Lovestruck Blog Hop 6/15-22

Love-struck: (adjective) having a passionate or overwhelming feeling of love; smitten

So I guess I'm supposed to talk to you about a book, series, or hero/heroine that I have read which has left me smitten?

Hmmm this year I have actually been very lucky and have found many new authors and series that I have fallen for.

One book I loved was:

Ann Mayburn's 
A Breaker's Concubine

Prince Devnar of Jensia is goaded into raiding the wrong space ship, springing a trap that captures him for use as a Royal pleasure slave, a Concubine, on Kyrimia. He vows to do everything he can to escape and keep from forming a psychic bond with his captors that would render him absolutely and totally in love. This proves difficult to do when the female Breaker assigned to turn him into a Concubine, Melania, is the epitome of his perfect woman.

Melania has been raised and trained to help reluctant and abused Novices to break through their personal blocks and attain the ultimate prize of becoming a Concubine. When she is given Devnar to train, she finds herself in danger of doing the forbidden and falling in love with her Novice. This angry, scarred, and utterly seductive male tests her self-control like no other.

Devnar and Melania find themselves at the heart of a galaxy wide political battle that will test a love that they must not acknowledge, and cannot live without, to its very limits.

* I'm not huge on Sci-fi but this is a fabulous book! This was my first Ann Mayburn book and I have since read a few more. This women has a gift for creating great worlds and characters you crave.

I'm a huge series fan and one series that I looked forward to all year long was:

Shayla Black - Wicked Lovers series
Mine to Hold - Book 6

A friend’s duty.

Tyler Murphy was an LAPD detective, single and happy—until a near-fatal tragedy crippled his friend, fellow detective Eric Catalano. While he supported Eric, he also became a shoulder for Eric’s wife, Delaney, to cry on. But with one naughty suggestion from Eric, a drunken night with Delaney spilled into erotic abandon. Before it was over Tyler saw his best friend’s wife as a woman and yearned for more. When Eric struggled to deal with the aftermath, Delaney begged Tyler to leave. Crushed, he fled to Louisiana, hoping to escape his longing for the one woman he could never have again…and unaware of what he’d left behind.

A lover’s desire.

After two years of living with regret, Tyler finds Delaney on his doorstep, her husband having abandoned her long ago. She’s protecting a shocking secret and desperately needs refuge from a killer determined to see her dead. As they fight to stay alive and catch the stalker, they struggle to resolve the guilt of their past pleasures. But they can’t deny that what was once a spark is now a flame burning out of control. To possess Delaney — body and soul — Tyler must heal her pain and thwart the evil that’s a mere breath behind her…

*Where have you been if you haven't read the amazing Shayla Black? This is a must read author!! Shayla Black has made me fall in love with every and I mean EVERY character she has written. She keeps us intrigued with her story lines and panting from her sex scenes.

And one of my favorite all time characters comes from:

Eden Bradley's 
 The Dark Garden


A deliciously potent tale of one woman’s quest for self-discovery.

Rowan Cassidy likes to be in charge—especially in her personal life. As a mistress at Club Privé, the most exclusive bondage/S & M club on the West Coast, Rowan can live out her dominant fantasies safely, and with complete control—until the night Christian Thorne walks in. Self-confident and sophisticated, he’s a natural dominant if Rowan’s ever seen one. Yet she can’t stop thinking about him and imagining his touch.

Christian has returned home, hoping to break free from his dissatisfaction and malaise—and discovers the cure in Rowan. He’s dying to get his skilled hands on her and watch her surrender, to unlock the mystery of her that captivates him. Determined to be her master, he makes Rowan a daring proposition: give herself over to him for thirty days.

Rowan finds Christian’s offer terrifying—and impossible to resist. But abandoning herself to Christian’s power might be more than she can handle…. Or it might be the realization of her true nature and the dark garden within her. There will be only one way to find out. And once the game has begun, there’s no turning back.

* OMG, Christian Thorne has to be one of my all time favorite characters!! I fell in love with him about two years ago and I am constantly comparing him to other dominant characters. If you want a book that will make you toes curl and will command your attention this is it! Christian is a character I wish I could take outta my book and play with :)   

So what I will be giving away? 

I have a swag pack from each author (US ONLY for swag-sorry) and a $10 gift card (INT- giveaway - book site of your choice).

Do you have a character you wish you could 

pull from the pages and play with?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kelly Jamieson + Giveaway

Today I am featuring one of the sweetest ladies I know on the blog today. I met her last year at RT11 in Los Angeles. This women is hard to miss from her fiery red hair, to her infectious smile, and all the way to her CRAZY Ass Heels, she is a force - Kelly Jamieson.

Kelly Jamieson

Sweet Deal – available June 12, 2012

The relationship is pretend. The chemistry…isn’t.

After her last job ended with a broken heart and a humiliating exit from the company, Shelby Leighton’s project management career is back on track with a new job and a high-profile project. The problem: her new boss is a little too friendly, and the staff is talking. Can you say, “déjà vu?” The solution: casually mention a fictional new boyfriend.

New problem: she’s expected to bring her new man to the upcoming corporate picnic.

Jake Magill doesn’t do relationships. It’s casual or nothing, but the hot blonde he’s been eyeing at the coffee shop sure is something. Especially when she confesses her problem, and he finds himself offering to act as her date.

Sounds simple. Stroll around the party with Shelby’s sexy curves clinging to his arm? He’s all over it. Until he meets her boss—the man who once stole and married the one woman Jake thought he loved.

Now Jake’s the one with a reason to pretend. If only to save his own pride…and Shelby from the predatory gaze of the man who could ruin her, and any chance of finding out if their fake connection is the real thing. 

Product Warnings

Contains one desperate lady in need, and a pretend boyfriend who shows impressive dedication to nailing all—and then some—elements of his role. Oh my!

EXCERPT:

Sweet Deal

Copyright © 2012 by Kelly Jamieson

“Hi,” he said with a smile as he approached her, carrying his coffee. “Mind if I join you? There are no empty tables.”

She returned the smile, though the shadow he saw in her eyes had him pausing. “Sure,” she said. “I was just leaving anyway.”

“No, no, stay. I don’t want to disturb you. I’ll sit somewhere else.”

A lie. He wouldn’t mind disturbing her. He started to turn away.

“That’s okay,” she said. “Have a seat. Please.”

He slowly pulled out the chair and sat. “Okay, but don’t run away on my account.”

“I’ll finish my coffee.” She lifted the cardboard cup with its domed plastic lid.

“Your skinny cinnamon latte.” The faint cinnamon scent drifted across the table.

They shared a smile. “Yes.”

“My name’s Jake,” he offered.

“Shelby.”

“We’ve sort of already met, but it’s nice to know your name.”

“Yeah.”

He watched her assess him, felt the tug of attraction, the flare of interest.

“On your coffee break?” he asked, removing the lid of his cup and setting it on the small table. The rich, dark-roasted aroma rose to his nose.

“Sort of.” She made a face. “I just needed to get out the office for a few minutes. I kind of had a run-in with my boss.”

“Uh-oh.” He lifted a brow and sipped his coffee, hot and black. “Everything okay?”

She gave a heartfelt sigh and the emotion behind it pulled at something inside him. “Yeah, things are okay. I was just given a great new project to manage. If I do a good job, it’ll probably get me another promotion.”

He tipped his head and gave her a curious look. Okay, not a sexetary, apparently. “And the problem with that is…?”

Her wry smile held a hint of uncertainty, though intelligence gleamed in those blue eyes. “It’s a long story.”

“Go ahead.” He waved a hand. “I have time.” He tried to encourage her with his smile, curious about why she was so clearly upset over something she should be celebrating.

“I’m afraid my boss is…I don’t know how to explain it.” She looked down at her cup, both hands wrapped around it. “I think he’s…”

Her glum expression had him leaning closer, concern swelling inside him. “Is he harassing you?” His voice went rough and he frowned.

Her ocean-blue eyes flew back up to meet his. “No! No, not really. It’s just…he keeps giving me the best assignments, the best projects to manage, even when I think someone else might be more qualified. He calls me into his office and sometimes he just wants to talk. He takes me out for lunch. People are noticing and it’s making things…very uncomfortable.”

The shadows in her eyes and the way her voice went a little shaky told him how much this disturbed her.

“At first I was happy,” she confided. “I was glad he liked my work, and I was doing so well. Then I started to realize what was going on. Now he’s given me this big, high-profile project and he says we—he and I—have to go to New York together next month. I really don’t want to do that.” She bit her bottom lip.

“I see.” His frown remained in place.

“Oh heavens, why am I talking about this to a total stranger?” She gave a light laugh and shook her head.

“Hey, sometimes it helps to talk about it. And sometimes strangers are the best ones to talk to.”

“I suppose.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. But I kind of screwed up this morning. I told him I have a new boyfriend. I thought that might get him off my back. But he actually got…kind of annoyed, I think.”

“Hell.” His shoulders tensed. What kind of scumbucket did she work for?

“I know.” She shook her head, her eyes troubled. “This weekend is the big company picnic. It’s a schmooze-fest and I have to go. He’s going to expect to meet this nonexistent new boyfriend.”

“That was a good idea, though. Maybe the boyfriend could be sick that day. Or out of town on business.”

“Yeah. I guess that’s what I’m going to have to do, make up some excuse. If my boss was bringing his wife, it’d be better. With her there, he wouldn’t try anything. But he says she doesn’t like coming to company functions.”

“He’s married.”

“Yeah.”

What a rat bastard. Jake shook his head. “That’s shitty.”

“I get the impression things aren’t so great between him and his wife. But I don’t know if he’s ever really cheated on her. Maybe I shouldn’t complain. I’m probably reading too much into all this. It’s just…” She hitched one small shoulder and another soft sigh escaped her pretty mouth. “I know people are talking and jumping to conclusions, and I hate that. I’m good at my job and I want to be judged on my work.”

“Absolutely.” Guilt stabbed him at how he’d thought she was a sexy secretary. Little blonde-bimbo sex kitten. Maybe that was exaggerating, but she was definitely giving him a different impression than he’d had before they’d talked. “He shouldn’t be doing that to you. Even if he doesn’t mean anything. And I hope to Christ he doesn’t, because if he is looking for more than just a professional relationship, he should be punched. He should know people talk. Asshole.”

She wrinkled her nose and smiled. “Thanks.”

“Wish I could help somehow.”

“Oh, I’ll be fine.” She straightened her shoulders and smiled with a determined optimism.

Their eyes met with an almost physical force. Her smile faded and he knew his did too, and with sudden sureness he knew they both had the same idea.

The words came out even though he knew it was crazy. But she was so sweet and pretty and distressed, her good reputation being trashed by a jerk-off boss. “I can come and pretend to be your boyfriend.”

Now available at:

Samhain Publishing  

Amazon

Barne&Noble

Over the past year Kelly has been busy writing her lil' heart out. She has put out 9 books since 2011 and let me tell you not one of those books disappoints!! She is currently on a Book Tour for her latest release Sweet Deal, so stop on by the other stops for your chance to win one of the other fabulous prizes.

6/12 - The Book Tart
6/20 - Day Dreaming
6/18 - The Geeky Bloggers Book Blog
6/20 - Under The Covers Blog
6/25 - Scorching Book Reviews
6/28 - Romance Rakes For The Love of Romance
6/29 - Happily Ever After
7/2 - My Secret Romance Book Reviews
7/3 - Books-n-Kisses
7/5 - International Heat
7/9 - Smutketeers 

7/11 - Cassandra Carr

Kelly is offering up a copy of her new release to one lucky winner who answers the question below. Contest will be close on 6/22 at 12:01 am and winner will be announced on 6/22. All entries must have a valid email to be entered to win.

Have you ever had a friend pretend to be your boyfriend to discourage advances? 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Naomi Bellina ~ Creatures of the Night ~ Excerpt

I was initially drawn to this website by the beautiful picture, but the name also caught my attention. I love to day dream, and that form of mediation is highly underrated in our society. Yes, I do believe daydreaming counts as meditation! Sadly, many people don't feel the same way. We're chided as children for letting our mind wander, and as adults, we're admonished to pay attention when our thoughts tend to meander. This is a shame, because letting the mind drift is an excellent way to encourage ideas to flow and allow thoughts to come together. Structured thinking is fine for many tasks, but it's nice to take a break and see where our imagination will take us.

I'm fortunate that my job allows me a lot of free-thinking moments to ponder the many ideas floating in my mind. I just have to be careful not to yell Eureka! when a particularly juicy thought occurs. Another good place to daydream is in the shower, where negative ions flow and work their magic. At one time, I kept markers in mine, to write thoughts on the shower door as they popped into my head. The markers leaked, so now I'm on the hunt for bathtub crayons. In the meantime, I can often be seen running through the house naked and mumbling, trying to get that idea written down before it vanishes. I try to remember to keep the curtains closed, lest I shock the neighbors.

In my book Creatures of the Night, our hero, Kyle, dreams of a better life. Unfortunately, his decision lands him in a tricky spot. Maya, the heroine, consoles him with this thought: "You know, there’s nothing wrong with desiring more or wanting to make a change. Sometimes, you outgrow your life and you’re ready to move on." Good advice, Maya! Maybe we all need to follow our daydreams a bit more. Things do turn out nicely for Kyle, so his choice to follow his heart works out well in the end.

How about you? What is your favorite place to daydream?

Thank you, (Dream Girl) Dawn, for having me here today and letting me share my thoughts. Here is a tasty little excerpt from my latest book, Creatures of the Night:

 

 

 Creatures of the Night
Available at Torrid Books

Maya chewed her nails. Was this a bad idea, hopping in the sack with Kyle, so soon? At one time, she wouldn’t have even considered indulging in a round of afternoon delight with a man she had just met, but damn it, two years had passed since she’d had sex. Two years! After that little warm-up, in the park, she was practically salivating with need.

This opportunity had been dropped in her lap and, by golly, why not take advantage of a well-deserved gift? If a sexy stranger was interested in a passionate romp, she was going to go for it, propriety be damned. Her needs had been denied long enough, and where else could she find a willing sex partner? She certainly couldn’t fuck anyone in town. Why, the rumor mill would chew her up. How scandalous, if the librarian were to behave in a promiscuous manner! Fortunately, Kyle lived on the outskirts of town, and as it was, she planned to park behind his house. As for her other concerns, it was early, plenty of daylight left, nothing to worry about.

Tearing at a piece of skin with her teeth, Maya yelped with pain. Great, now she was bleeding. Fumbling in her glove box for a tissue, she almost ran off the road. That’s right, get pulled over and get a DUI, that would be the perfect ending to this day. Tears formed in her eyes. Taking several deep breaths, she allowed her mind to clear. She was going to enjoy the company of an attractive, pleasant man, she was going to have a fabulous roll in the hay, she was not going to feel guilty, and everything would be fine.

Maya repeated this mantra the rest of the way to Kyle’s house.

* * * *

Kyle said a quick prayer of thanks, grateful he had done so much housework. He really didn’t expect to be bringing a woman to his home and had only cleaned so thoroughly because he liked his surroundings to be tidy. He tried to recall when he had last changed the sheets, then he pictured Maya laying naked on them and had to forcefully shift his thoughts. He couldn’t remember the last time he had been this excited, for a woman!

During their interlude, in the park, Kyle had had a hard time controlling himself, an unusual feeling for him. He always enjoyed sex and got turned on, but with Maya, something was different. It wasn’t only the act of sex he looked forward to with her. He anticipated something else. He knew there would be something deeper, something strongly passionate, something he had always longed for with a woman, but had yet to experience.

Breaking the speed limit, several times, Kyle arrived at his house before Maya and quickly put away the few odds and ends lying around. He turned on the air conditioner, expecting a great deal of heat, soon to be unleashed. The sheets were clean, there were fresh towels in the bathroom, and he had a few bottles of cold beer in the fridge. When her heard Maya’s car pull up, all was ready. Though he longed to rush outside and carry her in, caveman style, he sensed she would want a few moments to settle in and feel at ease.

He greeted her at the door with a gentle kiss, then led her inside.

“I’ve never been inside this house before,” Maya told him, walking slowly into the foyer and peering around. She looked so cute and curious, Kyle restrained himself from throwing her over his shoulder and mounting the stairs, to the bedroom.

“You’re welcome to look around,” he told her. “The house is pretty run-down right now, but with a little work and a lot of money, it could be brought back to its original magnificence. I put a new mattress on the bed and fresh sheets…” Kyle realized he was babbling and shut up.

Maya pulled off her glasses and tucked them in her purse, then smiled. “Maybe later. I think I’d like to see the bathroom and then the bedroom, right now.”

Once again, enjoying the view of her nicely rounded ass, in the tight dress, Kyle followed her up the stairs and pointed the way to the bathroom. Now, for the part he always found awkward. Should he undress, all the way, or part of the way? While finding a totally naked woman, reclining in his bed, was sexy as hell for a guy, he wasn’t quite sure women found a nude man, posed on the sheets, quite as appealing. He decided to at least remove his shoes, socks and belt and un-tuck his shirt.

As he turned down the sheets, Maya entered the room.

“Kyle…” she began.

Shit, he thought, she changed her mind. She was still completely dressed and looked concerned.

“I just want you to know I really don’t usually, hardly ever, in fact never, do this kind of thing,” she said in a rush. “I’m not that kind of girl. Really.”

He walked over to her and took her in his arms.

“I know you’re not, and I want you to know I’m not really that kind of guy either. I don’t tumble into bed with a woman, on our first date. It’s just …aside from being incredibly hot for you, I feel there’s something special about you, something I need.”

He pulled away from her and took a step back.

“If you want to wait, we can. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable with me.” Oh please, oh please, don’t leave, please, please stay.

Naomi Bellina

Adventurous erotic romance to tickle your fancy and unleash your libido

http://www.naomibellina.com/

http://www.facebook.com/NaomiBellinaAuthor

https://twitter.com/#!/TheGoddessNaomi

BLOG HOP Shameless Summer Blog Hop 6/8-6/15

I'm so happy to be participating in the Shameless Summer Blog Hop from June 8-15 hosted by Michelle's Book Blog , Red Hot Books, & Romance Around the Corner !

Thanks for stopping by my blog, I'm still fairly new to this and I love it. I love to review authors I know and "new to me" authors as well. I'm avid reader of romance of any kind with Erotic, Paranormal, Contemporary, and YA being my preference. 

On my blog I do a Tuesday post a "Must Haves" of all the books I want and think you might as well. On Wednesday, one of my favorite days of the week, I post a "Wowza Wednesday" and this is a treat for the eyes. The rest of the week we post reviews, interviews, jokes, and contests. I hope see you back again soon.

To enter to win a $10 Amazon gift card,  answer the question below.Contest is open from 6/8 12 am EST to 11:59 pm EST on 6/15. Winner  will be chosen using random.org and announced on 6/16 and winner will have 72 claim their prize. All entries contain a valid email address. Contest open internationally.

 Tell me what intrigues you enough to follow a blog?

 

1.	Red Hot Books (Int.)	60.	Sorcha Mowbray
2.	Romance Around the Corner (Int)	61.	Dara Young
3.	Michelle's Book Blog (Int)	62.	Lucy Felthouse (INT)
4.	Cocktails and Books (int)	63.	Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy
5.	Herding Cats & Burning Soup (INT)	64.	Dani Harper, Paranormal Author (INT)
6.	HEA-Reads (US/CAN)	65.	Dianne Duvall, PNR Author (INT)
7.	Pants Off Reviews (INT)	66.	Carly Fall - Where Fantasy Meets Romance (INT)
8.	Natasha Blackthorne (Int)	67.	Elise Marion
9.	Book Flame (INT)	68.	Bookwhore (INT)
10.	Miss Vains Paranormal Fantasy (Int)	69.	Dark Haven Book Reviews (Int)
11.	maldivianbookreviewer (INT)	70.	H.B. Pattskyn (INT)
12.	The Bookaholic Cat (INT)	71.	Sandra Bunino (INT)
13.	The Jeep Diva (US & INT)	72.	Sara Daniel Romance Author (INT)
14.	Attacking The Page (US/Can)	73.	Addictive Passions
15.	Gabrielle Bisset (INT)	74.	Jessica E. Subject (INT)
16.	Delighted Reader (INT)	75.	Nix @ Scorching Book Reviews
17.	Grace@LivreDeAmour-BooksofLove	76.	Full Moon Bites
18.	Ink Spots and Roses (INT)	77.	Michelle Clay
19.	Cecile Smutty Hussy (Int.)	78.	Kimberly @ Turning The Pages (INT)
20.	Mary @SweepingMe (INT)	79.	Rhys Astason (INT)
21.	That's What I'm Talking About (US/CAN)	80.	Holley Trent (INT)
22.	Another Look Book Reviews (CAN/US)	81.	Leila Brown
23.	Jess resides here ( US )	82.	Little Read Riding Hood (INT)
24.	Wendi Zwaduk	83.	K.E. Saxon
25.	Megan Slayer	84.	Pagan Spirits (INT)
26.	The Book Nympho (Int)	85.	Minding Spot (US)
27.	Obscured Vixen	86.	Kat Halstead
28.	Lucy V. Morgan (INT)	87.	Sarah Mäkelä (Int)
29.	Goldilox and the Three Weres (INT)	88.	Diane Thorne - Erotic Romance
30.	Joyfully Jay	89.	Cassandra Dean (INT)
31.	Addicted2Heroines (Int)	90.	Narcisse Navarre - Khajj.com (INT)
32.	Tiffany Snow (US)	91.	Naomi Bellina (INT)
33.	Anna's Book Blog (US)	92.	Nadja Notariani (US/Can)
34.	Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks (Intl)	93.	Lola Dodge (INT)
35.	Steph / Fangs, Wands, & Fairy Dust	94.	Crystals Random Thoughts (US)
36.	A Bookworm's Treasure Trove (Int)	95.	Talk Supe (INT)
37.	Frankie Blooding	96.	Day Dreaming (INT)
38.	My Book Chatter (INT)	97.	The Book Tart (INT)
39.	AwesomeSauce Book Club (INT)	98.	CarI Bella
40.	Pearls Cast Before a McPig (INT)	99.	Malia Mallory (INT)
41.	Mary Abshire-Paranormal Rom/UF (Int)	100.	SalaciousReads (INT)
42.	Riverina Romantics (INT)	101.	Diva Jefferson (US/INT)
43.	Tyra's Book Addiction (INT)	102.	Blackraven's Erotic Cafe (INT)
44.	Nite Lite (INT)	103.	Fictional Candy (INT)
45.	FOR THE LOVE OF READING! (INT)	104.	Proserpine Craving Books (INT)
46.	Nocturne Romance Reads (US/CAN)	105.	Mimmi
47.	Felicity Heaton, PNR author (INT)	106.	Dominique Eastwick (INT)
48.	Damaris @ Good Choice Reading	107.	The Wiccan Haus
49.	Jessica Scott	108.	Erato GLBT (INT)
50.	Urban Girl Reader (INT)	109.	Kayla @ Reading On The Wild Side (INT)
51.	Candace Blevins	110.	Brenda Woody and Steve Tindle
52.	Hannah Fielding	111.	Tonya Kinzer
53.	Jennifer DeLucy - Paranormal Author	112.	KH LeMoyne (US/CAN)
54.	Hot Listens (US/INT)	113.	Reading Romances (INT)
55.	My Secret Romance	114.	Eden Connor (INT)
56.	Samantha @ SRBS (INT)	115.	Heather for Rebecca Sinclair (INT)
57.	Mad @ RR@H Novel Thoughts (Int)	116.	Annie Walls (INT)
58.	Lee @shewolfreads (INT)	117.	K. Williams M/M (INT)
59.	Book Monster Reviews (INT)	118.	Love To Read For Fun (US)

Dee Carney ~ Brush Strokes ~ Review

 


Author : Dee Carney 
Publisher: Black Dawn Publisher
Release Date: May 25, 2012


BUY IT HERE: Amazon, B&N 





Tanya spends hours at a time painting renditions of the masculine—and very nude—glory that is Joe, her gorgeous blue-eyed model. The things an artist has to suffer for her craft. When he offers to help her learn how to improve her work, simple lessons in touching and learning his body, she’s willing to suffer that much more…for the sake of her craft, of course.

When tragedy strikes, her career is left dangling by a thin thread. The secret she’s harbored—that she’s been unable to finish her artwork—is exposed. Now she has little more than twenty-four hours to not only create the best piece of her life, but also finish it in time to be shown or lose everything she’s tried to build.

What began as erotic lessons in art becomes a study in love and perseverance that Joe will never let her forget


Review ~

Dee Carney is definitely a go-to author when you want to read something you know you’re going to enjoy.   When given the opportunity to review her upcoming release, Brush Strokes, the answer was an emphatic YES!  This is a perfect story for a few hours of floating in the pool, sitting on the beach or just kicking up your feet in your favorite reading nook.  This 78-page, fast-paced story had just what I was looking for… Drama, romance, humor, and sheets-are-smoking sex. 

I enjoyed the tale of Tanya, an artist that still has room to improve upon her skills, and her male model Joe, who is more than willing to be the tutor in this lesson.   Joe is just what Tanya needs when a deadline is looming and tragedy strikes.  He’s easy to fall in love with not only for Tanya, but the reader as well. His sincerity, compassion and ability to teach made me want to take up art and explore the ultimate sense besides the basic five we refer to in everyday life; that’s right, he goes beyond just seeing, hearing, touching, smelling and tasting… In fact, I will now officially refer to the “sixth” sense (ESP) as sexing!  Yep, I said sexing. 

 

Reviewed by ~ Lola

Wowza Wednesday - embrace

My "Must Have" Release Week Reads

Shayla Black
Mine to Hold
Release 6/5

A friend’s duty.

Tyler Murphy was an LAPD detective, single and happy—until a near-fatal tragedy crippled his friend, fellow detective Eric Catalano. While he supported Eric, he also became a shoulder for Eric’s wife, Delaney, to cry on. But with one naughty suggestion from Eric, a drunken night with Delaney spilled into erotic abandon. Before it was over Tyler saw his best friend’s wife as a woman and yearned for more. When Eric struggled to deal with the aftermath, Delaney begged Tyler to leave. Crushed, he fled to Louisiana, hoping to escape his longing for the one woman he could never have again…and unaware of what he’d left behind.

A lover’s desire.

After two years of living with regret, Tyler finds Delaney on his doorstep, her husband having abandoned her long ago. She’s protecting a shocking secret and desperately needs refuge from a killer determined to see her dead. As they fight to stay alive and catch the stalker, they struggle to resolve the guilt of their past pleasures. But they can’t deny that what was once a spark is now a flame burning out of control. To possess Delaney — body and soul — Tyler must heal her pain and thwart the evil that’s a mere breath behind her…

Thea Harrison
Devil's Gate
Release 6/5
When it comes to love between a medusa and a Vampyre, it’s every man, woman, and snake for themselves.

A Novella of the Elder Races

As a coroner, medusa Seremela Telemar has always felt more comfortable chatting over a dead body than over drinks. But when her wild niece, Vetta, runs off to Devil’s Gate, a lawless town that has sprung up overnight in a modern-day gold rush, she knows she has to extricate her before the rebellious girl gets into real trouble. Though she’s confident in her head snakes’ ability to defend her against attackers, Seremela is still a bit nervous about braving this modern-day Wild West by herself.

Vampyre Duncan Turner is not about to let his new co-worker go into that chaos alone. His Vampyric power and lawyer smarts make him the perfect ally, and the fact that he already had his eye on Seremela for more…personal reasons, doesn’t hurt matters. Any romantic thoughts pull up short, however, when they arrive at Devil’s Gate and learn Vetta is set to hang by morning.

In order to save Vetta and themselves, Seremela and Duncan are going to have to fight fire with force and magic with fangs. And pray they make it out of Devil’s Gate alive.

Product Warnings

Contains mother effin’ snakes in planes, cars, tents, and beds. Luckily, our hot Vampyre hero doesn’t mind them one bit…

 

Lauren Dane

Chaos Burning

Release 6/5

The life of Lark Jaansen, hunter in Clan Gennessee, has been shaped by violence and unrest—and it defines her future. Well-trained and resilient, she’s met her militaristic match in Simon Leviathan, a warrior not of this world. Locked in mutual admiration, and a desire so hot it burns, Lark and Simon have something else in common: they love the dark, and as a shadow is cast over their world, they’re each coming into their own.

A mysterious war has been waged among the Others. As witches and humans turn against each other, as faes retreat in fear, and as vampires rise, Lark and Simon discover that an unseen force is behind it. A single, hungry entity older than recorded history has returned to gorge on the magick of his victims. It is the Magister, nothing less than the end of time. Finding it is Lark and Simon’s first hope. Surviving it is their last.

 

Cari Silverwood

Rough Surrender 

Release 6/4

One master, one woman who craves surrender, and a sky that will challenge them both.

At a time when airplanes are as new-fangled and sensational as the telephone, Faith dares to fly.

The one territory she has not explored is her own sexuality. In Leonhardt she discovers the man who can teach her how a woman surrenders her body and her mind. However, Leonhardt has a shadowed past and his own learning to do. He doesn't have the right to keep Faith from flying, even if he thinks airplanes are flimsy death-traps made of canvas, timber and their inventor's prayers.

Faith has her limits, Leonhardt has his flaws, and sometimes the nicest people get murdered by unscrupulous bastards. Even if Leonhardt can save the woman he loves, the battle for Faith’s heart will be the hardest one of all.

WARNING: BDSM, anal sex, orgasms galore, and a Dom who likes to claim his property with pen, ink and bondage