Tuesday, January 30, 2018

My Scot, My Surrender by Amalie Howard and Angie Morgan - Release Day Review






Author: Amalie Howard and Angie Morgan
Publication Date: 29 January, 2018
Publisher: Entangled 
Series:  Lords of Essex
Genre:  Historical Romance
Age Recommendation: 18 and Up
Rating: 4 Stars
~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 


Book Description:

SCOTLAND, 1819. 

Brandt Montgomery Pierce is a bastard—and proud of it. Raised by the Duke of Bradburne, Brandt enjoys an uncommon life of privilege. Despite the mystery surrounding his birth, he has wealth and opportunity, and wants nothing more. Especially not a wife. 

Lady Sorcha Maclaren, the fiery and scarred daughter of Laird Maclaren, the Duke of Dunrannoch, is desperate to avoid marriage to a loathsome marquess at any cost...even if it means risking a kiss with a handsome stranger at a Scottish border festival.

But after an innocent kiss turns into a scandalously public embrace, Sorcha and Brandt get more than they bargained for—a swift trip to the altar. When danger chases them into the Highlands, and deceit threatens to tear them apart, their only hope will be to surrender...to each other.


Each book in the Lords of Essex series is STANDALONE


My Review:

I have really enjoyed all the books in this series and am sad that this is the last one (come on we need a spin off with all of Sorcha's brothers...PLEEEAAASSSSE!) but what a wonderful way to end it.

I won't go into detail about everything that happens because well, you have the description up top and because this one is pretty action packed with lots of little fun and interesting twists and turns that I want you to discover on your own.  What I will talk about is how much I loved the character of Sorcha.  She is the Scottish Lass you expect.  There is a wildness to here, you can imagine her stealing across the highlands on her Scottish Destrier yelling FREEDOM while a band of rogues attempt to chase her down only to find themselves being felled at the point of HER claymore!  In another world her name may have been Merida!  ;-)  I loved her attitude, her love of her family but also of her personal freedom and herself.  Considering the challenges that have followed her through her life the fact that she is as resilient as she is is a testament to her strength and the love of her family.

Brandt is a favorite of this series as well.  I adored his quiet fierceness.  His ability to be happy with who and where he is in his life but also his secret desire to know his past and what a past it is!  I don't think you will be shocked when you discover what his past holds, I don't think it is intended to be a secret from the reader but it is fun to watch it all play out.

I really loved the light hearted feel through out this book.  This is a wild story, full of action and fear (as far as the characters are concerned) and yet there is an underlying happiness through out it all.  Without the humor this story wouldn't have come off as realistic and beautiful as it does.  There is so much personal pain with these two characters and yet together they are able to find the joy in life that makes a readers own heart soar.

I also loved the cast of side characters, (as you may have guessed from my begging for more books) Sorcha's brothers are much like she is with that wild Scottish fierceness that makes you just fall instantly in love with them and of course some characters, that you have to meet on your own before I can talk to you about them, who have lived such a hard and sad life and deserve more than any others to have their story told and their own happily ever after.

On that note I will say, do not go into this book with a wealth of historical knowledge and think that you are getting a lesson in the era's history.  This is a light take on the attitudes, behaviors, speech, etiquette, at the time.  If you are expecting this to be a throughly accurate account of the life of Regency characters you will be disappointed.  If you go in knowing this is just a fun read with a historical context than I think you will thoroughly enjoy this story for the story that it is.


~ HAPPY READING ~ 




About Amalie Howard

AMALIE HOWARD grew up on a small Caribbean island where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or being a tomboy running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. 25 countries, surfing with sharks and several tattoos later, she has traded in bungee jumping in China for writing the adventures she imagines instead. She isn’t entirely convinced which takes more guts. She is the award-winning author of several young adult novels critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Spring 2014 Kid’s INDIE NEXT title. Her debut novel, Bloodspell, was a #1 Amazon bestseller, and the sequel, Bloodcraft, was a national silver IPPY medalist. She is also the co-author of the adult historical romance series, THE LORDS OF ESSEX. As an author of color and a proud supporter of diversity in fiction, her articles on multicultural fiction have appeared in The Portland Book Review and on the popular Diversity in YA blog. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children.



About Angie Morgan

Angie is the author of several critically acclaimed young adult and middle grade books written under two other names (Page Morgan and Angie Frazier), and is now thrilled to be taking a much-anticipated leap into the world of adult romance. My Rogue, My Ruin is the first of three books in her new Lords of Essex series, co-written with good friend and fellow author, Amalie Howard. Angie lives in New Hampshire with her husband, their three daughters, and a menagerie of pets.

Zero Hour by Megan Erickson - Release Day Review






Amazon ~ iBooks ~ 

Author: Megan Erickson
Publication Date:  30 January, 2018
Publisher: Forever Publishing
Series:  Wired and Dangerous, book 1
Genre:  Contemporary Romance, Hackers
Age Recommendation: 18 and Up
Rating: 4 Stars
~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 



Book Description:


The Fast and the Furious meets Mr. Robot in USA Today bestselling author Megan Erickson's thrilling new romantic suspense series. 


Hacker extraordinaire Roarke Brennan lives each hour - each breath - to avenge his brother's murder. His first move: put together a team of the best coders he knows. They're all brilliant, specialized, and every one an epic pain in his ass. Only now Wren Lee wants in too, threatening to upset their delicate balance. The girl Roarke never allowed himself to want is all grown up with sexy confidence and a dark past ... and she's the wild card he can't control.

Roarke might still think she's a kid, but Wren's been to hell and back. Nothing and nobody can stop her - especially the tatted-up, cocky-as-all-hell hacker. But when years of longing and chemistry collide, Wren and Roarke discover that revenge may be a dish best served blazing hot.





My Review:

I was really excited to get back into the geeky hacker world with Megan Erickson but I have to say this isn't the same geekiness that we have had from Megan before and while it threw me for a bit of a loop I really enjoyed this story.  What makes it different?  It's a total suspense novel, a lot grittier than we have seen before and a little darker.  

I was a tad concerned that it would go over my head with computer speak but I can say that was not a problem at all, in fact I felt a little torn about the fact that there was not a more in depth description about the hacking the group does.  I loved the suspense, I loved the romance, I loved the friendships, but I missed seeing the group in the trenches of the hacker world.  Now, I will admit this is probably a difficult place for Megan to find herself in as she writes this series.  She can't go so in depth that we the average reader gets lost in the muck and the mire of a world we don't understand and yet at the same time she has to give us a close look into the world so that we can actually feel like we are in there with the characters and maybe learning something along the way.  She will likely find herself in the place where she can't please us all sadly, but I mention all of that because for me it is just about the only thing that kept me from giving it a full 5 stars.  I just didn't feel as invested in their world as I would have liked to have been.  

All that said, I am so curious about all the characters that she has given us, especially about this mystery hacker that we have only gotten a small glimpse at.  I have this bad habit of always falling for the 'bad guy' and even though we barely (and I mean barely as in the tip of the iceberg type of barely) I kinda already am hoping for some wild redemption story, haha.  

Wren for me stole the show in this book.  This is a badass woman who's style, attitude, flair, guts, etc... I wish I could have.  She has no problem taking on these boys and showing them that she is every bit as good as they are.  On that note before you think I am saying she has to prove herself, she doesn't have to in the sense that they think some in general aren't capable hackers, just that she is the little sister of the best friend of the hero; someone they have tried to keep out of their world so she has to prove to them that she is as good just because they don't expect her to ever be in their world in the first place.  There is definitely not a men hackers are better than women hackers attitude in this book so don't be afraid.  

Roarke and Wren have basically been in love with each other since they were teens, but there is the whole best friend's little sister issue that has kept them apart all these years.  I really enjoyed seeing them work through their issues and find out they have both been pining after each other for years. I will admit it took lame a while to get into the book but once I did I couldn't turn away from these two, especially once they decided that trying to stay away from each other wasn't going to happen.  

There is a lot of action in this book and a pretty deep story line that revolves around sex trafficking.  I love that through this book Megan is bringing a terrible world issue to the fore front. It's a frightening world out there and Megan gives it to us with brutal honesty.  I have to say I would have hated having to do the research for this book, I am pretty sure I would have been in a state of teary anger the entire time I was writing it.  It's so worth the anger you may walk away with though and honestly we should all be angry that this is happening all around us everyday.  

I missed a little bit of the light heartedness I have come to love from Megan Erickson but I also appreciate that this is out of her comfort zone and that she is bringing us something new.   As I said earlier it was a little bit slow for me in the beginning and it took me a while to get into the story but once I did this was a pretty quick read and definitely a series that I will be keeping up for.  We've got several romances in our future with this series, possibly several M/F's and at least one M/M and like I mentioned earlier maybe if I am a very good reader a bad boy redemption story, haha!  

~ HAPPY READING ~ 





Excerpt

A sound echoed off the brick building and shoved all her instincts into overdrive. She darted to the side, withdrawing her gun in a quick motion and leveling it on the source of the sound. The figure leaned forward, and she froze when she met the gaze of Roarke Brennan.

He stood with his arms crossed over his chest. And he didn’t look happy. At all. “Put the gun down, little bird.”

Well, now she was just embarrassed. With a frustrated grunt, she shoved the gun into her waistband and tried to act like nothing had happened. She cocked out a hip and waved. “Hey Roarke.”

He didn’t speak for a long moment. “Darren Saltner is the thirty-five-year-old owner of Alpha who is just as bad as his father and is less good at hiding it.”

She swallowed.

Roarke wasn’t finished. “He’s been known to funnel drug sales through his club, and several women have brought sexual assault charges against him, only to drop them. And that’s just the tip of the shit sandwich of things he’s involved in.” 

She knew all of this. “Look—”

“And after I told you to stay out of it, you drive back down here and go right to his club and cozy up to him? Seriously, Wren?”


“Were you following me?” 

“Yes, I sure the hell was!” 

She scowled. “That’s rude.”

“I don’t give a fuck,” he shot back. “I am rude. And I can’t believe you put yourself in that situation—”

“I didn’t take the drink he offered me.”

Roarke threw up his hands and turned his back on her, walking a few steps away before stopping abruptly and turning. “You didn’t take a drink from him. God, Wren, I—”

“I got out of there fine!”

Roarke stared at her incredulously. “Sure you did, because I raised an alarm on their security system so you could escape.”


She forced down the growl that was roaring up her throat. Of course he interfered. “I’m not an idiot, Roarke!” She surged toward him. “I researched him, I know what he does and who he is. Tonight he mentioned something to his bodyguards that made me think he knows what his father is doing. And I intend to find out more.”

For the first time, uncertainty crossed his face. “I guess I don’t really know you, do I?”

She shrugged. “You knew me at one time, I guess. And I’m still Wren. I’m just . . . grown up.”

She didn’t miss the way his gaze coasted down her body. His hazel eyes bored into her as he took a step closer. The air between them was charged, and a bead of sweat trickled down her back.

“Did Darren touch you, Wren?” His voice was low, barely above a whisper. “Did he put his hands on you?”

“It was nothing I couldn’t—” 

“Answer me.”

“Yes.” Heat pooled in her stomach as his eyes blazed, and she couldn’t stop the tremble in her voice. 


“Why’re you looking at me like that?”

He placed a fist in his other palm and cracked his knuckles, an agitated tell he’d had since she’d known him. “Because Wren . . . fuck.” The curse was a growl. “The thought of him touching you, thinking he can, thinking he has a right”—his hand sliced the air—“it’s driving me crazy.”

Her throat went dry and words failed her. This was a side of Roarke she’d never seen, never thought possible. He rarely deviated from his aloof scowl, and this possessive side—over her—was kind of turning her on.

She wasn’t sure if that was healthy, but fuck it, she wasn’t going to lie to herself. “Look, I know you feel obligated to protect me because I’m Erick’s little sister—”

He turned away with a bitter laugh, flattening his hands on top of his head.

She stamped her foot. “Will you quit interrupting me?”

He whirled around and advanced on her so quickly, she retreated until her back hit the wall. Then he was in her space, all up in it, their chests brushing, his thighs touching hers. He braced a hand on the wall beside her head. “You think this is about you being Erick’s little sister?”

Her head was spinning. She didn’t know what was what anymore. “Roarke, I don’t understand.”


His jaw was so tight that she swore a light tap would shatter it. He was so close now that she inhaled the scent of his leather jacket with every breath. The tension in his body was a tight coil that seemed about to unleash any second. A large vein in his neck cut through the inked rose, and without thinking, she ran a finger down it. His entire body shuddered.

He gave a small lip twitch and then something brushed the front of her thigh. She startled and glanced down to see his fingers grazing her skin. She didn’t move but kept her eyes on that tattooed hand as it flattened on her thigh. “Is this okay?”

Her head jerked up. Roarke’s eyes were wide, pupils blown. She swore she could feel the pulse of his heart in the pads of his fingers where they rested on her skin. What was going on? Whatever tentative relationship they’d had was shifting beneath her, and she couldn’t get her bearings. All she knew was that her entire body was on fire, and it was taking every bit of self-control not to climb that big body and finally see what those full lips felt like on hers.

Get a grip.

She still hadn’t answered his question so she licked her lips, tasting the last of her lipstick on her tongue. “Yes.”

His hand shifted, and four fingers ran up the inside of her leg, dangerously close to where she ached for him to touch. He curled his fingers around her inner thigh so one rested on the seam of her panty line. She balled her hands into fists because it was the only way to prevent herself from reaching for him. “Roarke,” she croaked.

“This is going to be a fucking disaster,” he muttered almost to himself, as his gaze began to roam. Down her neck, across her chest, which heaved with deep breaths, and then down to where his hand was tucked between her legs. 

“Roarke—”


“I didn’t want you in because I can’t be objective with you,” he interrupted, his gaze once again cutting to her. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Not really, but when his thumb brushed ever so lightly over her underwear, she sucked in a breath and nodded.

He dipped his head for just a second, and she thought he was going to kiss her, but then he took a step back. She almost reached for him but stopped herself.

He shoved his hands in his pockets and began to walk past her, as if he hadn’t just rocked her world with a touch. “Better get some rest. We’re meeting at eight a.m. sharp.”

She glanced at her watch. That was in five hours. Shit. “Uh . . .”

He was already in the parking lot. “I’ll have Erick text you the address,” he called over his shoulder.

“Okay!” she yelled back.

She waited until his car pulled out of the parking lot before sagging against the wall, a hand on her chest as she sought to calm her racing heart.


In one night, she’d placed her safety in the hands of a very dangerous man and allowed another equally dangerous but also sexy man to touch her.

She hoped like hell she wasn’t in over her head.






Megan Erickson is a USA Today bestselling author of romance that sizzles. Her books have a touch of nerd, a dash of humor, and always have a happily ever after. A former journalist, she switched to fiction when she decided she liked writing her own endings better.

Her next release is Zero Hour, book one of the Wired and Dangerous series, which releases January 30 with Grand Central Publishing/Forever.



Website ~ Facebook ~ 

Monday, January 29, 2018

Escape by Jay Crownover - Review

   

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jay Crownover returns with the third standalone title in her Getaway series, ESCAPE. 

Check out my review below, and pick up your copy today!

 

 

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ AmazonCA ~ 

AmazonUK ~ Barnes&Noble ~ iBooks ~ Kobo

Author: Jay Crownover
Publication Date:  26 January 2018
Publisher: Jay Crownover, LLC
Series:  The GetAway Series, book 3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Recommendation: 17 and Up
Rating: 4 Stars

~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 




Book Description:

Everything inside of him is screaming that he needs to run, he needs to go, he needs to escape.


Lane Warner is used to being overshadowed and overlooked.

After all, he’s the youngest brother and the most laid back one in the family. He’s the one known for going with the flow and not making waves, even when things seem to be at their worst.
Very few things in life have had the ability to rile Lane up and get under his skin. At the top of that list is his childhood friend Brynn Fox…no…Brynn Warner. The fact that they share a last name was the one thing that has the power to light him up and spin him out of control like no other. There was no calm, cool and collected when it comes to all the reasons why Brynn had to become part of his family.
It’s slowly killing him to keep wanting what he can’t have, so Lane sees only one way to stop himself from doing something they’ll both regret…he has to leave. 


Everything inside of her is calling out to find him, to follow, to bring him home.


Brynn Warner is used to being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

After all, she’s the daughter of an unrepentant gold-digger who never once blinked at being the cause of her daughter’s pain and suffering.
Very few things in her life have ever brought happiness and a sense of security. At the very top of that list is Lane Warner. She has unwaveringly loved the youngest Warner since the first minute she laid eyes on him. He was everything Brynn ever wanted and everything she knew she could never have.
Sometimes the right choice is the one that hurts the most and Brynn’s had to make a few that felt like they might be the end of her. When Lane takes off, one thing is clear, the only choice Brynn has is to go after him.

She’s going to bring her wayward cowboy home….whatever it takes. 

Escape is a standalone novel, the third book in the Getaway series, which features the hardheaded and brokenhearted Warner brothers and the women who dare to love them. These boys are very good at putting the wild in wilderness.


       


My Review:

I feel like I have been waiting forever for this story, though in all honestly Jay Crownover put these books out pretty darn quickly and it hasn't been all that long, it is simply that I have wanted to have Lane and Brynn's story in my hands since we met them in book one, (click on title for my review) Retreat.  I knew that in one way or another Escape was going to be a tough read.  I honestly had a little bit of dread about the anxiety that I was expecting to feel with this book.  I never do well with a book full of push and pull drama between the characters.  You know that kind of drama that makes you want to shake someone or toss your book/e-reader?  If you have read the first two books in this series you know that Lane and Brynn's story is not a pretty one.  There is a lot of  'water under the bridge' so to speak, a lot of emotions that they will need to wade through.  That's been building up for two books, two books of anxiety boiling down to one book of 'hopeful' resolution...that's a lot to put on a story and a reader, ha.  

So was there drama, heck yeah...BUT, interestingly it wasn't the drama that I expected and I loved that about this book.  I loved that in the end this couple are pretty straight forward with each other.  Are there misunderstandings, absolutely, but those misunderstandings aren't the drama filled pain that makes the readers heart ache so much that they have to walk away from the book.  In fact, I read this book in one sitting because I was simply invested in each of the characters so much that I couldn't leave them untilI knew they were safe.  I felt like Brynn in that moment, expecting phone calls checking in and letting me know my favorite characters were safe and sound and more importantly happy.   Which brings me to a quick side note.  I LOVED that Jay Crownover gave us the prologue that she did and that it was in 3rd person.  I loved feeling as though I was in the rafters watching the entire scene play out.  I don't there that it could have been done any other way that would have made me feel a part of the scene or that would have made the scene feel truly real.  My heart broke with EVERYONE in that room (though I also have to say, Jack, come on man...poor timing.) especially our main couple and the poor guy who didn't seem to see what was all around him.  

Lane and Brynn have a long history of, I wouldn't even call it miscommunication, but no communication.  They have both fought against what their hearts have been telling them for over a decade.  Brynn because she needed love but was afraid that the one she wanted to love her couldn't give i,t and Lane, well some of his problem was just cluelessness, but also because he never felt like he could measure up.  Lane has some serious youngest sibling syndrome going on.  If it wasn't bad enough that the Warner brothers had such a wretched mother, Lane's attempts to step out of his brother's (and father's) shadows has eluded him.  He's was never going to be the golden boy or the all star, never the brains of the family or the one forging a new path...Lane was always just Lane.  Sadly for him what he doesn't realize, and I am not sure even in the end that he fully comprehends, is that he IS the Warner family.  He is the backbone. He is more the future of Warner Ranch than either of his brothers and they know it, Brynn thankfully knows it, I just hope that Lane too begins to realize it too.  

I loved Brynn as well, I loved that she never gave up, that she never gives up.  I love that she did what she needed to do to keep herself and her sister safe; that she chose the harder right over the easier wrong.  I love that in the end it is she who goes after Lane; I think that particular moment will stick with me for a long time.  It isn't often in a book that we get a heroine, especially one like Brynn (strong but quiet and a bit meek) who has gone through so much, that steps out of her comfort zone and goes after what she wants.  She is a fierce warrior who will do what she needs to in protection of those she loves and calls family.

Oh, and before I forget to mention it because it is actually pretty unforgettable...the two of them together, Lane and Brynn...SWOON!    

I really enjoyed how this couple ultimately were very grown up about their relationship.  They used their words..go figure, and set things on the right track pretty quickly.  That means our book basically has two stories going on, it is the story of Lane and Brynn, but there is also a secondary story that will touch your heart. A story about failure and faith.  This secondary story is where the drama really comes in and it is both heartbreaking and beautiful.

  I adored that through this story Jay was able to weave both Marked Men and The Point into this series.  It was really fun having some favorites show up when I least expected it.  There is also a wonderful set up for a hopeful spin off involving Ten and Webb, so I am going to need you all to go out and buy this book because I need their story, and I need Jack's story, and I need Wyatt's story, and I need.....I need ALL THE STORIES!  



~ HAPPY READING ~ 




     

And don’t miss the first two standalone novels in the Getaway series, RETREAT and SHELTER. RETREAT is on sale for just $.99! Grab your copy today! ✦ RETREAT on Amazon http://amzn.to/2iOD0DB ✦ RETREAT on Other Retailers https://www.jaycrownover.com/thegetawayseries ✦SHELTER on Amazon http://amzn.to/2zGQh98 ✦SHELTER on Other Retailers https://www.jaycrownover.com/thegetawayseries


   

GiveAway:
( Signed Copy of RETREAT and SHELTER for 1 winner)

   


   




Jay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, the Point Series, the Breaking Point Series, and the Getaway Series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.
       

Website ~ Facebook ~ 

Twitter ~ Goodreads


   





Jay Crownover’s ESCAPE Review Blitz:
 January 29th
January 31st
 February 1st
 

Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf - Cover Reveal


In a new series Publishers Weekly has listed as “one of the most anticipated YA's of 2018”, I am excited to help share the cover for Bring Me Their Hearts!
 NYT bestselling author Sara Wolf delivers a fast-paced, gritty fantasy sure to thrill fans of Holly Black, Sabba Tahir, and Sarah J. Maas.

Bring Me Their Hearts Releases

5 June, 2018







Book Description:

Zera is a Heartless—the immortal, unaging soldier of a witch. Bound to the witch Nightsinger ever since she saved her from the bandits who murdered her family, Zera longs for freedom from the woods they hide in. With her heart in a jar under Nightsinger’s control, she serves the witch unquestioningly.

Until Nightsinger asks Zera for a prince’s heart in exchange for her own, with one addendum: if she’s discovered infiltrating the court, Nightsinger will destroy Zera’s heart rather than see her tortured by the witch-hating nobles.

Crown Prince Lucien d’Malvane hates the royal court as much as it loves him—every tutor too afraid to correct him and every girl jockeying for a place at his darkly handsome side. No one can challenge him—until the arrival of Lady Zera. She’s inelegant, smart-mouthed, carefree, and out for his blood. The prince’s honor has him quickly aiming for her throat.

So begins a game of cat and mouse between a girl with nothing to lose and a boy who has it all.

Winner takes the loser’s heart.

Literally.

About Sara:

Sara Wolf is a twenty-something author who adores baking, screaming at her cats, and screaming at herself while she types hilarious things. When she was a kid, she was too busy eating dirt to write her first terrible book. Twenty years later, she picked up a keyboard and started mashing her fists on it and created the monster known as the Lovely Vicious series. She lives in San Diego with two cats, a crippling-yet-refreshing sense of self-doubt, and not enough fruit tarts ever.

Connect with Sara:

Friday, January 26, 2018

The Runner's Daughter by Jessica McCrory - Cover Reveal

Today, Jessica McCrory is revealing the cover of her gorgeous new romance, The Runner’s Daughter! 
Check it out and preorder your copy today!  

 
GoodReadsAmazon ~ 


Book Description:

 Jemma Saige thought she had it all figured out. Her rules for survival were simple. Keep your head down, your bags packed, your running shoes on. But when she meets a man at her local gym, their attraction threatens to break the last and most important of those rules: don’t get tied down.   FBI agent Caid King has fought long and hard to end the corruption within his organization. After the fall of Clayton Matthews, he returns to New York with his head held high and his eye on the next target. He never could have imagined that the dangerous man he’s set his sights on would have ties to the beautiful and mysterious Jemma.   Now with Jemma’s secrets out in the open, and both her and Caid’s lives on the line, can they find a way to work together? Or will the weight of it all drag them down?


 

Exclusive Excerpt:

Jemma woke while everyone was still sleeping. She could feel breath on her neck, and it caused goose bumps to raise on her body. Caid was pressed against her back and wrapped around her as if he were afraid she would try to escape. Her sleep-addled mind had her body pressing back against him, and his arm tightened around her waist. Through the thin fabric of her shorts and tank, she could feel every hard ridge of his body, and her heart began to pound beneath her breast. Unsure of her next move, or what even she was thinking, she rolled so that she was facing him. His eyes were closed, so she took a moment to visually trace the lines of his face. What would that rough stubble feel like against her bare skin? she wondered. How would his lips feel if she just leaned forward and pressed her own to them? Would he pull away? Or would he ravish her with all the heat she sensed bubbling just below the surface? She lifted her hand and traced her finger lightly down the curve of his strong jaw. He opened his eyes, and for a moment they simply stared at each other while her finger rested on his cheek. When he leaned toward her, she didn’t pull away, and as his arm tightened around her waist once again, she closed the distance between them and pressed her lips to his. The second they met, her body came alive. Heat scorched them, and she opened her mouth under his. She groaned, and he rolled her over so he was pressing right against where she desperately wanted him the most. The sound of a cough had them separating so quickly you would have thought one of them had been burned. A quick look around the room proved it had only been one of the girls coughing in their sleep. Jemma and Caid stared at each other from opposite sides of the bed, both breathing heavily and leaving them each wondering what in the hell had just happened between them.  

About Jessica McCrory:



"​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​I have always had a love of stories and the different worlds you are able to explore when you crack open the cover to a good book."   I was born in California and moved to Texas with my family when I was a teenager.  I have always been an avid reader and have been writing stories since I was a kid! It has always been a dream of mine to have my stories published and it is beyond exciting to see that dream coming true! I have a caffeine addiction, I am a wine (red!!) lover (my favorite being Crush by Dreaming Tree!) and I love T-shirts (the kind with the hilarious sayings on them).  I am OBSESSED with the TV show Scrubs and I watch it constantly.  I have an amazing husband who is more supportive than I could have ever hoped for, two sweet kiddos (who keep my life wonderfully eventful), two dogs, a rabbit, and most recently Hefty Smurf the beta fish. Growing up, reading was my way to escape reality whether it was good or bad at the time and I want my stories to offer readers the same kind of adventure I have sought out in between the covers of a book.  

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Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Siren in the City by Lexi Blake (SophieOak) - Review and Excerpt

    



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Author: Lexi Blake 
Publication Date:  23 January 2018
Publisher: DLZ Entertainment LLC
Series: Texas Sirens, book 2
Genre:  Contemporary Erotic Romance, BDSM
Age Recommendation: 18 and Up
Rating: 4 Stars

~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 


Book Description:
 Re-released in a second edition with new scenes. 

 Jack and Sam married Abby. It was supposed to be for forever, but lately Abby wonders where her alpha male has gone. Jack has retreated and life has become decidedly vanilla. It isn't the true marriage she and Sam wanted. Sam and Abby know the time has come to fight for what they need. A call from his mentor forces Jack to revisit the club where he discovered his sexuality. Jack's half-brother is in the city and interested in a little blackmail. Can Jack handle two defiant subs and a brother in need of some tough love? Sometimes all it takes to find the way home is a little love and a lot of mischief. Come back to the beginning and revisit some of your favorite old characters or find new ones to love. Siren in the City has been revised and new scenes added. And if you look closely, you’ll find not only the beginnings of the Sophie Oak world, but also the seeds of how McKay-Taggart began…      

    


My Review:

Oh, girl....you are in some serious trouble now.  What has our Abby gotten herself into this time?  In Siren in the City her full brat comes out but for a very good reason.  I really enjoyed getting back to the lives of these three and even more so that this is the story that brings Jack and Sam closer together.  While I hated that for a good portion of the book the trio is separated I loved how every moment is meant to bring these three back to each other, through uncertainties, pain, fear, angst...each moment woven into a tight pattern of love, respect, need, and peace.

I find myself a little at loss in what to say about the book because I don't want to talk too much about what happens because there are so many little pieces that bring this story together that by giving away any of them I feel that I would be spoiling the story for you.  There is very much a bit of a suspense feel to the story that needs to be played out in your mind and your mind only.  What you should know is that this is an easy quick read.  It is full of romance, a bit of intrigue, a lot of brattiness on Abby's side as I mentioned, ha, some angst, strained relationships, heartache, and love.

I will also say that while I loved getting back to the trio's life, I was especially excited about all the secondary characters in this story, some I know and some who are new to me.  I loved meeting the Masters and Mercenaries men in this book, they were so much the same and yet different enough to bring me a huge laugh since I know who they become.  I need the stories of at least three of the new characters now too, Julian and Sally, and Lucas....what will become of them, one needs know and hopefully soon.

If you were a fan of the first book Small Town Siren (see my review by clicking the title) than you definitely want to pick up book two.  Yes, the main characters are the same, but the story build beautifully onto what we read in book one.  It gives us the relationship we knew they wanted and deserved and opens the doors for so many more stories.


~ HAPPY READING ~



Excerpt:

   “Are we done, Julian? I would like to take my subs upstairs. It’s time I had a long talk with them.” She held her breath as Leo stepped forward. “I’m not done.” He stood in front of Jack, going toe-to-toe with him. “I’m the Dom in residence now, Master Jack. I know that used to be your job, but you’re a guest now. Had two subs caused the trouble yours did tonight, what would you have requested then?” Jack’s jaw tightened. “I would have immediately requested punishment. Julian would have wanted punishment for disrupting the scenes, but I would have requested punishment for the insult to me.” Leo nodded. “They both will pay for abusing Master Julian’s trust. I want her to pay for the insult to me.” The hand on the back of her neck tightened almost painfully, and Abby decided not to argue. “What insult?” Jack asked. Leo’s eyes skimmed over her. She watched from beneath her lashes. “She started everything. I was attempting to watch over Master Julian’s possession. She questioned my authority over Sally in public. She proceeded to ignore direct orders given to her for her own protection. Though the male is the one who fought, I understand and forgive his actions. He was protecting her. He’s your partner?” There was not an ounce of condemnation in the Dom’s question. He was merely attempting to outline the relationship. “We share our wife. But I am the head of the household.” “Well, your wife is topping from the bottom,” Leo accused. “I can’t let the rest of the subs see her get away with it. Twenty tonight, over my knee, right now.” The hand came off her neck and she heard a sigh. His voice was low, and she couldn’t stand the defeated sound of his reply. “We’ll be out of here in an hour. Julian, I’m sorry. Consider my membership revoked. Come along, Abigail. Sam, I expect you to pack whatever you need and meet us in the lobby.” “No!” She reached for his hand. Jack did business with the members of this club. It meant something to him. It was the whole reason she wanted to come here. She wanted to see this side of him. It had been the first place he’d called home. Now she would be the reason he lost it. Jack growled at her. She kept her head down, but she couldn’t keep quiet. “Please, Jack. Please don’t. I couldn’t live with it. I’ll do whatever he asks. I can handle it. Please don’t let this happen.” His hand found her chin again, and his expression was softer now. “Abigail, he could hurt you.” “Nothing will hurt me more than knowing I did this to you.” She could feel the tears streaming down her face. “Please?” He forced her to look him straight in the eyes, his gaze steady. “I will never allow another man to put his hands on you like that. Do you understand me? I don’t care what you’ve done or what their rules are. I only trust Sam. This relationship is between the three of us. I won’t let anyone else in, not even for a moment, no matter what it costs me. All right?” Though it hurt her heart, she knew he wouldn’t move. She nodded. “Leo, I wonder if you would indulge me.” Julian’s voice cut through her misery. “If Jackson administers the punishment, will you be satisfied? He’s serious. He will leave and not come back rather than allow you to touch her. It will more than likely cost me a friendship I would prefer not to lose.” The slight incline of the dungeon master’s head indicated his assent. “But I expect him to take this seriously. It’s obvious to me he has no control over his subs. He needs to reestablish control or allow them their freedom so they can find more appropriate Masters.” “How about you let me worry about my wife and my partner and you keep your hands off of her.” Jack took a threatening step toward the other man. “Don’t think I don’t see the way you look at her. You don’t want to punish her. You want to get your hands on her. It’s not going to happen while I’m still breathing. Get me a chair.” Jack hauled her up and she let him. If this was what it took, she could handle it. Hell, a part of her was already soft and wet. Deep down it was what she had hoped for. She glanced around at the crowd of people watching while Jack was brought a chair. They were going to watch him spank her. She hadn’t really hoped for this part. She felt her skin flush as they watched her. Julian and Leo seemed particularly interested, but Sally’s head was up, too. There was a strangely familiar face in the back. He had black, fashionably tousled hair and wore trendy clothes. He was young, but he watched the scene before him with a fascination that was hard to miss. An older man in a suit, however, stood right behind the young man, and his disdain shone on his pinched face. It took her back to a time when she saw that look on a lot of people’s faces. She felt seventeen again, with the contempt of her hometown all around her. She’d been young and pregnant, and they’d called her a whore. “Abigail.” Jack’s voice brought her back to reality. He sat on one of the office chairs from the horny ad execs scene. “Come here.” She turned away from the man with the disgusted expression. The rest of the room didn’t seem shocked at what was about to happen. They were excited. A thrill went through her. Screw the guy in the back. She wasn’t going to let people like that affect her anymore. She walked to Jack and let him pull her over his lap. Her pussy throbbed in anticipation. Her mouth went dry as Jack’s big hands stroked up her legs and began to push her skirt up. She was suddenly glad she’d fought Sam on her choice of underwear. He’d pushed for a thong, but she was eager to wear the cute silk bikinis that matched her corset. Now it would give her a bit of modesty. “What the fuck?” Jack fingered the underwear. “Since when do I allow you to wear panties? Get me a knife.” So much for modesty. She felt a touch of metal as Jack cut the super-expensive underwear off her body. She watched them fall to the side. “You’re just running wild aren’t you, baby?





NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

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