

But still.

It’d become a weekly ritual to find out what naughty activities were going on in the neighborhood and seek them out. She’d watched as married wives sought each other out, as well as coeds bored on summer break with nothing better to do than to try to seduce wayward husbands.

Emma watched as Justin continued his relentless pounding until Candace’s voice broke on a stifled cry. As she came, her fingers curled into the car hood, her ass bobbing back to press onto Justin’s cock to hold him steady for a few precious moments.

That was the only touching she allowed.

A few seconds later, Justin pulled out and jutted his come all over Candace’s bare ass.

That must be their agreement.

It always played out the same way.

Emma had been watching for a few months now, and Candace would switch it up on occasion—but only as far as bending over something else in the garage, like the worktable.

Once he was done, Justin tucked himself back in his pants and walked over to a shelf that held a stack of towels. He brought one back for Candace, which she took readily, and he immediately headed toward the door. Once there, he glanced over his shoulder and winked at Emma.

Justin knew she watched. Candace she wasn’t sure about.

That was Emma’s cue to skedaddle.

Justin often tried to catch Emma to talk—he’d even tried to convince her to join them in a threesome. She dodged him as quickly as she could. She found it was easier to disappear before he could make his way around the garage, and since she lived next door, that was an easy thing to do.

Emma sprinted back into her yard, heading around the back of her house.

None of her neighbors knew she and Pete were in the lifestyle. And that’s how she wanted to keep it. She’d hung around with Candace enough to know that if Candace knew Emma was watching her and Justin, she wouldn’t care. She would only want Emma to assure her she looked awesome as the twentysomething fucked her from behind.

* * *

Pete glanced up as his wife entered the kitchen from the sliding glass doors off the deck. He was stretched out on the sofa. “Did Candace come big tonight?” he joked.

“Yep,” Emma answered as she slid the doors closed and walked over to the cupboard. She took out a bag of potato chips and a glass, then hit the fridge for water.

Pete smiled. His wife had a penchant for junk food. “Come sit by me.” He patted the couch next to him. “I was just about to go to bed, but I haven’t seen you much today.”

Emma kicked off her shoes and padded over, settling in next to him.

He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. He thought it was cute that she snooped on their crazy neighbors once in a while. He’d gone with her a few times, but it wasn’t his thing. He liked to participate when he watched sex. To him, watching wasn’t exciting if there was no return.

“Don’t forget,” she reminded him, “the girls are coming over here next Thursday for the block party. After, we’re hanging out here. They’re throwing me a ‘travel shower’ to celebrate our trip to the Bahamas. It’s so sweet of them.”

He and Emma were leaving on a much-needed vacation in less than two weeks. Pete was pumped. They hadn’t been on a trip in a long time. They’d booked a villa on a super-exclusive island where open sex was encouraged. He’d heard stories about these kinds of sexy resorts and had always wanted to try one, but they’d never had a chance—or enough money—before now. He was hoping it was going to be a wild ride. “Do you want me to find something else to do while they’re here? Or can I stay upstairs? I have no desire to attend the block party.”

“You never want to go.” She elbowed him, smiling. “I adore seeing everyone out of their fishbowls and love trying to figure out what’s going on behind closed doors. But it doesn’t matter.” She uncurled the bag of chips. “Whatever you want to do is fine.”

He draped his arm around the back of the couch. “How was work today? Have fun teaching little girls how to dance?”

“Little girls and boys. I’m so happy to see more boys enrolled. And it was good,” she said, popping a chip into her mouth. “Same as usual.”

“Are you looking forward to our vacation?”

“I am,” she replied.

Pete sighed. These short, clipped answers were what he’d been dealing with for the past few weeks. They were unlike his wife—who was normally sweet and bubbly, always ready to talk. He couldn’t figure out what was bothering her. He thought maybe it was because he’d pressed the idea of going to a sexy resort when she’d originally wanted to go to a nice, upscale resort where the two of them could “re-couple,” as she’d put it. He had no idea what “re-coupling” meant and had argued for the exclusive resort instead.

If they were going to go on a spendy trip, he wanted to go all-out. Why not? They’d ended up debating it for a few days, but eventually she’d given in.

Just like that. Like a switch had been flipped.

Pete had been puzzled, but satisfied. Now, he wasn’t so sure. He tried again. “We haven’t chatted much this week. What’s going on with you?”

She angled her head up. “Nothing much. Same old stuff. But don’t worry, the vacation is going to be great. I’m really excited. The Bahamas look wonderful.”

“I’ve tried to do a little research on the resort, but it’s really secretive. I can’t find much.” He wrapped an arm around Emma’s shoulder and nuzzled the top of her head. “But from what Jim said, it should be right up our alley. I trust him.”

“Yep, I saw the e-mail he sent, and the pictures. Like I said, it all looks amazing. I’m sold. I’m sure we’ll find lots to do. And people to do it with.”

Pete detected a hint of something in her voice he couldn’t identify. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?” He frowned. “I don’t want to go if you’re upset. We can book something else. We can probably get our deposit back, or at least some of it, if we back out now.”

She sighed. Pete heard it clearly. “No, I told you. I want to go. I’m excited to visit the Bahamas. It wasn’t my first choice, but I’m fine with it now. We’re paying so much for it, I can’t imagine it will be anything less than amazing.” She patted his leg and popped another chip into her mouth. “You need to relax. I’m fine.”

Pete hated that Emma was obviously bothered about something, but he decided to let it go. She would talk to him when she was ready.

Emma rolled up the top of the chip bag and stood. “I’m going to head up to bed. I’ll see you when you get up there…”

********************

New Series Alert!
COMING FALL 2015

Pushing the Boundaries, Sexy Singles, Book One

SUNKISSED

Mallory Baldwin is a model on the cusp of superstardom.
Patrick Conrad is an NFL player who’s been sidelined.
They meet on an exclusive dating island.
The beach never looked so good.

AND…

COMING WINTER 2015!

Pushing the Boundaries, Book Four

WHAT GILLIAN DESIRES

Gillian must choose between pleasure and love.
And only one will win.

Giveaway:

Now if that extract has caught your attention I have 10 ebook copies of What Emma Craves to giveaway to my readers. You can enter using the Rafflecopter form below, the giveaway ends on the 10th of August and the winners will be announced soon afterwards. Prizes will be sent out directly by Amanda Abbott so by entering you are giving me permission to share your email address with her.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday 26 July 2015

Happy 4th Birthday to Finding Anna by Sherri Hayes (+ International Giveaway)


I'm a massive fan of Sherri Hayes's Finding Anna series so I'm thrilled to be taking part in the birthday celebrations for Slave today.

Four years ago on July 26th, Slave, the first book in Sherri Hayes' Bestselling Finding Anna Series hit the market.


Genre: BDSM Romance Series
Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | iBooks

Stephan has lived the lifestyle of a Dominant for five years. After several rebellious teenage years, it gave him the stability and control he had been seeking after his parent’s death.

As president of a not-for-profit foundation, he knows what his future holds and what he wants out of life. All that changes when a simple lunch with his college friend and Mentor, Darren, leads him to buying a slave.

Thrust into a situation he never thought he’d be in, Stephan can’t walk away. He is compelled to help this girl in the only way he knows how.

Brianna knows only one thing, she is a slave. She has nothing. She is nothing.

Can Stephan help Brianna realize that she is much more than just a Slave?

Readers
Have Fallen In Love

Slave now has over 100 4 and 5 star ratings son Amazon.

"Slave was a very intense read for me, beautifully written, and left me wanting more." ~In The Book

"Describing this read is simple- AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! I found every aspect of it to be so good. I couldn't put it down." ~AndreaAH

Finding
Anna

Slave is the first book in Sherri's Finding Anna Series. A 4 book serial series that follows Brianna and Stephan through their journey.

"I talk to a lot of readers and the one thing they consistently say is that this is unlike anything they've ever read before. Some see the cover of Slave and assume it's a traditional slave/capture story. That couldn't be further from the truth. Slave, and the rest of Finding Anna, is about a young woman who has to figure out who she is and what she wants to do with her life after suffering through immense trauma. Finding Anna starts where all the other slave/capture stories end...with the rescue." ~Sherri Hayes

As Brianna comes to terms with the realization that she is no longer a slave, she must figure out what she wants for her life. Forgetting her past isn’t an option. It is an integral part of who she is now, and it will forever shape her view of life. The one thing she knows is that she cannot imagine her life without the man who saved her, but can she be what he needs?

Stephan never imagined falling in love with the woman he rescued, but the thought of her no longer being part of his life is physically painful. The scars from her past continue to haunt her, and he is helpless to stop them. All he can do is try to help her work through the traumas of her past. Can he be everything she needs and help her move on?

The two must figure out how to navigate not only their relationship with each other, but also the outside world. A friend from Brianna’s past shows up where she least expects them, and Uncle Richard continues to enforce his well-meaning agenda to get Brianna more traditional help. As forces, both friend and foe, threaten to tear them apart, Stephan and Brianna have to navigate the turbulent waters and find what they need in each other.


For the last two months, Brianna has discovered something she never thought she would again. Hope. After the horror of being Ian’s slave for ten months, a fate she never imagined she’d escape, it feels as if she is living a dream. She has freedom she hadn’t expected to have again, and she wakes up every morning not fearing what the day will bring. There is also Stephan. The man who saved her from the daily torture she had to endure at the hands of Ian and his friends. The same man who makes her heart race with just the thought of him. Life is good.

Outside forces are determined to conspire against them, however. When Brianna’s father shows up on her doorstep, it sends her world spiraling out of control. He brings with him new information about how Brianna ended up in Ian’s clutches, but will it make a difference? Will Stephan be able to find a way to make Ian pay for all he made Brianna suffer? As Brianna and Stephan try to find out the truth, their relationship is tested. She is forced to face her past head on, and deal with the ugly reality of what happened to her. Will Stephan’s love be enough to see her through her newest challenge, or will the fragile trust they’ve built come crumbling down around them as the truth makes itself known.


Brianna is lost for the fourth time in her life. Each time was unexpected, and each changed the course of her future. The first life-altering event occurred when her mother died, and she moved to Minnesota to live with her father.

The second was when she was kidnapped at the age of seventeen and forced to be a slave. She would never forget those ten months. Brianna thought her life was over.

Everything changed again the day Stephan steamrolled into her life and brought her home to live with him. She had no idea what to expect—what life with her new Master would hold. That first month with Stephan was, in some ways, more confusing than the prior ten. As a slave, she’d known her place. With Stephan everything was new and different. He’d given her freedom and so much more.

Five months after Stephan rescued her, Brianna once again finds her life flipped upside down.

In this fourth, and final, installment of Finding Anna, Brianna must unearth strength she never knew she possessed. Stephan can no longer protect her from the outside world. She must learn to trust herself, embrace who she is, and discover who she wants to be. Only by facing her demons can Brianna find true happiness and peace.


Finding
Anna Box Set


Download all 4 books for only $9.99.


Giveaway

Grand Prize - $10 Amazon Gift Card
2nd Prize - Sherri Hayes Swag Pack
3rd Prize - Set of Signed Finding Anna Bookmarks


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