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
GIVEAWAY & COVER REVEAL FUN — TAKE A CHANCE by ABBI GLINES

GIVEAWAY & COVER REVEAL FUN — TAKE A CHANCE by ABBI GLINES

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ABBI GLINES FANS!!! Check this out!!

I am so excited today to be a part of the “scavenger hunt” cover reveal for TAKE A CHANCE!! This will be the sixth book in the Rosemary Beach series that focused on Grant. If you are new to the series, check below for the full reading order.

The cover is being revealed in puzzle pieces over several days so you can see my puzzle piece here today, and then be sure to head over to Abbi’s website tomorrow for the next piece!

Also, I have a GIVEAWAY for you!!! The publishers are offering you a chance to win a Bound Print Galley of TAKE A CHANCE. So, just scroll down to the bottom of the post and enter the Rafflecopter…… 😀

 ❤ TAKE A CHANCE ❤

Release date: February 25, 2014

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines comes the story of Grant, the sexy playboy who first captured readers’ hearts in Fallen Too Far.

TAKE A CHANCE PIECE

When Harlow Manning’s rocker father goes on tour, he sends her to Rosemary Beach, Florida, to live with her half-sister, Nan. The problem: Nan despises her. Harlow has to keep her head down if she wants to get through the next nine months, which seems easy enough. Until gorgeous Grant Carter walks out of Nan’s room in nothing but his boxer briefs.

Grant made a huge mistake getting involved with a girl with venom in her veins. He’d known about Nan’s reputation, but still he couldn’t resist her. Nothing makes him regret the fling more than meeting Harlow, who sends his pulse racing. Yet Harlow wants nothing to do with a guy who could fall for her wicked half-sister—even if there are no strings between Grant and Nan. Grant is desperate to redeem himself in Harlow’s eyes, but did he ruin his chances before he even met her?

PRE-ORDER for KINDLE | PRE-ORDER for PAPERBACK

❤

 ❤ SERIES READING ORDER ❤

These are the five books that come before Take A Chance in the Rosemary Beach series. They follow the stories of Rush & Blaire, and Woods & Della. It is recommended to read them first. Just click the covers to be taken to Amazon!

 ❤ BOUND GALLEY GIVEAWAY ❤

Open Internationally.
Void where prohibited by law. Must be over 18 to enter.
1 winner will a Bound Galley of Take A Chance by Abbi Glines.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

RECOMMENDATION — THE BREACH SERIES by K.I. Lynn

RECOMMENDATION — THE BREACH SERIES by K.I. Lynn

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Check the bottom of the post for the cover & blurb reveal of Reciprocity, the final instalment in the Breach series!!! This book will be out on May 12, 2014!

As a bit of a background, the Breach series is a contemporary Adult romance trilogy (honestly, I might even call it erotica because it is scorching HOT!!) and right now the first two novels have been released along with a novella that is supposed to be read in between them. The first book has a huge cliffhanger but the second book has a resolved ending (genuinely NO cliffhanger)  so even though the final book isn’t out yet, I’d say you are 100% safe to start reading them at any time.

As I mentioned, these books are off-the-charts hot and the hero is honestly probably THE dirtiest talker I have ever read!! The story is both heart breaking and intensely passionate and it’s about broken and damaged people finding love, security and healing in each other. It’s a dark, gritty, captivating roller coaster ride from start to finish!!

Here’s the reading order and you can check out my reviews for more info 🙂

❤ ABOUT THE SERIES  ❤

Book #1 — BREACH
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my Review

Novella #1.5 — DISSOLUTION
Buy in Kindle | Read my Review

Book #2 — INFRACTION
Buy in Kindle | Buy in Paperback | My Review

Book #3 — RECIPROCITY
coming May 12, 2014

** Note that book #2 does NOT have a cliffhanger so you are safe to start the series now!

“He took from my body, my heart, my soul. In return he gave himself to me the only way he knew how: with bruising hands, passionate kisses, and hard thrusts. His body was sin, his cock was sin, and I was a sinner.”

 
 

*** BOOK #3 — RECIPROCITY ***
Cover & blurb reveal — Release date: May 12, 2014

The final installment of the Breach Trilogy!

Things are finally looking up for Nathan and Lila. Though separated at work, their life together is just beginning.

They’re working hard to lock up Lila’s past, when Nathan’s comes knocking at the door with a gift—a warning that happiness can, and will, be taken away.

Is running away the only option to stay alive? Can they ever find the peace they deserve?

The battle for survival has begun.

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000035_00022]

MR. AESTAS’ GUEST REVIEW — NIGHT OWL by M. PIERCE

MR. AESTAS’ GUEST REVIEW — NIGHT OWL by M. PIERCE

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Happy Holidays, book-people!

It’s been a good few months for book lovers and lovers of books. How do I know this? Because I have watched as Aestas has squeed and sobbed through new stories and I’ve noticed that she has been purchasing vast quantities of “fantastic books on sale” at a prodigious rate. To be honest, I’m just grateful that they’re mostly eBooks. Her library-sized collection of paper books will be a pain in the ass if we move. And you know who’ll be carrying those boxes.

But anyway, last night I found myself in need of a good book. Naturally, I asked Aestas, and she told me to read Night Owl. So, with little idea of what I was in for (something to do with owls, I assumed?), I grabbed my kindle and started reading. And then I did nothing else for the rest of the evening.

Now, I’ve read a fair number of Aestas’s books. A few I’ve loved, many I’ve liked, and some I’ve had problems with. As you may have seen, occasionally one will inspire me to write out some thoughts, which Aestas then posts. Lately, however, I’ve been holding out for a story that really grabbed me.

And this is the book I’ve been waiting for.

To give some perspective here, I read a lot of books. I also read a lot of different kinds of books, spanning everything from niche science fiction books to even the classics. Naturally this also includes stuff like Game of Thrones or the Fever series, historical fiction, assorted non-fiction, and of course some romance! And I feel like it’s important to explain all this, because I don’t make this next statement lightly.

Night Owl is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Period.

It’s a risky book to recommend to others, because it contains a great deal of raw, sizzling sexuality. Not everyone can handle this kind of heat but, for those of us who relish it, this book delivers. I can’t describe the sex scenes as “steamy”. Steam is soft, obscuring. The sex in Night Owl is so hot it burns, and there is nothing soft or obscured about it. It’s rough and merciless, sharply defined by a touch of desperate savagery, but at the same time it’s passionate. The words sear across the pages and leave your brain glowing from the heat. The lovemaking isn’t just for show, either. Instead, it’s integral to both of the characters, and it evolves in tandem with them and their relationship. I would argue that it’s actually a part of how they forge their relationship. To beat my “sex-as-fire” metaphor completely to death: each sex scene burns away little pieces of the facades that Matt and Hannah hide behind, revealing a little more of their true nature, to us and to each other, and leaving them permanently changed as a result. This book has some of the sexiest sex I’ve ever read, but it’s sex overlaid with a lot of meaning, and it is very, very good. That said, you may want to think carefully before handing the book over to your elderly aunt. After she reads it, you’ll have to make eye contact with her eventually, and doing so may be difficult after you’ve both read this book. You’ll realize that you know that she knows what you know, and maybe worse, she’ll tell you how much she enjoyed it. On the other hand, if you can give this to a friend, you really should because it is a really great story.

On a related topic, I consider myself a fairly manly man. I’ll be having a 40 oz rib eye steak for dinner tomorrow. That’s right. Forty ounces. Did I mention that I love steak? Anyway, I’m big and strong, I like fighter jets and explosions and climbing snow-capped mountains as much as the next guy, and I fucking loved this book. I FUCKING LOVED THIS BOOK. It left me in a tangle of feelings, and it was amazing. There was this manatee, and…and…yeah. That manatee. If you’ve been rooting around for a book you can give to the man in your life, or unspecified multiples thereof (hey, I don’t judge!), or you are a man yourself, then I would suggest that this could be the one.

In all seriousness, however, some of the romance books I’ve read do have a strong fairy-tale-for-women vibe about them, and I’m totally okay with that because men have been making stories like that for, I don’t know, thousands of years? It’s long past time for the ladies to start having their fun too. However, I strongly feel that the fairy-tale-for-women vibe is something that turns the occasional male reader away, probably because the mainstream world is still largely composed of narratives that are designed for men. It’s my guess that many guys just aren’t able to appreciate this relatively new form of literature in the same way that they do the more-common male equivalents (I’m looking at you, action movies).

Night Owl isn’t really gender-specific in that way. I really believe it can be read by anyone. Well, anyone who can handle SERIOUSLY HOT SEX. Hehehehe. Joking aside, though, the characters within this book have that little something undefinable and special that makes them feel real. You’ll know what I mean if you’ve ever finished a book and felt you just made a new best friend in one of the characters. For this, and many other reasons, it’s entirely possible to enjoy Night Owl simply as a dramatic novel because the writing itself is so damn good. The pacing is so tight you can practically hear the twanging as you turn the pages. That is, if you are actually able to tear your attention away from the story long enough to realize you are actually turning pages and not just firehosing the story directly into your brain. The dialogue is snappy and utterly delectable. The flow and rhythm of the words is superb. As someone who appreciates good writing in any form, this book was a real pleasure to read.

Yet, as I’m sure you will agree, there is a very important difference between writing something good and writing something well. A good book can be written very poorly, with plots that smell iffier than last week’s turkey stuffing and chunky dialogue being dragged along like seaborne garbage in the wake of a really engaging storyline. Then, on the other hand, we can also have books with impeccable writing, cleanly structured plots, and textbook-perfect use of all the right literary devices that we simply don’t give two rabbit turds about. In both cases, there’s always something holding us back from experiencing the ecstasy of reading a damn good book. It is so, so wonderful to be able to sit back, after reading the last line of a story, and realize that you have zero complaints. That’s what I felt at the end of this book. It was perfect. Night Owl is both well-written and good, and that makes it a rare and precious thing. I’ll definitely be re-reading this book, and that’s not something I do often.

There are several layers to the delicious cake that is Night Owl, and each one is uniquely enjoyable. As previously stated, the romance and the sex are incredibly well-written. The characters are fantastic. They have hidden depths, they’ll make choices that disappoint, surprise, and impress you by turns. You really get to know them as the narrative slowly reveals their inner strengths, flaws, and private demons. By the end of the story you’ll find that you’ve come to care deeply for them. Matt, for example, is the rare believable male lead. His fiery charisma and intellectual prowess is offset by flaws so genuine that your heart will probably break as you follow his struggles. This is particularly special, given the tendency for male protagonists in this genre to be a little too perfect. Hannah, on the other hand, is an adorable mix of amazing strength and warmth. She, perhaps more than any other character in the story, undergoes a series of intriguing transformations as the story unfolds. Even the side characters are memorable, and brought many smiles to my face. The plot is winding and complex, and the author does a really good job of bringing in little details that enrich the story without going overboard. I also appreciated the use of evocative description. For instance, I was much happier reading how Matt’s wealth affects his character, and how it makes Hannah feel, rather than how many thousands of dollars each gift cost him. That kind of character-focused subtlety pervades Night Owl, and if that’s something you like then you will enjoy the book.

There’s a believability to this book that shows the author to be a very insightful person. For example, the way that Matt’s all-consuming attraction to Hannah is written so perfectly captures the masculine, ravenous fixation that accompanies love. I have a hard time accepting that this is M. Pierce’s first novel. I’m not a stickler about spelling, grammar, or convention errors, but I do notice them. This book had only one mistake in it, a misspelling. One. That’s impressive. I wish there were other books out there by this author because I would read the hell out of whatever M. Pierce writes. Even a comparative analysis of the migratory patterns of jellyfish, you might ask? Absolutely. Cover to cover. I’m sure that I’ll wind up caring about those damn jellyfish more than is healthy, and find myself begging for a sequel.

So, that pretty much sums up my experience with Night Owl. I loved it, and I want more. I’d do filthy, unprintable, depraved things if I could just have a little more. Aestas tells me there are sequels coming, but not till next summer. I’ll have to find a way to survive till then. Maybe I can enter hibernation, like a bear, or build a time machine. If I figure something out, I’ll let you know. If you read the book, you’ll need it.

5 stars!

Click covers to purchase/pre-order.

NIGHT OWL PROMO

Book Review — Finding My Forever (Beaumont #3) by Heidi McLaughlin

Book Review — Finding My Forever (Beaumont #3) by Heidi McLaughlin

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I have to admit that I was so curious going into this book!!! The blurb had me hooked but really didn’t give any hint as to which characters the book was about… Turns out, it was about Jimmy and Jenna!

Everywhere I look, my friends are settling down – marriage, children, white picket fences; but not me. Marriage isn’t in the cards for me. I’m a ladies man. 

A rock star. 

I was born and raised in the industry. 

I love everything about my life, especially the attention from the women that my status brings me. Women find me. I don’t chase. I know what they want and they know I’ll deliver. 

But after one look, one touch, one night… 
Now I’m the one doing the chasing. 

I need to find a way to show her that I’m serious, that I can change. 
I need to find a way to show her that I can love her fully, and only her. 
I need to find a way to show her that she’s my forever.

Please note that while each book in this series is a standalone about a different couple, the series will be far better appreciated if you read these books in order (see bottom of post). The connection between the characters builds from one book to the next as do their relationships and histories.

This is a story of a one-night stand that changed two lives forever.

Jimmy had grown up in the music industry and came from a long line of men who refused to be tied down. He was also a little different than Liam and Harrison because he didn’t really live in Beaumont. He was in the band but he wasn’t quite part of the family in the same way they were.

“She’s out of my league. I’m not smooth like Liam or romantic like Harrison. I can’t offer her stability or even a seven-day relationship. I’m damaged and broken. I’m a heartless bastard who only wants one thing and has no problem getting it.”

Jenna had survived a brutal three-year marriage to a physically and mentally abusive jerk and finally had gotten away choosing to start her life over from scratch in Beaumont. But her ex caught up with her at the same time as she got unexpected news that could change her life forever. Luckily though, she was a part of the family in many ways, and her friends weren’t going to let anything happen to her.

“You’re family, Jenna. You’re important to me… to us. Please let us help.”
“He’s dangerous.”
“Yeah well my husband is big and likes to hit things so he can be dangerous too.”

I’m going to admit that Jimmy and Jenna’s relationship felt a little rushed in the first half of the book. While I was reading it, I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about some of the developments. But then the more I thought about it, I realized that life rarely hands you a perfect cards and their situation was far from picture perfect but it was what they had and looking back on it, I can understand the way they handled it. It wasn’t all hearts and flowers, but it was almost as if the point of this story wasn’t about how they got together, but about how they handled things once they decided that they were committed.

At the crux of it all, we had a man who’d sworn to never again commit and a woman who’d suffered the worst at the hands of a man and whose faith in them had been broken. Jenna started out very timid, with a lot of insecurities and an understandably untrusting outlook towards men and so that made it that much more wonderful to see Jimmy go the extra mile to work at proving to her that she could trust him and that he would never betray her.

As with the first two books, I loved seeing this core group of characters together. They were rockstars but they were also this beautiful family bound together by strong connections built through romance and friendship. Watching them together was just so touching.

I really don’t want to spoil the plot of this story but I will say while this book took me a little longer to connect to than the first two books, once I was hooked there was no turning back and it kept me up reading and flipping pages long into the night. I loved the ending and am eagerly awaiting the next in this series.

I’ll leave you with this quote that, to me, really represents this story…

“I know what people think of me. I know you and everyone else thinks I’m a man-whore or I’m too young to be tied down. Maybe this will be temporary or maybe it will be for life, I don’t know, but it feels right. I don’t do commitments, but when I look at you, I see a future. I see my future.”

4+ stars

 

** SERIES READING ORDER **

Book #1: FOREVER MY GIRL — Kindle | Paperback – Liam’s story

Novella #1.5: MY EVERYTHING — Kindle | Paperback – Nick’s story

Book #2: MY UNEXPECTED FOREVER — Kindle | Paperback – Harrison’s story

Book #3: FINDING MY FOREVER — Kindle | Paperback — Jimmy’s story

Book #4: FINDING MY WAY — Kindle — prequel (Liam)

FINDING MY FOREVER PROMO

SALES, NEW RELEASES & PREORDERS

SALES, NEW RELEASES & PREORDERS

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There are some very special, rare and limited time sales going on right now and some amazing sounding new releases that I’ve added to my reading list!! Here are a whole bunch of them to check out 😀

*** NOTE *** There are a few of the newer books & sales featured at the top of the post but be sure to check the text links at the bottom too because there are a TON of amazing deals there too!!

 

REASON TO BREATH, BARELY BREATHING and OUT OF BREATH by Rebecca Donovan – Series Sale

For a limited time, you can get all 3 books @ only $1.99!! This is a completed trilogy and tells “one girl’s story of life-changing love, unspeakable cruelty, and her precarious grasp of hope.” 

 

INFRACTION (Breach #2) by K.I. Lynn — $0.99 Sale & Recommendation

This is book #2 of a a scorching hot, gritty, and heart breaking but intensely passionate romance. The hero is also probably the dirtiest talker I’ve ever read!!! They must be read in order though!! Book 1 (full price) has a cliffhanger, but Book 2 ($0.99) does not.

 

TALL, TATTED, AND TEMPTING by Tammy Falker —  $1.99 Sale & Recommendation

I LOVED THIS!! A sweet story with a great blend of fun & sexy, and heartfelt & emotional. From the blurb:  ”Logan Reed is tall, tatted and tempting. Kit’s a woman with a mean right hook and a secret. Kit wants a tattoo, but Logan sees more than she intends to share in the drawing of the tat she wants. He sees her in ways no one ever has. Logan’s not disabled; but he hasn’t spoken in eight years. He hasn’t needed to. Until he meets Kit.” Read my review.

 

BECK by Harper Sloan —  New Release & Recommendation

This is Corps Security #3 – a must read series for fans of BADASS ALPHA MALE romance!! Also, if you are new to the series, the first two books,  Axel (Read my review) and Cage (Read my review) are on sale for $0.99 each!

 

NAKED IN DEATH by J.D. Robb —  $1.99 Series Sale!!!!!!

The first 8 books in the popular and highly rated mystery/romance series IN DEATH are on sale for $1.99 today (regular price $6-11 each!!). This is a HUGE sale!!!

* PLEASE NOTE ** The series is ongoing and will go on as long as Roberts desires to write it. However – each book in this series is a whole story with a beginning and an ending, however there may be minor references to events that occurred earlier in the series. Therefore, with respect to the mystery alone, the books can be read out of order, if desired. However, like any long series that focuses on a core group of characters, there are various relationship changes that develop more naturally when the full length novels are read in the order in which they were published.

Here are the books on sale: #1 Naked In Death, #2 Glory In Death, #3 Immortal In Death, #4 Rapture In Death, #5 Ceremony In Death, #6 Vengeance In Death, #7 Holiday In Death, #8 Conspiracy In Death.

 

WAIT FOR YOU by J. Lynn —  $1.99 Sale & Recommendation

This is one of my top favorite standalones and it’s on sale today!! If you are looking for a sweet, funny, touching romance with a seriously swoony hero, try this one!! I highly recommend it (no cliffhanger). Also, the alt. guy POV novel, TRUST IN ME, is also $1.99 

 

BROKEN DOVE by Kristen Ashley — New Release

This is Book 4 in the Fantasyland series (we’re talking real fantasy here — with dragons and such — but also ALPHA males) and it’s available for preorder! The released date is December 27. The previous 3 books are on sale for $0.99 each: Wildest Dreams, The Golden Dynasty, & Fantastical.

 

LEFT DROWNING by Jessica Park —  $2.00 Sale

This is an absolutely gorgeous 5-star standalone romance on sale for 50% off today!! This book sneaks up on you. One moment you’re fine, the next moment you can barely breathe. Highly recommended! Read my Review.

 

CONSEQUENCES SERIES BUNDLE by Aleatha Romig —  $7.99 Series Sale

For a limited time, all 3 books are bundled together @ $7.99 (reg. $9.99). This series is partly dark romance, partly psychological thriller + will have you questioning your every emotion. Or, if you’d just like to try out Book 1 it is currently on sale for $0.99.

 

SOMEBODY’S ANGEL by Kallypso Masters —  New Release

If you’re looking for a BDSM/military romance, the RESCUE ME series has very high ratings and the latest one was just released!! It is described as “erotic romances about dominant men and the women who bring them to their knees.” Reading order: #1 Masters At Arms, #2Nobody’s Angel, #3 Nobody’s Hero, #4 Nobody’s Perfect,#5 Somebody’s Angel.

 

MUST LOVE OTTERS by Eliza Gordon —  $1.99 Sale

I keep getting this book recommended to me and I noticed it’s on SALE @ $1.99!! It’s a standalone and from what I hear, it’s absolutely hilarious but also sweet & sexy!! Someone sent me a few quotes from it that had me laughing out loud so I’m definitely looking forward to reading it.

 

WARMTH IN ICE by A Meredith Walters —  $0.99 Sale

This is a Find You In The Dark Christmas novella that should be read AFTER the main novels. This is one of my most highly recommended series!! It’s deeply touching, emotional and heart-wrenching. Here’s the reading order: #1 Find You In The Dark, #1.5 Cloud Walking, #2 Light In The Shadows.

 

BEHIND HIS LENS by R. S. Grey —  New Release

This is a new romance between a model and her “sexy, possessive” photographer who also happens to have a “no models” dating policy. I haven’t read it yet but I thought I’d post it in case you’d like to check it out!

 

JUST HUMAN & STILL HUMAN by Kerry Heavens —  $0.99 Series Sale

This is a second chance romance about a couple separated by distance who then get in touch 12 years later over Facebook and find they still have feelings for each other. Book 1 has a cliffhanger but Book 2 is out & both are $0.99. I haven’t read them but they’ve been recommended to me several times.

 

HEARTS IN DARKNESS by Laura Kaye —  $0.99 Sale & Recommendation

My favorite 100-page novella is on SALE today!! What happens when you get stuck in an pitch black elevator for 4 hours with a gorgeous tattooed man you only got a tiny glimpse of? This is perfect for nights when you don’t have time for a full-length book.

 

TORN FROM YOU by Nashoda Rose —  New Release

This is a new dark contemporary romance with no cliffhanger and the blurb gave me shivers! There is a novella, With You that is also available that you don’t have to read first but the author and many readers recommend it to better understand the characters.

 

FOREVER & ALWAYS and AFTER FOREVER by Jasinda Wilder — New Releases

These are the first 2 books of The Ever Trilogy and I’m SO excited to start them!! They sounds absolutely amazing!!!!!! The third and final book will be out in February and is already available for preorder.

 

BEAUTIFULLY AWAKE by Riley MacKenzie —  $1.99 Sale

I haven’t read this yet but it was recommended to me by a reader who said the hero is “swoony, sexy, JEALOUS and dominant”… oh, and he’s a doctor AND her boss!! It’s a standalone romance (the next book will be about different characters).

 

THE TEMPTATION OF LILA AND ETHAN and LILA AND ETHAN: FOREVER & ALWAYS by Jessica Sorensen —  $0.99 Sale & Freebie

Forever & Always is free a “short story of love, risks, and rewards…” that was just released. And also, Lila & Ethan’s first book, The Temptation of Lila and Ethan, on on sale for $0.99!!

FIGHTING REDEMPTION by Kate McCarthy — Top Recommendation

This  was 5++ stars for me!! A beautiful, powerful, and emotionally charged romance about a solider who has always loved this one girl and even after he’s deployed “no matter how far he runs, or how hard he fights, his need for Finlay won’t let go.” It’s a standalone & one of my favs of the year now! Read my review.

LOVE UNSCRIPTED by Tina Reber — $1.99 Sale + Recommendation

OMG!! This is a VERY rare sale (reg. $7.59) on one of my favorite books!! “An A-list movie star, a small-town girl, and a relationship that doesn’t follow the script.” This is hands-down one of the best Hollywood heartthrob romances! There’s also a sequel out now that fully completes the story. Read my review.

 

NAKED by Raine Miller — $1.99 Sale + Recommendation

Another very rare sale (reg. $5.99)!! This is the first book in the Blackstone Affair series which I absolutely love!! The story is hot, passionate and erotic!! If you’re looking for a possessive, protective and swoon-worthy Alpha male hero, then you absolutely have to meet Ethan Blackstone!

 

ENSLAVED BY THE OCEAN by Bella Jewel — New Release

WOW!! A modern day PIRATE romance!! This has a TON of high ratings & it’s only been out for a week! The blurb says, “If you enjoy a biker style book, then you will enjoy the way this one goes down! Alpha males all round. It isn’t a cliffhanger, however the end is left open for the next book.”

 

A LITTLE TOO FAR by Lisa Desrochers — $0.99 Sale

This was a really cute double taboo love triangle with just the right amount of angst, swoony guys and just the ending I’d hoped for. I’m not usually a love triangle fan but this was an exception! Read my Review.

 

LONG AFTER by Cheryl McIntyre — $0.99 Series Sale

All the books in the SOMETIMES NEVER series are on sale! I haven’t read them yet but the stories are interconnected and each book is a standalone. Reading order: #1 Sometimes Never, #1.5 Blackbird, #2 Before Now, #3 Long After.

 

UNDENIABLE by Madeline Sheehan — $0.99 Sale

Oooooh I’ve heard this book is RAW & GRITTY!!! It’s a biker romance that comes with this warning ➜ “This is not a typical, sappy, love story. This is an all-consuming, soul-crushing, tear-your-heart-into-pieces story. It’s intense, gritty and raw, dark and disturbing, and it doesn’t happen overnight. This is an epic love story that knows no boundaries and has no time limits. It grows and develops—with hurt, sacrifice, and heartache—over the span of a lifetime.”

 

WILDEST DREAMS, THE GOLDEN DYNASTY, & FANTASTICAL by Kristen Ashley — $0.99 Sales + Rec

ALPHA MALE ALERT!! All 3 books in KA’s Fantasyland series (all standalones) are on sale today for $0.99 each! Here are my reviews of Book 1, Book 2 & Book 3.

BULLYand UNTIL YOU by Penelope Douglas — $0.99 Sale + New Release

Until You is Jared’s POV of the story in Bully (along with new material and an extended ending). It was only just released but wow those ratings are high! And, if you haven’t read Bully, it’s one of my favorite standalones & it’s only $0.99. Read my review.

 

IF I WERE YOU by Lisa Renee Jones — $1.99 Sale

This is Book #1 of the INSIDE OUT series (erotic romance/mystery) and the regular price is usually $7.59 so this is a steal. Also, the series is now completed so if you wanted to start, you could read them all at once with no cliffhangers. Here’s my review (along with the full reading order).

 

** UPCOMING PREORDERS **

 

** MORE NEW RELEASES **

  • BLOODLINES by SC Stephens. This is Book 2 in the Conversion trilogy – a paranormal vampire romance series. I really loved the first book, Conversion. This series should be read in order though as it is one continuing story so be sure to read Book #1 first.
  • PIECES FOR YOU Genna Rulon. This is technically Book 2 in the For You series but it can be read as a standalone (although readers of the series advise to read book #1 first). I haven’t read it but the blurb calls it “a captivating journey of survival, healing, and sacrifice—teeming with honesty, humor, unexpected twists, and love’s unsurpassed endurance.”
  • JANE’S MELODY by Ryan Winfield. I just noticed that this book is available for purchase again (it’s now been rereleased by Simon & Schuster). The ratings are HIGH and several readers have recommended it to me. I really love the tagline ➜ “What boundaries would you cross for true love?”
  • DEAR EMILY by Trudy Stiles. Holy wow – the ratings on this book are HIGH!! This is a relatively new release that I have on my reading list. It was described to me as “angsty, dark and emotional with some light moments” and the plot also seems very intriguing.
  • WHAT’S LEFT OF ME by Amanda Maxlyn.This new book is getting fabulous ratings and seems to be an emotional journey. Also, it comes recommended by AL Jackson!! …. “Tragedy found me when I was seventeen. Love found me when I was twenty-one. My name is Aundrea McCall, and this is my journey.”
  • A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING by Jamie McGuire. This Beautiful Disaster novella tells the story of Travis & Abby’s wedding and reminded me once again why Travis Maddox  is and always will be my favorite bad boy!! 🙂
  • FINDING JOY by Jenni Moen. This is the sequel to Remembering Joy (which I’m reading right now!) and tells the conclusion to that story. The two books are not standalones though and must be read in order but there is a fully resolved ending in the second book 🙂
  • HOLY FRIGGING MATRIMONY by Emma Chase. For fans of the hilarious romantic comedy, Tangled, this is a short story written from Drew’s POV “filled with his sexy charm, unique advice and hilarious one-liners” that takes place at a wedding a year after the end of Tangled 😉
  • CHERRY GIRL by Raine Miller. This is a full length novel that is a spin off of the Blackstone Affair series telling the love story of Neil and Elaina and, judging by the blurb, it sounds heart wrenching and romantic!!! It reads as a standalone.
  • BOUND by Brenda Rothert. You guys know how much I love super emotional books so this new release caught my eye! The heroine is pregnant and alone in her last year of college when tragedy strikes. And then she meets the hero (a pro hockey player) who is recovering from the loss of his wife. “Bound by a grief that haunts them both, they must rely on one another to survive heartbreak.”
  • PERFECT LIE by Teresa Mummert.This new release has me curious! Many readers are saying that the ending just blew them away and that has me wondering!! I haven’t read any of this author’s books before but this just might end up being the first one. The blurb has me intrigued… so many secrets!
  • VENDETTA by Autumn Karr & Sienna Lane. I haven’t read this new standalone yet but the authors note that this is not a dark romance. Here’s the blurb: “I am not a good man. I have lied and cheated and stolen. I’ve decided between life or death, like it was my due. None of it matters, not anymore. These are not my sins. I see her raise her hands, the dark metal she’s clutching reflecting the moonlight. Her finger trembles as she cocks the gun pointed at me. Her eyes are cold, determined, but I know. I know her. My name is Devon Andre and I confess my sin. I am not a good man because this is the woman I love. She pulls the trigger.”
  • LAST HIT by Jen Frederick & Jessica Clare. This is a brand new standalone story about a hitman!! I love the sound of it… “I have been a contract killer since I was a boy. For years I savored the fear caused by my name, the trembling at the sight of my tattoos…I will carry out one last hit, but if they hurt her, I will bring the world down around their ears.”
  • HARD AS IT GETS by Laura Kaye. This is a new romantic suspense novel from the author of Hearts in Darkness. The hero of this story is an ex-military guy who now runs a tattoo parlor whose life is turned upside down when the daughter of his ex-commander walks into his life.
  • TROUBLE by Samantha Towle. If you are looking for a bad boy romance, check this one out. This was a really fun standalone romance with a twist I didn’t see coming and one of the best guy POV’s I’ve ever read! It also has a fully resolved ending + epilogue. Read my Review. 

 

** MORE BOOK SALES & RECOMMENDATIONS **

These are just more sales that I didn’t have room for above.

  • $0.99 — NIGHT OWL by M. Pierce. If you’re looking a book with great blend of sweet, hot, passionate and kinky romance, a healthy dose of angst mixed in, a fast paced plot and complex characters, this is it!! I was hooked from the first page and pretty much squeed and fanned my way through most of this book!! I didn’t want to put it down, didn’t want to stop reading… just totally LOVED it!! Oh, and it’s still priced at $0.99 for now!! Read my review.
  • $0.99 — THE OPPORTUNIST by Tarryn Fisher. This is Book #1 of one of my favorite (completed) trilogies!! If you love flawed, complex, multilayered characters and emotional roller coasters, this is a MUST read! Highly recommended!! Read my review.
  • $0.99 — PLAYING FOR KEEPS by R.L. Mathewson. This is one of my most favorite light-hearted funny books. An enemies-to-lovers romance about a neighbor from hell who also turns out to a swoony bad boy. Oh, and it has a happy ending. Definitely check this out if you want a good laugh ♥
  • $1.49 — THE SWEET GUM TREE by Katherine Allred. This  one of my top favorite books! It’s a beautiful, intense second chance romance standalone. The hero and heroine meet when they are kids and by the end of the book are adults so you really get a deeply rooted, very strong connection between them. I LOVED IT!! Everyone should read this book!! Read my review.
  • $1.99 — CRASH by Nicole Williams. This is the first book in a completed bad boy romance trilogy!! Regular price is usually about $5. Here’s the series reading order: #1 Crash, #2 Clash, #3 Crush.
  • $1.99 – FALLEN TOO FAR by Abbi Glines. Book #1 of the Too Far series (all books are available). This book is fun, hot and highly addictive!! Everyone has to meet Rush! I promise you’ll fall in love! Read my review.
  • $1.99 — BECAUSE OF LOW and WHILE IT LASTS by Abbi Glines. Both of the books in the SEA BREEZE series are now on sale!! (Reg. price: $8.50/ea) They both all standalones about different couples but here’s the series reading order.
  • $1.99 — SEMPRE by JM Darhower. This is one of my top favorites!! It’s the story of two 17-year-olds – one a victim of human trafficking; the other the son of the man who enslaved her – who fall in love and question everything they ever believed…” The new book is only $1.99  (no cliffhanger) and the sequel was just released.
  • $2.50 — RULE by Jay Crownover. I’ve been told by so many readers that I absolutely must read this book!! It’s a good girl meets bad boy type story — the hero is a tattooed and pierced rebel and the heroine is a straight-A pre-med student. It’s the first of a series but reads as a standalone. Guess I’d better bump it up my list!
  • $2.99  — THE EDUCATION OF SEBASTIAN and THE EDUCATION OF CAROLINE have dropped in price from $4.99 to $2.99 each. If you’re a fan of forbidden love stories, this is definitely a series to check out! I loved them both! Here are my two reviews: Book #1 & Book #2. “Everything had a price: every glance, every kiss, every stolen touch… I knew it was wrong; I knew it was right.”
  • $2.99 — ENTWINED WITH YOU by Sylvia Day. Another rare sale!!! I absolutely adore the Crossfire series and Book 3 just went on sale for $2.99 (reg. price $7.99)!! This is not a standalone and should be read after the first two books (#1 Bared To You and #2 Reflected In You). I highly, highly recommend this series for fans of hot, sexy, passionate, emotional and intense romance.
  • Series Sale — THE FEVER SERIES by Karen Marie Moning. Right now you can purchase all 5 books for the price of 4 (so basically, you get one free book). This is completed, highly recommended paranormal romance/urban fantasy series with one of THE. MOST. ALPHA. MALE. HEROES. EVER.!!!!! Read my Series Review
  • 50% OFF — 6 BOOK NEW ADULT BOXED SET. This eBook set contains six complete New Adult books by very popular authors in the genre. I have read (and loved) 3 of them so far! Wait for You by J. Lynn, Losing It by Cora Carmack, Taking Chances by Molly McAdams, A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers, Rule by Jay Crownover, and Foreplay by Sophie Jordan.

 

** SPECIAL EDITION HARDCOVERS **

Here are a few of our favorite reads available in limited edition hardcovers and most of them come signed by the authors!! Perfect for the holiday season 😉

 

Book Review — BECK (Corps Security #3) by Harper Sloan

Book Review — BECK (Corps Security #3) by Harper Sloan

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“When you love someone, you fight. You fight for them, and you fight with them.”

Calling all badass alpha male fans!! Have you met Beck yet?? I promise you’ll swoon 😉

“It’s time to make my woman understand she wants me.”

Ok, before anything, I have to admit I was a wee bit worried going into this book because, having read the previous two books in the series, I saw how much back-and-forth Dee and Beck went through and I wasn’t sure what to expect from their story. But once again I fell in love because the author took the time to explain the back story in such a way that it made everything that happened in the present day make sense.

I thought it was really clever how it was written because it made the readers realize that the way we were seeing Dee was in fact the same way that the rest of the Corps Security gang saw her too. But we quickly learned that that was not the real her and the only person who had seen through her facade all along was Beck.

Because we already knew Dee from before, I appreciated that this book jumped back in time a little for certain scenes and showed us events that we had technically already seen but from Dee’s eyes instead. Like the first time she met Beck three years earlier…

“He looks like a walking ad for pure, raw sex.”

My heart really went out to her. She came from a life of luxury and no love, with no one to build her self esteem or make her feel worthy of anything, and yet here she was a fiercely loyal friend doing her best to hide the pain she felt on the inside.

“I am Denise Ann Roberts. Strong, proud, and independent. A loyal friend, godmother, and I radiate fucking happiness so that people will never see how lonely I really am.”

Every man in her life had repeatedly let her down and especially growing up around her father’s unfaithful example, she had learned never to trust men and never to allow them into her heart because she knew that at the end of the day, they only thing they cared about was themselves. So she made a vow to herself…

“The first day I leave this hell, I am going to be a new person. I am going to be happy. I am going to be loved. And, I am going to find people to share my life with me that want to be around me. But I will never, ever, trust a boy.”

However, from the very beginning, Beck saw right through her walls and into the real her. And he loved what he saw and was willing to wait it out, be there for her, fight for her, and do anything necessary to make her his… even if it took a while to get her to come around.

“I didn’t ask for forever. You want to live in the moment, and get off while you’re at it, I won’t judge you. But fair warning, I’ll do my best to change your mind.”

Beck was just totally lovable. I’d always loved him but now I fell in love with him. He had his sights set on Dee… it just took him a while to figure her out.

“I can tell, deep down, that she wants someone to hold her hand through life, but damn if she’ll let anyone do it. There isn’t any doubt in my mind. She’s worth sticking this out for …”

Dee had a lot to learn. She lived her life ruled by the fear that her past had instilled in her. And there was so much in her past that she’d never told anyone until now — things that made her strength to go on that much more admirable and the absolute hardest thing for her was to lean on someone. But luckily, Beck had this totally rock solid and yet endlessly patient quality to him. I loved that he never gave up on her,  and I loved that he could see through to the real reason she kept pushing him away even when all of his friends questioned his sanity.

“Everyone around us looks at our fucked up relationship and does nothing but judge. They only see the outside, the window dressing. They don’t see this side of Dee. They don’t see her when she hits her lowest points… No, everyone sees perfect Dee, happy Dee, and the Dee that never stops smiling, even when she’s dying on the inside.”

To be fair though, I honestly thought there were times when I felt like he deserved a “Saint of the Year” award because as much as I understood where Dee was coming from, there were times when I wanted to just shake her. But his patience was why he was absolutely perfect for her.

“You’ve got nothing to be scared of with me. Not one damn thing… Fighting for you, and this relationship might drive me mad at times, but it’s the fight I want if it ends with you in my arms… Please, Dee. Take a chance on us, and I swear to you, baby, you won’t regret a day of it.”

So yeah… I’ll totally admit that there was a lot of “back and forth” between Beck and Dee but I really felt like the way it was explained gave us the reason behind it and did a great job of showing us that it was based in something real and understandable. As frustrated as I got with Dee, I also did understand her — she needed to feel strong on her own before entering a relationship and I felt like that explanation made me okay with something that might otherwise have frustrated me…. and thankfully, Beck understood that too.

“I have to let her fight for herself before she’ll be ready for someone to fight for her.”

Regarding the writing, the scenes were vivid and descriptive and the tone of it all was cheeky and yet full of heart and also with a more serious undertone. You’ll notice that this review has a whole lot more quotes than some of my other ones and that’s simply because so much of my book is highlighted!!!

But let me tell you, the rug was yanked right out from under me in the last 20%!!!! I just… I was so sure with the… and then…. especially since… I did not see that coming!!!!… especially since… and…. just…. *speechless*

I cried. I totally cried.

Ok – before you go freaking out, just know that… it’s bearable. It’s painful, very painful, but bearable. And it is not cheating!!!! Don’t worry. But it is a bit of a game changer and I’m definitely looking forward to watching how this new development plays out because I sense some hugely emotional stories coming up and I absolutely love  those!

Also, for your peace of mind, there is no cliffhanger at the end!

All in all, Beck was an action-packed, swoon-filled ride through badass alpha male land and once again, I fell hard for another Corps Security hero! I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

4 – 4.5 stars

*** NOTE: for anyone new to the series, I strongly recommend reading the books in order. While each book is a standalone about a different couple, the stories are still all interconnected and you’ll enjoy them a lot more if you follow the series order.

 

 ** SERIES READING ORDER **

#1 AXEL — Kindle | Paperback | My review

#2 CAGE — Kindle | Paperback | My review

#3 BECK — Kindle | Paperback | My review

#3.5 UNCAGED — Kindle | Paperback

#4 COOPER — Kindle | Paperback

Coming soon — #5 LOCKE

 

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