Skye Jordan’s Renegades series

Reckless

Renegades #1

Renegades 1

A couture wedding dress designer to the rich and famous, Lexi LaCroix’s image means everything. But crossing paths with a sexier-than-sin, bad-boy biker makes Lexi realize how much living she’s sacrificed for her success and one touch is all it takes to threaten her carefully choreographed life. When that touch fills far more than just Lexi’s physical needs, she finds herself torn between the career she needs and the bad-boy she craves.

Jax Chamberlin gave up the superficial life of acting for the thrill of running his own stunt company years ago. But a recent betrayal proves he’s still too close to the limelight to find a woman who doesn’t plan to use him as a stepping-stone to success. When the charming and mysterious Lexi offers him a totally anonymous hook-up during an out of town trip, Jax accepts. Only Lexi is more sextacular than charming, and Jax wants more.

But Lexi’s got a major hang-up over his renegade lifestyle, and Jax isn’t willing to change his ways. Especially not when he discovers who she really is. Because if she finds out his connections could catapult her to the top of her career, he’s afraid the fantasy woman he’s falling for might just end up like all the other gold-diggers. And this time, it’s not just his bad-boy reputation at risk, but his heart, too

*****

Rebel

Renegades #2

Renegades 2

Sassy, smart, and sexy, former supermodel-turned-tech guru Rubi Russo has it all—looks, money, confidence and freedom. Her life is a whirlwind of fast cars and fleeting affairs—and she likes it that way. With a past like Rubi’s, forever isn’t part of her vocabulary. So when studly Renegade stuntman Wes Lawson wants to take their friendship to the next level, she’s all out.

Raised a simple country-boy, Wes knows the brazen Rubi isn’t his type. But after spending time with her, he discovers she’s everything he’s ever wanted in a woman. To win her wild rebel heart, he’ll have to prove he sees behind her smokescreen to all the goodness she tries to hide. Then it’s just a matter of crushing her fears, shattering her barriers, and convincing her that loving him is everything she’s been missing in her life, too.

Piece of cake.

*****

Ricochet

Renegades #3

Renegades 3

After a tragic incident in Afghanistan leaves Master Sergeant Nathan Ryker the only man standing in his tight-knit team, he spirals into an alcohol-and-sex induced escape. A call from his lifelong buddy pulls Ryker from the shadows with a request for help with his stunt company’s latest blockbuster. If Ryker can survive the next three weeks of leave and get back to his remaining men, he might just be all right. But a sexy woman who can take his mind off his trauma is too hard to resist, and when he hooks up with Renegades’ sultry, snarky office manager, his sanity takes a backseat to the first glimpse of a future he isn’t sure he deserves.

Still reeling from a bitter romantic betrayal, Rachel Hart wants nothing more than an uncomplicated hookup. So when the mysterious Nathan seduces her with a little dirty talk and one delicious kiss, Rachel drowns all her good sense in a Mandarin and soda and gives herself over to a night of sexual bliss. But her memories tarnish in the morning light when Rachel discovers his real identity and his link to Renegades. Her job and her friends are the only thing holding her life together, and she won’t be ruined by one sultry night with this damaged and dangerously sexy man.

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Wild Iris Ridge by RaeAnne Thayne

wildirisWelcome to my tour stop for Wild Iris Ridge by RaeAnne Thayne. This is an adult contemporary romance published by Harlequin.

The tour runs July 21-31 with reviews, author interviews and guest posts.

Make sure to check out the Tour Page & Schedule.

Wild Iris Ridge_author photo

Wild Iris Ridge by RaeAnne Thayne

Release: July 2014

Imprint: Harlequin HQN

ISBN: 978-0-373-77859-1

Pages: 352

Description:

A big-city, high-powered advertising executive and a small-town firefighter learn that no matter where you started or what you’ve lost, if you open your heart, you can find joy and love again. WILD IRIS RIDGE is the latest book inUSA TODAY bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne’s charming Hope’s Crossing series.

Lucy Drake and Brendan Caine have only one thing in common.And it’s likely to tear them apart. Because it was Brendan’s late wife, Jessie—and Lucy’s best friend—who’d brought them together in the first place. And since Jesse’s passing, Brendan’s been distracted by his two little ones…and the memory of an explosive kiss with Lucy years before his marriage. Still, he’ll steer clear of her. She’s always been trouble with a capital T.

Lucy couldn’t wait to shed her small-town roots for the big city. But now that she’s back in Hope’s Crossing to take care of the Queen Anne home her late aunt has left her, she figures seeing Brendan Caine again is no big deal. After all, she’d managed to resist the handsome fire chief once before, but clearly the embers of their attraction are still smoldering…

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | The Book Depository

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Best-selling author RaeAnne Thayne

Author bio:

USA TODAY bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne loves words. This led her to a fifteen-year career in journalismas a newspaper reporter and editor. But through it all, she dreamed of writing the kind of stories she loved best, romance, and has since published more than 40 titles. RaeAnne finds inspiration in the rugged northern Utah mountains, where she lives with her hero of a husband and their children. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website,RaeAnneThayne.com.

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Giveaway:

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Jennifer’s Review of Wild Iris Ridge

Review (4.5 Stars): I love small town romances and the Hope’s Crossing series is one of my favorites.  In Wild Iris Ridge, Lucy Drake has come home to pick up the pieces of her life after losing her aunt and her high-paying advertising  job in Seattle.  She has a plan to renovate her aunt’s home into a bed and breakfast and then hire someone to run it while she returns to the big city to try to achieve her career goals.  What she finds in Hope’s Crossing is a lot of memories and the one man who she can’t stand to be around, Brendan Caine.  Brendan was married to Lucy’s best friend, Jessie, and even though they have known each other a long time, they can’t forget the one night where they shared a special kiss before he met Jessie. Now, they have the opportunity to see what happens when fate keeps putting them together for a second opportunity to rekindle the flames of that special night.

Wild Iris Ridge is a well-written romantic tale about two lonely people who find a chance at love when they feel they have lost so much in their lives. I love how honest and genuine these characters are and I think that this is one of my favorite couples in the series. Lucy and Brendan are both trying to rebuild their lives after loss and I couldn’t help but want them to find their happy ending together.  I’m a little sad to see that this is the final book in the series but I’m looking forward to Ms. Thayne’s new romance series that is due out later this year.

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Jennifer reviews Talk Dirty To Me by Dakota Cassidy

talk dirty to meTITLE: Talk Dirty To Me
SERIES #: Plum Orchard #1
CHARACTERS: Dixie Davis, Caine Donovan
AUTHOR: Dakota Cassidy
PUBLICATION DATE: 4/29/14
ORDER LINKS:Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Former mean girl Dixie Davis is back in town and it’s payback time. Literally. Dixie is flat broke and her best–make that only–friend, Landon, is throwing her a lifeline from the Great Beyond. Dixie stands to inherit his business…if she meets a few conditions:

She’s got to live in Landon’s mansion.
With her gorgeous ex-fiance’, Caine Donovan.
Who could also inherit the business.
Which is a phone sex empire.
Wait, what?

Landon’s will lays it out: whoever gets the most new clients becomes the owner of Call Girls. Dixie has always been in it to win it, especially when it comes to Caine, who’s made it clear he’s not going down easy. (Oh, mercy.) Can Dixie really talk dirty and prove that she’s cleaned up her act? Game on!

Plum Orchard, Georgia, is about to get even juicier.

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Dixie Davis was the quintessential mean girl who used people for her own gain while growing up and didn’t care who she hurt in the process. She was set to marry Caine Donovan, the golden boy of Plum Orchard, when her devious ways were exposed at their engagement party and she lost everything. Ten years later, Dixie is back in Plum Orchard to say goodbye to an old friend, who has plans for Dixie to stay in Plum Orchard for good. He has left his business to Dixie and her ex-beau, Caine, on the condition that they both work there for two months. It is bad enough that Dixie has to be in close quarters with Caine after everything that has happened, but now she has to work as a phone-sex operator to fulfill the terms of the will.
Dixie was a horrible person when she originally lived in Plum Orchard but ten years away from her childhood home has changed her for the better. She learned her lesson and came home to say goodbye to the one person that was truly her friend and was shocked that he left her his business in the will. She has made a lot of enemies in the small town and will do whatever it takes to make amends with the people that she hurt so she can start a new life. I liked Dixie a lot in this book because she knew she was a bad person in the past and due to her situation became a better person because of it. She was caring, thoughtful and loyal during this book but a lot of people had a hard time believing that Dixie was now a changed woman including Caine.
Caine had always loved Dixie and when the truth came out at their engagement party, he did everything possible to forget how she affected him. Being near her again, brought back those old feelings and he realized that he would always love her, no matter what. I wish there were more men like Caine in the world especially if they could do the voices of Johnny Depp and Daryl Dixon from the Walking Dead.
Talk Dirty To Me was a great romance for me and I was cheering for Dixie every step of the way. Dakota Cassidy has a fantastic way of writing stories that will pull at your heartstrings one minute and have you laughing out loud the next. This is the first book in the Plum Orchard series, which I know will be a hit and the next book is Something to Talk About, where Dixie’s friend, Em, finally gets her happy ending.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Jennifer reviews Autumn In The Vineyard by Marina Adair

autumn in the vineyardTITLE: Autumn in the Vineyard
SERIES #: St. Helena Vineyard #3
CHARACTERS: Frankie Baudouin, Nate DeLuca
AUTHOR: Marina Adair
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/29/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Frankie Baudouin has a hundred reasons not to trust Nate DeLuca.
First, he’s a DeLuca. Second, he kissed her–in front of the entire town–and then never called. Oh, and he’s after her land. Sorrento Ranch is Frankie’s last chance to prove to her family–and to herself–that she has what it takes to be an award-winning winemaker. And she will stop at nothing to ensure her success–even if it means playing nice with the starched, sophisticated, and oh-so-sexy Italian.

For Nate, Sorrento Ranch is more than just soil and grape vines; it was his father’s dream–a dream Nate is determined to make a reality. So when he finds himself forced to cohabitate with a hot-headed, irrational, and incredibly gorgeous Baudouin, Nate is surprised to discover that chaos could be so much fun–especially when she sleeps in nothing but lace.

REVIEW: Marina Adair has quickly become one of my favorite authors because I know that each of her books in the St. Helena Vineyard series is going to be a great romance. Frankie and Nate were great as a couple because their personalities were exact polar opposites, which made them perfect for each other. Frankie was such a free-spirit, motorcycle-riding woman while Nate was a straight-laced, making organized lists type of guy. They had such a long history together that they were destined to be together.

Frankie has to be one of my favorite characters ever because you see her vulnerability in this book and how she wanted to feel as though she belonged in her family but all she ever felt like was an outcast. But with Nate, he made her feel special and wouldn’t let her family try to destroy what she had worked so hard to build on her own. Nate did some pretty awesome things for Frankie so nothing could stand in her way from achieving success for her amazing wine and that just made me want to cry.

Autumn in the Vineyard is a great addition to a wonderful series and I can’t wait to see what is in store for Trey in Be Mine Forever.

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

5hearts-68-77

Spotlight feature of Jennifer Apodaca’s Her Temporary Hero + a tour wide giveaway

Her Temporary Hero

by Jennifer Apodaca

HTH_500

Amazon | B&N

Former beauty queen Becky Holmes and her baby are on the run from her dangerous ex. With her dreams of love and marriage destroyed, she’ll do anything to protect her child…even agree to hide out in her boss’s cousin’s house while he’s away.

Wealthy, sexy, and emotionally haunted Logan Knight needs a temporary wife to get his land, per his dad’s rules. No wife, no inheritance. But when that wife lands on his doorstep and comes with a baby, his darkest memories are triggered. He tries to keep his distance, but his efforts are shattered when he starts to have real feelings for his fake wife and child.

Just as Logan begins to think he may have a future with Becky, his attempt to have it all backfires into a betrayal that forces Becky into a heart-wrenching choice no woman should ever have to make.

 

jenniferapodacaAbout the Author: Jennifer Apodaca is an award-winning author and an unrepentant coffee-and-book addict. She’s written mysteries, romances, paranormals and grocery lists under the names of Jennifer Lyon and Jennifer Apodaca. She loves creating powerfully sexy alpha heroes and the heroines who tame them.   You can learn more about Jennifer and her books here: Website | Facebook | Twitter @JenniferLyon | Goodreads

Learn more about Entangled Indulgence here: Facebook | Twitter: @IndulgenceBooks | Steals and Deals

Make sure to check out all the stops on Jennifer’s tour HERE

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Giveaway:

$100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

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Natasha reviews Burn by Julianna Baggott

BurnTITLE: Burn
SERIES #: Pure #3
CHARACTERS: Pressia, Partridge, Bradwell, Lyda & El Capitan
AUTHOR: Julianna Baggott
PUBLICATION DATE: 2/4/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Inside the Dome, Partridge has taken his father’s place as leader of the Pures. His struggle has led him here, intent upon bringing down the Dome from the inside, with the help of a secret resistance force. But things are not as simple from his new position of power and he finds himself tempted by his father’s words: perhaps if the world is to survive it needs the Dome – and Partridge – to rule it…

As Partridge’s resolve weakens, Pressia and Bradwell continue piecing together the clues left to them from the time before the Detonations. It is their hope that they will be able to heal the Wretches, and free them from their monstrous fusings and the Dome’s oppression once and for all. But everything depends, too, on Partridge. Separated by distance and history, can they still trust their friend and ally? Or is the world doomed to an eternity of war and hardship?

REVIEW: Unfortunately this book didn’t have as strong an ending as I’d hoped when I began the series. The characters have gone through so many trials and tests throughout the series and have drastically changed from who they began as. That can be a good thing and a bad thing. I like the fact that Julianna had the characters evolving in a way that gave them more complexity, but I do think she drastically strayed from the core of the characters as I had perceived them to be. I was disappointed by the way things evolved and eventually ended. I like when authors allow readers to imagine for themselves what goes on with the characters once the book ends, but this ending seemed quite lackluster and rushed. After three books of build up it just ended and there is a lot left unanswered. Though I’m not thrilled with how the trilogy concluded I am happy I read it.

Disclaimer:
I purchased this book myself. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

3hearts-68-77

Natasha reviews Vanished by Kendra Elliot

VANISHED.FINALTITLE: Vanished
SERIES #: Mason Callahan #1
CHARACTERS: Mason Callahan & Ava McLane
AUTHOR: Kendra Elliot
PUBLICATION DATE: June 17, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
When eleven-year-old Henley Fairbanks is abducted on her way to school, the FBI doesn’t waste a moment, sending agents to scour the area and embedding Special Agent Ava McLane with the distraught family. In the eye of the storm is local detective Mason Callahan, who also happens to be related to Henley. To make matters worse for Mason, the kidnapping comes on the heels of the murder of his longtime confidential informant, and he’s been sidelined from the investigation.

Now both he and Agent McLane are holed up in the Fairbanks’ home, along with Callahan’s ex-wife, Robin. Every second counts in a kidnapping case, and the stakes keep rising the longer Henley stays missing. As Ava and Mason struggle to hold the Fairbanks family together in their darkest hour, the two investigators find themselves more and more drawn to each other.

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts This is my first book by Kendra Elliot, and I think I’ve found a new favorite author. Her writing is incredibly vivid and engrossing. I was sucked into this story from the beginning and couldn’t put the book down. Mason Callahan is a great lead character, and he really found a perfect partner with Ava. I adore them both. I love that they are able to separate out their professions and personal lives in a believable manner. I also really enjoyed all of the side characters in the story and I’m happy that we’ll get to likely see them again throughout this series. I didn’t know who the perpetrator was until Kendra deliberately revealed it, and that makes me happy. I like to pretend to know who the bad guys are, but I always prefer to be surprised. She gave us just enough information to keep us guessing until the climax. I’m very excited for Kendra’s work and cannot wait for book 2 in this series. I’m even going to have to go back and read all of her previous books now.

Disclaimer:
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Kelly reviews Shattered by Kevin Hearne

ShatteredTITLE: Shattered
SERIES #: Iron Druid Chronicles #7
CHARACTERS: Atticus O’Sullivan, Granuaile McTerine & Owen Kennedy
AUTHOR: Kevin Hearne
NARRATOR: Luke Daniels
PUBLICATION DATE: June 17, 2014
RUN TIME: Hours & Minutes
ORDER LINKS:Amazon| B&N |Audible

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
For nearly two thousand years, there was only one Druid left walking the Earth—Atticus O’Sullivan, the Iron Druid, whose sharp wit and sharp sword kept him alive while pursued by a pantheon of hostile deities. Now he’s got company.

Atticus’s apprentice Granuaile is at last a full Druid herself. What’s more, Atticus has defrosted an archdruid long ago frozen in time, a father figure (of sorts) who now goes by the modern equivalent of his old Irish name: Owen Kennedy.

And Owen has some catching up to do.

Atticus takes pleasure in the role reversal, as the student is now the teacher. Between busting Atticus’s chops and trying to fathom a cell phone, Owen must also learn English. For Atticus, the jury’s still out on whether the wily old coot will be an asset in the epic battle with Norse god Loki—or merely a pain in the arse.

But Atticus isn’t the only one with daddy issues. Granuaile faces a great challenge: to exorcise a sorcerer’s spirit that is possessing her father in India. Even with the help of the witch Laksha, Granuaile may be facing a crushing defeat.

As the trio of Druids deals with pestilence-spreading demons, bacon-loving yeti, fierce flying foxes, and frenzied Fae, they’re hoping that this time . . . three’s a charm.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kelly
NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4
REVIEW:
Once again I found myself drawn into the world of Druids, Fae’s and magic. There was a lot going on in this book. So if you have not started this series yet, you really need to start with book one. If not you will be completely lost on the events that happen in Shattered.
Kevin changed things up a bit in Shattered. The book was not told solely from Atticus’s point of view, which was good and bad.
Good because we got to learn more about Granuaile and Owen. It was good to see Granuaile grow as a Druid. It was a very painful growth, but I do believe that she will become an even more amazing Druid. Good because Owen gets real and learns a thing or two about life and himself.
Bad, because listening on audio I am totally in love with Luke Daniel’s version of Atticus & Oberon, so there was less Atticus talking.
Overall this was a great book. If you are a fan of the IDC then you will enjoy this book. Like I said in the beginning it is written different 3 POV. I will say it took me a bit to get into, but in the end I really enjoyed and loved having the different POV’s. I for one am looking forward to the next IDC series and hope that Atticus & Granuaile get a little more time together in the next one!!

As always Luke Daniel’s wins my heart. I love to listen to him read. Just love him. Yep… that is all I got. Just love him!!!

Disclaimer:
I purchased this book from Audible and this review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Natasha reviews Champion by Marie Lu

ChampionTITLE:  Champion
SERIES #: Legend #3
CHARACTERS: Day & June
AUTHOR: Marie Lu
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/5/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N 

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
He is a Legend.
She is a Prodigy.
Who will be Champion?

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps-Elect, while Day has been assigned a high-level military position.

But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them: just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything.

With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.

REVIEW: I literally started this book 5 minutes after finishing Prodigy. I had to put all other books on hold so I could finish this series. June and Day’s lives have completely changed and they have to adjust to some very difficult challenges. June is trying to find her right path in the new Republic, and Day is fighting for his life and the life of his brother. A series of devastating news begins to hit the pair and the entire Republic is at risk. This book opened up the world of the Legend series so much. I had no idea how much of a narrow perspective I had on the world the Republic existed in, until all of a sudden we saw the goings on of the entire planet in comparison. It was great to move things away from the Republic and show how they interacted with the rest of the world. I struggled with June and Day at the same time. Trying to find the best ways to live in the world together, or apart. This book was INTENSE. So much was happening, so many hostilities, people having to rely on their enemies – it was a lot. All three books were leading up to one intense moment, and it did not disappoint. It felt so very real, I was right there with them the entire time. The ending was both heartbreaking and exciting. Usually I am disappointed with how trilogies close out, but this author broke the disappointing third book mold for me. She wrapped up the series beautifully and I am so happy I read them all.

Disclaimer:
I purchased a copy of this book on my own. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

5hearts-68-77

 

Release Day Blitz for Stacey Kennedy’s Desired + a giveaway

Happy Release Day to Stacey Kennedy on book 3 of her Club Sin Series. Please read on to learn more about Stacey and Desired.  

Launch Day Graphic

 

 

staceykennedyA little about Stacey:

STACEY KENNEDY is the USA Today bestselling author of the CLUB SIN series. Growing up, Stacey’s mind wandered the path less traveled and that path most often led to love. She has always broken rules and she continues to feed off emotion – staying true to her heart. Those traits are now the bones of her stories. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who puts any of the heroes in her books to shame, and their two young children. If she’s not on mom duty or plugging away at a new story, you’ll find Stacey camping in the summer, hibernating in the winter and obsessing over Penny Dreadful, Game of Thrones and Sons of Anarchy.

Website  | Facebook Twitter @Stacey_KennedyLoveswept website

 

*****

DESIRED

Desired cvr

Publisher: Loveswept (Random House Publishing Group)

ISBN: 9780553391183

Release date: July 22, 2014

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“Characters you care about in a fast-paced story . . . one heck of a sexy read!”—New York Times bestselling author Shayla Black

Readers of Fifty Shades of Grey are sure to love Desired, Stacey Kennedy’s latest seductive, electrifying novel of Club Sin, where fantasy becomes reality.

Kyler Morgan, Master at the legendary Club Sin in Las Vegas, knows how to give women what they want—too well. He hasn’t had a real challenge in a long time. Then Ella Snow enters his life. Beautiful, inhibited, and innocent in the ways of submission and domination, Ella is the new blood he’s been lusting after. Soon, the thrill of training her to embrace his world brings forth desires Kyler cannot control.

After ending an abusive relationship, Ella makes a promise to herself to start living life to the fullest. It’s one of the reasons she seeks out Club Sin. Here, Kyler’s every touch is a lesson in liberation, stirring passions that have no bounds. But as she falls under Kyler’s command, Ella discovers that some secrets are so dark they must come to light. Submission alone may not be enough to save her, leaving her Master with only one question: How can he help Ella heal while unlocking the deep pleasures she craves?

Desired is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

DESIRED EXCERPT: (used with permission from Stacey Kennedy © Stacey Kennedy 2014)

Forgive me.

Ella’s shoulders slumped and she sighed at her phone. Laughter and joy surrounded her, music and happiness, but her stomach plummeted as she read her husband, Rory Snow’s text. When would he give up? Didn’t a domestic violence protection order say This relationship is over?

As the band played a slow song, she ran her fingers over the scar by her right eye. The mark was a constant reminder of Rory. Every day she looked in the mirror she saw it and thought of him.

All she wanted was to forget. Heck, she’d been doing exactly that. Rory was the jackass who couldn’t let it go. Ella knew she should probably call the Savannah police department to inform them that Rory was contacting her, but she was so damn tired of it all. She had moved on and put Rory into her past of big mistakes.

She’d hoped Rory would do the same.

That didn’t look like it was going to happen anytime soon.

With a grumble, she slipped her phone into her dress pocket and zipped it closed. She scanned through the crowd on the dance floor and her gaze landed on the bride. Aidan’s new wife was beautiful. Thin and elegant, Cora belonged on a magazine cover.

Ella’s heart twisted in the midst of memories of her wedding. Her day hadn’t been so lavish. Rory hadn’t rented out an entire resort at Lake Las Vegas for the event, ensuring their guests had a place to stay. Her wedding had cost all of two thousand dollars, but it had been enough for her.

She’d loved the high school sweetheart she’d met when she was fifteen and married five years later. Had loved him. Right up until Rory started drinking and drowning himself in booze.

Sober Rory was a good man.

Drunk Rory had a violent side.

That violence had shoved Ella face-first into a table. The night she’d got the stitches was the night she’d walked away from him. Six months later, she had left her life in Savannah. She moved to Vegas for the excitement, landing herself an amazing job at Knight Law Firm, working as the assistant for a highly respected defense attorney.

Ella enjoyed working for Aidan, and actually liked him as a person, too. He paid her almost triple what she had made in Savannah. Her professional life couldn’t get any better. It was the personal side of things that remained murky.

As she watched Aidan twirl his new wife around, dancing proudly for all to see, Ella tried to find her smile, but it remained hidden behind pain. Even if ten months had gone by since the night of the abuse, she couldn’t ignore the dark thoughts and her failed marriage.

It took six months to find the courage to file divorce papers, and another four months since leaving Savannah to pull herself together again, but she was over Rory in every sense of the word. She refused to let him ruin this special occasion. Grabbing her wineglass, she downed the remaining contents.

Tonight she hoped for a little liquid happiness.

When she lowered her glass to the table, a tingling sensation spread across her skin. Lifting her head, she gazed across the patio, and sitting at one of the patio sets was one of Aidan’s groomsmen. She’d never seen him before today, but that wasn’t a huge surprise, since she didn’t know most of the people at the wedding.

Except for a bunch of lawyers from the firm and Aidan’s parents, everyone else was a stranger. Aidan never mixed pleasure with business, and in the four months she had worked for him, she’d never met a single friend of his. Heck, she hadn’t known Aidan was dating. One day she’d thought he was single; the next he told her he was getting married.

Oddly enough, she was drawn to Aidan’s groomsman. Staring into his warm blue eyes, pins and needles and other sensitive feelings traveled up her body, settling between her thighs. She squirmed against her seat, avoiding the heat, and the side of his mouth curved. Her heart tripped and she glanced to her high-heeled shoe dangling off her toe.

Geebus, if he didn’t stop looking at her with those piercing eyes, she would combust. All night he’d been sneaking glances at her. They weren’t simple interested looks, either; they were outright assaults on her hormones. But a man’s attention was the last thing she was looking for.

No, thank you.

When she still sensed his gaze, she peeked to discover she wasn’t wrong. His intense stare was right on her. The power of it sucked the air from her lungs. Though she’d never believed in lust at first sight, perhaps it was because she had never experienced it.

Whoever he was, he was hot!

“More wine, miss?”

Ella gasped, looking up to the waitress standing next to her holding a bottle of white wine. She gave a shaky laugh. “To the top, please.”

The waitress smiled, filling the glass to the rim. “Why aren’t you dancing?”

“I look like a dying fish when I dance,” Ella said with a laugh. “I have two left feet.”

“We’ll need to work on that, won’t we?”

The waitress was looking over Ella’s shoulder with wide eyes. And something in that masculine voice made Ella stiffen in her seat. The tone was low and seductive, but mischievous all the same.

Then he was there.

The groomsman who’d been staring at her from across the patio now stood in front of her. Ella’s mind went blank. He smelled of sandalwood, and the rich scent puckered her nipples. From afar she thought he had blue eyes, but up close she realized they were a blue-green color. Pretty. In fact, the whole package was beautiful, especially covered in the tux.

He leaned down toward her and offered his hand. His messily styled light brown hair dangled over his forehead. He was tall, much taller than she, and he filled out his tux nicely.

Hell’s bells!

“Dance with me,” he said.

Ella quivered under his clever smile, and a slow heat slid through her. He happened to be one of the hottest guys she’d ever seen. Well, in person and not on some magazine she figured was Photoshopped. Though, hot or not, there was still a problem. “I’m sorry, but I can’t dance.”

“Everyone can dance.” His potent stare held hers and his hand never lowered. “It’s all about who is leading.”

Persistent sexy man.

Under his intense scrutiny her insides went mushy. The power this man exuded burned through her, reminding her she hadn’t felt this way in a long time. The attraction was intoxicating, and something needy inside her unfurled, yearning to explore it.

No, her mind argued.

At her pause, one sleek brow arched. “If you wait any longer to take my hand, you might give me a complex.”

The waitress hadn’t moved, watching the exchange. Even if Ella hated dancing and wasn’t looking for a relationship, she couldn’t refuse the urge to be squished up against him. Besides, what was a dance? This hunk was the perfect way to get her mind off Rory and onto something a lot better.

As she rose and slid her fingers into his warm grip, his gaze remained on hers. Heat stormed into her, spiraling low in her body with a wicked thud. She didn’t doubt that smile got him into many women’s beds.

It had power and charm.

He tightened his fingers around hers, and something passed in the air between them, so hot and so damn unforgettable, her body all but liquefied. He tugged her closer and she felt something odd inside awaken, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

Something she wanted to lose herself in.

A sensation that made her mind shut off.

He led her into the middle of the crowd on the dance floor, pulling her tight against him as if she belonged right there in his arms. He had no hesitation about placing his hand low on her back, quite close to her bottom, and sandwiching their bodies together.

Ella swallowed and avoided his gaze, staring at the band as they played a classic song. She wasn’t blind to the glaringly obvious fact that the groomsman had an erection. She thought she should be offended or something, but found herself fighting against the desire to rub against him.

“Ella, right?”

She cleared her throat, angling her head. His face was chiseled and smooth, but his eyes were what made this man sexy. They held mischief with a sense of confidence. “Yes, and you would be?”

“Kyler Morgan.”

Of course, the sexy man came with a sexy name. She swayed her hips, trying to follow his movements, only feeling more uncomfortable. Not a second later, she stepped on his foot. “Oh, shit!”

He chuckled. “It’s a foot. I’ve got two, so it’s okay.” He pressed his hand tighter against her back, erasing the distance. Then he shook their clasped hands. “Stop fighting me. Relax.”

Ella sighed. I suck at this!

He leaned down, placing his mouth near her ear, and whispered, “So you work for Aidan, yes?”

His voice raised goose bumps across her flesh, and she shivered. “Yes.” She glanced to the others on the dance floor. It pleased her that no one was watching her horrible dancing skills. Then she stared up into Kyler’s handsome face, since he didn’t allow her any room to do otherwise. “Since you’re Aidan’s groomsman, you must be a good friend.”

A low noise hummed in his throat, and the sound spoke to her on a level she couldn’t have anticipated. It warmed her from head to toe, and her muscles went lax. His fingers slid across her lower back, squeezing her against him, and the heat of his touch burned to her core. “Been good friends for a long time now.”

Good grief, the man seemed not to care they were strangers. He touched her as if they were well acquainted. In the midst of that confidence, Ella forgot the world around her. Her mind focused on him and the way he moved her across the dance floor.

He continued to guide her movements and never once took his eyes off her. “I didn’t see a date with you tonight. Are you unattached?”

Her insides somersaulted with his question, as he appeared interested in finding out if anyone stood in his way. She pondered whether to spill out the details that she was in the process of getting divorced and not looking for another relationship. Well, she would be if Rory’s lawyer stopped dragging his feet. But why tell that depressing shit to a smoking-hot man sandwiching her against the hard planes of his body? “Nope, not attached.”

His chin dipped, bringing his mouth within centimeters of hers. “A good thing for me, Ella, since I’m enjoying this.” The music soared through the air, and as her hips swayed with his, his erection pressed against her stomach.

Trapped in his intense gaze, her body flushed as desire simmered. Holy Jesus, she hadn’t felt this aroused in the presence of a man. No one had ever made her burn with a dance, a look, or the sound of his voice.

Ever.

Kyler’s mouth twitched as he ran his thumb over the top of her hand. “See, sweetheart, you can dance.”

She blinked, realizing she had completely relaxed in his hold, and he was moving her around the dance floor, effortlessly. She leaned in to him, consumed by the strength of his hold. “Apparently, you’re a good teacher.”

He winked. “You bet your pretty little ass I am.”

 
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Interview & giveaway with Jennifer Estep

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome the wonderful Jennifer Estep to the blog today to chat about being author, life and her newest release Poison Promise (Elemental Assassin)

Jennifer Estep author photo.Jennifer, can you please share with us a little about yourself

JE: My name is Jennifer Estep, and I’m the New York Times bestselling author of the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series.

The books focus on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed the Spider who can control the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional Southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals – Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

JE: My mom used to take me to the library every Saturday when I was a kid, so that’s how I fell in love with books and reading in the first place. So I think wanting to write my own stories and be an author grew out of that love of books and reading.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?

JE: Some of my favorite writers are Robin McKinley, Donald Westlake, David Eddings, Ian Fleming, Lisa Kleypas, and too many others to name.

Every time I read a really great book, it always inspires me, and I hope that I can write something just as good one day.

How did you get into writing in this specific genre?  Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?

JE: I’ve always enjoyed fantasy stories and strong heroines, so writing urban fantasy seemed like a natural fit for the kind of stories that I wanted to tell. I also write young adult and paranormal romance.

I have ideas for books in different genres, and I’d love to write a western or a heist book someday. But I will probably always write urban fantasy just because I enjoy it so much.

What are some of your writing rituals?

JE: I know a lot of authors listen to music while they write, but I don’t do that. It’s just me and my computer with no distractions. I always joke that the only thing I need to write is dead silence. LOL.

Poison Promise - cover imageCan you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

JE: Poison Promise, the 11th book in my Elemental Assassin series, will be released on July 22. My heroine Gin Blanco has to protect someone who witnesses a horrific crime, so there’s a lot of magic, action, and adventure in the book. I hope everyone has as much fun reading the book as I did writing it.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

JE: Many times in the series, Gin finds herself getting into trouble because she’s trying to protect her friends and family, and that’s what happens in Poison Promise as well. Being a protector and watching out for people is one of the core things that drives Gin, so it sort of naturally leads to a lot of story ideas.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

JE: Right now, I’m working on Black Widow, the 12th book in my Elemental Assassin series which will be published on Nov. 25.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.

JE: In the first chapter of Poison Promise, Gin gets into a fight with a couple of vampires.

What would you be if you were not an author?

JE: Good question! I would probably still do something book-related, like be a librarian or work in a bookstore.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

JE: I have about 40 books waiting in my TBR pile, so I’m looking forward to catching up on books/series by Katie McGarry, Sarah J. Maas, Alex Bledsoe, Scott Lynch, and several other authors.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

JE: Thanks for hosting me on your blog! I appreciate it.

If folks want more info on my books, they can check out my website at www.jenniferestep.com or follow me on Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter.

Happy reading, everyone!

Jennifer Estep author photo.A little more about Jennifer:

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea. Spider’s BiteWeb of LiesVenomTangled ThreadsSpider’s RevengeBy a ThreadWidow’s Web,Deadly StingHeart of VenomThe Spider, and Poison Promise, along with the e-shorts Thread of Death, Parlor Tricks, andKiss of Venom, are the other titles in her Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books. The Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series and the Bigtime paranormal romance series are her other works. For more on Jennifer and her books, visit JenniferEstep.com and @Jennifer_Estep.

Find Jennifer here: Website Blog | FacebookTwitter (@Jennifer_Estep) | Goodreads

 

 

 

*****

Poison Promise

Poison Promise - cover image

Pub Date:   07/22/14

Amazon | B&N | BAM| Indie Bound Simon & Schuster

In book eleven of her New York Times bestselling Elemental Assassin series, author Jennifer Estep continues “one of the best urban fantasy series going on the market” (Fresh Fiction).
Gin Blanco is hard-nosed, sexy, and lethal. Nicknamed “The Spider,” she’s a stone elemental assassin who brings her unique mix of magic and tact to every assignment, no matter the target.

There’s a new drug on the streets of Ashland, and its name “Burn” sums up the potent effect it has on its users. When one of her restaurant employees is threatened by dealers of the drug, Gin steps in to set things straight…

 

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!

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Natasha reviews Prodigy by Marie Lu

ProdigyTITLE:  Prodigy
SERIES #: Legend #2
CHARACTERS: Day & June
AUTHOR: Marie Lu
PUBLICATION DATE: 1/29/13
ORDER LINKS:

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Injured and on the run, it has been seven days since June and Day barely escaped Los Angeles and the Republic with their lives. Day is believed dead having lost his own brother to an execution squad who thought they were assassinating him. June is now the Republic’s most wanted traitor. Desperate for help, they turn to the Patriots – a vigilante rebel group sworn to bring down the Republic. But can they trust them or have they unwittingly become pawns in the most terrifying of political games?

REVIEW: This was book 2 of the Legend series and I couldn’t wait to begin it. The story picks up directly where it left off in book 1 and the intensity didn’t ebb at all up to the end. This installment took so many twists and turns. There was deception, intrigue, heartbreak and strength in all of these characters. June and Day are put through so many tests. Their devotion and dedication to one another is pushed to its limits when they are forced to follow different paths. One of the most intense scenes I’ve ever read was in this book. I found myself holding my breath and reading so fast so I could hurry up and know what was going to happen. A lot of the supporting characters in this installment drove me crazy. There was so much speculation, blaming and jumping to conclusions. I just wanted everyone to get along! Then I realized that would make for a very boring story. The angst is what made it so great to read. There were surprise revelations that I did not expect, and even deaths that I did not see coming that really hurt. Our characters had come so far in this book, yet there is still so far to go. I can’t be left with not knowing how it ended, so book 3 here I come!

Disclaimer:
I purchased a copy of this book on my own. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

5hearts-68-77