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Tag Archives: Standalone

Waiting For Wednesday: Soul in Darkness by Wendy Higgins

People travel from afar to the small isle in the Aegean Sea hoping for a single glimpse of Princess Psyche. Their adoration for the mortal woman is so all-consuming that citizens begin to shower her with the very gifts and offerings they once left at the alter of Venus, goddess of love and beauty.

But gods are known for their jealousy.

Cupid, the god of love, takes pleasure in causing strife and mischief in the lives of humans. He uses love as a weapon, humoring in the weakness of people at the whims of their feelings. When his mother Venus approaches him about punishing the human girl who dares to steal her offerings and affections from the people, Cupid gladly accepts.

Psyche’s punishment is to be given to a mysterious creature who only comes to her in the dark of night under the pact that she will never lay eyes on him. She is terrified of this stranger, who the oracle described as a serpent. Her mate, however, is masterful in his dealings with his bride. He takes his time, morphing her fears into different sensations completely.

Based on the Roman/Greek mythology of Cupid and Psyche by Lucius Apuleius, New York Times bestseller Wendy Higgins brings the tale to life, weaving layers that show exactly how a sacrificial lamb can be enchanted by an unseen monster.

YA/adult crossover. Historical Fantasy. Standalone. 

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Cover Reveal: Derision by Trisha Wolfe

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Title: Derision

Author: Trisha Wolfe

Genre: Dark Romance Standalone

Cover Design: Najla Qamber Designs   

 Release Date: May 24, 2016

Blurb

Here at Lark and Gannet, you’ll work directly under the partners, being groomed by the most powerful, all-male partnership to handle an exclusive clientele. While within The Firm, your level of training goes deeper, requiring more…varied tasks, which you’re obligated to perform to your Master’s pleasing.

Are you nervous? You should be. Chase Larkin has chosen you to be his submissive.

Alexis Wilde, will you submit?

All I wanted was to save my brother. Something my parents failed to do—and then, I failed him also. As an introvert, getting ahead in the cutthroat law firm required a level of ego stroking I didn’t possess, and that meant my talents were overlooked. Until Chase Larkin noticed me.

My erotic fantasy come to life, Chase is all powerful, all man, all dominant. In one night, he changed my life irrevocably. Now I’m ruined, destined to crave him forever. His scent. His taste. His brutal touch…

If I never followed him to his office that night, then none of this would’ve happened. A serial rapist on the prowl. Our lives in jeopardy. And only a moment—one pivotal moment—to decide our fate. His life or mine.

*This is a full length, standalone dark romance with an antihero that may trigger uncomfortable feelings for the reader. The court proceedings are centered around a rape case. Although there is no onscreen rape in this book, there are instances of rough sex and violent debasement for the main character.

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Cover Reveal: The Argument by Pepper Winters

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Coming July 2016 from New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Pepper Winters…

THE ARGUMENT - cover

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THE ARGUMENT releases in July 2016! If you would like to be notified as soon as THE ARGUMENT goes live, please feel free to sign up for the Release Alert Newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/120b5

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From the New York Times Bestseller Pepper Winters comes a snarky standalone full of romance.

They say the key to a good relationship is one with no drama.

They say you’re not trying hard enough or married the wrong person if you fight.

Sorry, but I call bulls***.

I’ve had plenty of relationships: some sweet, some happy, most an utter failure.

Until I met Harriet.

Our first conversation was an argument.

Our second conversation was an argument.

Our entire connection was based on…yep, an argument.

We tore up the rules of chance encounters and polite first meeting etiquette. And after the week I’d had, I was ready for a punch-up.

Hell, I craved one.

And Harriet was there to antagonise me.

The first time we met, we spent every hour from dusk to dawn, arguing.

And when the sun rose, neither of us wanted to stop.

Because there was something so refreshing about being honest. Saying exactly what you thought. Picking faults just because you itched to fight.

It was only supposed to be one night. A night where the town was our battlefield, the clubs a microphone to our bickering, and the stars a listener to our squabbles.

Only…I wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

You see, arguing turned out to be the best damn thing I’d ever experienced.

So, instead of agreeing to the terms we’d set, I revoked them. I went home with her. I refused to leave. And our argument turned into something so much more than a random quarrel.

It turned into war and our love wasn’t sweet…it was hostile.

THE ARGUMENT - CR teaser 1

About Pepper Winters:

Pepper Winters is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today International Bestseller.

After chasing her dreams to become a full-time writer, Pepper has earned recognition with awards for best Dark Romance, best BDSM Series, and best Hero. She’s an multiple #1 iBooks bestseller, along with #1 in Erotic Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, and Erotica Thriller. She’s also honoured to wear the IndieReader Badge for being a Top 10 Indie Bestseller.

Pepper is a Hybrid Author of both Traditional and Self-published work. Her Pure Corruption Series was released by Grand Central, Hachette.

Her books have garnered foreign interest and are currently being translated into numerous languages, including already released titles in Italian and Turkish. Audio Books for her entire back-list will be available in 2016.

Click here for a list of Pepper Winters’ Published Books

Newsletter for New Release Alerts | Website | Twitter | Facebook

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Blog Tour with Review: Unseen Messages by Pepper Winters

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From New York Times Bestseller Pepper Winters comes a timeless love story answering the question of what happens when everything is stripped away.

Blog Tour Unseen Messages

“There is a message for everything. From handwritten to verbal, seen and unseen. Messages exist all around us.”

But what if you don’t see?
What if you don’t understand?
What if, by ignoring the message, your life is never the same again?

Estelle Evermore morphed from nobody to somebody overnight.

Galloway Oak put his past behind him and endeavored to make his fortune using his trade.

Two strangers.
One plane.
Multiple unseen messages.

From sky to island, they find neither fame nor skills can save them. Stripped from society and left alone to survive the elements, the very task of staying alive outweighs all other needs.

Until survival turns to desire.
And desire turns to danger.

UNSEEN MESSAGES COVER

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1q8o2Kz

Amazon.co.uk: http://amzn.to/22FGmw2

Amazon.com.au: http://bit.ly/1RE1BmA

Amazon.com.ca: http://amzn.to/1Rybh53

iBooks: http://apple.co/1TOssyM

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1m8VUou

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1YiIbaD

Google Play: http://bit.ly/1Yoo36Z

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1I7kv7n
Paperback: http://amzn.to/21GrQy9

My Review

“My life began on paper on sheet music. A fresh page of bars and ledgers, governed by a sturdy treble clef. But my life ended changed. And the things of importance faded from superfluous to survival. I’m a writer. I’m a singer. Not anymore, I’m a survivor.”

“Life offers everyone messages. Either noticeable or obvious, it’s up to us to pay attention. I didn’t pay attention.”

“I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want you.” He kissed my eyelids. “Never been so bloody desperate to be with anyone as much as I am with you.” He kissed my cheeks. “I’m going to have you, Stel. I’m going to claim you, satisfy you, corrupt you.” He kissed the corner of my mouth.”I’m going to seduce you, and once you’re thoroughly seduced, I’m never going to let you leave me.”

From the brilliant mind that brought us books like Monsters In The Dark and The Indebited Series, comes an all new stand-alone unlike anything you’ve read from this author before. Yes, this book is so unique. It is so refreshing. A book that will take you on an amazing, inspiring, heartfelt journey.

Now, I can’t say much about this book, because it’s honestly best if you go into it blind. Here’s what I can tell you: This story is beautifully written and it sucks you in from the very first page. From the very first page, you are begged to pay attention to the signs that are around us. Some signs are not meant to be ignored and as you go on this journey with these characters, you will quickly learn that if the signs had been heeded, that maybe things could have been different….Unseen Messages takes you on an incredible journey of survival in the toughest of times. This story will make you think and question what you would do in this situation. What you would be willing to sacrifice? How would you be able to go on?

Unseen Messages is unlike anything I’ve ever read from this author. This book is so inspiring. The characters are so real, so flawed. The plot is so realistic. And the love these characters find is just amazing. I loved everything about this book, from start to finish. I definitely recommend checking this read out.

Unseen Messages Full wrap

About Pepper Winters:

Pepper HeadshotPepper Winters is a NYT and USA Today International Bestseller. She wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex… her books have sex.

She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends. She’s also honoured to wear the IndieReader Badge for being a Top 10 Indie Bestsellers, best BDSM series voted by the SmutClub, and recently signed a two book deal with Grand Central. Her books are currently being translated into numerous languages and will be in bookstores in the near future.

To be the first to know of upcoming releases, please join Pepper’s Newsletter (she promises never to spam or annoy you.)

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Or follow her on her website

www.pepperwinters.com

She loves mail of any kind: pepperwinters@gmail.com

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Book Blitz: Fates Divided by Jules Barnard

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Fates Divided
by Jules Barnard
Halven Rising #1
Publication Date: August 31, 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

Tour: Fates Divided by Jules Barnard

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Elena Rosales has busted her ass to get into a good college. She’s the only one in her family ever to attend, and expectations are high. No pressure. But Elena’s got this one in the bag, because she’s as dependable as the molecules she studies, as reliable as the chemical reactions that comfort her in their predictability. Until they don’t.

Elena has always wondered why her mother abandoned her on her first birthday. It’s not until she turns eighteen and her chemistry experiments go berserk that she learns the truth: Her mother wasn’t human, and the Fae are willing to harm those Elena loves if she doesn’t use her power over the elements to cure them of a deadly disease.

Derek, Elena’s brooding neighbor, isn’t the friendliest guy, but he has access to an off-hours lab and is willing to help Elena create the antivirus. He has his own secrets to keep, and this business Elena is mixed up in could blow his cover. But when Elena and Derek get together, more than chemicals spark fire-and they soon discover just how complicated attraction can get when they find themselves on the other side of the portal, fighting for survival. Lives collide, and allegiance and love are tested, in Fates Divided.

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About Jules Barnard

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Before turning to storytelling, Jules earned a master’s degree in public health and spent many an hour running statistical analysis–until she realized her favorite part of the job was writing reports. She decided to cut out the math and add in some hot guys, and so began her career as a novelist.

Jules is a Northern California native living on the coast with her husband and two children. She has no impulse control around cupcakes and credits herself with the ability to read while running on the treadmill or burning dinner.

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Relase Day Blitz and Review: Just Say When by Kaylee Ryan

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 Title: Just Say When 
Author: Kaylee Ryan 
  Release Date: May 12, 2015
Synopsis

Saving myself for marriage, not hardly.

Saving myself for someone who will make my heart race, most definitely.

In theory it’s a good plan, however even the best-laid plans fall through. Seeing him, being around him, alerts all my senses and I dream about being his, wrapping myself in his arms and never letting go. The only problem – he sees me as his sister.

My name’s Ava Evans and I’m in love with my older brother’s best friend, Nate Garrison. 



Burying myself in work for the past two years, avoiding any thought of her, has worked, until now. She’s everywhere, in my dreams, in my gym, and in my heart. I’m not sure when I fell in love with Ava Evans, but I am completely in love with my best friends baby sister.

At first she was too young for me and that made it easy to stay away. Now, it’s a struggle to keep my distance.

How am I supposed to resist her when I can’t escape her? If he ever found out, it would ruin our friendship. Even with that knowledge all she would have to do is… 

Just Say When.
Links to Buy
 AMAZON US / UK
iBOOKS / KOBO

My Review

Just Say When follows the story of Ava and Nate. Ava has been in love with Nate for as long as she can remember. The problem: Nate is her older brother’s best friend. Nate and Brody are as close as friends can get, practically brothers. For years, Ava has longed for Nate, but has kept her feelings hidden. Now, years later, Ava runs into Nate again. Ava had hoped that her feelings had dulled with time, but is quick to see that her feelings haven’t changed. In fact, the pull that she feels for him is even stronger…..Nate has always had a thing for Ava. But, she was forbidden or off limits to him because of his friendship with Brody. Now that Ava has come back into Nate’s life, he finds it difficult to hide his feelings. The two of them are desperately trying to deny what everyone can clearly see. Both afraid to let the other know how they feel. However, the more they try to fight it, the stronger the pull, the deeper the attraction. Until one day, they both decide that can’t, no they won’t fight it anymore. They have to find out if there is more there than just an attraction. Now, that their feelings are out there, there is only one obstacle left in their way: Brody. Ava and Nate want to be together, but want to have Brody’s blessing. This will prove to be the ultimate test. Is their love strong enough to face down Ava’s brother? When the time comes will Nate be forced to choose between his best friend or the woman he loves?

I just adored Just Say When. The story was sweet, really well written and had a great flow to it. The characters were fun and enjoyable; even the secondary ones. There wasn’t one person that I didn’t want to know about. I loved Ava and Nate together. I loved the push and pull between them. I felt their chemistry instantly and the incredible bond they shared. Friends for a lifetime, that shared a love that grew into something more, something incredible, something infinite.

Just Say When was a quick read for me and is one of those stories that will leave you with a smile on your face. If you’re looking for a sweet romance that will make you swoon and is light on the drama, than look no further.

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*


Excerpt

I reach the table just in time to watch as Kara pulls Ava to the dance floor. They stop right at the edge as if they cannot wait a second longer to move to the beat. We watch them in silence, enjoying the show they’re putting on. That is until two guys join them. At first, it looks innocent enough, but when the one closest to Ava puts his hands on her, I know I have to squash this.

“We can’t let them have all the fun.” I motion to the dance floor. I’m pissed off this guy is mauling her, and I’m pissed off at Zach. I can’t believe he let his groupies pull him away from Ava. He doesn’t deserve her.

Tanner grins. “You don’t have to tell me twice.” He places his now empty water bottle on the table and heads straight for Kara.

I’m hot on his heels. I stop in front of Ava and she smiles hesitantly just as the song changes to “Talk Dirty.” The guy who was trying to make his move on her is no longer touching her, which is in his best interest. Ava seems nervous as to where she should touch me. This is new for us. I take her hands and rest them on my shoulders as I move my hips to the beat. I keep an eye on the jackass to make sure he knows she’s unavailable. I don’t want him touching her again.

I pull her tight little body close to mine, not caring that this is Ava Mae, my best friend’s little sister. She’s forbidden, but for tonight, for this time in which I actually have her in my arms, I don’t let it stop me. Instead, I pull her close and pretend she’s mine.

Ava rocks her hips against mine and I tighten my grip. Her big brown eyes find mine and her stare is intense. If I didn’t know better, I would think that she wants me just as fiercely as I want her. Pulling her as close as I can get her, I bury my face in her neck and match the rhythm of her hips as they grind against mine. I wish like hell she were mine.


Author Bio

Kaylee Ryan has had a passion for reading since she was a little girl. That passion
has slowly led to spinning romantic tales, and a one-click addiction. When she
doesn’t have her nose stuck in her kindle or fingers glued to the keyboard, you
can find Kaylee hanging out with friends and family. She loves all genres of
music, and enjoys scrapbooking. She lives in Ohio with her husband (her real life
happily ever after) and their rambunctious little boy.

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Review: Two Of Hearts by Christina Lee

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A gripping standalone adult contemporary romance about finding yourself while taking a second chance at your first love…

Dakota Nakos was always the resilient, strong-willed achiever. But when her father dies and she’s entrusted with the family’s casino, she feels vulnerable, scared, and more than a little emotional —not exactly the best time to see an old lover she’s never really gotten over.

Dakota once meant the world to Shane Garrity. Then suddenly he left town to train as a U.S. Marshal, and their love for each other crashed into a memory. Now he’s come home for her father’s funeral, and one look at the girl he left behind stirs up both memories and regrets, and reignites a fire he feared he’d lost forever.

Dakota may be the same driven girl she always was, but she’s also changed in ways neither could have anticipated. She’s not just a young woman searching for own identity in the Native American community in which she was raised, but one questioning her new life outside her father’s shadow. Above all she wonders if Shane can push past her weakened defenses to rekindle what they once had, or whether the intense blaze between them will ultimately reduce her heart to ashes.


My Review

 “Stay. Such a substantial word. A word that made me weak in the knees because I was utterly vulnerable to it. To the idea of it. To the longing embedded deep in my soul to have someone remain in my life because they wanted to. Needed to.”

Two of Hearts was a very enjoyable read. Two of Hearts follows the story of Dakota and Shane. Dakota has always been very strong, independent and stubborn. But when her father suddenly passes away, her world is knocked off it’s axis. She’s struggling to stay strong for her family and be the woman that she’s always been. Things get even more complicated when Shane comes back home….Shane and Dakota were everything to each other, once upon a time. But, when an opportunity came about for Shane to leave town, neither one of them fought for the other. Both too stubborn for their own good. Now Shane has returned home to be there for Dakota and this time, he’s not going to let her go.

Two of Hearts was such an enjoyable read. I was able to read this one in just one sitting. I found the plot line to be very interesting and I loved learning about Native American culture. The characters were intriguing and I wanted to know more about them, even the ones I didn’t like as much.

I just adored Shane and Dakota together. Their chemistry was scorching. Dakota tried very hard to deny what was happening between the two of them, but the truth of the matter was that she was just scared. She loved Shane very much at one time and wasn’t sure if her heart could take it if he left again. However, Shane is now grown up. He’s changed. He’s realized just how important things are in life and what he’s missed out on. He’s not going to let Dakota go without a fight. The two of them, so stubborn, but yet somehow, they really balanced one another out.

Two of Hearts is a great second chance romance. This is a great story of first love, a second chance at that love and family. I really loved the way the author showcased the Native American culture and how protective they were of their people and their land. Overall, I thought this was a really great book. This book made me laugh, and swoon. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding Dakota’s father’s death and really enjoyed figuring out who was behind it. My only complaint is that, I would have loved there to have been a little more at the end. After everything that Dakota and Shane went through to be together, I just wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to the two of them. That being said,  I’m still pretty happy with the ending I got. Overall, a really great read and I’m looking forward to seeing what Christina Lee has in store for us next!

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*

 

Blog Tour & Review – The Hooker and the Hermit by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid

New York’s Finest
Blogging as *The Socialmedialite*
April 22
LADIES AND GENTS! I have an announcement!

You know that guy I featured on my blog a few months ago? The really, really hot Irish rugby player who plays the position of ‘hooker’ in the RLI (Rugby League International)? The one with the anger management issues, the body of a gladiator and the face of a movie star? The one with the questionable fashion choices leading me to ask whether he was the lovechild of a leprechaun and a hobbit? Ronan Fitzpatrick? Yeah, that guy.

Well, I have a confession to make…

THE HERMIT

Annie Catrel, social media expert extraordinaire at Davidson & Croft Media and clandestine celebrity blogger, can make anyone shine in the court of public opinion. She is the Socialmedialite, anonymous creator of New York’s Finest and the internet’s darling. Virtual reality is Annie’s forte, but actual reality? Not so much.

THE HOOKER

Ronan Fitzpatrick, aka the best hooker the world of rugby has seen in decades, despises the media—social or otherwise. The press has spun a web of lies depicting him as rugby’s wild and reckless bad boy. Suspended from his team, Ronan has come to Manhattan to escape the drama, lay low, fly under the radar. Only, Ronan isn’t easy to overlook, and he can’t escape the notice of the Socialmedialite…

THE PLAN

When Ronan is sent to Davidson & Croft Media to reshape his public image, he never expects to cross paths with shy but beautiful Annie, nor does he expect his fierce attraction to her. He couldn’t be happier when her boss suggests pairing them together.
What lengths will Annie take to keep her virtual identity concealed? And what happens when the hooker discovers who the hermit really is?
 

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REVIEW

I was both super excited AND a wee bit nervous when I sat down to read this book… I LOVE me some Penny Reid…LOVE her, but I haven’t read any L. H. Cosway, so a mixture of the two was a bit of an un-known for me. Well there was no need to worry of course, everything was firmly under control. This pairing worked really well, the story flowed and was completely cohesive, while at the same time giving me plenty of glimpses of pure Penny Reid.

The story follows social media whizz Annie, a quiet, unassuming wallflower in her public life, while in her private life she is avid online personality Socialmedialite. Her blog is a big deal and she values her anonymity more than anything when it comes to it. She at the start comes across as extremely stand-offish and absolutely terrible at anything that requires her to interact with people in person. As the story progresses you do find out a lot more about why she is like this, her backstory is actually pretty heavy, but it does go a long way to explain why she’s like how she is. Her complete lack of friends did make me feel all kinds of sad though, every girl needs a bestie or two! However, on the flipside Annie online in her Socialmedialite persona is COMPLETELY different, which in this day and age is a very appropriate storyline. She blogs about celebrities and employs a cutting humor to get her point across, no matter who she could potentially offend. In her mind she can be what she describes as ‘her true self’ knowing that behind the computer screen no one can get under her skin…

Until, that is, an Irish rugby player by the name of Ronan comes along. Pretty soon the bad boy of rugby is rocking Annie’s safe little world. And OH he does it well! I loved Ronan. He really was the epitome of everything male. I LOVED his confident swagger, in fact his swagger dominated the book for me. (Which was a VERY good thing) The two characters balanced each other out really well, because without Ronan and his brash manliness I think the book would’ve been slower and not nearly as electric. He needed to be the in your face Irish guy to be able to drag Annie out from behind her keyboard and into the real world, and in fact it does take him more than a few tries to do so. I loved the banter and spark between these two, from the very first time he saw her eating pastry you just knew there was going to be chemistry leaping off the pages, and the way he approached her right there and then. Honestly, this is what I mean about him and his swagger.

The storyline was really entertaining. You expect there to be drama in this genre and there definitely is here in this story. I always love to see how the boy meets girl storyline can be turned into something different, which was definitely achieved here with barely a complaint from me. I have to say though, at one point near the end, while they were in Ireland I do remember feeling completely frustrated, more at Annie than Ronan, but generally at the both of them. It was just a flickering irritability, but it goes to show how fine the line is between acceptable levels of drama induced frustration and maybe a little too much drama induced frustration. Overall I found this book to be super entertaining and full of great humor. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes their menfolk a little rougher around the edges and their story to be full of wit and clever writing. If Penny Reid & L.H. Cosway ever write together again I’ll definitely be checking it out.

Thank you to the amazing Penny Reid for providing an ARC in return for an honest review

The Hooker and the Hermit

By L.H. Cosway, Penny Reid


Release Day Blitz and Book Review: Beautifully Insightful by K.C. Lynn

Blitz Hosted by: As the Pages Turn

Title: Beautifully Insightful

Author: K.C. Lynn

Genre: NA | Erotica Romance

Release Date:  January 16, 2015

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23491832-beautifully-insightful


Synopsis:

EMILY MICHAELS ~ Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong? Like you never fit in, or you weren’t good enough? This is how I have felt for as long as I can remember. 

I see the world differently than everyone else, I feel everything differently and I reflect on life differently. And being different in my world is not a good thing.

I live in a place that’s divided between the rich and the poor, the beautiful and the unbeautiful, the prestigious and the mediocre. I have always belonged in the first category, because my father was the Governor of Georgia. 

Growing up around people I could never relate with, my life had always been lonely, that was until my senior year when I met the one boy who would change my life forever. A boy who my parents would never approve of because he didn’t come from money or the same social class. He rode a motorcycle, had tattoos and was considered to be from the wrong side of the tracks. Yet he was still envied by many.

Ryder Jameson was someone who every guy feared, and one who every girl wanted to be touched by. He didn’t do attachments, or have friends… until me. And for the first time in my life I finally felt like I belonged. When I was with him, my different didn’t feel wrong or ugly. He made me feel beautiful- insightfully beautiful. Then one day my world came crashing down on me, and it would be six years before I’d once again see the boy I fell in love with.

RYDER JAMESON ~ After working my ass off I am given the opportunity of a lifetime, and if I pull it off I will be the youngest FBI agent to run one of the biggest undercover operations in history. Only the case that gets thrown in front of me leads me back to the one place I swore I would never return to, and to the only girl who’s ever mattered to me. 

Except Emily Michaels is not the same girl I left behind. She still looks the same, she’s still beautiful inside and out, but there’s one thing that’s very different about her, one very big thing, and it’s something I didn’t think was possible.

Ryder and I come from a world where politics separates us and wealth defines us, but even after all this time we will not let it divide us. 

Here is our story. 


Excerpt

A memory from the past~

A big smile spreads across my face as we walk up to a black motorcycle. “Are we going to ride this?” I ask hopefully.

“Yeah, this is the new bike I bought from Hector.”

“Eeeek!” I clap excitedly and Ryder chuckles at my obvious enthusiasm. I look down at my attire. “Er, I guess I’m not dressed great for it.”

A dirty grin tilts his sexy lips. “I like it better that way.” He winks suggestively and I feel my face heat. Sheesh, I really hate that. “Here.” He passes me his jacket but I push it back at him.

“No, no, I’ll be fine. It’s a warm night.”

He glares at me and thrusts the jacket my way again. “No, you won’t. Take the jacket.”

“Ryder, I’ll be fine.”

“Emily, would you not argue with me for once, and just take the fucking jacket.”

I roll my eyes then rip the stupid jacket from him. “Geez, you have a serious problem with being bossy,” I tell him as I put the damn coat on. Oh man, maybe it’s not such a bad idea after all, it smells really darn good, but there is no denying I look ridiculous in it. I throw my arms up showing him how long the sleeves are. “I look stupid!”

His eyes roam down my body, suddenly making me think I might not look like an idiot after all. Sitting on the bike sideways, he grabs the lapels of the jacket and pulls me between his legs. “You look fucking sexy in anything you wear, but especially my clothes. And you look as good now as you did six years ago when we left that beach party and I took you on my bike for the first time. Except back then your dress was yellow, not pink.”

My heart turns over in my chest at his words. The night he talks about is a night I have never forgotten, and clearly he hasn’t either. The fact that he remembers it so vividly, right down to what I wore, repairs a small part of my scarred heart. “I can’t believe you remember what I wore that night,” I whisper.

“Baby, there isn’t a second of our time together that I don’t remember. You, Emily, are not someone I could ever forget.”

I stare at him speechless, a sudden storm of emotions roiling inside of me. Then why? I want to scream. Why did you leave me? He stares back at me, his gaze intense as if he knows what I’m thinking. I consider asking him, right here, right now, but as I dig for courage he ends up breaking the moment by grabbing his helmet and putting it on my head. It’s probably better. I will ask him eventually. I will. But maybe not tonight. For tonight- I want to forget about all the bad, forget about what took him from me and just be in a place that I haven’t been for six years, a place that only Ryder and I create.

“Lift your chin.” I do as he asks. After he tightens the straps, he straddles the bike, and oh boy does he look good on it. Heat pools low in my tummy when I think about what we did on his bike back in high school, or rather, what he did to me…

I suddenly notice he’s watching me with an arrogant smirk. “This is one of those times, Emily, when I know exactly what you’re thinking. It’s written all over your pretty, flushed face.”

Crap!

“If you want to go for a ride on this bike I suggest you get your sexy ass on the back of it before I change my mind and end up taking you for a ride right here.”

Oh god, just the thought of riding him instead of the bike has an ache starting between my legs. I scoff, hoping to hide his affect on me. “Settle down, Jameson. I was just noticing how completely awkward you look on the bike is all.”

He bursts out laughing, and it’s so infectious I can’t stop from laughing with him; we both know I’m full of it. “You are the shittiest liar.”

“I know,” I agree with a giggle, not bothering to deny it. I get on behind him and wrap my arms around his waist, bringing my front flush against his hard, warm back. My smile dies and my heart flutters at the familiar feeling of being this close to him again. It’s a feeling I didn’t think I would get to experience again.

Buy Links – BEAUTIFULLY INSIGHTFUL:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S8HLIAI/

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00S8HLIAI/

Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00S8HLIAI/

Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00S8HLIAI/  

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/beautifully-insightful


My Review

Wow! What an amazing story! I am full of so many emotions right now and at a complete loss for words………

Beautifully Insightful is a standalone novel and is told from dual pov’s. This book follows the story of Emily and Ryder. Emily had always seen the world differently from everyone else. She’s never really fit in and has always been told to not be an embarrassment, that she’s not good enough. Being different is not really an option for the world that she is apart of. Sheltered all her life, Emily makes a big decision to go to public school for her last year of high school.  She just wants to fade into the background, that is until she meets Ryder……..

Ryder is the exact definition of bad boy: tattoos, motorcycle and lives on the wrong side of town. But, there is so much more to Ryder than what meets the eye. Emily sees things in Ryder that most people don’t. She makes Ryder want things that he’s never wanted before and Ryder gives her the one thing that she’s always wanted to be beautiful. Everything was perfect until one day, everything changed…….. 

Now 6 years later, Ryder is faced with the opportunity of a lifetime and it will bring him back to the one place he swore he’d never return and to the only woman he ever loved. Only, 6 years is a long time and things change, people change.  Will Ryder be able to do his job and win back the love of his life?? Or has too much time gone by???

Beautifully Insightful captivated me from the very first page. The writing pulls you in and gives you no other option than to devour this book. The characters are very real and easy to connect with. I fell in love with Emily and Ryder immediately. They showed me that there’s so much more to beauty than what’s on the outside. That appearances aren’t everything. Their path to HEA was definitely not an easy one. There were so many obstacles that they had to overcome, but it was so worth it in the end. 

Beautifully Insightful is one of those books that will stick with you for a long time. It deals with some very, very tough issues. It is action packed, filled with lots of twists and turns, WTF moments and some revelations that I didn’t want to believe.  And let me tell you, the last few chapters of this book had me on the edge of my seat, freaking out, wondering what would happen next! 

This book will make you laugh, frustrate you, shock you and fall in love.  Ryder is not only swoon worthy, but a total alpha male and the chemistry that Ryder and Emily share is off the charts. I enjoyed everything about this book and it is definitely one of my top reads of the year so far!!

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*


About The Author

K.C. Lynn is a small town girl living in Western Canada. She married her high school sweetheart and they have four amazing children: two lovely girls and a set of handsome twin boys. It was her love of romance books that gave K.C. the courage to sit down and write her own novel. When she is not in her writing cave, pounding out new characters and stories, she can be found living between the pages of a book, meeting new tattooed, hot alpha males with very big…Hearts.

Author Social links:

Website: http://www.authorkclynn.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-KC-LYNN/575868539173061

Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/K.-C.-Lynn/e/B00JU76FAS/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7759261.K_C_Lynn

Review: Hero by Samantha Young

The emotional and unforgettable new romance from the New York Times bestselling author of the On Dublin Street series.

Alexa Holland’s father was her hero—until her shocking discovery that she and her mother weren’t his only family. Ever since, Alexa has worked to turn her life in a different direction and forge her own identity outside of his terrible secrets,. But when she meets a man who’s as damaged by her father’s mistakes as she is, Alexa must help him.

Caine Carraway wants nothing to do with Alexa’s efforts at redemption, but it’s not so easy to push her away. Determined to make her hate him, he brings her to the edge of her patience and waits for her to walk away. But his actions only draw them together and, despite the odds, they begin an intense and explosive affair.

Only Caine knows he can never be the white knight that Alexa has always longed for. And when they’re on the precipice of danger, he finds he’ll do anything to protect either one of them from being hurt again… 



My Review

Hero follows the story of Alexa and Caine. For Alexa’s entire life, she believed that her father was a hero. She looked up to him the way ever little girl looks up to her father, until one day, a shocking secret will destroy everything. Alexa makes it her mission to turn her life around, and live a new identity, one that isn’t tainted by her last name. All was well until she met the man whose life was destroyed by her father’s secrets……To say Caine loathes Alexa would be an understatement. He hates her family and has a hard time seeing past that.  He desperately tries to push Alexa away, but is finding that it’s not such an easy task. He tries to make Alexa hate him, but it only pulls them closer together and they can only fight each other for so long…..Caine knows that he’ll never be the man that Alexa needs or deserves, but he can’t stay away. When danger strikes, he’ll do anything to protect her, even if it tears them apart….

Hero was a great read for me. It started off as a story about a girl wanting to find some redemption for the wrongs her family caused another man, and slowly turned into something more. I found the story to be captivating and the characters were very likable and easy to connect with. I loved the chemistry between Caine and Alexa. It was scorching, off the charts. The more they denied it, the more the tension built, until they could no longer hold back! And boy was it worth the wait!

Alexa was such a treat. She was strong, stubborn, and put up with way to much from Caine. Caine….boy did he ever frustrate me in the beginning of this story. He was such a jerk to Alexa and put her through so much. But, Caine learned a valuable lesson that things aren’t always as they seem and the same goes for people. Once he figured that out, my opinion of him changed. Alexa and Caine were the perfect balance for one another and challenged each other as well. 

Overall I really enjoyed Hero. It had such a different feel from the On Dublin Street series. My only complaint is that the back and forth did drive me a little nuts at times. That being said, if that’s my only complaint, that’s a good thing! I loved the tension, romance and frustration of the story. There was an interesting twist thrown in the last 2/3 of the story. It was so unexpected and I loved the mystery surrounding it. I am a little sad that Hero is a stand alone. I would love to spend a little more time with these characters and there are a few others, that I would love to know more about. I’m hopeful that maybe one day, we will see that. A girl can hope, right?!

*I received an ARC copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

*Teaser Credits: Via Author’s FB page