Review: Renaissance Man - Tessa Bailey

A standalone novella from New York Times Bestselling Author Tessa Bailey...

The last place ex-Special forces soldier, Kyle Musgrave, expected to find himself was in a joust at a renaissance fair. There's a prize for winning, however--her name is Cameron and she's just as horrified by her medieval circumstances as Kyle. She needs his help badly to escape her would-be suitors. For Kyle, that means donning uncomfortable armor, galloping to victory on a stubborn steed and claiming a reward he never expected. If she'll have him.

THIS BOOK IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN AUDIO ON THE READ ME ROMANCE PODCAST. Listen for FREE here:

iTunes - http://geni.us/A888vRA
Google Play - http://geni.us/7lB4UBK
Website - www.readmeromance.com

Visit Tessa Bailey's website for more information.

Review:
You can listen to this audiobook for free via the Read Me Romance Podcast or purchase the ebook from Amazon which I believe comes with an extended epilogue not available via the podcast.

When Cameron agreed to spend time at the renaissance fair to get to know her stepfather she didn't realise she was agreeing to be the prize offered up for the winner of the jousting contest. That wasn't what she had in mind at all but she can't figure out a way to back out without upsetting her mother. Kyle is dragged along to the fair by his friends and isn't at all sure why he agreed to be there but when he meets Cameron and realises she's in need of rescuing he finds himself signing up to take part in the jousting contest.

The first meeting between Cameron and Kyle was great, and the start of a quite sweet romance. It's obvious that they're both attracted to each other but with this being a novella everything happens in the course of an afternoon so we're not looking at the next great love story here but they made a cute couple and I was totally on board with that.

My main issue with this story was the whole jousting contest though. If I'm reading fantasy you can throw anything at me and if your world makes sense I'll happily go along with it but when I'm reading a contemporary romance it has to feel believable. Could I get on board with Cameron and Kyle's instant attraction? Yes, easily. It's not like they were spouting words of love straight after meeting, they were attracted to each other and agreed to go on a date, something people do all the time.

What I had and issue with was the fact that Kyle, who has never been to a renaissance fair before, walked in, signed up for a jousting contest and was just instantly allowed to take part. They didn't even ask if he'd ridden a horse before, let alone whether he had experience jousting (which he didn't!). Are you seriously telling me that anyone can walk into one of these fairs and they'll let you jump on one of their horses with a big pointy stick and tell you to get on with it? Have you any idea how dangerous jousting can be? A quick internet search will tell you about broken bones, punctured lungs, even death! Can you imagine the cost of the insurance for these events if they just let anyone walk in and take part completely untrained?

I know I'm making a big deal out of something that won't bother most people but I just hate it when a contemporary story doesn't feel realistic. If he'd been an amateur jouster who was already taking part in the contest before they met then I could have sat back and enjoyed the ride but that ruined the whole experience for me because I kept waiting for him to lose an eyeball to a wooden splinter! It just felt like sloppy writing in my opinion but your mileage may vary.

Source: I listened to this audiobook for free via the Read Me Romance podcast.

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:

Review: Driven by Fate - Tessa Bailey

The first rule is obey . . . and she already broke it.

Francesca "Frankie" De Luca always pays her debts. Even when it means stepping inside Serve, the sensuous Manhattan club that caters to particular adult desires. For Frankie, it's a taste of something she's always wanted—and never received. Until a sharply dressed Brit orders her into his room, and instructs her to undress before delivering the carnal punishment she so desperately needs . . .

She wasn't the woman Porter Evans was expecting. Not this wild thing with the pale, silvery eyes. And such cheek. But she violates Porter's strict rules of control. Temptation is a dangerous thing indeed. Yet everything about Frankie cries out for schooling about the tantalizing interplay of pleasure and pain. So Porter offers Frankie a deal she can't refuse—and the only thing she owes him is submission . . .

Serve Series:
Owned by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Exposed by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Mistaken by Fate - Katee Robert
Betting on Fate - Katee Robert
Driven by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Protecting Fate - Katee Robert
Rules of Seduction - Joya Ryan

Visit Tessa Bailey's website for more information.

Review:
Driven by Fate is the fifth book in the Serve series (the third by Tessa Bailey as the other two were written by Katee Robert) and although we've briefly met both of these characters in a previous instalment you don't actually have to read this series in order to be able to enjoy each story.

Frankie has wanted to explore her submissive fantasies for a long time now but visiting Serve to repay a debt gives her the perfect opportunity to test the waters. Porter knows Frankie isn't the woman he was waiting for from the second she steps into his private room but against all common sense he can't resist taking what she's offering. The two of them have explosive chemistry and neither of them is quite ready to let it end after just one session but with Porter due to return home to England in a matter of weeks someone might end up getting their heart broken if they get in too deep.

I've been intrigued by British Dom Porter since we first met him in one of the earlier novels in the series so I have to admit to being more than a little excited when I found out that this was his story. I had a feeling he'd be intense and I was right! Tessa Bailey always writes such great dirty talking heroes and Porter is as dirty as they come so you can expect some incredibly hot sex scenes when you pick up this story. I've had a few issues with some of this author's previous heroines but I found myself really liking Frankie, she's a feisty woman who knows what she wants and isn't ashamed to admit it. As much as she fantasises about being dominated in the bedroom she is far from submissive in the rest of her daily life so she definitely keeps Porter on his toes. I thought they had great chemistry and I enjoyed seeing the two of them together but what stopped this from being a five star read for me was the fact that I wanted more depth to both of their characters. We learn a lot about Frankie but Porter is more of a mystery and I would have loved to explore more of his past to see exactly what made him tick.

Driven by Fate is a fab read though and I'm really enjoying this whole series, as a long term fan of both Tessa Bailey and Katee Robert any future books will automatically be added to the top of my wish list.

Source: Received from Entangled Publishing 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.

Kindle:

Review: Risking It All - Tessa Bailey

NYPD detective Seraphia Newsom will avenge her brother’s death at any cost. Even if it means insinuating herself into a rough, Brooklyn street gang and going so far undercover, she’s not sure she’ll be able to get out. Every minute she spends in their midst means the clock ticking down on her life, especially when she overhears something that could get her killed.

Bowen Driscol is the heir to a crime enterprise. He never asked for the job, but with his father behind bars, he has no choice but to step in and keep the operation running. But when the NYPD blackmails him with a piece of damning information in exchange for aiding an undercover cop, he finds himself on the other side of the law for the first time in his life.

Bowen knows the danger Sera is in, and keeping her safe trumps saving his own ass. The problem? She can’t know he’s on her side. And there's the matter of the seriously inconvenient heat sparking between them that's incinerating his resistance. But Sera only sees Bowen's past, and men like him are the reason her brother is dead. If they're to get out alive, he'll have to risk exposing the man beneath, and hope to hell he doesn't blow the whole operation in the process.

Crossing the Line Series:
Riskier Business (Novella)
Risking it All
Up in Smoke (2015)

Related Stories:
His Risk to Take (Ruby and Troy from Riskier Business first appeared in book 2 of the Line of Duty Series His Risk to Take)

Visit Tessa Bailey's website for more information.

Review:
I've been curious about Bowen ever since we first met him in His Risk to Take so of course I was excited to finally get my hands on his story. Tessa Bailey excels at writing dirty talking alpha heroes and Bowen is no exception to that, in fact I think he might just be her hottest one yet! What I love most about him is how complicated he is. Bowen would be the first person to tell you he's not a good man, in fact, he was raised to be as bad as they come. His father used to be the boss of the criminal underworld in South Boston and ever since he was sent to prison Bowen has taken over his role. Bowen has done a lot of terrible things but he's living a life he never asked for an doesn't really want and as much as he has that dark side he also has a good side to him too. He's always been very protective of his younger sister Ruby, to the point where he has now pushed her away from him to keep her safe, and he has his own code of honour that he sticks to. When undercover cop Sera gets in too deep police officers use Bowen's connection to Ruby and Troy to put pressure on him to go to her rescue. The last thing Bown needs is the added complication of a rookie cop but he can't leave her alone and unprotected so reluctantly agrees to play bodyguard.

Sera couldn't be more different to Bowen, she's a good girl who initially trained as a nurse but changed her career path after her police officer brother was murdered. All Sera wants is to put her brother's murderer behind bars but even though they know who was behind Colin's death the police haven't been able to prove it. Sera isn't willing to leave things at that though so she takes it upon herself to go undercover to find the proof she needs to get Hogan locked up for good. I ended up having mixed feelings about Sera, in some ways I really liked her but there were times when I found her incredibly frustrating. I could completely understand her need to get revenge but I struggled to believe that she'd had any kind of police training. I think I would have found it more realistic if she'd just quit her job as a nurse and gone in completely unprepared - that's certainly how she acted. Overall I was able to forgive her naivety though and I did love the slow build relationship between her and Bowen.

Risking it All is one of Tessa Bailey's hottest books yet and the fact that it was longer than most of her other stories really allowed readers the chance to connect with both of the characters. The way things ended have left me very excited to continue reading this series and I'm already hoping that Connor's story will be up next. If you love Tessa's Line of Duty series I have a feeling you're going to enjoy this one even more!

Source: Received from Entangled Publishing 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: Riskier Business - Tessa Bailey

One more game. And this time, there are no rules . . .

After a life of pool hustling and living on the wrong side of the law, Ruby Elliott is living on the straight and narrow with sexy-as-all-hell NYPD detective, Troy Bennett. Now the only trouble Ruby has with the law is the naughty kind, pinned against the wall by Troy's strict and spectacularly hard body. Obeying his every command. Both of them losing themselves in a lust that borders on obsession . . .

But then her father returns with an offer she can’t refuse: one last hustle in exchange for information. Information she’d die to have. As the pieces and the players of the game reveal themselves, Troy feels the fine edges of his control slipping—control he can’t channel without hurting Ruby. The stakes are high, and the risk higher. Because losing this final game could cost more than Ruby’s heart…it might cost her life.

Crossing the Line Series:
Riskier Business (Novella)
Risking it All
Up in Smoke (2015)

Related Stories:
His Risk to Take (Ruby and Troy from Riskier Business first appeared in book 2 of the Line of Duty Series His Risk to Take)

Visit Tessa Bailey's website for more information.

Review:
I really loved Troy and Ruby in His Risk to Take so I was excited we were going to get to see more of the couple in Riskier Business and thought this was a great way for Tessa Bailey to introduce us to her new spin off series. If you've already read the first book you'll know that Ruby was a pool hustler who had spent most of her life travelling around with her con artist father making money for him. When we met her she was trying to turn her life around and get back on the straight and narrow, her father was no longer around and she was trying to make an honest living when she started dating NYPD Detective Troy. Since the end of that book her relationship with Troy has gone from strength to strength, she has started her own business selling custom made pool cues and has managed to stay out of trouble. Unfortunately her father is now back on the scene and he's offering her the one thing she is desperate for - information about her mother - if she'll just play one last game for him.

Troy is reluctant to see Ruby pulled back into her father's world, which isn't too surprising considering what happened the last time, but he understands how much Ruby needs the information her father is offering her and he's willing to put himself on the line to help her get it. I absolutely loved Troy in the first book and I have to say that the chemistry between him and Ruby is still off the charts. He's a brilliant dirty talker and they love to play games in and out of the bedroom which is a lot of fun to read about. Unfortunately I had one major issue with him this time around and that was his jealousy over her friendship with Bowen. It was just irritating to begin with but then Troy goes and starts a physical fight with Bowen just because Ruby was having a conversation with him and I was completely turned off by that. A little jealousy in a relationship is one thing (I'm sure we've all felt that little green eyed monster at some point in our lives!) but it is NOT attractive when a guy gets physically violent just because you're talking to another man. I absolutely hated that and it made me question my previous opinion of Troy as one of the good guys. I would not accept those actions from anyone but the fact that he's a police officer made it even worse.

As much as I enjoyed the novella Troy's behaviour really did ruin this for me. The story is hot as hell, has a couple of interesting (although fairly predictable) twists but it lost points for that one major issue. It did remind me how much I love Bowen though and I have a feeling his story is going to be very interesting so I'm excited to continue the series with his story in Risking it All. I just hope he doesn't turn out to be a jackass like Troy.

Source: Received from Entangled Publishing 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.

Kindle:

Review: Exposed by Fate - Tessa Bailey

He’ll train her to lure another man. She’ll lure him instead.

When interior designer Eliza Ballas accompanies a friend to New York’s premier BDSM club, she’s taken aback by the sheer want that overruns her body—especially when a sexy Brit assumes Eliza is adept at dark, sensual arts. If she’s going to play, she’ll need an erotic education, and she knows just the man to teach her how to submit . . .

Oliver Preston isn’t one to turn down pleasure, but Eliza’s his sister’s best friend, and he’s torn between a sense of duty and his rock-hard need to find out if she tastes as delicious as he’s dreamed. Unable to handle thought of another man owning her body, he draws Eliza deep into his world of exquisite pain and pleasure. He has three lessons to instruct her. Three lessons to drive them both to the brink of ecstasy. And three lessons before he must give her to another man . . . if he doesn’t lose himself first.

Serve Series:
Owned by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Exposed by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Mistaken by Fate - Katee Robert
Betting on Fate - Katee Robert
Driven by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Protecting Fate - Katee Robert
Rules of Seduction - Joya Ryan

Visit Tessa Bailey's website for more information.

Review:
I love Tessa Bailey's Line of Duty series so I had high hopes for her new Serve series which is set around a BDSM club. Unfortunately I wasn't a huge fan of the first book but that was more down to the fact that I hated the heroine than anything else so I took a second chance and bought the second book too. I'm so glad I did because Exposed by Fate was everything I wanted from Owned by Fate and more, in fact I think I now have a new favourite Tessa Bailey hero in Oliver, he was absolutely fabulous!

Eliza is keen to explore her newly discovered submissive side but she's wary of testing the waters with a stranger when she has no real idea about what she will enjoy or what will be expected of her. Oliver is her best friend's older brother and as a playboy and a regular at Serve he would be the perfect person to teach her the art of submission. Her only fear is that she could end up getting her heart broken if she doesn't keep him at a distance. Oliver has craved Eliza for a long time but he knows he's not a one woman man and would never want to hurt her. The pair agree on three lessons thinking that will be enough for Eliza to learn what she needs to know but not long enough for either of them to get attached. What they don't expect is the instant, deep bond that they both feel and it's not long before they realise that the lessons are changing them both but will either of them be brave enough to admit that three lessons will never be enough?

Tessa Bailey has always excelled at her dirty talking heroes and Oliver is no exception to that, he is completely masterful in the bedroom (and the shower, and on the conference room table, and .. well you get the picture!) so we are treated to some completely knicker melting scenes that will leave you desperately needing a cold shower. Eliza may be inexperienced but inexperienced doesn't equal shy and she's more than willing to jump into her lessons with both feet. She has done her research and she trusts Oliver to always have her best interests at heart so she doesn't hesitate to accept anything he suggests. The two of them have fabulous chemistry but more than that they have a solid base of friendship and I loved the way Oliver was able to talk to Eliza about her fears and make her realise that there is nothing wrong with her desires. Eliza is a strong heroine, she loves to submit in the bedroom but in all other areas she is strong and feisty and more than capable of keeping Oliver on his toes, she is also the one person who believes in him. Oliver has always been on the outside looking in when it comes to his family, he's never felt good enough or that he could live up to their expectations but Eliza sees past that to the man he is inside and she helps him gain confidence in his business life which was great. I liked the balance between them and the fact that they are both better together than they were apart.

Exposed by Fate was a fab story and one I thoroughly enjoyed. If you're looking for a hot and spicy romance with plenty of dirty talk and a little exhibitionism you will love this one. I'll definitely be buying future books in the series as soon as they're available!

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:

Review: Owned by Fate - Tessa Bailey

Her mind rejects his world. But her body knows its master.

Journalist Caroline Preston arrives at Serve, New York City’s hottest BDSM club, with one goal—to hate it. If her brother wasn’t trying to turn the family’s respectable financial magazine into a publication that features “lifestyle” pieces for the wealthy and adventurous, she wouldn’t even be there, trying to write an article about a world she doesn’t understand. But then she sees him.

Jonah Briggs doesn’t leave his post for just anyone. As the owner of the club, his sole purpose is to ensure that his clientele get everything they need, but when he sees Caroline, his only thought is what he wants—to dominate the sexy little reporter and give the most exquisite pleasure she’s ever experienced.

Caroline has no intention of entering that particular lion’s den—not with her family’s reputation at stake—no matter how dark, sexy, and complex the lion in question may be. But with every encounter, she craves more, and with every slide of his lips, she realizes Jonah might just be the man to break down all her defenses . . . if she’ll let him.

Serve Series:
Owned by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Exposed by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Mistaken by Fate - Katee Robert
Betting on Fate - Katee Robert
Driven by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Protecting Fate - Katee Robert
Rules of Seduction - Joya Ryan

Visit Tessa Bailey's website for more information.

Review:
As a huge fan of Tessa Bailey's dirty talking heroes in her Line of Duty series I was incredibly excited to find out that she was co-writing a new series set in a BDSM club and couldn't wait to read Owned by Fate. I had such high hopes for this story but if I'm honest I only just managed to finish it which was a real disappointment.

I think my main issue was that I really hated the heroine so as much as I liked Jonah Caroline pretty much ruined the book for me. Caroline is a journalist who helps run her family financial magazine, the last thing she wants is to make the magazine more edgy but sales are falling and they need to do something drastic if they want to save the business. She agrees to write a piece about one of New York's hottest BDSM club but she goes into it completely prejudiced against the lifestyle and determined to hate every minute of it. I found it pretty impossible to believe that someone who was so anti all things BDSM would then go on to have a one night stand with a Dom on her very first visit to the club. I could have forgiven that if her attitude had started to change but she goes on and on about how she's a respectable woman and BDSM is wrong and quite frankly I wanted to punch her in the face.

Caroline is basically a stuck up snob who thinks she's way too good for Jonah, she constantly looks down her nose at him but even when she is judging his lifestyle choices negatively she still can't help herself from falling into bed with him. Jonah was much more likeable but I couldn't for the life in me understand what he saw in Caroline. There was nothing about her that made it believable he would fall for her and the more he let her get away with treating him like crap the harder I found it to respect him. He starts the story as a pretty decent Dom (who is also the owner of the club she keeps knocking!) but he pretty much rewards her for looking treating him like crap and then begs her to spend time with him. I can't see any self-respecting Dom acting like that and it was just too much for me.

Although I didn't enjoy Owned by Fate as much as I expected to I do still have hope for the series and have bought the next book because I like Caroline's brother Oliver and her friend Eliza. Since my main problem with this book was the fact I hated Caroline I'm hoping I'll have more luck with those two! I know I'm actually in the minority not liking this book so don't let me put you off giving it a go. The sex scenes are hot, the dirty talk is great and if you can ignore the judgemental heroine you'll probably enjoy this much more than I did.

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:

Who is your favourite Dirty Talking Hero? Visit Under the Covers to vote for your favourite book boyfriends in their Burning Up July event!

The fabulous Under the Covers Book Blog is currently celebrating summer by hosting BURNING UP JULY where they're showcasing some of their favourite book boyfriends and asking readers to vote for their favourites in several different categories.

They asked lots of different bloggers to take part so in case you missed it yesterday I thought I'd write a quick post directing you to my guest appearance where I was raving about one of my favourite dirty talking heroes Matt from Staking His Claim by Tessa Bailey.

Tessa always writes such fabulous heroes and they are some of the best dirty talkers I've come across but Matt is my absolute favourite of her characters and he is one super hot dominant alpha both in and out of the bedroom!

Have a look at my fantasy casting for Matt and see if it encourages you to head on over to Under the Covers and find out a little more about him!

My Fantasy Casting for Matt
(Sorry but I don't know who this model is, if anyone can help me out with that please
leave a comment because I'd love to be able to google more pics of him LOL)

The Under the Covers team will be posting about a few more of their favourite heroes for the Best Dirty Talker category over the next couple of days so make sure you keep checking back to meet Matt's competition! Once all of the heroes have been posted they'll be opening up a giveaway where you'll be all given the chance to vote for your favourite.

Two other categories are already complete and the giveaways are already open and waiting for your votes so don't miss out on your chance to win prizes.

Ultimate Dom Nominees:
Alexander Devries from Edge of the Enforcer by Cherise Sinclair
Ronin Black from The Mastered Series by Lorelei James
Soren from The Original Sinners Series by Tiffany Reisz

Soren is getting my vote in this category!

Ultimate Book Boyfriend Nominees:
Sevastyan from The Professional by Kresley Cole
Dex Foray from The Experiment in Terror Series by Karina Hale
Landon Lucas Maxfield from Breakable by Tammara Webber

I haven't had a chance to read Breakable yet but I LOVED Lucas in Easy so he definitely gets my vote (even though I'm rather partial to Sevastyan too LOL).

Best Dirty Talker Nominees:
Matt Donovan from Staking His Claim by Tessa Bailey
Other nominees to be added over the next couple of days

Of course Matt will be getting my vote in this category - I am his champion after all!

Review: Baiting the Maid of Honor - Tessa Bailey

He’ll own her from the very first touch.

Julie Piper and Reed Lawson have nothing in common. She’s a people-pleasing sorority girl hiding behind her perfect mask. He’s a take-no-prisoners SWAT commander who isolates himself from the world. But when they’re forced together at their friends’ posh destination wedding, one thing is clear—Reed wants Julie more than he wants his next breath. Which is why he’s not about to stand by when she’s dared to seduce another man.

Julie wants neat, tidy sex, so she could get back to what she does best—making everybody else happy. She never expected to slip into a dark bedroom and have her mind blown by rough, demanding hands, and a sinfully filthy mouth—neither of which belong to the best man.

One night should have been all Reed needed to get the blond temptress out of his system, but when one taste is nowhere near enough, he’ll be forced confront the effects of his hellish past. One that may push Julie away forever...just when he realizes he can't live without her.

Wedding Dare Series:
Dare to Resist - Laura Kaye
Falling for the Groomsmen - Diane Alberts
Baiting the Maid of Honor - Tessa Bailey
Seducing the Bridesmaid - Katee Robert
Best Man with Benefits - Samanthe Beck

Visit Tessa Bailey's website for more information.

Review:
Julie spends her whole life trying to please other people and she never puts herself first. The idea of having a holiday fling appeals to her but she is so busy helping organise activities for the wedding guests that she doesn't have much time for a man. Reed is everything Julie shouldn't want in a guy, he's dark and dangerous and should have her running in the opposite direction but there is something about him that she just can't resist. SWAT officer Reed is used to getting what he wants and he's set his sights on Julie, what starts as one night of incredible sex turns into much more when he sees the vulnerable woman underneath the people pleasing exterior. Reed wants to be the one who takes care of Julie but will she let her guard down long enough to let him in?

Baiting the Maid of Honor is part of the Wedding Dare multi-author series which has been written by five of my favourite Brazen authors. The prequel novella, Dare to Resist by Laura Kaye, sets the scene for the rest of the series and introduces us to the original couple Kady and Colton. Each of the following novels, written by Diane Alberts, Tessa Bailey, Katee Robert and Samanthe Beck, follow the same time line and take place at Kady and Colton's wedding. Each book features a different bridesmaid and sees the four of them daring each other to find a hot groomsman to have fun with for the duration of the wedding. Although the series doesn't have to be read in order I would recommend at least starting with the prequel novella before you go on to read the remaining stories in any order that takes your fancy. There is a crossover of characters and you'll see certain conversations between the friends from several different angles throughout the series and I've really enjoyed seeing how cleverly all of the books have been tied together. Baiting the Maid of Honor by Tessa Bailey is the third story in the series following Dare to Resist and Falling for the Groomsman.

I'm a big fan of Tessa Bailey's dirty talking alpha heroes and Reed is no exception to that, in fact he has a mouth that could melt the panties off of any woman under the age of 100! He's a very easy guy to like and I enjoyed seeing him push Julie's buttons and getting her all riled up. As much as he pushes her I also loved that he is so caring towards her. Her friends tend to take advantage of her need to be helpful and nobody ever seems to offer to take some of her burdens off of her shoulders until Reed comes along. I was actually annoyed at times with the way her friends treated her so it was good to see Reed shake things up a bit.

As much as I loved Reed I do worry that Tessa Bailey is at risk of falling into a bit of a rut with her heroes, they are all cops with very dirty mouths who love to get down and dirty and if you've read any of her Line of Duty series you'll recognise that Reed would fit right in with all of her previous characters (I actually wondered for a moment if we'd already met him but after doing a name search on my kindle I can't find him in the other series). Her stories are all well written and incredibly sexy but I would love to see her write about a different kind of guy for a change. Don't let that put you off Baiting the Maid of Honor though because I've been really enjoying this whole series and if you've liked any of this author's other books then I'm sure you'll love this one just as much.

Source: Received from Entangled Publishing 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.

Kindle:

Blog Tour: Wedding Dare Multi-Author Series (+ International Giveaway)

I'm thrilled to be taking part in the blog tour to celebrate the release of the multi-author Wedding Dare series. I already posted my review of the prequel novella Dare to Resist by Laura Kaye (you can read it here) but my reviews for the remaining four stories will be going up throughout the day today so make sure you keep checking back to read them!

In this post I wanted to give you a little extra information for all of the stories and share the book trailer and the fantastic giveaway that the authors have put together for you.

Dare to Resist by Laura Kaye

Trapped and tempted, this battle of wills rages all night long…

Kady Dresco and Colton Brooks click on a level that defies logic. There are only two problems. One, he’s her older brother’s irritating best friend, and two, they're bidding on the same military security services contract.

When the competition heats up, Colton is torn between wanting to strangle Kady (and her annoying brilliance) and kissing her into submission. Which is a bad idea for a million reasons, because Kady’s submission is exactly what he craves. Being trapped in a tiny motel room with the object of his darkest fantasies will require every ounce of his restraint.

Kady doesn’t want his restraint, but Colton knows better. She deserves love, marriage, and a white picket fence—three things Colton can’t give her. But her proximity and the memory of their steamy near-miss three years ago slowly destroys his resolve. And he’s not sure how much longer he can keep his hands off…or his heart closed.

Find Laura Online

* Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Newsletter *

Falling for the Groomsman by Diane Alberts

She’s the one that got away. He’s the one she can’t forget.

Photojournalist Christine Forsythe is ready to tackle her naughty little to-do list, and who better to tap for the job than a hot groomsman? But when she crashes into her best friend’s older brother, Christine realizes her list needs updating. And fast. Tyler Dresco took her virginity during the best night of her life, then bolted. Now that they’re trapped together at a destination wedding, she’s going to get her revenge.

Tyler has never forgiven himself for how completely he lost control all those years ago. Being in Christine’s arms had felt right...until he realized what he’d taken from her in the hallway of a cheap motel. And oh, how she’s making him pay for it now. The insatiable heat between them has only grown stronger, but every time things heat up, Christine walks away.

With every encounter, things go a little bit further until Christine’s caught in her own trap of seduction. And before their time’s up, Tyler’s not the only one wanting more...

Find Diane Online

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Baiting the Maid of Honor by Tessa Bailey

He’ll own her from the very first touch.

Julie Piper and Reed Lawson have nothing in common. She’s a people-pleasing sorority girl hiding behind her perfect mask. He’s a take-no-prisoners SWAT commander who isolates himself from the world. But when they’re forced together at their friends’ posh destination wedding, one thing is clear—Reed wants Julie more than he wants his next breath. Which is why he’s not about to stand by when she’s dared to seduce another man.

Julie wants neat, tidy sex, so she could get back to what she does best—making everybody else happy. She never expected to slip into a dark bedroom and have her mind blown by rough, demanding hands, and a sinfully filthy mouth—neither of which belong to the best man.

One night should have been all Reed needed to get the blond temptress out of his system, but when one taste is nowhere near enough, he’ll be forced confront the effects of his hellish past. One that may push Julie away forever...just when he realizes he can't live without her.

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Seducing the Bridesmaid by Katee Robert

She has a plan. He’s about to change it.

Regan Wakefield is a headhunter in both name and personality: driven, motivated, and unafraid to pursue what—and who—she wants. Naturally, she’s thrilled when her friend's wedding offers her an opportunity to score Logan McCade, the practically perfect best man. Unfortunately, groomsman Brock McNeil keeps getting in her way, riling her up in the most delicious of ways. But Brock’s smooth southern charm isn't part of the plan...so how exactly did they end up having searing-hot sex?

Regan may pretend the erotic electricity sparking between them is merely a distraction, but Brock knows better. She refuses to see beyond the devil-may-care façade he presents to the world, while he sees straight through hers. Changing her mind—and getting under her skin—is a challenge he can’t resist. And when he wins, Brock will do whatever it takes to convince Regan that the best man for her is him.

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Best Man with Benefits by Samanthe Beck

How far can one favor go...

Logan McCade arrives at his best friend’s wedding overworked and in desperate need of a vacation, only to discover his best man duties have been...expanded. He must coax Colton’s sister out of her shell, or risk her hiding in her room all week. Logan figures he can handle one introverted bridesmaid, but he’s not expecting how much he enjoys “handling” Sophie…or how much she enjoys being handled.

Socializing has never been web designer Sophie Brooks’s strong suit, but she’s determined to shed her wallflower image and embrace the “New Sophie”—a feat made easier with the supremely sexy Logan McCade tempting her to explore all her forbidden fantasies. If she’s not careful, she just might fall for the best man.

Sophie’s sweet, sexy, and delectably awkward demeanor brings much-needed calm to Logan’s hectic life. With the nuptials only days away, Logan is forced to face the possibility that his favor to a friend might have become something else entirely…and that he’s not willing to let Sophie go. Ever.

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Introducing Brazen's June 9th releases:

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1 Wedding--4 Hot Stories

When four bridesmaids dare one another to find lust—or maybe even love—at the destination wedding event of the year, the groomsmen don’t stand a chance. But little do the women know, the men are onto their game, and sparks will fly alongside the bouquet.



Four bridesmaids. Four groomsmen. Five New York Timesand USA TODAY bestselling authors. Long-carried torches, sizzling new attractions, and forbidden conquests will ensure a wedding never to be forgotten.

She's the one that got away.
He's the one she can't forget.



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the very first touch.



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She has a plan.
He's about to change it. 



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How far can

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Review: Unfixable - Tessa Bailey

He’s the last thing she wants...but the only thing she needs.

Willa Peet isn’t interested in love. She’s been there, done that, and has the shattered heart to prove it. Ready to shake the breakup, she heads to Dublin, Ireland. But there’s a problem. A dark-haired, blue-eyed problem with a bad attitude that rivals her own. And he’s not doling out friendly Irish welcomes.

Shane Claymore just wants to race. The death of his father forced him off the Formula One circuit, but he’s only staying in Dublin long enough to sell the Claymore Inn and get things in order for his mother and younger sister. He never expected the sarcastic American girl staying at the inn to make him question everything.

But even as Willa and Shane’s fiery natures draw them together, their pasts threaten to rip them apart. Can Shane give up racing to be with the woman he loves, or will Willa’s quest to resurrect the tough-talking, no-shit-taking girl she used to be destroy any hope of a future together?

Related Stories:
Willa's character previously appeared in the first two stories of Tessa Bailey's Line of Duty series (Protecting What's His and Protecting What's Theirs).

Line of Duty Series:
Protecting What's His
Protecting What's Theirs (Novella in the Lovers Unmasked anthology)
His Risk to Take
Officer Off Limits
Asking for Trouble
Staking His Claim

Visit Tessa Bailey's website for more information.

Review:
Unfixable is Tessa Bailey's first new adult novel but I'm not sure if it is the start of a new series. If you have read her adult contemporary Line of Duty series then you'll already be familiar with our heroine Willa though. Willa is the younger sister of Ginger and she was a side character in the novel Protecting What's His and the novella Protecting What's Theirs. I loved Willa's character before so I was really excited to find out that she was getting a book of her own and I couldn't wait to read Unfixable.

Willa has just split up with her first boyfriend and she just wants to get away from it all. She spent the last 2 years trying to change into something she wasn't to keep her ex happy and she doesn't really know who she is any more. The timing couldn't have been better for winning a trip to Ireland in photography contest and she's looking forward to spending some time on her own and rediscovering herself. The last thing she is looking for is a fling but meeting Shane may test her resolve more than she expects. Shane is a Formula One race driver who has been forced to take a break from his dream job to help at his family's Inn after the death of his father. His plan is to sell the Inn as quickly as possible and get back to his life on the race track so his attraction to Willa takes him completely by surprise and isn't exactly something he's thrilled about. As they embark on a reluctant fling will their hearts get in the way of their dreams or will they discover something new to be passionate about?

Considering how much I already loved Willa from her previous appearances I had high hopes for this book but while I liked it I found I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected to. There are certainly some sweet moments between Willa and Shane but I actually found I enjoyed her interactions with his mother and sister more. Willa came across as quite self involved and hard edged in the beginning of the book, she's much more prickly than I thought she would be and the way she was so determined to keep everyone at arms length made me find it difficult to believe Shane would be so interested in her. It took me a long time to warm up to her character and I think that because we don't get to see things from Shane's point of view I just struggled to feel his connection to her. I really wanted to get inside his head and know what he was thinking.

The beginning of the story was quite slow and whenever I had to put my kindle down I didn't feel particularly inspired to pick it back up again. The story was nice enough when I was reading but I didn't have that compelling, addicted feeling towards it that makes a book unforgettable. The pace picks up nicely towards the end though and I found myself really enjoying the last few chapters. I also loved getting a glimpse into how Ginger and Derek are getting on a few months down the line from the end of their book, there are some really sweet scenes with them and Willa that made me smile.

Although Unfixable wasn't my favourite of Tessa Bailey's books it was still a likeable read and worth investing a couple of hours into reading, especially if you've read the previous books with Willa and want to see how things turn out for her. I'm a huge fan of this author's other series so I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for anything new she writes in the future.

Source: Received from Entangled Publishing 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.

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Review: Staking His Claim - Tessa Bailey

He wants her. All of her.

NYPD sniper Matt Donovan is in Hell. Instead of driving his best friend’s little sister home from college, he’s stuck with her roommate—a fresh-faced ray-of-sunshine with a body that makes grown men weep. There’s no way he’ll allow himself to taint the little vixen, no matter how hard she tries to tempt him, so he resigns himself to the longest—and hardest—drive of his life.

Matt’s obvious attraction suits grad student Lucy Mason just fine. She had no idea her brother’s best friend was so deliciously hot. Knowing he’d never have his wicked way with his buddy’s sister, she lies about her identity and seduces him. But Matt’s no fumbling college boy. His desires run deep—and dark—and he wants to teach Lucy what wicked really means.

Matt’s demanding appetites only make Lucy want more. But when her cover's blown, he’s furious—even as his hunger for her becomes insatiable. Matt can’t trust anyone, least of all himself. And he knows all too well that darkness always destroys the light…

Line of Duty Series:
Protecting What's His
Protecting What's Theirs (Novella in the Lovers Unmasked anthology)
His Risk to Take
Officer Off Limits
Asking for Trouble
Staking His Claim

Related Stories:
Unfixable (Standalone NA story featuring Ginger's sister Willa who originally appears in Protecting What's His and Protecting What's Theirs)
Riskier Business (Prequel to the new Crossing the Lines series which stars Ruby and Troy from His Risk to Take)

Visit Tessa Bailey's website for more information.

Review:
This series has just been getting better with every instalment and Tessa Bailey ends it on a high note with Staking His Claim which is my new favourite. All of these books have been scorching hot but I think Matt would have to be the sexiest hero yet, he's one dominant alpha male who knows exactly what he wants in the bedroom and Lucy has no problem helping him fulfil his wildest fantasies!

We've already met Matt through his friendship with Brent and Daniel but he's always been a bit of a closed book, very much the strong and silent type, so we didn't know a great deal about him before now and I was looking forward to learning more. It's obvious that he has inner demons and he's very ashamed of his sexual desires believing that his tastes are too dark for any nice girl to be interested in a relationship with him. Considering what had happened in his past I could understand why he felt that way but in actual fact he isn't the darkest hero I've read about by a long shot! He likes to include a little spanking and bondage in his sex life but I didn't find his desires particularly dark or scary and Lucy certainly wasn't turned off by them. I think I'd actually have enjoyed seeing him and Lucy explore this side of their relationship even further but that isn't to say that their sex scenes were disappointing because they were some of the hottest we've had in the series so far.

Lucy is very different to Matt, she's very carefree, adventurous and more than a little wild, She has hidden her impulsive side throughout college but now she wants to have a little fun while she looks for a full time job. When she meets Matt she is instantly attracted to him but from everything she knows about her brother's best friend she understands he'd never look twice at her thanks to the man code. Determined to get a taste of him she pretends to be someone else and sets out to seduce him without any real idea of what she's about to get into. This pair don't have an easy start to their relationship, starting off on lies and then keeping things secret from Brent adds a lot of pressure on them but thankfully they are able to work things out eventually.

I don't want to say too much more so I'll just say that fans of this series are going to love this latest instalment. It has all the steam and dirty talk of the earlier books plus a little extra spice and ends the series on a real high note. Tessa Bailey is definitely on my must read authors list and I'm looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

Source: Received from Entangled Publishing 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.

Kindle:

Brazen Book Blast (+ International Giveaway!)

If you like your heroes hot, the sex hotter, and a swoon-worthy romance to swoop in and save your happily ever after, Brazen has the story for you. Sinfully sexy soldiers. Alpha cops who demand control. Sweet guys with a naughty side in the bedroom. At Brazen, they've got the hero destined to melt your... heart. Visit the Entangled website, the Brazen Blog, follow them on Twitter, Like their Facebook page, and follow them on Pinterest.

Introducing Brazen's Feb 3rd releases:

She thought she'd sworn off military men for good...



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He wants her. 

All of her.



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Review: Asking for Trouble - Tessa Bailey

Brent Mason and Hayden Winstead can't stand each other. She plans exclusive parties for her rich familys charities. He's a rough and tumble cop who rigs explosives for a living. Could two people be any less suited for conversation? They think not and prefer to keep it that way.

Unfortunately, their two best friends are deeply, disgustingly in love. Forced together, the mutual attraction simmering beneath the surface of Brent and Hayden's non-relationship grows with every argument until it explodes into a scintillating night of mind-blowing sex. And it wont be the last, as far as Brent's concerned.

Hayden has a secret, though. Her father's company is relying on a merger to save them from financial ruin, and only Hayden's marriage to the CEOs wealthy son can secure the deal. If she's to protect her family, she'll have to forget Brent. And he has no intention of being forgotten.

Line of Duty Series:
Protecting What's His
Protecting What's Theirs (Novella in the Lovers Unmasked anthology)
His Risk to Take
Officer Off Limits
Asking for Trouble
Staking His Claim

Related Stories:
Unfixable (Standalone NA story featuring Ginger's sister Willa who originally appears in Protecting What's His and Protecting What's Theirs)
Riskier Business (Prequel to the new Crossing the Lines series which stars Ruby and Troy from His Risk to Take)

Visit Tessa Bailey's website for more information.

Review:
Once again Tessa Bailey has written a fabulous romance and given me new favourite in the Line of Duty series. We had already met both Brent and Hayden in the previous book and having seen how much they love to hate each other I just knew that their chemistry would be off the charts! I'm glad I can say that I wasn't disappointed. In a lot of ways these characters are complete opposites but that is what makes them work so well together.

Hayden is a rich society daughter who seems to have it all, she spends her time planning parties to raise money for charity and it looks like she doesn't have a care in the world - that is what Brent thinks of her anyway. It doesn't take long for us to realise how much pressure she is under though, her mother has to be one of the most selfish characters I've come across in a while and I hated the way she treated Hayden and put pressure on her to marry a wealthy man who would invest in her father's failing business. From first glance you might think that Hayden is stuck up and has had everything handed to her but she actually works really hard at fundraising and she spends a lot of time volunteering with a charity that is very close to her heart. She has always dreamed of marrying for love but she feels that she owes it to her father to help him in his time of need.

Brent comes from a very different background to Hayden, his family has never had much money but he is a proud man who works two jobs to help support his siblings. He has a bit of a chip on his shoulder about the fact that Hayden seems to have it so easy, he resents what he thinks she is and it takes him a while to realise that his opinion about her was completely wrong. As much as the two of them always manage to rub each other up the wrong way neither of them can deny the attraction that burns between them and when they've given in to that attraction once they just can't seem to stop themselves from going back for more. I loved the push and pull between them as they fought over who was more dominant. Hayden likes to take control in the bedroom but really you can tell that Brent is the one who is in charge. He encourages her to let her wild side out though and just like all of Tessa Bailey's heroes he excels at scorching hot dirty talk! I think these two have some of the hottest scenes from the series and trust me that's saying something.

Asking for Trouble really was a fantastic instalment in the series and it's left me eager to get started on the final book Staking His Claim which is about Brent's younger sister Lucy and his best friend Matt. I have a feeling that big brother isn't going to be happy about this match and I can't wait to see the sparks fly!

Source: Received from Entangled Publishing 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.

Kindle: