Blog Tour & Giveaway: Beauty and the Biker by Beth Ciotta

Miracles happen every day. Even in Nowhere, Nebraska. That’s Bella Mooney’s philosophy and she’s sticking to it! A children’s librarian who writes fairy tales on the side, Bella has earned the reputation of fanciful Pollyanna. No surprise that she applied for her “ideal man” via ImpossibleDream.com, an Internet company designed to make dreams come true. However, even whimsical Bella has real-life issues, forcing her to take drastic actions in order to spin her dad’s life (and in turn her own) for the better. As fate draws her into the troubling world of her new neighbor—a cynical biker with a scarred soul and checkered past—Bella finds herself falling for the most unlikely man, twisting her perceptions of true love and testing her faith in dreams.

Expect nothing. Anticipate the worst. As a detective with the Chicago Police Department, Joe Savage witnessed heinous crimes and acts of cruelty on a daily basis, obliterating his faith in humanity. When a personal vendetta cost him his job and a quirky inheritance offered escape, Joe packed it in and steered his Harley toward a small town bordering Tornado Alley and the Twilight Zone. Where better to lose himself than Nowhere? Resigned to a dark and lonely existence, Joe’s life is suddenly shoved into the sunshine when his eccentric neighbor offers him a chance he can’t refuse, especially after her kiss of hope rekindles his dead heart. Inspired and challenged by Bella’s infectious optimism, Joe dares to make the impossible come true.

“Here’s the deal,” Bella said, bursting with anticipation. Is he or is he not a magical kisser? Because if he was, that was her sign. “Carson—that’s my ex, except he hasn’t accepted that fact—thinks he’s perfect for me.”

“What do you think?”

She didn’t want to detail her history with Carson. Admitting the reasons behind her poor judgment and bemoaning his manipulative pursuit were too personal. She’d glossed over the emotional aspects with her closest friends. Why in God’s name would she share them with a stranger?

Oddly enough, she didn’t feel the same when it came to citing their less than magical physical relations. Which only affirmed how impersonal those relations were. Her cheeks burned, but the words flowed.

“Carson doesn’t inspire earthquakes and fireworks, if you catch my drift. Then again no one ever has. Not that there’ve been that many,” she added. “I need to know it’s not me. That I’m not, I don’t know, broken somehow.  That I’m not expecting too much. That there’s…hope. Don’t get a swelled head or any kinky thoughts, but I think you’re gorgeous—in a menacing kind of way—and fascinating. Like a tortured hero in a gothic novel. You make my insides squishy. That’s a first. In real life anyway—as opposed to going all soft for a fictional guy in film or literature. If you can’t shake my world then, well…maybe I should settle for Carson.”

“Are you done?”

Blushing profusely, Bella shied away. So much for derring-do.

Savage caught her elbow and pulled her close. “Don’t get a swelled head or any kinky ideas, but I think you’re beautiful—in an irritating angelic way.” He stroked her cheek then threaded his hands through her hair. “How old are you anyway?”

“Twenty-nine.”

“You seem younger.”

“How old are you?” she asked.

“Thirty-five.”

“You seem older.”

His mouth crooked, implying a sense of humor. Ideal quality #1. “Do you want the earth to tilt?” he asked. “Or spin?”

It was the kind of arrogance Carson flaunted every day. Only Bella suspected Savage would make good on his offer. “You can do that?”

He held her gaze, weaving a seductive spell with spine-tingling silence.

“Spin, please,” she managed before the universe shimmied and glittered.

His embrace was tender yet possessive. His mouth soft and teasing then hard and demanding.  This kiss… This. Kiss. Was overwhelming. All consuming. It buzzed through her body, head to toe, heart to soul.

Lost.

In a magical kiss.

Bewitched.

Forever and always.

She curled her fingers into his shoulders, his hair. Holding tight as the world spun off its axis.

She responded to his touch, his heat, his need.

She pressed against his body. Wanting more. Needing more.

His desire was evident and pushed Bella over the edge. She imploded, trembling with an aftermath of erotic sensations.

Orgasmic nirvana.

Compliments of a kiss.

Savage’s kiss.

“You’re not broken.”

His words cut through her sensual haze. Bella grappled for reality and balance. Heat suffused her cheeks as she bolstered her noodly limbs and met his intoxicating gaze. Assaulted by physical yearning and a riot of emotions, she could scarcely breathe. “Good. Great. Thank you.”

She backed out of his lethal embrace, willed dignity, and channeled the Inseparables. Any one of her friends was worldlier than her. Try as she might Bella couldn’t manage casual. Not when her heart and head pounded with a united thought.

He’s the one.

After months of sadness and unrest, in the midst of multiple personal trials, something good was happening. Unexpected and magical and charmingly improbable.

Savage dragged his hands over his face, through his hair. He looked sinfully handsome, dark and dangerous, and absolutely miserable.

Probably because her heart was in her eyes.

“I’ll taint your world,” he said.

“I’ll take my chances.”

Review (4.25 Stars):  This is the first book in a new series by Beth Ciotta and I think that this will be one that shouldn’t be missed. Bella Mooney is a children’s librarian who is currently disillusioned with her life.  She moved home to help her grieving father after her mother died and has been trying to help her father deal with their loss.  She recently broke up with her “wonderful” boyfriend, Carson, because the relationship was going nowhere and she wants to experience the kind of love that her parents had.  Joe Savage has moved to town to leave his past behind and deal with the property that was left to him by a family member.  He is trying desperately to forget the dark things he had to do for his job and Bella seems to be the only bright spot in his painful dark existence.  Maybe the two together can finally make their dreams come true spending time with another.

I really liked Bella in this story.  She was very sweet, loving and kind and wanted more out her life than just settling for anyone.  She wanted to be a children’s writer and just needed to find someone who could illustrate her book so she could sell her idea.  I loved that she still had hope and took the opportunity to put down everything that she ever wanted when she posted on the website, Impossible Dream.  She wanted a love like her parents and even though Joe seemed like a jerk, she still made an effort to befriend him and offered to help him clean up his property.

Joe didn’t seem like a very nice guy in the beginning of this book but I saw that all he wanted was peace and quiet to deal with the demons that were haunting him.  I was glad to see that he had a softer side when he was with Bella and was someone that could make all her dreams come true.  She was the key to his future, he just had to trust his instincts and take a chance on this beautiful woman in front of him.

Beauty and Biker is a lovely small-town romance that makes you believe that even the most impossible dreams can come true. I loved Bella and Joe together and I think that were definitely right for one another.  I also loved all her friends and can’t wait to learn more about them in future books because they all need to find their own happy endings.