BOOK REVIEW ~ SONG OF THE FIREFLIES BY J.A. REDMERSKI

Title: Song of the Fireflies
Author: J.A. Redmerski
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary
eBook, 464 pages

ARC provided by NetGalley



Book Blurb

New York Times bestselling author J.A. Redmerski brings us a stunning and heart-wrenching new novel about a couple who find each other in their darkest moment. 

Since they were kids, Elias Kline and Brayelle Bates have been inseparable. When Bray moves to South Carolina, separating the two for the first time, they both at last realize that their innocent childhood friendship has developed into something much more. So when Bray finally returns to Georgia—and to Elias—things between them couldn’t be more perfect…until one fateful night changes everything.

Desperate not to go to prison for a terrible accident, Elias and Bray decide to run. As they try to make the most of their freedom, the two find themselves relying on a rebellious group of people who tempt the duo into a wild and daring new life. But they can’t run from their troubles forever.

As the consequences of their past catch up to them, the couple must finally face reality. Even if they can make it through the unimaginable, Elias knows the truth about Bray’s painful history, and in the end he may not be able to save Bray from herself…

Book Review


What I love about J.A. Redmerski's books is the fact that she writes with a brutal honesty -- flawed characters faced with circumstances that are a little on the edge. If I want a heaping pile of angst and a gritty story, I know I will find it in her stories.

Song of the Fireflies is told from both Elias and Brayelle's point of view. It is a story of two best friends who become intimately involved. Eli loves Bray, will do anything for her, but Bray is afraid that having a serious relationship with her best friend will ultimately destroy the bond they have. If they break up, she will lose the best friend she has always relied on. So, Bray crushes Eli's heart and leaves him.

Fast forward a couple of years--Bray returns and both decide to give it another try.

Songs of the Fireflies deals with a lot of dark themes. Things that some people will find offensive. But real life is not tied up in some pretty package. People experience real problems. And Redmerski gives her characters some hard shit to deal with: depression, bipolar disorder, drug use. All of which make the current situation Bray and Eli find themselves thrown into more problematic.

With Brayelle and Eli on the run.

Reading Songs of the Fireflies is like watching a horrible train wreck with a black cloud of doom hanging over Eli and Brayelle--as they struggle to survive one shit storm after another. I'm not sure if I loved it or hated it, to be quite honest. It's a hard read. Brayelle and Eli's love is almost toxic and I felt like I was put through an emotional ringer.

This is a dark, angsty, read that you have to be in the mood for, or you'll be sorely disappointed.

THE FULLERTON FAMILY SAGA BLOG TOUR AND GIVEAWAY BY GINGER VOIGHT

 

The first 2 books "Enticed" & "Entangled" to Ginger Voight’s newest series "The Fullerton Family Saga" are NOW AVAILABLE and we don't have to wait to long for the conclusion of this series - Book #3 will be released in March!!!

Make sure to check out the Giveaway for Signed paperbacks of the entire Saga below! Be sure to join our Facebook Event for the Blog Tour - CLICK HERE to join.

Rachel Dennehy had a crazy thought. If she could just start over somewhere else, she could forget about her sad and tragic past and all the ghosts that chased her. When an email landed in her inbox, to tutor a difficult student whose father just happened to be the CEO of one of the biggest companies in the nation, the apple was a bit too enticing for Rachel to refuse. She moves from Texas to Beverly Hills, where she is tasked with turning around her wealthy pupil’s bad attitude. It is a bad attitude that stems almost entirely from his parents’ ugly divorce and even uglier custody battle.

That her new boss Andrew, or Drew, Fullerton is one of the handsomest and most eligible bachelors in the world means nothing to Rachel. She has absolutely no plans to ever marry or have kids of her own. Her priority is teaching nine-year-old Jonathan, who needs her guidance and her direction and... most importantly... her friendship.

Drew’s brother, Alex, however, assumes otherwise. He basically accuses her of being a gold-digging opportunist upon their first meeting. This sets the two immediately at odds, though they both have young Jonathan’s best interest at heart. Alex believes that Rachel is a “ringer,” a wholesome alternative to edge Jonathan’s socialite mother out of the running for custody, since she left Drew after her own salacious affair with a younger man. He wastes no time in telling Rachel that as long as she stays in her job, she will keep Jonathan from his real mother, and that is the driving force behind Drew's interest.

Unfortunately the more he tries to warn her away from Drew, the closer he ultimately propels her toward her charming boss. Drew never questions her motivation or her presence because Jonathan thrives under her tutelage, and Drew is beguiled by her no-nonsense attitude that challenges him from the start.

Rachel navigates these choppy waters solely to protect Jonathan. She sees the adults in the family as self-serving; most of whom are far more interested in hurting each other than taking care of this fragile, vulnerable boy. Her heart traps her into this sticky web, despite her own history of loss and betrayal. How long will she last? More importantly, what will she be required to give to save these Fullerton men who continually tug her in three different directions?

The saga begins with the first book, titled “Enticed,” due to release in early 2014. Author Ginger Voight returns to the dream-making landscape of Los Angeles, in a new tale that throws back the curtain on the dangerous power, appeal and excess of the privileged. Only by the time this tale is done, one principle character will pay the ultimate price as they all race toward that elusive happily ever after.

The saga continues for Rachel Dennehy, the tenacious small-town teacher caught in between two compelling, powerful brothers.

****This is Book 2 in the series. Blurb may contain spoilers for Book 1.****

In Book 2 of the Fullerton Family Saga, teacher Rachel Dennehy heads back to California to save her favorite little boy from his rapid downward spiral. She feels responsible for Jonathan's destructive behavior, knowing it was her broken promise that sent him off the rails. She moves in with Alex, a man who had been her nemesis for so long. Thrust together with the shared goal of saving Jonathan, they find more in common than they had realized.

In fact, it is Alex who comes to her rescue Drew confronts Rachel over her “betrayal.” The chemistry still burns hot between them, but Rachel cannot forgive Drew’s cruel deception. Unfortunately he is unwilling to let her go. Drew Fullerton doesn't like to lose, especially to his younger brother. So he proceeds with his plan to win her back, using every trick in the book to force her hand, including his son.

Young Jonathan holds fast to his dream of a real family, which tears her in yet another direction. Her heart is torn between the three Fullertons, all of whom need her in very different ways. Someone is going to get hurt, no matter what she does. She struggles to do what is right, even when she finds it puts her at direct odds with what she wants.

How far must Rachel go to win back Jonathan’s trust, and protect the men she has grown to love?

Ginger Voight is prolific author, freelance writer and optioned screenwriter. Her fiction is diverse, with novels like the edgy, coming-of-age drama DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS, and the fun family adventure for kids of all ages, COMIC SQUAD.

Having grown up reading different authors like Danielle Steel and Stephen King, Ginger has always been drawn more to story than to genre. This shows up in her various stories. Titles such as MY IMMORTAL and TASTE OF BLOOD are a delicious, heady mix of horror, suspense, and romance.

Genre romance, however, has held a special place in her heart, ever since she read her first Harlequin novel when she was only eleven. As a result, Ginger is making a name for herself writing romances of her own, starring women who look more like the average American woman rather than those traditionally represented in the size-biased American media. Her Rubenesque romances were created especially for those heroines with fuller figures, who can still get the man of their dreams if only they believe they can. Such titles include UNDER TEXAS SKIES, LOVE PLUS ONE, THE GROUPIE TRILOGY, THE FIERCE TRILOGY and PICTURE POSTCARDS.

Ginger was included in the best-selling book by Smith Magazine NOT QUITE WHAT I WAS PLANNING, featuring her six-word memoir.

Website | Blog| Facebook | Amazon | Twitter

 

Book Review

I'm not really sure how to explain how I feel after reading Enticed by Ginger Voight. I love her writing--it makes you sit up and take notice. She has a way of pulling out emotions and making you think.

But the hero ???? of the story, Drew Fullerton, was someone who not only confused me, but was someone I didn't really like.

Let me back up a bit...

Rachel Dennehy is a secondary teacher in a small town located in Texas. She receives a strange email from a rather prominent billionaire, Drew Fullerton. Drew is looking for someone to home school his troubled son. Since his parents divorce, Jonathan has been acting out and Mr. Fullerton is at a loss on how to reach out to him.

Rachel has a mysterious past that the reader is not privy to at this point. But she is looking for a fresh start and decides to take this opportunity. It involves a lot of money and her relocating to Los Angeles.

Rachel is described as a passionate teacher with plain looks and a fuller figure--someone not used to the limelight and has a deep moral code. She loves the simple things in life. But upon her arrival at the Fullerton mansion, her world is turned upside down. She struggles to keep the boundaries clearly defined with Drew Fullerton. She is keenly aware she is not the type of woman Drew Fullerton gets involved with, sexually, but that doesn't stop Rachel from feeling the strong connection to the very handsome man.

However strong the attraction is, Rachel fights it. And she puts Jonathon first in her decisions. He has already been disappointed by the adults in his life.

Drew Fullerton comes across as very driven. And although he loves his son, his company seems to come first. He has said he does whatever it takes to win. He plays dirty. And he wants his son. This is the part of the story that made it difficult to like Drew. He seemed to view "winning" Rachel as some kind of competition. That didn't go over very well with me. At. All. But as I know Ginger is wont to do with her stories, I am sure she has some twists planned along the way.

Drew's ex-wife, Elise, and Drew's brother, Alex, are just as determined to get Jonathan away from Drew's influence. Alex confronts Rachel as tries to get her to return to Texas. He goes further and says that Drew is not the man he seems. The animosity between the siblings is glaringly obvious.

And poor Jonathan is always caught in the middle.

But a terrible secret is revealed at the climactic end--and the truth pushes Rachel right out of Drew's arms. No longer able to tell his lies from the truth, Rachel leaves Los Angeles and ends up breaking her promise to Jonathan.

ARGH!  Cliffies. As great as they are at getting the reader to continue the story, they still make me want to throw my kindle across the room.

At least, with this trilogy, the wait won't be too long. Entangled was released January 28th. Thank God.

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BOOK REVIEW ~ BORN IN BLOOD BY ALEXANDRA IVY

Title: Born In Blood (The Sentinels, Book One)

Author: Alexandra Ivy

Release Date: December 31, 2013

Publisher: Zebra

Genre: Paranormal, Romance

ARC provided by NetGalley

 Book Blurb

Sergeant Duncan O’Conner has seen it all before. A beautiful erotic dancer is found murdered in her home—no suspect, no motive. But there’s one clue: she’s missing her heart. It’s enough to make the hard-bitten Kansas City cop enlist the help of a necro—one of the dead-channeling freaks who live in the domed city of nearby Valhalla. It’s a long shot, but desperate crimes call for desperate measures. 

Unlike the other “high-bloods” in Valhalla, Callie Brown considers her abilities a gift, not a curse. But when she reads the dancer’s final thoughts, she senses a powerful presence blocking her vision. This is no ordinary homicide. This is the work of a legendary necromancer who controls souls. A ravenous force that will put Callie’s skills to the test, O’Conner’s career at risk, and both their hearts on the line…literally.

Book Review

Callie Brown is a necromancer who uses her gift to help the police when a body is discovered dead...and missing her heart. There are no gaping chest wound on the victim. With her ability to see the dead's last few minutes, Callie discovers a mysterious and powerful stranger waiting for her. Someone who is very aware just exactly who and what Callie is. 

Sergeant Duncan O'Connor isn't like a lot of humans who want nothing to do with high bloods. And he has had a growing attraction for the stunning necromancer, Callie Brown. When Duncan and Callie are in Valhalla, he makes his intentions known. 

Born In Blood has a slow build-up as there are a lot of characters, and explanations given to this unique paranormal world. With all the back-story and little action in the beginning, the story lagged a bit for me. And I wasn't all that crazy for Duncan's he-man tactics in the beginning. But that doesn't deter from the fact that Ivy HAS created an interesting beginning to a new series...it just wasn't my cup of tea. 

If you like a plethora of paranormal creatures packed in one story with interesting characters and don't mind a slower pace, Born In Blood is an adventure worth reading.  

BOOK REVIEW ~ HEAVY METAL HEART BY NICO ROSSO

Title: Heavy Metal Heart (Demon Rock, Book One)
Author: Nico Rosso
Release Date: September 30, 2013

ARC provided by NetGalley

Rock Star. Front man. Demon. A descendant of satyrs and the lead singer in a band that feeds on the energy of its audience, Trevor Sand is growing weary of the constant need to perform. He needs the legend of the Muse—a woman destined to be a demon’s eternal companion and only source of sustenance—to be true.

Misty Grant has never been bold, but when Trevor singles her out among hundreds at a concert, she takes him up on his explicit offer. During an erotic night in his hotel room, she learns that his touch is as electric as his lyrics. But when Trevor’s demon is aroused, her desire turns to horror and she runs.

Knowing that he’ll die if he loses her, Trevor must find Misty before his enemies do. But even if he can save her, he knows that regaining the trust of his fated Muse will be his greatest challenge.

Book Review

I have to admit I was attracted to the cover instantly. Bared torso with tatt sleeves on a very sexy Rocker. I am so there. Even the blurb grabbed my attention.

Demon. Rock Star. Mythological history. Sex and Rock 'n Roll.

Trevor Sand is the lead singer of a heavy metal band, and he and his band mates are immortal. The live as long as someone listens. They "feed"  off of the energy of their audience.

Unless they find their muse.

Misty Grant cannot help but fall under the spell of the sexy rock god, Trevor Sand. It's like he is actually singing songs about her. Despite feeling sometimes fan-girly when it comes to Trevor, she attends the rock concert at the Rascal Room. She throws all her inhibitions away and is dressed for sex.

Cut me open, Green Eyes.

There is that instant connection across a crowded room-- a moment when everything else falls away--as Trevor sings to only Misty.

At times Rosso's words were poetic, despite the often used cliches. After the concert, Misty searches for the rocker in the darkness and is swept away in world surrounded by fog and magic. What follows next is a night of sex and sin, with reality returning with the first rays of light in the morning.

As Trevor tries to explain to Misty the truth of what they shared and who he is--a demon born of the elements--Misty runs away thinking the wine the night before had been drugged. There was no way what she had seen could be real. Trevor had changed into some sort of half-man/half-beast right in front of her eyes.

When Misty flees, Trevor goes out to find the one woman who can sustain him. The legends of the Muse are true--and Misty is Trevor's Muse. The energy Trevor needs to stay alive can only come from Misty.

She is his Muse.

Faced with truth that is startling, yet undeniable, Misty returns with Trevor and the world as she once knew it is completely shattered.

Ancient myths are absolute. Magic is abundant. But a dark magic waits to destroy Trevor and Misty.

Rosso uses lyrics, and poetic words throughout her story, but sometimes, I felt a little lost and over burdened with all the musical prose. And all that heaviness led to me skimming pages, wanting to hurry up and finish before I totally lost interest.

Heavy Metal Heart started out very promising, but the lyrical aspects of the tale were not always gratifying.

EMBRACE THE DARK BLOG TOUR ~ CARIS ROANE -- WITH GIVEAWAY

BOOK SPOTLIGHT:

EMBRACE THE DARK

Book one in the Blood Rose series

Available in Both Digital and Print at Amazon

Enter a world of blood-starved mastyr vampires and the rare women who can satisfy their deepest needs…

How can he resist his blood rose…

Gerrod, mastyr vampire of the Merhaine Realm, never thought to have his blood-needs satisfied by a mere human. But Abigail is no ordinary woman. She stuns him with her telepathy as well as the richness of her blood. However, her human DNA makes her an unacceptable mate. Yet how can Gerrod turn her away when she alone has satisfied his blood-starvation for the first time in a hundred-and-fifty-years?

Will she fall to temptation and give herself to a vampire…

When the dreaded enemy of all realm-folk, the Invictus, attacks at a fae wedding, Abigail’s simple human life gets turned upside down. She doesn’t know if she has the courage to pursue a path that means giving herself body and soul to a mastyr vampire. Will she return to her normal existence in Flagstaff, Arizona? Or will she embrace the dark…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Caris Roane has published nine paranormal novels and novellas and writing as Valerie King, fifty Regency works.  In 2005, Romantic Times gave her a Career Achievement award in Regency Romance.  As Caris Roane, she currently writes paranormal romance for St. Martin’s Press and also self-publishes the continuing stories for her Guardians of Ascension series as well as stories set in other worlds.  

Connect with Caris

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads 

I fell in love with Caris Roane when I read the first book from her Guardians of Ascension series. I immediately loved her gritty writing style and her alpha heroes. 

So it was easy peasy to say yes to review her novella, Embrace The Dark, the beginning of another series--The Blood Rose. 

Gerrod is a Mastyr vampire and leads one of the Nine Realms--a parallel dimension to the human world where paranormal creatures live. 

He has a strange yet undeniable attraction to Abigail, a human woman who runs a bakery along with an elf. It seems some of the paranormal creatures has a sweet tooth. 

But Gerrod has spent the last year fighting his attraction and comes across as moody, stern, and Abigail thinks he doesn't like her very much. But Abigail has noticed him. And she sees how much Gerrod gives to his people. He is loyal, protective and fierce to those in his realm. 

However, there are dangers lurking in the realm. A red misted danger that is called the Invictus. They hunt on the innocent, human and paranormal creatures are not safe from the wrath. It is during a wedding when the Invictus strike against the castle, swarming in a large unheard of number. Gerrod protects those around him, but has been hurt. And the blood starvation that constantly plagues him is at its peak. 

Abigail is touched by how Gerrod always seems to take care of others and never himself. So, she offers her body and her blood to the sexy Mastyr. It seems that Abigail has something that she can give more freely than no other. She has a medical condition where her body produces too much blood, which causes her heart to work harder. Usually she donates her blood, but she offers it to Gerrod as a one time gift. She wants to take care of him with no strings attached for just one night.

But a strange connection has been formed the minute Abigail and Gerrod touch. The frequency that flows through Gerrod easily flows over to Abigail. They can talk to each other telepathically. And Abigail's blood sates Gerrod like no other.

There is something more going on than they can fathom.

Overall, Embrace the Blood is a adequate start to a new series. There just wasn't enough of a connection for me to Gerrod and Abigail as a couple. But Roane's world is built solid and with a few quirky and entertaining characters. I love the trolls that Roane has created in this world. After reading the Guardians of the Ascension, I found Embrace The Dark a bit weaker as a novella.
The other point of issue for me were the Invictus. I wasn't quite clear on their creation and what their goal was. Even after reading it a few times.

Embrace The Blood has promise to be a good paranormal read for those who have an addiction to vampires. 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Caris  is giving away the following prizes at the end of her tour.  There are two types of prizes:  The Tour Grand Prize and 1 Prize at Each Stop

TOUR GRAND PRIZE:  $25.00 Amazon e-Card, signed copy of ASCENSION, e-Copy of EMBRACE THE DARK, versatile calendar, notepad, note cards, sticky notes and romance trading cards!  

1 WINNER at each stop receives:  an e-Copy of EMBRACE THE DARK and an e-Copy of THE DARKENING

Click here for tour stop info. 

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ARC BOOK TOUR AND REVIEW ~ INDELIBLE BY BETHANY LOPEZ

Thank you to Bethany Lopez and ATomR Tours for the ARC of Indelible for an honest review.

After a year of partying, Sam decides to buckle down and focus on college. Things are going great until a one-night stand leaves her pregnant and alone. Raising a child while going to school isn’t easy, but Sam is determined to be strong for her daughter. She doesn’t have time for guys or relationships, and takes great care to protect her child and her heart.

Judd doesn’t fit the mold of a college ballplayer. His long hair and tattoos may fit the life he’s created for himself, but baseball is the one thing he takes seriously. When he meets Sam, he’s immediately drawn to her curves and refusal to put up with his crap. When Judd learns the truth, can he handle the responsibility that comes with loving a single mother? 

Sam yearns for the fire that Judd fuels in her, but her child’s needs have to come first. Can two people at different stages in their life find a way to make a life together?

Indelible is a sweet and touching an well as easy to read. It touches the heart with beautiful and tender moments and the characters are likable.  

The heroine, Sam, is a single mother, who strives to make a better life for herself and her daughter, Karrie. A reformed party girl, she now lives in family housing, working while attending college and raising her child on her own. She has given up ever having a social life. But when she meets Judd, a sexy, tattooed baseball player, her world is turned upside down. And she finds herself hoping that maybe she can have it all. 

The hero, Judd, is more than just a sexy biker and college athlete. He has heart and is loyal to his father, who has turned to the battle after the death of Judd's mother. Since running into Sam, he turns a one eighty from his playboy ways and thinks that Sam could be different. 

When Sam and Judd first hook up, Sam keeps her daughter a secret. She wants to see where things are going before bringing a man around to confuse her child. But Judd has been honest with her from the start and she comes clean about being a single mother. And Judd has to make a decision whether to run or to stick around. 

Just when things seem to smooth out and look like all is going well, the unexpected happens. Karrie's father shows up. And Sam and Judd have to make hard choices that will effect their relationship. 

The path toward Sam and Judd's HEA could have been bit more turbulent. At times, it felt a little too perfect. Things fell into place a bit too easily for them. I would have liked to seen more drama, more angst, but that is my own personal tastes when it comes to books. But Lopez does get some things right when it comes to raising a child. And I was glad to see a dose of realism thrown into the story on occasion. 

BOOK REVIEW ~ BLUSH BY LAUREN JAMESON

Title: Blush (In Vino Veritas, Book One)

Author: Lauren Jameson

Release Date: May 7, 2013

ARC provided by NetGalley

Madeline Stone is determined to heal from her tragic past, one difficult step at a time…and she doesn’t need any distractions. Then she meets a mysterious and captivating stranger—and over a glass of outrageously expensive wine, her world turns upside down. Try as she might to banish the wealthy business mogul from her thoughts, Madeline can’t fight Alex’s staggering appeal or his enticing offer of intimate discovery.

Alex doesn’t date—at least, not in the traditional sense. Still, he wants Madeline …and his sexual intensity provides her with a much-needed escape. They embark on a tumultuous erotic affair, one that takes them to the pinnacle of obsession and desire. But underneath each explosive encounter lie dangerous secrets waiting to consume them both.…

Book Review

Madeline Stone is trying to find a little courage to hit the blackjack tables and check off the item off her bucket list. Her life has been turned upside down since the night she and her sister were in an auto accident--fatally killing her sister and leaving Madeline overwhelmed with guilt and grief. She leaves her hometown, moving to Paradise, Nevada, and is currently under the care of a psychiatrist to help with her often debilitating anxiety. Her bucket list was contrived to help her step outside her protective bubble and learn to live again.  

Alex Fraser is the sexy owner of a Las Vegas casino and spots Madeline at the bar. He is intrigued by her telling blush and her innocent nature. But being a Dom, she should be off limits to him. He didn't do relationships. However, he cannot seem to stop himself and he sits down beside her to offer her a drink. 

Their conversation at this point is awkward--and I almost want to stop reading at this point. I don't feel a connection to these characters at all. Their dialogue was dry and lacked a spark to whet my appetite. 
But I trudged along and continued reading...

Madeline leaves the casino after winning a hand at blackjack, thinking that Alex has set it up for her to win against the house. It sparks her anger and she almost decides to confront him. But decides against it, thinking she will never see the sexy billionaire again. 

For me, Madeline's overwhelming interest in this stranger seemed to happen too fast. But I can understand seeing a man and thinking--"Oh, my!" And thus begins a running visual of some very vivid fantasies in your head. But for Madeline, who has been such a recluse and has anxiety, I felt their first meeting was a little out of character for someone like her.

As the story line continued, I did fall for Maddie and Alex and their connection became more believable. Both are hiding secrets, afraid to open up to each other. With Madeline, she refuses to tell Alex about how the death of her sister has affected her life. And with Alex, he refuses to tell her that he has a young daughter. 

But for their relationship to work, trust has to be established. And secrets could destroy their fragile foundation. 

The BDSM lifestyle is one that Madeline knows little about, but the freedom she gets when Alex takes control becomes addictive. Her anxiety lessens the closer she becomes to this man and wants to mean more than just a sexual partner. But can Alex commit to her in a serious relationship when he has never done so in the past?

Alex is fighting a losing game. No matter how he tries to stay away from Madeline, he always seems to come back to her. He sees something in her that compels him to want more. But his past has a way of rearing its ugly head and the secrets that Madeline is hiding from him has him walking away. For Alex, trust means everything. And Madeline has made it quite clear she cannot share her secret. 

Overall, Blush in an entertaining read with just a few small parts that felt a little forced and overdone. But I loved how Madeline learned to find herself and embrace her sexuality with Alex. For those readers who enjoy a walk on the kinky side, Blush should fulfill their every fantasy. 

BOOK REVIEW ~ HIS SOUTHERN TEMPTATION BY ROBIN COVINGTON

Title: His Southern Temptation

Author: Robin Covington

Release Date: April 2013

ARC provided by NetGalley

Some women are bad. Some women are a bad idea. The best ones are both...

A former Black Ops assassin, “Lucky” Landon has had more near-misses than a man should ever have. Now he’s out of that business and settling into the simple life in his small hometown. So the last thing he ever expected was to end up at gunpoint. Or that the woman holding the gun would be his best friend’s little sister and Lucky’s on-again/off-again lover.

Taylor Elliott is Trouble, and she likes it that way. And seeing Lucky again? Well, he’s been her dirty little secret for the past few years and everyone knows that secrets in a small town are almost impossible to keep. But Taylor has bigger problems on her plate. Like the local mob boss who wants her dead. 

And right now the only thing standing between Trouble and disaster is a hottie named Lucky..

Book Review

Lucky Landon returns to his hometown in the hopes of settling down and buying his dad's farm. But while helping out a friend doing a little detective work, he runs into the woman he has never forgotten--Taylor Elliott. 

Taylor has been keeping a secret from her big brother, Teague. She has been sleeping with his best friend, Lucky Hanover for the past few years. It had never been anything serious. She couldn't afford to let it. But now she is back in town temporarily and Lucky is asking her to stay. He wants to make things permanent. 

Will Taylor give up her dreams to run her own spa in Hawaii to be with a man who could possibly break her heart? 

Robin Covington creates an interesting story line with murder, mob business and a missing stripper. Her characters are quirky and the sexual attraction between Taylor and Lucky is fantastically hot. There are also some really great secondary characters that had another layer to the story. 

Fans of romantic suspense with a love story tangled in the midst will enjoy His Southern Temptation and be back for more of the Boys Are Back In Town Series. 

Favorite quote from the book:

The kiss had been way too short, with lots of tongue, a truckload of regret, and the bitter edge of good-bye.

BOOK REVIEW ~ DON'T BITE THE BRIDESMAID BY TIFFANY ALLEE

Title: Don't Bite The Bridesmaid (Sons of Kane Series)

Author: Tiffany Allee

Release Date: May 27, 2013

ARC provided by author for honest review

Alice Shepard needs one thing: a date for her sister's wedding. And not just any date. A hunk who will make her fiancé rue the day he left her for her best friend. Her drop-dead gorgeous neighbor fits the bill—even if he is a bit quirky and never comes out during the day—and Alice has downed just enough appletinis to ask him. But she makes it quite clear that there will be no funny business. 

Spending a week on a cruise ship full of humans while sleeping close to his sexy next-door neighbor sounds like a helluva bad idea to vampire Noah Thorpe. But his friends need time to get him out of a shotgun wedding—a vampire bonding that will tie his fate to a female vampire he's never met. And Alice's offer comes at just the right time. 

What could possibly go wrong?

Book Review

Alice Shepard is attracted to her sexy and mysterious neighbor, Noah Thorpe. And she is trying to gather up her courage one appletini at a time in order to ask him to be her plus one at her sister's upcoming wedding. She's not looking for a relationship--her ex has made her bitter about men--but she wants Noah to pretend to be her boyfriend during the nuptials. 

Noah Thorpe isn't like most men--in fact, he isn't human. He is a two hundred year old vampire with his own set of problems. And right now he is looking for a place to "hide" while avoiding a forced arranged marriage to a perfect stranger. When Alice offers the role of pretend beau during a wedding cruise, he realizes that this is the perfect escape.

Except being near Alice makes Noah want to sink his fangs into her creamy white flesh and do very, VERY, bad things. 

Noah is determined not to lose control and keep his distance from the very attractive, very tempting, Alice Shepard. He can't afford to sleep with her, much less bite her. But when the two are thrown together on a ship in the middle of the ocean, things become heated and emotions bloom.  

But how will Alice react to Noah being a vampire? And will Alice lose her heart once again, only to realize that Noah may have his own hidden agenda? Secrets threaten to keep them apart before they even truly begin in this sweet, sometimes humorous, and sometimes sizzling romantic read. 

ARC BOOK REVIEW ~ EXTREME LOVE BY ABBY NILES

Title: Extreme Love

Author: Abby Niles

Release Date: April 30, 2013

ARC provided by NetGalley

New body. New clothes. New men.

Used to the average Joe, Caitlyn Moore is overwhelmed when the supremely masculine Dante Jones walks into her life and expresses an interest in her. At first she pushes him away, refusing to encourage the attention of a cage fighter. Then she learns Dante has a love ‘em and leave ‘em reputation. What better way to fine-tune her non-existent flirting skills than with a male who won’t stick around? But Dante has no intention of being a practice dummy; he’s out for all or nothing. Now Caitlyn must accept Dante—violent career and all—or let him go.

Dante “Inferno” Jones has one goal: win the Welterweight Championship. At a time when focus is crucial, the last thing he needs is a distraction. Yet Caitlyn Moore becomes a challenge he can’t resist. When the light-hearted pursuit shifts to a battle to win her heart, his focus is shot. Faced with losing the biggest match of his career, Dante must decide if his extreme life also has room for Extreme Love.

Book Review 

I'm a sucker for a fighter and a huge fan of UFC fighters, so it was an easy decision to pick up Extreme Love, a romance book that features a muscled and sexy fighter. 

The book starts out when Amy takes her BFF, Caitlyn, to a fight, where Amy's boyfriend Brad, and is currently kicking the shit out of his opponent. Fists flying, blood spilling, bones crunching...and Caitlyn Moore is covering her eyes, refusing to watch the violent sport. 

Caitlyn hates violence and is feeling a bit green at the barbaric methods the fighters use, and can't believe her best friend took her to such an event. But she agrees to attend the victory party to celebrate Brad's win in the cage. Caitlyn feels totally out of place in a sea of skinny women with perky breasts and perfect bodies. She hides in a corner, alone, and hidden in the shadows, not wanting to be the center of attention.

You see, Caitlyn has some serious body issues and hides in unattractive clothing that swims on her, too big for her frame. Even though she has lost eighty pounds, Caitlyn cannot see past the size she used to be. 

So when Dante "Inferno" Jones, another fighter at the party, flashes a heart pounding smile in her direction and asks her to dance, she cannot understand his attraction to her. Surely such a gorgeous man who is ripped with muscles couldn't find her appealing...right? 

Despite the sexual attraction that simmers between them, Caitlyn stays her distance and refuses to make things easy for Dante. 
Dante is not only physically attracted to the beautiful Caitlyn, he is intrigued by the fact that she doesn't fall at his feet. She is shy and his curiosity has been stoked. He wants to get to know this woman. 

Amy warns Dante that if he is truly interested in Caitlyn as a person,  then he must take things slow and be patient. But what Dante wants, he is determined to get. 

Slowly, Dante and Caitlyn get to know one another and Dante sees the fire and passion hiding inside Caitlyn, the side she rarely lets shine. He woos her with words, with his touch and Caitlyn begins to not only see how beautiful she is, but truly feel beautiful in her own skin. 

But the fact that Dante is a fighter--lives and breaths it--still comes between them, threatening to sever the fragile bond between them.  How can she love and accept the fighter that resides inside the man? 

I can totally relate to Caitlyn. I have battled the ups and downs of weight loss/gain my entire life. I have ranged from the too skinny size 3 to the OMG size 16 while in college. Self-image is a huge theme in Extreme Love and Caitlyn's struggle was easy to relate to. We (women) tend to be our harshest critic, wanting to turn out the light when we are in bed with our man. Caitlyn's pain is palpable and I sympathized with her. 

Extreme Love sometimes leans more toward the personal journey that Caitlyn goes through--learning to love herself and see past the weight, the imperfections, and realize that she is more than just her body size. But there are laughs along the way and a few sexy times between Dante and Cait that make this an enjoyable read. 

Abby Niles is a new-to-me author that I will definitely pick up again in the future.