Playing Dirty (Bad Boys Undercover #1) by HelenKay Dimon

Blurb…

As an elite Alliance agent—the joint undercover operation of MI6, the British Secret Intelligence Service, and the CIA—Ford Decker lives for the adrenaline. But when he befriends sexy property manager Shay Alexander in hopes of finding her cousin, a known national security threat, Ford crosses the line, getting to know her better . . . in bed.

After being burned by her last relationship, Shay wants to take things slow. Yet she can't keep her hands off the drop-dead gorgeous hottie who's moved into her apartment building. So when Ford's identity as an undercover agent is exposed, his betrayal cuts deep. Shay never wants to see him again, but Ford can't let her go, not when her life is still in danger. He will sacrifice everything to protect her, then be prepared to walk away from the only woman he's ever loved, even if it breaks him.

Terrorists and traitors and spies, oh my!

Playing Dirty is the first book in HelenKay Dimon’s Bad Boys Undercover series and it’s a sexy, fast paced tale. There’s a whodunit type mystery involved with lots of twists and turns.

Ford and Shay are great characters, both with pasts they can’t seem to leave there – in the past. They’re attracted to each other and their sexual chemistry is off the charts, but they just can’t seem to … trust or open their hearts to one another. I suppose that makes sense on Ford’s part given that Shay is an unwitting player in his mission to find a potentially deadly ‘terrorist’, not someone he should be falling in love with.

I truly enjoyed Playing Dirty. The world Ms. Dimon has created is more than a little exciting and definitely intriguing. Then, add-in the amazing cast and this is a series not to be missed!

An ARC was provided by Avon Books. In appreciation I'm giving them an honest review.

Click here to purchase Playing Dirty from Amazon

Barefoot with a Bad Boy (Barefoot Bay Undercover #3) by Roxanne St. Claire

A man who trusts no one is forced to believe the unbelievable...

For years, former spy Gabriel Rossi has been secretly searching for CIA linguist Isadora Winter, a woman he loved and lost long ago. But recently, he learned of her untimely death in an accident...and death of her son named Gabe. Angry, hurt, and uncertain of his next move, Gabe is stunned when a woman he's never met approaches him on the beach and claims to be Isadora. She doesn't look, act, or talk like his beloved Isa, but she knows things about their past that only a lover could know, and she assures him that his son is alive as well. As much as he wants to believe her and knows that in the spy world, anything is possible, doubts and distrust plague him. Still, he sees glimmers of the woman he once knew shine through and she begins to melt his hardened heart.

A woman who is tortured by emotions must endure the pain of love...

Lila Wickham has been working deep undercover for so long that sometimes she's forgotten who she really is. Now that her assignment is over and the surgeries she endured left her utterly changed, she is determined to fix the broken life she left behind and assure that her little boy is safe. With lingering threats from an unknown source and blinding headaches that torment her whenever she feels deep emotion, she seeks Gabe Rossi for help and protection. But instead of setting her up with a new undercover identity, he insists on luring her nemesis to Barefoot Bay so he can end the threat to Lila and her son once and for all.

Can they survive the worst betrayal of all?

Even if they succeed in drawing out the killer who has Lila in his sights, a much more serious threat hovers over them...a treacherous, deadly truth that could not only destroy their love but end their lives as well.

Barefoot with a Bad Boy is the 3rd book in Roxanne St. Claire’s Barefoot Bay Undercover series. It’s a story filled with passion, adventure, romance and lots of humor. There are twists and turns - some expected and some totally not expected, and a great supporting cast made of up quirky, totally endearing people!

Gabe Rossi is one of my favorite romantic suspense hero types in that he’s cocky, sexy, honorable, and willing to do whatever needs to be done to bring down the baddies and save the woman he loves. But Lila is strong, independent, and capable of bringing down the baddies and doing some saving of her own!

As with her Bullet Catchers and Guardian Angelinos series, Barefoot Bay Undercover is an exciting world to live in! With terrorists, spies, and all sorts of bad-guys lurking about, this is a series not to be missed and I’m looking forward to reading more!!!

An ARC was provided by the author. In appreciation I'm giving her an honest review.

Barefoot Bound (Barefoot Bay Undercover prequel) by Roxanne St. Claire

Blurb...

This 100 page story will tell you exactly how Gabe Rossi (yes, that Gabe Rossi, the legendary bad boy of The Guardian Angelino series) is picking up his life and moving to Florida to launch a covert operation in Barefoot Bay. This isn't his "love story" (that's coming soon, I promise!) but the novella is told completely from his point of view and will treat long-time fans to a few days with old friends (the Angelino and Rossi family! Uncle Nino!) and introduce a new world.

To be honest, this has to be one of the best prequels I've ever read.

I had read the first book or two of the Guardian Angelinos series, and that was about 5 years ago. But reading Barefoot Bound was like… like a visit with close friends and family, but more. This story sets up the spin-off series, Barefoot Bay Undercover and does so brilliantly! There’s certainly a promising story-base here, and I’m so excited to read more about Gabe, his ‘secret’, and to spend time with he and "Uncle" Nino as they set up Gabe’s new business!

At the time of this posting, Barefoot Bound is free for Kindle Readers.

SEBRING (Unfinished Hero #5) by Kristen Ashley

Blurb...

Nick Sebring has issues. Born feeling like an outsider in his own family, growing up under the shadow of a brother who could do anything, Nick isn’t that great of a guy. But when this culminates with Nick lashing out to hurt his brother through the woman he loves, Nick turns inward and makes some decisions about the man he intends to be.

And as he does this, he falls in love and truly learns the man that he’s grown to be.

When his love is murdered right before Nick’s eyes, Nick knows he has to avenge her. He knows how he’s going to avenge her. And he has no qualms using Olivia Shade to exact that vengeance.

Olivia Shade has grown up on the outside of her family too. Her problem is that they don’t want her outside. They want her all the way in, right under their thumbs. She pays the price for seeking escape and learns her lesson—she’ll never see a dawn where she wakes up free.

Then she meets Nick Sebring, and even as she fights it, the hope that died years ago starts to blossom. She can find love. She can have a man of her own. She can be happy. She can be free.

Olivia hopes while Nick schemes.

However, as Nick peels back the layers of all that is Olivia Shade, he finds something surprising. He understands its fragility. He falls in love with its beauty. He seeks to protect it.

But he forgets to protect his Livvie from one thing: Nick Sebring.

Nick Sebring is the Unfinished Hero I was most excited to read about, and also the most apprehensive to read about. Truth be told, he’s a man I wasn’t sure was worthy of redemption, let alone a happily ever after. Let’s face it - some of the stuff he pulled on his brother, Knight, and Knight’s woman, Anya… the fact Nick was still breathing by the end of Knight’s story was more than surprising. That said, this is a Kristen Ashley story so I put my full trust and faith in her and she pulled it off. As always!

SEBRING, the finale to the Unfinished Hero series is all kinds of feels. Despair, hope, anger, joy, passion… this one took me through an obstacle course of emotions. And I say ‘obstacle course’ because there were some feelings I wanted to avoid, some I wasn’t looking forward to tackling because I didn’t want to love Nick and Olivia as much as I ended up loving them. But even so, I wish there had been more to Nick’s story. For all that he did, all he endured, all he overcame… I wanted more of that amazing man.

Olivia’s side of things was interesting. The daughter of a drug dealer who helped “launder” the ill-gotten gains? How in the world I’d ever become invested in her, I did not know…but again, trust and faith in Kristen Ashley paid off there, too.

Just a note: the Unfinished Hero series is erotica, and Nick and Olivia’s relationship, from early on, is a sexual one. No, seriously… bunnies got nothing on them. Nick and Olivia were going at it hot and heavy from the start, and the romance didn’t come until later on. So invested was I in Nick, that I wish less time had been given to sex and more time spent getting to know him even better.

The bottom line… SEBRING brings the series to an end, and even though I’ll miss those Unfinished Heroes, I know we’ll be seeing more of them as Benito Valenzuela continues his reign of terror and meets the full wrath of CHAOS which will, no doubt, include the droll-worthy alpha men from Rock Chicks, Dream Man, and Unfinished Heroes.

An ARC was provided by the author for participation in the SEBRING Blog Tour and Giveaway.

The giveaway is over, but for an excerpt of the story, click here: SEBRING Blog Tour Book Excerpt

Click here to purchase Sebring from Amazon

Viper Game (GhostWalkers #11) by Christine Feehan

GhostWalker Wyatt Fontenot knows the price he paid for the secret military experiments that gave him his special catlike abilities. After all, he left his bayou home a healer and came back a killer. While Wyatt and his GhostWalker brother Gator may have known exactly the sort of game they were getting into, Wyatt never anticipated where it would lead—or to whom.

The swamps hold many mysteries, but few are as sinuously seductive as Le Poivre de Cayenne. The woman the locals call Pepper is every bit as enigmatic as the three little girls she’s desperately trying to protect. From what, Wyatt is soon to discover. Right now Pepper needs a man like Wyatt. Passionately. But her secrets are about to take them both deeper into the bayou than either imagined—where desire is the deadliest poison of all.

Christine Feehan's GhostWalkers is one of my favorite romantic suspense/paranormal series so I was really excited when I saw this book, only to become concerned when I saw the mixed reviews. And, in truth, I can see where everyone is coming from, even those I don't see eye-to-eye with.

It's true the stories are changing from the way they were in the beginning, but they're changing in ways I would expect them to, given Dr. Peter Whitney's diabolical plan and desperation to create the perfect soldiers. The experiments are more and more extreme, and more and more heartbreaking. The truth is, I found Viper Game to be more exciting, more captivating, and more intriguing than the last several books in the series. Yes, Wyatt was often a jerk, but considering Pepper's "enhancements" and her inability to control them, it's a wonder to me that Wyatt allowed any of the men on his team to live beyond the first few chapters!!

Bottom line - run, don't walk, to whatever store you purchase your books at and pick up this book. You won't regret it!!

Purchase at Amazon: Viper Game (Ghostwalker)

Wild Heat (Northern Fire #1) by Lucy Monroe

Sometimes old flames are the hottest of all . . .

In the quaint little town of Cailkirn, Alaska, it's impossible to keep a secret, especially one as juicy as the unexpected return of Kitty Grant. Tack MacKinnon remembers her wild red curls and even wilder spirit-and still feels the sting from when she shattered his heart in college. But there's a pain in Kitty's gorgeous eyes that guts him to the core and Tack is determined to do whatever it takes to see the woman he still loves smile again-even if it means taking on her demons as his own.

After fleeing an abusive ex-husband, Kitty decides that the best way to heal her broken heart is to come back home. But she gets a whole new shock when she sees how undeniably sexy Tack has become. More handsome, more muscular, more charming-more everything-he's impossible to resist. Before she knows it, they're reigniting sparks that could set the whole state of Alaska on fire. Yet trust doesn't come easy to Kitty anymore, and as things heat up between her and Tack, she can't help but wonder if one of them is going to get burned . . .

Wild Heat is the first book in Lucy Monroe's very sexy Northern Fire series, set in the small Alaskan peninsula town of Cailkirn, where most of the 2,000-ish residents are Scottish, Inuit, or both.

This story has the many of the elements that often go hand in hand with friends-to-lovers and second-chance romances; misunderstandings, hurt feelings, people growing apart, the struggle to forgive...but that's just a small part of the story. The author also tackled the sensitive subject of eating disorders and did so openly, honestly, and with a level of compassion that was truly moving.

That said, (incoming minor spoilers) I struggled with the idea that Caitlin's family and friends were in a righteous dither over the way her ex manipulated her out of their lives, but then Tack turns around and uses sex to manipulate her into eating. In my opinion, his motivations were only slightly less self serving than her ex's, even if it was done for her benefit. I get it, I do. He cares for her and wants to help her get better, but addressing the underlying cause of a person's eating disorder can be difficult, and Tack's approach did nothing to endear him to me. (spoiling over)

Wild Heat starts out intriguing as, bit by bit, Caitlin Grant's and Taqukaq "Tack" MacKinnon's stories unfold. By about the half-way mark, I have to admit, it felt sluggish and I found myself skimming a bit. But then it picked back up again and left me with a smile on my face and looking forward to the next book, Hot Night, Rock Jepsom's story.  

Purchase at Amazon

Dead by Midnight: An I-Team Christmas (I-Team 7.5) by Pamela Clare

Dead by Midnight is, hands down, the best holiday read of the season!

Blurb…

Marc and Sophie Hunter, Gabe and Kat Rossiter, Holly Andris and the rest of the I-Team gang find themselves in the same historic Denver hotel celebrating the approach of Christmas at different holiday parties. What starts out as a fun winter evening with friends soon becomes a brutal fight to survive when the hotel is taken over by a group of ruthless narco-terrorists who will stop at nothing to get what they want.

On the outside, Julian Darcangelo, Zach McBride, Nick Andris and others join together with the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team to free their friends, knowing that if they fail, the people they love will be…

Dead by Midnight.

Pamela Clare writes Romantic Suspense the way I wish all authors could and would, which is why she continues to be my favorite in the genre, hands down. But on that note, another Romantic Suspense author I adore is Kaylea Cross, and when I learned that her FBI Hostage Rescue Team badass hotties would be teaming up with the I-Team's equally badass hotties, I found myself deep in the throes of a bookgasm!

The title, Dead by Midnight, might not sound like your typical holiday story, but that's fitting because it isn't your typical holiday story. It's gritty, terrifying, poignant, romantic, and sexy. Honest to God, start to finish this is edge of your seat, nail biting action and 'where the hell is BOB when I need him?’ passion! There isn't a second of ‘filler’, not one word we could do without, not a single scene that isn't needed. It doesn't get better than this because Dead by Midnight, my friends, is storytelling perfection!

Purchase at Amazon: Dead By Midnight: An I-Team Christmas (I-Team After Hours)

*****

If you're already a Pamela Clare fan, or interested in learning more about her and her books, be sure to stop by our Pamela Clare Fan Group on Goodreads!


The I-Team reading order, so far:

1. Extreme Exposure
1.5 Heaven Can't Wait - a novella found in the out of print anthology Catch of the Day and on ebook
2. Hard Evidence
3. Unlawful Contact
4. Naked Edge
5. Breaking Point
5.5. Skin Deep
5.9. First Strike
6. Striking Distance
6.5. Soul Deep
7. Seduction Game
7.5 Dead by Midnight

Seduction Game (I-Team #7) by Pamela Clare

Blurb...


CIA officer Nick Andris wants revenge. His last mission failed after a Georgian arms smuggler killed his lover. He’s been tailing a woman for three weeks hoping she will lead him to his target. But there’s a problem with the intel. Holly Elise Bradshaw is nothing more than an entertainment writer with a love for sex and designer clothes. Clearly someone at Langley made a mistake . . .

When Holly finds herself in trouble, the only weapons at her disposal are her brains and her body. But they won’t be enough to handle the man who’s following her. He’s going to turn her world upside-down.

My thoughts...

My favorite stories are those with heroes and heroines whose bravery and intelligence and capacity to love know no bounds, and such is the case with Holly and Nick in Pamela Clare’s 7th installment of the I-Team series, Seduction Game. I know there will be some who might be surprised that Holly Bradshaw fits this description, but trust me on this – forget everything you thought you knew about her and prepare to be blown away!

I’ll be honest with you, when I heard that Holly was getting her own story my first thought was “why?”, because in the earlier books she was always a background – I mean, sure, she was there as a great friend, but to me she always felt like...filler. But within minutes of that wayward thought I’d come to my senses and knew she’d be great for the simple reason that Pamela Clare doesn’t write empty characters. Even her supporting casts are made up of people we either love or hate, so well developed are they. So I knew, I knew that Holly would turn out to be a woman with incredible depth and I was not wrong.

The bottom line…

This is a fast paced, exciting, burn up the pages story, and offers further proof (though no further proof is needed) of Pamela Clare’s amazing writing talent. Despite the hell she’s lived through these past couple of years, she gave us Holly, who along with Nick and the rest of the I-Team, made Seduction Game one of my favorite romantic suspense reads of 2015!

Click here to purchase Seduction Game from Amazon

The I-Team reading order, so far:

1. Extreme Exposure
1.5 Heaven Can't Wait - a novella found in the out of print anthology Catch of the Day and on ebook
2. Hard Evidence
3. Unlawful Contact
4. Naked Edge
5. Breaking Point
5.5. Skin Deep
5.9. First Strike
6. Striking Distance
6.5. Soul Deep
7. Seduction Game
7.5 Dead by Midnight

Shattered (LOST #3) by Cynthia Eden

Blurb

In New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden's latest novel featuring the Last Option Search Team (LOST), one agent is forced to face her past as she uncovers secrets about the man who may be the key to her future.

Criminal psychologist Dr. Sarah Jacobs is all too familiar with the kind of bad boys who belong behind bars. But the dark, dangerous man she meets in the New Orleans underworld is a new kind of ruthless, and all too irresistible.

Jax Fontaine doesn't claim to be a good guy, but he's loyal to his own code and brutally honest about what he wants. He and Sarah may be worlds apart, but when they're skin to skin, nothing matters but the heat between them.

And when a deranged killer targets Sarah, Jax will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

Much more than romantic suspense, this is a romantic thriller and I loved every word!

I’ve been fascinated with - and drawn to - Jax Fontaine since he first step foot on the scene, and that fascination has just grown stronger as the stories continued. To say I was thrilled to finally learn more about him is putting it mildly, and now that we know him better…I’m head over heels in deep with this man. Sarah Jacobs is also an intriguing character whose story is heartbreaking. But despite her past she’s an incredible woman whose intelligence and compassion know no bounds. Apart they're amazing but put these two people together and you have an intensely complex couple who challenge each other, better each other, and burn up the pages! Seriously, this is a great read!

If you’re a fan of romantic suspense with lots of romance and steam, be sure to give Cynthia Eden’s LOST series a try. You’ll be glad you did.

An ARC was provided by Avon Books. In appreciation I’m giving them an honest review.

Exit Strategy (EXIT, Inc #1) by Lena Diaz

Exit Strategy is the first book in Lena Diaz’s EXIT Inc series, and is filled with lots of twists and turns, loads of action and adventure, and plenty of steamy romance!

Blurb…

When Sabrina Hightower awakens to the sound of an intruder, she figures he's there to rob her, murder her— or worse. She doesn't expect to be carried off by a muscle-bound stud with male-model good looks... or that he came to rescue her.

Mason Hunt became an enforcer with EXIT Inc. to eliminate the bad guys—terrorists, militia groups, all those who would do America harm. But his latest target is innocent. If EXIT could lie about sultry, strong-willed Sabrina, what darker truths might they be concealing?

Going rogue in the rugged North Carolina mountains, Mason risks everything to keep Sabrina close, especially now that EXIT's lethal assassins are chasing them down. The heat is on... but it's nothing compared to the slow burn of seduction.

My thoughts…

EXIT Inc. is a spinoff of the very popular The Deadly Games series. In this first book of the new series, we meet (or reunite with) the “undercover vigilantes” of EXIT Inc, many of whom were featured in the original series. That said, I had absolutely no problem reading Exit Strategy, even having not read the TDG.

I hadn’t read anything by Ms. Diaz before diving in to this story, so I wasn’t too sure what to expect, but with an intriguing plot and compelling characters I was hooked from the start, and I'm thrilled to have a new Romantic Suspense author to follow!

Twisted (LOST #2) by Cynthia Eden

Twisted is the second book in Cynthia Eden’s thrilling romantic suspense series, LOST . Like the first installment, Broken, Twisted is an exciting murder mystery with plenty of suspects who all have motives, and that kept me guessing almost to the end!

Blurb…

Dean Bannon comes to New Orleans for one reason only: to track down a missing sixteen-year-old girl. That's before he meets the drop-dead gorgeous con artist who makes him want to lose his legendary control.

With her past, Emma Castille doesn't claim to be psychic. She just notices things other people don't. Like the fear in a runaway's eyes—or the pain in an ex-FBI agent's heart. Her chemistry with Dean is blistering, but Emma follows her passion . . . not someone else's orders.

Then a madman breaks into Emma's home and leaves a twisted message: You're next. Now Dean refuses to let her out of his sight until he pries every last secret from her full, sexy lips. And suddenly Emma's aching to give him everything he wants.

My thoughts…

Cynthia Eden fans have been raving about this series, and I get why! The LOST team of men and women are the kinds of heroes and heroines I love – flawed, but perfectly so. They all have a past, have all lost someone dear to them, so they understand the need to help families find their loved ones. This brings a level of emotion to the stories that has my heart aching, not only for the victims, but for those trying to save them.

Like the first book, there's an element of insta-lust to this story. It didn't bother me quite as much this time around, probably because Emma didn't have the level of baggage to carry around that Eve did. In fact, Emma is a strong heroine and she and Dean are a perfect match! I love that they found each other!

The bottom line…

If you’re a fan of edgy romantic suspense and want lots of steam in your stories, then look no further than the team atLOST. The books are fast paced, exciting, gritty, and definitely sexy!

My thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a copy of this story. In appreciation I’m giving them an honest review.

Broken (LOST #1) by Cynthia Eden

Broken is the first book in Cynthia Eden's romantic suspense series, LOST. It's a thrilling serial-killer murder mystery with so many twists and turns and probable suspects, we can't possibly know, until the very end, who the true killer is. I love stories that keep me guessing like this!

Blurb...

Ex-SEAL and LOST founder Gabe Spencer is accustomed to the unusual in his job. But when knockout Eve Gray steps into his office, he's rattled. For the mysterious woman is a dead ringer for the heiress thought to be the latest prey of the serial killer who goes by the name Lady Killer.

When Eve awoke in an Atlanta hospital, her past was a blank slate. Then she recognized her own face in the newspaper and vowed to learn the truth. Determined to confront the nightmares hidden in her mind, she never expects to find a partner in Gabe.

As Gabe and Eve work together, their explosive attraction becomes irresistible. Gabe knows that his desire for Eve is growing too strong, bordering on a dangerous obsession, but nothing pulls him away from her. And when another Eve lookalike disappears, Gabe vows to protect Eve at all costs. While Eve may have forgotten the killer in her past, it's clear he hasn't forgotten her.

My thoughts...

I'm a huge fan of romantic suspense and have read a lot of great stories by some of the genre's best authors but, until now, none by Cynthia Eden - and make no mistake, Broken proves she's one of the best! This story sent chills up and down my spine and even though I didn't want to put it down, I had to put it down because it was getting so intense I knew I'd be up all night checking and re-checking the locks on my doors and windows if I didn't!

Lust at first sight works well in paranormal romance (bonding scents compelling an attraction) and erotica (because erotica is all about sexual attraction), but Broken is neither of those and its intricate, amazing plot didn't mesh with the insta-lust between Gabe and Eve. Sure, Eve's trauma induced amnesia could explain her lack of apprehension over being attracted to Gabe, a complete stranger, but even with that in mind I couldn't get on board with the sexual intensity they felt for each other. Too much, too soon and that cost this story a full star in my rating. Had the attraction/romance moved at a more believable pace, or had this not been meant to be a romance, it would've easily been a 5 star read!

The bottom line...

I've already got the next book in the series, Twisted, locked, loaded, and ready to roll... and that should speak volumes about how much I enjoyed Broken!

An ARC was provided by Avon Books. In appreciation I'm giving them an honest review.

Last Hero Standing Book Blitz Tour

Welcome to my blog, and my stop on the LAST HERO STANDING BOOK BLITZ TOUR, to help Pamela Clare beat breast cancer. (Read on for more information)  I'm thrilled and honored to be part of this special event, and just as thrilled and honored to be spotlighting one of the amazing authors, Stephanie Rowe! Be sure to read the exciting excerpt from her story, ICE, then scroll down to read more about LAST HERO STANDING and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win a $100 gift card to the online bookseller of your choice! Note: This contest is open to international participants.

A little about Stephanie Rowe: 

Four-time RITA® Award nominee and Golden Heart® Award winner, Stephanie Rowe, is a nationally bestselling author. She has published more than forty novels, including her bestselling paranormal and vampire romances, her gripping Alaska Heat romantic suspense series, and her passionate Ever After contemporary series.



Author Extras :

1. How has cancer touched you personally?
My father died of cancer when I was 24, three weeks before my wedding. He was one of the most amazing people ever, and he died because, despite his being sick for a year, his doctors didn't diagnose the cancer until it the very end, when it was too late. Every day I wish he was still here. Cancer is a grueling disease emotionally and financially, and I wish I could eradicate it from the world.

2. Why did you participate in the LAST HERO STANDING fundraiser for fellow author Pamela Clare?
Being worried about finances is debilitating on its own, but when you're fighting for your life, the added weight of financial strain can rob you of those last shreds of energy and hope you need for healing. I really wanted to support Pamela, both as an author and as a person, to enable her to focus solely on healing herself, and not on worrying about how she was going to pay for treatments or support herself financially. She is an incredible woman who brightens the world around her with her courage, her love, and her books, and I wanted to do anything I could to help her in her battle.


Connect with Stephanie and learn more about her and her books at: 

Author’s Website: www.stephanierowe.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StephanieRoweBooks
Twitter: @StephanieRowe2
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19729.Stephanie_Rowe?from_search=true
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/StephanieRowe2/

An excerpt from ICE by Stephanie Rowe:

Kaylie's hands were shaking as she rifled through her bag, searching for her yoga pants. She needed the low-slung black ones with a light pink stripe down the side. The cuffs were frayed from too many wearings to the grocery store late at night for comfort food, and they were her go-to clothes when she couldn't cope. Like now.

She couldn't find them.

"Come on!" Kaylie grabbed her other suitcase and dug through it, but they weren't there. "Stupid pants! I can't—" A sob caught at her throat and she pressed her palms to her eyes, trying to stifle the swell of grief. "Sara—"

Her voice was a raw moan of pain, and she sank to the thick shag carpet. She bent over as waves of pain, of loneliness, of utter grief shackled her. For her parents, her brother, her family and now Sara—

Dear God, she was all alone.

"Dammit, Kaylie! Get up!" she chided herself. She wrenched herself to her feet. "I can do this." She grabbed a pair of jeans and a silk blouse off the top of her bag and turned toward the bathroom. One step at a time. A shower would make her feel better.

She walked into the tiny bathroom, barely noticing the heavy wood door as she stepped inside and flicked the light switch. Two bare light bulbs flared over her head, showing a rustic bathroom with an ancient footed tub and a raw wood vanity with a battered porcelain sink. A tiny round window was on her right. It was small enough to keep out the worst of the cold, but big enough to let in some light and breeze in the summer.

She was in Alaska, for sure. God, what was she doing here?

Kaylie tossed the clean clothes on the sink and unzipped her jacket, dropping it on the floor. She tugged all her layers off, including the light blue sweater that had felt so safe this morning when she'd put it on. She stared grimly at her black lace bra, so utterly feminine, exactly the kind of bra that her mother had always considered frivolous and completely impractical. Which it was. Which was why that was the only style Kaylie ever wore.

She should never have come to Alaska. She didn't belong here. She couldn't handle this. Kaylie gripped the edge of the sink. Her hands dug into the wood as she fought against the urge to curl into a ball and cry.

After a minute, Kaylie lifted her head and looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were wide and scared, with dark circles beneath. Her hair was tangled and flattened from her wool hat. There was dirt caked on her cheeks.

Kaylie rubbed her hand over her chin, and the streaks of mud didn't come off.
She tried again, then realized she had smudges all over her neck. She turned on the water, and wet her hands…and saw her hands were covered as well.

Stunned, Kaylie stared as the water ran over her hands, turning pink as it swirled in the basin.

Not dirt.

Sara's blood.

"Oh, God." Kaylie grabbed a bar of soap and began to scrub her hands. But the blood was dried, stuck to her skin. "Get off!" She rubbed frantically, but the blackened crust wouldn't come off. Her lungs constricted and she couldn't breathe. "I can't—"

The door slammed open, and Cort stood behind her, wearing a T-shirt and jeans.

The tears burst free at the sight of Cort, and Kaylie held up her hands to him. "I can't get it off—"

"I got it." Cort took her hands and held them under the water, his grip warm and strong. "Take a deep breath, Kaylie. It's okay."

"It's not. It won't be." She leaned her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes as he washed her hands roughly and efficiently. His muscles flexed beneath her cheek, his skin hot through his shirt. Warm. Alive. "Sara's dead," she whispered. "My parents. My brother. They're all gone. The blood—" Sobs broke free again, and she couldn't stop the trembling.

"I know. I know, babe." He pulled her hands out from under the water and grabbed a washcloth. He turned her toward him and began to wash her face and neck.

His eyes were troubled, his mouth grim. But his hands were gentle where he touched her, gently holding her face still while he scrubbed. His gaze flicked toward hers, and he held contact for a moment, making her want to fall into those brown depths and forget everything. To simply disappear into the energy that was him. "You have to let them go," he said. "There's nothing you can do to bring them back—"

"No." A deep ache pounded at Kaylie's chest and her legs felt like they were too weak to support her.
"I can't. Did you see Sara? And Jackson? His throat—" She bent over, clutching her stomach. "I—"

Cort's arms were suddenly around her, warm and strong, pulling her against his solid body. Kaylie fell into him, the sobs coming hard, the memories—

"I know." Cort's whisper was soft, his hand in her hair, crushing her against him. "It sucks. Goddamn, it sucks."

Kaylie heard his grief in the raw tone of his voice and realized his body was shaking as well. She looked up and saw a rim of red around his eyes, shadows in the hollows of his whiskered cheeks. "You know," she whispered, knowing with absolute certainty that he did. He understood the grief consuming her.

"Yeah." He cupped her face, staring down at her, his grip so tight it was almost as desperate as she felt. She could feel his heart beating against her nearly bare breasts, the rise of his chest as he breathed, the heat of his body warming the deathly chill from hers.

For the first time in forever, she suddenly didn't feel quite as alone.

In her suffering, she had company. Someone who knew. Who understood. Who shared her pain. It had been so long since the dark cavern surrounding her heart had lessened, since she hadn't felt consumed by the loneliness, but with Cort holding her…there was a flicker of light in the darkness trying to take her. "Cort—"

He cleared his throat. "I gotta go check the chili." He dropped his hands from her face and stood up to go, pulling away from her.

Without his touch, the air felt cold and the anguish returned full force. Kaylie caught his arm. "Don't go—" She stopped, not sure what to say, what to ask for. All she knew was that she didn't want him to leave, and she didn't want him to stop holding her.

Cort turned back to her, and a muscle ticked in his cheek.

For a moment, they simply stared at each other. She raised her arms. "Hold me," she whispered. "Please."

He hesitated for a second, and then his hand snaked out and he shackled her wrist. He yanked once, and she tumbled into him. Their bodies smacked hard as he caught her around the waist, his hands hot on her bare back.

She threw her arms around his neck and sagged into him. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly against him. With only her bra and his T-shirt between them, the heat of his body was like a furnace, numbing her pain. His name slipped out in a whisper, and she pressed her cheek against his chest. She focused on his masculine scent. She took solace in the feel of another human's touch, in the safety of being held in arms powerful enough to ward off the grief trying to overtake her.

His hand tunneled in her hair, and he buried his face in the curve of her neck, his body shaking against hers.

"Cort—" She started to lift her head to look at him, to see if he was crying, but he tightened his grip on her head, forcing her face back to his chest, refusing to allow her to look at him.

Keeping her out.

Isolating her.

She realized he wasn't a partner in her grief. She was alone, still alone, always alone.

All the anguish came cascading back. Raw loneliness surged again, and she shoved away from him as sobs tore at her throat. She couldn't deal with being held by him when the sense of intimacy was nothing but an illusion. "Leave me alone."

Kaylie whirled away from him, keeping her head ducked. She didn't want to look at him. She needed space to find her equilibrium again and rebuild her foundation.

"Damn it, Kaylie." Cort grabbed her arm and spun her back toward him.

She held up her hands to block him, her vision blurred by the tears streaming down her face. "Don't—"

His arms snapped around her and he hauled her against him even as she fought his grip. "No! Leave me alone—"

His mouth descended on hers.

Not a gentle kiss.

A kiss of desperation and grief and need. Of the need to control something. Of raw human passion for life, for death, for the touch of another human being.

And it broke her.

*******************

More information and purchase links for the LAST HERO STANDING collection! (Be sure to scroll down for the Rafflecopter giveaway!)

Book Blurb:

Authors donate to anthology to raise money for colleague stricken with breast cancer
Eleven authors have donated their work to a box set of novellas to raise money for the medical expenses of a colleague stricken with breast cancer. The LAST HERO STANDING box set, which is set to release on Oct. 28, features 11 novels and novellas for only 99 cents, including a bonus short story from New York Times bestseller Dianna Love. All the proceeds from sales of the box set will go toward the medical expenses of USA Today bestselling author Pamela Clare, who was diagnosed with breast cancer this past April and has been unable to work since then.

PAMELA’S STORY:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyeverafter/2014/10/09/pamela-clare-breast-cancer/16920051/

LAST HERO STANDING BOX SET

Enjoy 11 emotional stories - 2000 pages filled with all types of heroes from small town to international action-adventure who earn and protect those they love. Over 360 reviews with a 4.5 star rating!!!

PLEASE NOTE: This box set will be available for ONE MONTH ONLY, and all proceeds go directly to the medical fund for box set author Pamela Clare, who is in the midst of her own battle with breast cancer. Everyone who touched this project donated their time and stories. Please help us help her by treating yourself and your friends to a box set full of great stories!

New York Times Bestseller Dianna Love
KISS THE ENEMY, a Slye Temp novel
"It seems with each book, this series gets better..."

New York Times Bestseller Cynthia Eden
FIRST TASTE OF DARKNESS, a novella
“Plenty of passion to fan yourself but also enough love...to make you swoon.” –So Many Reads

New York Times Bestseller Elisabeth Naughton
FIRST EXPOSURE, an Aegis Security prequel novella
“This series is off to an explosive start.”

New York Times Bestseller Joan Swan
SINFUL DECEPTION, a Renegades novel
"Another fast-paced, action-packed, sexy Covert Affairs story!"

New York Times Bestseller Bonnie Vanak
TAKEN BY THE ALPHA WOLF, a novella
"Highly recommend to anyone who likes steamy, sexy novels."

USA Today Bestseller Pamela Clare
FIRST STRIKE, an I-Team novella
“If you’re a fan of romantic suspense, you must read Pamela Clare!”

USA Today Bestseller Mary Buckham
INVISIBLE FEARS, an Invisible Recruits novel
“The powerful descriptive ability this author displays raises the bar for Urban Fantasy!”

USA Today Bestseller Adrienne Giordano
THE EVASION, a Justifiable Cause Novella
"Adrienne Giordano delivers everything romantic suspense readers want…"

USA Today Bestseller Norah Wilson
NIGHTFALL, A Vampire Romance Novel
"...an edge of your seat series."

Award-Winning Author Stephanie Rowe
ICE, an Alaska Heat novel
“ICE delivers pulse-pounding chills and hot romance!”

Award-winning Author Tracey Devlyn
LATYMER, a Nexus novella
"Powerful…and gripping."

Purchase Links:
Amazon Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/nssnfpc
Barnes & Noble Nook: http://tinyurl.com/pfxb6mb
Kobo: http://tinyurl.com/mcltp67
Apple iBooks: http://tinyurl.com/muooxwm

***************

Thank you all for stopping by, and remember - not only is this a great collection, it's an important cause!  Remember to enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway, and GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Promise (The 'Burg #5) by Kristen Ashley - Blog Tour

Description... Since his brother’s death, Benny Bianchi has been nursing his grudge against the woman he thinks led to his brother’s downfall. He does this to bury the feelings he has for Francesca Concetti, his brother’s girl. But when Frankie takes a bullet while on the run with Benny’s cousin’s woman, Benny has to face those feelings.

The problem is Frankie has decided she’s paid her penance. Penance she didn’t deserve to pay. She’s done with Benny and the Bianchi family. She’s starting a new life away from Chicago and her heartbreaking history.

Benny has decided differently.

But Frankie has more demons she’s battling. Demons Benny wants to help her face. But life has landed so many hard knocks on Frankie she’s terrified of believing in the promise of Benny Bianchi and the good life he’s offering.

Frankie’s new life leads her to The ‘Burg, where Benny has ties, and she finds she not only hasn’t succeeded in getting away, she’s doesn’t want to.

Before I share my review...

I have to thank my fellow escapism reading friends on Goodreads who introduced me to the world of Kristen Ashley’s stories. If I could hug you, I would, and some of you I have. Thank you, thank you, and thank you! From the bottom of my heart... I can't imagine not having the beauty of Kristen Ashley's stories in my life.

My review...

If you’re like me and live love to read, and you wake up in the morning looking forward to the stolen moments throughout the day you’ll be able to get lost in a story, you know exactly what I mean when I say that when you’re in a reading slump, it’s almost painful to get out of bed some days.

Do. Not. Judge me - yes, I said painful – and sadly, that’s where I’ve often found myself lately. So when I heard my iPad ‘ding’ with a ‘you’ve got mail’ notification and I saw that my blog had been approved for an ARC of The Promise, I nearly wept with joy because reading a Kristen Ashley story is one of the most exciting, comforting, beautiful things I can think of.

And The Promise has given me exactly that. Excitement, comfort, and beauty. Start to finish, first word to the last, I fell in love with Frankie and Benny. They are people I can relate to, people I can cheer for, and yeah... people I can fall in love with.

An added benefit, as if any Kristen Ashley book needs something more to make it shine, spending time with Joe, Vi, and the girls... the icing on top of the icing on this already scrumptious cake!

Blithely Bookish Reviews was given an eARC of The Promise, and in return I'm giving the author an honest review... honestly, it is wonderful!

Blithely Bookish Spotlights Author AJ Wiliams

Title: His Final Bounty
Series: Bounty for Hire #4
Author: AJ Wiliams
Release Date: 3/24/14
Publisher: Self
Genre: Contemporary Spicy Romance

Welcome to Spotlight on AJ Wiliams

A.J. Wiliams and I have been online buddies for a few years, now. We met back when we both wrote fan-fiction as Sisters of the Black Dagger Brotherhood and she’s the first of my friends to actually write a book and publish it. I’m very excited to have her as a guest for my first Author Spotlight.

Me:  AJ, I’m thrilled to have you here with me today!  I’m dying to know – what is it like to be a published author?  What made you decide to take the plunge, and was it scary?

AJ:  Thanks for having me here....

It's fun and stressful publishing a book.

I decided to take the plunge after writing in the BDB Sisters forum. Having the freedom to write with a group of women that not only enjoyed what I wrote but also encouraged me. It was liberating. I even dedicated my first book to my BDB Sisters. I always thought about getting my love for writing out into the world but never felt that I had the courage to do it. I really owe my thanks to my BDB Sisters. Each one offered something encouraging that allowed me to take pieces of them with me on this journey.

I have my fourth book out and I have to say I am just as scared as the first time. I have a feeling this emotion will not change. It is the usual normal questions of will people like it? Will they feel the emotion of the characters?

I have several books that I am currently working on right now with the hopes to have at least one of them published by the end of the year.

Me: I enjoyed the time we spent writing fan-fiction together and the way you tell a story. And because you're my first Spotlighted Author, I have a surprise for you! You've been gifted a one-month Bookshelf ad at Affaire de Coeur Magazine: http://affairedecoeur.com/Chapter%20Previews/2014/hisfinalbounty.html

I'm so proud of what you've accomplished and I wish you all the best success!

His Final Bounty Book Blurb:

Eva Rosenberg hacks a secret file of Jefferson's and discovers the man who shattered her heart and her world has one giant secret.

Jefferson Anders’ current bounty hunting status has allowed him to hide in the shadows, never forcing him to face the secrets of his past. Having spent five years hiding the truth, he never dreamed the secrets of his past would catch up to him. Secrets which cost him both the love of his life and connection to his family. Now, he must face the mistakes of his past.

With a confrontation looming with Eva and a possible death threat, they must work as a team to find forgiveness and defeat the enemy that waits in the shadows.

Purchase Links:

Click to visit and purchase from author's website

Click to purchase at Barnes and Noble

Click to Purchase at Amazon

Click to purchase at All Romance Books: 

Click to purchase at Smashwords


Author Information:

AJ grew up in a small southern town in Missouri. It was there that she discovered her love of writing. Having the ability to create a story from nothing into something held her spellbound. She holds a bachelors degree, and will on occasion find it useful. Currently, AJ lives in Kansas City, Missouri, with her husband, their two small children and two dogs.

AJ loves learning about new things, playing games with her family, and listening to music. She loves romantic movies as well as science fiction. If truth be told, she loves fantasy and science fiction movies just a little bit more.

At given time she can be found letting her kids believe she has super powers.

Author Links: For more information about AJ Williams and upcoming books, follow her @ Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and her website where you can sign up to be a street team member and subscribe to her newsletter.

AJ at Affaire de Coeur Magazine:  http://affairedecoeur.com/Chapter%20Previews/2014/hisfinalbounty.html
Website: www.ajwiliams.com
Blog: http://ajwiliamsromanceauthor.blogspot.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AjWiliams
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJ_Wiliams
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/AJWiliams
Pintrest: http://www.pinterest.com/ajwiliams/

Excerpt:

Eva wasn’t sure when it happened, but her body called to her in a way that she hadn’t felt in years. After all this time, he still wore Ralph Lauren Polo Black. She loved that smell. Her reaction to him spurred her body closer to his, lightly brushing her nipples against his side. Every sensation from Jefferson rubbing her back, to her tracing circles on his chest increased her breathing. Her nipples tightened and the dampness increased between her legs.

“Jefferson.” Her voice was soft as she moved her finger to his nipple in a sensual circle.

“Eva,” his growl pressed her to continue. There was something about the way he growled her name that caused her to stop circling and started to use her fingers to rub his nipple with her thumb and finger.

“You have to stop.”

Lifting her head up from his chest, she kept rubbing his nipple as she looked into his eyes.

“Tonight, please just give me this one night. After that, we will go our separate ways. I just need to feel you.”

“There will never be ‘just one night’ with us, Eva. If we do this, it’s for keeps. Do you understand? I could never let you walk away, nor would I allow myself to walk away from you again.”

His word slammed over her. His eyes danced in the light. She could see that he too needed tonight. As much as she wanted more nights, she didn’t think she could ever give him more. Then again, maybe she could, but it all depended on him. She had the truth, but it didn’t really ease the hurt she still felt in her heart.

She didn’t respond at first, as her thoughts rolled through her mind.

“Tonight please, Jefferson. Just tonight.”

“I’ll give you tonight, but we will talk,” he declared.

She didn’t want to talk. She wanted all or nothing and tonight it was all. If she couldn’t have tonight, then she could go back to having nothing in her life. She’d had five years of practice. What was another fifty? She nodded edging closer to his body.

“I mean it, Eva.”

She didn’t trust herself to say anything, afraid she might say no talking, just fucking, because that’s all she wanted. She nodded again, placing a light kiss on his chest.

Lifting her head up she gazed into his dark eyes, waiting to see if he understood or at least accepted her response. He moved over, roaming her face and then his eyes narrow for just a second.

Please, she begged silently for him to just give her now.

She touched her lips to his. It was ecstasy. His full lips upon hers. At first, he didn’t move, so she gave his nipple a pinch, causing him to open his mouth.

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hard as You Can (Hard Ink #2) by Laura Kaye

Happy Hunk-a-licious, Ink-tastic Release Day!!

Hard as You Can is the second installment in Laura Kaye's Hard Ink series, and just like the first, all kinds of awesome!

Description

Five dishonored soldiers.
Former Special Forces.
One last mission.
These are the men of Hard Ink.

Ever since hard-bodied, drop-dead-charming Shane McCallan strolled into the dance club where Crystal Dean works, he’s shown a knack for getting beneath her defenses. For her little sister’s sake, Crystal can’t get too close. Until her job and Shane’s mission intersect, and he reveals talents that go deeper than she could have guessed.

Shane would never turn his back on a friend in need, especially a former Special Forces teammate running a dangerous, off-the-books operation. Nor can he walk away from Crystal. The gorgeous waitress is hiding secrets she doesn't want him to uncover. Too bad. He’s exactly the man she needs to protect her sister, her life, and her heart. All he has to do is convince her that when something feels this good, you hold on as hard as you can—and never let go.

My review...

I have to admit, I'm a huge fan of stories about hot, alpha, inked males. There's just something so mysterious and sexy about them that I just can't help but swoon for them, and Hard as You Can gave me just what I was hoping for, and more!

'Why more?' you ask. Well, 'more' because these hot, alpha, inked males are also the survivors of a Special Forces team who were set-up to be fall guys, and who are out to clear their names and bring the bad guys down. Yeah... 'more' of the yummy goodness!

And, for the record, in my opinion Shane steals the show with his sexy, Southern, panty melting charm!

This installment touches on the horrific crime of human trafficking, but doesn't go into the gory details that some books do. In this case I appreciated that because there is so much happening that I believe it would have overshadowed the ongoing plot. That said, while there were not the details, we still see the emotional aftermath of being a victim.

The bottom line...

I really enjoy this world Laura Kaye has created. It's exciting, intriguing, sexy, and even at times poignant. All the men from the team are just so powerful and yet so vulnerable, and I can't wait to read each and every story!

A copy of this story was provided by Avon Books via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

Run to You by Rachel Gibson

Description…

There's nothing like fleeing Miami to ruin a girl's day. Stella Leon's bartending gig was going fine until gorgeous ex-Marine Beau Junger decked her mob-connected boss, spirited her out of the city, and claimed that Stella's half-sister--the one with the perfect life--sent him. Now Stella has no choice but to go along for the ride... and seduce Beau's military-issue socks off...

The Marine Corps was Beau's escape from his old man's legacy of naval heroism and serial philandering, but no amount of training could prepare him for the day he looked in the mirror and saw his father staring back. The answer: swear off meaningless sex. Oh, and find a way to make Stella Leon quit being so damn hot.

Fun, Romantic, Sexy!

"I'm an idiot. I thought love happened like bullets and flashbang." He waved the smoke away. "I was wrong. It happens one smile at a time. One beautiful, torturous smile at a time. One look into your eyes. One touch of your hand. The sound of your laughter." -Beau

Run to You is the fourth book in Rachel Gibson’s Lovett, Texas series, and I find I’m becoming quite fond of her writing. It’s got that small town, down home feel, but the pace of this story is anything but slow.

My review…

I really enjoyed Run to You. For the record, I read it out of order and while I wasn’t lost at all, I do wish I had had the background stories so I could understand the players better.

Beau is a great hero, in more ways than one. He’s got that … charisma… that magnetism that draws people to him while, at the same time, warning them off. He’s had it tough growing up, but the Marine’s toughened him up and made him take a good long look in the mirror and realize he’s not the man he could be. In fact, he’s destined to be the very last man on the planet he would want to be – his own father.
Stella was fun, albeit at bit annoying at times. But to be fair, I tend to favor the heroes in my romance reads and get peeved at the heroines who don’t fall into line tout de suite. But that’s my problem and, in the end, I really did enjoy Stella’s spunky attitude and her relationship with Beau.

The bottom line…

Rachel Gibson is a name I’ve seen around my friends’ reviews quite often, and I’m glad I finally gave her a try. I enjoyed the Lovett, Texas world she has created and look forward to reading more in the series!

My thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a copy of this ARC. 

Hard As It Gets (Hard Ink #1) by Laura Kaye

Tall, dark, and lethal...

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome--pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge…

**** 

Ink me up, baby!

Hard As It Gets, the first book in Laura Kaye’s Hard Ink series, is one of those stories that turned out to be not at all as I had expected, but more than I had hoped for. It’s fast paced, romantic, sexy, poignant… an exciting and entertaining read! 

My review

Part of the reason this story took me by surprise is that it’s really not a contemporary romance as I had expected it to be. In fact, I’d be more inclined to place it solidly in the romantic suspense genre due to the ex-military hero and his friends, and the very nature of this ‘mission’ they’re on. There’s kidnapping, sleuthing, fighting, killing, maiming, shooting, stabbing, chasing… all the things that scream romantic suspense, and add to all that the intrigue and passion that makes romantic suspense one of my favorite genres and Hard As it Gets made me one happy reader!

And a very pleasant surprise - I didn’t realize this until I had finished Hard As it Gets, but Laura Kaye also wrote the awesome novella Hearts in Darkness, and I know there are more than a few fans of that story amongst my reading buddies!

The bottom line 

With Hard Inked, Laura Kaye has created a world filled with complex, passionate, emotionally scarred people, and a storyline that grabbed hold and kept me on the edge of my seat wondering who, what, and why. I'm not so patiently looking forward to the next story, Hard As You Can! 

This ARC was provided by Avon Books via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the series so far:

The Way Home by Cindy Gerard

Romantic, passionate, and heartwarming!

The Way Home is the second book in Cindy Gerard's One-Eyed Jacks series, but don't let the cover fool you! Yeah, this is a romantic tale filled with the kind of joy the holidays deliver, but it's also one exciting, heartbreaking, uplifting, steamy, and hope inspiring love story.

The Story

Four years ago Jess got the news every Army wife dreads - her husband has been killed in action and won't be returning home to her. She had struggled with Jeff's Special Forces 'here today, gone tomorrow' assignments, and they'd even fought about it before his last deployment, but his death left a gaping, empty place inside her, one she tried to fill - or mask - by throwing herself into work. But Tyler Brown, ex-military hero and all around sexy, alpha male, has Jess realizing that maybe it's time to stop merely existing, and time to start living again. And maybe even love again. Wedding plans are set and these two wonderful people who have both known great loss are looking forward to a future filled with the kind of love they never thought they'd find again, when word comes down that Jeff's been found alive - though not necessarily well - and a team is being sent to Afghanistan to rescue him and bring him home.

My Thoughts

This type of storyline is tough to write and even tougher to write well, but Cindy Gerard has pulled it off with flying colors! I wasn't sure what to expect, but I should have known better than to doubt Ms. Gerard's ability to tell a story that would draw me in and touch me deeply.

Tyler Brown, younger brother to Killing Time's Mike Brown, is such an amazing guy. He's not your typical action romance novel hero, but he's a hero, nonetheless. Caring, compassionate, sexy-as-sin, and patient yet determined to get what he wants - he's got what it takes to get my *swoon-worthy* stamp of approval.

Jess turned out to be every bit as amazing as Ty. She's also compassionate and caring, but I respected her for her loyalty to Jeff and her honesty with Ty and Jeff, both. She's strong and independent, but she's got an ability to love and nurture that made me admire and care about her and her happiness.

I'll admit that the happily ever afters fell into place a bit quicker and more conveniently than is realistic or likely to happen, but as I said, this is one of those special love stories, the kind that we hope for, the kind that happens through the magic of Christmas.

My sincerest thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for providing me with a copy of this wonderful story!   

Striking Distance (I-Team #6) by Pamela Clare

Her past is a secret—even to her.

Discovering it will be the most dangerous move of her life.

TV reporter Laura Nilsson, known as the "Baghdad Babe," spent eighteen months in an Al Qaeda compound after being kidnapped live on the air. Two years later, she's still wondering why.

No rescue mission in Javier Corbray's fourteen years as a Navy SEAL affected him the way Laura's rescue did. No woman has stirred his protective instincts the way she has. And he wants her more than he's ever wanted anyone.

As Laura and Javier's passion ignites, so does Laura's need to discover the mystery of her past. Especially when she learns that her abduction was not random—and that she's still a target for a killer with an impenetrable motive. Now Javier will have to rely on his skills to keep the woman he loves from being struck down before she dares uncover the truth.

*************

Note: This review is based on the story I read as a WIP (Work in Progress), and as brilliant authors often do, there may have been changes made to the final copy.

Striking Distance is the sixth book in Pamela Clare’s I-Team series, and just like the five books before it, it’s amazing! It’s fast paced, exciting, heartbreaking, inspiring, romantic, sensuous… it’s everything we’ve come to expect from this amazing author!

This story deals with some difficult subject matters, including the heartbreaking aftermath of rape. The cover blurb alone tells us that this will be an emotional ride, but let me tell you… what Laura endured in captivity was hell. Even after being freed she continues to live that hell, and trying to put the pieces of her life back together and move on... well, I can imagine many women would just curl up and give up, but not Laura. She’s strong, she’s intelligent, she’s compassionate… she's truly a wonderful woman.

Javier Corbray is an amazing man. Of course he's sexy as all get out, but he's also protective, compassionate, honorable, devoted... he's all kinds of awesome! He understands all that Laura has been through and does whatever he can to make her life easier and to keep her safe. Laura has much to overcome, but with Javier on her side, anything and everything is possible.

One of the most compelling things about Pamela's stories is how she uses events or practices that really do happen, educating us to the world around us and doing it in a way that's entertaining. Don't misunderstand - I'm not saying there's anything enjoyable about drug rings, human trafficking, heinous acts in prisons, or setting women on fire... I mean that these are things we all should know about, but probably don't. Pamela gives this to us, making us aware of what's happening, but doing so in a 'first hand' way, through her characters' eyes, and giving us hope in the knowledge that there are people out there who are working to make a difference. To make things better. And who knows? Maybe we can find a way to help, too.

In case you aren’t already aware, Pamela Clare has given us a prequel novella, First Strike, which is Javi and Laura’s first meeting in Dubai, and the super sexy weekend they spent together. If you’re interested, you can read all about why this scene was cut, and how it came to be a novella, in My Spoiler Free Review of First Strike. As always, Pamela makes sure that, one way or another, her readers get her stories, told the way she wants them told - in their entirety!

Well, I best stop now before I start rambling - more than I already am. There's so much to say but all you need to know is that Striking Distance is a riveting, poignant story. Javi and Laura are a worthy addition to the other I-Team happily ever afters, and I can't ask for more than that!

The I-Team reading order, so far:

1. Extreme Exposure
1.5 Heaven Can't Wait - a novella found in the out of print anthology Catch of the Day and on ebook
2. Hard Evidence
3. Unlawful Contact
4. Naked Edge
5. Breaking Point
5.5. Skin Deep
5.9. First Strike
6. Striking Distance
6.5. Soul Deep
7. Seduction Game
7.5 Dead by Midnight