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RELEASE BLITZ + REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: SAVED BY DARKNESS ( Darkness #6 ) by Katie Reus

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SAVED BY DARKNESS

Series: Darkness #6

Author: Katie Reus 

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release Date: February 21, 2017

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Synopsis

 

He thought he lost her decades ago.

Half-demon, half-dragon shifter Ian McCabe is hellbent on getting back the only woman he’s ever loved. When Fiona O’Riley kicked him out of her life decades ago, he thought she was gone for good. Now that she’s back, nothing will stop him from claiming her. But she wants nothing to do with him—or his family.

She’ll do anything to save him.

Fiona knows that Ian is the only male for her. The only way to keep him alive is to stay away from him. But when tragedy strikes and they discover a wicked agenda for the mass murder of humans, they must work together to take down the enemies that threaten everyone. But there’s so much more on the line. As their undeniable desire intensifies, they’re faced with an unbearable choice. If Fiona and Ian succumb to their temptation, mating could be the last thing they ever do.

Length: NOVEL
Author note: Saved by Darkness can be read as a stand-alone novel with an HEA and no cliffhangers.

Excerpt

His brother flipped open a thin manila file on the desk and revealed an 8×10 glossy of…

Fiona.

Ian blinked once. Twice.

He stared at the picture, feeling his entire body heat up. It had been years since he’d seen her. He had a picture of Fiona, but it was from decades ago and it was in one of his safes—along with other treasures. That was not a myth about dragons—they loved treasure. Given her modern style of dress, this was taken fairly recently. “What is this?” His voice was always raspy, but even more so now.

Rory flicked a glance at Liberty before looking back at Ian. “This is what I wanted to talk to you about. Finn wants to speak to this female. She lives on the outskirts of his territory. Not in it, but close enough. And we needed to know if she is a trustworthy female. I know you know who she is, but I don’t know the nature of your relationship.” He stared at Ian questioningly.

Ian stood abruptly. He’d shared almost every part of his life and history with Rory. Fiona was the only thing he’d left out of that narrative. He simply couldn’t talk about her. It hurt too bad. Made his dragon want to take over, to burn everything and everyone to ash. “She’s trustworthy.” Without saying anything further he strode from the room. He heard his brother curse softly behind him, but ignored him.

Rory was lucky he hadn’t burned a hole in the ceiling and just flown out of there. Which yes, was insane, but Ian wasn’t in control now. He needed to get to the Stavros estate as soon as possible. The Alpha wolf who ran this territory wouldn’t be happy to see him since he didn’t plan to call first, but the male could just deal with it. Seeing Fiona’s picture again had his most primal nature clawing to the surface.

He couldn’t even convince himself that he’d buried memories of her because it was a lie. He thought of her every damn day. The woman lived inside him, was his mate. It didn’t matter that they’d never crossed that final line and mated. That he’d never marked her—that she was mated to another. Another female would never do for him. Now to know that she was somehow nearby, close to Finn’s territory… He was going to find out everything from the Alpha.

Then he was going to see her. He knew he shouldn’t. She was mated, taken. She’d broken his heart into a thousand shards and gone off with another male. Another male her family deemed worthy. Too late he realized she’d done it to protect him, that she’d sacrificed her own happiness to keep him alive. Or it had been an attempt to—but he didn’t need anyone’s protection. He would have kept them safe, alive. He just wished she’d known that, trusted him enough.

Now there was no logical reason to go to her. Still, he would see her. He had to.


 
 
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True PNR Romance PERFECTION!!!

Saved By Darkness goes straight to my top 3 all-time-favorites PNR!!! After Taste of Darkness I thought Katie Reus couldn’t possibly give me anything better since it was paranormal perfection in writing, but this book proves me wrong, because it sits right there alongside it, on the top of the pyramid!

The present of the story starts when a photo of Fiona is revealed to Ian, in a quest for information on the female dragon. This single act opened up old wounds, but also the beginning of this second chance tale…

He couldn’t even convince himself that he’d buried memories of her because it was a lie. He thought of her every damn day. The woman lived inside him, was his mate. It didn’t matter that they’d never crossed that final line and mated. That he’d never marked her—that she was mated to another. Another female would never do for him.

Ian and Fiona met many years – fifty two, to be exact – prior to the present events of the Darkness series, and their attraction was instantaneous. A true case of love at first sight. 

From very different backgrounds, but with the same lonely existence, their secret romance develops at the speed of light and they make plans of mating and sharing an eternity together. 

But life is a bitch, and in this case it takes form in a despicable family, that resorts to any means to separate them, and to their heartbreak, successfully.

And even after all these years one thing is certainty that they couldn’t destroy: their love.

Half dragon shifter, half demon. The only male she’d ever loved. Still loved. He was a few feet behind Finn, his expression fierce and determined as he made his way to her.

Of course that things aren’t easily solved upon this reunion, as endless questions, fifty two years of them, need answers.

Why hadn’t she come to him then? Maybe she’d still been trying to keep him safe all these years. Joy and rage pumped through him in equal measures. She wasn’t mated and they’d lost so many damn years.

These answers were important to Ian, but not more important than the ecstasy he felt to know that Fiona wasn’t mated, completely free for the taking. Oh, and he sure intended to take, because this time, she wasn’t getting away. He would make her his…

He’d been alone when they’d met, wandering with no purpose. Still felt like he was, some days. Because without Fiona in his life, it was as if he was missing a vital part of who he was.

… Which she already was. Or better yet, never stopped being. Not even once, in those 52 years, did she love him any less. 

And he made her think of her homeland. Made her think of home, period. Because at one time, he’d been her home.

She’d never given her family a reason to come after her, had never shown interest in a male for that very reason.
Well, because her heart already did—and always would—belong to Ian.

A series of events from the equally enrapturing sub-plot take place, which end up involving them all, as well as most of the main characters from the previous books of the series, makes them put their confrontation and reunion on the back burner, but not truly, because feelings that intense can’t be controlled. With them working together it was evident that their chemistry would blow up and reveal itself. Specially given Ian’s OTT alpha attitude, where Fiona was involved! LOL

“I’m not letting you go, Fiona,” he murmured before brushing his lips over hers. She tasted like heaven. And his.
Only his.
“I’m not going anywhere.”

She had no chance of refusal. Not that she wanted to, because of that she had no doubt, Ian was hers, as much as she was his. She was made to leave him once, she was never doing it again.

When she’d left him, it had been like cutting off a limb, leaving part of herself behind. And she had, essentially. Because Ian was a part of her, embedded in her skin, her soul.

I adored this book so very much, and one of the main reasons for that was the love and loyalty of this couple. Staying faithful and true to each other, even when they had lost hope, during that long separation really warmed my heart and made, in my opinion, their love unquestionable. This right here is the reason for which Romance is my preferred genre, for EPIC love stories, like Ian and Fiona’s. The other reason for my love for this book was that Ian was the personification of everything I want in my literally hero: strong, loving, caring, loyal and devoted to his heroine to the max, no matter the circumstances. And to take it up a notch he was a true alpha, which made his loving side that more dreamy… 

He knew himself well enough that once she was gone he wouldn’t last regardless. His heart would simply stop beating without her.

There would never be anyone else. Not if he lived a thousand lifetimes.

She was his life, his everything.

Add to that the dirty talking, and who could resist?! Their lovemaking scenes were fantastically well written, and their build up, given their insane chemistry, and their dragon and demon sides, was just as rewarding! They were HOT in every way possible! Hello… Dragons!!!! 😉

“Want to feel you come around my cock,” he whispered darkly. “Want to hear you say you’re mine.” There was that bite of darkness to his words again.
 “I’m yours.” She could never be anyone else’s. That was a fact she knew without a doubt.
“Say it again.” He thrust harder.
“I’m yours, Ian.”

It was an absolute pleasure to see again some of the past main characters, and little tease on Gray and Ophelia’s story, wow! I can’t wait to read more about them!

This book really worked perfectly from start to finish. The character development, the believability of all the scenarios and creatures created – specially if we take in consideration we’re talking about the supernatural universe her – where Katie Reus really transports us along with the characters through all these world in a way that makes us feel we are right there besides them and sharing their experience. The interconnection between all these installments even though they all can be read as standalone deserts merit on itself, and it’s one of the reason’s for this is one of my all time favorite series. All of this, coupled with the most perfect love story, how could we not get addicted?! But it sure is the best kind pf addiction, and I can wait for my next KR’s hit! 

“Would you want to live without me?”
 Tears flowing freely, she shook her head.
 “Then don’t expect me to live without you. You’re mine, Fiona. Have been from the moment I laid eyes on you, from the moment you tried to warn me off fighting your brother because you were worried I’d get hurt. Don’t you dare expect me to live a life without you! You go into the afterlife? So do I. Simple as that. If we have a day left, I want to enjoy every second of it with you.”

As long as they were together, they could face anything. For the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel alone—and she knew he didn’t either.

ARC kindly provided by the author through NetGalley from CrushStar Multimedia LLC for an honest review. 

Giveaway
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In the Series

DARKNESS AWAKENED (Darkness #1)

18688106

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TASTE OF DARKNESS (Darkness #2)

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BEYOND THE DARKNESS (Darkness #3)

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HUNTED BY DARKNESS (Darkness #4)

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INTO THE DARKNESS (Darkness #5)

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About the Author

 

1563059Katie Reus is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Red Stone Security series, the Darkness series and the Deadly Ops series. She fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she pilfered from her mom’s stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it.

However, she didn’t always know she wanted to be a writer. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated summa cum laude with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing dark paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense.

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RELEASE BLITZ + REVIEW: BEARD MODE (The Dixie Wardens Rejects MC #1) by Lani Lynn Vale

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BEARD MODE

Series: The Dixie Wardens Rejects MC #1

Author: Lani Lynn Vale
Genre: MC Romance
Release Date: February 23, 2017
Cover Model: David Byers
Photographer: Michael Stokes

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Synopsis
 

Aaron don’t ever call me Fatbaby’ Sims is lucky to be alive. Or at least that is what everyone keeps telling him. He doesn’t feel lucky, though.

He’s scarred, has more than a little bit of a bad attitude, and there isn’t a single day that goes by that he doesn’t wish his wife would’ve just finished off the job.

After being denied his old position at the fire department, he leaves, and doesn’t look back. He heads straight to Alabama and into the semi-welcoming arms of The Dixie Wardens MC. There he becomes a part of a brotherhood that forces him to get back in the land of the living.

Imogen is a smart girl. A girl who doesn’t always make the best decisions.

Her heart is in the right place when she walks into that prison, but it doesn’t take long for her to realize that her heart shouldn’t have had any say so in the matter. Especially when one wrong move lands her in the arms of a scarred man that looks frightening enough to scare any sane woman away.

Immediately enthralled by the angry man, she tries to get closer to him. But the harder she tries to get to know him, the further he pushes her away.

The only thing Aaron wanted to do after his now ex-wife was sent to jail was escape. Escape the awful memories. The pity-filled eyes. The curious glances.

He does a damn fine job at ensuring he draws as little as attention as possible, but then that annoying woman with her startling blue eyes starts hammering away at his resolve. Makes him feel when he doesn’t want to feel.

Imogen comes into his life and carves out a place for herself, obliterating his defenses one heated kiss at a time.

It doesn’t take long, and he realizes he’s in deep. Too deep to ever want to come out.

Imogen will know what it’s like to be loved by a reject.

Excerpt

“New guy.”  Someone muttered behind me.

I turned only my head to find Stone, the president, staring at me with hard eyes.

“Yeah?” I asked him, dropping my bag on the floor and heading in his direction instead of out the door like I’d originally intended.

“You’re here because you have a special set of skills that we need.”  The leader of the band of misfits, Stone, drawled.

I nearly laughed.

“That sounds like a bad line out of a movie.” I muttered, wondering where he was going with this.

He tossed me a glare and then yelled.

“Truth!”  Stone yelled.  “Ghost! Get the fuck in here!”

Ghost and Truth walked in the door at the same time, both of them turning to the side to walk inside, and stared at Stone

“Ghost, hold Truth down so New Guy can give him the fuckin’ shot.” Stone grumbled.

Ghost tackled Truth and wrestled him to the desk, then sat on him while Stone leaned back and watched.

“No, motherfucker!” Truth yelled.  “I don’t want it!”

“It’s the fuckin’ flu shot, you dumb shit.  Not a fuckin’ tracking device. Take a fuckin’ chill pill.”  Stone grumbled, staring at the scuffle that was going down in front of him.

I picked up the syringe from the table, similar to the one I’d given everybody else’s flu shot with, and stabbed it in the meat of Truth’s arm.

Truth bellowed in rage, and I flipped the guard up on the syringe before tossing it into the trash can.

“Done?” I asked Stone.  “I have to get to work.”

Stone nodded.

“Yeah, thanks.” He nodded. “Have fun at the nut house.”

I grunted something unintelligible, causing him to laugh.

“Don’t sound so excited.” He laughed.

I flipped him off and walked out the door just as Ghost was letting Truth up

“Why you gotta be such a big motherfucker?”  Truth growled.  “If you’d been anyone else, I’d have gotten away.”

“Why do you think I called Ghost instead of anyone else?”  I heard Stone reply.

 

 

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING…

“Lani Lynn Vale has a way of taking your soul and twisting it and tearing it up, but then somehow, some way making sure that the book still makes you have a goofy freaking happy smile, and all in love with her by the end of it.” – MJ’s Book Blog and Reviews

“It was sooo good and I am sooo excited that this was my first Lani Lynn Vale book…gasp….can you believe I have not read one of her books yet??” – iScream Books

“Don’t think about it, just go one click this book and you’ll enjoy it like, I did. One thing about this author is she keeps getting better every time. You will never be disappointed about it, I promise.” – Fabulous Ladies Book Blog

PLAYLIST

Aaron and Imogen, a playlist by Lani Lynn Vale on Spotify

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Congrats and Bravo, Lani Lynn Vale, for the start of this new series, and for once again creating an addictive base/cast that is sure to keep us hooked for all the future books of The Dixie Wardens Rejects MC! Something tells me this is going to be epic! And judging by this start…WOW…

Aaron came to us, for the first time in the beginning of one of my all time series, Kilgore Fire, and immediately I was anxious to know more, and what would come from his horrific accident in Shock Advised – a MUST READ – and what the future (and Lani herself) reserved to him.

New Town. New Beginning…

Well, sort of… LOL. After everything that happened in his life, Aaron sees no other chance but to leave his family and friends, and return to the town he left as a child, and hope for a fresh start (as much as possible given his physical reminders, his scars), free from all the bad memories.

But fear not because this BEARD MODE, really is about moving on, and I’m so happy that the author didn’t get stuck in his tragic past, and its memories, because it sure gave us some hilarious scenes, like that opening scene at his mom’s dinner. OMG, I laughed so hard…

“I changed your diapers, you know. Cleaned shit out of the creases of your balls,” my mother started.
I pinched the bridge of my nose.
“That’s exactly what all of your diners want to hear, Mom,”

Of course, the fact that the heroine, Imogen, witness this humorous moment, but I diverge.

Imogen, the main female character was simply brilliant. A self made woman, an ex-Marine, and a absolute badass has been struggling to keep her crazy family afloat, so when her secret childhood crush, now all man,  but scarred by his past moves across the hall, she can’t help but take her fill, even from afar.

Aaron, not one for bullshit, doesn’t deny that the pixie mechanic makes him feel more than any woman before, but with the why women burnt him in the past he can’t help but be cautious and protect himself. The same goes for Imogen, even though she already has plenty on her plate, she can’t help but be curious about him, so they end up in somewhat of a friendship. I loved that, but their chemistry, attraction and the sexual tension present when both were in the same room, couldn’t be denied for long, so when the tragedy struck one person close to Aaron – WARNING: have the Kleenex prepared – he realized that living like he had been wasn’t really living, and that we all need somebody to love, and that love us back. 

I wanted someone to mourn me like that when I was gone.
It was a sick reality I lived in, but I wanted it.
And I wanted it with Imogen.
What I had with her—the feeling I got when I was around her—it felt big. It felt like something I wanted to pursue.

I don’t want to spoiler who the shocking moment concerns, but that moment, the funeral, with the widow, and the K9 partner, truly broke my heart!  🙁

At least all that sadness had a positive note, because it was the kick in the butt that Aaron needed to decide to move on with his life, and let go completely of his bitter past. 

“I may be in a new place in my life, but I don’t ever want to forget what that life left me with.”

And this is an amazing lesson. Yes, he’ll never forget – specially because of the visible scars in his body – but he decides to take it as a lesson, but move on, and create a new life with Imogen, that really sees beyond the scars. To her they make him that man that he is today, the man she fell in love with.

“Look at me, Imogen. I’m a fuckin’ monster.” I blinked.
“You think you’re a monster?” I snorted. “You’re fucked in the head.”

 

And maybe they weren’t very attractive to him, but to me they made him who he was.

Didn’t I say she was amazing?!

These two were fantastic together in every single way. And for two long time celibate – adored this, by the way – they sure burned up the sheets! Lordy, the sex scenes were scorchingly hot and Aaron’s dirty talk… WOW…

“Fuck me,” he grated through clenched teeth. “You feel like a fucking inferno in the middle of a hurricane surrounding my cock. How is that even fuckin’ possible?”

Lani Lynn Vale keeps surpassing herself, specially in the male main character area, because Aaron was one of the best and most loyal, faithful, devoted and caring men I’ve have the pleasure of reading about. 

“I won’t show you. I’ll make you feel.”

I’m so in love with both these characters! The only reason for which I knocked half a star for, even though the story was brilliant, was because of the reveal of their connection in the past, I think it was completely unnecessary, and even detracted from the magic of their connection. Given how strong their attraction was, it would seemed more natural that it was a instantaneous thing. But that is just a grain of sand in this thrill, love and suspense filled plot!

The writing, plot and character development are as beautifully executed as Lani Lynn Vale got us used to, and I’d dare say, even more than usual. Add to that all the amazing and fascinating new characters from this new MC, and like I’ve said in the beginning, we are utterly hooked! And I can’t finished without saying that the author sure likes to keep us on our toes, because the mystery surrounding Ghost’s identity – for which a have a very, very deep guess of whom he is, lol, – will leave me hitching for confirmation until the presentation of his book on 7/27/17. July can’t come fast enough. Actually, next month we have more Dixie Wardens Rejects, and I’m already counting down the days!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

I more than liked the way my heart raced when she’d smile at me or tease me about something I’d done or said.
All in all, I fucking liked Imogen.
 The amazing sex we’d had over the last three days was just a bonus.
The best thing, though, was the way she was taking all of the bad memories that Lynn had put into my brain away, and replacing them with good ones that included her.

 

She’d certainly given me more pleasure and happiness than Lynn had ever given me, and I knew that I was lost. So lost that I was sure I’d never find a way back.

 ARC kindly provided by the author via Enticing Book Journey Promotions in exchange for an honest review

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About the Author

I’m a married mother of three. My kids are all under 5, so I can assure you that they are a handful. I’ve been with my paramedic husband now for ten years, and we’ve produced three offspring that are nothing like us. I live in the greatest state in the world, Texas.

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BLOG TOUR + REVIEW: JADED HEARTS (Loaded Replay #1) by Harper Sloan

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JADED HEARTS

Series: Loaded Replay #1

Author: Harper Sloan

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: December 13th, 2016

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Synopsis

Signing with Brighthouse Records was supposed to be everything we ever wanted—our better life. Our chance at everything we never had but always wanted. All our dreams would finally come true and we were on top of the world. It was our chance at the happiness we never had in life.

Our every desire was at our fingertips and the power of that feeling was all consuming. But then it took every dream we thought would come true and it slapped us in the face with the cold hard reality.

Dreams were just that…something that floated on the cusp of untouchable, taunting you with every graze of your fingertips before slipping even further away.

Happiness…that feeling is a joke.

In the end it became painfully obvious that each of us would always have each other, but we would forever be alone.

Buy Links

Amazon | Amazon CA | Amazon UK Amazon AU 

Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

Excerpt

Goddamn, that smile is dangerous.

Who am I kidding?  He is dangerous. 

I do my best to ignore him, but it’s impossible.  The steady brush of his arm against where mine is resting on our shared armrest constantly reminds me how much my body wants his touch.  The scent of his delicious cologne hits my senses, making me want to climb in his lap and rub my face over his chest to get a potent lungful of it. 

I can’t even remember the last time I was this horny, which is pathetically sad, since it was probably around the same time I actually got laid.  Years.  I think.  Close to three.  Maybe that’s why I’m a hot mess lately.   I turn my head to study the side of his face and wonder if I can use this situation to my advantage.  I mean, after all, we are in a ‘relationship’ now.

He turns and gives me a questioning arch of his dark brows, but I brush it off in favor of playing Disney Emoji Blitz on my phone. 

By the time we had hit cruising altitude, I could hear the other men around me snoring away but not Chance.  He’s fiddling with his phone, completely ignorant of the fact I’m about to start humping his leg.

“Excuse me,” I breathily say, unbuckling my belt and standing to move around him.  I stand there, my head bent slightly because of the overhead, and wait.  He doesn’t move, though.  Instead, he drops his phone to his lap and gives me his complete attention; his eyes even dance a little like he’s finding this whole damn thing funny.  “Excuse me,” I repeat, no longer breathy, and seconds away from coming. 

No, that’s a lie.  I’m still breathy and very much seconds away from soaking my panties even more than they already are.

His large hands grab my hips, and he guides me down on his lap with no resistance from my treacherous body.

“Not what I meant,” I say through clenched teeth, trying to sound harsh and offended, but I just sound dazed and turned on.  I wiggle in his hold, trying to get free, but he’s too strong for me.

He leans up in his seat, his chest hitting my back and buries his face in my neck.  I’m sure anyone who saw us would see a loving couple who just can’t keep their hands to themselves.  He’s playing a dangerous game, though, because the second the solid, hard length of him presses against my backside, I forget this is supposed to be a game and squirm a little more.  His teeth nip at my shoulder at the same time his groan hits my ears.

“Stop moving, Wren,” he demands, tightening his fingers on my hips.

“You’re the one who put me on your lap.”  I curl my fingers over the empty seat in front of me and squeeze my eyes shut when I feel him growing harder under me.

“Yeah, because the flight attendant who just walked by had her phone out and pointed right at us.  She’s doing a shit job of making it look like she’s doing something with her paperwork.”  His hand comes off my hip, and he cups my jaw, turning my head to the side just when I was about to look up at where I last saw the attendant, forcing me to shift until all it would take is me throwing one leg over his body to be face-to-face.  “Do not look at her,” he stresses; the sudden movement of twisting my body makes me bounce slightly in his lap, rubbing my legging-clad ass against his erection.  His eyes drop to my mouth where I pull my bottom lip between my teeth and groan.

“Give me a reason not to look,” I dare him.

“You don’t want to go down that road, Wren.  I’ll protect you from the world, but you need to protect yourself from me.”

“No one is asking you to.”

Not even knowing if we’re still being watched, I twist my torso the rest of the way, pulling my legs up until they’re bent at his stomach between us.  Now that I’m facing him completely, I bring my hands up to curl them both around his shoulders before dragging them up to wrap around the corded muscles at the sides of his neck.  His nostrils flare, but he doesn’t stop me.  I give him the chance, but it never comes.  Dropping my head, I press my lips to his.  I explore his lips with small pecks and little licks of my tongue, learning his mouth before pressing more firmly.  He sucks in a breath when I open my mouth and slowly drag the tip of my tongue over his bottom lip.

And then his control snaps.

His hands—still at my hips—lift me effortlessly until my legs are no longer folded between us, but now digging into the hard armrests with my knees pushing into his thighs, my back hitting the seat in front of me.  His mouth opens, and his tongue meets mine, no hesitation whatsoever, as he deepens the kiss.

Our breathing echoes around us, making it sound like everyone on this plane could hear us, but I know it’s just because our faces are so close.  I let out a moan, one that he swallows, that turns into a whine when he pulls back.

“That can’t happen again,” he softly scolds, just as breathless as I am.

What the hell?  I might not have been into this whole fake-boyfriend-slash-bodyguard thing before, but I’ll be damned if I’m not going to take advantage of the situation.  Especially now that I know how alive he makes me feel.  Three years since I had pleasure from anything other than my own hand, and if that kiss is anything to go by, what Chance could make me feel is ten times more powerful than anything I’ve ever felt in my whole life. 

I’m not passing that up.

Nope.

No fucking way.

“We’ll see about that.” 

 
 
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 Oh. My. God!!!

What an EPIC beginning Harper Sloan has created for her new series, Loaded Replay! 

Before I go in and tell you how amazing this book was, I have to say this one is doing to be hard one to beat! I really seemed written with everything I look forward in my Romance reads! Simply amazing!

For those of you who like me read all of Harper’s work, these two are no strangers. We could see upon reading the Hope Town series that when Chance set his eyes on Wren for the very first time at one of their concerts that something extraordinary would come from these two. And come it did!!! LOL

Wrenlee Davenport has been living a life of fame and success for five years now, but what only her closest family – her brother and bandmates – can see is that she is fast approaching her breaking point. For years she has wanted, craved even, something more. Or better yet someone… Someone who will see behind the well constructed facade of the sex symbol lead singer of one the world’s most famous rock band and want her for who she truly is, for everything she is deep down…

This is our future’s promise of a better life, and even if it’s starting to look like more of a curse than a promise to me, we will die before we give it up.

But for me—I’m probably always going to be that stupid little girl who believes my prince charming will come riding in on his black horse—because really, black horses are so much more badass than white ones—and prove to me that every little jaded piece of my heart is worth loving.
And he will love me for me.
For Wren.

And here enters our dark and handsome hero, Chance. I was already completely hooked on him while reading Unexpected Fate, but now, I’m just as dumbstruck as Wren was! Talk about swoon worthy!!!

From the very first moment he crosses the threshold of the hotel suite, and their eyes connect, any feared and caution about both their pasts is doomed. Their magnetism and attraction is almost palpable and without a doubt reciprocated. 😉

Jesus, when he focuses completely on me, it feels like I’m the only woman left in the world and he’s gone without sex for decades.

Aroused.
I was completely, purely, and deliciously aroused.
To the point a feather could touch my overheated skin and I would probably have an orgasm on the spot. Well, maybe not that bad, but I was close.

Goddamn, that smile is dangerous.
Who am I kidding? He is dangerous.

Truthfully he was just missing the black horse, because he came in guns blazing and immediately took on the role of the protector. A role he seemed born to fill. 

Even in his resistance to their obvious attraction (due to the ghosts of his past), he never falter in his role, because she truly became the center of his world. The only thing that mattered.

“You don’t want to go down that road, Wren. I’ll protect you from the world, but you need to protect yourself from me.”

She has fears of her own, of course, but when it comes to Chance, she has no doubt that they are mean to be. She just has to make in realize that, and for that he just needs to open himself up, like she’s doing. After years of closing herself of from relationships (after so many of those having used her for their personal gain), I was happily surprise  with the apparent easiness of her acceptance of felling for Chance. I loved her attitude, her sassiness and her faith – although she had her own doubts at times. But teasing him was half the fun!

“You might think you will, but mark my words, I will have you, and you’re going to love it. Every. Single. Second. If I can put my fears aside to just take this chance and open myself up to your rejection time and time again, then you can do the same and stop letting whatever hurt you before stand in the way of your life.”

I avoided you because I’m absolutely scared out of my mind of the way you make me feel. It’s insane. I haven’t known you long enough to feel this strongly about you. I know next to nothing about you personally, but it doesn’t matter. I feel my body being pulled to yours, and it scares the shit out of me.”

Their hesitation doesn’t last long, and once they give in, it’s full steam ahead!

I absolutely adored how open and sure they were from that point forward. They opened to one another like they never did to another being, and it was a beautiful thing to read. Their fears became just memories, and they started their process of mutually healing one another…

“You’re going to destroy me,” I tell her, trying to reason with her by giving her the truth of my fears.
“We’re going to destroy each other and then put the pieces back together, so there aren’t any more cracks.”

Healing, caring, and a LOT of loving!!! Because with that explosive chemistry, and an alpha male like Chance, how could their sex scenes not be their own level of scorchingness??? And Chance… Holy mother of filthy talkers!!!

“The second I feel your body ripple against my cock, you will be mine, Wrenlee. Even if you ever decide you don’t want me, I’m not sure I’ll grant you that. Especially not after I feel you hug me tight inside your body, sucking my come from my cock. If we’re taking a gamble together, it’s all in, or we fold before the call.”

We get PLENTY of steaminess to go around, that’s for sure! And this pervy reader LOVED every second of it!!!

Another standout is the incredible relationship that Wren has with the rest of the guys, – her brother and friends – but specially her bound with her twin brother, Weston. It’s amazing to see their love and support, and he hinted to what an amazing character I’m sure he’ll be. Her rock, her anchor, even if she doesn’t need him as much as she always did. An immeasurable brotherly love…

“And if I fall for this man, the allure of a reward, only to find him not there to catch me?”
My brother’s arm tightens around me. “Then you still won’t hit the ground, little sister, because I will always be here to make sure you never fall far.”

And I can’t not mention the rest of the bandmates, Luke and Jamison, specially the former, because, OMG, was that guy a hoot!!!! Really, what an awesome character! He sure gave us some ROFL moments here!

“We can talk tonight,” I concede.
“Do you mean talk to him with your south mouth?” Jamison butts in.

JADED HEARTS really was a spectacular beginning for the series, and these characters were splendidly thought out and realistically portrayed – you can see by the incredible (and numerous, even if reduced multiple times, lol) quotes I posted. So amazing, it was hard to choose from! The storyline itself couldn’t have been more well constructed. Naturally, emotionally and fluidly, the events develop in a way that you feel that you are living them with the characters, and that for me is perfect writing perfection on Harper’s part. It’s exactly what I hope to find in each story I dive in, and here it surpassed expectation. The only thing I missed, being the total ‘epilogue – whore’ that I am, was a more extended epilogue with a deeper look into their future. I know we’ll get that for sure in the upcoming books, but I’m a greedy reader, so I wanted it now! Can’t wait to see what Harper Sloan brings us next with that special and quirky character of Jamison! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

We’re cut from the same cloth, honey. Both of us wear the scars of our jaded past, but if you feel even a little bit like I do for you, then you’ve felt the healing touch of them disappearing since the moment our bodies first touched. I need what you give me more than my next breath. That isn’t something anyone would be able to give up. People fight a lifetime to find this, and I had almost lost faith that I would ever have this.”

 

I feel like my heart—the one thing that keeps me alive—doesn’t even beat inside my own chest anymore, not when Wren has taken its place as my most vital organ.

My knight in tarnished armor had finally found his broken princess, high in her jaded tour—changing both of our lives for eternity.
 This is the evolution of two jaded hearts seeing the beauty of life again.
This is the creation of two broken souls, healing solidly, connected as one.
This is the foundation of an unbreakable love.
This is the clarity of our forever love.

 ARC kindly provided by the author via InkSlinger PR

in exchange for an honest review

 

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About the Author

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Harper is a NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL and USA TODAY bestselling author residing in Georgia with her husband and three daughters. She has a borderline unhealthy obsession with books, hibachi, tattoos and Game of Thrones. When she isn’t writing you can almost always find her with a book in hand.

Facebook | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest 
Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

 

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RELEASE BLITZ + REVIEW: WALLFLOWERS: THREE OF A KIND (Wallflowers #1) by CP Smith

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WALLFLOWERS: THREE OF A KIND
 

Series: Wallflowers #1

Author: CP Smith
 
Genre: Romantic Suspense
 
Release Date: November 21, 2016
 

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Synopsis

“Romance and poetry, ivy, lichens, and wallflowers, need ruin to make them grow.” ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

They say money is the root of all evil, but sometimes, evil lurks in the most unlikely places.

Calla Lily Armstrong spent her whole life shielding her heart. Now she’s ready to break down her walls and see what’s hiding on the other side. With the help of her new friends, Poppy Gentry and Sienna Miller, the three band together to find their happily ever after. One Wallflower at a time.

Former Atlanta Homicide Detective, Devin Hawthorne, moved to Savannah for a change of pace and a fresh start as a Private Investigator. He finds it right under his nose in the form of a Southern beauty who drives him to distraction, and deadly secrets that threaten her very life.

Rated mature for language and sexual content.

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PERFECT!!! That’s what this book was for me. Absolute and undeniable perfection, from start to finish! I was already in love with CP Smith’s writing, but this book took my devotion and amazement to a whole new level! I adored every single thing about Calla and Devin’s story! They were just as perfect as their book! Wow…. 

Calla Lily – adore the name, btw – has locked herself in her bookworm isolated life, since an accident stole everything she loved the most from her, as a child. She never recovered and her doting aunts were the only people she truly allowed to penetrate the fortress she built around her heart. Her relationship with her aunts was incredible, and as CP describes, from their strength to their independence and quirkiness, it really transported me to the Practical Magic. They were fantastic!

“No tears, sugar. We’re Armstrongs, not bleedin’ heart liberals. Suck it up,”

They had gotten the idea from the movie Practical Magic. They loved that movie, because they said it reminded them of our relationship. Minus the witchcraft, of course. However, instead of midnight margaritas like they drank in the movie, my aunts preferred mojitos.

But these amazing aunts and their love for her, didn’t make up for the fact that deep down she felt truly alone, like she was barely living.

All that changed with when a handsome stranger moved in next to her – and her aunts – and awoke feelings in her that she never felt before, pushing her to take action and fight for something more in her life, something that deep down she has been longing for all along…

“I’m not expectin’ much, though. I think fallin’ in love happens by chance. Serendipity. Like you walk into a room and bam, you just know when you lay eyes on them they’re the one.”

I want someone who will be a shelter from a storm, a beacon of light in a dark world. I want to feel safe, secure that what we have is as important to him as it would be to me. I want heat, passion, and friendship.”

The true dreams of a romantic soul! What she wasn’t aware was that serendipity had already worked its magic and Devin was the personified version of all her wishes. In the most delicious of packages, of course, LOL!

Scanning his hard lines and muscles, I stopped on his fantastic ass. Michelangelo himself couldn’t have sculpted one that firm, round, or bitable. If he had, it would have been called Michelangelo’s Devin.
But Devin’s backside was in a stratosphere all on its own; it was its own masterpiece.
It was Devinangelo, naked butt from the gods.

Devin has just step aside after ten years working in the force, and hope that this move for Savannah is the fresh and fulfilling start for a new stage in his life. But Savannah proves to be so much more for this smoking hot alpha, than he was hoping for, specially when he meets his next door neighbor and sparks fly as result of their magnetism. Calla must truly be some kind of witch, because he was beyond captivated!

She had the face of an angel, the lips of a seductress, but an innocent quality that called to his baser needs. His needs to pursue, to claim—to fucking protect.

Obviously, things were not as simple as they seemed and between tearing down her walls, solving her first detective case and protecting the stubborn woman and her friends from their antics, Devin had his job more than cut down for him, and he was more than willing to fight, because he knew that she deserved all that and more. 

“You can’t choose who your heart wants. It doesn’t work like that. All you can do is follow it and hope that when you find what you’re lookin’ for, it wants you too.”

“What I’ll admit is that a woman like that would be worth lyin’, stealin’, or killin’ for.”

“It’s her eyes, isn’t it?
 He didn’t have to think about why he was attracted to Calla. It wasn’t a single thing, but the whole package, so he answered without hesitation. “No. It’s her heart, her courage, her ability to be so fuckin’ innocent in a world full of shit that bein’ around her is like steppin’ inside a goddamned shower, makin’ you feel clean for the first time in your life.”

Devin and Calla were truly amazing together, and I adored seeing their relationship develop and grow strong after their obvious insta-love. CP Smith gave us such a rich context and deep look into their feelings: doubts, fears, cravings, love and passion, that I felt their bound grow and blow right along with them. And their chemistry transported to the bedroom – or cottage entrance, lol – was off the charts!!! Here, once again, Devin proved to be an OTT alpha ALL the way!!! God Lord… *Cue fanning myself*

This look was lust personified. It was primal, possessive, and all-encompassing. The world simply ceased to exist when a man looked at you that way.

“All you need to know”—he whispered, his voice deep and husky—“is that the second my lips touch yours, it’s over. You’re mine.”

But the true awesomeness of this extraordinary book doesn’t reside only in their relationship development and romance blooming, or even the enticing suspense given by the side plot! CP Smith gave us in WALLFLOWERS: THREE OF A KIND, something even more special: a bond full, deep-seated friendship, a true sisterhood that warmed my heart and opened Calla’s world in another brand new direction, a new kind of love – sister love. And what better twin souls to herself than Poppy and Sienna?! The world would never be the same now that the Wallflowers were here!

“In case you missed it, we have a couple of things in common. One, we’re all named after flowers. And two, we’ve been sittin’ against the wall watchin’ life pass us by. I don’t know about you, but I, for one, don’t want to be a Wallflower anymore. I say it’s time we stood up and took a spin around the dance floor. I think it’s time that we three Wallflowers take life by the horns and made our own destiny. . . What about you?”

“I’ll go first . . . For courage to break down my walls and let love in.”
Poppy raised hers, smiling. “For wisdom to not judge a book by its cover.”
“Definitely somethin’ you need to work on,” I giggled.
We both looked at Sienna, and she raised her glass, lifting it to the ceiling. “For lettin’ go of the past and seein’ what life brings our way.”

Wallflowers are for life. Wallflowers always stick together, and Wallflowers never leave a woman behind.

 All these elements coupled with Calla and Devin’s love story, transformed this book into something amazingly PERFECT for me! Like I’ve said before, I already loved CP Smith’s brand of Romance writing, but Wallflowers: Three of a kind took it to a whole new level! The author has an extraordinary gift, and this book just makes it shine through! I’m so addicted to these characters that I can’t even tell you how excited I am to read Poppy and Sienna’s stories! More than counting down the days! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

“In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of the things not meant for you,”

“That’s what life’s about,” he mumbled in my ear. “Findin’ someone who completes you then makin’ ‘em yours.

“Calla, it’s my job to protect you, not the other way around. To make sure you’re happy, that you feel full instead of hollow, and it’s my fuckin’ job to make sure you never feel lonely again.”
“Then what’s my job?”
 “To love me.” Her lips began to tremble, and it took sheer strength of will not to reach out and crush her to him. But he continued instead. “To crave my touch, to trust me with your whole heart. To fix me when I need fixin’, to lay your troubles on my shoulders so you don’t have to carry them. To need me more than air. To just fuckin’ love me.”

 ARC kindly provided by the author for an honest review

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About the Author


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CP Smith lives in Oklahoma with her husband and five children. She loves football, reading, and card games. Writing for her is about escape. She writes what she loves to read, and leaves the rest to those with better imaginations.

 

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