REVIEW - FIGHTING REDEMPTION BY KATE McCARTHY

BIG UGLY, UGLY CRYING TEARS!!!

Kate McCarthy, you made me into an ugly weeping mess. Fighting Redemption was tough to get through simply because of the emotional toll it took to read. Instantly, I was drawn to our heroine Finlay. Instantly, I also knew to prepare myself for heartbreak. Finlay wasn't the only one to capture my attention and my heart, she was the first of several characters who I found had large doses of humor, strength, and soul. It wasn't really possible to prepare myself for the potential loss of a beloved character- they were all so lovable and I found myself attached to each and every single one of them.

We had Ryan, our hero. He was truly broken and fighting some awful demons created by a traumatic youth and a lack of love from the people who failed so miserably at their duty of raising their own son. He found solace and light when he was 10 years old when a little seven year old girl quite literally stumbled into his life. With the young and accident-prone girl, came a loud, funny and loyal 10 year old brother named Jake who would become one of the two most important people in his life. Ryan instilled a sadness and a lot of heart to an already gut-wrenching story. His fight for redemption became a battle I was invested in seeing through- I hoped and hoped that he would find some peace and calm after filling his head and heart with so much sorrow and undeserved guilt.

Jake, Finlay's older brother was a wonderful and amazing character who I was dying to read more about. He was so incredibly loyal and strong for the people he loved. His devotion and care for his sister was heartwarming and sweet to experience. Jake possessed a gentle understanding for Ryan that helped to forge the ultimate road to his best friend's redemption. He was the catalyst for so many life-altering and hopeful changes in Finlay and Ryan.

Kate McCarthy wrote a beautiful story about a girl who fell in love with her soulmate at a young age; a broken boy who grew into a complex and tortured hero and a brother who eventually healed them all. Four and a half stars well-earned and I can't wait to read more of her work in the future.

NEW RELEASE- Cover Me

Title: Cover Me

Author: Carrie Elliott

Release date: June 23rd, 2014

Goodreads Link

About Cover Me:

Derek Bast, always has the final say. In business and in his personal life, things are done his
way, or not at all. So when a scathing review of his new band is published in The Scene and
has his record producer second guessing his artistic choices, his band mate trying to call the
shots, and Bast’s manager convinced he’s impossible to work with, it’s time to hunt down the
source of his problems: Bess Halprin, reviewer for The Scene, the girl next door growing up,
and his ex-best friend since senior year when she decided to hate him for no reason.

The last person Bess Halprin wants to see standing in the lobby of The Scene is Derek Bast.
Unfortunately, she can’t deny that the last nine years look damn good on him. She expected to
hate him. She didn’t expect the way he can still tug at her emotions, or the way his kiss—and
his hands—set her on fire. Bess should’ve kept her distance, because Bast was right when he
guessed her review was written for revenge. The problem is, to this day he has no idea what
he did—how he screwed her over their senior year. The bigger problem? She’s giving him the
opportunity to do it again, because she never could resist him.

When circumstances bring them both home to Santa Cruz, Bast earns his way into the heart of
the girl next door, but when they return to L.A. and real life rushes in, will he be able to keep
her this time or are the mistakes in their past destined to be repeated?

Amazon | B&N

Excerpt:

It had to be early, too early to be awake. The sun was barely up, but my arm was
asleep, wedged under Derek’s chest.

He rolled over sometime during the night and I’d tossed a leg over his and snuggled
against his side. We’d kissed for a long time. It didn’t go past that, then we fell asleep. I didn’t
think a night spent with him could be so innocent. It was unexpected.

It was nice.

It was like finding my best friend again after all this time.

I eased my arm out from under him and scooted up to lean against the headboard and
shake out the pins and needles. He sighed and shifted closer, reaching out to rest his arm
across my waist. Even in his sleep, he knew I was there beside him.

I eased my fingers through his dark hair, moving the silky strands back off his
forehead. The shape of his face always fascinated me. It was like he was made from a male
supermodel mold with high, prominent cheekbones, chiseled, square jaw, long, almond-
shaped eyes with a mass of thick black lashes, and full, wide lips that brought to mind the
word sinful.

I placed the tip of my pinkie finger over the round chickenpox scar above his eye.
When we were teens, he got the occasional pimple or two, but puberty passed over him with
grace and broad strokes that created an almost flawless man. Tall, lean and muscled with a
cocky confidence and a disposition of equal parts seriousness and humor. I knew he had a
temper and sometimes a short fuse. He could be arrogant and impulsive. He could also be
funny and self-deprecating, kind and brave, loyal and big-hearted.

Even though nine years had passed apart, it didn’t seem like I’d missed a minute. I
could be waking up outside in a tent in his backyard and be nine-years-old again. He was Derek—my Derek—and I wouldn’t lose him again.

I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. We all had imperfections and regrets from our
past. The wound he inflicted was still sore inside me, but he didn’t intend it and in time I’d
find a way to get past it. I wasn’t even sure he had to know. I only hoped he’d grown up and
wouldn’t hurt me again.

“See anything you like?” he asked, his eyes still closed, but a grin spreading on his lips.

“Not without my glasses,” I teased and dove in to pepper his face with kisses.

Laughing, he grabbed me and rolled onto his back pulling me on top of him. “Good
morning.” He ran his hands down my back onto my butt and pressed me against his hard
cock. “I was dreaming about you. Naked. With my guitar.”

REVIEW- Releasing Me

RELEASING ME

by Jewel E. Ann

Five Very Solid Stars!!!

Addy. She broke my heart. The story of her life would bring even the strongest-willed people to their knees. The tragedies she suffered and survived are indescribable. I couldn't help but admire her courage and tenacity as she moved on with her life. Though, while reading Releasing Me, it is somewhat evident that Addy does carry some deeply rooted wounds which time may never heal.

Quinn. He too broke my heart. The man who seemed so incapable of love and commitment shattered at the realization that he gave his love to a woman he knew nothing about. She kept her deepest secrets hidden from him and he came undone. Quinn had to work through so many issues regarding his past and future- he tried but he and Addy seemed destined to keep cutting each other down.

Releasing Me was not a love story which left me with butterflies and sweet smiles. I felt gutted half the time and tears were a steady occurrence with each flick of my kindle-finger. There was so much loss, tragedy and pain- it was almost difficult to finish. But to Jewel E. Ann's credit, it would have been even more painful not to continue with Quinn and Addy's evolution. I loved this couple. I rooted for them. I prayed and I hoped and I yelled whenever either of them acted hastily or hurtfully towards the other. Their struggle became my struggle and I couldn't help but be completely engrained into their lives. Bravo to Ms. Ann for writing a story that engrosses one so completely that it allows you to feel every human emotion- leaving you thinking about it for days after. Five stars well earned.

A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW- Holding You

Review of Holding You

by Jewel E. Ann

Wow. I've read some books when the characters had some downright awful pasts. But Addy's pretty much makes me want to throw myself off a bridge after I've lit myself on fire! YOWZA! I'm actually not sure how she managed to keep herself together. But whatever or however she dealt with her pain led her directly to Quinn.

Quinn is a striking and wealthy alpha male who gets around and doesn't feel much like apologizing for it. He's handsome and muscular and has a penchant for all the nice things his money can buy. Addy is not impressed. She's not into possessions and flash- preferring to live a simple and uncomplicated existence. The two are drawn to each other and begin a long and often painful relationship which seems to be heading directly into the path of destruction. But I guess it wouldn't make for a good story if a bunch of angst and drama were left out.

I enjoyed the story but a few things kept prickling at me as I read. The instant connection between Quinn and Addy didn't sit well with me. I didn't really feel that instant pull we were being made to believe. It took a while, I felt a slow build would have been much better in this case, especially since Addy was so closed off to begin with.

I suppose part of the reason I didn't give more stars was because as much as I felt sympathy for the characters, I also didn't feel a true connection to them either. The pain Addy had suffered through was always on the surface and present for all to see but the character was so closed off that sometimes it felt as though she was closed off even to the reader. There was such a large build up to the reveal of her traumatic past but some of the emotion seemed to be cut off. Don't get me wrong, I knew as a reader that she held some painful secrets.

All in all I did like Holding You and will read the next installment eagerly. I do hope for a happy ending because both characters really do deserve it.

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

COVER REVEAL- Revive (Fierce MC #3)

REVIVE (BOOK 3 IN THE FIERCE MC SERIES)

by Nina Levine

Release Date: July 21st 

Cover Designer: LM Creations
Photographer: CJC Photography

Model: Joseph Troisi

Hosted By: Book Empire Promotions

Available for Pre-Order Now: iTunes

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SYNOPSIS

He doesn’t do relationships.  Neither does she.  But they can’t fight the attraction any longer…

Nash Walker hides the demons that consume his soul.  He buries them deep and distracts himself with sex.  Anything to avoid facing a past full of heartbreak and regret; anything to numb the pain that he struggles with daily.

Velvet Carr has spent years fighting her demons.  It’s a fight she’s winning.  That is, until Nash crashes his way into her life and into her heart.  

It started out as a bit of harmless fun between friends; it wasn’t meant to get complicated for either of them.  But when two broken souls come together and arouse unwanted feelings in each other, complicated is what happens. 

Can Nash and Velvet help heal each other and revive the love in their lives that they’ve both been refusing to allow in for years?  Or will they let their demons ruin any chance they may have at happiness?

NEW RELEASE- Dirty Angels

For Luisa Chavez, a twenty-three year old former beauty queen, a better life has always been just out of her reach. Sure, she’s had men at her feet since she was a young teenager but she’s never had the one thing she’s craved – security. Having grown up in near poverty, her waitressing job in Cabo San Lucas can barely let her take care of herself, let alone her ailing parents. Every day is another unwanted advance, every day is a struggle to survive.

Title: Dirty Angels (Dirty Angels Trilogy #1)

Author: Karina Halle

Genre: Dark Romantic Suspense

Release Date: June 15, 2014

Synopsis

When Salvador Reyes, the depraved leader of a major Mexican cartel, takes an interest in her, Luisa is presented with an opportunity she can’t afford to pass up. She’ll become Salvador’s wife and exchange her freedom and body for a life of riches – riches she can bestow upon her deserving parents. But Luisa quickly finds out that even the finest wines and jewels can’t undo the ugliness in her marriage, nor the never-ending violence that threatens her every move.

Soon, Luisa is looking for an escape, a way out of the carefully controlled life she’s leading. She finally gets her wish in the worst way possible.

As it is, being the wife of Salvador makes her an ideal target for rival cartels and there’s one particular man who needs Luisa as part of his cartel’s expansion. One particular man whose quest for power has destroyed lives, slit throats and gotten him out of an American prison. One particular man who will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants.

That man is Javier Bernal. And he wants Luisa. He wants to take her, keep her, ruin her.

Unless she ruins him first.

Amazon US | Amazon UK

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Excerpt:

“You’re a very dirty man.” “Filthy,” he corrected me. He smacked my ass lightly, causing me to jump. “Oh, that’s just fucking beautiful.” He did it again and again, not enough to hurt but enough to sting. Each time, he licked the place where his handprint would have been. Then, with one hand he gently pried my ass cheeks open. I couldn’t help but cringe. “You need to relax,” he whispered. “This won’t hurt. And I’m sure you took a bath this morning, didn’t you?” I murmured yes in response. “Then you’re clean and you have nothing to worry about. As for me, I’d take you anyway I can. It’s all exquisite to me.” He was right. He was filthy. “Relax, Luisa,” he said again. “Relax.” And so I tried. The first contact from his tongue made me shudder. The sensation was so entirely new to me, but what wasn’t at this point. Yet his mouth, lips, tongue, were all warm and wet and gentle and I found my body immediately relaxing into the steady motion. I pushed aside all thoughts about how impure this was. Purity had done nothing for me, anyway. It was better to be dirty. It was better to take what you could. It was better to embrace your lustful, needful, animalistic side because that was the side that lived.

 

About the Author

With her USA Today Bestselling The Artists Trilogy published by Grand Central Publishing, numerous foreign publication deals, and self-publishing success with her Experiment in Terror series, Vancouver-born Karina Halle is a true example of the term "Hybrid Author." Though her books showcase her love of all things dark, sexy and edgy, she's a closet romantic at heart and strives to give her characters a HEA...whenever possible.

Karina holds a screenwriting degree from Vancouver Film School and a Bachelor of Journalism from TRU. Her travel writing, music reviews/interviews and photography have appeared in publications such as Consequence of Sound, Mxdwn and GoNomad Travel Guides. She currently lives on an island on the coast of British Columbia where she’s preparing for the zombie apocalypse with her fiance and rescue pup.

Facebook | Goodreads | Karina's Website | Twitter | Amazon Author Page

COVER REVEAL- Down & Dirty Box Set

 Down & Dirty Box Set

Authors: Lexxie Couper, Rhian Cahill, Jess Dee, Sami Lee

Release Date: June 27th, 2014

Goodreads

About Down & Dirty

Pleasure intensified. Desire multiplied.

Pass the Parcel by Rhian Cahill

For one night Kitty will be everything Ethan and Finn want. But living out her wildest fantasies was never meant to be this good. And when the sun comes up she’ll discover she’s given them more than her body. She’d given them her heart.

Compliance by Lexxie Couper

Bethany’s got a thing for two hot guys: a nerd and a jock. She’s also got a fantasy that will be mutually pleasurable for them all. She isn’t expecting complete and utter sexual domination though…nor losing her heart to one of them.

Party Of Three by Jess Dee

Spencer Allen’s quest for true love just hit a brick wall—his best mate, Levi Barret. Their mutual lust for the same woman, Chelsea Holden, could spell the end of their friendship…or the beginning of a whole new relationship.

Burning Up by Sami Lee

Pam Spencer is sick of looking for love in all the wrong places. Sure, she wants a solid relationship, but if steamy casual sex is on offer, who is she to turn it down? Especially when the offer comes from not one, but two smokin' hot firefighters.

REVIEW- Three Nights with a Rock Star

THREE NIGHTS WITH A ROCK STAR (HALF-LIFE #1)

by Amber Lin & Shari Slade

This review contains minor spoilers. Please be advised.

I'm still a little cross-eyed from reading Three Nights with a Rock Star. I gave it four stars and it was well-earned; steamy, sexy, sensual...it had all the good "s" words in there. I didn't know what I was expecting but I loved what I got.

We have a sweet and responsible nursery school teacher and a recovering alcoholic rock god who come together after striking a deal: for 3 nights, Hailey drops the goody act and does everything and anything Lock wants of her and as a trade, she gets unlimited access to figure out a troubling family issue. What could go wrong?

To this reviewer's delight...everything! The chemistry between Lock and Hailey was almost instant- I felt a definite sizzle from the first moment they laid eyes on each other. Hailey was an absolute delight, the girl had some funny as hell inner-monologue at the beginning and it was painfully obvious how sheltered she had allowed herself to be. A character which is written with such an innocent personality can often backfire in a story- I know I've read my fair share of them. Innocent one moment then in a blink of an eye, she's a wanton sexpot who can't get enough. Hailey was not portrayed this way at all. She was funny, sweet, and admittedly had hidden some very naughty desires. Anna the Naughty Nun and Hailey Miller got a lot in common. Once she signed the contract Lock uses as standard operating procedure, the girl went off or got off- repeatedly. I enjoyed her character and was a major part of the reason I had so much fun reading this book.

Lock wasn't an overly angst-ridden character who was indecisive and wistful. He was a take-charge and take what-I-want type of man and it was HOT! I can't stand books that have so much back and forth with emotions that it takes almost the entirey for anything worthwhile to develop. It takes away from the story and makes it seem as if there is nothing of essence to write and therefore the same beat is written over and over again. This is certainly not the case with Three Nights- no annoying filler of the same conversation being repeated between two equally annoying characters here- just a lot of witty banter and scintillating "conversation" ;)

Shari Slade and Amber Lin have created a dynamic escape from the boring and tame with the new Half-Life Series. The characters were fun and enjoyable to read. I'm curious and hopeful to get more of Krist, Chloe, Pastor Tim...that's right, Pastor Tim. I never thought I'd write those words in a review for a book with so much sinful fornication. The horror. But seriously, guy seems sexy as hell and I want more. Four stars for two amazing authors who are about to get added to the all important "one-click" list. Keep 'em coming ladies...you got one needy nun over here!

An ARC was kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.