Romance book reviews. Reviews of books that make my heart race, have a beautiful love story, and a happy ending.

Romance book reviews. Reviews of books that make my heart race, have a beautiful love story, and a happy ending.

Aestas Book Database
SALES, NEW RELEASES, RECOMMENDATIONS, & PRE-ORDERS — Week of June 9, 2015

SALES, NEW RELEASES, RECOMMENDATIONS, & PRE-ORDERS — Week of June 9, 2015

by · 8 Comments

We have had a fantastic week of new releases PLUS I have 3 new top favorite recommendations so scroll down and check ’em out! ENJOY!! 😀

BREAKING NEWS UPDATES:

*** JUST RELEASED ***

 

King by T.M. Frazier (Read my Review) — Now live!!

Holy wow, I totally LOVED this book!! Dark and gritty, sweet and sexy, raw and shocking, and utterly addictive, with an unapologetic, badass Alpha male hero and unexpected twists that I never saw coming!! I highly recommend it!!

Homeless. Hungry. Desperate.
Doe has no memories of who she is or where she comes from.

A notorious career criminal just released from prison, King is someone you don’t want to cross unless you’re prepared to pay him back in blood, sweat, sex or a combination of all three.

King’s future hangs in the balance. Doe’s is written in her past. When they come crashing together, they will have to learn that sometimes in order to hold on, you have to first let go.

*** 2 NEW TOP RECOMMENDATIONS ***

 

A Pound of Flesh by Sophie Jackson (Read my Review)

SQUEEEEEEE!!!!! I absolutely LOOOOOOOVED this book!!! If you love SEXY BAD BOY heroes and unique love stories, then you have to try this!!!! The thrill of their forbidden romance kept my heart RACING the whole way through. I swooned over their love for each other, and really appreciated the way there was no ‘stupid’ drama. And now I just can’t stop smiling because the story was just so freaking GOOD!!!! I adored it!!! It’s about a “strong-minded prison tutor who discovers that her sexy bad-boy student is far more than he appears to be…”

Haunted by nightmares of her father’s murder 15 years ago, she decides to face her fears by teaching inmates at a prison. There she meets an arrogant inmate who’s as handsome as he is dangerous… As teacher and student, they’re forced to leave their animosities at the door and learn that one should never judge a book by its cover…. and she realizes there’s much more to her angry student than she thought, leaving them to face a new, perilous obstacle: their undeniable attraction to one another.

 

Never Let You Go by Katy Regnery (Read my Review)

HOLY HELL!!! I just finished reading this in one non-stop sitting because I quite literally could NOT put it down. I mean seriously… THE ANGST!!!!! Gah. *clutches heart* It’ll be a while before my heart rate to go back to normal, but WOW, it was unputdownable!!! It felt like I barely blinked or stopped to breathe because I was flipping the pages so fast…… It was sweet and romantic, heart-breaking and painful, angsty as all freaking hell, and really just a gorgeous story of UNDYING LOVE!!! The story was very unique and it’s a complete standalone so if you’re looking for a new read, check it out!! — It’s 40% OFF for a limited time!

“I missed you like crazy. I love you forever.”

This is a modern retelling of Hansel & Gretel — “Thirteen-year-old foster children Griselda and Holden escape from their abductor after three years of brutal captivity. Tragically, one of them makes it to safety, but the other is left behind. Ten years later, Griselda’s boyfriend drags her to a fight club grudge match, and her world is turned upside down when she watches Holden step into the ring…”

*** 2 LATEST RELEASES ***

 

The Offer by Karina Halle — New Release!!

Woohoo!! This standalone JUST went live and it’s ONLY $0.99!!
— “She used to have it all, but when she gets knocked up and her asshat boyfriend leaves her, her perfectly crafted world comes tumbling down. Now, she is the proud single mom to a five-year old daughter and living a giant lie. She can barely afford their ghetto apartment… Her saving grace comes in the form of a tall, handsome and wealthy Scotsman who understands a thing or two about pride, so when tragic circumstances place her at rock bottom, he offers them a place to live in the apartment complex he owns. It’s pretty much the perfect deal, so as long as she doesn’t mind living beside him…”

 

The Song of David by Amy Harmon — New Release!!

OMG!!! This is now live!!! It sounds amazing!!

— “I won my first fight when I was eleven years old, and I’ve been throwing punches ever since. For me, heaven was the octagon. Until I met her… The girl I wanted to fight for, the girl I wanted to claim. The girl who taught me that sometimes the biggest heroes go unsung and the most important battles are the ones we don’t think we can win.” <-- LOVE!!

*** THIS WEEK’S NEW RELEASES ***

 

Zack (Cold Fury Hockey Novel) by Sawyer Bennett — New Release!!

Ahh!! The hero of this book is a pro hockey player AND a single dad!!
— “Still crippled by emotional baggage, and now a single dad, he’s in need of some serious help with his son. While the new nanny wins his son’s heart, he isn’t ready for a woman’s touch… Still, the sparks between them are undeniable, and she’ll have to show him that love is worth the fight.”

Full series (interconnected standalones): Alex, Garrett, Zack, Ryder.

 

Breathless in Love by Bella Andre & Jennifer Skully — New Release!!

Sexy billionaire alert!! This series is about “sexy, self-made men from the wrong side of town who survived hell” and are now each finding love!!
— “He has a dark past that he’s kept a closely guarded secret… very few people have ever heard his real story and he plans to keep it that way. After surviving a hellish childhood, he’s now living the dream life. But something’s missing. He doesn’t quite know what until a simple letter from a teenage boy brings her into his life. If only he could ever be worthy of her love… “

 

Twisted Bond by Emma Hart — New Release!!

This romantic suspense standalone sounds FUN & SEXY!! The heroine is a private investigator who finds a body in a dumpster…
— “My connection to the victim is entirely coincidental. Until I’m hired by her husband to investigate her murder and shoved into the path of a Detective who is my nemesis, a persistent pain in my ass, and one hell of a sexy son of a bitch… Shame he still holds a grudge from that time I shot him in the foot twelve years ago, or we could have something…”

 

Amber To Ashes by Gail McHugh — New Release!!

Love triangle alert! This is book 1 in the Torn Heart Series which is a “gritty new novel about a shattered young woman who unexpectedly falls for two best friends.”
— Amber Moretti’s life changes in the span of minutes. An orphaned outsider, she is desperate to start fresh the moment she walks onto campus. In the time it takes to cross the university’s dining hall, she meets two men who bring color, air, and light to her darkened world…But one devastating event changes everything, shattering each of their lives…and Amber isn’t sure she can recover from it.

 

Masquerade by JS Cooper — New Release!!

This is #2.5 in the Swept Away series, a novella that falls between the second and third books. The series is described as a “dark and sexy romance about a woman marooned on a desert island with a mysterious stranger… but is he friend or foe?”

The books must be read in order (continuing story):
#1 Illusion, #1.5 Charade, #2 Disillusioned, #2.5 Masquerade, #3 Resolution.

 

Even When You Lie To Me by Jessica Alcott — New Release!!

A “taboo love set against the backdrop of a suburban high school.”

Charlie, a senior, isn’t looking forward to her last year of high school… But everything changes when she meets her new English teacher. Mr. Drummond is smart. Irreverent. Funny. Hot. Everyone loves him. And Charlie thinks he’s the only one who gets her. She also thinks she might not be the only one with a crush…

 

Six Years by Stephanie Witter — New Release!!

This is a standalone contemporary romance novel!

They hadn’t seen each other in six years.
She’d always had a crush on him.
He’d only ever seen her like a little sister.
And now…he’s back.

 

Back Stage by T Gephart — New Release!!

Rock star alert!! This is a second chance romance in a series of interconnected standalones. Reading order: #1 High Strung, #2 Crash Ride, #3 Back Stage.
— A one-night stand right before Jason Irwin left for his big break was no big deal. Except it wasn’t just any girl. It should never have happened, so best he pretend like it didn’t. Ten years later he remembered exactly why he went down that road. She was even hotter and she was also pissed as hell. Sounded like the perfect combination to invite on their world tour…

 

Broken By Lies by Rebecca Shea — New Release!!

This is the sequel and conclusion to Bound By Lies.
The books should be read in order.

“Torn between two men; one was what I needed,
the other was what I wanted.
One man was safe and the other was dangerous.
But both men would lay down their lives to save me…”

 

And Then You by Amanda Richardson — New Release!!

This is an “emotional” standalone romance.

The heroine “accepts a job as a live-in nanny for a recent widower with a young daughter… Day by day, they learn to heal and discover that perhaps friendship (and eventually love) can overcome heartbreak of the worst kind, even if that means abandoning the life they thought they’d live and embracing a new, unknown future…”

 

Back To Back by Chelsea Cameron — New Release!!

This is the sequel to Behind Your Back. It continues and concludes the story as the final book in a 2-book NA romantic suspense series.
He underestimated me. The girl with the red hair and green eyes.
But I also underestimated him. We’re both good at what we do.
Together, we’re unstoppable. But I’ll have to be careful.
Last time I played him and he’s not going to take the betrayal lightly.
I’ll have to watch my back… and my heart.

 

Learning To Fall by Jillian Eaton — New Release!!

Here’s another student-teacher forbidden romance…
— “Charming, mysterious, and wickedly handsome, he’s not the kind of man Imogen ever planned on falling for, but after a chance meeting at a bar that’s exactly what she finds herself doing and he quickly becomes the one thing in her life she can’t control. The one thing in her life she doesn’t want to control. But as their passion escalates, so does the dangerous situation they find themselves in. Because he isn’t just the man she’s falling in love with… he’s also her student.”

 

Hold Me by Anna Zaires — New Release!!

Dark romance fans, this is the final book in the Twist Me trilogy.
Reading order: #1 Twist Me, #2 Keep Me, #3 Hold Me.

Captor and captive. Lovers. Soulmates.
We’re all that and more. We thought we were past the worst of it.
We thought we finally had a chance. We thought wrong.
We’re Nora and Julian, and this is our story.

 

Amber Smoke: The Escaped Book One by Kristin Cast — New Release!!

Jennifer Armentrout calls this a “unique twist on Greek mythology and heart-stopping action” and its the first book in a new series.
— There is a world that runs parallel to our own in which the souls of the damned are caged… Someone has opened the cage and the Furies send a warrior to try to bring those souls back. He is young and handsome, headstrong and impulsive, and he won’t be able to do it alone… With the police closing in, Alek and Eva must work together to save everything they hold dear…

 

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella — New Release!!

“A terrific blend of comedy, romance, and psychological recovery in a contemporary YA novel sure to inspire and entertain.”
— An anxiety disorder disrupts fourteen-year-old Audrey’s daily life. But when Audrey meets Linus, her brother’s gaming teammate, she is energized. She connects with him. Audrey can talk through her fears with Linus in a way she’s never been able to do with anyone before. As their friendship deepens and her recovery gains momentum, a sweet romantic connection develops…

 

Shut Up And Kiss Me by Madeline Sheehan & Claire C Riley — New Release!!

This appears to be a standalone! It’s $0.99 for a limited time.
Having lived a privileged life, William is used to getting what he wants, and who he wants. Now, though, in his thirties, he’s bored, and seeking more from his life than mindless sex, and even worse—mindless women. Spotting Mila from across the club, he senses right away that she’s different from what he’s used to… One night together will change everything for both of them.

 
 …

Read More  >
Book Review — KING and TYRANT by T.M. Frazier

Book Review — KING and TYRANT by T.M. Frazier

by · 23 Comments

“There is a difference between being bad and being evil.”

What. An. AWESOME. Ride!!!

Holy wow, I totally LOVED this book!! Dark and gritty, sweet and sexy, raw and shocking, and utterly addictive, with an unapologetic, badass Alpha male hero and unexpected twists that I never saw coming!! I couldn’t put it down from the moment I started it reading and now I can’t wait for the next one!

TM Frazier writes some of the best dark romance out there. Her writing is strong and compelling. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and doesn’t hold back. Her characters hover in that mysterious and intriguing grey zone between good and bad and keep you constantly second guessing how you should feel about them. They’re incredibly complex and honestly, that’s what makes them so fascinating. And while her stories are raw and gritty, they always have a side of sweet and are woven with just enough depth and emotion to tug all your heart strings and really make you care. She’s definitely an auto-buy author for me!

Homeless. Hungry. Desperate.

Doe has no memories of who she is or where she comes from.

A notorious career criminal just released from prison, King is someone you don’t want to cross unless you’re prepared to pay him back in blood, sweat, sex or a combination of all three.

King’s future hangs in the balance. Doe’s is written in her past. When they come crashing together, they will have to learn that sometimes in order to hold on, you have to first let go.

“They call me King.”

King. Brantley King. Career criminal. Tattoo artist. Badass alpha. Fresh out of prison. — “This guy didn’t look like he hung with the wrong crowd. This guy was the wrong crowd.” — He grew up in merciless world, living on the edge. And a product of a brutal life, he was dark, dangerous, and totally untamed.

“So he’s not going to kill me?” I asked hopefully.
Didn’t say that… He’s not the most predictable guy, and he’s been away for a few years…”
“Years?… Where was he?”
“State.”
“College?”
“Prison.”
Prison made much more sense than college.

Doe was the complete opposite. Her past was a mystery to her — after waking up in a garbage dump in a heap of her own blood with no memory of who she was or where she came from, the only thing she had left was a reflection in the mirror that even she didn’t recognize. She wasn’t cut for his world. Tiny, frail, but surprisingly bold and fiesty. Everything about him screamed danger to her, but even though he scared the hell out of her, I loved the way she still didn’t take any of his shit…

He expected me to cower.

He expected wrong.

“I don’t give a fuck who you are, asshole.” I seethed. “And you’re not as smart as you seem to think you are. Tell me something, who exactly was it who appointed you judge of all people?”

I thought my words would start an all out war but instead King didn’t look angrier, he only looked mildly amused. “Well you are partially right. Because when it comes to me and mine, I am the judge. I am the jury. And if need be, I am the motherfucking executioner.”

So badass!!!!!!!

They naturally got off to a rocky start. A girl like her had no place in his world and he wasn’t about to start changing things. He had a single minded goal since getting out of prison (a secret you’ll learn as you read) and would do anything he had to to get it. She was a detour he never expected. She brought out a whole other side of him. He wanted to own her, possess her, but slowly but surely, she began to steal his heart.

“King was smart, calculating, and cunning. Worst of all, he had the power to make my knees both tremble in fear and weak with desire. He was someone I had to stay away from, but according to him, that wasn’t about to happen.”

I don’t want to tell you too much more about the story because it’s such a twisty journey (with shocking reveals that I never saw coming) that you should really just experience it for yourselves. Heads up though, there might be a trigger warning for some readers, buuut the good guys do come in and save the day. This author really doesn’t hold back and many of the events are dark and gritty. I keep coming back to those two words because they really are the best descriptors for the feeling of this story. But she writes that style like no one else. Her writing is just so strong and compelling that the pages flew by for me.

“He’d told me that I was his before, that I belonged to him. But before that night, I hadn’t believed him.

It was what his body told me that took me by surprise and shook me to my very core.

He was mine.”

Between the sexy hotness, the shocking reveals and plot twists, and surprisingly hilarious one-liners, this was an unputdownable book with strong underlying messages about the strength of friendship, the bonds of loyalty, love, and family, and also a reminder not to judge people on their outward appearances.

The ending had my heart in my throat — huge reveals, huge twists (yes, plural!) — and now I’m absolutely desperate to read the next book to see how it all ends. Admittedly, it’s very rare for me to read a book with a cliffhanger so I pick and choose the ones I read very carefully. This was definitely one worth reading to me and I’m so glad I’m so glad that I gave it a shot, I loved the whole story start to finish, and I can’t wait for the sequel to see what happens next to these characters! Especially with that last twist. Oh my!!

This is the first book in a 2-book series. The sequel Tyrant will be out in August (pre-order will be available on King‘s release day). I’m personally really glad I read this now though and didn’t wait!

Fans of dark, gritty stories with badass Alpha male heroes are sure to fall in love with King!!

Rating: 4.5 stars. Contemporary Adult dark romance.

And seriously. How hot is that cover????

_____________________________________

*** MINI-REVIEW of TYRANT (SEQUEL) ***

EDIT: I’m writing this part in mid-August (two months after I reviewed KING) at the time of TYRANT’s release. I decided not to review it separately because there’s really nothing I can say about it that isn’t a spoiler or that I haven’t already said in the previous review. What I can say is that TYRANT is very fast-paced and gives all the answers that you’re left wanting at the end of KING. True to the nature of this story, it’s dark, gritty, and action-packed, and concludes their story (complete with an epilogue). Enjoy! 🙂

“They call me King, mother fucker.”

_____________________________________

*** FULL SERIES ***
Note: this is a 2-book series.

BOOK #1: KING — Buy for Kindle
BOOK #2: TYRANT — Buy for Kindle

KING promo

$25.00 GIVEAWAY & SIGNED SERIES — THE QUANTUM TRILOGY by MS Force

$25.00 GIVEAWAY & SIGNED SERIES — THE QUANTUM TRILOGY by MS Force

by · 196 Comments

I have an awesome giveaway for you here!!! 😀

I recently fell in love with the Quantum Trilogy by MS Force (that’s Marie Force) and read all three books — Virtuous, Valorous, and Victorious — back to back because I just could NOT put them down. They’re an erotic contemporary romance series (with BDSM) and are utterly addictive! Definitely top favorites!!

The hero was a world famous movie star who was also a sexual Dominant… and he fell in love with a young teacher he ran into at a park one day, who had sworn off sex after a scarring experience in her past.

“From New York to Los Angeles, from Hollywood to Las Vegas, their whirlwind love affair has it all — romance, passion, steamy hot sex, relentless paparazzi and a murder that could be their undoing…”

As a special giveaway, the author has generously offered to gift one lucky winner signed copies of the whole trilogy AND she’s going to include a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card too!!!

Check out the books below and enter the Rafflecopter at the bottom of page for your chance to WIN!!

Book #1 — VIRTUOUS
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my review

Book #2 — VALOROUS
Buy in Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my review

Book #3 — VICTORIOUS
Buy in Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my review

*** SIGNED GIVEAWAY ***

Open Internationally.
Void where prohibited by law. Must be over 18 to enter. 1 winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

SALES, NEW RELEASES, RECOMMENDATIONS, & PRE-ORDERS — Week of June 2, 2015

SALES, NEW RELEASES, RECOMMENDATIONS, & PRE-ORDERS — Week of June 2, 2015

by · 8 Comments

There are tons of amazing new releases and recommendations here so be sure to check ’em all out in the various lists below! Tons to choose from! HAPPY READING 😀

*** $0.99 SALE: 5 STAR FAVORITE ***

 

The Mason List by SD Hendrickson (Read my Review)

OMG!! This is of my top favorite books EVER and it just went on sale for $0.99!!! Honestly, it was absolutely breathtaking!! I loved the writing, I FELT the story, and the INTENSITY kept my heart racing the whole way!! It’s one of the best books I’ve ever read. An EPIC friends-to-lovers romance. 5++ STARS!! Don’t miss this!!

“An epic love. An epic hate.
An epic story that would last a lifetime.”

*** $0.99 SALE: TOP FAVORITE ***

 

Say The Word by Julie Johnson (My Review)

YAY!!! This was one of my top favorite standalones of 2014 and it just went on a very rare sale!! I LOVED this book!!! It captured the intensity of a once-in-a-lifetime, heart pounding romance that was given a second chance and mixed it in with suspenseful drama and lighthearted fun. It was unputdownable for me!! If you haven’t read it and you’re looking for an AMAZING book, grab this for $0.99!!

“I think that if two people are meant to be together, nothing can ever truly separate them. Time, distance, other people — it doesn’t matter.”

*** ANNOUNCEMENT ***

 

Fifty Shades fans!! EL James just announced that GREY: Fifty Shades of Grey from Christian’s POV will be released this month on June 18th!!

She said: “For the readers who wanted to read Fifty Shades of Grey from Christian Grey’s POV — on June 18 (Christian Grey’s birthday) the book GREY: Fifty Shades of Grey told by Christian Grey will be released!”

  • Pre-order GREY (Kindle) (blurb included)
  • Pre-order GREY (Paperback)

    • *** WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS ***

     

    Also, King by TM Frazier , a super highly anticipated release that so many of you have been asking about non-stop is finally up for pre-order with a release date of June 15!! Woohoo!!

    And two more books The Trouble With Paper Planes by Amanda Dick and Never Let You Go by Katy Regnery just went up for pre-order (coming out very soon) and they both sound amazing and UNIQUE!

    *** THIS WEEK’S NEW RELEASES ***  These are all now live!!

    *** 6 UPCOMING JUNE RELEASES I CAN’T WAIT FOR ***  Pre-Order Now!!

    *** NEW TOP RECOMMENDATION ***  Consolation & Conviction by Corinne Michaels!! I read these back-to-back and LOVED them!!! I couldn’t put either of them down even for a minute!!! They were addictive, thrilling, emotional, romantic, sexy, and had ALL THE FEELS!!! If you love big, strong Alpha male heroes, heroines with kids, and military romances, then these are must-read!! (Read my Reviews)

    *** 5 STAR TRILOGY RECOMMENDATION *** : I recently read all 3 books in a trilogy I LOVED!!! It’s sexy, swoony, and addictive. My heart was racing!! #1 Virtuous, 2 Valorous, 3 Victorious (more below). PS: I’d especially highly recommend this for fans of Fifty Shades, Crossfire, or Love Unscripted.

    This is my FIRST 6-STAR RATING this year!!! > The Life Intended by Kristin Harmel (My Review). Seriously guys, this was quite literally one of the best books I’ve ever read in my whole entire life!! ❤

    *** 2 NEW REVIEWS *** :

    *** RT CONVENTION 2015 RECAP *** I recently got back from this amazing and HUGE romance book event in Dallas! I was there for almost a whole week and I met so many wonderful authors (including EL James!!!!) and readers there. It was an unforgettable experience!!! See my pics here!!

    *** AUDIOBOOK UPGRADES *** Don’t forget to check for your latest audiobook upgrades. This is a special program from Amazon that constantly updates with the newest deals. Everyone will see something different based on YOUR personal eBooks. Huge savings!! Click here for your audiobook upgrades

    *** THIS WEEK’S NEW RELEASES ***

     

    Moonlight on Nightingale Way by Samantha Young — New Release!!

    This is the newest On Dublin Street standalone romance!
    — “She’s escaped her manipulative family by moving to a new city. Her new life, made to suit her own needs, is almost perfect. All she needs to do is find her Mr. Right—or at least figure out a way to ignore her irresistible yet annoying womanizer of a neighbor… She’s determined to have nothing to do with him until a life-changing surprise slowly begins turning the wild heartbreaker into exactly the kind of strong, stable man she’s been searching for.”

     

    Sweet Ache by K. Bromberg — New Release!!

    This is the latest Driven series standalone! A sexy bet turns into so much more…
    — “He’s a bad boy rock star with a good guy heart who has lived a lifetime of cleaning up after his twin brother’s mistakes. His twin’s most recent screwup could land him in jail and risk the band’s future. When he agrees to guest lecture at a local college to stay in the judge’s good graces, a bet with his bandmate to seduce his sexy teaching assistant is icing on the cake… But she’s harder to bed than he imagined. She knows his type and is determined to avoid him at all costs.”

     

    One More Shot by Victoria Denault — New Release!!

    Hockey player alert!! I love the sound of this second chance romance…
    — “Drafted by the NHL at eighteen, he was headed for fame, and there was only one person he wanted to share it with. He was crazy in love with her, and finally told her so. They shared an amazing night… then everything fell apart… She tries not to think about it, but she does. Especially now, when she’s staring into his sky-blue eyes for the first time in six years. She can’t tell if she loves him or hates him. But he was lucky to find her once. No way will he lose her again.”

     

    The Player by Denise Grover Swank — New Release!!

    This is the second standalone in the Wedding Pact series (romantic comedy) and it’s a second chance romance. Here’s the first one: The Substitute.
    — The heroine is a divorce attorney who is convinced that marriage should be based on practicality, not passion. But as her own wedding approaches, she finds herself remembering her law school boyfriend, the only man who she’s ever loved, and regretting what might have been… Then a twist of fate lands him back in her life and he’s convinced they should give their love a second chance…

     

    Follow Me Back (Twisted Love #2) by A. Meredith Walters —

    The sequel to Lead Me Not, this dangerously sexy novel continues Aubrey and Maxx’s love story.
    — Aubrey Duncan has loved… and lost. Should she follow a heart that’s betrayed her or a head that tells her to let go? Maxx Demelo’s addiction almost destroyed him. It ruined his life and, most importantly, his relationship with the only girl he ever loved. He has vowed to become the man Aubrey Duncan deserves. Even if he has to tear himself apart to do it…

     

    The Marriage Contract by Katee Robert — New Release!!

    “A smoking hot new series about the O’Malley family-wealthy, powerful, dangerous and seething with scandal.”
    — Teague O’Malley hates pretty much everything associated with his family’s name. And when his father orders him to marry Callista Sheridan to create a “business” alliance, he’s ready to tell him exactly where he can stuff his millions. But then he meets his fiancée, sees the bruises on her neck and the fight still left in her big blue eyes, and vows he will do everything in his power to protect her…

     

    The Status of All Things by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke — New Release!!

    This sounds so unique and it’s described as “heartwarming and hilarious”!!
    — Kate is a thirty-five-year-old woman who is obsessed with social media. So when her fiancé, Max, breaks things off at their rehearsal dinner, she goes straight to Facebook to share it with the world. But something’s changed. Suddenly, Kate’s real life starts to mirror whatever she writes in her Facebook status. With all the power at her fingertips, and heartbroken and confused over why Max left her, Kate goes back in time to rewrite their history…

     

    Beyond The Cut by Sarah Castille — New Release!!

    Biker fans, check this out!!
    — He’s an outlaw biker with allegiance to one thing and one thing only: his Motorcycle Club. But when it comes to one stunningly sexy, fiercely independent girl, Cade finds himself…hungrier for more. Trouble is on her heels and he wants to be the answer to her prayers, whether she wants him to be or not. What can’t be denied is the red-hot attraction between them. However, as they fall deeper, the danger rises and Cade may have to sacrifice it all..

     

    Midnight Captive by Elle Kennedy — New Release!!

    This latest standalone in the Killer Instincts romantic suspense series. It’s a love triangle!! — Former CIA agent Bailey Jones has spent months trying to forget her night of passion with mercenary Sean Reilly. An elite assassin, she has no room in her life for the tempting bad boy. When he’s implicated in a robbery she knows something isn’t right. In fact, he’s stuck in the middle of a dark and dirty conspiracy that put his twin brother’s life at risk. And hers too when she agrees to help. As the stakes are raised, she finds herself torn between two brothers…

     

    Shards of Hope by Nalini Singh — New Release!!

    Psy/Changeling fans, this is the latest book in this sci-fi/fantasty series!

    Awakening wounded in a darkened cell, their psychic abilities blocked, Aden and Zaira know they must escape. But when the lethal soldiers break free from their mysterious prison, they find themselves in a harsh, inhospitable landscape far from civilization. Their only hope for survival is to make it to the hidden home of a predatory changeling pack that doesn’t welcome outsiders…

     

    Kane by L.A. Casey — New Release!!

    This is the latest standalone in a series! It’s an enemies-to-lovers romance…
    — Kane Slater is a tortured soul. Literally. He is misunderstood by people, even feared by them thanks to the scars that mar his face and body… She’s the only woman who stands up to him and throws his bullshit back at him without fear of hurting him. Kane is the only man who can see right through Aideen’s tough exterior. He knows her deepest, and darkest secrets. They can’t stand each other, but they want each other. Badly…

     

    Suddenly One Summer by Julie James — New Release!!

    “A novel about a man and a woman whose summer is about to get very, very hot…”

    Divorce lawyer Victoria Slade has seen enough unhappy endings to swear off marriage forever. That doesn’t mean she’s opposed to casual dating—just not with her cocky new neighbor, who is as gorgeous and tempting as he is off-limits. But once she agrees to take on his sister’s case, she’s as determined to win as ever—even if that means teaming up with him….

     

    The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler — New Release!!

    This is a standalone YA romance about a talented singer who loses her ability to speak after a tragic accident, leading her to a seaside town to find romance.
    — Elyse d’Abreau was destined for stardom—until a boating accident took everything from her. Now, the beautiful singer can’t sing. She can’t even speak… Christian Kane is a notorious playboy—insolent, arrogant, and completely charming. He’s also the only person who doesn’t treat Elyse like a glass statue… scariest of all [is] opening her heart to a boy who’s best known for breaking them.

     

    The Good Girls by Sara Shepard — New Release!!

    From the author of Pretty Little Liars comes the “shocking” sequel to The Perfectionists. — Even though Mackenzie, Ava, Caitlin, Julie, and Parker all talked about killing rich bully Nolan Hotchkiss, they didn’t actually go through with it. It’s just a coincidence that Nolan died in exactly the way they planned… right? Except Nolan wasn’t the only one they fantasized about killing. When someone else they named dies, the girls wonder if they’re being framed. Or are they about to become the killer’s next targets?

     

    Elements of Chemistry by Penny Reid — New Release!!

    This is a complete series bundle!! It’s a fun & sexy romance and I’ve heard from many readers that it’s really good!!

    One week. Private beach. Invisible girl. Jerk-faced bully.
    What’s the worst that could happen?
    He’s a “bad boy, jerkface bully, and the universe’s hottest, wealthiest, and most unobtainable bachelor — who is also her chemistry lab partner.”
     …

    Read More  >
    Book Review — Remember Me This Way by Sabine Durrant

    Book Review — Remember Me This Way by Sabine Durrant

    by · 2 Comments

    That’s the thing about revenge. People get it wrong.
    It isn’t always sweet.

    Obsession. Lies. Revenge.

    This is a psychological thriller. I’ll be honest, I very rarely read this genre — as you know, I’m a hardcore romance fan — but I was just in the mood for something different today… and this blurb grabbed me.

    A year after her husband Zach’s death, Lizzie goes to lay flowers where his fatal accident took place. As she makes her way along the motorway, she thinks about their life together. She wonders whether she has changed since Zach died. She wonders if she will ever feel whole again. At last she reaches the spot. And there, tied to a tree, is a bunch of lilies. The flowers are addressed to her husband.

    Someone has been there before her. Lizzie loved Zach. She really did. But she’s starting to realise she didn’t really know him. Or what he was capable of…

    The story kept me guessing the whole way through and there was this surprising reveal at the end that was totally twisted (and quite disturbing) buuuuuut I do think that fans of Gone Girl would probably really enjoy this book. The writing was very good and it actually kind of felt like I was “reading a movie” if that makes sense. The scenes and the way it came together very much had the feeling of a “thriller-type” movie.

    Even though it did keep my attention, I’ll admit that it wasn’t quite as ‘gripping’ as I’d hoped it would be and even though I did find some of the twists surprising, I felt a little unsatisfied in the end. There were no loose ends, but still… yeah. It’s actually an issue I tend to have with a lot of thrillers (movies, too). I get drawn in by the mystery of the storyline and the set-up of the plot but… it’s like I want the twists and the reveals to be kinda epic, y’know? I want them to make me go WOAHHHH!!! It’s like I’m drawn to the potential of the mysterious ‘unknown’ factor and I want to be blown away by the twists, but I rarely am.

    Oh, just a heads up for anyone outside the UK. This is written by a British author and it’s full of “Britishisms” as I like to call them. Normally, I wouldn’t bother mentioning this, but one in particular was a little shocking to me since I wasn’t familiar with it. There’s a scene where someone calls her a “slut” and I was all like O_O , but then I looked it up and I guess it means “slob” so very different meaning there. Heh.

    The writing though was quite strong overall. The mood was … almost quiet and chilling, but more in a way where it just messed with your mind — getting you to keep looking for hidden clues everywhere. I have to say, this would make an awesome movie!! But, the story itself is actually quite hard to talk about it without spoilers. It’s not a graphic or gory book, it really is accurately described as a psychological thriller. So instead of describing it more, I thought I’d just share some of the thoughts I had while reading…

    Jeeezzzzzz, that prologue though!!! O.O
    I have so many questions!!!
    Ok, hating him right from the start. Asshole!
    Is he really dead?
    Who the hell is that woman?
    Did I mention I hate him?
    Sooooo many secrets!
    More hate.
    The books!!!! Omg. How?? Are they his? O.o
    The blood O___O   Ummm??
    Yes, keep digging into his past! I want answers!
    What’s the end game here?
    Is she crazy? Or is she the only sane person?
    I hate him.
    Secrets. Lies. Half truths…. everything is coming out.
    I HATE HIM.
    Ok, that’s creepy!
    Is this paranormal?? (it’s not)
    Holyyyyyy. Appearances can be so misleading.
    Creepy concept. Yikes.
    It’s always the quiet ones, huh.
    Wait…. whaaaaaat?? OH MY GOD. *gags*
    Glurk. That is so wrong.

    Obsession.
    Lies.
    Revenge.

    So yeah, hopefully that should give you a bit of an idea of what to expect. Like I said, I ended the story feeling a bit unsettled… But I do think that fans of Gone Girl will like this. So if that’s what you’re looking for, check this out!

    Rating: 3.5 — 4 stars. Psychological thriller standalone.

    REMEMBER ME THIS WAY promo

    Book Review — The Other Man by R.K. Lilley

    Book Review — The Other Man by R.K. Lilley

    by · 9 Comments

    “I’ve lived a violent life. But, Lourdes, listen very carefully, because this is a promise: I’d never hurt you. Okay?”

    Sexy and thrilling, with twists that kept me glued to the page! Another winner from RK Lilley!

    I first fell in love with RK Lilley’s books with both her Up In The Air and Tristan & Danika trilogies, so when I heard that she’d released a new standalone, I had to read it! If you’re new to her books, you can absolutely read this book alone. It’s slightly interconnected with her other books — there are characters from the previous two trilogies I mentioned in this as side characters, and there’s a stronger connection to her Wild Side series (which I haven’t read) — but you don’t have to read any of those to understand this book so the choice is yours. If you want to just dive straight into this book, you’ll be totally fine!

    The blurb of this book had me so intrigued. Especially that last line…

    He was brazen as hell from the moment I laid eyes on him.
    He was aggressive, and dominant…
    He was too good looking for his own good, with a hard jaw, and harder eyes…
    I could tell at a glance that this man was dangerous.
    For so many reasons.     Not the least of which being that rough, dirty, sheet-clawing sex fairly radiated off him…
    To say he wasn’t my type was putting it lightly.
    But you couldn’t tell that to my libido.
    Not even when I found out the truth.
    My lover had lied to me from the very start.
    Nothing about our meeting was a coincidence.

    I love mysterious heroes so this totally had me desperate to read it!

    The story is smoking hot right from the start. It’s erotic, sensual, and when you add in the many unanswered questions, I was drawn right in. This guy, Heath, was full of secrets. He was only 25 but had a body riddled with scars. He came to her time and time again giving her the wildest sex she’d ever had, but then always left without a good-bye. Who was he? What did he do? Where did he go? Why did he always leave? He was mysterious, secretive, dominant, possessive, complicated, damaged, almost uncivilized, yet clearly highly trained, and then somehow, surprisingly sweet and caring. I found him fascinating!!

    “You’re trembling,” he rasped into my ear, making me tremble all the more.
    “Fear or excitement?”
    I licked my lips and gave him the truth. “Both.”

    We do learn more about him as the story goes on and he was definitely the kind of hero I always fall for. I just love the tortured badasses. Something about them just melts my heart! I loved the way he tried to be accommodating and to make compromises. He realized what an impossible situation he was putting her in but still couldn’t change who he was and what he did. And my favorite thing about him was his complete devotion to her. He couldn’t give her much, but he never once made her doubt his feelings for her.

    “I understand how it looks. It looks bad. And, hell, if I could tell you the full truth, it would probably look even worse than whatever you’re thinking. But I want you to know something, and it is the truth. I’d never hurt you. If it was within my power, I’d do anything to prevent you being hurt… You’re fucking mine, you understand?”

    There’s a big age gap between them. He’s 25 and she’s 41. I’ll be honest, this isn’t something I usually like in books. It’s not at all a judgement, but it’s also just not really my thing either, y’know? But I pretty much just overlooked it in this case because I was enjoying the story enough that I just went with it.

    A couple people have asked me so I’ll just say here that there’s no cheating in this book. There’s one point where the heroine kisses another guy (but she’s not in a real relationship with the hero yet) and at no point does the hero even look at another girl so… no cheating.

    The first half of the story was more steamy, sexy, and erotic as their romance built. Then secrets began to come out… and in the later part of the book (maybe the last third-ish), it took quite a dark, suspense-filled, thriller-y turn (with a scary evil bad guy!!) that kept me flipping those pages right up ’til the epilogue.

    This is definitely the whole package. It’s a little bit of an erotic romance, a little bit of a romantic suspense, a little dark, a little funny, a lot sexy… I really enjoyed it!

    Rating: 4 stars! Standalone romance. 

    PS: So again, you do not have to read any other books to understand this one. But, I’ve read her two trilogies and loved them, and she has another serial too that I haven’t read which is connected to this (technically this is a spin-off of that) so I’ll just list ’em all here so that you can grab them if you want. 

    __________________________________________

    UP IN THE AIR TRILOGY (full length books, same couple)

    __________________________________________

    TRISTAN & DANIKA TRILOGY (full length books, same couple)

    __________________________________________

    THE WILD SIDE TRILOGY (novellas, same couple)

    __________________________________________

     THE OTHER MAN promo

    Copyright © 2025 · Aestas Book Blog

    a pretty swirl