Jasinda Wilder-Alpha (Alpha #1)

The first time it happened, it seemed like an impossible miracle. Bills were piling up, adding up to more money than I could ever make. Mom's hospital bills. My baby brother's tuition. My tuition. Rent. Electricity. All of it on my shoulders. And I had just lost my job. There was no hope, no money in my account, no work to be found. And then, just when I thought all hope was lost, I found an envelope in the mail. No return address. My name on the front, my address. Inside was a check, made out to me, in the amount of ten thousand dollars. Enough to pay the bills and leave me some left over to live on until I found a job. Enough to let me focus on classes. There was no name on the check, just "VRI Inc.," and a post office box address for somewhere in the city. No hint of identity or reason for the check or anything. No mention of repayment, interest, nothing…except a single word, on the notes line: "You." Just those three letters.

If you receive a mysterious check, for enough money to erase all your worries, would you cash it?

I did.

The next month, I received another check, again from VRI Incorporated. It too contained a single word: "belong."

A third check, the next month. This time, two words. Four letters. "To me."

The checks kept coming. The notes stopped. Ten thousand dollars, every month. A girl gets used to that, real quick. It let me pay the bills without going into debt. Let me keep my baby brother in school and Mom's hospice care paid for. How do you turn down what seems like free money, when you're desperate? You don't. I didn't.

And then, after a year, there was a knock on my door. A sleek black limousine sat on the curb in front of my house. A driver stood in front of me, and he spoke six words: "It's time to pay your debt."

Would you have gotten in?

I did.

It turns out $120,000 doesn't come free.

{4 stars}

Loved it. And yes, I felt like I had a little 50 shades or Crossfire series flashbacks, but that was only because he is a billionaire who has to have control. That is where the similarities end. This story takes on a very unique start, very mysterious. Who in their right mind would get on a plane blindfolded to go who knows where? Talk about taking a leap! And that's where it gets even more interesting. Roth is a man who knows exactly what he wants and how to get it. Their "game" is sensual and hot enough to set the pages on fire. Along with probably one of the most sexual scenes I have ever read, there are secrets that leave you saying, "I didn't see that coming". Great storyline, awesome chemistry between them that really draws you in and keeps you reading page after smoking page. My only complaint (hence the 1 star drop), is that some of the scenes, even though totally hot, the "dirty talk" crosses over into vulgar for me personally. I am no prude and enjoy passionate dirty talk, but it sometimes seemed a little crass and not sexy at all. That being said, I have already pre-ordered the next one!

L.A. Fiore-Beautifully Forgotten (Beautifully Damaged #2)

Successful restaurateur Lucien Black’s blue-green eyes and unattainable attitude drive women wild. But his abandonment issues and criminal past have left him emotionally closed off. When a familiar face shows up for a job interview at his nightclub, the ache he has tried to forget, tears at his heart—it’s the girl who once healed him…and then abandoned him.

Darcy MacBride still remembers Lucien’s delicate touch when they were both wildly in love teenagers. His gorgeous eyes had soothed her hurt after she’d been dumped off at the orphanage where Lucien lived. Darcy felt his jagged edges fit perfectly into her own, and she’d planned to spend the rest of her life with him—until a mysterious man warned her away. Now, fourteen years later, she’s ready to endure the torture of Lucien’s indifference and having him as her boss…just to be near him. But when it seems that they might finally take up where they left off, a devastating secret buried in their past threatens to tear them apart again.

L.A. Fiore’s story of smoldering love recaptures the tormented romance of Beautifully Damaged.

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

{5 stars}

I fell in love with this series all over again.

I read the Indie published version of Beautifully Damaged over a year ago and was swept away by the raw emotion that it brought out. So I was a little disappointed when the story was revised and republished. I didn't read the new one, so I was not expecting to fall in love with this one with the same intensity. But I did.

I have to admit I was a little confused at first and had to refresh my memory by peeking at the first book. But I quickly caught on, and really, it was just my own memory problem and not the author's writing. About 40% into the book I gave up my "hang up" about the first book being rewritten and fell hopelessly in love with Lucien and Darcy. They are just as wonderful as Trace and Ember are. Their history is a true love story. Not only is this a romance that defies the odds, but there is a puzzle running underneath that ties everyone together. There are a lot of secrets revealed, schemes uncovered, and some really happy moments mixed in with some "oh my god" moments that had me crying. Beautiful doesn't begin to describe this series. Passionate Alpha Men with strong willed, spine of steel women that balance and love them. Loved it, and even thought all the puzzle pieces are put in place on this one, I hope this isn't the last we see of either couple.

*was provided an advanced copy for an honest review

*******

EXCERPT

Lucien watched as Darcy struggled to get the printer working. Even from his distance he could hear the cursing, which made him smile. It had been a week since their relationship had taken a very pleasant turn. She was still just as feisty as he remembered and it wasn’t hard for him to recall why he had fallen for her in the first place. Their sparring was verbal foreplay and he fucking craved it. His eyes moved over her. Her body was nothing like the one he had known, with curves that his hands itched to touch. Her hair was up, though he preferred it down, and tendrils were falling out of the twist. He remembered vividly the sight of it spread out over his pillow.

He had to admit that she was still just as interesting to him as she had been at fourteen. Despite everything, she was still his Darcy—sweet, witty, and guileless, except at the moment. She looked about ready to torch the printer, so he moved to help her. As he approached, she was actually staring into the paper tray, yelling at the creatures that lived inside it.

He chuckled, which must have taken her by surprise, because she leaped backward and landed on his foot.

“Fuck!” he cursed.

“Sorry.”

He looked down at her strappy sandals with heels high enough to stake a vampire and had a vision of those legs draped over his shoulders. Instantly, he was hard.

“I was going to offer to help you. The printer can be temperamental, but now I’m bleeding out from a stab wound.”

She didn’t miss a beat. “It probably didn’t even break the skin. What is it you guys say? Rub some dirt into it.”

He eyed her shoes. “Those things should be listed as lethal weapons.”

“Hardly. There are far cheaper ways to kill someone.” She bent to stare into the printer again and Lucien took the opportunity to check out the curve of her ass in the little black skirt she wore.

“Stop checking out my ass and help me.”

Not at all repentant for getting caught staring, he replied easily, “It’s a paper jam.”

He thought he was being helpful and when she straightened slowly, he entertained the notion that she was struggling with the need to throw herself into his arms in gratitude.

One look at her face, though, and he knew he wasn’t going to be copping a feel.

“Your powers of deduction are astounding. Seriously, you should give a seminar on mastering the obvious.”

He tried not to laugh, but he lost that battle. And she responded by flaying a layer of skin off him with her sharp tongue.

“I know it’s a paper jam, Sherlock, I just can’t find it.”

“It’s usually in the back,” Lucien said as he reached for the back of the printer, his arm brushing up against her on purpose. Darcy’s inhaled breath in response had his balls tightening. He dislodged the paper and pulled it free.

He turned to her with a smug smile, which she returned with uncanny accuracy before she said, “Thanks. I almost lost my cool.”

“Almost?”

A slight smile touched her lips. “I should go restart my print job.”

“Probably, unless you can get the little men in the printer to do it.”

Brownies.”

“What?”

She laughed. “Not the baked goods, the little mischievous mystical creatures.”

“They live in my printer?”

“Maybe.” She started away, but stopped and turned to him.“Thanks.”

“Have dinner with me tonight.”

She eyed him through her lashes before she said, “You’re on.”

And then she turned and disappeared into her office.

GOODREADS LINK:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21402175-beautifully-forgotten

PURCHASE LINKS

#2 Beautifully Forgotten

Amazon US:  http://amzn.to/1itJ3qt

Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/1dGggLe

ALSO AVAILABLE

#1 Beautifully Damaged

Amazon US:  http://amzn.to/1dtgN2V

Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/1dp4UAI

AUTHOR BIO

L.A. Fiore lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with her husband, two children, their dog, two kittens and Willow: their three-legged hamster. Her twin sister lives right down the street and being a seasoned zombie hunter, there is comfort knowing when the zombie apocalypse comes they'll be ready. L.A. loves hearing from readers and can be reached through Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/l.a.fiore.publishing

AUTHOR LINKS

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/l.a.fiore.publishing

 Website:   http://www.lafiorepublishing.com/

Goodreads:   https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6553058.L_A_Fiore

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/L.A.-Fiore/e/B00BDAHVMG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

GIVEAWAY

There will be an international giveaway for a signed paperback set of the Beautifully Damaged series (including Beautifully Damaged & Beautifully Forgotten).

Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba3ffd55108

Lili St. Germain-Three Years (Gypsy Brothers #5)

Every day for six years, I used to pray that I would find my way back to the boy I loved.

Until finally, one day, I did.

But that’s the funny thing about life. Nothing good ever lasts, not for me, anyway. You think you’re the one with the power, at least I did, but then I got careless. One tiny mistake, and now I am powerless to stop what comes next.

People think money equals power, but all the money in my bank account, the dirty notes laundered clean that my father left for me, are useless.

Money does not equal power. Power is held by the one with the knife in his hand, tracing shallow cuts into your skin.

Power is held by the one who owns you.

I had power once.

Now, I have nothing.

{5 stars}

Oh Lili, how you torture me.....

The Queen of cliff hangers is at it again, but leading up to that....Oh My God!  Everything changes with this one. 

We left off in book 4 with Juliette/Sammi walking back into Dornan's clutches. Book 5 picks up basically where that one leaves off. But everything has changed. Dornan is far more despicable and evil than anyone can ever imagine. Captivating, jaw-dropping, mind warping things happen to her. How she has survived ANY of this, even from the first violating event in her life, is beyond my comprehension. I would have crumbled long ago, but Juliette/Sammi has a spine of steel. I sat here and power read the whole story after work in 3 hours, not moving from my seat. And I can't wait to read the rest of this journey. This series is unlike any I have ever read. Dark, violent, stunning in it's violence at times, but still captivating. You just keep hoping and hoping that Jase and Juliette will survive this. Crossing your fingers that they will have some kind of HEA. How either of them have lived this long in this world is a miracle. A very important MUST read for lovers of this series. If you haven't started it yet, sit down (with a drink) and power on. Not for the "vanilla" reader for sure. This series is for lovers of edgy stories where love survives despite being kicked in the head over and over again.


**received an advanced copy for honest review. Thank you Lili St. Germain!!!

THREE YEARS (Gypsy Brothers, #5) is LIVE across all major online stores!.

iBooks store link

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon AU

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Smashwords

Plus other links:

Goodreads

Lili's website

Madeline Sheehan-Unbeloved (Undeniable #4)

Warning: This is not a conventional or predictable love story. It involves one woman and two men bound by a love so destructive it spans two decades, pitting brother against brother, and shattering the lives of those touched by it.

Dorothy Kelley is a born romantic, searching for her prince. Instead she finds herself pregnant at fifteen, and a in a loveless marriage by the tender age of eighteen. Then hope comes riding into her life on a motorcycle and within weeks, Jason “Jase” Brady, a member of the Hell’s Horsemen motorcycle club, sweeps Dorothy off her feet.

But nothing is ever simple for Dorothy. Jase is married with children. And as Dorothy patiently waits for Jase to give her the happily-ever-after she’s been dreaming about, James “Hawk” Young, a member of the Hell’s Horsemen with secrets of his own, sees an opening into Dorothy’s life and takes it. What follows is a long and painful journey of self-discovery and forgiveness, as Dorothy comes to realize that home was exactly where she’d left it, and the love she’d forever craved had always been within her reach.

This is the story of Dorothy, Jase, and Hawk.

We are all born pure; it is our journey that burdens us and leads us astray. Our mistakes that beat us down and cover us in guilt and shame, burying us a little more with each passing hardship. It is up to us to dig ourselves out, to come to terms with our faults, to embrace not only our imperfections but those of the ones we love, and to once again find the path we strayed from.

{5 stars}

Full circle, we are now coming full circle with Dorothy, Jase and Hawk. This much anticipated story was well worth the wait. And even though going into it I didn't know who I wanted her to pick, I'm happy with how it all played out. 

"And if I hadn't loved him already, I would undoubtedly love him now.

It had taken me half a lifetime, years filled with heartache and one bad decision after another. But I'd finally found him, my prince, hiding inside a man who'd been there all along."

So much happens in this story, we almost have 3 separate stories going on that just so happen to intersect with our 3 main characters. Each one has made mistakes. Mistakes that have cost them all dearly. Decisions that they all wish they could "do over", but those decisions brought them to the end game. Who will Dorothy choose? Once you read it all play out, the answer is really very simple. But life is never that simple right? Just when you think you have it all put back together, everything changes. I will admit I cried, Sheehan has a way of pulling emotions out of the reader you would never usually feel just by reading a book. But we are all in love with these characters, and somehow you feel what they feel. And you cry with them, for sadness, and joy. I could go on and on about this book, but I will leave you to discover on you own. Loved every word of it, soooo looking forward to the next one!

Aurora Rose Reynolds-Assumption (An Underground Kings Novel)

RELEASE DATE: September 5th, 2014

as·sump·tion:

a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof

They say when you assume that you make an ass out of you and me. Kenton Mayson learned this lesson firsthand when he made assumptions about Autumn Freeman and the kind of woman she is based on what little information he had. What he finds out is she’s not only beautiful, but also smart, funny, a fighter, and exactly the kind of woman he wants to share his life with. Autumn made assumptions of her own about Kenton, and now he needs to prove her wrong in order to protect her and their future.

About the Author:

Aurora Rose Reynolds is a navy brat who's husband served in the United States Navy. She has lived all over the country but now resides in New York City with her Husband and pet fish. She's married to an alpha male that loves her as much as the men in her books love their women. He gives her over the top inspiration everyday. In her free time she reads, writes and enjoys going to the movies with her husband and cookie. She also enjoys taking mini weekend vacations to nowhere, or spends time at home with friends and family. Last but not least she appreciates everyday and admires it's beauty.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

Additional Books by Aurora Rose Reynolds

Until Series

Until November (Book 1)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1i3ebMV

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1k2XK31

Smashword: http://bit.ly/1hvNQZj

Until Trevor (Book 2)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1l8YYfN

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

Smashword: http://bit.ly/PBepBh

Until Lily (Book 3)

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

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

Smashword: http://bit.ly/1ik18ci

Until Nico (Book 4)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1m0JaZO

Amazon UK: http://amzn.uk.to/1m0JaZO

B & N: http://bit.ly/1kZqgpl

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18781543-until-nico

Helena Hunting-Inked Armor (Clipped Wings #2)

In this follow-up to Clipped Wings, the emotional love story continues between Hayden and Tenley; two young people who desperately want to love and be loved but are afraid to completely let go of their pasts.

In the wake of losing Tenley Page, tattooist Hayden Stryker's tumultuous past is haunting him. Plagued by nightmares about the murder of his parents, Hayden reaches out again to Tenley. Having run from the man she doesn't believe she deserves, Tenley finally lays her guilt to rest. Despite their intense physical attraction, Hayden and Tenley struggle to repair their fragile emotional connection. As Hayden gets closer to the truth, he must find a way to reconcile his guilt over his parents' death in order to keep the woman who finally cracked his armor, and found her way into his heart.

*** *** ***

{4 stars}

Emotional, gripping story. You would think that this story would be boring, just two people dealing with the tragedy of their pasts. But somehow it becomes so much more. It never got boring, and even the mundane day to day things seemed to have some point in the overall connection of the two. Each one helping the other come to terms with their own tragedies, and learning to move forward. Really enjoyed it.

**received a copy from Netgalley for honest review.

Callie Hart-Fallen (Blood & Roses #4)

Sloane

For over two years, Sloane Romera has pinned everything on finding Alexis. Life was going to get better. Easier. Happier. The nightmare of having a missing sister was supposed to end, and everything was supposed to go back to normal.

However, now that she’s found her sister, Sloane is discovering that life has a way of ridiculing what we expect of it.

Nothing is easier.

And ‘normal’ is falling for a man who might never be able to feel the same way.
***
Zeth

A lengthy history of breaking things with his fists has given Zeth Mayfair a fairly good idea of how to get his own way. But when his goal, the one, single woman on the face of the planet that he’s truly ever wanted, can only be obtained by fixing things instead of destroying them, how can he adjust a lifetime of violence in order to make her his once and for all? And how can he make sure that she is safe?

The first part is going to take time. But the second part…

The second part is easy.

He must kill Charlie Holsan.

{5 stars}

"I've fallen for this reckless, dangerous, terrifying soul, and now that I've realized it, I'm not ready to give it up."

I fall in love with authors. When they draw me in and I become completely submerged in a story, the characters, and the series, you just can't help but fall in love with the person who took you there. Callie Hart is one of those authors, I start reading this series and I forget everything around me, I go from daylight to darkness with only the light from my kindle before I even realize that any time has passed. 

Zeth Mayfair is one of my top 3 book boyfriends. He is harsh, with a dark past, and an even darker mood at times. But you can see the soul beneath all that if you look at just the right time, blink, and you will miss it. Sloane is the only person who can crack that dark shell of his. It has not been a pretty fairytale love story, it more closely resembles a tragedy. But somehow they keep it together, the dynamic between the two is amazing. The push and pull of their developing relationship, and the violent, upending drama that surrounds them is more than most people could even live through. But they can't walk away from each other. And the overall mystery just keeps getting better. What will Charlie do next? How will Lexi impact Zeth and Sloane? We get a lot of answers but just as many questions. Thankfully the author's note at the end keeps my anxiety to a minimum. I can't wait to finish their journey, with the surrounding characters, like Lacey, the whole picture is one you just can't look away from or you may miss something. Not one page or paragraph is a waste of words. If you can't tell, I love this series!