Blog Tour and Giveaway - Raid by Kristen Ashley

 Hanna Boudreaux has lived in the small town of Willow, Colorado all her life. The great-granddaughter of the town matriarch, she's sweet, cute and quiet.

Too quiet.

Hanna has a moment of epiphany when she realizes her crush for forever, Raiden Ulysses Miller, is not ever going to be hers. She sees her life as narrow and decides to do something about it.

Raiden Miller is the town of Willow's local hero. An ex-marine with the medal to prove his hero status, he comes home, shrouded in mystery. It takes a while but, eventually, Hanna catches his eye.

But after all these years of Raid and Hanna living in the same town, the question is, why? Is Raid interested in Hanna because she's sweet and cute? Or does Raid have something else going on?

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Raid is the third book in Kristen Ashley’s Unfinished Hero series and right from the start, grabbed hold and never let go. It’s sweet, it’s funny, it’s sexy... yep! It’s all kinds of awesome!

If you’ve read the previous books in this series, Knight and Creed, you know that these “unfinished heroes” are men who don’t just walk the edge of honor, they spit on it, cross it, and never look back. They’re men who live and love by their own code, make no excuses for what they do, and Raiden Ulysses Miller is no different. And thank God for that!

Hanna. She is such a doll! She’s cute, she’s funny, she’s clever and talented… she’s absolutely awesome. With her girlie girl bike, and girlie girl basket and cutsie handlebar streamers, she’s a woman who knows what she likes and isn’t embarrassed to flaunt it. She loves life and does everything she can to make sure the people around her love life, too. She’s the kind of person who is so amazing, so awesome, that if I can’t be her, I’d want to be part of her world. And that’d be true even if she wasn’t getting a happily ever after with one incredibly sexy man.

Speaking of which…

Raid. Intense. Solid. Honorable. Sexy. Devoted. Confident. He’s a man who knows that there’s a big gray area between what’s right and what’s wrong, and I love how he works that area to his advantage. In truth, the world needs more men like Raiden Ulysses Miller. I think of all KA’s unfinished heroes - not just those in the series - he’s the most grounded, and the most okay with what he does, which is something else I love about him.

There’s something extra special about this story, and it's Hanna's great grandmother, Miss Mildred, who is an absolute hoot! I don't think I've ever enjoyed a 'secondary' character as much as I enjoyed her, and truth be told, there's nothing 'secondary' about her. Everything about this woman shines, and I absolutely adore her! Between Raid, Hanna and Miss Mildred, the first several chapters of this story put such a huge smile on my face that my cheeks hurt, seriously! And then as the story continues, the people and places of Willow, Colorado kept that smile there, and, had me laughing, sighing, fanning myself and sobbing so hard I couldn’t see to keep reading… and I loved each and every minute of it.

The bottom line: What can I say? Raid’s a typical Kristen Ashley hero, but there’s something… more… about him... something that makes him stand out from the others. He’s truly incredible and I love how he gives Hanna the happily ever after she's always dreamed of.  And Hanna, with her rose colored glasses and beautiful spirit – I love how she gave Raid the happily ever after that he not only needs, but one he's more than deserving of.

They are, each to the other, their reward.

My thanks to Kristen Ashley and Chas for providing BlithelyBookish with a copy of Raid in exchange for an honest review! What a HUGE treat this has been!

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AND NOW FOR THE SUPER FUN STUFF!!!

It's a Rafflecopter Contest!!!!!!

Prize Packs

First prize pack:

Signed Copy of Raid (when it's available in print)

Amazon or BN.com $25 gift card 

Raid, Knight and Creed E-books

Second prize pack:

Amazon or BN.com $10 gift card

Raid, Knight and Creed E-books

Third prize pack:

Amazon or BN.com $5 Gift card

Raid, Knight and Creed E-books

Along with e-copies of Raid to 5 additional winners.

IMPORTANT! To be eligible for a chance to win one of those fabulous prizes, just click on the +1 below and enter your email address. Winners will be contacted by Chas, so you MUST give us your email address!

Rafflecopter Contest a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kiss Me Anthology

Sometimes anthologies are perfect for my mood, and this collection of three fun, romantic, and sexy contemporary stories were exactly what I've been looking for!

The Trouble With Sexy by Codi Gary

This was a fun, romantic, sexy story about a boss and his employee who become friends, then much more. I enjoyed this and felt the author did a great job of giving us an awesome story with wonderful characters. We get a happily ever after that didn't feel rushed, which can sometimes be an issue with novellas, but not this one! There are a couple of others characters who are just begging to have their stories told, and I hope it happens. I'm looking forward to more by Ms. Gary!

Are You Lonesome Tonight by Cheryl Harper

Julie Dillon and Luke Pearce are co-workers on their way home from a business trip when they find themselves snowed in, sharing a hotel room themed after anything and everything Elvis. It’s such a fun story! I wish Julie had been less grumbly, but in the end she came around in a very clever way, and that's what matters most! Ms. Harper writes a cute, witty and definitely steamy story!

Love, Guns, and Heart Shaped Chocolate by Jaclyn Hatcher

This story isn't at all what I was expecting, but awesome, all the same. Katie had planned to spend her Valentine’s Day alone, watching movies and drowning her sorrows in chocolate, but her best friend’s brother has other ideas! Before they know it, they’re running for their lives in this fast paced romantic suspense that’s plenty sexy, and fun! Logan and Katie are great together, and with other characters, Will and Tracy, there's the potential for more exciting reading!

Three debut authors, three thoroughly entertaining Valentine's Day stories!

My thanks to Avon Books and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this anthology in exchange for an honest review.

Nautier and Wilder by L. Leigh and J. Burton

I was so, so pleased with both stories in this book! They're exciting, romantic, sexy... yep! I'm very pleased!

Nauti Siren by Lora Leigh:

My synopsis:

Piper Mackay just wants to live life on her own terms, without her meddling, overbearing, obnoxious brother Dawg, and cousins Rowdy and Natches, dogging her every step. But as it often does for those Mackays, danger lurks around every corner and they're not about to willingly leave her unguarded. Jedediah Booker agrees that Piper needs protecting, but he doesn't want to suffocate her or hold her back, but convincing her he's not like the others isn't going to be easy. He wants her safe, but he wants her in his bed, and his life.

It was such a treat to revisit those Mackays! It's been awhile, and it's nice to see that some things don't change... those Mackay men are just as... well... obnoxiously overbearing - and sexy - as ever! And I love it!

Riding to Sunset by Jaci Burton:

My synopsis:

Jed Templeton is the newest member of Wild Riders, a group of Harley riding undercover agents headed by General Grange Lee. When the General's sister goes missing, Jed is assigned to keep an eye on her daughter, Elena Madison. To keep her safe Jed has to concoct a bunch of lies because Elena doesn't even know she's got an uncle, nor does she understand the possible danger they're all in. There's an undeniable sexual attraction between she and Jed, but once Elena learns the truth about why he's in her life, she has a hard time believing that she's nothing more than a job to him.

Oh, how I loved this story! You know, I've only read one of the books in this series, and it was a while ago, but I'm DEFINITELY going to go back and read the others. So exciting, so sexy!

For those wondering, these stories work VERY well as stand-alones, and as for the wait... it's been LONG, but well worth it!

Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine

Kiss of Temptation by Sandra Hill

Is it lust?

Ivak Sigurdsson is dead . . . well, sort of. Guilty of the sin of lust, he's been given an unusual penance: spend eternity as a Viking vampire angel, or vangel, fighting Lucipires, Satan's vampire demons on earth. Now sequestered in Angola Prison as a "spiritual advisor," Ivak is finding all these centuries of celibacy depressing, to say the least. But then, along comes southern belle Gabrielle Sonnier. Is she a reward for his good deeds, or a temptation sent to rattle his lustsome brain?

Or is it love?

Gabrielle, a lawyer, begs Ivak to help get her brother out of prison. Aided by the Cajun LeDeux family and their chief looney bird, Tante Lulu, Ivak reluctantly agrees. And while he alternately tries to seduce and save Gabrielle before the Lucipires run rampant, they both begin to wonder if it's really only lust, or something more.

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 Kiss of Temptation is the third book in Sandra Hill’s Deadly Angels series, and given that I’m a big fan of Vampires and Fallen Angels, when I saw that this book encompasses both, I was more than a bit excited! But then toss in Demons, Vikings and Archangels, and I'm sold!

This is a fun, steamy, easy to read story, something you can enjoy on a road trip, a day at the beach, or curled up on your living room sofa. Ivak and Gabrielle are quirky, likable people/beings trying to make the world a better place by righting wrongs, and ridding humanity of Lucipires – demon vampires who infect their victims with the need to sin. Once a major sin has been committed, Lucipires, or Lucies for short, kill their victim before they can repent, damning them to hell.

In her Deadly Angels series, Sandra Hill has created a very unique world, one I enjoyed spending time in. The traditions, the people... truly entertaining. But, I have to be honest – at times the humor was more silly than funny, and distracted me from the story. With so much going on, I could have done with less of the ‘ha-ha’ in order to spend more time exploring the incredibly exciting Vangel world.

I'm looking forward to reading more in the Deadly Angel series.

My thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

Immortal Ever After by Lynsay Sands

A kiss doesn’t mean eternity . . .

Valerie Moyer doesn’t believe in vampires—until she is kidnapped by a fanged psychopath! After escaping her bloodthirsty captor, she’s through with creatures of the night. Until she finds herself under the protection of the darkly handsome Anders. Not only is she expected to accept that Anders is immortal, but also that she is the woman destined to be his life mate!

. . . Or does it?

Anders felt a connection to Valerie from the moment he cradled her bruised body in his arms. But before he claims her, he must destroy the vampire who almost stole her from him forever. His job would be easier if Valerie didn’t fight him every step of the way. Still, Anders loves a challenge, and the green-eyed beauty is worth fighting for!

*****

Immortal Ever After is the 18th book in Lynsay Sands’ insanely popular Argeneau series, and a fun, exciting, sexy story! I’ve read more than my fair share of the paranormal romance genre, most especially vampires. I don’t know what it is, but there’s something about these tormented souls that draw me in and keep me coming back for more. This is my first taste of Lynsay Sands’ writing and I was very pleased! This world she’s created is exciting, and the characters are intriguing, compelling, and very sexy. It’s not often that I fall in love during my first read of a series, but I fell - and fell hard - for the Argeneau world.

I usually hate coming into a series mid-way because I either end up lost or cringing at the information dump we have to endure. Thankfully, I was neither lost nor cringing because Ms. Sands did a great job of giving us the Argeneau world background without making me feel like I was reading a text book. The story is well written and through dialog between characters – old and new – she imparts everything new readers need to know to feel like we’re part of the story, not just reading about it.

Anders is such a great guy! I can see why everyone loves him, and anyone who’s been anxiously awaiting his story will be very happy! He’s so much fun… open but shy, strong but vulnerable, and not just sexy but super sexy! He’s the kind of vampire I want for my very own!

Valerie is a great heroine. What she’s endured would break most women, but not her. Even though everything she ever thought she knew about the world around her has been turned upside down, she holds it together and does what she has to to survive.

The bottom line: In case you didn’t get it, I really enjoyed this book, and while it was my first experience with Ms. Sands’ Argeneau series, it most certainly will not be my last!

My thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a copy of this story I exchange for an honest review.

 

The Duke Diaries by Sophia Nash

Available February 26th.

The latest duke to be undone by drink in Sophia Nash’s Royal Entourage series is also the newest, titled for services rendered to the Crown. Caught in bed with his archenemy’s still-innocent sister the morning after the most outrageous bachelor party of the century, Rory Lennox, the Duke of Abshire, knows his goose is cooked. To make amends he enters into an engagement with her to hold society at bay, but tangles with his growing attraction for this fearless, plucky lady.

Verity Fitzroy is one of five plain sisters of the premier duke, Candover. And while she’s always been fascinated by Abshire, she has far too much pride to marry a gentleman against his will. She insists that she will break off the engagement at the end of the season, even if it renders her unmarriagable.

Meanwhile, a series of entries from a discovered diary begin appearing in a London paper. These entries detail the most scandalous, most shameful exploits of The Royal Entourage. With the French Revolution so fresh in the minds of the populace, these tales of excess could incite the country to a revolt. Speculation is that Abshire recorded his friends misdeeds, but Verity knows who the real culprit is, and the truth could destroy any hope of happiness she has with the duke. But when a series of mysterious accidents takes place, Abshire and Verity must each make peace with the past to discover a passionate love that will transform them forever.

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These past few months I’ve had the pleasure and the honor of being one of the current Avon Addicts, a group of women who spread the word and share our love of Avon Books and its incredibly talented authors. The thing I’ve most enjoyed about my time so far as an Addict – aside from having the chance to work with our lovely and fearless Avon Addict Leaders, Jessie Edwards, Caroline Perny, and Pamela Spengler-Jaffee – and also aside from having met some incredible women and fellow Addicts – has been being introduced to a world of amazing authors whose writing I’ve not yet had the opportunity to read, and such is the case with the very talented Sophia Nash.

The Duke Diaries is the third book in Ms. Nash’s Regency period Royal Entourage series. It’s at times light, and at other times moving. It's romantic, it’s sexy – an absolutely wonderful story!

For me to truly enjoy a book, certain things must happen... first and foremost I have to feel a connection to the characters, especially the hero and heroine, and I did. From the start I found Rory Lennox, the Duke of Abshire, and Verity Fitzroy, one of the sisters of Rory’s sworn enemy, to be such wonderful characters. They’re thoughtful, sensible, quirky, passionate, people who I couldn’t help but care for and, as the story progresses, fall in love with.

Another must is that the story has to be entertaining and keep in interested in a way that has me turning the pages until the wee hours of the morning because I can’t get enough. And yes, I got that, too. I understand this series is a historical twist on “The Hangover” which I had never heard of before, but whatever – for me, it’s a unique story that had me laughing, sighing, fanning myself, and hoping for an outcome that would work for everyone, most especially Rory and Verity.

Secondary characters who don’t feel secondary can be difficult to manage, but Ms. Nash pulled this off with flying colors, and this is yet another 'something' I hope to find in my reading. Let’s face it, the heroes and heroines aren’t often the only people on the pages. They need a strong supporting cast of friends and family, otherwise the story can feel a bit… thin. But toss in characters whose presence enhances the story – makes it richer – and I’m going to be happy, if not downright giddy!

And lastly, but most importantly, I need a love story I can believe in. Rory and Verity had to work for their happy ending, and I mean work hard. Through their trials and their triumphs, they earned it, they deserve it, and I know they treasure their future together.

I'm happy to tell you that The Duke Diaries gave me everything I crave, everything I hope for, and then some.

From a historical standpoint, the inclusion of “Prinny” and his demand that the men of his ‘royal entourage’ make restitution for their scandalous behavior – however hypocritical he might be – brought another entertaining layer to the story and had me Googling The Prince Regent to see just how excessive his excesses were. Other authors have used Prinny as a side character in their novels, but the way Ms. Nash brought him into the story… as I’m sitting here writing about it, I’m grinning yet again. I quite enjoyed his meddling and hope to see much of him in Ms. Nash's future stories.

Just a quick note for those who might be wondering; because the author did such a fantastic job of setting up this story, I had absolutely no problem reading it out of order. That said, the series premise is so fun, so entertaining, that I’ll most certainly be going back and reading the previous books, Between the Duke and the Deep Blue Sea and The Art of Duke Hunting, as well as all the books to come.

The bottom line: The Duke Diaries is a well told story of unwavering devotion. It's about faith and trust, honor and integrity, and falling in love despite the odds. It's about letting go of the past and looking forward to a future filled with happiness, adventure, and that once in a lifetime happily ever after.

Many, many thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a copy of The Duke Diaries in exchange for an honest review. I can’t tell you what a pleasure it’s been!

The Duke Diaries goes on sale February 26th. For more information on this story, please visit: Avon Books - The Duke Diaries by Sophia Nash

And while you’re there, take a look around. You’ll probably find that many of your favorite authors are Avon authors.

Highlander Most Wanted by Maya Banks

In Highlander Most Wanted, a reclusive woman content to live in the shadows shows a Highland warrior the true meaning of love.

Genevieve McInnes is locked behind the fortified walls of McHugh Keep, captive of a cruel laird who takes great pleasure in ruining her for any other man. Yet when Bowen Montgomery storms the gates on a mission of clan warfare, Genevieve finds that her spirit is bent but not broken. Still, her path toward freedom remains uncertain. Unable to bear the shame of returning to a family that believes her dead or to abandon others at the keep to an imposing new laird, Genevieve opts for the peaceful life of an abbess. But Bowen’s rugged sensuality stirs something deep inside her that longs to be awakened by his patient, gentle caress—something warm, wicked, and tempting.

Bowen seizes his enemy’s keep, unprepared for the brooding and reclusive woman who captures his heart. He’s enchanted by her fierce determination, her unusual beauty, and her quiet, unfailing strength. But wooing her will take more than a seasoned seducer’s skill. For loving Genevieve, he discovers, means giving her back the freedom that was stolen from her—even if it means losing her forever.

 *****

Highlander Most Wanted is the second book in the Montgomerys and Armstrongs series. It picks up right on the heels of the first book, Never Seduce a Scot, and while I truly enjoyed that story, I loved this one!

This is one of those rare stories that truly is the perfect blend of romance and passion, despair and hope, trials and triumphs. It's the story of a woman whose world has been turned upside down, her heart and soul destroyed by a man so despicable, there's no doubt that he truly is evil. And the most heartbreaking trial of the story is also one of its triumphs, but I won't go into detail because I'd be giving away too much, and I wont deny you the experience of learning it for yourself. But, I will say that there were times I despised Genevieve for the same reasons I ached for her. This woman so hated, so scorned and mistreated by the McHugh clan is one of my favorite historical romance heroines ever, because despite her year in hell, they never broke her, they only made her stronger.

There were a few times I was sure I'd have to reach through the pages and throttle Bowen Montgomery! Stubborn, so devoted to his clan that I wanted to kick his man bits because I was sure he was too proud, too blind to see the truth right in front of his face... and then he'd stop, think, and realize that not everything is always as it seems. Honorable, compassionate, strong and sexy as sin, Bowen is a hero worthy of a woman like Genevieve.

The bottom line: I really can't say enough good things about Highlander Most Wanted. It's an exciting, sexy, poignant story about never giving up, never losing hope, and never turning your back on love because, in the end, love is all that matters.

My sincerest thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for allowing me a copy of this book in return for an honest review. It was such a pleasure, start to finish.

This is a graphic I put together after reading this story, but knowing I had to wait to post the review. My heart was so filled with emotions that I created a heart made of the words this story is about. I was incredibly flattered - and honored - when Ms. Banks contacted me asking if she could add it to her website. It means so much to me that it meant that much to her.