Kelly’s review of Take the Storm by Rebecca Zanetti

We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for TAKE THE STORM by Rebecca Zanetti! TAKE THE STORM is Episode 6 in the Rising Storm Series brought to you by 1001 Dark Nights. Grab the latest episode in this sexy series now!

Welcome to Storm, Texas, where passion runs hot, desire runs deep, and secrets have the power to destroy…

Nestled among rolling hills and painted with vibrant wildflowers, the bucolic town of Storm, Texas, seems like nothing short of perfection.

But there are secrets beneath the facade. Dark secrets. Powerful secrets. The kind that can destroy lives and tear families apart. The kind that can cut through a town like a tempest, leaving jealousy and destruction in its wake, along with shattered hopes and broken dreams. All it takes is one little thing to shatter that polish.

Reading like an on-going drama in the tradition of classic day and night-time soap operas like Dallas, Dynasty, and All My Children, Rising Storm is full of scandal, deceit, romance, passion, and secrets.

With 1001 Dark Nights as the “producer,” Julie Kenner and Dee Davis use a television model with each week building on the last to create a storyline that fulfills the promise of a drama-filled soap opera. Joining Kenner and Davis in the “writer’s room” is an incredible group of New York Times bestselling authors such as Lexi Blake, Elisabeth Naughton, Larissa Ione, Rebecca Zanetti and Lisa Mondello who have brought their vision of Storm to life.

A serial soap opera containing eight episodes in season one, the season premiere of Rising Storm, TEMPEST RISING, debuted September 24^th with each subsequent episode releasing consecutively this fall.

So get ready. The storm is coming.

TITLE: Take the Storm
SERIES #: Rising Storm Episode #6
CHARACTERS: The town folk of Storm Texas
AUTHOR: Rebecca Zanetti
PUBLICATION DATE: October 29, 2015
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | iBooks | GooglePlay | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Secrets, Sex and Scandals …

Welcome to Storm, Texas, where passion runs hot, desire runs deep, and secrets have the power to destroy… Get ready. The storm is coming.

Marisol Moreno has spent her youth taking care of her younger siblings. Now, with her sister, Ginny, in crisis, and her brother in the throes of his first real relationship, she doesn’t have time for anything else. Especially not the overtures of the incredibly compelling Patrick Murphy.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kelly
NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4 1/2

I loved this installment of the Rising Storm series. It was great to see at least one couple that didn’t have too much drama going on. I am rooting for Marisol and Patrick!!! Oh and Luis better watch his back, because big brother is coming.

Now that I am more than halfway through this series it is clear that there is not going to be a happy ever after in Strom, Texas just yet.

Can’t wait to see what happens in the next episode.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Evil Eye Concepts in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

**Experience Rising Storm Here…**

Rising Storm Episode 1 (Sept. 24): Julie Kenner’s Tempest Rising
Amazon ** iBooks ** Barnes & Noble ** GooglePlay

Rising Storm Episode 2 (Oct. 1): Lexi Blake’s White Lightning
Amazon ** iBooks ** Barnes & Noble ** GooglePlay

Rising Storm Episode 3 (Oct. 8): Elisabeth Naughton’s Crosswinds
Amazon ** iBooks ** Barnes & Noble ** GooglePlay

Rising Storm Episode 4 (Oct. 15): Jennifer Probst’s Dance in the Wind
Amazon **iBooks ** Barnes & Noble ** GooglePlay

Rising Storm Episode 5 (Oct. 22): Larissa Ione’s Calm Before the Storm
Amazon ** iBooks ** Barnes & Noble ** GooglePlay

Rising Storm Episode 6 (Oct. 29): Rebecca Zanetti’s Take the Storm
Amazon **iBooks ** Barnes & Noble ** GooglePlay

Rising Storm Episode 7 (Nov. 5): Lisa Mondello’s Weather the Storm
Amazon ** iBooks ** Barnes & Noble ** GooglePlay

Rising Storm Episode 8 (Nov. 12): Dee Davis’s Thunder Rolls
Amazon ** iBooks ** GooglePlay

******

About Rebecca Zanetti:

New York Times Bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti is the author of over twenty-five dark paranormals, romantic suspense, and contemporary romances, and her books have appeared multiple times on the USA Today, NY Times, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooksbestseller lists. She lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her own Alpha hero, two kids, a couple of dogs, a crazy cat…and a huge extended family. She believes strongly in luck, karma, and working her butt off…and she thinks one of the best things about being an author, unlike the lawyer she used to be, is that she can let the crazy out. Her current series are: The Scorpius Syndrome, The Dark Protectors, The Realm Enforcers, The Maverick Montana Cowboys, and the Sin Brothers series.

You can find Rebecca here: Rising StormWebsite | Facebook |Twitter | 1001 Dark Nights | Rising Storm on Goodreads

October 28, 2015October 26, 2015

Kelly & Kimberly’s reviews of Mine by Stacey Kennedy

Mine
Club Sin #7
By: Stacey Kennedy
Releasing October 27, 2015
Loveswept
Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo

Blurb

Dmitri and Presley—the scorching-hot couple who started it all in Claimed—return to save Club Sin in the exhilarating new short novel from USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy.

Dmitri Pratt is living out his dream. Not only does he own the ultimate playground for the BDSM lifestyle, he’s found a special connection with his deliciously sexy sub, Presley Flynn, the woman who complements him in ways that go far beyond the bedroom. But when an anonymous blackmailer threatens to expose the elite, high-profile members of Club Sin in a notorious tabloid, Dmitri’s perfect world spirals out of control.

Before she met Dmitri, Presley never imagined she would find a Master who could deliver on all her hottest fantasies. Dmitri’s love and his sensual artistry surprise her every day, until he suddenly turns distant and cold. For the first time, Presley wonders where Dmitri’s heart truly lies: with her, or with Club Sin. As the life they’ve built together begins to crumble, Presley can only trust that Dmitri has what it takes—to defend what’s his, and win back the woman he cannot live without.

Mine is intended for mature audiences: Link to Follow Tour: Here | Goodreads | Goodreads Series

KELLY’S REVIEW:
4 Hearts It is so hard to say goodbye. Mine is the last book in Ms. Kennedy’s Club Sin series and what better way to end the series then with the couple that started the series. Throughout the Club Sin books we have seen Dmitri and Presley grow closer and closer. We have seen them deal with their friends relationship ups and downs. We have seen them watch other get in engaged, married and start a family. Yet, Dmitri & Presley seem to be at a standstill. When Club Sin is blackmailed Dmitri will do everything in his power to protect his club. But how far will he go? And at what cost?

I am sad to see Club Sin go. But at the same time glad that Ms. Kennedy wrapped up the series nicely. I do hope that this is not the last time we will see the members of Club Sin. And with a new spin off coming I hope that there maybe a cameo or two.
But until then Club Sin fans you will enjoy the final book in the Club Sin series. New readers you really need to start with Claimed, book 1 in the series.

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
2.75 Hearts This is a short novella of less than 100 pages that catches us up with Dmitri and Presley who started this series with Claimed. I enjoy catching up with characters from past books when they become the background of a new story in a series but just like in this book the problem is that something was off with these characters from the ones we met 7 books ago.

I didn’t enjoy Dmitri in this story. He was not who we remember him to be. He was selfish and distant. Presley was needy and whiney. The story was ok but being a short story the background of the blackmailer is done in a matter of a chapter or two and we are left with Presley pining over Dmitri and Dmitri giving into peer pressure if you ask me. I look forward to the next in the series but am just not thrilled with this one.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

People who visited Las Vegas were typically on the hunt for a wild weekend getaway. Others wanted to spend their nights in a casino. For Dmitri Pratt, Vegas was his home. He enjoyed what Vegas could offer those who visited the city, but he preferred saying, What happens in Club Sin stays in Club Sin.

His beloved BDSM club, located in the basement of his mansion, felt more like home to him than the rest of the house. Nearly six years had passed since he’d opened the exclusive dungeon, where men mastered women looking to indulge in their wildest fantasies. Years back, he had hoped his club would be as successful as it was now. But the fulfillment he felt now was greater than anything he could’ve anticipated.

Tonight he studied the club before him, feeling the sense of pride swelling. Club Sin members sat on the black leather couches situated around the room. They chatted among themselves or were lost in aftercare with their partners. The St. Andrew’s crosses, spanking benches, and bondage stations were all in use, with submissives being taken to a higher level of pleasure. Even the waft of sex, sweat, and feminine arousal brushing through the air brought Dmitri satisfaction.

Overwhelmed by the perfectness of the moment, he shifted his focus onto the woman who’d changed his life. He’d been an empty man during his twenties, searching for something he hadn’t known he was missing. Then, in his thirties, he’d met his submissive, Presley Flynn. Now his life had found an unexpected center.

He’d always worked toward a goal to make his life better—going to college, working at the casino, Aces, until he became its president—but he didn’t think his life could be any better than it was at the moment.

Presley waited silently, quietly asking her Dom to pay attention to her. She stood with her legs spread wide open by a spreader bar attached to her ankles. The spanking bench resting in front of her had a vibrating wand taped onto the long wooden pole, which pressed against her swollen clit. Her hands were laced behind her head, and her body shook in the anticipation of where he’d take her next.

Stunning.

She’d come three times already tonight. He thought she’d climaxed enough without him. He closed the distance between them, and then he stroked the thin red welts on her shoulders and bottom. Those markings from his whip were his treat tonight.

He caressed the red lines, noting that she didn’t move when he touched her. The only sign she acknowledged his arrival was the hitching of her breath. Pride straightened his spine, warmth coursing through his veins. “Look at you, beautiful,” he murmured. “You’ve come so far, haven’t you?”

Head bowed, she asked, “Come far, sir?”

He chuckled at the softness in her voice, as her thoughts were likely hazy from the brutal buzz of the vibrator. “I have not bound you, and even with your orgasms, you still haven’t moved.” He circled her, regarding her sensually. “I will say again, look how far you’ve come.”

She shivered. “Yes, sir.”

Christ, she was breathtaking. Presley had arrived at Club Sin nearly two years ago, a newbie to BDSM and completely uneducated in the ways of pleasing her Dom. Now he knew he could do anything he wanted and she wouldn’t move unless he gave the order that she could. Before, she would’ve moved while the vibe assaulted her. Tonight, though, she’d been standing with her hands laced behind her head for a good hour, all because he had asked her to. She was a well-trained submissive.

“You please me, doll,” he murmured.

“I’m pleased that I do, sir.”

He swiped his finger against a small welt, and she moaned in ecstasy. His smile felt real and honest as he strode around the spanking bench to look at her face. Presley took care of herself, eating healthy and exercising five days a week, giving her a toned body. Her long dirty-blond hair was piled high on her head, leaving all of her gorgeous skin available to him. Her nose was covered in freckles, her cheeks were bright red, and her lips parted with her moans. Beautiful. But her eyes, with the emerald of her irises nearly invisible because her pupils were so widely dilated, were what captivated him the most. They showed her sweet soul.

Determined to take her even higher, he leaned over the spanking bench and turned the vibrator onto the highest speed. Her breath hitched and her mouth fell open. Amusement flooded him, as did heat, pooling into his groin. “How is that cunt now, Presley?”

Her eyes rolled into the back of her head. “It’s . . .” A rough breath passed through her lips.

“Hot and wet?”

She gasped, her eyes flying open. “Yes, sir.”

“Excellent.” Pleased by the arousal he saw along her inner thighs, he moved to her side, watching her eyes follow him. While she was looking at him, she wasn’t really focusing on anything. Pleasure had blinded her, and he liked her that way.

Tonight was her reward for standing so still while she was under his whip. She’d gained control over herself during his mentoring of her, and Presley was now the submissive he’d longed for. She obeyed without hesitation. Her soul was linked with his. Dmitri had never before understood the perfection of that. Not truly. But now that he’d tasted having a submissive so attuned to him, he’d never give that up.

He reached her back, seeing a crowd gathering for the show he planned to put on, and he placed a hand on her shoulder. Only when she inhaled a sharp breath did he push a little, pressing her further against the vibe.

“Fuck” wheezed from her mouth.

Dmitri chuckled.

Author Info

Stacey Kennedy is the USA Today bestselling author of the Club Sin series. She writes deeply emotional romances about powerful men and the wild women who tame them. When she’s not plugging away at a new story, she’s either hiking, canoeing, relaxing around a campfire, or obsessing over Penny Dreadful, Game of Thrones, andOutlander. Stacey lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband (who puts any of the heroes in her books to shame), their two young children, and her other babies: a mini labradoodle named Jax and a chocolate labrador named Murphy.

Learn more about Stacey here: Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads

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October 27, 2015October 13, 2015

Spotlight Feature of Cynthia Eden’s Shattered

*****

Shattered

LOST Series, book #3

Blurb:

In New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden’s latest novel featuring the Last Option Search Team (LOST), one agent is forced to face her past as she uncovers secrets about the man who may be the key to her future.

Criminal psychologist Dr. Sarah Jacobs is all too familiar with the kind of bad boys who belong behind bars. But the dark, dangerous man she meets in the New Orleans underworld is a new kind of ruthless, and all too irresistible.

Jax Fontaine doesn’t claim to be a good guy, but he’s loyal to his own code and brutally honest about what he wants. He and Sarah may be worlds apart, but when they’re skin to skin, nothing matters but the heat between them.

And when a deranged killer targets Sarah, Jax will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

Available for purchase at

*****

Excerpt

His blue gaze sharpened on her. “Are you afraid of me?”

“Aren’t most people?” she dodged. Most smart people?

“Yes, but they have a reason to fear me.” His knuckles fell away from her. “You don’t. I wouldn’t ever hurt you.”

Right. Like she was just supposed to take him at his word. Once Jax had been drawn into LOST’s investigation, Sarah had made it a top priority to learn as much about him as she could. Only it turned out that there wasn’t a whole lot to discover. Most of his past was cloaked, little more than rumors and smoke. Sure, she’d seen his criminal record, but that had been all juvie stuff. The guy had been good at covering his tracks once he’d become legal.

He’d been on the streets since he was a teenager. Somehow, he’d clawed his way—quite literally—out of the gutter and become a force to be reckoned with in the area. He owned several businesses and had connections that stretched across the county. And the local police were sure that he was a criminal. They just hadn’t been able to pin any serious crimes on him.

It’s hard because he has money and power. And he’s smart. She could see the intelligence in his eyes. The cunning. He won’t make mistakes easily.

“I love it when your mind starts spinning,” he murmured, his voice a deep rumble. “Tell me, Dr. Jacobs, are you profiling me right now?”

Her hands lifted and she shoved against his chest. He backed up, not because she’d been uber strong and knocked him back, but because … dammit, she suspected he moved for her.

To make her feel in control.

But he likes power.

And, hell, she was profiling him. “I don’t understand the point of this little meeting. Stopping a woman in the elevator is hardly an appropriate pick-up routine—”

He laughed. His laughter actually sounded real. Warm and rough, and it rolled right over her.

“How is anything about us appropriate?” Jax asked. That man’s voice—so deep and rumbly—it was like pure sex. She was pretty sure, like one hundred percent so, that he normally had women tossing their panties at him on sight.

She wasn’t one of those women. Or, rather, she was trying not to be one of those women.

The Lost Series Now Available

(Book #1)

Available for purchase at

(Book #2)

Available for purchase at

About the Author:

USA Today Best-selling author Cynthia Eden has written over twenty-five novels and novellas. She was named as a 2013 RITA^® finalist for her paranormal romance, ANGEL IN CHAINS, and, in 2011, Cynthia Eden was a RITA finalist for her romantic suspense, DEADLY FEAR.

Cynthia is a southern girl who loves horror movies, chocolate, and happy endings. She has always wanted to write (don’t most authors say that?), and particularly enjoys creating stories about monsters–vampires, werewolves, and even the real-life monsters that populate her romantic suspense stories.

Cynthia’s foreign sales for her books include translations to Japan, Germany, Thailand, Greece, and Brazil.

(Back in the day…) Cynthia graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Alabama where she studied Sociology (because people interest her) and Communication (because she likes to write about said people). Cynthia has worked as a college admissions counselor, a teacher, and as an editor. But now, Cynthia is thrilled to be spending her days making up stories.

You can find Cynthia here:

Presented by

October 22, 2015October 26, 2015

Kelly’s review of Calm Before the Storm by Larissa Ione

We are absolutely thrilled to bring you the Release Day Launch for CALM BEFORE THE STORM by Larissa Ione! CALM BEFORE THE STORM is Episode 5 in the Rising Storm Series brought to you by 1001 Dark Nights! Grab your copy of the latest episode in this awesome series today!

Welcome to Storm, Texas, where passion runs hot, desire runs deep, and secrets have the power to destroy…

Nestled among rolling hills and painted with vibrant wildflowers, the bucolic town of Storm, Texas, seems like nothing short of perfection.

So get ready. The storm is coming.

*****

TITLE: Calm Before the Storm
SERIES #: Rising Storm Episode #5
CHARACTERS: The town folk of Storm Texas
AUTHOR: Larissa Ione
PUBLICATION DATE: October 22, 2015
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| iBooks | Barnes & Noble | GooglePlay

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Secrets, Sex and Scandals …

Welcome to Storm, Texas, where passion runs hot, desire runs deep, and secrets have the power to destroy… Get ready. The storm is coming.

Marcus Alvarez fled Storm when his father’s drinking drove him over the edge. With his mother and sisters in crisis, Marcus is forced to return to the town he thought he’d left behind. But it is his attraction to a very grown up Brittany Rush that just might be enough to guarantee that he stays.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kelly
NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4
Yet another great episode in Rising Storm. I love the every story takes us one step closer to everyone’s secrets blowing up and bringing a major storm that will be hard for the residents of Strom, Texas to survive.

I really hoped that Marcuse and Brit might be the one couple who would not have to the town’s curse for drama Because I am convinced that the town of Storm, Texas is indeed cursed with bad luck and a huge case of liar-ism (this is my made up word for one that can not tell the truth).

But just like every good soap I will be tuning into the next episodes to see what happens next.

Disclaimer:

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & Evil Eye Concepts in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

**Experience Rising Storm Here…**

Rising Storm Episode 1 (Sept. 24): Julie Kenner’s Tempest Rising
Amazon ** iBooks ** Barnes & Noble ** GooglePlay

Rising Storm Episode 2 (Oct. 1): Lexi Blake’s White Lightning
Amazon ** iBooks ** Barnes & Noble ** GooglePlay

Rising Storm Episode 3 (Oct. 8): Elisabeth Naughton’s Crosswinds
Amazon ** iBooks ** Barnes & Noble ** GooglePlay

Rising Storm Episode 4 (Oct. 15): Jennifer Probst’s Dance in the Wind
Amazon **iBooks ** Barnes & Noble ** GooglePlay

Rising Storm Episode 5 (Oct. 22): Larissa Ione’s Calm Before the Storm
Amazon ** iBooks ** Barnes & Noble ** GooglePlay

Rising Storm Episode 6 (Oct. 29): Rebecca Zanetti’s Take the Storm
Amazon **iBooks ** Barnes & Noble ** GooglePlay

Rising Storm Episode 7 (Nov. 5): Lisa Mondello’s Weather the Storm
Amazon ** iBooks ** Barnes & Noble ** GooglePlay

Rising Storm Episode 8 (Nov. 12): Dee Davis’s Thunder Rolls
Amazon ** iBooks ** Barnes & Noble* GooglePlay

About Larissa Ione:

Larissa Ione is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. An Air Force veteran, she traded in a career as a meteorologist to pursue her passion of writing. She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her U.S. Coast Guard husband, her teenage son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhound, a King Shepherd named Hexe.

You can find out more about Larissa here: Rising StormWebsite | Facebook |Twitter | 1001 Dark Nights | Rising Storm on Goodreads

October 12, 2015October 11, 2015

Kelly reviews Seducing Seven by MK Meredith

TITLE: Seducing Seven
SERIES #: A What Happens in Vegas Story
CHARACTERS: Blake Turner & Seven Michaels
AUTHOR: MK Meredith
PUBLICATION DATE: October 12, 2015
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
He bet on logic. She bet on love.

Romance author Seven Michaels believes in love to her very core. She has to–not only for herself, but for her readers. So when luxury salesman Blake Turner insults not only her books but the people who read them, Seven’s ready to throw down. How dare a playboy like Blake insinuate romance lovers are full of crap?

He wants proof? Fine. She bets Blake she can make him fall for her by using the rules in her latest novel before the end of the convention, or she’ll denounce love in front of all her fellow authors and fans at the Romance Lovers Convention ball. A dangerous game to be sure, but humiliating Blake is worth the risk.

But when Seven realizes she’s the one who’s being seduced, she’s no longer sure who is playing whom…or whether she’ll have a career when the bet is over.

REVIEW:
This was a very cute, fun and quick read. I started reading think I would read just a few chapters and a couple hours later I was finished.
I really like Seven and Blake. They are both awesome, stubborn and don’t like to lose. I loved how these two met (makes me want to hang out by the elevators more often) to the firework show on the roof to the speech that Blake gives. It was a very sweet story.
I am very glad that I pick up a copy of this story. I would like to request that Six get a story!!!! Just sayin’ MK. Six needs a story too. 🙂

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & Entangled Publishing, LLC in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

October 6, 2015October 5, 2015

Kelly & Kimberly review All I Want by Jill Shalvis

TITLE: All I Want
SERIES #: Animal Magnetism #7
CHARACTERS: Parker James & Zoe Stone
AUTHOR: Jill Shalvis
PUBLICATION DATE: October 6, 2015
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From the “awesomely, incredibly talented”* New York Times bestselling author of Still the One, comes a sexy new Animal Magnetism novel set in Sunshine, Idaho, where the sky is the limit when it comes to love.
Pilot-for-hire Zoe Stone is happy to call Sunshine, Idaho, her home base. But her quiet life is thrown for a loop when her brother’s friend Parker comes to stay with her for a week. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife special agent is a handsome flirt with a gift for getting under her skin. And the situation only escalates when Parker hires her to fly him around the area while he collects evidence on a suspected smuggler.
Now she has to live and work with the guy. But when they’re in the air, she sees another side of him. He’s driven, focused, and sharp. And while he enjoys giving commentary on her blind dates, she quickly realizes with a shock that it’s Parker who gets her engines going

KELLY’S REVIEW:
4 Hearts How to make a good first impression: Kiss the next person that walks up to your door.
I think Zoe needs to not take advice from her sister Darcy. Or maybe she should take more advice from her.
This was a fun book. I loved Parker. He is all rough and tough but a sucker for big eyes, tears and little animals. He is also sneaky, handy and really easy on the eyes. Therefore it make him the perfect person for Zoe.
Zoe “I got this” Stone is one tough nut to crack. She does make things a little hard on Parker (but for good reason). But these two together were great. *wink, wink*
I loved Oreo and Bonnie and Clyde.
As always Jill writes a story that leaves me wanting to read more about her characters. I am so happy that Zoe finally found her match. I can’t wait to see what Jill has in store for us next!!!

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts I loved this story. We met Zoe a few books back that gave us some insight into who Zoe is. Zoe is strong and independent. She loves her siblings with her heart. Her family, home and job are her whole life and mostly she is fine with that. But when Wyatt and Darcy fall in love Zoe is left with empty nest syndrome in her own way so in this story she decides to find love… oh ok maybe just lust… either will work.

In walks Parker, literally. Parker is good friends with Wyatt and Zoe offers him a place to stay while he is in town for vacation but Parker is there for more than that. But what he ends up with is everything he never knew he wanted.

Parker is perfect for Zoe. Somehow he clicks into her weird way of living and figures a way around her idiosyncrasies. He feels an immediate need to right her world for her and I love the way he goes about it. I fell a little in love with Parker within the first chapter of meeting him and fell deeper with every chapter after that. The only thing I would have changed about the book is having Zoe going on more blind dates and having Parker comment on all of them. His sense of humor is great and would have been great if he made comments about each of them but that being said this book is almost perfect.

And Oreo is a delight and when Bonnie and Clyde join the mix the Animal Magnetism kicks it up a notch.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

September 9, 2015September 2, 2015

Guest Blogger: Anna James is here to talk about The Business of Love!!!!

Hi Everyone,

My name is Anna James and I write contemporary romance with strong heroes and heroines that conquer life’s trials and find their happy ever afters.

I want to thank the folks at Books -n-Kisses for hosting me. Today I’d like to talk to you about what I consider the heart of a great story and that is… the books’ characters.

As an author, I strive to create characters in my stories that will linger in a reader’s mind long after he or she has finished reading my novel.

So, what goes into producing great characters?

In addition to the basics (height, weight, hair color, eye color, etc.), here are a few of the things I considered when I crafted Dante Leone and Sophia Hamilton, the hero and heroine from THE BUSINESS OF LOVE- Book 1 Forevermore Series. I’ll use Sophia for my example below, and then share an excerpt from the book with you.

What type of relationship does your character have with parents / siblings?
- Sophia’s mother committed suicide and she blames herself for not seeing the signs soon enough to stop her.
- She doesn’t have a relationship with her biological father. He walked out on her when she was a baby.
- She has a love / hate relationship with her step brother, Allen. Sophia cares for him but Allen wishes she didn’t exist.
- Sophia loved her step-father to pieces.
What is your character’s greatest strength?
- Sophia is a fighter
What is their “wound” or secret fear (the hurt that has caused them to be the way they are)?
- Sophia believes she’s not worthy of being loved. Everyone she’s ever loved has left her.

Excerpt:

“I’m sorry to disturb you,” Clair, her cousin, said, “but we have a situation in the kitchen.”

Sophia stood. “Is there a problem with the caterers?”

Clair rolled her eyes. “The problem is with your stepbrother, Allen. He’s ripping one of the servers a new one over some screw-up with the food.”

Sophia almost laughed, despite her grief. You could always count on Clair to tell it like it was. With a resigned sigh, she followed Clair out of her temporary sanctuary.

It took several minutes to make her way through the large group of friends and family who’d come to the house that afternoon. People who hadn’t been able to attend the funeral service that morning stopped her to offer their sympathy.

By the time she got to the kitchen, the server in question had been reduced to tears. Sophia squared her shoulders and marched over to Allen and pulled him aside. She apologized to the young woman, who scurried off, and then turned her attention back to her older stepbrother. “What are you doing?”

Allen glared at her and pointed to the spread on the counter. “This is not what I ordered.”

She sucked in a breath and counted to ten, determined not to let his temper spark her own. “The caterer called yesterday while you were out. She was concerned the quantities you ordered wouldn’t be enough for the number of people we were expecting, so I had her add a few extra side dishes.”

“You just had to interfere, didn’t you? You couldn’t leave well enough alone.”

“I didn’t have a choice. The caterer needed a decision and you weren’t around to make one.”

“As usual, you put your nose in where it didn’t belong.”

Was he really going to pick a fight today of all days? “Allen… Please… Let’s not turn Dad’s funeral into a three-ring circus. Can’t we call a truce, even if it’s only for today?”

“You had no right to intrude. He’s my father, Sophia, and I said I’d take care of everything. You should have given me the message. Instead, you just took over.”

If anyone else told the caterer to add the extra selections, it wouldn’t have mattered, but the fact it had been her, caused Allen to make a scene. He viewed her as an interloper, always had really. If it were up to him—thankfully Aunt Caroline, Dad’s sister, and Uncle Sam stepped in, so it wasn’t—she’d have been excluded from the day’s events. “Please, keep your voice down or everyone will hear you.”

“I don’t care. I’m sick and tired—”

Sophia’s head jerked toward the door when her best friend, Trey Jackson, stepped into the room.

Trey’s gruff voice broke into Allen’s tirade. “What’s going on in here? I can hear you two shouting from the living room and the glass doors are closed.”

Allen glowered down at her. “You want to be in charge? Have at it.” He stormed out and slammed the back door shut behind him.

*****

Amazon

Sophia Hamilton can’t believe her late stepfather split the family firm three ways. With her hard-earned master’s degree, she and her stepbrother, Allen, are perfectly capable of running the firm. Instead, she’s forced to share the reins with Dante Leone. The man who split her heart in two.

Six years ago Sophia fell hard for Dante, but when he discovered she was a starry-eyed nineteen to his twenty-eight, he shut her out. Worse, Allen’s defection from the firm has left Dante with controlling interest.

Dante is having a tough time seeing Sophia as anything other than the woman who lied to him. Yet her resignation isn’t the moral victory he intended. He feels her absence deep in his heart—and the company plunges deeper into turmoil.

Sophia returns on one condition: equal partnership all the way. But their redoubled efforts aren’t working. And soon it becomes clear someone is bent on destroying not only her stepfather’s legacy, but any chance of a future with Dante.

About Anna James

Anna James writes heartwarming contemporary stories with strong, confident heroes and heroines who conquer life’s trials and live happily ever after. She has been writing professionally since 2010, is a member of RWA (Romance Writers Of America), CTRWA (Connecticut Romance Writers of America), CORW (Charter Oak Romance Writers) and RWA Contemporary Romance Writers. Publishing credits include five novels, six novellas and one short story.

Anna is married to a wonderful husband who spends countless hours picking up the slack around the house so she can pursue her dream of writing, and is the proud mother of five fabulous children, and a big, loveable rescue dog the entire family adores.

Although she’s lived in several locations throughout her life she now calls Connecticut home. When not writing, she can be found spending time with family and friends.

You can learn more about Anna James at:

www.authorannajames.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annajames.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorannajames or at her email: authorannajames@yahoo.com

Interested in winning a signed copy of the book?

Sign up for my newsletter here: http://annajamesromance.com/?page_id=1437 between now and September 30, 2015. I’ll do a random drawing on October 1, 2015 and choose 3 winners and post them on my blog (US entrants only – sorry.) Good Luck!

September 8, 2015September 7, 2015

Cover reveal of Nalini Singh’s Rock Redemption!!!!

ARE YOU READY????

For the cover reveal of ROCK REDEMPTION????

Book #3 in Nalini’s Rock Kiss Series???

Kit and Noah’s rock star romance is finally here in the newest addition to Nalini Singh’s Rock Kiss Series!!

PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Nook | iBooks | Kobo

Releasing: October 6th

From New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh comes the next contemporary romance in the Rock Kiss series…

Kit Devigny could have loved rock guitarist Noah St. John. Their friendship burned with the promise of intense passion and searing tenderness…until the night Noah deliberately shattered her heart.

Noah knows he destroyed something precious the night he chose to betray Kit, but he’d rather she hate him than learn his darkest secret. All he has left is his music. It’s his saving grace, but it doesn’t silence the voices that keep him up at night. Chasing oblivion through endless one-night-stands, he earns a few hours’ sleep and his bad boy reputation.

When a media error sees Noah and Kit dubbed the new “it” couple, Kit discovers her chance at the role of a lifetime hinges on riding the media wave. Wanting–needing–to give Kit this, even if he can’t give her everything, Noah agrees to play the adoring boyfriend. Only the illusion is suddenly too real, too painful, too beautiful…and it may be too late for the redemption of Noah St. John.

Series Reading Order:

Rock Addiction (Book One) Rock Kiss Series

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Nook | iTunes | Kobo

*****

Rock Courtship (bk 1.5) A Rock Kiss Novel

Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

*****

Rock Hard (Book Two) Rock Kiss Series

Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

NEW YORK TIMES AND USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series Nalini Singh usually writes about hot shapeshifters and dangerous angels. This time around, she decided to write about hot and wickedly tempting rock stars – and one sinfully sexy rugby god turned brilliant CEO. If you’re seeing a theme here, you’re not wrong.

Nalini lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing. If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. Also, don’t forget to swing by the site to check out the special behind-the-scenes page for the Rock Kiss series, complete with photos of many of the locations used in the books.
STALK HER: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

August 26, 2015August 23, 2015

Kimberly reviews Ever After by Rachel Lacey

TITLE: Ever After
SERIES #: Love To The Rescue #3
CHARACTERS: Olivia & Pete
AUTHOR: Rachel Lacey
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/01/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Olivia Bennett is not having a happy birthday. Instead of blowing out her twenty-nine candles, she’s stuck in jail, caught red-handed in a graffiti incident that (perhaps) involved one too many strawberry margaritas. Worst idea ever. The only bright side is that she ended up in the strong arms of the most gorgeous lawman she’s ever seen.

Pete Sampson (aka Deputy Hot Stuff) faces intense pressure from the sheriff to find out who’s behind a string of vandalisms. And after her spray-painting spree, Olivia is suspect number one. Still, Pete can’t stop thinking about her. Wanting her. Now he’s torn between his duty and his overpowering desire for the vivacious waitress. But he may have to bend the rules because true love is more important than the letter of the law …

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts All in all I enjoyed this story. The characters are well written. You get a true feel for who they are and their beliefs. Pete is a good guy but I wouldn’t say he is an alpha man. He is just a all around good guy. Olivia is a bit of a goody-two shoes to me. She is not one of my favorite characters but I liked her.

I am sure that the author didn’t plan for Olivia to be so hoity toity but she is. Yes she doesn’t have a fit when someone eats non-vegetarian in from of her but the rest of the time she is written kind of pompous.

This story is very preachy in some parts. Don’t get me wrong I understand that the farm factories are having the issues written in this story. I watch the news but I don’t read romance’s to be preached at. I want to be taken out of reality and this story certainly doesn’t allow that. Having the issue brought up a handful of times throughout the book would have done just fine but this book hits you with it every chance it gets.

Now that all being said again I enjoyed the book. The romance is fine. The characters are fine. It doesn’t really leave much question as to the “who-dun-it” but it is still ok.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

August 24, 2015August 23, 2015

Kimberly reviews Wildest Dreams by Robyn Carr

TITLE: Wildest Dreams
SERIES #: Thunder Point #9
CHARACTERS: Lin Su, Blake & Charlie
AUTHOR: Robyn Carr
PUBLICATION DATE: 08/25/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Blake Smiley searched the country for just the right place to call home. The professional triathlete has traveled the world, but Thunder Point has what he needs to put down the roots he’s never had. In the quiet coastal town he can focus on his training without distractions. Until he meets his new neighbors and everything changes.

Lin Su Simmons and her teenage son, Charlie, are fixtures at Winnie Banks’ house as Lin Su nurses Winnie through the realities of ALS. A single mother, Lin Su is proud of taking charge and never showing weakness. But she has her hands full coping with a job, debt and Charlie’s health issues. And Charlie is asking questions about his family history—questions she doesn’t want to answer.

When Charlie enlists Blake’s help to escape his overprotective mother, Lin Su resents the interference in her life. But Blake is certain he can break through her barriers and be the man she and Charlie need. When faced with a terrible situation, Blake comes to the rescue, and Lin Su realizes he just might be the man of her dreams. Together, they recognize that family is who you choose it to be.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts So I will start by saying I liked this story… mostly. I do not want anyone to get the wrong impression. I liked it. It was just not one of my favorites from Robyn Carr. I have more unlikable things than likable when it comes to this book but all in all I liked it… Can you tell I am making it clear upfront that I liked it so when you read the rest of the review you will know .

I am used to something a little different from Carr. The writing is a little choppy. It is almost like she wrote the lines in short sentences to remind her what she wanted to say and then cut and paste it into the story. I know that sounds mean and I do not mean it to be but that is how I read the story.

I also didn’t think Blake and Lin Su connected well. Blake is sweet but there was no passion between them. I really didn’t like how to steps into this family and starts making decisions and telling Lin Su what she needs to do (“stop smothering him” “he needs some freedom”, etc). While the sentiment might be true he has no right. As a single mom this might get to me more than others but it was aggravating when I read those parts. But that being said I really never connected with Lin Su as a mom either. She IS overprotective and just not very friendly. Charlie is great. He is a really smart and sensible kid and her demands are really unfounded.

I usually enjoy the Thunder Point series and really anything by Carr so I will not hold this book against her but it won’t be one that I jump to tell people about.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

August 8, 2015July 31, 2015

SINsational Saturday Series: Jaci Burton’s Hope series

Hope Smolders

Hope 0.5 A HOPE NOVELLA

“Jaci Burton does raw, passionate romance like no other” (Joyfully Reviewed), and the New York Times bestselling author of Hope Ignitesand the hot new Play-by-Play novel Straddling the Line proves it again in this novella of second chances…

Jane Kline is a struggling divorcee and single mother with a social life on hold. Not only does Jane not have the time to date anyone, she’s not even going to consider making herself vulnerable to another man after being deserted by her husband. That’s why Will Griffin, her ex’s former best friend, takes her totally by surprise.

What would such a hot and sexy wild card see in a harried mother juggling two kids and two jobs? For starters, everything Jane no longer sees in herself. As she dares to take the flirtation to the next step, Jane finds herself back where she never wanted to be—falling for another man. Now it’s up to Will to convince Jane that she has everything he wants in a woman, and that the second time around can be the best time of all.

Includes previews of Jaci Burton’s new Hope novel Hope Ignites and her new Play-by-Play novel, Straddling the Line

Hope Smolders previously appeared in Hot Summer Nights

*****

Hope Flames

Hope #1

Thirty-two and finally setting up her veterinary practice in the town she once called home, Emma Burnett is on her own and loving it. Independent and driven, she’s not letting any man get in the way of her dreams. Not again.

That’s fine with Luke McCormack. Divorced and hardly lacking in female company when he needs it, he’s devoted to the only faithful companion in his life–his police dog. Still, there’s something about Emma he can’t shake.

When a series of local break-ins leaves Emma vulnerable, she seeks help from the first man to spark her desire in years. And now they’re giving each other something they thought they’d lost forever…hope

*****

Hope Ignites

Hope #2

Logan McCormack likes his isolated life on the ranch, until a movie crew starts filming there. When actress Desiree Jenkins blows into his life, she wrecks it harder than the Oklahoma winds with her brutal honesty and soft touch. Des knows this is a temporary stay, but she loves the open freedom of the land, and for the first time in her life, Des feels like she might have found a place she can call home, with a man she might be falling in love with. But Logan’s heart is tougher than the soil beneath them—can she convince him that they belong together?

*****

Hope Burns

Hope #3

Molly Burnett and Carter Richards share a painful past, one that sent Molly running out of town, vowing never to return. The only thing bringing her back is her sister’s wedding, and she doesn’t intend to stay long. But circumstances force her to remain in town, and within close distance of the one man who hurt her more than she’d ever been hurt before. Can the two of them face down the past and work together toward the possibility of love and happiness in Hope?(

*****

Love After All

Hope #4

High school teacher Chelsea Gardner has a firm list of qualities in mind to find the perfect man. Now she just needs the right guy that fits them all. Bartender Bash Palmer doesn’t match her list at all, but the things they do share are chemistry, fun, and a romantic connection. Bash intends to show her that a list doesn’t make a forever match.

*****

Make Me Stay

Hope #5

Release day December 1st 2015

The fifth novel of heartwarming passion in the Hope series, from the New York Times bestselling author of the Play-By-Play. Perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis, Rachel Gibson and Bella Andre.

Reid McCormack is back in Hope to renovate the old mercantile. Then he plans to go back to Boston, where he’s built a successful career. But beautiful florist Samantha Reasor is a distraction Reid hadn’t counted on. Samantha intends to convince Reid that Hope is where his heart has always been, and coming home might be the best choice he could ever make.

July 28, 2015July 26, 2015

Kelly & Kimberly review Thrill Me by Susan Mallery

TITLE: Thrill Me
SERIES #: Fool’s Gold
CHARACTERS: Del Mitchell & Maya Farlow
AUTHOR: Susan Mallery
PUBLICATION DATE: July 28, 2015
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Meet the Mitchell brothers of Fool’s Gold, California—five gorgeous men who’ve left a trail of broken hearts in their wake…
Maya Farlow learned the hard way to depend only on herself, so when she fell too deeply for the bad-boy charms of Del Mitchell, she did the only thing she could—she ran. Stunned, Del left Fool’s Gold to make his name and fortune in extreme sports.
Now ten years later, Maya’s been hired to promote her hometown’s new slogan, The Destination for Romance. The celebrity spokesman is none other than Del, the man she dumped but never forgot. Awkward!
Although Del’s not the type to hold a grudge, he’s determined to avoid falling a second time for the woman who broke his heart. He’s a daredevil, not an idiot. Trouble is, in all his adventures, he never found a rush as exhilarating as Maya’s kiss. Maybe risking his heart will prove to be the biggest thrill of all

KELLY’S REVIEW:
4 Hearts Maya Farlow is back in Fool’s Gold. She has finally found a place that she wants put down roots. Maya finally has found her place in a family. The only thing that is missing is the love of her life. And unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) for Maya, the love of her young life just walked through her door.
Del Mitchell, has not been home in ages. When he does come home it is for a short time, there are too many memories for him in Fool’s Gold. The last person he ever thought he would be working with again is Maya Farlow.
Del and Maya were so much fun to read. They both are so stubborn it is not funny, okay it is funny. There is so much banter back and forth. It is always so much to read about a second chance love story. I do hope to see more about Del and Maya in future books. 🙂

Another great trip to Fool’s Gold. And I am so looking forward to the rest of the Mitchell brother’s stories. I am already looking forward to the youngest Mitchell brothers!!!! I want know more!!!

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Fool’s Gold is my favorite summer vacation spot and I look forward to my visits every year and this summer was no exception.

This is a story about second chances. Maya broke Del’s heart in a way he never really got over but he did move on. Maya on the other hand really didn’t. Del has always been her first love and her biggest regret after letting him go out of fear. But here they are again working together on a campaign for Fool’s Gold tourism. And if you know anything about Fool’s Gold you just know Mayor Marsha had a hand in this set up.

Maya and Del just click from chapter one. Maybe because we know there is a history and certainly because Mallery can spin a tale like no other. There is happiness, sweetness, sadness and everything between but mostly there is love. Love for Maya and Del as well as for the people that surround them.

I think I say this in every review of a Susan Mallery book You can read this as a stand alone but if you haven’t read the Fool’s Gold series I can’t understand why not. Mallery is the perfect storyteller. If you are a fan of contemporary small town romance then Mallery should be at the top of your must buy list.

I’ve already booked my vacation for next summer to Fool’s Gold and I can’t wait!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & Harlequin (US & Canada) in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.