Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Blog tour: Evidence of Desire (Courting Justice #2) by Lexi Blake


















A fast-paced contemporary romance that sizzles from the New York Times bestselling author of Order of Protection where passion for the aw isn't the only thing heating up the courtroom. Isla Shayne knows she's in over her head. As former all-star linebacker Trey Adams's personal lawyer, she's used to handling his business dealings and private financial matters, not murder charges. She needs to find an experienced criminal attorney who speaks her client's language. David Cormack of Garrison, Cormack and Lawless is exactly what she needs in the courtroom—and the only man she wants in the bedroom. For David, taking on the Adams case means diving back into a world he thought he'd left behind and colliding head on with tragic possibilities he's in no mood to face. There's a reason professional football is in his past and no matter how close Isla gets to the truth he intends to leave it there. But long days working on the case together lead to hot nights in each other's arms. As their feelings grow, the case takes a deadly twist that could change the game between the two lovers forever.

Amazon | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | GooglePlay


Review:

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Evidence of Desire was a book that got me hooked from the first page. I was wondering who killed Trey's wife and I really didn't want him to be the killer. That particular plotline was written very well and I would have never guessed anything of what was revealed to us. The ending to that story was satisfying enough, but there is one spot that's bitter and once you read it, you will understand why I am saying that. Mostly though, it was a good end and I liked that a lot of people got something good out of it.

Does anybody else think that Margarita is going to be Noah's lady? I think that we were teased about them in a subtle way. I can't wait to see how Noah will be tamed since he is such a wild playboy. His book is going to be next and I am really looking forward to that.

The author did an amazing job at introducing us and explaining what CTE is. It made me question some stuff and it made me realize that not everything is as good as it seems and may cause long term problems when it comes to athletes (other than the obvious and already known problems). This was a dark side of the book that I wasn't expecting. The hero, David, is haunted by that and his fathers Alzheimers and we see him struggle with wanting a future with Isla and not wanting to make her go through what Porcia and his mother did. It was a very human reaction and it made sympathize with him, even when I wanted to call him doufus and tell him to get the girl.

And speaking of said, girl, I have to say that she was one of my favorites. She stood on her ground, was professional when I would have lost it and she fought for the truth, justice and the man she loves. What more can I ask from a heroine? She is one of the book's strong points and one of the reasons you should read this book.




        

Isla couldn’t believe she was doing this, but the minute she got a good look at David Cormack without his suit on she knew there was no going back. She’d been ready to make a pot of tea and wait for him to come out of the shower when Erin Taggart had appeared in the kitchen. “Not jumping his bones, then?” she’d asked as she dragged a bottle of water out of the fridge. “He wants to take it slow.” She was aware of how disappointed she’d sounded. “No man who looks at a woman the way that one looks at you wants to take things slow. He’s scared you’re too good for him or something stupid like that,” she said. “I should know. I held off my gorgeous hottie for way too long because he was a tiny bit younger than me. Don’t waste time. Take command. And then when he’s all in, give that control up. That always works for me. ’Night.” There was something in the way the redhead smiled, something intimate and soft. Something Isla wanted for herself again. She’d had it as a girl with Austin. She wanted to know how it felt to have that connection as a woman. So she’d made the decision. Maybe for the first time in her life, she’d genuinely made the decision to be brave, to go after what she wanted with a singular purpose, to put herself out there and see if she was bait enough to catch the one fish she wanted. Though first she needed some fishing gear. According to Noah, that was in the nightstand drawer. She’d stepped in and taken off her clothes. All in. Just like a poker game. If he refused to play, she would be devastated and potentially never be able to face the man again, but she’d felt almost compelled to undress and walk to the entry of that sexy natural stone shower. She’d stood there and looked, really looked at David Cormack. He’d been turned away from her, his back on full display. He was beautifully male, his muscles defined by years of athleticism. His back was strong, his butt practically perfect, and he was held up with strong legs. But his head hung low and she could swear she felt how lonely he was. She hadn’t realized how lonely she was until she’d met him. “David?” He started, every muscle tensing, and then he turned, though he mostly moved his torso as though trying to keep his private parts private. His eyes latched onto her, but he didn’t say a word. Oh, she wanted to run. He was far too gorgeous. She wasn’t in his league. She knew she was attractive, but she wasn’t even close to being in the same condition he was in. He’d been an elite athlete and he’d obviously never stopped working out. She could stand to lose a few pounds. And if those pounds and the roundness of her hips ran him off, then so be it. She was done sitting around and hoping she got what she wanted. At least she would know. “I don’t want to go slow.” For a second, she was almost sure he would tell her to go. Then he turned and he was standing there in his full glory, as though let- ting her see what he had to offer. When she simply stared, he crossed the space between them and, without a word, his hands cupped her face and his mouth was on hers. The minute they touched, something sparked to life inside her, something wild she’d never felt before. It seemed to start in her toes, making them curl as the sensation rushed through her system. Heat and anticipation and pure joy. It had been forever since a man kissed her like this. Maybe never. The only thing that compared was the sweet high school fumbling between her and Austin. He’d been eager, but he had no idea what he was doing. David Cormack knew how to kiss. He mastered her mouth with his, soft when he needed to be and then rough, sending a thrill through her system that burned a path straight to her pussy. He brushed his lips against hers and then zeroed in on her lower lip, biting gently and sucking briefly before another soft kiss allowed her to breathe again. And then when she was ready to beg, his tongue surged in, rubbing soft velvet against her own. “Tell me you’re sure,” he said against her mouth as his hands moved down. “I’m sure,” she replied with a breathy whisper. He could throw her up against the side of the shower and take her then and there and she would be perfectly satisfied. “Because there’s no going back. I’ve been a good boy up until this point. I’ve been civilized, Isla. I’ve played the gentleman around you, but if you let me in, I’ll invade and you’ll see the real man under- neath the suit. I’ll be demanding and overly protective and I’ll want you every fucking minute of the day.” And that was bad, how? She’d been on the outside looking in for so long, the idea of being someone’s center, being the person for him, made her heart ache with longing. “Please touch me, David. I want the real you, every dirty, possessive part of you.” His hands found her hips and he dragged her against him, their bodies coming together for the first time. He was warm, his skin soft over the steel of his muscular body. She took a moment, letting her arms wrap around him, her breasts against his chest, that hard erection of his cradled to her belly. This was sweet intimacy. Yes, it would lead to something wild, but for a moment she basked in the comfort of another body against hers. He stepped back, taking her with him and bringing them into the warmth of the shower. He seemed to understand she needed a moment, and he followed her lead perfectly. One hand held her to him while the other smoothed back her now-wet hair as he brushed light kisses over her forehead and down to her nose, lavishing her with affection she’d been starved without. He stood like that with her, learning her body with his hands and mouth. “See,” he said with the sexiest chuckle as he leaned over and ran his tongue along the shell of her ear. “We’re still taking it slow. I could do this for hours and I haven’t even gotten to your tasty parts yet. You’re sweet, Isla. I could eat you up. Are you going to let me eat you up?” She nodded. One hand tangled in her hair, gently drawing her back and forc- ing her to look up at him. His eyes were hot, his jaw tight with arousal. “Talk to me. I won’t let you disconnect from me when we’re intimate. Tell me. ‘‘Yes, David, I want you to eat me up.’” “Yes, David. I want you to eat me up.”

        

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Release Blitz: Raw: Rebirth (RAW Family #3) by Belle Aurora





Title: RAW: Rebirth
Series: RAW Family #3
Author: Belle Aurora
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: January 2, 2019



Blurb

It had been six years since my world was turned upside down.
He exposed me to the darker side of life and I could never go back to the person I was.
I had been through more things the average person couldn’t even relate to.

If I had the chance to go back and do things differently though?
Not a chance.

I’d pick him a thousand times. A million times. For eternity.

I guess not much has changed.

My name is Alexa Ballentine, and I am still in love with my stalker.







Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N: http://bit.ly/2LKNjqn
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2SE8Qn2
Apple Books: Coming Soon


Review:

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Raw: Rebirth kept me on the edge of my seat. It also made me turn page after page for a lot of reasons. I wanted to see Twitch revealing that he is alive and reuniting with Lexi. Then, I wanted to see Twitch making it up for lying to Lexi and then the action came, so basically, I was rushing through the book because I kept wanting to see what was happening next like crazy. I also want to read the stories of a couple of secondary characters, like Molly for example. I have to say that this book is one of the best books I have read this year. It's not your everyday romance and I want the readers to know that. It's on the dark side of romance and not fr everyone. It also has some D/s elements that might not be everyone's cup of tea. Some parts could be over the top, but I liked every single part of the book. I am one of the lucky people who didn't read Raw (book #1) back in 2014 because I don't know how I could wait almost 5 years to see Lexi and Twitch get a happy ending. This book is not a stand-alone and I recommend reading at least the first book in the series and if you also want the second one too because it was also good. This book is certainly a winner. 






Also Available


AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited



AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
B&N



Author Bio

Belle Aurora is thirty-something year old and was born in the land down under.
At an early age she fell in love with reading. Boredom one summer had her scouring the bookshelves at home. She stumbled across Sandra Brown’s Breath of Scandal and fell in love with romance.
Having been brought up in a loud and boisterous family of Croatian descent, she developed a natural love for dramatics and laughter. Only some years ago had she discovered a new love.
Humorous romance novels.
So many authors had opened a brand new world where she could lose herself yet feel safe and at home in their stories. Belle has been known to become a screeching banshee while anxiously awaiting their newest titles.
Belle never thought she would write. It had never interested her until recently. Friend-Zoned began to form and in February this year Belle typed the words Chapter One. And she fell in love.
With words.
With writing.
With a creative imagination she never knew she harbored.


Belle Aurora is a USA Today best-selling author.



Author Links

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Release Day Launch +Review: 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Four by Carrie Ann Ryan, Heather Graham, Kristen Proby, Cherise Sinclair, K.L. Grayson, Mari Carr


 

Bundle Four - RDL bannerWe are absolutely thrilled to bring you the Release Day Launch for 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Four! 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Four is brought to you by 1001 Dark Nights. The Bundle contains 6 novellas, including 2 novellas from 1001 Dark Nights Discovery Authors, K.L. Grayson and Mari Carr! This is one hot bundle. Grab your copy today!

Bundle Four - cover

About 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Four:

From New York Times and USA Today Bestselling authors Carrie Ann Ryan, Heather Graham, Kristen Proby, and Cherise Sinclair, and introducing K. L. Grayson and Mari Carr…

Six Dark Tales. Six Sensual Stories. Six Page Turners.

Every Dark Nights tale is breathtakingly sexy and magically romantic.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU


Review:

WICKED WOLF: I find funny the fact that the first novel I read in the Redwood pack series happens to be the last one. All the others are still on my TBR list. The novella serves as a link between the Redwood and the talon pack series. After reading it, I am a little more motivated about starting the series. I am giving 3.5 stars to the wicked wolf because it had so much potential that wasn't used as it should have been. The length of the novella is at fault here. I knew the author cannot do miracles, but I really wanted to see Gina developing a bond with Jesse and how her relationship with Quinn got evolved. I guess I will see that when I read the first book in the talon series. I would recommend the novella because it truly can be read as a stand alone title. I didn't have a problem understanding what was going on in this universe even though I hadn't read a book in the series before.


WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING: This is another new series to me. I wasn't even remotely familiar with the setting of the story and this time I had a little problem getting into the story. After the first, maybe even the second chapter I got over that problem though, and things got easier for me since the author managed to draw me into the events of the novella. I will be adding the first two books of the series on my TBR pile in order to give the rest of the books a chance. The MC might be on their honeymoon, but the romance is barely there. Almost all of the book is about finding who is behind the murders, which is not a bad thing. I don't want to spoil anything but the end reminded me of the usual ending of a Scooby Doo episode.


MASTER OF FREEDOM: Again Cherise Sinclair delivered an amazing book. I have read all the books in the series with the exception of Edge of the enforcer and I found Master of Freedom the most action packed book in the series. Gin's work at the prison and her interaction with the inmates reminded me of Prison Break, one of my favorite TV shows.

The only problem I had with the book was the realization that all the heroines in the series have a past that is an obstacle to their relationships with their guys and it makes them feel insecure or feel bad for themselves. It's mostly an observation that I find a little cliche. 

I liked how the author named a couple of authors who write BDSM novels and promoting them in this way and she didn't include herself (though if you have read one of her books, you will know that she doesn't need any self promo). I applaud that because I hate when the X author says: "X is such a talented author!" and things like that.

Seeing the characters from the previous novels in Master of Freedom is great. I loved seeing how they are doing after they get their happy endings. Becca and Logan have their baby and the others are so happy and in love and I love seeing them like that.

I fell in love with Sawyer, Atticu's brother. He is a great guy and I would advise you to not let yourself judge him for a mistake she made, hear him out first. Something that happened to him made me pause my reading and take a minute to digest what happened to him. That hasn't happened to me in a long time. Usually I continue my reading without a problem, but this time I stopped. That meant that I had not only liked Sawayer, but that I loved him, I really hope he will get a happy ending. 


LIVE WITHOUT REGRET: This story had of one of the most entertaining twists I ever saw coming. It was cleverly crafted. I liked how the author staged it. I couldn't understand what happened to our heroine since I haven't read the previous books where I am sure is mentioned and she does not say a thing about it other than the fact that she was deeply hurt.  The insta lust is there and some of you might not like it but I did. I am also waiting for Logan's book which I hope will be released one day. If I had to choose between this length for the book or a little bit longer I would have gone with the second option.


OFF LIMITS: Guess who added the three previous books of the series on their TBR list! Yeah, it was me. I have been a fan of Mari Carr since the first book I read by her. I like how she manages to give me my fill of romance in such a tiny packet every single time. The only way this one could have been better is if Lacy had found some way to make Logan insanely jealous. The BDSM stuff is light but very hot and enjoyable. I might not understand completely why Logan had a change of heart, but it worked for me and I won't question it further. What I loved the most though were the flashbacks. I couldn't understand why their order was from the most recent to the oldest, but everything made sense when I read the last one. That last one flashback was enough to make me say that this is my favorite story in the bundle.


Experience the 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Four Here…

Bundlemania graphic - Wicked Wolf

  WICKED WOLF by Carrie Ann Ryan Gina Eaton has always known fate can be tricky, but when she finds the one man that could be her mate, she might throw caution to the wind. Quinn Weston puts his whole being into two things: the safety of his Pack and his son. When the two Alphas put Gina and Quinn together to find a way to ensure their treaties remain strong, fate has a plan of its own.

  

Bundlemania graphic - GrahamWHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING by Heather Graham Devin Lyle and Craig Rockwell are back, this time to a haunted castle in Ireland where a banshee may have gone wild—or maybe there's a much more rational explanation—one that involves a disgruntled heir, murder, and mayhem.

bundlemania -Proby graphic 











  EASY WITH YOU by Kristin Proby With a murderer terrorizing the Tulane University campus, Asher Smith finds himself toe-to-toe with the one woman that haunts his dreams. Lila Bailey has fought for every good thing in her life during every day of her thirty-one years. Aside from that one night with an impossible to deny stranger a year ago, Lila is the epitome of responsible. When some of her female students are viciously murdered, Lila’s shaken to the core. But when Lila becomes the target, can Asher save her in time?







Sinclair - bundlemania graphic    MASTER OF FREEDOM by Cherise Sinclair Detective Atticus Ware needs a woman to give her heart as well as her body. When Virginia Cunningham is invited to observe BDSM classes on a wilderness camping trip, she’s shocked—her fiancé had insisted BDSM was a fabrication to sell books. But when Atticus lures her into participating, she learns submission under the hands of a powerful Dom is beyond anything she’d imagined.









L.O.V.E. bundlemania graphic  LIVE WITHOUT REGRET: L.O.V.E. by K. L. Grayson How can those four letters cause so much pain? Everyone talks about how great love is, with all the flowers and the butterflies, but that wasn’t my experience at all. Love wasn’t something I wanted or even needed. But then Connor Jackson came into my life.


  OFF LIMITS by Mari Carr
bundlemania graphic According to the bro code, enacted by Evan Sparks and Logan Grady years ago, sisters are out. However, Lacy Sparks isn’t about to let a silly boyhood pact stand between her and the man she’s wanted for nearly twenty years. She’s waited long enough. Logan thinks she’s too sweet to give him what he needs. He’s about to learn as far as Lacy’s concerned, in bed or out, nothing is off-limits.     Header 1001 Dark Nights

About the 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Four Authors:

Carrie Anne Ryan - author picCarrie Ann Ryan: New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan never thought she’d be a writer. Not really. No, she loved math and science and even went on to graduate school in chemistry. Yes, she read as a kid and devoured teen fiction and Harry Potter, but it wasn’t until someone handed her a romance book in her late teens that she realized that there was something out there just for her. When another author suggested she use the voices in her head for good and not evil, The Redwood Pack and all her other stories were born. Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind (and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon. Visit Carrie Ann’s website and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Heather Graham - author pic  Heather Graham: New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham has always been an avid reader, from classics to sci-fi, mystery, horror, thriller, romance, and all kinds of non-fiction. She’s fairly certain that her mom’s deliciously crazy family–arriving in the US a bit before her birth from Ireland–gave her the love of storytelling. She started out in theater and commercials, but once her children began to arrive, she stayed home and gave writing a try. She’s incredibly grateful to be doing what she’s doing for a living. Heather belongs to MWA, RWA, Sisters in Crime, HWA, and ITW, and has the recipient of the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, a Silver Bullet for charitable works, and this year, she will receive the Thriller Master title from ITW. She has over 200 novels in print, and has been published in 22 languages. Visit Heather Graham’s website and follow her onFacebook and Twitter.


Kristen Proby - author pic  Kristen Proby: New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kristen Proby is the author of the bestselling With Me In Seattle and Love Under the Big Sky series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong, humorous characters with a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen lives in Montana, where she enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps. Visit Kristen Proby’s website and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Cherise Sinclair - author pic  Cherise Sinclair: Having to wear glasses in elementary school can scar a person for life. Dubbed a nerd at an early age, Cherise Sinclair has been trying to live up to the stereotype ever since. And what better way than being an author? Known for writing deeply emotional stories, the USA Today Bestselling Author has penned sixteen erotic romance novels, most with a BDSM theme. (Please do not mention the phrase mommy porn in her presence.) Her awards range from a National Leather Award to a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice nomination to a GoodReads BDSM group award for best author of the year. Cherise lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. Their two fledglings have left the nest recently to try their wings and hopefully will fly high and strong. The “ascendant erotica queen” (Rolling Stone Magazine) now spends her days writing with occasional supervision from a sadistic calico cat. Visit Cherise Sinclair’s website and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

KL Grayson - author pic
  K.L. Grayson: K.L. Grayson resides in a small town outside of St. Louis, MO. She is entertained daily by her extraordinary husband, who will forever inspire every good quality she writes in a man. Her entire life rests in the palms of six dirty little hands, and when the day is over and those pint-sized cherubs have been washed and tucked into bed, you can find her typing away furiously on her computer. She has a love for alpha-males, brownies, reading, tattoos, sunglasses, and happy endings…and not particularly in that order.   Find K.L. Grayson on her website and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.


Mari Carr - auhor pic
   Mari Carr: Writing a book was number one on Mari Carr’s bucket list and on her thirty-fourth birthday, she set out to see that goal achieved. Too many years later, her computer is jammed full of stories — novels, novellas, short stories and dead-ends and she has nearly eighty published works. Virginia native and high school librarian by day, Mari Carr is a New York Times andUSA TODAY bestseller of contemporary erotic romance novels. Join her newsletter so you don’t miss new releases and for exclusive subscriber-only content. Find Mari on her website and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.   

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Phenomenal X (Hard Knocks #1) by Michelle A. Valentine




Rating 4.5/5 stars
Publication Date April 22, 2014


Blurb:

Good Girl. Notorious Bad-Boy. One Phenomenal Love. 

From the mean streets of Detroit rises the newest superstar of professional wrestling, Xavier Cold, better known as Phenomenal X. His muscular physique makes men cower before him and women lose their minds with desire.

Anna Cortez is fresh out of college and naive to the harsh realities of the real world. Tired of living under the thumb of her conservative family, she defies them when she accepts a job as the assistant to wrestling’s most notorious bad-boy. Phenomenal X has an animalistic nature that even good girl Anna finds hard to resist.

One night forced to share a bed in a sold-out hotel, lines blur between them and they quickly learn that one lustful night changes everything and neither one of them will ever be the same.


Review:

Why did the end had to be cliffy? How long will I have to wait for the second book? What's going to happen next? Why did Xavier have to be book boyfriend and addiction material? Why can't anyone she Rex for who he truly is? Those questions where in my mind when I finished the book.

For some write reason I keep linking the book to Katy Evan's Real, do if you are a fan of the latter check Phenomenal X. If you are not please still check this book out.

Xavier's grandma and Anna's father are very religious people and unfortunately the bad kind. Both of them are obsessed. If you are not a fan of books that contain religious parts you won't have a problem. I was sad because I can believe that some people out there is like that.

Anna is a lukewarm for me. She had potential to become a great and beloved character and I will be looking for that in book 2. I hope she will fight for Xavier and she will be strong. She has to face many obstacles and fight for what she loves.

Xavier could be my man. The truth is that I kept waiting for him to screw up and he sort of did. It was easy to understand why he acts the way he does after learning parts of his past. He needs to let go of the past and let Anna in. He has to stop his past from controlling him. He doesn't see himself as the person who he truly is, the one Anna sees in him. He needs redemption, a way to let go of what's haunting him and live a happily ever after with Anna.

I have lots of expectations for the second book. Why? A) The author had built the story nicely and usually the books get better and better and not the opposite. B) There is going to be a lot of drama, but I think the author will deliver it without making it over the top. A police arrests vengeful ex-PA, a person whose goal is set to winning the belt and will do everything in his power and something more to get what he wants and Xavier's past made this book very interesting so I think, now when a chance to explore them more exists things could he mind blowing. Michelle A. Valentin has set the bar high for this series.

What I didn't like, but totally understood was the self-promotion. Anna reads Rock the heart (another book by the same author). I get that dome of the readers will want to check the book out and the author will get a better paycheck, but for me it would have been better if Ana was reading a book from another author who happens to be Valentine's friends it the title of the book was written on a note at the end of the book.

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Off the Record (Record #1) by K.A. Linde



Rating: 4/5 stars
Publication Date: March 11 2014

Blurb:

Liz Dougherty has no idea a single question is about to change her life.

Her first big reporting assignment for her North Carolina college newspaper has her covering a state senator’s impromptu press conference. Brady Maxwell may have everything it takes to be a politician—a winning pedigree, devastating good looks, a body made to wear suits—but his politics rub Liz the wrong way. When Liz’s hard-hitting question catches the upstart senator off-guard, it impresses Hayden Lane, Liz’s editor who feels she’s headed for a promising career as a reporter.

But Liz is also headed into a secret romance with Brady that could destroy both their ambitions. Though he’s a bachelor, potential voters might frown on Brady cozying up to a reporter. And Liz isn’t sure sneaking around is enough for her—especially when things between her and Hayden might be less platonic than she thought.

Sleek, sexy, and smart, Off the Record ventures into a high-stakes campaign and an even higher-stakes affair to answer the question: When politics and love collide, can there ever be a winner?


Review:

I don't really want to write a review for the book. I want to rad On the record, the second book in the trilogy. 

Two things tainted the reading experience for me. One was the triangle-ish situation, Liz found herself in. I don't see where the whole Hayden story is going or what purpose, but you should know that I am rooting for Brady so don't take me too seriously when it comes to Hayden (I love his name by the way). Since I Hayden could be Liz's best friend and someone who is there for her and help her seething clearer. But I don't see them (nor I want to) getting romantically involved.

Liz is changing a lot in the book. The change is happening slowly and it's hard to notice it. Most of the time I liked her. It was easy to see things from her point of view.

Brady is a whole other story. I don't know what to make out of him. Liz might be spending her whole summer with him, but I can't say that I know him, not 100%. He is more than a political whose only goal is to win the elections. I hope for some of his point of view, more than that last chapter.

Which brings me to the second thing I didn't like, not as much as the first, but I do consider it awful since the second book doesn't even have a cover and a blurb. The uncertainty of what's next. Things are very fragile between Liz and Brady. I might understand Bradys strategy, but I don't approve it.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Toxic (Ruin #2) and Fearless (Ruin #2.5) by Rachel Van Dyken



Rating: 5/5 stars for both books
Publication Date: March 4 (Toxic) and March 9 (Fearless) 2014


Blurb:

Everyone has a secret... 

Gabe Hyde is on borrowed time. He's been hiding his identity for over four years-hidden from the world that used to adore him--obsess over him--driven to the edge of insanity by one poor choice. But that one choice, altered the course of his life forever. Pretending isn't all it's cracked up to be, especially when pretending means hiding your real self from the people that care about you the most. But if anyone ever discovered the truth it wouldn't just be his life at risk--but hers.

Saylor doesn't hate men. 
Just Gabe. 
Only Gabe. 
He's a reckless, happy-go-lucky, silver spoon fed pain in her ass. Everything about him makes her more and more confused. Unfortunately they both donate time at the same Group Home. If she wasn't afraid of flunking, she'd be long gone. She hates that she's attracted to him almost as much as he hates that he's attracted to her--and she can tell, especially since their first encounter ended up making her knees so weak she couldn't form coherent sentences for weeks afterwards. But the closer she gets to him, the more confused she becomes. He isn't who he says he is, and he's hiding something big. 

What happen when two worlds collide? Two worlds that never should have met in the first place? Some secrets are too big to be hidden forever--the only question? Will his destroy everyone he loves? Or finally bring about the redemption he's been craving for the past four years? Everyone has a secret...What's yours?


Review:


Sometimes by holding onto what you love the most—you end up choking the very life from the thing you want to keep on living. It’s possible to try too hard, to love something so deeply that you lose yourself. The danger is never in loving someone—but losing your identity in the process. Because what happens when tragedy strikes? You’re left an empty shell. You’re left with nothing. It’s why I tired to end things. Why I didn’t want to go on living—because I’d been living through her, not with her, and I had forgotten how to be myself. How to be normal. The only problem was—I was okay with it.
—Gabe H 

The ruin series has very special books. After finishing Toxic I wasn't the sobbing mess I was after I finished Ruin but I was moved. Gave carries so much guilt and I think it was misplaced Yes, he could have been more responsible but so could have been Kimmy. Both Wes and Gabe are amazing.

The hardest thing I’ve ever done is watch my family suffer through my illness, knowing there was nothing I could do to comfort them…until I saw the look on Gabe’s face when she came into the room. And then, like watching the saddest part of a movie, I saw their story unfold. And the ending? I closed my eyes. I couldn’t watch. Because I hated those types of stories—ones that gave you no hope but left you empty—and searching. 
—Wes M 

Wes is even more awesome that I thought. Seeing him from someone elses point of view made clear to me how much he cares for his friends. For Kiersten it was obvious, but I couldn't have guessed the way he would act when it came to Gabe. He carries a lot of wisdom.

But the book is not about Wes, is about Gabe so I will stop talking about Wes. I didn't feel as if the book was also Saylors. I feel as if the book was only for Gabe and him finding his much needed redemption. That wasn't a minus for the story. Besides it's Saylor the one who gives Gabe the ability to let go and move on. It's her who makes him whole again. And that why I am not going to complain about the book having more of Gabe's point of view than Saylors.

You know you’re in love with someone when the idea of them being in love with someone else doesn’t just wreck you, it invades every part of your being. Yet, how could I be upset that Gabe loved her? When his love for her was one of the very reasons I loved him? —Saylor 


Excerpt:

Life has two stages. Birth and death. That’s it. What you do in between the two? Well, that’s up to you, isn’t it? —Wes M


Saylor


Behind me, Gabe ceased all motion. The only way I knew he was still there was from the heat that seeped into my back from where his body touched me. More warmth rolled off his hands where they seemed fused to mine. Any minute now, I expected him to pull away, to slip into mask number one or mask number two. Instead, he flipped my hands over, gripping them with his fingers and exhaled, long and slow. Seconds went by, but they may as well have been years. Each time he let out a breath, my heart skipped a beat of longing, needing more of his touch — more of something. My back tingled as the hard planes of his stomach pressed against me. I was in a Gabe cocoon.
And I loved it.
Until the music started.
With slight pressure, Gabe moved my hands to the piano, slowly, effortlessly placing them on each key.
He was playing through me, using my body as an instrument to convey the story of his life. Each time he pressed down on one of my fingertips or guided me to another area of the piano, I felt the sadness of the song clench deeper. The notes became floating tendrils of pain, each one of them slowly invading my body and taking hold until it hurt to breathe.
He moved faster and faster, my hands couldn’t keep up. I pulled back as he continued the song, in such a rush it was like he was yelling but doing it with music. Unable to convey it in any other way.
With a final burst of movement, he lifted his hands off the piano and smashed them against the keys, causing a chaos of notes to burst forth.
Gabe’s breathing was uneven, ragged as he leaned heavily against me, his chin resting on my head, and he whispered brokenly, “I can’t.”
“You were doing so good.”
“It’s like getting into a car with suicidal tendencies. You keep going faster and faster, needing the adrenaline to keep you alive until suddenly you turn the wheel and everything goes black. The notes, they go higher and higher, and right when I feel like I can change the outcome — I panic. Some things…” He sighed and pulled away. “Some things are better left in chaos.”
“Are you sure about that? Are you sure about perfection?” I folded my hands in my lap, but didn’t turn around.
“Sure.” He moved from behind me and sat on the bench. “If life was perfect, how in the hell would we ever learn to depend on someone other than ourselves? If anything,
that’s what life’s taught me. The need to be perfect is stemmed in the very belief that it’s actually something we can achieve. Self-actualization — doesn’t exist.”
I licked my lips and looked down at the keys. “Does that mean we don’t try then?”
“No.” Gabe tickled a few of the ivory keys in front of him, the music note tattoos on his fingertips looking darker against the white of the piano. “It just means when you reach the end of your rope, you shouldn’t regret a damn thing, but applaud yourself for trying to do the impossible.”
I felt like he was using double meanings. The philosophical Gabe was a bit terrifying because he made me feel more insecure than the jackass Gabe. But the guy sitting next to me right now? I was beginning to understand, he wasn’t just one person. He was every person, everything, whatever he needed to be, he was.
Like a chameleon.
And suddenly the ending to the story made sense.
Ten different notes all clamoring at once.
Chaos.
Gabe was Chaos.
“So.” He sniffed and cleared his throat. “Now that I’ve totally ruined the moment by talking in my serious voice and scaring the shit out of you — why don’t we work on one of your performance pieces?”
“Okay.” I placed my hands on the piano again, careful to angle my wrists at the perfect degree and keep my eyes on the music ahead. Sometimes I wondered if my posture was better than my playing.
“What the hell are you doing?” he asked in calm voice. I turned and gave him a firm nod[L1] . “I’m getting ready.”
“To go to battle?”
“What?” I relaxed my hands a bit. “No.” I straightened. “This is the right posture, it’s—”
“If you say perfect, I’m going to kill myself.”
“Someone should have majored in drama.”
He burst out laughing. “Oh, honey, you have no idea.”
“So?” I lifted my wrists again and looked ahead.
“Fine.” He smirked. “Play just like that.”
“Okay.” I started one of my harder pieces, Piano Sonata 14. It felt exactly the same. The movement wasn’t as fast as some of the others, but the timing for it had to be perfect.
“Close your eyes,” Gabe instructed.
“But—”
He swatted my wrists. “No arguing with your piano master.”
“Fine.”
“Say ‘yes, master’.”
I smiled tightly, my eyes focusing on the music in front of me. I started slowly playing. “Not in this lifetime.”
“Bet I could make you say it.” His voice had an arrogant lift to it, which made me all the more irritated. Master? Um, no.
“Eyes.” He growled again.
With a resigned sigh, I closed my eyes. “Better?”
“Immensely,” he said smoothly.
Darkness enveloped my world. All I had were the notes at my fingertips. All I had was the music — that and Gabe.
He wasn’t saying anything.
Which killed me.
It also made me want to open my eyes, but I knew he’d probably just tell me to close them again, so I kept playing.
And then, with a teasing touch, his fingers grazed my chin, slowly tilting it down toward the piano while his other hand went to my upper back then slowly moved down until it was in the middle, with a gentle push, he urged my body closer to the keys.
Eyes closed, posture completely off, I leaned over the piano. Everything felt wrong as I continued playing.
“Slower,” he said softly.
With a sigh, I started playing slower. His hands moved to my hips. And stayed there. Other than jumping a foot, I was still able to concentrate.
“The music,” he whispered, “It’s not just your story — it’s your lover.”
“Okay,” I squeaked. Heat washed over me as the word lover bounced around in my brain. I knew it, but I’d never experienced it. How was I supposed to use something I didn’t know how to use? And how embarrassing was it that I was stuck in that tiny room having never been… stuck in a tiny room with any guy? Lover. I’d take him. If I got a choice. It would be him. But people like Gabe, beautiful people who had music in their soul, who knew how to speak without words… they weren’t for girls like me.
“Each stroke…” His hands pressed against my hips making me gasp. “You need to feel it not just on your fingertips — but everywhere.”
Holy. Crap.
“Feel it here,” he squeezed and then ran his hands lightly up my sides, then resting right underneath my breasts, he pressed again. “And here.”
My breathing picked up speed, as did my music.
“Slow down,” he commanded in that same irritating patient tone. “Where is this story taking me? Where are you taking your lover?”
“Huh?” I breathed.
“Use your hands to tell me the story — use your body to propel the story forward, what happens next… Tell the story, Saylor. Make me feel it without even touching you.”
“But — that’s impossible.”
“You can feel a kiss without touching someone’s lips.”
“I’m confused.”
“Concentrate.” Gabe’s voice was firm. “I want to kiss you.”
“What?” He was lucky I didn’t actually collapse against the piano this time.
“In the story.” He chuckled. “I want to kiss you in this story, so kiss me.”
“You want me to get up and kiss you?” Mind you, I was still trying to play a difficult piece as he was asking me this, which basically meant I must have had talent, because my body was on fire.
“Without our mouths meeting.”
“Through the music.” I clarified in a doubtful voice.
I could hear the smile in his tone as he answered. “Yes, through the music, show me what the kiss would feel like. I want to taste it.”
“But how?”
He laughed softly. “I’m touching them.”
“What?”
“My lips,” he countered. “They’re soft, open, wet…”
I squirmed on the piano bench, squeezing my eyes shut. “What else?”
“As I part my lips… I wonder what your tongue tastes like, what type of pressure you’d use as you pressed your velvety smooth mouth against mine. I imagine exploring your mouth not just because I want to — but because I can’t help it. I’m lost. And your kiss is my salvation… so, Saylor, will you save me?”
My fingers glided effortlessly over the piano as I imagined his mouth — the way he smiled, the way he took his lower lip hostage when he was deep in thought. The dark look he got in his eyes when there was something he wanted. Our kiss would be epic.
The music picked up speed as I leaned over the piano, pounding each note with the rhythm of my footsteps as I approached him.
His hands would reach for my hips as he pulled me closer. My hands hovered over the keys making my hesitation known.
And then I pressed softly against the ivory, leaning forward as if I was leaning into Gabe with my body pressed against his. My breasts brushed the keys. I moved closer to the piano and then slowed the music.
His eyes would close.
His lips would part.
And we’d meet in the middle — because both of us wanted the same thing. Both of us wanted to taste, to explore, to feel.
I slowed my left hand as my right hand moved quicker across the keys, to show the anticipation.
And then, our mouths would touch.
I pounded the keys with my left hand, making it the loudest part of the piece which wasn’t normally how it was done.
Our tongues would tangle.
I pounded the piano harder.
His fingers would dig into my arms as he lifted me into the air.
I pulled back from the piano, stopping the music, and then gently started the rhythmic cadence again.
Our kiss was the perfect joining of music.
He was the left hand, I was the right.
Separate they sounded like silly scales.
Together — they were beautiful.
When I stopped the piece, I was sweating.
“Open your eyes,” Gabe whispered.
He was breathing so heavily it looked like he’d just run a marathon. With a smile he tucked my fallen hair behind my ear and tilted my chin toward him.
“That…” He leaned in. “…is how you perform. Like every kiss is both your first and last — like you’re saying both hello and goodbye — like you’ve just been born… like you’ve just died.”





Fearless Blurb:

When I met Kiersten, time stood still. It was as if every cell in my body screamed HER. I couldn't look away, I couldn't walk away, I couldn't even move. My other half, my soul mate, was staring right at me. I had to have her. I had to make her mine. But I felt selfish doing that--knowing that I may not have endless amounts of time to give her...and even now that every things' over with and I've been given that time back. 

Nothing is ever certain in this life. 

Which is why I'm about to do something crazy, impulsive, daring. 
After all, what type of person would I be if I didn't take my own advice?
I'm jumping off the cliff, I'm living fearlessly.

This is the continuation of Wes and Kiersten's story.


Review:

Another book with my man. What more can I ask? Of course the rest of the gang was present, but I will focus on my man. He is wise, smart, generous but most importantly, he is perfect for Kiersten (and for the rest of the female population, I might add). He and Lisa planned the most amazing wedding. Besides Kiersten and Wes's wedding there was a second sub storyline that is an intro to Lisa's story. We get her point of view and there is some info about her past. Her life reminds me of pretty little liars and I will be waiting (im)patiently for Shame to come.

PURCHASING LINKS:
RUIN: http://amzn.to/19iz3eX
TOXIC: http://amzn.to/1eoMgSN
FEARLESS: http://amzn.to/1dGi6KL


Author bio:

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor. She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers!

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