ARC REVIEW Deception by A.S. Fenichel

I am really loving this series. I have had book one, Ascension, on my TBR list and when I saw this one up for review on NetGalley I grabbed it and read them both back to back. I love the Regency setting in a fantasy/paranormal type story; like a Regency Urban Fantasy. It was done well not flawlessly but I liked how Fenichel worked it. Ascension was a great first book a great introduction. Deception was really good as well Lillian is absolutely awesome. When I get around to making my Steampunk costume I am making it with a skirt like hers.

Lillian Dellacourt is the best demon hunter The Company has and with the Demon Master closer than ever to entering our world. With a new partner in tow Lilly must find a way to stop it from happening and find the leak somewhere in their organization. Dorian Lambert has always acted as the right hand man to Drake Cullum, the man in charge of The Company, and now he finds himself partnered up with the woman he has been in love with since she became a hunter.

Lillian is out to find what dark secrets hide behind the Earl of Shafton and Dorian was sent to keep an eye on her. Together they unravel the bumpy history of the Company and find out where the Demon Master is trying to come through next all while trying not to fall into each others arms. Lillian keeps pushing Dorian away because his French title, one he refuses to use; and Dorian keeps trying to tell her it doesn't matter he would love her no matter what.

Overall, while I do love the books the one thing that bugged me is that it is the same as the first, the bare bones of the book are the same. Boy and Girl are in love, girl pushes boy away, boy finds out girl's secret, they make love, and a family member kidnapped. Yeah a lot of books have the same trope and other similar things but in a series with them so close it's noticeable. Other than that I look forward to more in the series.

ARC REVIEW Beware of Me by Cynthia Eden

Cynthia Eden's Dark Obsessions series book four, but every book is a stand alone. However in the case of Ethan Barclay reading the previous books will give an insight into who Ethan really is. I love this series. This book has the right mix of suspense and romance it is very well balanced. It does get a tad repetitive always referring to the past. But I loved Carly and Ethan and I hope the series isn’t over yet.

Ethan Barclay is criminal, he is a murderer, but he's not the villain of the story; Ethan is the anti-hero. Now I dislike stories that glamorize the criminal lifestyle, this isn't one of them. Ethan is bad he is what he is and he doesn't try to be anything else. He knew as a child he was destined to be something better then what he was. He worked hard to get where he is and now that he has reached his monetary goal he plans to go straight and he wants the one who got away.

Carly Shay was young and stupid and paid the price for it. She has lived in hiding away from her past the only reason she reappeared in Ethan's life was because her stepsister needed her. Now the bad guys are coming out of the woodwork to seek vengeance for the man her and Ethan killed. Carly has had a hard time moving on and even after all these years she still is on edge. The reappearance of Ethan in her life is comforting but scary she doesn't want to want him after everything that happened and then he just walked away; she just wants to be left alone to her life. Ethan's showing up after all these years is for her protection the news that old enemies are after her.



Ethan never wanted to leave Carly; he always thought he wasn’t good enough for her. He may have walked away from her but he never let her go. He has kept tabs on her all these years and now with her life on the line he is willing to do anything to keep her safe even from the FBI.



Overall, it was a great read, and in the end it even surprised me with whodunit.   

ARC REVIEW Never Die Alone by Lisa Jackson

Lisa Jackson's ongoing series following Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya two New Orleans Homicide detectives continues to have more then their fair share of the worst of the worst. This is book eight and as far as the series goes this can be read as a stand-alone. It does talk about a past case as it references to a secondary story line Lisa Jackson is building up to for another book. It does get redundant as it is mentioned more then a few times, I think unnecessary but then I have read that book so it just maybe that way for me. Other than that the book is classic Jackson suspense light on the romance but nail-biting suspense I couldn't put it down I didn't want to put it down, I'm glad my kids can find food on their own. The whodunit was a surprise if not a little cheesy.  

(***SPOILER***... unless you have read the previous book, Devious... a notorious killer from a previous book is back. It's awesome and because it it just a secondary story in this book and its such a tease!)

Brianna Hayward is a twin-less twin; she lost her sister in high school and it changed her life forever. Brianna is now a psychiatrist who runs a help group for other like herself. She is also trying to prove her cousin is innocent of crimes he didn't commit. Her cousin was convicted of murdering his twin sisters on their twenty-first birthday, he was labeled the 21 Killer. Brianna is alone in her belief until one of her friends from the Twin-less Twin group discovers her twin daughters missing.

It should have been the best night of their lives, Zoe and Chloe were turning twenty-one but the night went wrong and now they are both hog tied naked in a basement room with a scary looking naked guy singing Happy Birthday, badly. Zoe always the strongest of the two tries to escape and now she is lost in the swamp separated from her twin. Chloe needs to be the strong one, after their attempted escape Chloe was recaptured; now she needs to get herself out of this before he catches Zoe again.

Bentz has no reason to believe Brianna Hayward, but something about it reminds him of Olivia and how they first meet. So he goes out on a limb and starts to follow up on the missing twins. Also thrown into the mix is crime reporter Jase Bridges. Jase went to school with Brianna and her sister and has a secret he has kept from Brianna for years but the attraction is there and he tries to stay away but the story of the 21 Killer and the missing twins is too good to pass up.

Overall, with all the emotional turmoil from both past and present experiences, and the suspense of being chased by a mad man it ties you up inside. If you haven't read any of the other books this would be a good one to start at.  

  
 

ARC REVIEW Black-Eyed Susan's by Julia Heaberlin

Black-Eyed Susans is a psychological thriller by a local author (for me) Julia Heaberlin. I have read her debut novel Playing Dead and loved it. Black-Eyed Susans screwed with my mind way more and that just the way I like 'em; the creepier the better. Julia Heaberlin has a wonderful, intelligent and informative writing style; she infuses just the right amount of history to her setting to give you as a reader a feeling that you know the place as well. You can tell a lot of research went in to the book and even the format of how the book is written feeds into the your feelings of the characters. The majority of the book flips flops between seventeen year old Tessie, and her grownup self, Tessa. I love how it does that you get to know her post-trauma and at the same time who she is as a person now,a mother of a teen-age daughter herself. I have been known to complain about flashback scenes, but these are not exactly flashbacks she's not remembering them. It's done right it with two separate POVs clearly marked. If she had written it chronologically with Tessie's story first then skipped ahead it wouldn't of had the same impact when you got to the "what a twist" moment. I really enjoyed all the characters, they all have their place in the story they are well written and very believable.

Tessa is the lone survivor of a serial killer. The last thing she remembers is buying a few thing at the gas station before going on her nightly run; the next hing she sees is a black bird trying to peck out her eyes. Years later Tessa still doesn't remember what happened in the missing time, she testified her story and never really knew if it was the right man or not, she just hoped Terrell Goodwin was. Now with the execution date getting closer Tessa has enough doubt that she joins forces with William "Bill" Hastings, the lawyer working pro bono for Terrell Goodwin; and DNA Forensic scientist Joanna Seger, to try and get an appeal for Terrell. Joanna works the scientific angle while Bill tries to help Tessa remember.

Tessie is happy and lucky to be alive, she was left in a ditch surrounded by black-eyed susans with dead bodies to keep her company. Tessie after getting rescued and in the hospital suffered a set back, she suddenly went blind; clinically called Conversion Disorder laymen terms hysterical blindness. Now she has to visit one last psychiatrist before testifying. She works reluctantly with him to get past her blindness and remember what happened. Her rock through it all her best friend Lydia plays a big part in keeping her normal and sane.

The story progresses on Tessa starts remember more as Joanna discovers things they didn't have the technology to find all those years ago. Tessa is haunted by the other Susans and tormented by out of season black-eyed susans being planted out side her window. Tessa and Joanna start up an unlikely friendship while Bill tries to start something more than friendship with Tessa. Tessa is just trying to get through he days without losing her mind or driving her daughter crazy or vise versa. The pieces start to fall in to place as the clock ticks closer to Terrell's execution.

Overall, it was a great book, I couldn't put it down.        

ARC REVIEW Lady Beresford's Lover by Ella Quinn

Book Seven in Ella Quinn's Marriage Games series. Ella Quinn is good about writing books in a series but also they can be read as stand-alone. I liked it it was entertaining and witty; the characters are great I love them but the story just okay. I liked the secondary story of Silvia and Nick more than I liked Vivian and Rupert story.

Lady Vivian, The Countess of Beresford, is glad her husband is dead and that her mourning period is finally over. She has plans of owning a house away from her late husbands family and the embarrassment that comes with being his widow and having one last season in London before her self imposed seclusion. She doesn't think that finding a lover is a good idea because her husband deep scorn and has disillusioned Vivian; she thinks her body to be deformed and thinks that no man will want her after they see her deformity under her clothes. So when Rupert the Earl of Stanstead shows interest she can't help but return his flirtation.

Rupert doesn't care that everyone says he is too young to settle down, he is ready. He inherited his title young and everyone still thinks him young and they keep bringing that up. (I thought, up until they said Vivian's age, that Rupert was quite a bit younger than Vivian; that is how often they they brought it up.) Rupert was interested in one young lady but she made the decision to marry someone else, and even thought his feelings were hurt he wasn't heart broken. His father told him he would know the right woman when he sees her. When he sees Vivian across a crowded room he believes what his father told him. He won't let Vivian go now that he has found her. Sporadically through the book and so little of it and it doesn't really affect the story is a young twat who is determined to trap Rupert into marriage. I think the only purpose is to set up for another story, but I could have done without it.

The secondary story is between the new Beresford, Nick, and Silvia is a second chance story about deception, lies and manipulation. I kind of wish it was a stand alone book but it ties in so perfectly with the main story. Vivian is oblivious she decides she wants to overcome her fear of intimacy due to her "malformation" and seduce Rupert under the guise of Cleopatra. At a masquerade, coincidentally, they dress as Cleopatra and Marc Antony. Vivian doesn't realize he knows it's her and she becomes jealous of her own alter ego. Rupert works hard to prove that Vivian is the beauty he sees and her husband was a fool and everything is good until Vivian's idiot of a father tries to marry/ sell her off to another bastard.

Overall, it's not one of my favorites so far but it is a good book.

     

ARC REVIEW Dark Embrace by Angie Sandro

OMG!!! Okay so this is  book four of the Dark paradise series but it is the start of a new story arc. The first three were centered around Mala and Landry, this one is all about Dena and can be read as a stand alone but I really recommend to read the first three and get sucked into the drama and mystery of Paradise Louisiana. Angie Sandro weaves a fantastic tale of hoodoo, ghost, zombies, and Death himself.

Dena Acker was brought back from the dead, well technically. Dena was beaten by her father and was brain dead. Her soul trapped in purgatory and continually tortured by her father. Mala brought her back but was determined to keep that little fact from Dena. But Dena has a secret of her own ever since coming back to the land of the living she has been able to see when people are about to die a black fog surrounds them. She learned fast that she could not change it so she just learned to ignore it until one day a lunatic verbally assaults her at work and then after work tries to kill her and almost succeeds if not for the black fog. Dena fought for her life she fought back wounding the mad man. On the verge of passing out she sees a black vortex open up and an entity come from it and kill the mad man. It also saves Dena licking her wounds. Dena is aroused by this man like entity and when she wakes later in the hospital all she can think of was his kiss on her lips and his emerald green eyes.

Detective Michael Anders is in charge of finding who is responsible for burning alive people from the inside, so far his only clue is Dena and he can't decide whether to slap the cuffs on her or kiss her. Dena in a moment of weakness confess to him what she really saw but like she assumed he doesn't believe her. Dena becomes more and more aware of the entity that is killing people, burning them from the inside out, but is it really bad when it is targeting the hit men sent to kill Dena. The more Dena learns about Ashmael, the entity, death the more she becomes confused by her feelings for both Michael and Ashmael. The truth about Mala comes out and like always everything hits the fan at once.

I love this book. Dena so cynical and dark. Angie Sandro does not disappoint with this follow up/ continuation it is intense and sexy and even caught me by surprise.      

ARC REVIEW Over the Top by Rebecca Zanetti

Sigh, finally Dawn and Hawk's story! Over the Top is book four in Rebecca Zanetti's Maverick Montana series. Through the previous three books Dawn has not hidden the fact the she is love with Hawk Rain and it's fairly obvious he loves her too but he has his secrets and is using his secrets to keep her and her family safe from his over all mission. Not to mention he is afraid to loosing the closest thing to a family he has ever had should the relationship between Dawn and him fail. I love Rebecca Zanetti, she is a great story teller and this book is all kinds of steamy hot and action.

Hawk is back in Maverick for the time being before he rushes off to fulfill a promise he made in the mean time he is going to try and stay far away from Dawn Freeze as he can, but the little siren is calling him and he can not stop the lure of the one woman he can't stop let go of. Dawn is determined to get over Hawk, no matter how hard she tries he is still there in her mind and in her heart. It's not helping that the meddling old biddies in town have their minds made up to match the pair.

When the two finally get together it's better than either of them ever expected, but Hawk's wishy washy attitude about them just pisses Dawn off and all to soon the secret Hawk is keeping from his friends comes rushing up and Hawk has no choice but to accept the help the Freeze/Lodge family has freely offered. They even accept the fact that Hawk and Dawn have slept together well, after one of them punched Hawk the face they did. All together they face the secrets from Hawk's past.

Some of the things I love, that Rebecca Zanetti does very well, one is a damn good Alpha Male. They are over protective, loyal to no end, love deeply, and when the shit goes down they know know when to bend. Another thing I love is the humor just the right amount of funny to break up the hot sex and heart pounding action, especially when it's elderly ladies making inappropriate and embarrassing remarks and suggestions but have hearts of gold.    

ARC REVIEW Wanted by Dee Tenorio

A Deadly Secrets novel by Dee Tenorio, I believe is the second book in the series. The first book Convicted, which I have also read. I liked this one a bit more then the first and aside from being painfully predictable it was a very good romantic suspense. This is a dark romance I need to throw that out here now it deals with some pretty bad things in Whitney's past. There is a nice flow to Tenorio's writing style and even paced suspense that doesn't slow down. The characters have tortured pasts that really make you route for them and want to smack them when they are being stupid.

When we first met this small California town it was over run with a horrible biker gang. Rick Terlane returns home and is determined to clean it up and with marine buddy Cade Evigan and undercover DEA agent and hometown girl Katrina Killan to help they successfully wipe the gang out. Now time has past and the residents are still trying to move on past their past. Cade and Kat happily together and a clean run Deputy department and everything seems like it going back to normal until the one of the former corrupt Deputies ends up shot dead and all the circumstantial evidence points to one person Rick's best friend Whitney Peterson

Whitney has been in love with Rick since forever, but she can not share what she thought she had to do in order so protect her mother and her niece. I   t's her dirty little secret to carry around with her forever, or so she thought when the man behind it all ends up dead and she is the number one suspect. One more body shows up and Whit and Rick are stuck between a rock and a hard place as their feelings and sexual attraction get in the way of Rick trying to find out the truth. Whit knows she should trust Rick with the information but is afraid that when he finds out he will no longer look at her the same way again let alone be able to love her. Rick starts off not wanting in any relationship because of the incident that ended his military career but the more trouble points to Whit he grows more protective and realizes his feelings are stronger than he ever thought. But is the old adage right will the truth set you free? Or will Whit be right and it ruins everything she has worked for including her love for Rick.

ARC REVIEW Final Protocol by J.C. Daniels

One of my favorite dark romance/urban fantasy writers has written one of my top favorite genres, science fiction, to say I was happy is an understatement. When I finally stopped bouncing up and down in my chair and settled down to read it I was absorbed into a futuristic world of demented villains and tortured anti-heroes and strange alien races. I enjoyed it, I didn't love it but it was still a good read. One thing that kept throwing me off was all the alien words it was hard to keep track of what meant what. There was a lot of internal monologue, it is in first person POV so she tends to get overly depictive in describing the setting and how it made her feel. Some of it felt rushed, parts I wish there was more of and other parts I wish there was less. What I did love was the characters and the emotional strength of Silence. Silence is the quintessential Shiloh Walker/J.C. Daniels Heroine.  

*It is not for the faint of heart, if you feel rape doesn't belong anywhere in romance then don't read this.*

Silence was born ten years ago to lies, abuse, and rape; if she existed before then the memories only live in her dreams. Her owner, Gold, a disturbed man uses her as he sees fit and that usually means as an assassin. She was trained to kill and yet the one person she wants to kill more than anyone else in the world as rigged it so she can't. A biochip in her brain that he can tap into at anytime to track her down or strike her dead, Silence has no choice but to comply. Gold has spewed his lies to her over and over that it has her convinced that what he said actually happened and that the love of life used her to pay a debt. Her dreams have gotten more vivid; like her sub conscience trying to tell her something but she still only sees part of the story.

Silence has refused to carry out her last mission of killing an old man, instead of killing her Gold gives her an out, one last job and she is free and clear of him. The man who gave her up is her next target. Silence is no fool she has planned for the last few years a contingency plan whether she is free of him after this by his hand or hers she will be free she goes to complete her last mission. But Gold messed up he never should have underestimated Silence and Orion. An emotional revelation of truth and an all around love conquers all ending, even if it was kind of abrupt.      
   

ARC REVIEW Stolen and Forgiven by Alexandra Ivy and Carrie Ann Ryan

Alexandra Ivy and Carrie Ann Ryan bring you a new Paranormal Shifter Romance. This is a great two for one. One thing these ladies have in common is to take a tried and true genre and make it their own. I love these ladies they take something and make it dark, and twist it into an emotional mess that is so deeply entwined in the story it causes such a book hangover when you are done and beg for more. Much like in Kim Harrison's The Hallows a deadly virus has spread throughout the world the cure lies with the blood of the shifter and reluctantly they figuratively come out of the closet and save humanity, now here is where it deviates human instead of thanking them they freak out. They try to wipe them all out the creation of the SAU locked them up and, like in Jennifer Ashley's Shifter's Unbound, they end up collared even more they are branded like cattle. But shifter's are strong and can survive and they have had enough they are just bidding their time.

Stolen is Alexandra Ivy's perfect introduction for a new series. In this story you have Alpha of the River Pack, Holden Carter, who became Alpha at the age of fifteen and everything he has done everything in his power to protect his pack. Knowing how important his pack is he has refrained from claiming a mate until he finds one that his wolf wants but since all the wolf shifter are stuffed in one place it's hard for him to find the one for him. Ariel Sands grew up as an orphan in the post virus world where the government and SAU have spread propaganda and lies about the shifters. Everything is fine in her life until she gets kidnapped by SAU and experimented on, then on the verge of death dumped into the woods on shifter land. Holden finds Ariel before she dies and immediately his wolf claims her and breaking pack laws bites her and changes her. With that Holden changes everything and the secrets the SAU come out as well. Now the dangerous chess game between Shifter and SAU has begun.

Forgiven by Carrie Ann Ryan is Carrie Ann at her best. A second chance, shifter romance between the River Pack Beta, Soren Slater, and Cat Shifter Princess, Cora Wilder. As a punishment for keeping Ariel the SAU merged the dogs with the cats. Soren and Cora meet previously when Soren meet with the cat's several years ago. What started as an innocent flirtation ended in heartbreak, Cora's tiger morns for Soren since he left and chose to mate with another wolf to strengthen the pack. Soren has felt guilty over the death of his mate and the appearance of has rekindled the passion and love he has felt for her. Cora is hesitant still hurting from the initial heartbreak but with the sage advise from her father helps her see things from Soren's point of view. But the SAU has other plans and with the knowledge that they can change people and how to do it they target Cora and her Father. The Cat's and the Wolves, but specifically Soren, work together to change their plans.

ARC REVIEW Hard as Ice by Raven Scott

Ummm I can get lost staring at that cover.....

Yes the book is as good as that cover. My first Raven Scott and I'm not turning back. I want more. Two gorgeous people both jaded by past experiences finding safety and hope in each other. It was aggravating in all the right ways, it was emotional in all the right places, and suspenseful not quite enough but sexy as hell. This is the first book in the Fortis series; Fortis is a private security business built by three retired government agent bad-asses. The company built for corporations/people who needs help outside the reach of the police or other conventional means.

Evan DaCosta choose the life of a CIA spook over his father's corporate business. Evan Evan made plenty of contacts and even better some very close friends and when they decided to retire and open a private security business he chipped in as a silent partner not quite ready to retire just yet. The choice is taken out of his hands when he gets shot and deemed unable to go back to work. Not ready to take over for his late father he starts working with Fortis and his first job is one he'll never forget.

Nia James has worked hard to get where she is at and after what she persevered through as a teen it is even more remarkable. She keeps her work and personal life separate and nothing gets in the way of her work. But a million dollar necklace goes missing at the auction house she manages and Nia is the number one suspect. She knows this can not only ruin her career but that of the auction house as well Nia is understandably distressed especially since the evidence, even though it's all circumstantial, is pointing straight at her.

Evan and the Fortis team decide the fastest way to get the truth out is with an undercover job. Evan goes undercover using his late father's art collection as a ruse to start seeing Nia. But with one look and Evan is lost and struggles to keep is desire for Nia and his job separate especially since everything they think about her as a thief is the complete opposite of how she really is. Nia isn't looking for a relationship but their is some thing about Evan that calls to her that makes her feel safe. But can their love for each other survive when Nia finds out the truth?            

BLOG TOUR Searching for Always by Jennifer Probst

SEARCHING FOR ALWAYS by Jennifer Probst

June 30th, 2015, Gallery BooksAdult Contemporary Romance 

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Jennifer Probst sparks a blissful mind-body connection as her “sexy, satisfying” (Kirkus Reviews) new series continues!

She’s an expert in helping others de-stress, but Arilyn Meadows is running on fumes. Along with her job counseling singles seeking soul mates at the Kinnections agency in Verily, New York, she’s a yoga teacher, animal shelter volunteer, anger management therapist, and helping hand to her beloved grandfather. No time to find Mr. Right—but after discovering her yogi boyfriend in a compromising asana, Arilyn would rather dog-sit for her honeymooning friend Kate than risk her heart on another downward dog. And when police officer Stone Petty—radiating masculinity and bad-boy attitude—is sent to her for mandatory lessons in cooling off when the job gets too hot, Arilyn vows to ignore his seductive glances and sexy grin. But there’s no halting their sizzling flirtation—a red-hot, high-speed chase that’s breaking all the limits.

( you know what i love about that part from the teaser is that out of all that he accused her of being she said she's not naive, hahaha!)

It all started with a book of love spells and four friends doing it just for the hell of it. Well three have each found their true love and now it's Arilyn's turn.  Arilyn is burnt out and even her own de-stress techniques aren't working and introduce a sexy bad boy cop into the mix that she can't help but be drawn to the man she shouldn't be attracted to. Stone Petty is a hardened cop who has survived an abusive childhood, a cheating wife, and now he just wants an easy place to live and work that isn't as stressful as it was in the Bronx and it has been until a call hits to close to home and the higher ups say anger management or find a new job. Stone finds himself in Arilyn's anger management class and purposefully doing things that aggravate her just because she's cute when she gets angry. Slowly but surely Stone begins to wear down and it starts with a cute, pathetic, and abused chihuahua Arilyn names Pinky. Arilyn slowly begins to change, as well; between Stone, her grandfather Poppy and the surly neighbor who, I am sure, surprises everyone with words of wisdom helps Arilyn get past her fear and admit what she needs isn't always what she thinks she needs. (A lot like Nerd and Kennedy in my favorite Searching for Perfect) 

I love this series and this book, so much like the rest of the series it is an emotional roller coaster ride. Arilyn is different from how she is in the rest of the books and at times she gets annoying about eating healthy, and organic and everything else she is but as a sexually frustrated woman who is fighting her attraction to a man she doesn't want to want I have to cut her some slack and she does say something I completely agree with at one point and I forgave her for everything before. Stone and and the adorable Pinky are hard to resist. I have my own Chihuahua that I love.

 

   

Help pet rescue shelters by posting a picture of your rescued pet, or sharing your favorite shelter, and using the hashtag #SEARCHINGFORRESCUES. 4 shelters will get a $50 prize (winners choice) and 1 a grand prize winner will also get a prize pack from Jennifer Probst. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BUY LINKS: 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1H8ZIPC 

Barnes & Noble:  http://bit.ly/1dbuKsj 

Kobo: bit.ly/1KkwJYd

iTunes: apple.co/1Nq4W8O

AUTHOR INFORMATION: 

Jennifer Probst -  

Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.

She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean.
She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon's Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.

Website:  www.jenniferprobst.com

Facebook Fan Page:  https://www.facebook.com/jenniferprobst.authorpage 

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/jenniferprobst 

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2965489.Jennifer_Probst

ARC REVIEW Every Step She Takes by Jannine Gallant

Who's Watching Now book two is centered around Grace Hanover, we met her in Every Move She Makes, she is the sister to Rachel. Grace is the outgoing commitment phobic journalist. I love romantic suspense and this one is a little light on the suspense and the ending is unexpected. I love the characters and the story it was all very well laid out and consistently exciting. There were times I thought, You are supposed to be protecting her why are you leaving her alone you know she's just going to get herself in trouble. But it was all very entertaining, Grace is very amusing.

Grace Hanover has the story of a lifetime, their is a witness to a drug deal gone wrong and is now in hiding and she know where the only problem is that he is in some remote Alaskan fishing resort and she hates the outdoors. Travis Barnett is a retired SEAL who is running his own private investigators business, when an old friend and fellow SEAL current FBI agent calls in a favor he can't say no. So off to Alaska Travis goes to bring in the witness the FBI left alone to his own devises which apparently is calling his loose lip girlfriend and tells her where he is. Now with a possible hit man after him Travis needs to go and bring him back to San Francisco.

Grace and Travis fly in together with a couple of other people on the tiny plane to the fishing resort in Moose Flat. Travis knows anyone of these people could be the hit man even the gorgeous reporter he can't take his eyes off of. Grace being the great reporter that she is deducts the Travis is there for the FBI witness. She follows him on a hiking trail to catch up to the witness, along the way they get close. Travis wants to explore the possibility of a relationship but Grace has doubts because she lives in San Francisco and Travis is based in Seattle that and Grace has a past she can't get over and doesn't think she deserves love.

Meanwhile the hit man rediscovers Grace and now he is gunning for her as much as he is his intended contract. Grace got her story but now she has had several attempts her life so Travis put his life on hold to protect her and she still doesn't think she deserves him. The connection between Grace and the hit man is screamingly obvious yet all the characters are oblivious but still a very enjoyable story.          

ARC REVIEW Not So New In Town by Michele Summers

Not So New in Town is the second book of the Harmony Homecoming series. I love Small Town Romance especially when the whole town is so gossip hungry, private business is everyone's business. Unfortunately this one fell a little short of my expectations. I really didn't like the Brogan Reese, he was a little to pushy about organic and healthy food that I wanted to fry some foods just to spite him. Lucy was good, I liked her enough you really feel sympathetic toward with her but the conflict wasn't enough. Everything just seemed generic and not very memorable.

Lucy Doolan is reluctantly coming back home. Her manipulative stepsister needs her help with her teenage son. Lucy only agreed because her pregnant sister was put on bed rest with a little stress as possible. Parker is a surly teenage boy who has had to deal with the town whispering about the possibilities of who is his father. Brogan Reese didn't really want to come back home either but a good friend talked into opening one of his organic health food stores in town, now he is struggling to keep a stead flow of customers to stay open and keep working a deal with the New York investors to open another store there.

Brogan finds out about Lucy's marketing expertise and hires her. Her marketing genus isn't all Brogan wants, he wants her in his bed. Lucy is hesitant because even though she has fantasized about him since high school he is also her step sisters ex boyfriend. Brogan convinces her of a short affair while they are both in town and Brogan also agrees to be Parker's mentor/father figure. Everything that you would expect to happen, happens.

At times funny and a bit sweet with a half way decent ending but overall I just didn't like it that much.  

ARC REVIEW Hell or High Water by Julie Ann Walker

First in the new series by Julie Ann Walker, Deep Six is a series about retired SEAL Team chasing a dream. Leo Anderson's family has been looking for the lost treasure of La Santa Christina a sunken ship in the Bahamas as a promise to a lost team mate the whole team didn't reenlist and now they are a salvage team looking for a legendary treasure. This is a really good fast paced action romance. Their is no denying that JAW is a great writer, the sexual tension is humorous, the action is intense and a very full filling story with a great hook to leave you wanting the next book already.

Leo is certain that he will find the lost treasure, he's just running out of money and time. The island that has been in his family for generations was a 150 year lease agreement from the government and that lease is running out. He just needs the translator to finish translating and transcribing the old diaries he found.

CIA spook Olivia Mortier and her boss are trying to pin down a leak in the company in the process they messed up and lost some key components to WMDs. Lost in the depths of the ocean Olivia can think of only one team who qualifies unfortunately the team is retired; but a big bag of money tells Olivia they won't turn the job down.

Olivia and Leo have worked together in the past and have a lot of unresolved issues, half of them of the sexual nature. Leo agrees to help only for the money and the chance to spend some more time with Olivia. But the easy job isn't so easy when the the terrorist didn't go down with the boat like they thought and took a yacht hostage. And with the CIA leak still on the loose it quickly snafus.

Overall this is a good book, easy and entertaining to read.  

BLOG TOUR A Sword for His Lady by Mary Wine

Title: A Sword for His Lady

Author: Mary Wine

Series: Courtly Love, #1

Pubdate: July 7^th, 2015

ISBN: 9781492602477

He’d defend her keep…

After proving himself on the field of battle, Ramon de Segrave is appointed to the Council of Barons by Richard the Lionheart. But instead of taking his most formidable warrior on his latest Crusade, the king assigns Ramon an even more dangerous task—woo and win the Lady of Thistle Keep.

If only she’d yield her heart

Isabel of Camoys is a capable widow with no intention of surrendering her valuable estate. She’s fought long and hard for her independence, and if the price is loneliness, then so be it. She will not yield…even if she does find the powerful knight’s heated embrace impossible to ignore. But when her land is threatened, Isabel reluctantly agrees to allow Ramon and his army to defend the keep—knowing that the price may very well be her heart.

Acclaimed author Mary Wine has written over 30 works of erotic fantasy, romantic suspense, and historical romance. An avid history-buff and historical costumer, she and her family enjoy participating in historical reenactments. Mary lives with her husband and two sons in Yorba Linda, California.

Named a Top 10 Pick for Spring 2015 by Publishers Weekly, Mary Wine’s A Sword For His Lady comes out this July! 

Mary’s agreed to stop by today and has answered some questions for us about herself and her career as an author.  

Why do you write romance?

Romance has always fascinated me. Captivated really. From the moment Han Solo kissed Princess Leia, I was hooked.

Did any scenes from this book have you crying or laughing while writing it?

You bet-ya….as I noted before….when I am at the ‘Dark Moment’ of a story….back away from the author.

A Sword for His Lady is a good historical romance. In a time where King Richard the Lionhearted has left for the Crusades yet again and Prince John is plotting away at stealing the thrown. King Richard leaves one of his most trusted knights, Ramon de Segrave, turned Baron to help protect the thrown in his absence. He also charges him to help protect the border against the Welsh, he also encourages him to marry a widow in charge of the keep. Isabel of Camoys is the lone survivor of the fever that wiped out her family. Isabel with all her tenants have made the keep a successful one raising geese for their feathers to pay her taxes to the King, feathers used for arrows. Isabel had a horrible first marriage and when Ramon shows up and states the Kings will she balks and fights it at every turn, even when she knows Ramon is right and especially since he stirs some deep emotions in her she never experienced with her first husband. 

The story progresses nicely, at times a little slow, the conflict between Ramon and Isabel is all her own doing but when the antagonist shows up she makes up her mind to give in to her heart and common sense. Isabel's first husband was the illegitimate son of an entitled man now he wants his land back and charged one of his legitimate sons to marry Isabel and take back the land. Raeburn even after finding out about Ramon still is determined to follow his father's orders by any means necessary. 

A good book to curl up with and enjoy the air conditioner.  

He lifted one foot and set it on the bottom step.

“What are you doing?”

“I am entering the keep.” His tone made it clear he knew he was invading her home.

“No.” She fought back her breathlessness. “You shall not.”

She backed up, but forced herself to stop in the doorway.

“Why not, my lady?”

He climbed another step and she felt her knees quiver. It was an insane reaction, one that shocked her with how intense it was its intensity.

“You do not belong in the keep. This is my home.”

He frowned but climbed another step to stand on even ground with her. Isabel lifted her chin so she might maintain eye contact.

“I will be making a full assessment of this structure, lady. You may stand aside or I shall remove you from my path.”

She should have lowered herself and gracefully glided out of the doorway. It was the only response the code of chivalry afforded her, but she couldn’t force herself to do it. She didn’t feel in control of her emotions; they were scattering like autumn leaves. Her heart accelerated. He was pressing closer, watching her, gauging her reactions to him. She’d never felt so exposed. Never felt like any man took so much notice of her. He reached for her, his expression full of promise.

“No one enters this keep without bathing.” She spat the words out in a rush and had to pull in a deep breath because her lungs burned when she was finished. At last, relief flowed through her, for she had found a valid argument to use.

The baron’s expression didn’t change. His hands were clenched around his wide leather belt, his knuckles turning white.

“Take yourself off to the bath house, my lord baron.” She was being brazen.

He suddenly grunted, amusement returning to his eyes. “Very well lady, since you wish to offer me your hospitality, I accept.”

She stared at him, uncertain of the flicker burning in his dark eyes. This wasn’t a man who knew defeat, and the muscles in her neck tightened when his lips twitched into a smug grin once again.

An expression that was full of victory.

“I shall enjoy having you bathe me, Isabel. It is certainly a good place for us to begin to learn more about one another.” A gleam appeared in his eyes that sent a shiver down her body. 

“I did not offer to bathe you myself.” Her voice was a horrified whisper. He stepped closer, capturing her wrist in a grip that surprised her because it lacked pain with its gentleness. Instead, she felt their connection keenly, so much so, it felt as though that she couldn’t form a single, sensible thought. Logic had always offered her salvation in the past. Before Ramon, it crumbled away, leaving her at his mercy.

“You claim you are no maiden, so it is only customary for you to attend me since you are the lady of this keep.” His voice lowered. “Or perhaps, you would prefer not to act as a lady. In such a case…I will be most pleased to dispense with ceremony.”

           

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BLOG TOUR Identity Crisis by Rochelle Paige

**BLOG TOUR STOP**

Identity Crisis by Rochelle Paige

As seen in the July issue of Glamour Magazine UK

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25587281-identity-crisis

Buy Links: 

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1ClJ6wP

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0104L1KVW

Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0104L1KVW

Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0104L1KVW

Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.au/gp/product/B0104L1KVW

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1009975490

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/identity-crisis-rochelle-paige/1056089289

BLURB:

A reclusive author...

Delia Sinclair is desperate to hit a looming deadline. With only two weeks to go before her manuscript is due, she heads to a remote cabin in the Smoky Mountains with no internet or cell service.

An ex-military security specialist...

Blaine West is halfway around the world when he gets a frantic message from his childhood sweetheart. She needs to lay low for awhile so he puts her in touch with someone who can help her until he can get back to town.

A dead body...

When Blaine arrives at the hotel where they were supposed to meet, he learns the body of a local author was discovered that morning but there's no sign of his old flame.

And a case of mistaken identity...

Delia returns home completely unaware that the police believe she's been murdered. With Delia alive and his ex still missing, Blaine has the skills and connections to find out exactly what happened and keep Delia safe.

Lead to a passion that burns out of control. 

Oh my goodness this book was just what the reviewer needed. I love Rochelle Paige, her writing voice is something I never thought I would like but her style feels like someone is telling ma a story and it just pulls me in and envelops me into its fold. Her characters are always the best. Blaine and Delia are really well thought out people I can believe are real. The story is funny and exciting and damn is it hot. TThis is one of those books I can shout it out on the roof top for everyone to read.

:

The sound of the garage door going up startled me, setting me into motion. It was a good thing I had been trained to make split second decisions with limited information because that skill set was being put to the test right now. I moved toward the kitchen as I ran the possible scenarios through my head. If it was Serena using a friend’s place to lay low, then I was in the clear. If it was a boyfriend or family member of the dead author, I was probably screwed. A cleaning person or friend, I might be okay. The bottom line was, I had no way of knowing which scenario I was about to face, but it didn’t matter. There wasn’t a chance in hell I was going out the back without knowing if the person walking through that door was Serena.
Right as my decision was made, I heard the sound of the garage door lowering, quickly followed by the door connecting the garage to the house opening and closing. A deep feminine sigh resonated, but I stayed in position, on the other side of the refrigerator and out of sight. The sound of footsteps got closer and then a woman entered the kitchen. I hadn’t meant to make a noise, but I shifted as soon as I realized who was standing in front of me. I moved toward her so I could cover her mouth and get her under control before she screamed and one of the neighbors came to see what was wrong. And holy fuck, there was plenty wrong with this situation since the woman was supposed to be dead.

About Me

I absolutely adore reading - always have and always will.  My friends growing up used to tease me when I would trail after them, trying to read and walk at the same time.  If I have downtime, odds are you will find me reading or writing.

I am the mother of two wonderful sons who have inspired me to chase my dream of being an author.  I want them to learn from me that you can live your dream as long as you are willing to work for it.

When I told my mom that my new year's resolution  was to self-publish a book in 2013, she pretty much told me "About time!"

Author Links:

http://www.facebook.com/rochellepaigeauthor

http://www.rochellepaige.com

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7328358.Rochelle_Paige