So, I’ve missed writing these two, as they are my babies, so I decided to drop in and see what they were doing on Valentines Day, and as you know, Nic and Craig can’t keep their hands off each other. Enjoy!! (It’s a little bit long, sorry not sorry!)
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Continue reading “Craig and Nic’s Valentine’s Special”
Title: Final Call (Call #2)
Author: Emma Hart
Release Date: June 16th, 2014
In the highly anticipated sequel to LATE CALL, Dayton and Aaron learn once more than not everything is as straightforward as it seems, and if they have any chance of getting their long-awaited happily-ever-after, they’ll have to work for it…
We crashed and burned like a falling plane. Hard and fast with an inevitable explosion. Another few weeks together changed my life the way the first did. At twenty-four, I became naïve again. I became a dreamer again. A believer. And walking away hurts just as much as it did seven years ago.
But over doesn’t have to mean over-at least in Aaron Stone’s mind. His pursuit is relentless, his determination unwavering. He’ll go to any lengths to keep me and prove that I belong to him. Unfortunately, love isn’t easy, and whether or not I forgive him is irrelevant to his past catching up with us. Once again, our relationship is haunted by a secret, one that could destroy everything, and the secret is born from the need to protect the other…
But the tables have turned, because the secret is mine.
Final Call is the second and final book in the Call series and is the conclusion to Aaron and Dayton’s story. It’s is not a standalone and Late Call must be read first.
Both LATE CALL (#1) and FINAL CALL (#2) are on sale for $0.99 thru June 20th, then they will return to full price. ($2.99 and $3.99.)
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Synopsis“After battling through hell, I brought my esclave back from the brink of ruin. I sacrificed everything–my heart, my mind, my very desires to bring her back to life. And for a while, I thought it broke me, that I’d never be the same. But slowly the beast is growing bolder, and it’s finally time to show Tess how beautiful the dark can be.”
Q gave everything to bring Tess back. In return, he expects nothing less. Tess may have leashed and tamed him, but he’s still a monster inside.
After surviving the darkness, a new dawn has begun. Twisted Together wades through black to grey, chasing the light of true love to banish the shadows forever.
Pain is a requirement, connection a necessity. But ultimately Q and Tess must face their demons, before they can embrace their future.
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There are books that I tend to stay away from, and dark romance and taboo issues is that genre. But I took a chance on Tears of Tess. I wanted to broaden my horizon, push my limits and in doing so i found an amazing series, one that hooked me, had me feeling crazy emotions and one that turned into a clear favourite of mine. As a series that introduced me to the dark nature of ‘romance’ its also made me think i can venture into more books surrounding the things that the Monster in the Dark series deals with – kidnapping, slavery, BDSM, pain, gory scenes and the rest. Although my stomach was turning at some of the more descriptive scenes, I powered through, my heart racing, my palms sweating, hoping that in the end, things would get better.
I want to thank Pepper for writing this series and for letting me lose my ‘dark romance’ virginity to her ;). I took a chance on a new genre and it’s all down to her that i fell in love with this series. The writing, the story, the power of love between Tess and Q – slave and master. It’s gritty – god don;t we just know it, filled to the brim with action and angst and overpowering love and emotions. Man, i was exhausted by the end of Twisted Together and i was grinning so hard, knowing that I survived everything in the book, knowing that all the heart attacks and tears i spilled were worth it to see Tess and Q happy. I’m pretty sure Pepper killed me over and over again with all the twists. None that I ever saw coming and i was shaken up reading everything that came their way. Pepper knows how to keep you captivated, how to write intensity and how to keep you guessing just what the heck is going to happen. I was definitely on tenterhooks for the WHOLE BOOK. Tess and Q have gone through so much throughout the series but would you expect anything less knowing those two and how they came about?
For those who have read Tears of Tess and Quintessentially Q we all know what went down in both those books. Twisted Together carries on the story of Tess and Q and we see a hell of a lot of action brought back into their lives, but not only each other but other people. All Q wants is his Tess back, the strong slave that challenges him but Tess is still ‘broken’ underneath her façade. She tries to push it all away but no matter how hard she tries, nightmare occupy her and its down to Q to help her break free from them. Love makes Q venerable and he knows something is around the corner. When that something comes along its down to Tess to break from her shackles and prove her worth, and when she did, boy was i like a proud mama. I was gunning for her, shouting and grinning and clapping at her change, at her strength and i knew, just knew she would be okay, she would do whatever she could to be with Q, whatever it took, whatever the risks.
Tess, in the last book is a shell of herself. She had been through so much shit and she was broken, felt numb and just gave up on herself. She felt worthless and not worthy of Q but he pushed past to make her see she was. In Twisted Together we see a slight change in her. She is still feeling worthless but she tries to hide it, yet Q can see right through her. He wants his Tess back, the strong one. I can’t go into too much because i will be spoiling everything that happens in this book, but lets just say my emotions were on high alert with certain scenes that occurred. My heart raced, my head throbbing and i was just reading thinking, “can Tess go through any more without actually dying an early death?!” But she prevailed, she got passed her demons, she faced them head on and i gleamed at her, i was so happy to get Tess back, even if it was a new Tess, she grew up, she stood up for herself and for Q and shit man, she is badass. She can play on her sexuality and get her own way and that one scene, where i was shitting myself, crying my eyes out, i was so proud of her. She was working on adrenaline but in that scene it was actually a good thing. She got the strength and energy pulsing throughout her and she got the job done, got her Q, forever and always.
Q. My lovely, broken and dangerous master. Due to his overpowering love for Tess, he’s even more vulnerable to the bad guys, especially after book two where he went on a bloody mission to save Tess. He’s at a loose end, he doesnt know how to save the love of his life from her tormentors, but he will do whatever he can to at least try. I understood how troubling it was for him to not be able to touch her, to inflict pain and pleasure on Tess, it must have killed him to see her fight her nightmares, and then not let him in, not tell him everything. I understood his anger, his frustrated but there was one scene that i was not comfortable with and my heart went out to Tess. I was squirming, i was willing Q to stop but he didnt and then when he did stop i could see how much it affect him, see the remorse running through him. Man, that tore me a new one.
Then everything he does for Tess in the second part of the book. HOLY FUCK. I couldnt breathe, i was sobbing. I didnt know wht was going to happen and i only prayed everything would be okay, that Q could get through it if he had hope. He did everything he could and then when he saw a vision of Tess, and the chapter finished, i actually screamed and shouted and i spent a good few minutes just staring at my kindle. This was the part i couldnt handle, it was gory and pain ridden and my pulse soared so high at my emotions being all over the place. But our boy did it and what follows after made me gleam. The things he said to Tess filled my heart to the brim and i spent the last remaining chapters in smiles, and happy tears and our demanding, sexy as, controlling master was back in business.
The heal their demons together, they vowed forever with each other and Q and Tess are one of my favouite couples. They rose from the dark, into the light, together and alone. They did it and they got one another in the end. Just how it should be.
I cant begin to tell you the amount of emotions that i felt throughout Twisted Together. I went through them all. This book will turn you inside out, back and forth and you will be on a never ending stream of emotions. I’m sure my heart has just about got back to normal. See, i cant even express how i was feeling because my feelings were just too strong. I was texting my friend about this book and how i was just crying my eyes out and shouting ‘NO NO NO” at my kindle. Yupp, you will be doing a lot of that, i can assure you, along with “WTF Q!” That was another one. But above all that, I love the french! For all three books I have been reading the french out loud and it really makes me miss french lessons. I loved that i understood the majority of the french parts too, it means my lessons were worth something! I just want to go back to France now and try to find Q. Mmmmmm.
This is the perfect conclusion to Tess and Q’s story. Albeit, so much happens but to get to the point they did, the point where they ended up together, but they stuck together, never wavering in their love and you know that Q and Tess are a forever couple. Damn, just the words and the sex (yes it was just as hot as the first two books) and the never dying love for one another is shown so strongly that you know everything they went through meant they ended up together. If Tess had never been kidnapped and sold, then she would have never found a love for Q and Q would still be plodding along, trying to tame the monster inside. But together they unleash their monsters and fight through anything, as long as they have one another.
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Oh that’s a great question!!
Okay my top five females in literature would have to be:
- Ayla from Clan of the Cave Bear—especially in The Valley of the Horses. That girl was so capable and intelligent. It made me want to go and learn all about natural medicines and improve my weaving skills.
- Clare from Outlander—LOVE her strength when faced with the daunting future of missing her husband and being married to a Scottish heathen. I’m DYING for the series to start on TV
- Tatiana from The Bronze Horseman—only when she’d grown up and accepted her womanhood and stopped being a little brat. Then she really grew on me and I could see how hard it would’ve been growing up during the war.
- Karou from Daughter of Smoke and Bone—she was witty and artistic and ended a war. Not to mention had blue hair and a smoking gorgeous angel in love with her.
- The last one goes to all the incredible heroines dreamed up by indies and authors I’ve only just found. I love them all and can’t pick just one more. I know I’m breaking the rules—but I have to. Lol
Thank you so much for having me on your blog and for all your amazing support. It’s hugely appreciated! And thank you to the readers who have enjoyed my work and for all the incredible messages I receive xxxxxxx
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Pepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero the better and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex… her books have sex.
She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby (who speaks French—hot!) who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends. She loves to hear from her readers so hit her up at pepperwinters@gmail.com
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Facebook || Twitter || Pinterest || Goodreads || Website
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Amazon || Amazon UK || B&N || Kobo || iTunes
Amazon || Amazon UK || B&N || Kobo || iTunes || Createspace
Amazon || Amazon UK || B&N || Kobo || iTunes || Createspace
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Pepper is offering up the prizes below for grabs. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM CST 06/22/2014.
1 x Signed set of Monsters in the Dark series
3 x Swag Packs
2 x Signed bookplates & stickers
2 x Ribbon bookmarks
5 x eBook copy of any Pepper Winter’s title (winner’s choice)
SynopsisHe’ll own her from the very first touch.
Julie Piper and Reed Lawson have nothing in common. She’s a people-pleasing sorority girl hiding behind her perfect mask. He’s a take-no-prisoners SWAT commander who isolates himself from the world. But when they’re forced together at their friends’ posh destination wedding, one thing is clear—Reed wants Julie more than he wants his next breath. Which is why he’s not about to stand by when she’s dared to seduce another man.
Julie wants neat, tidy sex, so she could get back to what she does best—making everybody else happy. She never expected to slip into a dark bedroom and have her mind blown by rough, demanding hands, and a sinfully filthy mouth—neither of which belong to the best man.
One night should have been all Reed needed to get the blond temptress out of his system, but when one taste is nowhere near enough, he’ll be forced confront the effects of his hellish past. One that may push Julie away forever…just when he realizes he can’t live without her.
Grab the rest of the Wedding Dare series!
• Dare to Resist by New York Times bestselling author Laura Kaye
• Falling for the Groomsman by New York Times bestselling author Jen McLaughlin, w/a Diane Alberts
• Seducing the Bridesmaid by New York Times bestselling author Katee Robert
• Best Man with Benefits by USA TODAY bestselling author Samanthe Beck
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Since that day I stumbled upon Tessa’s books, I have been hooked. I’ve demolished everything she has written and every time I see an email from her in my inbox, I do a little dance because it means I get to fall in love with new characters and add them to my book boyfriend and girlfriend list. And no joke, but all of her characters are on that list, and pretty damn high up too! So when I realised she was a part of The Wedding Dare continuity, I one-clicked all the books and then she asked me if I wanted an ARC and how the hell could I turn it down? I couldnt, thats the answer.
Tessa always outshines herself with each book. She sets the scene, she develops the characters and you can distinguish their voices perfectly. It helps that she writes freaking sexy-as alpha males who can turn you to goo and strong females who arent afriad to stand up for themselves. This is what I love about her books. That and the fact she knows how to get you hot and bothered as each sex scene is entirely different and gets under your collar. Grab a fan people, seriously.
Baiting The Maid of Honor is the second book in the continuity but really, you can read it as a standalone. It follows Reed, the best man’s childhood friend and Julie, the bride’s Maid of Honor (of course).
Julie and Reed are different on so many ways. Reed is the strong, silent type, keeping to himself and Julie is out-going, she is a people-pleaser and wants to make everyone happy, even if deep-down she isn’t. One dare to get with the best man has her walking to the wrong room. And she knows it.
One night, one mistaken identity in a dark room changes the whole dynamic of Julie and Reed. Reed wants one night to get her out of his system, but is one night enough? Julie wanted ‘boring’ sex but when her sexuality is unleashed, Reed figures out she is not so nice in the bedroom, really, she’s rather naughty. But when things go down, when things get mixed up, can Reed walk away from Julie? Or does he realise she is what he needed all along?
Oh Julie. My heart went out to her. She’s a people-pleaser, wanting everything to run smoothly, needing everything to go to plan. She’s fiery, shes witty and she seems to know what she wants. But underneath her façade is a vulnerable young woman. Someone who is trying to hard to please people that she is losing herself. Losing who she really is because of her past. She can’t see it, but others can.
She really is witty and sarcastic and will bite at Reed but you see another side of her, a side she wants to keep hidden and you do really feel for her when you see little snippets of doubt and her self-confidence slipping. She hides behind a mask and she hates it to slip off. Everything she does, she tries to be her late sister and its taking a toll on her, day by day. You can see it and everyone else can, especially Reed, but she cant. I just wanted to shake her and tell her to cool it down, let everyone else worry for once, but Julie is determined in what she does, which in a way is kind of endearing.
But when around Reed her fire burns, shes feisty but he brings out something in her, something that has been dormant. He brings out this naughty side, a side she wouldnt have ever seen if it was no for him. Shes sexy and experimental and holy shit the things she does, shes like a temptress, no joke. There was one scene that im sure when you read it you will understand by the river 😉 SAY WHAT! I was impressed by her boldness and im sure I fell in love with her like Reed did. I’ll be taking some notes from Julie.
My heart ached for her when she told Reed about her past, about not feeling worthy enough, about why she works herelf silly and when the day of her past came around, I wanted to cry for her. She was doing it all alone but then Reed came along, willing to help her through it and you knew, just knew that one night would never be enough for these two, that they were made for more than one night. Forever. I liked seeing a lighter Julie, one who calmed down, who owned her sexuality and one her loved Reed like no one else. The differences are what brought them together and their story was perfect.
Reed. Hello sexy tattooed dirty talker SWAT commander. That mouth should be made illegal or washed out with soap! Holy crap, he could turn your knickers dripping wet by just a look and you wouldn’t care as long as he did something about it. As mentioned, he is the strong, silent type. He observes and he can call you out on your bullshit. He also has his sights set on southern belle Julie, who really isnt his type but for some reason he wants her – really bad.
He’s a cocky son-of-a-bitch, he runs his mouth and he knows exactly the right things to say – both to rile up Julie and to get her hot and bothered. Hes smarmy but loveable in his own way. And he wants to know Julie, wants in her knickers but he sees past her hard-working front and wants her to let loose, with him.
The more he gets to know her, the more he wants her more than once. This never happens and it has himself second guessing his feelings. He’s never had love in his life, his past isnt the greatest so its all foreign to him. But Julie awakens something inside him and he is certain she will end up in his bed one way or another…you could say he was determined and stalked him prey 😉
Julie was never far from his thoughts, and he was conflicted about his feelings. He didnt have the best childhood and thank god Colton and Brock ‘adopted’ him or who knows what would have happened. I think thats why he’s so closed in, so demanding, controlling, he needs all that due to his past, which is fair enough and the reason he doesnt last longer than a night with a woman. He doesnt want to commit, but there is something about Julie that has him stuck.
I really enjoyed their interactions. They had a push and pull, a ‘I hate you but I want to be near you’ sort of relationship. They bounced off one another and their chemistry was instant. Reed brought out so many emotions from Julie, and he always brought out her sexuality. Let her know that is was fine to be totally naughty and kinky in the bedroom, hell its the best form of sex in my eyes. The sex can most definitely happen to me in real life, and Tessa, as i’ve mentioned in past reviews, knows just how to make you feel hot and bothered, god she makes you want to jump inside the book and be the MC who is getting a right seeing too. The scenes only made their relationship intensify and along with the more emotional, heart tugging scenes, you can see that Julie and Reed are going to last, especially with that epilogue.
You all know my love for Tessa by now, and anything she writes I am there reading it, falling in love with her and her characters. She knows how to write freaking hot alpha males, strong females and a damn great story in between. In my eyes, she can do no wrong with her books and she will be an author who I will follow every single book. Now if only I can get all her books in paperback…..;) one day soon I hope! I need them signed and on my bookshelf!
SynopsisIn this all-new novel from the author of Unbound, a woman with a rocky past finds romance in the last place she’d ever expect…
Annie Goodhouse doesn’t need to be warned about bad boys; good sense and an abusive ex have given her plenty of reasons to play it safe. But when she steps into her new role as outreach librarian for Cousins Correctional Facility, no amount of good sense can keep her mind—or eyes—off inmate Eric Collier.
Eric doesn’t claim to be innocent of the crime that landed him in prison. In fact, he’d do it again if that’s what it took to keep his family safe. Loyalty and force are what he knows. But meeting Annie makes him want to know more.
When Eric begins courting Annie through letters, they embark on a reckless, secret romance—a forbidden fantasy that neither imagines could ever be real…until early parole for Eric changes everything, and forces them both to face a past they can’t forget, and a desire they can’t deny.
5++++++++ stars
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“Would’ve been worth anything they took from me, just to hear you say my name.”
Before I begin this review, I’d like to say MAJOR BOOK HANGOVER. No joke, I am suffering so much. I have been in a bit of a slump recently, all the book seems to be the same and then BANG Hard Time came along and I was in deep. Hook, Line, Sinker. It’s been weeks since I finished this book and it’s still all I can think about (it’s taken me this long to write a bloody review!) About Eric, about his letters, about Annie and their forbidden romance. Seriously, why hasn’t a movie been made around this topic? LIKE REALLY? I’d be there opening night, front row.
Hard Time is the first book I have picked up and read by Cara McKenna. The topic had me intrigued – a librarian who works in a Correctional Facility once a week and becomes entangled in a forbidden romance with an inmate through letters. Sexy letters at that. I’ve never read anything like this before and Cara really does make you think about if this was your life, you were in Annie’s situation. We all love a bad boy, you know it, but then would you indulge in this ‘fantasy’? Would you reply to his letters and just, for a slight moment, feel towards him, believe him and not be freaked or scared because we know he’s locked away and cant do anything, cant come near you apart from that brief encounter every week? It’s enough to actually think it through and decide if you would play on it or not. And as weird as it seems, I would, because you get to know Eric through his letters and you see him each week; granted there is a police officer in the room too, but its enough to not feel scared for those few hours each week.
It’s taken me so long to write this, because I had no idea how to formulate a review. When I read this book, I spammed my Twitter and Facebook about Hard Time and now it comes to it, its so hard to write a review on a book that took me by storm, but I will try my best. You already know the premise but there is so much more to it. What happens when he gets released? What are in his letters? Does Annie stay away from him or get with him when he’s out of prison? I actually wish this was the book I had written.
I need to begin with Eric. Although a convict, he was like unlike any other inside. He kept to himself but he had authority in the way he came across. He was the strong, silent type who stayed out of trouble but respected why he was inside; what he did. He was the brooding type but you could tell Annie had a massive effect on him and he wanted help from her, which I adored from him. He wasn;t afriad to ask for help and Annie, unconsciously, was the fire he needed to better himself inside with his literacy and writing. Thus beginning the letters he would send to her. The letters are the way into his body, his heart, his soul. He bares all; the romance, the sexual feelings he had towards Annie but also little titbits about himself, revealing himself to her. I was like a dog on heat awaiting the next letters from him, much like Annie was and I was obsessed with knowing what he was going to say next, what he was going to tell her to do, what he wanted to do to her. The way he began and ended the letters made me sigh. For a convict, someone whom, in a way, you would feel scared of, I felt nothing like that. I just wanted him in my bed. But as I said, it felt safe because he wasn’t outside the prison and it was like a ‘fantasy’.
But when he was released, he was the same, if not more timid around Annie. You can imagine her reaction when he was out and he stayed away. He was scared of seeing her, scared of bumping into her. The feelings he had for her were so strong, but he respected her decision. It was all on her terms and I loved that about him. Not all convicts are the same and Eric was definitely not a bad guy. He dud what he did to protect his sister and I understood that when you find out what happened. I saw a passionate guy, a guy who would do anything for the ones he love, Annie included and I saw a guy who was sweet and considerate and worked bloody hard after prison to make a better life for himself. The love he eluded, the passion for his hobbies made my heart sing and I knew that I would totally snatch Eric up if I was Annie because despite spending five years in prison, he was nothing the sort of a convict and he just wanted his life back, he wanted Annie and he wanted to live the rest of his life with her.
Annie was a timid character too. She hasn’t been with a guy in five years, not since her college boyfriend thought to be abusive towards her, which is how she ended up in a small town. Annie is polite, she’s sweet and really, keeps to herself. She doesnt really know anyone in the town and is scared when she begins to visit the prison. She has to be strong though, not show weakness because that is how the prisoners will intimate her and that is what she does. She stands up strong. But then helllllo fitty! She spots Eric and something awakes inside her. Something that has been dormant for five years.
I liked her as she felt real. You could feel her feelings, her emotions and how awaken she felt by each letter she received. During her life throwing colours at her, she came out of her shell, made friends in the pub downstairs and she become stronger. She clung to the weekly letters much as I did and they made her feel great, made HER FEEL again. I was so happy it was Eric doing this to Annie. I loved the forbidden factor as much as she did. But then she finds out Eric is coming out and the fantasy is smashed up. She bounces back and forth about the letters, what they have shared and it shares the crap out of her. You know she feels something for Eric but you know that she was only doing this too because he was behind bars; she struggles with her feelings. I understood her reasons for what happened when Eric got out. How she was scared of bumping into him but after a while she couldnt stay away. She needed him just like he needed her.
I also loved that she could get mouthy, put her point across and be angry, at Eric, at his situation, at his sister too. I enjoyed this part of her. She wasn’t a push over and knew what she wanted, what she didn’t like and told it as it was. She was also a little bit protective over Eric. I truly enjoyed the realism of this character. Of her being shy to growing into a fully blossomed woman with the help of Eric.
When Eric and Annie are finally together, holy hell, you can feel the thick, sexual tension between they sizzling. It is just as strong in person as it is on paper and you know that when they sleep together it is going to be amazing. And reading it, it was. God, you will feel all hot and bothered and hot damn, mixed with the things on the paper and their chemistry together, inside and out of the bedroom, there was nothing that could stop it being utter rubbish sex. No way in hell. Not with those two.
There were two things that irked me and one was the ending. It did end rather abruptly and I would love to know what happened next between them but other than that, i’m not going to drop a star because of the ending. And two; I wanted Eric to meet Annie’s parents. You will understand why when you read it. Other than that, I loved this book and everything inside it.
Seriously, give this book a read. Its sexy, its heartfelt and dangerous 😉 Cara McKenna has made me want to read every single one of her books now, and that is actually what I will be doing! But first, I think a re-read is in order!
(Hard Time is out in the US, and it WAS out in the UK until it got taken down because it got snatched up. It will be back up in November so GET IT THEN!!!)
TITLE: Finger Bang
AUTHOR: Jade C. Jamison
Orgasmic Meditation? Therapeutic?! Kaylee Baker is horrified when her girlfriends suggest a trip to artsy Boulder, Colorado, to check out the latest craze. What her friends don’t know about Kaylee is that she is a little repressed, bordering on frigid, and the idea of a complete stranger bringing her to orgasm—therapeutic or not—is horrifying.
Blaze Donahue has admired Kaylee from afar for quite some time, and part of the reason he’s kept his distance is because he’s had no indication that she might even be interested. But when he’s given the opportunity to offer her his own version of OM with no strings attached, he makes an offer she has a hard time refusing.
When there are undeniable sparks between the two, Kaylee runs, afraid of the overwhelming feelings she has for this gorgeous, sensitive guy. Blaze feels compelled to convince her otherwise but wonders if he’ll be able to crack through the ice surrounding this sweet girl. Can they find true love or will it just be a one-time O?
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Blaze said, “Ladies, I don’t think this gang bang thing is for everyone. Can you blame the poor girl?”
Oh. Girl? He thought of her as a girl? Well, there went those fantasies out the window. Still, Kaylee took a deep breath and gathered up as much dignity as she could and said, “Definitely not for me.” She found her tongue. “I’m sorry, but I don’t want to get naked in front of a stranger, and I definitely don’t want to have one touching me…especially that way.”
Rachel leaned over the table and tipped her glass at Kaylee as though it were a pointer. “I’ll loosen you up before you graduate if it’s the last thing I do.” She sat back up and what little sobriety she had seemed to possess just seconds ago had disappeared. “In the meantime, Maddy, Shannon? Come with me to the bar to fetch more drinks and we can iron out the details without making our prudish friend blush.”
Well, too late. As the three women slid out of the booth, Kaylee felt just that—a mad red flush racing up her face, stinging her cheeks. She hoped it wasn’t evident in the bar or maybe she could blame it on drinking, but Rachel had, with her few words, made Kaylee not only feel prude but embarrassed. And in front of all people…
Once the women were up, though, Blaze showed no inkling of having registered his sister’s last words. Kaylee began to feel awkward then. What the hell would she say to this super hot guy and after a conversation like that? She had decided to ask him how classes were going when he said, “I can’t blame you really. I don’t think I could do that either.” He grinned. “Even though I find the idea exciting.” Kaylee felt her cheeks redden again, but she smiled before looking down at her glass once more. “Not gonna pay for it, though. Fuck that.”
Kaylee picked up her glass and sipped what little was left in it, simply to have something to do. She didn’t know what to say so she nodded her head and smiled. She’d always found Blaze’s looks and charm intimidating, so she was feeling more than a little tongue-tied. She didn’t want him to think she was a snooty bitch, though, so she said, “I agree.”
He rested his chin on his arms on the chair and said, “What’s the part that has you freaking out more? The fact that it would be a stranger or that you’d be paying for it?”
His question helped her relax a little. It felt like he was taking a practical approach and wanted to discuss the matter as two adults. They weren’t actually talking about orgasms or…fingers and clits, for God’s sake. So she took a deep breath and gave the matter a little thought. It didn’t take long for her to say, “I think it’s that it’s a stranger.” She didn’t know why she felt compelled to continue—especially with Blaze—but she did. “Seriously. It’s hard enough to relax and then you have someone you’ve never met before trying to make you feel good. I can’t imagine.” She smiled and rolled her eyes, hoping she appeared relaxed now, because she was far from it.
Blaze didn’t intend to help the matter at all. “What if it was you and me?”
Had she heard him right? And why the hell was her heart thudding in her chest? She had a hard time sucking in a breath, but when she was able to, she asked, “What do you mean?” Her voice was so low, she was surprised he could hear it.
“If I was the therapist.” He sat up and used the index and middle fingers of both his hands to air quote his last word. “You know…Maddy, Shannon, and my sister go to Boulder to have some stranger finger bang them, but what if someone you knew took care of you here?
Her jaw didn’t drop to the table but she had lost all words. She just wished she could figure out
if Blaze was yanking her chain or giving her the offer of a lifetime.
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Jade C. Jamison was born and raised in Colorado, moved from one city/town to the next, and she’s decided she likes it so much she wants to stay…although travel is not out of the question. She lives in a big town in Colorado (not unlike Winchester!) with her husband and four children. She is working on becoming a crazy cat lady. Okay, so maybe not.
Still want more? Jade has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Theater, a master’s degree in English, and a master of fine arts in Creative Writing. Obviously, she loves school and the student loan folks love her. She works in human services by day, teaches English and creative writing at night, and—in between playing soccer mom and community leader—writes like a fiend. Someday soon, she’ll narrow it down to just writing, but let’s get all those kids off to college first.
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Amazon: amazon.com/author/jadecjamison
Facebook: facebook.com/jadecjamison
Twitter: twitter.com/jadecjamison
SynopsisHe’s the last thing she wants…but the only thing she needs.
Willa Peet isn’t interested in love. She’s been there, done that, and has the shattered heart to prove it. Ready to shake the breakup,she heads to Dublin, Ireland. But there’s a problem. A dark-haired, blue-eyed problem with a bad attitude that rivals her own. And he’s not doling out friendly Irish welcomes.
Shane Claymore just wants to race. The death of his father forced him off the Formula One circuit, but he’s only staying in Dublin long enough to sell the Claymore Inn and get things in order for his mother and younger sister. He never expected the sarcastic American girl staying at the inn to make him question everything.
But even as Willa and Shane’s fiery natures draw them together, their pasts threaten to rip them apart. Can Shane give up racing to be with the woman he loves, or will Willa’s quest to resurrect the tough-talking, no-shit-taking girl she used to be destroy any hope of a future together?
5 out of 5 stars!
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Tessa Bailey has delved into the New Adult genre with Unfixable and it is just as freaking amazing and sexy and sexual and filled with angst as her Line of Duty series, just with less sex scenes and more sexual tension. GOD is there anything this woman cannot do? I would seriously kidnap Tessa if it meant I could get all the info on upcoming books and the sexy men writes about.
Unfixable is about Willa, Ginger’s sister from Protecting What’s His and she has grown up since the dark, Gothic teenager we saw her as in book one. She’s nineteen now, and has split up with Evan – whom we meet in book one too. She thinks she is broken, unfixable and is much better alone, so she pushes people away.
When she wins a photography contest and goes to Dublin for a month, little does she know that one Shane Claymore is going to turn her life upside down, whether she wants him to or not. He will make her feel things and see things and despite trying to push him away, he can see her, all of her and that frightens and blitz her alive at the same time.
But what happens when both their pasts catch up with each other?
I definitely remember Willa as the unsocial teenager from Protecting What’s His and then Evan came along and took no shit from her, made her see things but we find out that she couldn’t put on an appearance any more and lost herself along the way. Dublin is a chance to get over the heartbreak and find herself once again.
She’s always felt she had to put on appearances for Evan and over time its dragged her down, being someone she is not. She doesnt let her feelings show, only to those whom she loves but somewhere along the line shes lost herself and she knows that Evan deserves better than her so she lets him go and heads to Dublin which starts the beginning of the rest of her life.
I really like Willa. He goes to heal herself in Dublin, to take pictures, divulge in the culture and she goes with the intention to not make any friends. You can help but hold your breath along with Willa when she spots the gorgeous Shane waiting to pick her up. You can understand her anger, her frustration, her revolving feelings for this angry Irishman, who harbours so much pain and guilt on top of looking out for his mother and sister and running the pub she is living in for the next month.
I understood everything from Willa. It’s easy to think you are broken, unfixable, to not deserve true happiness because you think you cant give it anyone else, but shes wrong. She helped a ‘broken’ family and in doing so, they showed her love and friendship, something I think, she craved outside of Derek and Ginger – something she didnt know she was missing and in turn, she came out of her shell more. With the insults and sexual tension she and Shane gave off, you know deep down, that Shane can ‘fix her’, that he is just as ‘broken’ but together they can be fixed, together they can make each other so blissfully happy and you know that their hate-to-love relationship is the start of something beautiful – just like Ginger and Derek’s relationship.
AHHHH SHANE. I have no words at all. I cant function how much I adore this Irishman! He’s intense, frighteningly sexy and gorgeous. He’s famous on the Formula One circuit yet he’s harbouring guilt from his past – from his family which in turn makes him demanding and protective, not just with his sister Faith or his mother Kitty, but also with Willa.
He wants to stay away, yet there is this pull that he cant cut away from. He needs to be around her, to touch her and although their initials first meetings didn’t go well, he keeps on trying. Keeps on trying to see the real Willa, not the one who keeps pushing people away and changing subjects when things get too tough.
You watch him fall in love with Willa. You watch his emotion change, you watch the tension between them, know that Willa, unconsciously, is the girl who will change everything for Shane, and its a choice he had to make and once where the outcome will never change for him. You will see what I mean.
Shane is an angry soul. He harbours so much guilt from his past that he cant think of anything else, cant see past it but then beautiful Willa arrives and he;s in a tipple. Just for the few shorts weeks she has turned everything around in his life. She’s made friends with his sister, let her spread her wings from his protective nature, she’s helped with his mentally ill mother Kitty, getting her out of her shell and stepping outside the pub and she’s made him think of his future, of what he truly wants.
And I think we all know what, or who, he truly wants.
I loved the anger, the banter, the sexual tension between Willa and Shane and when it came down to having sex, their chemistry was steaming and you just knew, in that moment, it was just them. It was them and they were falling hard for each other. You knew that Willa found something just like Ginger and it scared her but when she finally admits it to herself, she knows she had to hunt down Shane and tell him. The ending made me cry, just the very last paragraph had me smiling so hard and clutching my chest.
I would love more of this couple, to see past that last page and see what else they have in store for them.
So Tessa, please can I have more Willa and Shane? Pretty please with a yummy man on top 😉
SynopsisHadley Arrington is the career-driven editor-in-chief of her university’s prestigious newspaper. Jack Diamond is a laidback student whose good looks have made things even easier than they need to be. She’s the girl who came out of nowhere and kissed him in the rain. He’s the boy who made her do something crazy.
When the stakes seem too high, they have to decide if they’ll let their love show or if they’ll walk away for good
4.5 / 5 stars
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I went into Love Show without knowing exactly what it was about. I thought I knew until I got few pages in and I actually had to look up the synopsis. No joke right now, but the more I got into this book, the more certain things were starting to cater to my own personal life and at parts I really felt close to Hadley, agreeing and disagreeing with her decisions, knowing full well what she was feeling at certain parts and especially the Journalism aspect. I studied that at university and always wanted to do what she does at the end of the book.
The thing that made me download this book was the cover. I am a sucker for kissing in the rain designs and will more than likely download before even reading the synopsis. But one mention of ‘editor in chief’ and ‘kissing in the rain’ and I was a goner. I knew I had to read this book!
This is the first book I have read by Audrey, but after reading Love Show, I need to download more by her. Her writing style sucked me in, I was turning page after page wanting to know more about Jack and Hadley and more importantly too, Hadley’s best friend who plays a big part in the book too!
You know the premise of Love Game from the synopsis, but there is so much more to this book. As you know, Hadley is a Journalism student, and she is completely career driven. She doesnt really have a social life outside of the paper and studying but one night she is dragged to a party, gets drunk and kisses a guy in the rain. That someone is Jack Diamond.
When one of her colleagues gets verbally attacked by members of a Frat house, Hadley goes to confront the president and finds that Jack is the deputy. She tries not to act surprised seeing him again and keeps her feelings to herself, but after a lot of pressure from Jack, she decides to act upon these and thus starts the horrible and confusing and awful fuck buddy relationship. (We’ve all done this!)
Over time, things and lines get blurred and it ends in disaster for both parties. But can they just walk away from each other or will they find their way back eventually? Even more so when Hadley needs him the most.
Hadley is such a strong heroine. She knows what she wants out of her life – she wants to be Middle Eastern reporter and studying and being editor in chief for the university’s newspaper is what is important. She had no time for a love life. She’s a little too focused but that is what you love about her. Then one night she lets her inhibitions down and after a dare to kiss a guy, she picks Jack – whom she has never met before. You cheer for her, because you want her to have fun. She’s young, in college and its what you do – go out, get drunk and kiss pretty boys!
When her and Jack start their ‘relationship’ you see her happier, and although she is still the studious girl, she is out having fun, being young, making her own rules and having fun with Jack, especially if she gets to sleep with this hunk of a man!!
But when secrets come out and feelings get blurred, Hadley is left devastated. You see her vulnerable and scared and frighten and god-damn right, you would be too. Because I wanted to be a foreign correspondent, I felt everything Hadley was – and you know you will and would too! From everything she sees, what she witnesses, its bloody terrifying and that is what I wanted to do. Hadley is one brave woman and although it effects her so much, you are glad she has done this, its what she wanted to do and shes done it now.
Jack. OH MY JACK! I adored this specimen. He isn’t what a normal frat boy is and although I have never been to college in the US, I am stereotyping from books and movies. Jack is the cool kid, the one who has been looking for Hadley since that kiss in the rain at the tailgate and now she appears in front of him. This is fate. Jack doesnt hide the fact he wants Hadley and a Fuck Buddy relationship is more than enough. You can see how much he adores Hadley, he will protect her, be there for her throughout everything with her roommate, who is in a bad relationship and will stand up for her. He will fuck her beyond belief but he had no motivation to get a job nor apply himself in university, which, although is really none of Hadley’s business, it doesnt sit well that he has no idea what he wants to do.
But he does harbour a massive secret about his family and my heart broke into a million pieces when you find out what it is. Dear god, I was crying at the pain and horror of what he must and still is going through, especially with Hadley going away. Tiny little pricks to the heart!
When shits hits the fan, you will be willing Hadley and Jack to get back together. It was inevitable that one would fall for the other. But a few months later, Hadley is in a bad way and calls Jack. You can see how much he still loves her, how is will always love her and be there for her at a drop of a hat. Despite the time, and the months apart a lot has changed in both their lives, but one thing stayed the same – their love for each other.
I LOVE Love Show. Its funny, cheeky, sexy and deals with serious issues too – which were written exceedingly well! You will feel for these characters, root and cheer for them, cry for them. It’s not straightforward and I like that. I like that Hadley was career driven and Jack wasn’t. I liked that they had an unconventional relationship, I liked that in the end they seemed to have swapped paths, but that is what made this book great and you should definitely take a chance on Love Show. It’s worth it!
Synopsis***Author Note: This is not a love story. This is a story of love gone wrong.***
Growing up the way I did, you’d think I’d be more screwed up than what I actually am.
Soon as I turned sixteen, I left that bump in the road I called home and took my chances on the street.
Best decision I ever made.
Now, at the age of twenty six, I’m educated, employed and damn good at my job.
My friends have become my family. Like me, they know what it’s like to grow up unloved.
But the saying is true.
The world makes way for those who know where they are going.
That’s me.
I know where I’m going and I’ll get there eventually. On my own terms and at my own pace.
But then there’s him.
I feel his eyes on me. I see him hiding in plain sight. He watches me.
He makes me feel.
It’s unconventional.
But it’s real.
I’m sure you’re wondering how a person falls in love with their stalker.
So am I.
This isn’t a story.
This is my life.
5 out of 5 stars!
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This was the first book I had read of Belle Aurora, but it certainly wont be the last. Since turning to the ‘dark side’ of romance, I had seen many rave about Raw, about Twitch and especially about a certain scene about Twitch that killed them. Of course I had to download Raw, I had never read a book about a stalker and about a heroine falling for said stalker. I needed to know how this would all go down and what the hell made her fall for her stalker.
Once I read of the synopsis and once download, I was opening up the ebook and divulging into the world of Twtich and Lexi, following their every move, their every thought and feelings, and my god, this is such a fucking brilliant book to read if you have yet to.
Twitch and Lexi didnt have the greatest upbringings, Twitch espeically, and years later, Lexi is content in her life, she is helping young people in need, something she never really had growing up. And Twitch, not having a stable upbringing, has turned into a big man – he has money, is the strong and quiet type and he is stalking Lexi from afar.
Although Lexi knows she has a stalker, she doesnt fear him, she feels safe around him and there is no need for her to fear him because he never approaches her, never talks to her, just watches her. We later find out who Twitch is to her and why he has been stalking her for so long.
This is not your typical love story, oh hell no. Twitch may be quiet, but he is fearsome, rich, demanding, definitely an alpha male who likes his women to submit to him, broken but most of you, you cant help for fall in love with the guy, despite feeling some uncomfortableness at some of the things he does. When he finally confronts Lexi, they begin an unconventional relationship and even yourself will be like “what the hell is happening?!” because so much is happening between them and although Twitch is certain he will never love anyone, you can see him slowly caring for Lexi, letting her know that she is his and no one will ever have her apart from him.
There are scenes in which Twitch will shock you, especially near the end where you are screaming at him because he is being the biggest wanker imaginable to Lexi, yet in a way, you will understand why he is acting this way, but you still habour feelings of wanting to hit him so hard for everything he is saying and has done to Lexi that you hate to love him, and love to hate him at the same time.
He is definitely a broken man, but you can see him really trying with Lexi – to love her like she deserves it. And that is why I sobbed so hard at the ending. I am not going to spoil it for you, but my heart hurt, my head hurt and tears streamed down my face at what I was reading. I just hope to god Belle will write a second book because I need to know what is going to happen next.
Lexi is strong headed, shes caring and loves the kids she helps to keep safe. As I;ve mentioned her past isnt the greatest and she doesnt want kids to suffer the way she did. She’s known about her stalker for months yet shes not afraid. He’s given her nothing to be frightened about but now shes been saved by him, she is in two minds over him – but when things progress she is shocked to find she actually likes the things Twitch makes her do, makes her feel. Twitch is someone who doesnt give a damn what people think of them, yet Lexi is.
Their relationship is one that is domineering, sexy as hell, passionate yet polar opposites yet they work. Despite the reasoning that Twitch wants to break her down, everything he does makes her want him even more and in the end, he ends up feeling the same about her. Wanting, needing her in his life – needing to love her although he doesnt want to love. He does. She loves him. They arent about rainbows and glitter, their relationship is hard and unconventional, but as I said, it works for them being together. They need to be together.
The ending, with Lexi, made me cry. You can see the pain, the sorrow, the sadness, but the love is still there. Still implemented in her heart, in her being and I felt, perhaps, the same as Lexi over Twitch, and dear god, my heart and chest were killing me. Despite being characters, I love feeling that bond with them and I really did with Lexi at the end.
There is so much that happens in this book that its a roller-coaster of amazingness. I couldnt put it down and I was completely sucked into the madness that is Lexi and Twitch. Of their lives and their fucked up relationship. IF you are looking for a different book to branch into then RAW should be on your list. I am so happy I picked it up and got to know their characters and Belle’s writing because I need more of her books in my life!
SynopsisA New Adult Dark Contemporary Romance, not suitable for people sensitive to grief, slavery, and nonconsensual sex. A story about finding love in the strangest of places, a will of iron that grows from necessity, and forgiveness that may not be enough.
“My life was complete. Happy, content, everything neat and perfect.
Then it all changed.
I was sold.”
Tess Snow has everything she ever wanted: one more semester before a career in property development, a loving boyfriend, and a future dazzling bright with possibility.
For their two year anniversary, Brax surprises Tess with a romantic trip to Mexico. Sandy beaches, delicious cocktails, and soul-connecting sex set the mood for a wonderful holiday. With a full heart, and looking forward to a passion filled week, Tess is on top of the world.
But lusty paradise is shattered.
Kidnapped. Drugged. Stolen. Tess is forced into a world full of darkness and terror.
Captive and alone with no savior, no lover, no faith, no future, Tess evolves from terrified girl to fierce fighter. But no matter her strength, it can’t save her from the horror of being sold.
Can Brax find Tess before she’s broken and ruined, or will Tess’s new owner change her life forever?
4.5 out of 5
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“Je suis a toi.”
If you know me, you know I’m not one for reading anything but angsty romance with cuddles and kisses and happily ever after, but after seeing so many people raving about Tears Of Tess, I was in two minds about reading it. Of course, I downloaded it, but I wasn’t sure if I would ever read it. I’m not good with dark books, with rape and violence, especially slave books but I thought ‘”f I can handle reading Poughkeepsie….and that is gritty….I can handle anything” plus this new year I want to broaden my reading genres and with so much love for this series, I thought Tears of Tess could take my dark book virginity.
HOLY SHIT ON A BRICK! I have fallen in love. Pepper Winters, I love you too and when I meet you in July at the Edinburgh Event, I may just have to kiss you (I’m sorry). You took something that I was so afraid to read about, and turned it into something that I love, I adore and I cannot get enough of. You captivated me every page, you made me sit up, read every single word and not put my books down in the 3 hours I read it. You made me cry, smile, be uncomfortable, turned on and I went through so many different emotions that I came out going “Holy crap, give me book two NOW!”
I really liked Tess. I felt for her a lot throughout this book. She thought she was broken for wanting to be dominated in the bedroom and it didn’t help her boyfriend was a bit of a pansy (sorry!). She thought she was made wrong for liking this and my heart went out for her. When she was taken, her strength never vanished. She was determined to fight, to get free and although she was induced to pain, she stuck to her guns and was feisty and mouthy and she knew that she would get her chance to be free again, she just had to wait it out and when the time came she would run.
Then she is sold to Q. She has conflicting feelings for him. From hate, to liking him, to being attracted to him to wanting to kill him. She knows, deep down, that she could be in the hands of someone much worse than Q. Although she is strong, of course she is going to have weak moments and I was awaiting these are no one can be strong all the time. I was actually glad when she did have a moment of weakness, it shows that she is thinking about the horridness of what she has been through but it also proves she can get past it if she thinks about it, proves she can become stronger, and not let it get to her. She’s safe and protected and the horrors of Mexico cant get to her anymore…
We see her fight inner battles. She wants to hate Q, he’s mean and cold but then we see her want Q, want him to dominate her, hurt her, fulfil her fantasies and we also see her warm towards him, towards her ‘master’ and although I have never truly understood how a captor could fall for their kidnapper, I can sympathise that, actually this can happen. She begins to see him in a new light, begins to like him and its hard not to really. Although he is hot and cold, he knows how to please her, how to use her body, how to pleasure her and you can actually agree that if you were Tess, you would probably fall for Q too.
Q…oh Q. I was constantly conflicted by him. I wanted to hate him but I liked it. I wanted to like him but I hated him. My mind would not make its mind up and I was constantly in a state of confusion and distress over my feelings towards him. He is the epitome of douchbag and sexy dominant alpha wrapped into one and although you want to hate him, you kind of cant. And that is what messed me up. I have to say though, I DO like Q a hell of a lot. You can see that with Tess he is different, he wants to stay away but cant and he’s never felt this way so it fucks him up.
He is not your usual alpha…his childhood fucked him up badly and that is why he runs the business he does. I’m not telling you what it is because its a spoiler, but I think you begin to understand why he acts the way he does and your heart feels compassion for him, for what he is doing but you know deep down there is a monster wanting to erupt and find its equal….I think he found it in Tess.
He is used to broken slaves and when Tess stumbles through the door, feisty as hell, he knows she is definitely different to the others and there is something about her that he wants to discover. Q switches from hot and cold. He can be a downright bastard one minute and swooning douchebag the next. You never know where you are with him and although we went on this journey, when you find out what he does, you kind of feel sorry for him and completely understand everything he does and did, to and for Tess.
He has a monster living inside him and when he sees Tess he knows he wants her. Their chemistry was instant for him, and although she knew he was gorgeous, and her body reacted to him, she didnt want it to but he knew she wanted him as much as he wanted her. When shit goes down, he proves how much he wants her, needs to protect her and he will most definitely kill for her….He has secrets and guilt and grief locked inside him but we find out more about him, about his childhood and his present in the epilogue and it tears you apart and heals you too and you just want to heal Q too.
Q is dark and brooding but he can show bits of compassion when he wants to and I really liked that about him.
I was texting my bestie, Anna Bloom, throughout reading this book and I was like “I should hate him but I cant and then he does things to not make me hate him! I’m so messed up and its so good its wrong.” AND I LOVED IT.
Despite the situations and dark nature of Tears of Tess, I am besotted with this couple, with their story and I cannot wait for book 3 (My review of book 2 will be next and SHIT was that book my favourite). If you are like me and have never picked up a dark book, seriously, start with this series. You will fall in love with it like I did.
Z. Elizabeth 