Month: June 2015

All About BLOWING OFF STEAM–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing my review for BLOWING OFF STEAM, a contemporary M/M romance that features an awkward trainspotter and a reformed playboy. Joy Lynn Fielding has written a truly delicious romance that celebrates all the best in geekery and do-overs.

Blowing Off SteamAbout the Book:
Two guys, a train, and lots of steam.

Sam Chancellor has been in love with the steam engine Old Bess since he was six years old. Well, maybe not literally, but even when he’s lost everything else in his life, he’s always had her. But now her place in his heart has been unexpectedly challenged. Her new driver, Ryan Saunders, is the embodiment of all Sam’s fantasies.

Ryan has written off Sam as just another geeky trainspotter—until the moment Ryan sees him without his usual shapeless hoodie, and realizes that for a nerd, Sam’s pretty built.

When Ryan overlooks Sam’s awkwardness long enough to suggest a hook-up, Sam seizes the opportunity—and Ryan—with both very eager hands. Finding common ground in their shared love of Bess, their time together is better than Sam ever dared dream.

But there’s a reason Ryan never talks about his past. And when Ryan’s job is threatened, Sam’s well-meaning intervention puts both Ryan and Bess in deadly danger.

Product Warnings: Contains train geekery, bed-hogging, a hero with no experience and another with plenty to spare, and a spider called Mabel.

My Review:
Sam is a small-town man, living alone in his late great-uncle’s home in Cardyle. He has always been awkward and not had many friends–growing up a scrawny gay orphan who loves trains did not engender many personal friendships, though he is very well-known in the local and online trainspotting community. Not long ago, Sam spotted something else of interest: Ryan Saunders, the new driver of Old Bess, the prized steam locomotive of Cardyle.

Ryan Saunders has been a flamboyant playboy most of his life. He’s run his wealthy father ragged, and is now under strict orders to not seek any contact or else his monthly allowance will be cut off. This isn’t ideal when he new boss insists Ryan speak to his father for a large endowment to Old Bess’s Trust–or else Ryan can just move on to another job.

Ryan is frustrated over his situation, and takes solace in picking up the geeky but earnest Sam one night after work. Sam is an exuberant, if completely inexperienced lover, and this has a peculiar effect on jaded Ryan. They begin to discuss Ryan’s trouble at work, and Sam is outraged. His attempt to fix the situation pulls up some really disastrous information, the kind that puts more than Ryan’s job security on the line. I really enjoyed the tension here–I didn’t know how or what form the attacks would come, but I was sure that Ryan, and perhaps Sam, was in life-threatening danger which really added a whole different dimension to the story. What I expected would be a wrongful termination suit, or perhaps a botched blackmail scheme, turned out some much more harrowing! I loved it.

I also loved the tenderness that developed between Ryan and Sam. It was entirely sweet, and funny, too. Poor Sam and his pet garden spider! Ryan certainly had no love for Mabel/Shelob. He did, however, have love for Sam, so I guess all was as it should be. As a Yankee, I swoon for British men, and the manner in which they treat themselves. From disparaging each others’ tea strength to the side-eyes they gave over train configuration, I adored every moment of Sam and Ryan together.

This book has a crazy-good amount of sexytimes, though not all of it is described in gritty detail. The scenes were often emotionally present, and that was charming, and sexy, too. As a mother of boys, I get the train fascination and I really enjoyed the trainy details. It was heartwarming to see such a stodgy experience, trainspotting and steam locomotives, brought into contemporary life. And, really, I can’t help loving when a geeky guy lands a sexy keeper. Both Ryan and Sam are essentially alone in the world, and they find such companionship with each other I was rooting for them all the way.

Interested? You can find BLOWING OFF STEAM on Goodreads, Samhain Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and AllRomance. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

About the author:

Joy Lynn Fielding lives in a small English market town, where she indulges her passions for vintage aircraft, horse-riding and gardening (though not all at the same time).

Joy has a tendency to wax lyrical about the fascinating facts she discovers during her research for books. Thankfully she has a very patient Labrador who has a gift for looking interested in what she’s saying while he waits for the food to arrive.

You can find Joy online on her website, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Love Within The FLUKES–Review and Giveaway

FlukesTour
Hi there! Today, I’m sharing a contemporary paranormal romance from Nichole Chase. FLUKES is a sexy New Adult story featuring a shy mermaid and the bad boy who falls for her…

Make sure to scroll down and enter the $50 gift card giveaway.

Flukes CoverAbout the book:
Meena has a secret guarded closely by her family—a secret as dangerous as the sea and buried just as deep. When court-appointed community-service workers are assigned to Flukes, the family-owned animal sanctuary, everyone is on high alert. It doesn’t help that Meena finds herself attracted to sexy-as-sin Blake Weathering, one of the new workers. If he wasn’t so distracting, she might be able to land Flukes a much-needed cruise-line contract.

Blake Weathering, the first in his family to attend public school, has developed a tough image. Unfortunately, it lands him in trouble. Now banned from his high school graduation ceremony, getting his diploma is dependent upon a community-service gig cleaning up fish crap. No diploma, no trust fund fortune—and no way to escape his overbearing father. The last thing he needs is the distraction of a mysterious girl with teal eyes who pulls at his heartstrings.

When Blake discovers Meena’s secret, they are both thrown into a desperate search for information about her past. Two worlds pull them in opposite directions, and they will have to fight to hold on to all that really matters.

How about a little taste?

“He’s friendly.” Blake’s voice was amused and he automatically scratched under Mitch’s chin. She squee’d loudly and spit water at his face.
“Mitch is a girl.” He held his hands up to ward off her wet assault and I couldn’t help but laugh. He didn’t seem irritated by Mitch’s antics, just amused and wet.
“My apologies, Mitch. I did think it was weird that you were so pretty if you were a boy.” Blake reached out a hand and scratched her chin again. He looked at me from the corner of his eyes. “Did you tell her to do that?”
“What? Oh, the splashing? No. She’s just sensitive.” Jallia came over and rolled onto her side. I traced my hands over her belly and cooed under my breath. The baby was healthy and happy. He was going to be a big boy. “Not long now, Jallia. You’re going to have your son out and playing in no time.”
Mitch nosed her mother for a minute, checking the baby as well. After a minute, Stormy started making noises about being hungry and I laughed. I set the fish bucket between Blake and Ime. “Here, feed them, but don’t let them knock the bucket over.” Mitch rose out of the water and flopped onto the decking between us. “Mitch! You got my clothes wet!” I yanked the bucket out of the way and pushed Mitch back into the water.
Stormy darted through the water and opened his mouth for Blake to deposit some fish. It didn’t take us long to empty the bucket and I enjoyed answering Blake’s questions. He was smarter than I had given him credit for.
“Are these markings from the other dolphins? They look like teeth scrapes.” Blake leaned close to Stormy and peered at the teeth rakings on his melon.
“Yeah. Some of them are from playing, roughhousing. Some of them are from being irritating. He is a nosy guy.” I ran my hand over Stormy’s head. “Most of them fade pretty quickly. They shed their skin every two hours.”
“Wow. Didn’t know that.” Blake looked down at the water and frowned. “So my legs are covered in dead dolphin skin. Nice.”
He was so engrossed at looking at his legs in disgust, I couldn’t help myself. It was the perfect chance to get payback for his insulting Flukes. I shoved his shoulder, pushing him into the water. “Now it’s all over you.”
Mitch laughed her dolphin laugh, but Jallia scolded me. When Blake came up sputtering, he glared at me. Mitch spit water at him, but he ignored her and swam to the platform. I thought he was going to sulk until he got closer. He looked up at the last minute and his mischievous smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. His brown eyes twinkled and I knew I was in trouble. I tried to get up and out of the way quickly, but he was faster than I thought. His strong hand closed around my ankle and dragged me into the water. Mitch darted down to me and I grabbed onto her dorsal fin. She surfaced quickly and scolded Blake with sharp whistles.
“She had it coming!” Blake held his hands out in front of him and laughed. He splashed water at me and I returned the favor. Mitch and Stormy joined in, but Jallia swam away, not in the mood for playing. His smile was infectious as he played with the dolphins, not minding when they dunked him or pushed him around. I found myself watching more than playing because I liked seeing him look so happy.
“You had it coming first. Calling Flukes a hellhole.” I laughed at his fake hurt look.
“I apologized! And it’s not like I didn’t notice that I was getting all the crap jobs last week.” He pretended to hold his heart. “I’ve paid my dues. What else can you want from me?”
“Fine. We’re even.” I rolled my eyes and shifted a little farther away from him. There was something compelling about him, something that made me want to be closer. He was dangerous.
“Looks like you lost something.” He tapped his head and I frowned.
“Ugh. My hat.” I looked around and saw it floating toward the sandy bottom. I took a deep breath that I didn’t need and dove after it. When I came back up, Blake was looking at me with wide eyes. “What? It’s my favorite.”
“How deep is this part of the cove?” He looked down and frowned. “What? Eighteen, twenty feet?”
“Something like that.” This part of the cove was twenty-eight feet. Mentally, I berated myself for being so stupid. I should have sent Mitch or Stormy after my hat, but I didn’t want teeth marks on it.
“Heh.” Blake looked at me, his eyebrows drawn together.
I hauled myself onto the platform and felt his eyes following me, making my heart jump in my chest. He pulled himself out of the enclosure and peeled his shirt off. The boy was gorgeous and he knew it. The exact kind of guy I should avoid at all costs. He twisted the shirt in his hands, wringing as much water out as he could.
“What next?” Blake slung the wet shirt over his shoulder.
The water droplets that ran down his chest drew my attention like a moth to flame. My fingers itched to touch him. I scrambled to my feet and backed away from him slowly while squeezing the edge of my shirt. Needing a distraction, I picked up the bucket and turned toward the ladder.
“The others should be here soon. I need to go help Dad with the assignments and then we can come up with a plan for the crews.” I didn’t look back at him after climbing the three short rungs, trying to shake the weird spell he seemed to have on me.

flukesteaser3
My Review:
Um. In case it’s not clear, ahem, this is a mermaid book. I would not consider it to be a spoiler, as we learn Meena is a mermaid within the first five pages. What is clear from the disclaimer is that this mermaid book is more than a little sexy. Not for young kiddos, sorry. (Not ACTUALLY sorry! It was a cool surprise for me… )

Meena lives in the Bahamas with her adopted parents, and works in their animal sanctuary, Flukes, in a prized cove. They don’t have a lot of spare cash and need to spruce up the place for tourism dollars so they contract work via the community service program on the island–essentially bringing low-risk offenders to the sanctuary to paint, scrape and fix the cosmetic blemishes. One of these ne’er-do-wells is an actual well-to-doer, Blake Weathering, whose father owns several hotels on the island. Blake was sentenced to community service after he assaulted a fellow student (with good reason, but still…)

Blake’s not excited about shoveling seal crap for six weeks, but he’s more than attracted to Meena–who holds a grudge over Blake’s nasty comments regarding Flukes. He has struggled with his father’s highly detailed plans for his life and eagerly awaits the release of his trust fund as soon as he receives his diploma. In the meantime, he enjoys rubbing Meena in all the wrong ways.

They have an adversarial thing going, at first, until Blake makes apologies for his tactless comments, and helps Meena’s parents with the design of a new logo and resort-style improvements to entice new visitors. Blake loves working with Meena and her parents who truly value his input and help him feel welcomed in a way his father never did.

Meena has a lot of special abilities besides her mermaidishness. She can communicate with many of the animals at the sanctuary. She is stronger than she appears, and heals quickly in her mermaid form, too. On the other hand, her feet are extremely tender and her skin is very sensitive to chemicals and synthetic fibers. Blake can’t pinpoint why he’s so intrigued by Meena, but part of it is her work ethic. She never tires of helping out. And she’s beautiful, and smart. She doesn’t fawn or feign anything, which he respects.

Other guys in the work crew? They don’t respect Meena nearly as much. One of them, Devin, is a known sex offender, and he’s got some dirty deeds planned. Expect big-time badness and more than one rescue. I didn’t expect his transformation, and it was an interesting development.

The romance does develop rather quickly, and this has a lot to do with Meena’s magic, as she learns from some traveling merfolk. Meena and Blake are both 18, and Blake is Meena’s first boyfriend. If you are expecting some chaste kissing here, well, you’re going to get a lot more bang for your buck. And I mean that literally. Some pretty delicious/graphic sexytimes. Made me curious how the merfolk get it on when they are water-bound…

The book ends on an HEA, and with more sexy. Yay!
Interested? You can find FLUKES on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iBooks.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win $50 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble–winner’s choice.
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Good luck, and keep reading my friends!

NicholeChase
About the Author:
Nichole Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Suddenly Royal, The Accidental Assassin, Flukes, The Dark Betrayal Trilogy, and several short stories.

Nichole lives in Georgia with her husband, energetic daughter, superhero dog, Sulcata tortoise, and two cats. When not writing, you may find her reading, painting, crafting, or chasing her daughter around the house while making monster noises.

You can catch up with Nichole online on her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
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Happy Book Birthday to SPEEDY REWARDS!

Speedy Rewards Banner

Hi there! I’m so excited to participate in the release day hoopla for SPEEDY REWARDS, a new contemporary M/M romance from Jeff Erno.

Speedy RewardsAbout the book:
Phil Mitchell pours his heart and soul into his job as manager of Speedy Mart, a local convenience store. He loves his work and he loves his fellow employees, but when it comes to his personal life, Phil is lonely and depressed and still pining for his long-departed ex.

He embarks upon the week from hell where anything that can go wrong does. It begins with a truck crashing into his outdoor sign and only goes downhill from there.

Add an asshole homophobic boss hell bent on seeing him fired and Phil realizes he needs to put into place a plan to save himself and his job.

First step in his plan… do something about his love life.

Meanwhile, Ezra, one of Phil’s team members, is dealing with his own roller coaster ride of a week.

As is Brandon, the local cop…

And Mark, the homophobic boss…

Perhaps, with a little… luck, the next week will be better.

Buy Links

Book trailer

How about a little taste?

Phil had started out in retail back in high school, working as a bag boy at the local supermarket. He took some community college classes but did not complete his degree. It didn’t matter, though. Back then, a college degree wasn’t required, especially not for retail management. He rose quickly in the company, advancing to a management position.

Finally, when the company he’d worked at for ten years went belly-up, he found himself in the unemployment line. At age twenty-five, his mom had just died and he found himself completely alone, unemployed. He decided to go back to school to complete his degree. He signed up for online classes and continued with them even after he landed the job managing the convenience store. He received his diploma right around the time he met Darren online.

Looking back on his life, he realized that period, though difficult, had been perhaps the most hopeful he could remember. Though still grieving the loss of his mother, he felt like life had begun anew. He had a new career, a man he genuinely loved, and even a college degree. That was also when he began learning Spanish.

But the honeymoon stage of his relationship with Darren didn’t last long, and when it became obvious Darren was far more interested in spending his free time with a bottle of booze than with Phil, they started to grow apart. Phil devoted most of his energy to the store, and when he wasn’t working, he spent a good deal of time online. The relationship withered on the vine, until one day, Darren was gone.

“You work hard,” Humberto said. “You’re always working, no?”

“Sí,” Phil said, laughing. “Yes, I’m always working.”

“Every day I see you. You no have days off? You work too hard, man.”

“Well, it seems to me you work pretty hard, too, Humberto. You’re in here every day, on your way to work. Come on down to this register. I’ll ring you up.” Phil stepped over to the check stand on the far end, the one Janine had just vacated.

“Gracias,” Humberto said, stepping up to the counter with an armload of junk food. He placed the bags of chips and the Hostess snack cakes on the counter.

“What do you do?” Humberto stared at him, smiling, and Phil wondered if maybe he didn’t understand the question. “¿Cual es tu trabajo?”

“Oh… oh. Soy un manitas.”

“¿Manitas?” Phil had heard the word, but couldn’t immediately remember the meaning.
“Oh, you’re a handyman. You fix things.”

“Sí, sí.”

“Wow, like, do you do plumbing work?”

“Oh yes, yes of course. Por supuesto.”

“Hm. Ya know, I need to find someone to come fix my sink. At home, I mean. At my house. Do you have a card?”

Humberto cocked his head to the side, as if thinking.

“¿Una tarjeta? A business card.”

“Oh, yes. Yes!” He reached into his shirt pocket and removed a business card, handing it to Phil. “Call me and I’ll come fix you up.” He winked, and as Phil looked into the man’s eyes, a lump formed in his throat. “I have all the right tools for the job.”

Phil quickly looked down at the touch screen on his register, trying to focus on the task of completing the transaction. “Uh, yeah. Um, do you want a bag for this?”

“Una bolsa,” Humberto said, laughing. “Sí.”

Phil placed the business card next to his register and tore off a plastic bag from the dispenser. Then he began filling it with Humberto’s items.

“I’ll let you see my big hammer,” Humberto said, lowering his voice.

WHEW! I can’t wait to read this one! Look for my review in the coming weeks…

In the meantime, you can pick up SPEEDY REWARDS today. Don’t miss the 1 Year Anniversary 40% Off Sale on Wayward Ink Publishing’s site! Also available on Amazon (US, UK, DE and AU), Barnes & Noble and AllRomance.

About the author:
JEFF ERNO began writing LGBT fiction in the late 1990s. Although an avid reader and amateur writer from a very young age, Jeff pursued a career as a retail store manager in Northern Michigan. When his first gay-themed novel was published, he was shocked that anyone would even want to read it. So far, he’s published over thirty novels. Jeff lives in Southern Michigan, where he works part time at a convenience store.

Jeff’s writing credits include a variety of themes and sub-genres including male romance, Young Adult, Science Fiction, erotica, and BDSM. He is the winner of a 2012 Rainbow Award and an Honorable Mention in 2011. His style is unpretentious and focused upon emotionally-driven, character-based stories that touch the heart. Jeff is especially passionate about young adult literature and combating teen bullying and youth suicide.

You can catch up with Jeff on his website, Facebook, Twitter, or by email.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Love Rekindled ONE NIGHT IN CHICAGO–Review and Giveaway

tourbutton_onenightinchicagoHi there! Today I get to share my review for Megan Morgan’s steamy novella ONE NIGHT IN CHICAGO. As you may recall, it’s my hometown, and I just adored how Morgan brought it to life! Plus, this super-sexy story had a couple on the outs who end up with an HEA…my fave! Make sure to scroll down and enter the giveaway for an Amazon gift card.

One Night in ChicagoAbout the book:
Breaking up is hard to do, especially after four years together.

Taylor Middleton, a singer striving for her big break, and her boyfriend Malcolm Darling, a mover and shaker in the music business, have decided to call it quits. Taylor wants to take her onstage persona—Gracie M—to LA, where she hopes bright lights and big dreams await.

But before they break up, the two decide to spend one last night in Chicago, the city where they once shared a passionate, romantic weekend, in hopes of preserving some good memories. In Chicago, Taylor realizes she’s not so sure about taking her talents elsewhere, as Malcolm reminds her why she fell in love—and lust—with him. Taylor may soon discover the right man, like music, can set her free and make all her dreams come true.

How about a little taste:

She bought a shot glass, some postcards, a pen, and a keychain with her name on one side and the Chicago skyline, lit with little lights, on the other.

She dangled the keychain in front of Malcolm’s face. “Come on, this is a work of art. Look at the lights.”

“They’ll burn out in two days.” He batted it. “You’re the worst impulse shopper I’ve ever met.”

“Some of us like to have fun.” She strolled to the windows. “Just because you’re a boring old man doesn’t mean we all have to be.”

“I’m far from boring. I would think after four years you wouldn’t use that word to describe me.”

“You can be overbearing, sometimes.” She pulled her phone out of her purse. “A wet blanket.”

“I’m reasonable. You can be a bit of a child, if we’re gonna go there. Sometimes you don’t think about the consequences before you act. You just jump in.”

“Don’t worry, after tomorrow I won’t be your problem to babysit.”

He sighed. “I don’t think of it as babysitting. I just thought…maybe after four years we learned something from each other. You know, you help me loosen up, I keep you grounded.”

She took a picture out the window with her phone. “I guess not.”

“You don’t think we’ve rubbed off on each other at all?”

She turned and snapped a picture from a different angle. “It doesn’t seem like it, does it? I mean, here we are, still arguing about the same crap.”

“Surely we’re taking something good from this.” Malcolm followed her as she moved along the railing. “It wasn’t all bad, was it?”

She turned to him. “No. But when it was bad, it was really bad. That’s why this is happening.”

“You’re supposed to say I made you a better person.” Forced humor tinged his voice. “That you’ll always be grateful for the things you learned from me.”

She dropped her phone back in her purse. “Is that all you’re concerned about, that I ‘learned’ something from you?”

“No. But I was hoping we changed each other for the better.”

“Are you changed for the better?”

“I am, actually.”

She gazed out the windows, across the vast expanse of water.

“I feel like I’m not the uptight jerk I once was. Like you taught me how to have a little fun.”

“Yet, you’re still a workaholic.”

“It’s my job! Tay, it’s okay to have fun, but you gotta put in some hard work to have good things. You know that better than anyone. You’re gonna have to work hard in California. Your dream will still take time.”

Anger tightened her chest. “I know that.”

“But it’s okay to dream. It’s okay to look forward to the day when everything you want comes to you.”

“If it does, right?” She snorted. “This could all be a losing game. Why, I might be back in New York and in your arms again before the end of the year.”

He turned toward the window, placing his hands on the railing. “I want you to have your dreams. I wouldn’t mind if you were still in my arms.”

My Review:
Taylor is a 20-something lounge singer from Brooklyn whose 40ish boyfriend Malcolm is a talent agent representing bands, not singers. They have been in a committed relationship for four years, but Taylor is planning a move to LA with two friends in order to launch her singing career there. She’s struggled to find her audience in NYC and is looking for a completely fresh start, even leaving Malcolm behind. This came as a surprise for Malcolm, who’d been more than happy with their relationship. As a big goodbye, he whisks her off to Chicago for a last-ditch effort to rekindle their love, the day before she’s due to move to LA.

The story is told from Taylor’s point of view, and she’s feeling nostalgic and melancholy throughout the first half. She and Malcolm had spent a sizzling weekend together in Chicago early in their courtship, and the memories are bittersweet knowing that tomorrow they will separate, for good. Only, it isn’t quite like that.

Not to spoil, but they do reconnect, in all the right and sexy ways. Their relationship difficulties are all small potatoes, and even a cross country move isn’t the death knell Taylor had once considered. It seems that Malcolm was more than willing to make the changes necessary to facilitate her career–and I really enjoyed his more steady and upbeat advice. Taylor admits to being a diva and drama queen–which I attribute to her youth, in deference to Malcolm’s experience.

This is good, sexy read that will keep readers interested and cheering for an HEA.

Interested? You can find ONE NIGHT IN CHICAGO on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card.
Make sure to follow the whole tour—the more posts you visit throughout, the more chances you’ll get to enter the giveaway.
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Good luck! 😉

MMorganAbout the Author:

Megan Morgan is an urban fantasy, romance, and erotica author from Cleveland, Ohio. Bartender by day and purveyor of things that go bump in the night, she’s trying to turn writing into her day job so she can be on the other side of the bar for a change. She’s a member of the RWA and author of the Siren Song urban fantasy series from Kensington Books, as well as numerous other shorter, sexy, smutty works.

You can catch up with Megan online on her website, twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, or via email: meganmorganauthor (at) gmail (dot) com.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Life Isn’t Much of a JOYRIDE–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing my review for Anna Banks’ new contemporary romance, JOYRIDE. This is a book that tells more than a Romeo and Juliet story–The main characters are different sides of the law, and the cultural divide, and yet, they find love and support in the least likely place, each other.

JoyrideAbout the Book:
A popular guy and a shy girl with a secret become unlikely accomplices for midnight pranking, and are soon in over their heads—with the law and with each other—in this sparkling standalone from NYT-bestselling author Anna Banks.

It’s been years since Carly Vega’s parents were deported. She lives with her brother, studies hard, and works at a convenience store to contribute to getting her parents back from Mexico.

Arden Moss used to be the star quarterback at school. He dated popular blondes and had fun with his older sister, Amber. But now Amber’s dead, and Arden blames his father, the town sheriff who wouldn’t acknowledge Amber’s mental illness. Arden refuses to fulfill whatever his conservative father expects.

All Carly wants is to stay under the radar and do what her family expects. All Arden wants is to NOT do what his family expects. When their paths cross, they each realize they’ve been living according to others. Carly and Arden’s journey toward their true hearts—and one another—is funny, romantic, and sometimes harsh.

My Review:
This is a solid contemporary read that takes on issues present and potent today: immigration, racism, corrupt police, entrapment, and undocumented persons, all in a hot bed of politically conservative ideology: Florida.

Carly’s parents were deported to Mexico three years ago. She and her brother, Julio, were born in the US, and stayed behind to work hard for the exorbitant fees charged by El Libratador, a known human smuggler, to bring their parents safely back across the border and Texas desert. She works the graveyard shift at a convenience store because it’s quiet enough for her to also study at the same time. She has a favorite customer who comes in nightly, minutes before closing–Cletus Shackleford. One night, as Carly is closing for the night, she sees Cletus being held up by a masked gunman and she jumps into action.

Arden Moss, sheriff’s son and general ne’er-do-well, hasn’t had a good night’s sleep in a year, not since his schizophrenic sister died. He balmes his father for hushing up her disease and denying her the healthcare that could have kept Amber happy and alive, for fear that it would have harmed his political career. Arden is a known prankster–but he only targets people that have more attitude than sense. He tries to scare his great-uncle Cletus off driving while intoxicated, but the feisty cashier is nearly more than he can handle.

It is that moment of kismet which brings this spheres into orbit–though Carly does reject ever overture that Arden makes to connect them. He’s not physically attracted at first–what Arden wants is a co-conspirator in his pranks. This was something he had done with his sister, and he feels the lack.

Over the course of a few weeks, Arden helps Carly find a new, better paying job, and their friendship is tentative, but growing in strength. Carly has missed out and many elements of childhood living with her brother and working for her parents’ transit fees. Just as things seem to be going well, Arden’s racist father learns of their connection. His entire election platform was on deportation of undocumented immigrants, and his eagerness to separate his son from the (supposed) immigrant filth that is Carly is palpable.

Arden is intransigent, but he’s also reckless, and when one of his pranks goes awry it is Carly who is under the sheriff’s boot. Quick thinking saves her from incarceration, but her parents’ transit is in jeopardy. And Carly’s big brother is major league ticked off. The only bargain that can be arranged  is a “voluntary” separation, enforced by the “good” sheriff–but will a man of his power use it for good? Or, for his own good…

This book was quite a good ride, even if virtually none of it was joyful. Through her relationship with Arden, Carly sees herself the most clear as ever–her life is in service to others, namely her parents. She has sacrificed so much to bring them back, and the final analysis proves she has little to show for all that work. Arden is desperate to have his pain acknowledged. His mother is too tripped out on sedatives, not even sensing her grief after her daughter’s death, to really care about Arden’s troubles. And his dad is too busy proving to their community that he’s a martyr for his office. He sweeps Arden’s messes aside, but won’t take responsibility for his own missteps. Plus, he’s a bona fide racist.

Both Arden and Carly have grief to overcome, but the danger in their relationship is accessibility; the Sheriff seems to be fixed on removing Carly from Arden’s equation–even if Arden has been better behaved under her diligent influence.

The resolution became cloak-and-dagger, and seemed a bit rushed, but the story was otherwise tight, with real issues discussed throughout. I totally loved elderly, ornery Uncle Cletus, his whiskey addiction notwithstanding. This is a solid contemporary teen read which is completely clean on the romance-side of it.

Interested? You can find JOYRIDE on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

Anna BanksAbout the Author: (In Anna’s words…)
New York Times Bestselling author of The Syrena Legacy series.

Grew up in a town called Niceville. No, seriously. I graduated from Niceville High School. So did J Lo’s second husband. And the guy that plays Aqua Man on Smallville dated my best friend.

Now I indulge my tendency to lie by writing the lies down and selling them to publishers. Well actually my agent sells it, so she’s an accomplice to lies. One of my lies is called OF POSEIDON. The sequel is called OF TRITON. The last and final installment is OF NEPTUNE, and it released May 13, 2014. Be on the lookout for JOYRIDE, my YA Contemporary out June 2, 2015–Bonnie & Clyde meets Latina Pretty in Pink!

And um. I also write adult fiction under pen name Anna Scarlett. One of the adult lies is DEGREES OF WRONG. That is all.

You can catch up with Anna online on her website, Goodreads, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Happy Book Birthday to HUNTER!

Hi there! Today I get to share my review for the newest release from indie author Rie Warren. You know I’ve loved her Carolina Bad Boys, (check out my reviews for STONE, LOVE and STEELE) and now she’s spun off a new motorcycle club romance. HUNTER is the guy the spooks call in to clean up their messes. And he’s found the right people to change his life for…

Hunter (Bad Boys of Retribution MC, #1)About the book:
Hunter:
My call-sign is GHOST. My roadname, too. I keep my head down, stay off the grid, fly under the radar. I’m the rough, gruff, good guy who does bad things for pay.

JB is my most recent mistake. The MC babe is innocence wrapped up in a rockin’ body. Don’t get me wrong, she has a wicked side, too. She’s kickass in bed, when we make it that far. But she’s the ultimate wholesome good girl, and I don’t want to dirty her up.

Hey, no one said life was all fun and games, right?

JB:
Good girl? I prefer to think of myself as a rebellious hellion. I live my life like I ride my bike: carefree, in your face, and full throttle. My soft side? Well, that’s reserved for my job.

I’m not looking for love, and I certainly don’t need any relationship complications. Too bad complicated is the only way Hunter comes.

He’s a quiet, deadly storm. He prowls. He hunts me. He wants me. He’s sexy, sinful . . . secretive. Hunter will turn my life inside out no thanks to his dangerous past about to come back and bite us both in the ass.

Who’s gonna save us now?

Warning: Graphic sex, graphic action, graphic language. Triple X caution.

My Review:
We’re all friends here; you can admit to licking the cover of this book. 😉

This is the first book in a spin-off series, but I’m happy to report that it’s fully-readable as a standalone. There’s not a lot of jabbering explaining past book events or persons, which is also awesome. I love when I can just hop into a whole new world with only minimal introduction.

Hunter “Ghost” Sexton is a part-time liaison to the Mt. Pleasant Police, now on furlough from his government mercenary job. His last big mission went sideways, resulting in a lot of dead specialists and one escaped drug lord. Hunter is always on guard against the creeps finding out about his little boy, an adorable 6 y/o named Jack, so he keeps he true last name under wraps, and keeps a low profile.

Still, even a ghost needs lovin’ and he’s really, really attracted to a fellow biker, JB, aka Miss Jessica Barnes, who knows Ghost’s little Jack in the teacherly sense. I loved the banter between these two. JB is no shrinking violet. She rocks a Ducati and corset like the baddest of biker babes, but she’s also tender and smart with a wicked humor.

Ghost learns Jack and JB are being targeted and is ready to sacrifice himself and what does JB do? She smacks some sense into Ghost’s brain. Good girl!

As you can imagine, there’s gonna be an Okay Corral-type showdown–only it happens with a horde of Retribution bikers at Hunter’s back. He’s not only found the woman he never dreamed of, he’s found a real home for the first time. And, this is an erotic romance. So..sexytimes galore. (Can I get an amen?)

(Thanks 31.media.tumblr.com That gif hits my spot. Or something… 😉 )

Interested? You can find HUNTER on Goodreads and Amazon. $.99 for a limited time!
Rie WarrenAbout the Author:
Badass, sassafras Rie Warren is the author of Sugar Daddy and the Don’t Tell series—a breakthrough trilogy that crosses traditional publishing boundaries beginning with In His Command.

She lives in gorgeous Charleston, South Carolina with her small family where she basks in the sunshine during the day, and adjourns to her woman cave at night. A nocturnal creature, she stays up way too late talking to herself, her characters, and anyone who will listen. She’s all about writing with heat, heart, and a hint of the dark, and she doesn’t shy away from the impossible.

Rie’s work has been called “edgy”, “daring”, and “some of the sexiest smut around”.

You can find Rie online Goodreads, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Finding Love While SEARCHING FOR BEAUTIFUL–Review & Giveaway

SFB_BLOGTOUR copyHi there! Today I’m so excited to share in the blog tour for Jennifer Probst’s newest release, LOOKING FOR BEAUTIFUL. Though this is a book in series, you can pick it up as a standalone. This is a classic friends-to-lovers story except the gal is engaged to another dude. And the guy is really only a one-nighter type. Well, at least until all of that changes. Don’t forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway!

Searching for Beautiful (Searching For, #3)About the book:
Genevieve MacKenzie has her life completely under control. About to wed the charming Chief doctor at the local hospital, she’s an up-and-coming surgeon with everything she could ever want. Until an escape through the church window on the day of her wedding sends her life into a tailspin…and flings her right into her best friend’s arms.

When Wolfe catches his best friend falling out a window on her wedding day, he doesn’t ask questions. He whisks her away, determined to watch over her and discover the truth behind her desperate escape. But when his feelings turn more than platonic, he realizes he may risk his most important relationship in order to protect his damaged heart, and the woman he loves.

Can Genevieve and Wolfe’s friendship turn into something deeper—or is it already too late for true love?

My Review:
Gen is a gal on the run, quite literally. It’s her wedding day and her instincts are screaming to get the heck away from David, the surgical chief of her residency program–and her fiance waiting at the head of the church. Though she had trained herself over the past two years to bow to David’s counsel and ignore her inner voice of reason, this time she listens.

Wolfe is a more than just a best friend to Gen–he’s her soul-brother. David had nearly extinguished their deep friendship, but Wolfe is the one who finds Gen all splayed out in her wedding gown after she jumped through the church window. He scoops her up, up and away and keeps her family at bay while Gen takes a few days to work through her emotions. Memories of life before and after David assail her, and she sees the machinations David set in motion–and it both frightens and sickens her, especially when Gen learns how deep his lies extend to her family and their workplace. He’s a classic abuser, in the early “isolate and detain” stage, and it’s soon after Gen’s return that the emotional battery morphs into the physical. Good thing Gen has let her friends–and Wolfe–in on her big secrets.

Wolfe is, himself, a man of dark secrets. He and Gen got along so well because she never pushed for his history. She accepted him at their first meeting, which was less than he could do, actually, and he respected her, but now they are sharing her house so that Gen isn’t alone in case David attacks. And it’s a small house. And Wolfe is a magnetic man. Gen is attracted, and part of her healing is to realize that she’s attractive. David spent months and months tearing her confidence to shreds, and Wolfe carefully stitches the pieces back together. Thing is, Wolfe doesn’t feel entirely worthy of Gen. He feels tainted by the horrors of his past. The people closest to him, including Gen, are determined to correct that misapprehension.

I liked this story for a few reasons: the abuse/abuser trope was realistic, the love story was appropriately-paced, and the characters felt real. Gen and David had a “perfect” relationship to all eyes, but within the cracks were deep. As all this is told through Gen’s memory she is able to see clearly all the cuts and slights of his control, his emotional battery, and his isolating tactics. It takes her time to unravel all his plans and schemes, and time is a big part of the book. It allows Gen and Wolfe time to reconnect, and to connect. Their relationship prior to Gen’s altar dash was always platonic, but her shattered self-esteem is more than Wolfe can accept. He steps in, ruthlessly at times, as a coach and player on the sexual battlefield. Let’s just say Gen got her groove back, but it’s always going to be friends-with-benefits with Wolfe. He’s not going to settle down, because what woman can accept a man with his past, right?

Well, probably Gen. Who has loved him as a friend, and now more, since they first met. When he can’t accept her love she’s gotta protect herself and quit him cold turkey. And that’s the second-to-last step on their journey to HEA. There’s a good bit of steaming sexytimes, told from both points-of-view, and I liked having Wolfe’s brain relish the love Gen slathers on him. Good stuff, that.

I had no trouble following this book without reading the first two in the series. I know this is a series, but I didn’t need the other players so much. Could have done without at least two-thirds of the ensemble cast. Good thing they didn’t take up much of the page count. It’s likely that the next book is Arilynn’s love story–with a hunky police officer who showed up at Gen’s house on a few calls over David.

Interested? You can find SEARCHING FOR BEAUTIFUL on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iTunes.

***GIVEAWAY***

Click on the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a necklace and signed backlist book from Jennifer Probst.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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

You can also catch up with Jennifer online on Facebook, twitter and Goodreads.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!
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