BOOK REVIEW ~ DASH OF PERIL BY LORI FOSTER

Title: Dash of Peril ( Love Undercover, Book Four)
Author: Lori Foster
Publisher: HQN
Expected Release Date: March 25, 2014

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Suspense








ARC provided by NetGalley

Book Blurb


A no-nonsense female cop reluctantly teams up with the one man who makes her lose control in a deliciously sensual new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster...

To bring down a sleazy abduction ring, Lieutenant Margaret "Margo" Peterson has set herself up as bait. But recruiting Dashiel Riske as her unofficial partner is a whole other kind of danger. Dash is 6'4" of laid-back masculine charm, a man who loves life—and women—to the limit. Until Margo is threatened, and he reveals a dark side that may just match her own.

Beneath Margo's tough facade is a slow-burning sexiness that drives Dash crazy. The only way to finish this case is to work together side by side…skin to skin. And as their mission takes a lethal turn, he'll have to prove he's all the man she needs—in all the ways that matter.

Book Review


Lori Foster is my go-to-author when I know I want something a little spicy, a little on the edge of your seat, and great characters that leave me a little breathless.

Dash Of Peril is the story of Dashiel Riske--brother to police detective Logan Riske. (Run The Risk, Book One in the Love Undercover series). Throughout the series we have gotten a peek or two of Dash's character. We know he is in the construction business (insert sexy constructor image here with faded jeans and a low-hung tool belt). And Foster, the pro that she is, has given us a tantalizing glimpse of him...until we are begging for more.

Dash has agreed to help out Lieutenant Margo Peterson in discovering who is behind the abduction of several women and drugging them to use in pornographic videos. But the criminals remain one step ahead of the police department and Margo takes matters into her own hands to find the sick men responsible.

I loved Margo's character. She is a tough-as-nails police lieutenant who comes across as a ambitious, hard-working, and candid. She IS those things, but she is so much more than the visible exterior she presents to the men who work for her.

When a car chase leads to a car crash,  followed by a shoot out, Margo is injured. Dash, who had been following her to make sure she got home safe has now been thrust into the madness.

And it is Dash who is able to see that there is so much more to this woman. He lets her be the kick-ass lieutenant she is and supports her strengths. But he is also there for her more vulnerable moments and understands that her vulnerability does not make her weak.

To Dash, Margo is all woman. And he is determined to win her heart.

What I loved about Dash Of Peril: Lori Foster shows the reader that just because a woman sometimes fantasizes about submission, it doesn't make her weak. And Dash is the kind of man who knows what Margo desires as well as what she needs. He doesn't "lose" his man-card when he steps aside to let Margo do her job. Their relationship is in no way intended to be a representation of a D/s relationship. For me, it was about understanding your partner. Understanding their wants, needs, and giving the other a safe place to let your hair down, so to speak. Being naked in front of your new lover is a vulnerable feeling. Baring your soul can be dramatically worse.

Another pleasing aspect of the book was when  two characters from Foster's earlier novels made a brief appearance. I literally swooned. I think I may have even shouted out a "YES!"  and done a little dance.

Cannon Colter, a secondary character,has street smarts and the innate ability to recognize trouble. And Yvette from his neighborhood is just that with a capitol "T". It is apparent that Yvette has a thing for him, but Cannon has his sights set on fighting with the big dogs in the MMA.  Their side-story in DoP is like a preview to Foster's upcoming series, Ultimate. Cannon's story, No Limits, will be the first.

Dash of Peril is a gratifying conclusion in the Love Undercover series and gives us loyal fans something to look forward to in August with Foster's new spin-off series.

REVIVING IZABEL RELEASE EVENT BY J.A. REDMERSKI

REVIVING IZABEL

(In The Company of Killers #2)

By Bestselling Author J.A. Redmerski

Release December 10, 2013

An Adult Suspense

Goodreads

Killing Sarai (In the Company of Killers, #1) is on sale for .99 cents for the release of Reviving Izabel!

Killing Sarai: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

Determined to live a dark life in the company of the assassin who freed her from bondage, Sarai sets out on her own to settle a score with an evil sadist. Unskilled and untrained in the art of killing, the events that unfold leave her hanging precariously on the edge of death when nothing goes as planned.

Sarai’s reckless choices send her on a path she knows she can never turn back from and so she presents Victor with an ultimatum: help her become more like him and give her a fighting chance, or she’ll do it alone no matter the consequences. Knowing that Sarai cannot become what she wants to be overnight, Victor begins to train her and inevitably their complicated relationship heats up.

As Arthur Hamburg’s right-hand man, Willem Stephens, closes in on his crusade to destroy Sarai, she is left with the crushing realization that she may have bitten off more than she can chew. But Sarai, taking on the new and improved role of Izabel Seyfried, still has a set of deadly skills of her own that will prove to be all she needs to secure her place beside Victor.

But there is one test that Izabel must face that has the potential to destroy everything she is working so hard to achieve. One final test that will not only make her question her decision to want this dangerous life, but will make her question everything she has come to trust about Victor Faust.

About the Author

Born November 25, 1975, J.A. (Jessica Ann) Redmerski is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. She lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her three children and a Maltese. She is a lover of television and books that push boundaries and is a huge fan of AMC’s The Walking Dead.

Author social media links:

Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Pinterest

EXCERPT #1 – REVIVING IZABEL (In the Company of Killers #2)

-Meeting Arthur Hamburg-


“If you touch me,” I say to the suit-clad guard standing outside Hamburg’s private room, “I’ll put your nuts in a meat-grinder.”

The guard’s nostrils flare and he glances at Willem Stephens.

“You requested a meeting with Mr. Hamburg,” Willem says from behind. “It’s only proper that you be searched for weapons before we allow you inside.”

Damn it! 

Calm. Just keep calm. Do what Izabel would do.

I breathe in a heavy breath and sneer at both of them menacingly. Then I throw my little black purse at the guard; he catches it as it hits his chest.

“I think it’s safe to say I couldn’t hide a weapon wearing a dress like this unless I put it up my cunt,” I snap, looking back at Willem Stephens. “My gun is in the purse. But don’t even think of touching—”

“Let her in,” a familiar voice says from the door.

It’s Arthur Hamburg, still as porky and grotesque as he was before, wearing an oversized suit ready to bust at the buttons if he exhales too deeply.

I smirk at the guard who glares back at me with murder in his eyes. I know that look, I’m all too intimate with it just the same. He takes the gun from my purse and hands the purse back to me.

“Mr. Hamburg,” Willem Stephens says, “I should remain with you.”

Hamburg shakes his double-chinned head. “No, you mind the restaurant. These people aren’t here to kill me or else they wouldn’t be so obvious. I’ll be fine.”

“At least leave Marion outside the door,” Willem suggests, glancing at the guard.

“Yes,” Hamburg agrees. “You stay here, let no one interrupt our…,” he looks at me once coldly, “…meeting, unless I ask for an interruption. If at any time you no longer hear my voice for a full minute, come inside the room. As a precaution, of course.”

He smirks at me.

“Of course,” I mimic and smirk right back at him.

Arthur Hamburg steps to the side and gestures me in with an opened hand, palm-up.

“I thought this was over, Miss Seyfried.”

Hamburg shuts the door.

Tour Giveaway:

• (3) Signed print copy sets of Killing Sarai and Reviving Izabel  – International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BOOK REVIEW ~ SWEET REVENGE BY REBECCA ZANETTI

Title: Sweet Revenge (Sins Brothers, Book Two)
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Published by: Forever
Release Date: December 3, 2013
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 384 pages
ARC provided by NetGalley






Buy Link:
Amazon / B&N


The One Man She Can't Have

Matt Dean was born to fight…and kill. A member of a secret black-ops military unit, he and his brothers were genetically engineered by the government to be the perfect soldiers with an expiration date. Now, with time running out, he's gone rogue in a relentless quest for the one person who can save them. His mission leads him to Charmed, Idaho…and to a beautiful woman with eyes like emeralds and a body made for pleasure.

The One Woman He Can't Resist

Laney Jacobs knows the mysterious, handsome stranger is trouble from the moment he walks into her bar, looking for a job. She's spent years running from her own past—the last thing she needs is a romantic entanglement. But Matt's strong arms offer her protection, and his gentle touch promises passion unlike anything she's ever known. As lethal forces surround them, revealing explosive secrets about Matt's past and putting everything—and everyone—he holds dear in danger, can he save them all before time runs out?

Book Review

How did I miss this series? 

Although this is book two of Zanetti's Sins Brothers series, you will not be lost with the story ARC.

Rebecca Zanetti gives the reader everything they need to know to play catch up--giving you a flashback as three young boys struggle to stay together while existing in a secret "world" controlled by a madman, named The Commander. 

The Commander is in charge of the boys who have been genetically engineered to fight, but his direction is colored with corruption. And the Gray brothers--Matt, Nate, Shane, and Jory--will do everything to stay together and to gain their freedom from the Commander. 


Matt, Nate, and Shane are brothers who will fight for their freedom and stand together, "never alone" as they try to find the surgeon responsible for implanting a deadly chip along their spines. A chip that has a six weeks time limit--and if not removed, will kill all three. 

Once free, the brothers are still hiding as they search for the female doctor responsible for implanting a deadly chip along their spines. A chip that has a six weeks time limit--and if not removed, will kill them. 

In Sweet Revenge, their search has lead Matt to Charmed, Idaho, where they suspect the female surgeon is hiding.  Although injured, Matt stumbles in this sleepy town and onto the doorstep of Laney Jacobs.  

Laney has her own secrets. And when Matt applies for the temp job as bouncer at her bar, she's left reluctantly hiring the sexy stranger. 

Zanetti writes a sizzling connection between Matt and Laney and gives the reader an action-packed plot with a curvy twist. Her heroes are fierce, loyal, and kick-ass baddies who have a huge heart. Hard to not fall for any of the Gray brothers.  There is witty banter between the brothers, but underneath it all, their motto of "never alone" proves just how far they will go to protect one another.   

Sweet Revenge has it all--a gripping romantic suspense, a sexy read, and a captivating hero. I cannot wait to read more about the Sins Brothers, with the first book, Forgotten Sins, and the upcoming release of Blind Faith. 

BOOK REVIEW ~ HARD AS IT GETS BY LAURA KAYE

Title: Hard As It Gets
Author: Laura Kaye
Release Date: November 26, 2013

Reviewer purchased own copy of paperback for review


Book Blurb

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...





Book Review 


I love a great start to a new series. Laura Kaye has written a compelling read that keeps the reader's attention. There is a fast-paced plot filled with action, addictive characters, and military intrigue.

Lets talk about the hero of this book. Nick Rixey. He is super sexy, mysterious, a little dark and rough around the edges. But when you get to the yummy center of his character, you fall ass-over-elbow for him. He has so many interesting layers to him--faults and all--that I was immediately charmed.

And Nick is not the only one I fell hard for. Kaye gives us a heapin' load of Alpha males that I want to know more about. All of them unique, quirky, and interesting in their own way.

Then, there is Becca Merritt, the heroine. She is not only likable, but has such a fierceness about her to be admired. She wasn't weak, but still had a vulnerability to her that made her character believable. And I was totally envious--I mean, she is surrounded by a smorgasbord of men, all willing to stick their necks on the line in order to help her and keep her safe.

There is no fluff romance here--no tatted hero with very little character development and even less plot. I cannot wait to see how the Hard Ink story plot continues, as the bad guy is still out there.

Great characters, plot twists, and shoot 'em up action mixed with sexy times that will knock your socks off. Laura Kaye has written a solid beginning for her Hard Ink series and I will be waiting anxiously for the next book.

BOOK REVIEW ~ MINE TO HOLD BY CYNTHIA EDEN

Title: Mine To Hold (Mine, Book Three)
Author: Cynthia Eden
Release Date: October 21, 2013

ARC provided by NetGalley

Book Blurb

She was one man’s obsession…

Nine years ago, Claire Kramer’s lover brutally killed her family, and he tried to kill her. She escaped, but she’s been haunted ever since that attack. Too afraid to trust another man and too worried that her past will catch up with her, Claire never gets too close to anyone. But then she meets Noah York.

He must have her.

Noah York is a man with secrets. The world sees him as a billionaire hotel tycoon, but Noah has a dark and dangerous side. For years, he worked covert military operations before he built his fortune. When it comes to death, Noah is a master. He knows that he should steer clear of Claire, but the white-hot attraction Noah feels for the delicate beauty is instant—and consuming.

He will never let her go.

Someone else is just as consumed by Claire—someone who will kill to possess her. And if Noah can’t stop the hunter in the darkness, he may just lose the one woman that he can’t live without.

Book Review 

I am a huge fan of Cynthia's writing, especially her romantic suspense titles. Mine To Hold is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone. 

The story starts out with an on-the-edge-of-your-seat moment. Sixteen year old Claire Kramer is being held at gunpoint by her stark-raving-mad, lunatic of an ex-boyfriend, Ethan Harrison . He is obviously not stable (duh) as he waves a gun around, demanding to know why Claire has left him. Before she can be rescued, Ethan reveals that he has killed her parents and says, "You can be mine, or you can be dead. Because I swear...you will never leave me for another." 

Insane beginning.

Fast forward nine years later, and Claire is lost everything: her sister, her job, and her dwindling bank account. She is desperate and it is that despair that has lead her outside of York Towers in New York City. 

She is about to face the man that a few months ago, stirred something deep inside Claire for the first time in a very long time. It is those feelings that make Noah York a very dangerous man to Claire. She has avoided any kind of relationship for the last nine years, but Noah could be the man to break through all of Claire's defenses with just a touch.

Noah York is a dominating man in the Big Apple--his riches made by owning dozens of luxurious hotels around the world. And he is sexy as hell--a playboy who lives the lifestyle, never having a serious relationship of any kind. 

But his first glance at Claire Kramer, months ago while in Chicago, has left Noah on edge. He wants her and he is determined to have her. Protect her at any cost. If you are a fan of the dominating, alpha male who speaks his mind, Noah York is right up your alley. His control is on a hair-trigger, something that could easily send Claire running away in the opposite direction. 

Claire has been on the run, losing job after job, when word gets out about her past. Ethan Harrison may be behind bars, but his father--an ex-senator big-wig in D.C.--is determined to see Claire ruined. Just as she has ruined his son. Claire's move to New York City is her last hope to get a job, stay employed, and hopefully, move on her with her life. 

But someone is the shadows is watching her---and wants her dead. 

Noah York is a man used to getting his way, and he will do anything to find out the identity of the man trying to kill Claire Kramer. But the past has a way of catching up with both Noah and Claire. And can Claire risk it all to give her heart to a man with such a violent past? 

Mine To Hold is a fast-paced read with action, suspense, and a few surprises as the killer's identity is revealed at its climatic end. Add some sexy and highly-sensual interludes, and you have yourself a very good read that will keep you squirming in your seat. 

BOOK REVIEW ~ BORN WILD BY JULIE ANN WALKER

Title: Born Wild ( BKI, Book Five)
Author: Julie Ann Walker
Release Date: November 5, 2013

ARC provided by NetGalley

She's got three rules:

1. Trust no one… Eve Edens has been abandoned, used, or manipulated by almost everyone she's ever met. Born into ridiculous wealth, she's dealt with the petty jealousies and sordid little resentments for nearly thirty years. But after three botched attempts on her life, she can no longer ignore the truth. Someone wants her dead.

2. Avoid the bad boys at all costs… William "Wild Bill" Reichert, the wonderfully sexy boy who abandoned her years ago, is back in town. Only he's no boy. Now he's a covert operative - and he's all man. When Eve hires Bill to help her discover who is behind the attacks, Bill soon comes to suspect it's someone much closer to Eve than she dares to believe.

3. And never fall for the same ruse twice… The search for the killer takes Bill and Eve deep into the dark secrets and strange world of the rich and famous, and into the heart of red-hot passion re-ignited by the peril that threatens to consume them both. But does Eve dare risk her heart on Bill a second time?

Book Review 

Billy Reichert and Eve Edens have a tangled past that has left Billy's heart broken and hurt. He has built a fortress around his jilted heart and will never forgive Eve how she ended things between them. 

While overseas, Billy learns of Eve's betrayal and forthcoming marriage--to another man--and the crushing sensation to his heart makes it impossible to forgive the woman he gave his heart to. 

Eve Edens, a rich socialite, never intended to hurt the one true love of her life. She and Billy made vows to stay true to each other, but after continuous persuasion from her father, she agrees to go out on a harmless date with another man. 

But that harmless date turns out to be the biggest mistake of her life.

Years later, Eve and Billy run into each other once again, and old feelings come rushing back--for both of them.  Yet, Billy refuses to act on those feelings and be hurt again. He fights the attraction that still lingers and reinforces those impenetrable walls around his heart.

But Eve needs Billy. Someone has tried to kill her--three times now--and no one believes her. Not even the police. And Eve knows that Billy and the men of BKI can help her. But being this close to the man she still loves makes it difficult to keep the truth to herself.

That twelve years later, Eve still loves Billy.  

But can Billy forget and forgive her? 

And will the killer who waits silently in the shadows finally complete his plans to get rid of Eve Edens...once and for all?

Julie Ann Walker has created a great romantic suspense series with her BKI men. All of the Alpha men in this covert group are sexy, fierce, and kick-ass baddies that will make a woman swoon.  And I love the fact that Julie gives the reader more than just the H/h to get to know and understand. The secondary characters are used wisely and you can see the sexual tension build between Delilah and Mac. My only complaint would be that I would have loved to have seen more of other past characters (Big Smile). 

While some of the plot and story structure came across as cliche, I still love reading this series. It's solid characters and continued building story line will definitely keep me around. 

LUSTING FOR COVERS ~ FIRST STRIKE BY PAMELA CLARE

Lusting for Covers is a weekly meme, held on Sunday, that allowsbloggers to share their current cover obsession with fellow book lovers.

This meme is hosted by TBQ @ TBQ's Book Palace.

Once you are ready to join the fun, 

please fill out Mister Linky over at TBQ's blog site with 

your name/blog name and the direct 

link to your Lusting for Covers for this 

week!

Here is my candidate for this week: 

Just a weekend…

Laura Nilsson knows what she wants: a successful career as a broadcast journalist—and a little fun between the sheets now and again. What she doesn’t want is marriage or kids. When a ripped and sexy stranger intervenes to stop a couple of drunks from harassing her in a hotel bar in Dubai City, all she can think about is spending the rest of the weekend with him—in her bed. There’s just one little problem. Unmarried sex is illegal in Dubai.

… of no-strings sex …

Navy SEAL Javier “Cobra” Corbray is on his way home from a rough deployment in Afghanistan when he finds himself having dinner with “the Baghdad Babe.” What she wants from him—sex with no strings—could land them both in prison. Still, he’s more than happy to oblige her. She’s confident and sexually assertive, and he’s secure enough to lie back and let her make the first strike. But, as she’s about to find out, he’s more than her match.

… or the beginning of something more?
Yet, neither Laura nor Javier has any idea what lies ahead—or how this weekend of mind-blowing sex will impact their emotions. Will they act on their new-found feelings in time, or will they let something special slip away… perhaps forever?

Why I chose this cover ~

First off, it's Pamela freakin' Clare. I love her I-Team series. It's packed with nail-biting action, sexy Alpha heroes, and strong women who know how to handle such dominating men. They simply rock.

And this cover is H.O.T.

Check out the hero's thighs. **wipes drool off chin. He has a sexy five o'clock shadow, strong jawline, nice skin complexion...did I mention those rock-solid thighs? UNGH!

Now it's your turn to show me what cover you're lusting over this week. Leave me a comment; I'd love to hear from you. 

Have a great Sunday! 

COVER REVEAL ~ TO CATCH A PRINCESS BY CARIDAD PINEIRO

Gambling at Love:  To win her heart he has to risk his secrets. . .

Romantic Times: 4 Stars – “From the first page, the pacing is strong, the action plentiful and the characters interesting enough to hook you in.”

Untold wealth, a loving family, a solid career in America: the only thing Princess Tatiana lacks is the one thing she really doesn’t want—a husband. Unfortunately, her parents have just arranged her marriage to a royal from the old country. Are they kidding? It’s the twenty-first century!

Police Detective Peter Roman is a royal living incognito … and escaping a secret that has haunted his family for years. He’s been quietly in love with his best friend Prince Alexander’s sister for as long as he can remember. Little does she know that he is secretly the Grand Duke to whom she is unwillingly betrothed…

When a series of high-end jewelry heists threatens Tatiana’s exclusive charity exhibition in glamorous Monaco, the two must trap the clever jewel thief before he strikes again. In a fight for their lives, Peter’s secret identity is revealed. With danger and passion increasing to the breaking point, she must decide: catch a thief...or trust the heart of her true love.

  

Available at 

iTunes / Amazon / B&N 

Read an excerpt here.

ARC BOOK REVIEW ~ HOTSHOT BY JULIE GARWOOD

Title:  Hotshot ( Buchanan-Renard, Book Eleven) 
Author: Julie Garwood
Expected Release Date: August 6, 2013

ARC provided by NetGalley

Peyton Locate and her sisters have inherited Bishop’s Cove, a small, luxurious oceanfront resort, but it comes with a condition: The girls must run the resort for one year and show a profit—only then will they own it.

A graduate of a prestigious French culinary school, Peyton has just lost her job as a food critic. Out of work and in a bad place personally, a year doing something completely different sounds wonderful.

There are countless challenges and too many people who want to stop the sisters from succeeding. Among them are Peyton’s contentious cousins, who are outraged that they didn’t inherit the resort, as well as a powerful group of land developers who have been eyeing the coveted beachfront property.

It’s soon apparent to Peyton that their efforts are being sabotaged, but she refuses to let the threats scare her—until she’s nearly killed. She calls on her childhood friend and protector, Finn MacBain, now with the FBI, and asks for his help. He saved her life once; he can do it again.


Book Review 

Julie Garwood is one of those authors you know will never disappoint. She is the Mistress of Romantic Suspense and writes a compelling story that you can't seem to read fast enough. Her characters are always richly developed and the plot filled with multiple layers, sometimes complex, but never overwhelming. 

Finn and Peyton share a history--with Finn rescuing Peyton from drowning in her pool when she was a child. Now, as adults, the two meet up and Peyton has trouble knocking down her door. Finn, who works for the FBI is the man who will stop at nothing to protect her. 

Although this book is part of a series, you can read it as a stand-alone. But reading a series in order is so much more fun. It's like stepping back into the lives of the characters and catching up with what has been happening in their lives. 

Garwood fans will not be disappointed with Hotshot--it delivers a solid story and likable characters with amazing chemistry.