Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Holding Strong Release Week Blitz




An up-and-coming MMA fighter wants more than just one night from a woman fleeing her past in Lori’s irresistible new novel.

Heavyweight fighter Denver Lewis plays real nice, but he doesn’t share. That’s why he’s been avoiding top-notch flirt Cherry Peyton. But a man can only resist those lush curves for so long. Their encounter surpasses all his fantasies, bringing out protective urges that Cherry’s about to need more than she knows…

Denver’s combination of pure muscle and unexpected tenderness has been driving Cherry wild. Yet no sooner does she get what she’s been craving than old troubles show up on her doorstep. And this time, Cherry can’t hide behind a carefree façade. Because the man by her side is one who’ll fight like hell to keep her safe…if only she’ll trust him enough to let him…




 EBOOK:            AMAZON       BARNES & NOBLE    iBOOKS     KOBO

PRINT:   AMAZON     BARNES & NOBLE  BAM




Holding Strong will have you holding your breath while burning fingers quickly turn the pages.”
“…a fun and sexy read. It has a touch of suspense to it as well to keep the pace of the story going along.”
“The men of Foster’s Ultimate series may be powerful fighters, but they are all heart, and none more so than the hero of this installment. His unwavering support for his feisty, frightened heroine redeems them both in time, but it is their searing chemistry that will hold readers’ attention.”
“Foster…manages to keep characters evolving throughout the course of a novel, becoming true ‘heroes’ by the time ‘The End’ rolls around.”






Watching her laugh, seeing her tease and flirt, burned his ass big-time. He loved when she laughed and teased with him—not so much when it was with other guys.
And therein lay the problem. He had a near-savage lust for her. When he looked
at her, when he heard that carefree laugh, he felt dangerously close to losing it.
Contemplating decisions and possible mistakes, Denver Lewis sipped his beer. He should look away
from her but knew he wouldn’t. She was all tits and ass and attitude in a petite frame, and God love the girl, she turned him on.
He’d avoided her, refused to be drawn in by her tempting smiles, and all in all given her the cold
shoulder since determining they wouldn’t suit. He had no right to judge her for having fun elsewhere.

But knowing and accepting that as true didn’t talk him off the ledge. No, if anything it wound him tighter.
Damn, she looked good. The shifting lights in the club played with her dark blond hair and the curves of her lush little body. His buddy Stack, another fighter, drew her into a fast dance. She didn’t refuse. Ever.
Cherry Peyton was always the life of the party. The loud music competed with the furious drumming of Denver’s heart as he monitored her every move. The music’s wild tempo kept her body from touching Stack’s. They danced around each other and the rest of the crowd on the floor. Every guy there made note of her, seeing her once and then taking a longer look. Her happiness, her laugh and that killer bod all combined for one hell of an impact on the male libido.
For over an hour, Denver watched her draw attention and smiles and, no doubt, sexual thoughts. He ignored other women who tried to get his attention, those who came up to him and propositioned him in modest and sometimes lewd ways.
Yeah, he wanted to get laid. But he wanted Cherry, not anyone else. It pissed him off that he couldn’t get her out of his head. He should have had her before decreeing theirs an acquaintance-only relationship, then maybe he could have some perspective when it came to seeing her with other men.
Then again, maybe not—because days after meeting her, he’d known sex wasn’t the only thing he wanted. He’d already begun to think of her as his, even though he hadn’t even kissed her yet. If only his territorial tendencies didn’t clash so badly with her playfulparty-girl personality. Seeing her accept her third glass of wine, he finished off his beer and called it quits.
At least on the alcohol. He stewed while watching her indulge in several dances with too many different guys—never mind that they were all from their group, fighters that she, and he, knew well and trusted as friends. They’d all come down en masse to cheer on one of their own. Fighters from the rec center who sparred and coached together. Men he’d known forever. Men who had befriended Cherry when she’d become roommates with Merissa, another fighter’s sister. She was well and truly enmeshed in his life, friends with his friends, a part of their inner group, and if he wasn’t denying himself like a freaking masochist he’d be over there with them right now. She’d be laughing and joking with him. Dancing with him. Treating him like everyone else. That she was so well accepted in their circle made it even more impossible to stop thinking about her, because everywhere he went, he saw her. Finally, after a robust dance that had her laughing aloud, Cherry began to fade. She dropped into a chair at a table with three other fighters and a few women. Her gaze never once came his way—almost as if she knew where he was and avoided making eye contact with him.
Suited Denver fine. Mostly.

Damn it.






Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove. She is currently published with HQN.

Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.

Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here :http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/ 






Thursday, March 26, 2015

Holding Strong

What can I say about Cherry and Denver's story? It was a wonderfully written one. It took be a little to get sucked into the story, but that may have been the outside world instead of the writing. Denver was a sexy, possessive, alpha male who wanted Cherry. Ghosts from his past prevented him from going after her. Cherry knew she wanted Denver from the moment she saw him, and she pressed the issue until he finally gave in. It was a good thing she did because they were perfect for each other and Denver was able to be there when Cherry started getting harassed by her foster brothers. This was a great book and the perfect addition to the Ultimate series. It set up Stack and Vanity's story perfectly, so I now eagerly anticipate that one. This book gets 5 stars along with a must read recommendation from me.

Amazon
Goodreads


An up-and-coming MMA fighter wants more than just one night from a woman fleeing her past in New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster's irresistible new novel
Heavyweight fighter Denver Lewis plays real nice, but he doesn't share. That's why he's been avoiding top-notch flirt Cherry Peyton. But a man can only resist those lush curves for so long. Their encounter surpasses all his fantasies, bringing out protective urges that Cherry's about to need more than she knows…
Denver's combination of pure muscle and unexpected tenderness has been driving Cherry wild. Yet no sooner does she get what she's been craving than old troubles show up on her doorstep. And this time, Cherry can't hide behind a carefree facade. Because the man by her side is one who'll fight like hell to keep her safe…if only she'll trust him enough to let him…

Friday, March 20, 2015

Taming the Legend

Kat Latham has another winner on the books. Taming the Legend was heart-wrenching, yet so uplifting. I had trouble putting this book down for silly things like sleep and food. Camilla and Ash had a complex history and I'm so happy it resolved itself the way I did. Also, I loved learning more about Rugby while reading this story. Another great aspect of this book is it ties to another series. Camilla's brother Gabriel was the hero in the book One Night with Her Bachelor. I didn't get that until Molly and Josh were referenced, but it was a great tie in to that series. The writing was in depth and flowed amazingly. I can't think of a single aspect of this story that I don't like (well, except for the fact it eventually had to end). Kat Latham is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I give this story 5 stars and it is a must read.

AmazonGoodreads
When retiring rugby star Ash Trenton considered his next career move, coaching troubled teens at his ex-girlfriend’s California camp wasn’t on the list. But when Camila Morales reappears after eighteen years, begging for his help, he can’t say no to his first and only love.

Camila was just sixteen when Ash moved on to start his rugby career, leaving her heartbroken…and on her own to make a life-changing decision. Now she needs his help to win a tournament prize and save her camp. Relying on Ash is the last thing she wants. But while it’s hard to get over being dumped for a sport, it’s even harder to ignore the rush of attraction that has only gotten stronger after so many years apart.

Coaching teens is the hardest job Ash has ever had, and the task becomes personal when he begins to fall for Camila all over again. But when he is offered his dream job, will he choose the job—or the woman whose heart he already sacrificed once?

Thursday, March 19, 2015

The Daring Assigment Blog Tour, Review & Guest Post


The Daring Assignment by Victoria Bright was an amazing story. I was captivated from the beginning and read the entire book in one sitting. I felt like I was living Arianna's life and going through her struggles. I felt as confused as she was and fell in love with Zane, just like she did. My heart broke when things came crashing down around her. There was only one thing I didn't like about this book and it was the fact that it ended on a cliffhanger. Normally a cliffhanger would prevent me from enjoying a story, but in some ways it made this one better. I'm now highly anticipating Zane's story Dangerous Concoctions and think it'll be an amazing sequel. I give this book 5 stars and definitely will be reading more from this author.


Title: The Daring Assignment
Author: 
Victoria Bright
Publication Date: 
March 17, 2015

Series: 
A Curvy Assignments Novel
Publisher: 
BookTrope


Synopsis: 
I didn’t mean to hurt anyone, especially him…
I was living the dream. I had a great career as a romance author, a successful boyfriend, and am the daughter to a New York power couple. With my standing, my family groomed me to be perfect. Despite having it all, something was still missing.
In an attempt to break away from my privileged, suffocating life, I was in pursuit of finding my own path to happiness. After my literary agent gave me a risky writing assignment, I set out to write a best-seller that took me completely out of my comfort zone and into the arms of another man. He was only supposed to be a research toy, falling in love wasn’t a part of the plan. As I become tangled into a huge web of lies, I quickly find out that I have a life changing decision to make. Do I choose to continue living a life of comfort, stability, and misery or do I take a chance on the unknown to preserve my happiness?

Goodreads | Amazon 


EXCERPT from The Daring Assignment by Victoria Bright



Open Letter from Arianna Donatelli

Hi everyone!

Thanks so much for reading The Daring Assignment! It was crazy, huh? Believe me, I know; I lived it! It was definitely a learning experience and one that forever changed my life. Although I do not regret the love that I found while on my journey to becoming a bestselling author, I do regret the way I went about it. I had no intentions of falling in love with Zane, but it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Zane…he’s incredible, right? Aside from the spine tingling, mind blowing, toe-curling sex that we have, he’s also a major sweetheart. I felt as if I went into a Build-A-Boyfriend shop and put together everything I wanted in a man and POOF! Here’s Zane Foreman! There were so many things I could’ve done differently though. For starters, I shouldn’t have listened to Gia AT ALL about the whole “sex research partner” nonsense. She can be a bad influence at times, that’s for sure. But I can’t fully blame her. Had it not been for her giving me the idea, I would’ve never experienced the amazing things I had with Zane.

Either way, I know I shouldn’t have carried on my charade as long as I did. I’m sure I struck a few of the wrong chords with some people due to my choices, and I’m definitely sorry for that. It’s hard to explain my situation, as it may not seem that drastic to you. Everything was on the line for me; maybe I was just afraid of being abandoned by everyone I’d ever known. I just wanted my freedom; I didn’t want to end up alone, too.

It seems as though I made the right decision after all when everything was said and done. I’m doing just fine on my own, my book is doing well, and I may have a shot at mending things with Zane in the future. Who knows? Maybe he’ll talk about it in his own book, Dangerous Concoctions. Can you believe his book will be longer than mine? I may or may not be jealous, but since I love him, I will be okay with it.

The Daring Assignment is basically about me getting a writing assignment from my literary agent that in turn helps me evolve into my own person. Not only did I step out of my comfort zone, I found the love of my life and realized what I truly wanted all along: happiness. After freeing myself of Julius the Douchebag and my overbearing parents, I feel…free. And for that, I have no regrets.

Xoxo,

A. Donatelli



Author Bio:
Victoria Bright is from a small town in North Carolina and currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina. She has been writing since she was in the eighth grade, starting with small short stories. As her classmates began showing interest in her work, she began to write longer stories, filling multiple spiral notebooks with her thoughts. During her freshman year in high school, her English teacher encouraged her to enter a writing contest in which she won local, region and state levels. She has entered many writing contests since and have won a few. Figuring out she had a passion to share stories with anyone who would listen, she set out to write her first book Love Unbroken.

Victoria is very versatile in the genre of books she likes to read. Her bookchoice mostly varies on her mood, but she is particularly interested in crime stories, romance, teen fiction, sci-fi, and is now venturing a little in paranormal fiction. As for her own writing, she doesn't really put it into a category or genre. She just writes whatever is on her mind and lets it create itself!


Author Links: 


GIVEAWAY


This tour was organized by Good Tales Book Tours. 

Sunday, March 15, 2015

One Night With Her Bachelor

One Night with Her Bachelor is the sixth and final book in the Montana Born Bachelor Auction books and it was definitely the best of the six. This book had me laughing out loud multiple times, and then tearing up at others. Kat Latham wrote a compelling, heart wrenching, and supremely satisfying book that I will be rereading multiple times. Molly is such a strong woman, but doesn't know her own strength. Gabriel helps her see that strength, but at the same time is hiding something from her because he doesn't want to add to her burden. This story is an amazing example of two people who have been through some of the hardest things life can throw at you and still made it out stronger and better than before. I absolutely loved this story and give it a full 5 stars. Can't wait to read more by the talented and witty Kat Latham.

Goodreads

Bid on a date with this wounded warrior for an unforgettable night of adventure. Aim high—and bid higher!—because no one comes close to local hero Gabriel Morales.

Molly Dekker hates being the town charity case, but when her son Josh is seriously injured she has no choice. She lets her best friend organize a bachelor auction to help pay her massive bills and make Josh’s life more comfortable. She can’t bid on any of the men, but a surprise bidder gives her a gift she never expected: a date with the man who saved her son’s life—the only one she’s in danger of losing her heart to.

Former Air Force pararescueman Gabriel Morales made a career of flying to the rescue, until a tragic helicopter crash stole more than his livelihood. Being auctioned off like a slab of beef isn’t in his recovery plan. But one look, one touch and one night unlocking Molly’s pent-up passion makes him realize how badly he needs to be rescued…and how badly he wants to rescue Molly right back.

Will Molly and Gabriel’s never-quit attitude have them rushing head-first into love? Or will Gabriel’s secret pain stall their relationship before it can get off the ground?

Saturday, March 14, 2015

In Bed with the Bachelor

Megan Crane's In Bed with the Bachelor was nothing like I expected. When the story started I didn't even like Michaela, but thankfully by the end of the story I did. She was brainwashed by her fiancee into having an open relationship, which really meant the fiancee could screw anyone he wanted. Hearing Michaela talk and reading her perspective for the first half of the book made me really not like her. Jesse's perspective was a lot better and those points were what kept me reading. Jesse was a good guy with a messed up piece of family history. That history was coloring his interactions with Michaela. If it wasn't for Jesse, Michaela would have ended up married to a guy that was using her, so them meeting and falling in love was for the best. Despite not liking the heroine at the beginning, she did redeem herself and I am glad I read this story. It is the 5th book in the Bachelor Auction series and I'm one for reading all of a series if I can. This story only gets 3.5 stars from me tho, because it took me so long to like the heroine.

Goodreads
Our latest bachelor has enough family in Marietta to qualify as an honorary native, but hails instead from Seattle, WA, which is where he’ll fly you for a glamorous weekend on the shores of the sparkling Puget Sound. Jesse Grey will treat you the way a local boy turned construction tycoon should: five star accommodations, gourmet dinners, and celebrated Washington wines. We just can’t promise he’ll smile much. Or at all.

Sold to the highest bidder!

Jesse Grey, notorious bachelor and one of Seattle’s foremost construction tycoons, has been roped into participating in the Marietta Bachelor Auction thanks to an expertly executed guilt trip laid out by his family.

Michaela Townsend already has a fiancé and certainly doesn’t need another man in her life. So when her family buys her surly, sexy Jesse at the auction and wrangles him into driving her from Montana to Seattle, she’s appalled yet disturbingly attracted.

As far as Jesse is concerned, Michaela is forbidden fruit. Even though he knows her fiancé isn’t all he seems, Jesse would never take what didn’t belong to him. But how long can he resist the one woman he shouldn’t touch?

Friday, March 13, 2015

Get Lucky Anthology

Get Lucky is a compilation of 6 romances with an Irish twist from 6 wonderful authors. I think there was a story in here for each romance lover. Stories range from the simple contemporary romance to a complex story with Leprechauns and realm travel. All of the books are complete stories by these authors, but Luck of the Irish by Sara Humphreys has a cliffhanger attached to it. Each story in this book was good and I'm glad I was able to get an advanced copy to read. I definitely recommend this book and give it 4 stars. Can't wait to read more from these six wonderful women.





Amazon
Goodreads

Six brand new Irish-themed contemporary, new adult and paranormal romance novellas that will give Get Lucky a whole new meaning.

From USA Today bestselling author Nicola Marsh - Walking the Line
Ellie is a decade older than Finn but that doesn’t stop the charming Irishman from wooing her.
Ellie doesn’t believe in the happily-ever-after dream any longer, not since hers imploded a long time ago. But can a smooth-talking Irishman sway a hard-hearted cynic to believe in love again?

From reader favorite Kelsey Browning - Amazed by You
Author’s assistant Olivia McLaughlin must pull off an extravagant St. Patrick’s Day garden party to win a coveted promotion, but her success hinges on landscape designer Cody Kavanaugh, her old high school boyfriend. Now, Olivia must decide which she can’t live without—the job that will make her a success or the man offering her a second chance at love.

From sizzling hot and bestselling Robin Covington - One Little Kiss
Trapped by a snowstorm in the same place at the same time, Leighton and Jonas must decide if their hot night together was the end of their story or if they started forever with just one little kiss…

From RT Book Review Award nominee Avery Flynn - Big, Bad Red
There’s nothing little or naive about this Red Riding Hood. Red runs the biggest fencing operation for fairytale treasures out of the back of Granny’s Pub. But when she comes into possession of the Caladbolg sword things get hairy–as in hot, sexy Liam MacTíre the werewolf hairy.

From paranormal darling Sara Humphreys - Luck of the Irish
Banished to the mirrored realm for hundreds of years, Declan Aherne had nothing but time to plot his revenge and mourn the loss of his beloved wife. But when a beautiful human woman, with a familiar amulet, stares into the mirror....Declan's luck was about to change.

From the sexy sweet Kimberly Kincaid - Something Borrowed
When her successful brother announces his plans for an impromptu wedding in Ireland, unlucky-in-love chef Sasha Arrington is stuck between the Blarney Stone and a hard place. Sasha needs a wingman for her brother’s wedding, and the romantic destination could be just what James Sullivan needs to tempt Sasha out of the friend zone.

Friday, March 6, 2015

What a Bachelor Needs

What a Bachelor Needs by Kelly Hunter is the 4th book in the Bachelor Auction series. Mardie and Jett were good together and I enjoyed the story except for one rather large flaw...the last 3/4 of the story seemed rather rushed. Things were moving along at a nice pace and then all of the sudden, they're in love. It felt like the author realized that she was meeting her page max and had to wrap up the story. I think that those who have read the other books in this series would still benefit from reading Mardie and Jett's story and would still purchase this for myself despite the rushed ending. I'm giving this book 3.5 stars.

Goodreads

Your date with ski champ Jett Casey is an either/or deal. He’ll take you off-piste for the ultimate Montana ski adventure or he’ll put his handyman skills at your disposal for a week.

Single mom Mardie Griffin has a run-down old house in need of fixing and a memory of Jett Casey as her saviour in a time of great need. So when her friends acquire Jett’s services at a bachelor auction and send him to fix up her house, she sets aside her mistrust of men and lets him in.

Elite athlete Jett Casey has the world at his feet and no desire for stability. But there’s one woman he’s never forgotten and if he can help make her safe this time, maybe she’ll stop haunting him.

No strings, no sex, no commitment. Just fix things. Surely it can’t be that difficult…


Thursday, March 5, 2015

Sex on the Beach Series



Losing Us by Jen McLaughlin

Losing Us is the first book I've read by Jen McLaughlin and it was one that made me a fan of hers. Losing Us is the story of Mac and Austin, but it's not their love story. Its the story of them overcoming an obstacle that got in the way of their happily ever after. I felt the heartbreak and angst that the characters were feeling through the entire book, and it was impossible for me to put down.  What I didn't realize when I started reading the story was Losing Us is the second book about Mac and Austin, Between Us is the first. I enjoyed Losing Us quite a bit, but I think it would have been enhanced if I had read Between Us first, and Between Us is actually going to be the next book I read. As a stand alone, I give Losing Us 4.5 stars along with a must read recommendation for romance lovers.

Chasing Me by Jennifer Probst

Chasing Me starts with such a heart wrenching, gripping beginning that I wasn't able to put this book down.  James has questioned if he was good enough for Quinn since he started falling for her and in this book those insecurities start tearing them apart (along with some help from outside sources). I loved seeing James battle with himself and his insecurities because it made him so real. His struggles are ones that anyone could have while in a relationship and Quinn's reaction to those struggles were so real that I felt like I could be reacting that way. I can't say enough good things about this book and definitely recommend it. The reader would benefit from reading Beyond Me first, but you can still understand this book without reading. This book gets 5 stars from me and Jennifer Probst continues to be a must read author for me.

Finding You by Jenna Bennett

Finding You was so addictive that I read it in one sitting. I loved the mystery aspect in this book, and I think it was made better by the fact that I read the first book before reading this one. While this book could be read without reading the first, I feel that reading Before You really enhanced this story. Ty and Cassie broke up between where the last story left off and where this one began, but they were forced together when the man whose trial they both have to testify at escapes police custody. Ty once again had to protect Cassie from him and it helped Cassie realize that regardless of if she was with Ty, she would always worry about him because she loved him. I can't wait for the third and final book in this trilogy to come out. I highly recommend this one and give it 5 stars.

a Rafflecopter giveaway  



Losing Us BOOK SUMMARY:

When it all comes crashing down...

Everything I thought I had with Austin Murphy—safety, stability, the normalcy I crave but my celebrity lifestyle rarely allows—was ripped away in one night. I wanted to surprise him, but the joke was on me. Now I don't know if I ever really knew him at all. 
Someone has to pick up the pieces...
Mackenzie Forbes was everything I ever wanted and the one person I didn't deserve. When a past mistake costs me the girl I love, I'll do everything I can to get her back. We both have demanding careers and family secrets darkening our pasts, but I need Mackenzie in my future. 
Sometimes everything you have to give just isn't enough...
 





Chasing Me BOOK SUMMARY:

Quinn and James' Story Continues in Chasing Me...
It was supposed to be a love story....

I knew she was out of my league but I didn’t care. Looking back, I wonder if I hadn’t pursued her, would things have turned out differently? Is it Fate that determines our choices in life? God? Free will? Or just plain old innate selfishness?
I got her, of course. There hadn’t been a girl I wasn’t able to seduce. Problem was she seduced me right back, body, mind, and soul. She possessed me, tormented me, and showed me a world that was so bright and pure I was almost blinded.
 Didn’t she know after such a drug I could never settle for less? Didn’t she realize no matter how many times I screwed up, or broke her heart, or bent her to my will, I’d never be able to let her go?
 If I hadn’t known such intensity existed, would it have been better for both of us?
True love, the real kind, isn’t nice and sweet and pure. No, it’s dirty, and sinful, and messy. It’s like ripping a chunk of flesh from your body and watching yourself bleed out in slow, helpless intervals until you thankfully pass out.

This isn’t a love story. But it’s the only story I got.

Finding You BOOK SUMMARY:


Sex on the Beach, the do-over.
I had a simple plan for what to do in Key West the second time around.

Testify at the trial of the rapist I helped catch last year.
Make sure he gets locked away for the rest of his natural life, so he can never, ever hurt another girl.
Wait for my BFFs to get to town, so we can celebrate.
And stay far away from Ty Connor, because three months after breaking up with him, I still don’t know whether being with him is worse than being without him.
Spring Break, take two.
All of the above? Out the window.
Turns out testifying is a lot harder than I thought it would be.
 Not only is the rapist I helped catch last year not locked away for the rest of his life, he’s on the loose and looking for me.
 Oh yeah, and it’s definitely harder being without Ty than being with him, especially when I have to watch him with someone else.
Welcome to my world. 
 
GOODREADS LINKS:  
LOSING US -  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24280033-losing-us
CHASING ME -  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24748839-chasing-me
FINDING YOU - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24847244-finding-you


BUY LINKS:


LOSING US by Jen McLaughlin Links:

CHASING ME by Jennifer Probst Links:

FINDING YOU by Jenna Bennett Links: