The Summer Games: Out of Bounds by R.S. Grey

Blurb:

I despise Erik Winter.

He’s arrogant and cruel—a man I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy—and by some twisted turn of fate, he’s my new Olympic gymnastics coach.


I’ve had to contend with gruff coaches in the past, but Erik is far worse. His stern demeanor complements a body built for intimidation, and his reprimands come from a mouth so cunning, I know it could strip me of my defenses—if I let it.

Though each of us would love to be rid of the other forever, we are bound to each other by need and necessity. I’m his rising star, his best shot at proving himself to his critics. And without a coach, I have zero chance of winning gold in Rio.

The easiest way forward would be to wave a white flag and make peace with the man I’ll be sharing close quarters with for the foreseeable future, but he is intent on war.

Fine. By. Me.

If he pushes me, I’ll push back harder. If he wants to test me, to play with my head, I’ll show him just how many boundaries I’m willing to cross. Because I know it’s not a choice between winning or warring—not if you can have them both. At the end of it all, I plan on leaving Rio with gold around my neck and his icy heart in the palm of my hand.

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Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2aulk05

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2axrhHb

Audio: http://amzn.to/2aulyUG

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2asyjuQ

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2aBe4dW

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2aMWruC

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: August 2016.

I discovered RS Grey by chance before The Duet was released, I quickly devoured every available title of hers released up until that point and fell in love with her words, her writing style, her stories, everything about them drew me in, there's a freshness to her writing that makes diving into her books a pure joy.

Brie Watson knows all about the sacrifices you make to be the best, discovering her love of gymnastics at what most would consider old age, Brie worked hard to become worthy of the gold medals she's already claimed from World Championship's, with the Rio Olympics only weeks away Brie is the person to beat, and has her heart set on bringing home the Olympic Gold. To most standing on the medal podium while your National anthem plays seems like a pipe dream, but for Brie it could mean providing her and her mum the chance at financial security, something they've never experienced.  While she may be singularly focused on winning, Brie can't deny her attraction to her new Olympic coach. Erik Winter is devastatingly handsome, sizzlingly sexy and a complete ass, they say first impressions last, and their first meeting certainly leaves them both on the back foot.

"I guess you need your privacy if you’ve got the Tinder Train rolling in every night." 

Erik Winter is an enigma, son of the former Olympic gymnastics team coach, Erik has been able to live the last few years out of the media spotlight. A one time Olympic contender, he retired from the sport and chose a different path, estranged from his father, and yet selected as his replacement, Erik is once again thrust into the media spotlight. Coaching five headstrong young women, teenagers is bound to be a tough gig, fighting your attraction to your gold medal hopeful is definitely the safest course of action.

Five Olympic hopefuls, elite athletes who's days revolve around training and getting game day ready should have more than enough to concentrate on, but an attraction that strong is harder than Erik or Brie ever anticipated, and despite everything going on focusing on preparing for heats and all the sights and sounds of the Olympic Village, the chemistry simmering between them only seems to burn hotter with each encounter. Their interaction like verbal foreplay, dancing around one another, the push and pull of the imminent power play had me utterly invested.

"I’d gone down to meet Erik so I could surrender, and I had. I’d laid down my sword and armor, and in return, he’d stabbed me square in the chest. It was an ambush." 

With the Rio Olympics currently taking place in the real world, the fictional world RS Grey created gives a nice birds eye view into the world of elite athletes. So often sports romance focuses on male dominated sports, I've certainly read my share of football and hockey stories albeit loving quite a few, but what I LOVE so much about Grey's Summer Games series is the level playing ground she explores, with two Olympic heroines so far, I only hope for more to come from the series. Grey once again absolutely captivated me from the very first page, Brie and Erik's undeniable chemistry making it impossible to put down, laugh out loud funny, devastatingly sexy, with that beautiful balance of tender that Grey does so very well, set against a backdrop of the bright lights of Rio, Out of Bounds was the perfect book to wet my appetite for the television coverage of the 2016 Summer Games.

About R.S. Grey:

I am a lover of books, chocolate, reality TV, black labs, and cold weather. Seriously, if I had it my way, I would be curled up on the couch with all of those things... everyday.



I live in Texas where I spend my free time writing and reading. My favorite authors include Mindy Kaling & Jonathan Safran Foer. I'm a comedy geek and love all things "funny". Women like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are definitely the biggest inspirations for my writing, though I think my work tends to skew a bit smuttier than theirs.

Connect with R.S. Grey on Facebook

Loud is How I Love You (Hub City #1) by Mercy Brown - ARC Review

Released: 19th January 2016.

Blurb:

One girl’s heart gets rocked to the core in the first novel in this sexy New Adult series.

Twenty-one-year-old front girl Emmylou knows that getting her band noticed in the ‘90s indie rock scene will be no easy task. She definitely knows better than to break the number one rule of the band: Don't sleep with your bandmates! But after she ends up having the best sex of her life with her guitarist, Travis, she finds following that rule is a lot harder than it sounds.

When the band gets the gig of their dreams, making it big seems just within reach. But Emmy’s inability to keep her hands off Travis threatens everything they’ve worked for. Can Emmy find a way to break the rules and not blow the chance of a lifetime?

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: January 2016.

Loud Is How I Love You is set against the backdrop if the 90's indie rock scene, when Seattle grunge is still playing on the radio, when the Kurt Cobain's of the world are King and the likes of Justin Bieber's of the world aren't even born yet, Music is meant to be loud and raw and visceral, bringing about a feeling or emotion when banging you head along to it.

Emmylou has big plans for her life, at the forefront, it's getting her band noticed, they have talent, that's undisputable, but so do so many other bands just fighting to get heard, everything is simple, adhering to her rules, number one being don't screw with the band dynamics, and sleeping with her guitarist Travis would definitely do that, too bad it's already happened and she can't go back, only she can't stop, and she can't move forward either.

Loud Is How I Love You played out like a movie reel running through my mind, everything from the 90's flashbacks, to the music mentioned playing like a soundtrack to a tale that's more than just girl meets boy, girl and boy fall for each other and girl freaks out in order to maintain some semblance of what she had before, Loud is outlandishly funny, sexy in a way that a story with a twenty one year old female lead promises to be, and refreshingly real as Emmylou takes the reader on a journey through all of her moments of freak outs and stark realisations that everything she ever dreamt of might not be the thing she really wants.

"Stay loud so I don't lose you, I will follow the sound of you anywhere."

Loud was full of life and vitality, full of heart and angst, that kept me coming back for more, left me salivating for more of Emmylou and all her quirks, of Travis and he swoon worthy ways, of the rag tag members of Soft and all their motley crew of friends. From the first page to the last line I was enraptured, I'm eagerly awaiting Sonia's chance to tell her story in Stay Until We Break.

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1mNWAQu
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1PWWrpq
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1UGok4n

About Mercy Brown:

Mercy Brown is a retired indie rock front girl turned author and LOUD IS HOW I LOVE YOU is her first book. LOUD is a New Adult novel and will be published by Intermix (Berkley-Penguin) in January 2016. LOUD is based, very, very loosely on Mercy's experiences fronting bands in the 90s. A follow-up will be published in June 2016.

Mercy is represented by Brooks Sherman of the Bent Agency.

Website: http://mercybrownbooks.com/

Screwed by Kendall Ryan - Review

Blurb:

I have one rule: Don’t shit where you eat.

Several of the women in the condo complex I own would love some one-on-one playtime, and why wouldn’t they? I’m young, fit, attractive, and loaded. Not to mention I’m packing a sizable bulge below the belt. It’s a combination that drops panties on a regular basis.

Yay, me, right?

But my cock, troublemaker that he is, has been confined to my trousers by my business partner. A concession I agreed to, and one that’s never been hard to enforce until Emery moves in across the hall. She’s smart, young, determined, and sexy as hell. I want a taste. I won’t stop until I’m buried deep inside the succulent new-in-town brunette.

After being warned about my past, she does her best to steer clear, but I’m about to show her that underneath it all, I’m a guy with a heart of gold and a cock of steel.

My name is Hayden Oliver, and this is my story.

SCREWED is standalone romantic comedy by New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Kendall Ryan.

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1kNk2g6
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1OY7cbF
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1I639Cf
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1N2HErv
Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/1kNk0F8
iBooks: http://apple.co/1eDLtVL
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1T63MlE

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: November 2015.

I'm ashamed to admit that I have several of Kendall Ryan books on my kindle and yet I've never read one, I read blurbs and I #1click constantly but then life gets in the way and I don't always get a chance to read what I've just purchased, in the midst if sharing sales on the blog I stumbled across Screwed, and it's follow up Monster Prick, I bought both, when I finished writing reviews tonight, I dove into Screwed, I wanted something funny, fast, sexy, sweet and light and Screwed was perfect.

Hayden Oliver is the consummate playboy, he's sexy, successful, single and likes to take advantage of all the willing women that come his way, he doesn't lie about what he has to offer, and doesn't understand why so many women seem to shoot him stink eye when he doesn't turn out to be prince charming.

When his business partner Hudson forbids him from striking up any new one night relationships with any of the women who live in their properties, Hayden is determined to prove he can steer clear, it's not like it's that hard, until he meets his newest tenant Emery shows up.

Emery is fierce, confident, and sexy as hell, she's smart, she's not afraid to call Hayden out on his manwhoring ways, she's got a career she's focused on, and she's not about to derail that regardless of how sweet or devastatingly sexy Hayden is.

Emery and Hayden skirt around their obvious attraction and chemistry, Hayden does not want a relationship and Emery has sworn off men, but their friendship is filled with quick witted banter, furtive glances, and longing looks that elude to just how explosive they could be together. Screwed isn't some great tale of love and longing, it was a perfectly executed story about two likeable characters that are trying to fight their carnal desires, while developing a deeper connection than either is willing to admit. Screwed was light, funny and deliciously sexy, I devoured it in one sitting, not moving until I turned the last page, everything about this book was exactly what I wanted for a steamy fast tale that left me wanting more.

  
About Kendall Ryan:

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold more than a million ebooks and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. She's a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she's appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller list more than two dozen times.

Visit Kendall Ryan's Website

Oceans Apart (Ocean Dreams #1) by Emma Fitzgerald - Review

Blurb:

Nobody ever cares for second place.

Talented public relations associate, Annie Scott, knows second place well. She has never been anyone’s priority and is sick of wallowing in self pity, sick of being an option. In a snap decision, she flees her hometown of Nashville for the unknown shores of Sydney, Australia. There she can be whoever she wants to be. Perhaps, the enforced solitude will give her back her identity and kickstart a new path in life.

Professional surfer, Cam Hart, is home on leave from the Pro Tour, and in desperate need of some rest, relaxation and maybe, a little female company. All extremely achievable at his home in Bronte, Sydney. There will be women willing and waiting for him, of that he has no doubt. He’s never been a relationship kind of guy, and after his embarrassing defeat for the recent World Title, the idea of losing himself in between the sheets for some no-strings fun, definitely has appeal.

Fate throws Cam and Annie in each other’s path. Their attraction to each other is immediate. Cam believes he has found the perfect girl to distract him for a few weeks, while Annie is ready to throw caution to the wind and dive into a holiday romance. The two drifting souls soon realise that their chemistry and passion is more than they bargained for.

Cam has never wanted to entrust his heart to anyone again. But, with Annie, he sees that he may indeed want a future, a change from his impulsive and wild ways. Could Cam actually be capable of such change? Should Annie consider Cam to be more than a summer fling, or will she be bound by her insecurities and not believe him worth the risk? Will she return to her hometown, the same as she left it: alone.

 
Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: October 2014.

When Emma Fitzgerald asked me to beta read her debut novel I was excited, being an Aussie girl I'm always excited to read a story set in my own country, what I wasn't prepared for was how swept away I would be by the world Emma had created. Annie Scott has been mistreated by everyone close to her, the people who should have loved her unconditionally have never particularly cared where she was or what she did, as long as she stayed in the background and didn't steal the spotlight for her sister. Cam Hart, professional surfer, returns to Sydney licking his wounds after being defeated in the recent World Title.

Annie is ready to lose herself to a fun and frivolous holiday on the other side of the world to her home in Nashville, and Cam is ready for some rest & relaxation on his home turf, these two couldn't lead more different lives, but their connection is tangible, mutual attraction and the need to get to know each other may just lead them on the greatest journey possible.

Annie is instantly likable, broken and beaten down but never out for count, she is resilient with a silent strength, friendly and easy going, she is the type of girl you could see yourself calling a friend. Cam is pure smooth, sexy Aussie surfer boy, his success never going to his head, down to earth and relatable, he is the quintessential Australian man, self depreciating and always ready to have a laugh.

What I adored was Emma writes characters that make you fall in love with them, her characters aren't perfect, they are flawed and real, they have pasts that have shaped the people they have become, both are hiding from past hurts that have left deep scars and it's heart warming to see these characters come into their own, find belief in themselves and conquer the self doubt, and darkness that had at times over shadowed their lives like a cloud.

With angst, warmth, depth and spice Emma Fitzgerald has clearly shown she is an author to watch, with a knack for humour and keeping the reader guessing, I'm looking forward to seeing what she does next.

 

 

Purchase Links:



Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1S3wi6N
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1LEbr6A
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1LqI5Le...
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1J7lyk8
iBooks: http://apple.co/1SMGPEd
Nook: http://bit.ly/1FCMzac
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1JkEqPs


About Emma Fitzgerald:

Emma Fitzgerald is a lover of words.

The way they are weaved and worked to make people and places come alive and how they can draw the reader into worlds their imagination had never even dreamed of.

Emma has loved reading and writing since the day her life was first touched with the gift of a 100 year old copy of 'Emma' by Jane Austen. She soon discovered that the written word could transport her, not only across the world, but across time.

Emma loves a 'Happily Ever After' and has found her own HEA with her amazing husband. They and their three children live in Southern Australia.

Website

Finding North by Carmen Jenner - Cover Reveal

Title: Finding North
Author: Carmen Jenner
Genre: Erotic Romance M/M
Cover Design: Be Designs
Expected Release Date: December 26, 2015

 

 

 

Blurb:

Red Maine’s blue-collared bad boy, North Underwood, has a dirty little secret—Will Tanner.

Friends since kindergarten, North had been the one to jump first, and his fall into Will’s bed ten years ago had been no exception. Will and North had been inseparable, but things change, people grow apart, and even a blazing flame can dwindle to a dying ember over time.

The more things change the more they stay the same.

After a run in with a bottle of Bundy rum, Will and North find themselves in a compromising and all too familiar position.

Blurred lines, bad decisions, and one wrong foot after another lead these two down a spiral of sarcasm, secrets, and sex, but when North’s hetero status is called into question he can’t figure up from down. And despite Will telling himself he wouldn’t fall again, he’s head over heels and wandering without a compass.

Love is love.

Love is truth.
Love … shouldn’t be this damn hard to figure out.

Add to Goodreads

 

Book Trailer:

Book Trailer Direct Link

Pre Order Links:

iBOOKS: http://apple.co/20OKVAB
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1SLidvn
B&N: http://bit.ly/20Jv3Q5

AMAZON links to come closer to release 


About Carmen Jenner:

Carmen Jenner is a thirty-something, USA TODAY and international bestselling author of the Sugartown, Savage Saints, and Taint series.
Her dark romance, KICK (Savage Saints MC #1), won Best Dark Romance Read in the Reader’s Choice Awards at RWDU 2015.
A tattoo enthusiast, hardcore MAC addict and zombie fangirl, Carmen lives on the sunny north coast of New South Wales, Australia, where she spends her time indoors wrangling her two wildling children, a dog named Pikelet, and her very own man-child.
A romantic at heart, Carmen strives to give her characters the HEA they deserve, but not before ruining their lives completely first … because what’s a happily ever after without a little torture?



Welcome to Sugartown (Sugartown Series #1)
Enjoy Your Stay (Sugartown Series #2)
Greetings from Sugartown (Sugartown Series #3)
Now Leaving Sugartown (Sugartown Series #4)

REVELRY (Taint #1)

KICK (Savage Saints MC #1)
TANK (Savage Saints MC #2)


Author Links:

Website: http://www.carmenjenner.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carmen-Jenner/274005066033305
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarmenJAuthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6547659.Carmen_Jenner
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Carmen-Jenner/e/B00GEUI8VI

 

 

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Finding Dandelion (Dearest #2) by Lex Martin - Review

Blurb:

When soccer all-star Jax Avery collides with Dani Hart on his twenty-first birthday, their connection is instantaneous and explosive. For the first time in years, Jax isn’t interested in his usual hit-it and quit-it approach.

But Dani knows better. Allowing herself a night to be carefree and feel the intensity of their attraction won’t change anything when it comes to dealing with a player. So when Jax doesn’t recognize Dani the next time he sees her, it shouldn’t be a total shock. The fact that he’s her new roommate's brother? That’s a shock.

Dani doesn’t regret that night with Jax, just the need to lie about it. Since her roommate has made it clear what she thinks about her brother’s “type” of girl, the last thing Dani wants is to admit what happened.

Jax knows he’s walking a fine line on the soccer team. One more misstep and he’s off the roster, his plans to go pro be damned. Except he can’t seem to care. About anything… except for the one girl who keeps invading his dreams.

Despite Jax’s fuzzy memory of his hot hookup with his sister’s friend, he can’t stay away from her, even if it means breaking his own rules. But there are bigger forces at work–realities that can end Dani’s college career and lies that can tear them apart.

Jax realizes what he’s losing if Dani walks away, but will he sacrifice his future to be with her? And will she let him if he does?

FINDING DANDELION, the second book in the Dearest series, is a stand-alone novel. This New Adult romance is recommended for readers 18+ due to mature content.

Purchase Links:

Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/1F8l5um
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1NP2VoA
Amazon AUS: http://bit.ly/1hotFzE
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1fOrkNp

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: August 2015.

After absolutely devouring Dearest Clementine I was excited to dive into Finding Dandelion, what I love so much is the cross over from Dearest Clementine, the step back in time that we get in the beginning gives the reader a greater understanding of Jax and Clem's joint birthday celebration. As the story continues we get to know more about Clem's brother Jax and her roommate Dani. On the outset Jax looks like the typical young guy, life isn't exactly a party but it's not sad, tough existence either, he's a talented soccer player, he's grown up surrounded by money, he's never financially wanted for anything, he has women throwing themselves at him and he's not academically challenged either.

When Clem's roommate Dani hooks up with Jax as their birthday celebration, it's already pushing her boundaries, but when he promptly forgets all about her and ends up on the arm of someone else she's mortified, embarrassed and humiliated. After hearing all about Jax's womanising ways from Clem she's even more disgusted in herself, for just being another woman in a long line of women before her, she's resigned to forgetting all about that lapse in her judgement and to forget it ever happened, which seems easy because Jax sure as hell doesn't remember her anyway.

When a series of event transpire that force Jax and Dani into close proximity, Dani suddenly gets to see another side of Jax, as they bond she's stuck harbouring her secret from him, the question is, will Jax turn out to be exactly what she always thought he was, or will he surprise her and be everything she hoped her could be.

Jax has this sweet side that so few see, he's got a past that left him jaded and untrusting, he used to people expecting certain things from him and he's been happy to live up to that expectation, but with Dani he's intrigued and more than interested, despite the hard knocks Dani has been on the receiving end of she's got a strength to her, she's tenacious, and despite feeling fragile at times, she's determined not to be one of those poor me people.

Finding Dandelion is definitely more of a slow burn romance, this is friends to...well not quite lovers, but definitely friends to more, and it left me with that warm and tingly feeling that this trope is sure to inspire, it's fun and sexy, and yet heartbreaking and poignant, because this is so much more than just another NA college romance. I read this in one sitting and can't wait to dive into Daren's story next.

About Lex Martin:

Author of DEAREST CLEMENTINE, FINDING DANDELION and KISSING MADELINE. I write new adult novels, the sexy kind with lotsa angst, a whole lotta kissing, and the hot happily ever afters.
 Website

Dearest Clementine (Dearest #1) by Lex Martin - Review

Blurb:

Twenty-year-old Clementine Avery doesn't mind being called bitchy and closed off. It's safe, and after being burned by her high school sweetheart and stalked by a professor her freshman year of college, safe sounds pretty damn good.

Her number one rule for survival? No dating. That is until she accidentally signs up for a romance writing class and needs material for her latest assignment. Sexy RA Gavin Murphy is more than happy to play the part of book boyfriend to help Clem find some inspiration, even if that means making out...in the name of research, of course.

As Gavin and Clem grow closer, they get entangled in the mystery surrounding a missing Boston University student, and Clem unwittingly becomes a possible target. Gavin tries to show Clem she can handle falling in love again, but she knows she has to be careful because her heart’s at stake…and maybe even her life.

DEAREST CLEMENTINE is a stand-alone novel with two companion novels. This New Adult romance is recommended for readers 18+ due to mature content.
Goodreads

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: August 2015.

After seeing Dearest Clementine teasers flood my news feed, I went to #1click, low and behold, there it was already sitting on my kindle waiting for me...don't judge me...it happens more often than I like to admit, so I dove in and now I'm sitting here trying to figure out why it took me so long.

Clementine has had some crap luck with me, first her high school boyfriend Daren cheated on her, with her best friend....and to make matters worse she caught them in the act, then as if that wasn't bad enough, she went off to college for a fresh start and ended up being stalked by her over eager Professor who couldn't seem to take no for an answer. As a result not only is Clem man shy but she's become a shadow of her former fun loving, outgoing self.

When she meets Gavin, the sexy RA she finds herself interested in a man for the first time in a long time, but she's not ready to dive back into the murky dating and relationship waters quite yet, and if Gavin wants a chance he's going to have to give Clem a reason to step out of her comfort zone.

Gavin is EVERYTHING I want in a my leading man, he's super sweet, charming, sexy, funny and still has those alpha tendencies that make me a swoony mess. There was something about this story that drew me instantly, partly due to Clem's fractured spirit, but her tenacity to continue despite her insecurities, partly due to Gavin's ability to see past the façade that Clem puts on for everybody and see both the broken and the beautiful that she keeps hidden, his ability to both put her at ease and set her alight.

Dearest Clementine is part NA romance, part suspense, it's funny and sweet and sexy, it set my heart racing and made me a swoony swoony mess, everything about this book made me happy, leaving a smile on my face, this was my first novel by Lex Martin but it certainly won't be my last, I've already purchased the second and third books on the series ready to dive in.

 

 

 

Purchase Links:

 

 Amazon Audio: http://amzn.to/1hevwaJ

 

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1NLsJCg

 

Amazon AUS: http://bit.ly/1Iol45M

 

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1PWL5PV

 

 

About Lex Martin:

Author of DEAREST CLEMENTINE, FINDING DANDELION and KISSING MADELINE. Lex writes new adult novels, the sexy kind with lotsa angst, a whole lotta kissing, and the hot happily ever afters.

Website

 



 

The Play by Karina Halle - Review

 

 

Blurb:

 

 

A troubled Scottish rugby player who doesn't play by the rules.
A vivacious man-eater who's given up on love.
When it comes to Lachlan and Kayla, opposites don't just attract - they explode.

Kayla Moore has always been comfortable with her feisty, maneating reputation. At least it was fine until she hit her thirties and saw her best friends Stephanie and Nicola settle down with Linden and Bram McGregor, leaving Kayla to be the odd one out. Tired of being the third wheel with nothing but one-night stands and dead-end dates in San Francisco, Kayla decides to take a vow of celibacy and put men on the backburner.

That is until she lays her eyes on Linden and Bram’s cousin, hot Scot Lachlan McGregor. Lachlan is her sexual fantasy come to life – tall, tatted, and built like a Mack truck. With a steely gaze and successful rugby career back in Edinburgh, he’s the kind of man that makes her want to throw her vow right out the window. But Lachlan’s quiet and intense demeanor makes him a hard man to get to know, let alone get close to.

It isn’t until the two of them are thrown together one long, unforgettable night that Kayla realizes there is so much more to this brooding macho man than what meets the eye. But even with sparks flying between the two, Lachlan can’t stay in America forever. Now, Kayla has to decide whether to uproot her whole life and chance it all on someone she barely knows or risk getting burned once again.

Sometimes love is a game that just needs to be played. 


Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1QjvQUc
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1WTetsb
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1WNT6hl
iBooks: http://bit.ly/ThePlay-iBooks
Nook: http://bit.ly/ThePlay-NOOK
Amazon paperback: http://amzn.to/1QjvTPR

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: November 2015.

From the very opening of the prologue I was utterly captivated by this story, as we take in the world through the eyes of five year Lachlan I felt every bit of confusion, hopelessness, fear, pain and loneliness he felt, it was as though Lachlan never really stood a chance at life, but we know from the blurb that he definitely made something of his life, he's now a successful rugby player currently on leave in the States from Scotland to assist his cousin Bram with his housing project. Even the most successful of people can have dark and sordid pasts, which is evident from the heartbreaking prologue.

Kayla has always been a brash, abrasive, man eater, as she popped up throughout The Pact and The Offer, she's always seemed like she pretty much has it all figured out, she has a job she seems to enjoy, a family she loves, and a constant stream of men to warm her bed, but that's the thing about perceptions, the truth isn't always what it seems. Kayla's life is okay, her job pays the bills but doesn't particularly satisfy her creative needs, her family is large but she has little contact with her brothers, each week she makes time in her schedule to her friendships with Steph and Nicola are solid, her relationship with Bram and Linden is much rockier, and with the four of them coupled off, Kayla seems to be the perennial fifth wheel. Swearing off men and casual hook ups seems like the best way for Kayla to get her life on the right path. It all seems so simple really, no men, no sex, and it is...until she meets Bram and Linden's cousin Lachlan...the beast of a man is the very definition of the strong silent type, he says very little and keeps to himself. he shouldn't be the most alluring man she's ever seen, he barely speaks so she shouldn't feel dizzy just hearing his voice wash over her, and yet Kayla is more insanely attracted the dashing Scot than any man she's ever met.

Generally in romance books so much of the story comes from the hero and heroine getting together, finding one another, but what I loved so much about The Play is that yes, Lachlan and Kayla find their way to each other, but that's only one pit stop in the journey, because life can be dark, people can be haunted by memories, by insecurities, by fears, and two topics that Halle deals with in The Play, with such sensitivity, that hold such a dear place in my heart, anxiety and depression have such far reaching effects in our society even when treated with therapy, medication and under watchful medical supervision, when not people can find their own ways to self medicate, with drugs, alcohol, self harm...once on a downward spiral, it's often hard to come back. Halle's words sucked me in, I felt every second of torment and agony, every fraction of grief and regret, every splinter of pain and hopelessness, because sometimes when someone you love is hurting, and is in turn hurting you there's nothing you can do, you can shout your love from the rooftops, you can hold onto them until your fingers bleed, you can pray to a higher power, and sometimes it's not enough to change them, to fix them, and that right there is a testament to the author...because I felt every inch of that, I felt it acutely as if Halle sliced open my chest and held my battered heart in the palm of her chest.

For all of these reasons The Play was easily coasting to GOLDEN LIPSTICK perfection for me, Kayla and Lachlan's connection only added to this books appeal, infatuation that jumped off the page, a chemistry that was undeniable, and sex that made the pages burn. Unfortunately though, the more I read the more I found myself skimming the sex scenes to get back to the story, at first where I loved the intimate scenes as it was the way the characters interacted, I got to the point where I was so invested in the story that the sex almost felt like it distracted me from the emotional pull, and that's what I was so captivated by. Even with that, I devoured this book, all 150,000 words of it, I was invested and desperate for more, I'm grateful for being taken on a journey with these characters, characters who became friends, friends who I loved like family, I applaud her for taking us down a dark path, for not sugar-coating it, and yet not exploiting it for the sake of shock value, and more than anything, I thank her for helping me to shed some of my own guilt, for telling me it's okay to forgive myself for the times that I was that person who was holding on until my fingers bled, shouting my love from the rooftops, praying to a higher power, and still feeling that person slipping away, leaving me powerless to do fix them.

Download The Pact from Amazon

Download The Offer from Amazon



About Karina Halle:

Karina Halle is a former travel writer and music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of Where Sea Meets Sky, Racing the Sun, The Pact, Love, in English, The Artists Trilogy, Dirty Angels and over 20 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her rescue pup, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.

Halle is represented by the Waxman Leavell Agency and is both self-published and published by Atria Books/Simon & Schuster and Hachette in North America and in the UK.

Hit her up on Instagram at @authorHalle, on Twitter at @MetalBlonde and on Facebook.

Website

Slide (Black Addiction #1) by T Gephart - ARC Review

 Released: 16th November 2015.

Blurb:

 

 

Touring with a huge rock band and landing a record contract means you’ve hit the big time, right? Sadly neither of those things gave Rusty Crawford, lead guitarist of the band Black Addiction, worldwide fame and fortune. Which was a shame because he had the lifestyle down to a fine art—without the clichéd stint in rehab. Even being back in the Bronx, paying his dues didn’t rattle the charismatic axe man, ladies loved him and men wanted to be him. Fate would just have to catch up. Seemed like fate had more than just a platinum album planned for his future.

Alison Williams had the perfect life. Or at least she did until her world came crashing down around her, in the most epic way. With her future no longer a certainty she finds herself out of her comfort zone and into unchartered territory—a place where Rusty Crawford likes to spend most of his time.


Would the charming and ridiculously hot rock god help her find her feet, or send her further down the rabbit hole? One thing was for sure; both of them were in for the ride of their lives. 

 

 

Purchase Links:

 

Amazon US- http://amzn.to/1WR3JKK

Amazon UK- http://amzn.to/1k1Gr94
Amazon CA- http://amzn.to/1LKx5aE
Amazon AU- http://bit.ly/1GG5OYg
iBooks- http://apple.co/1Q878Dj

B&N- http://bit.ly/1Q87d9Z

Kobo- http://bit.ly/1PL4dzt
Goodreads- http://bit.ly/1JMRhoi

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: November 2015.

Rusty Crawford seemed like he had the world at his feet, touring with world wide rock sensation Power Station and his band Black Addiction securing a record contract things were looking like it was going to be nothing but smooth sailing, but his stardom didn't seem to launch him quite like he expected it would, but in true Rusty fashion he took it in his stride, soon enough the fame game would catch up and he'd be riding the wave to world wide rock domination.

Alison Williams hasn't had the best life, her mother was never what you would call a good role model but Alison has set her sights on her dreams on becoming someone you could respect, she's got a good job, which will soon lead to a promising promotion, a great boyfriend that will lead to cohabitational bliss, and the world will finally lay at her feet.

Only it doesn't, her great boyfriend turns out to be a giant arse, and her dream job is left in ruins, she's about to be evicted from her apartment, suddenly everything Alison has planned on is left in the dust and the weight of her worries are crushing what's left of her spirit. On a whim she decides to be someone else for just one night and seeks out Rusty, the sexy as sin guy from her local bar to help her forget everything that's taken place.

Rusty has never had any reason to want to settle down before, he's lead a life dedicated to following his rock dreams, and with that comes adoration from fans, specifically of the female variety, but with Alison he sees something his never wanted before playing out in his mind, Alison has never been one to stand up for herself, that old adage of pay it no mind has never really fit her, but under Rusty's expert tutelage she's finally finding a way to block out the bad and embrace the good, together they make a formidable team, and like always with a Gephart novel I was captivated by both of them, Rusty was every bit the swoon worthy hero I wanted him to be, he was confident and assertive, funny and loving, and more than anything supportive and sensitive to what made Alison who she was, and is, never trying to change her, but giving her the tools to be confident and to demand more out of her life.

Slide is chockfull of sexiness, romance, laughs and just enough angst to keep you intrigued, everything about this book spelt out the perfect Sunday afternoon read for me, with only having limited contact with Black Addiction in the final book in the Power Station series before this, the characters still felt like welcoming back old friends, Gephart has a habit of instantly drawing me into the worlds she creates and always leaves me wanting more, and Slide was certainly no exception, with her writing continuing to go from strength to strength, I can say with all honesty Ms Gephart is an author I will continue to purchase without question.

Excerpt:





“Hello, ladies.” His voice purred, sending vibrations through my body.

It was him. My beautiful mystery man. The one who I’d seen plenty but never spoken to. He was standing in front of me, smiling.

In hindsight, I shouldn’t have been so surprised. There weren’t many bars in our little neighborhood where you didn’t need a Hep C shot before you entered. This particular establishment promised an impressive beer menu without the risk of a communicable disease, so it would stand to reason he would know about it too.

“Hi.” Was all I was able to manage, convinced he was probably talking to someone else. Perhaps he meant the Amazonian redhead who was sitting to my left, openly staring—that would make a hell of a lot of more sense. They could probably shoot joint commercials for teeth whitener and make adorable, if not freakishly tall, children together.

“I couldn’t help but notice your friend stole your drink. Ordinarily I’d overlook such thievery, but I’d hate for there to be a brawl in my favorite bar. So in the interest of keeping the peace, I’d like to replace it for you.” His voice smooth, as was his delivery. I had to remember to breathe.

“She wasn’t going to drink it, but you can totally buy her another drink,” Renee answered before I’d gotten the chance. Her smile widened as she turned to face me and mouthed the words “he’s hot.” She needn’t have bothered; his hotness was not something that needed to be confirmed.

“That’s okay, I’m good.” Thankfully words came out of my mouth even if they sounded in no way intelligent.

“Well, glad to hear you’re good. Nice to meet you, my name is Rusty.” He smiled as he moved in closer, his hand signaling the bartender. “What were you drinking?”

In what I can only explain as temporary insanity—probably from the shock of having the beautiful man talking to me—I blurted out, “I have a boyfriend.”

I officially wanted to die.

While I did have a boyfriend, and hopefully in a few hours I would be moving into his upscale apartment, there was no reason to announce it so dramatically. Almost as if to prove that I hadn’t secretly fantasized about him while in the shower every day this week—which I had. Sweat prickled at my brow.

“Is that some code for you’re not thirsty?” Rusty’s lips curved in amusement. While the words weren’t sexy, the humor in his voice was a definite turn on, a hot button straight to my libido as he stood there grinning at me.

“No, I-I just mean I can’t accept . . .” What was the word again? “A drink from you.” Yes, that’s what I wanted to say. “Or . . . or anyone else. N-not just you.” My mouth tried to regain some composure. It really wasn’t doing a great job.

“Well, would you look at the time? I have a thing, wouldn’t want to be late.” Renee tapped her naked wrist—her watch missing in action, as was her tact. “Call me, Ali.” She gave me a hug and whispered, “If you don’t screw this guy, you’re dead to me.” And just like that, she evaporated from the room.

Awesome.

“Your friend always bail on you like that, Ali?” Rusty’s voice curled seductively around my name as he smiled, moving to the barstool Renee had vacated.

“It’s Alison.” Ali was just too personal, like him kissing me on the mouth. I totally would not have been okay with that. Mostly.


About T Gephart:

T Gephart is an indie author from Melbourne, Australia.

T's approach to life has been somewhat unconventional. Rather than going to University, she jumped on a plane to Los Angeles, USA in search of adventure. While this first trip left her somewhat underwhelmed and largely depleted of funds it fueled her appetite for travel and life experience.

With a rather eclectic resume, which reads more like the fiction she writes than an actual employment history, T struggled to find her niche in the world.

While on a subsequent trip the United States in 1999, T met and married her husband. Their whirlwind courtship and interesting impromptu convenience store wedding set the tone for their life together, which is anything but ordinary. They have lived in Louisiana, Guam and Australia and have travelled extensively throughout the US. T has two beautiful young children and one four legged child, Woodley the wonder dog.

An avid reader, T became increasingly frustrated by the lack of strong female characters in the books she was reading. She wanted to read about a woman she could identify with, someone strong, independent and confident who didn't lack femininity. Out of this need, she decided to pen her first book, A Twist of Fate. She enjoyed the process so much that when it was over she couldn't let it go.

T loves to travel, laugh and surround herself with colourful characters. This inevitably spills into her writing and makes for an interesting journey - she is well and truly enjoying the ride!

Based on her life experiences, T has plenty of material for her books and has a wealth of ideas to keep you all enthralled.

Visit Tina on Facebook

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Wrong by Jana Aston - Review

 

 

Blurb:

 

 

I have a history of picking the wrong guy. Gay? Player? Momma’s boy? Check, check and check.


Now I can’t stop fantasizing about one of the customers at the coffee shop I work at between classes. It’s just a harmless crush, right? It’s not like I ever see this guy outside of the coffee shop. It’s not like I’m going to see him while attempting to get birth control at the student clinic. While wearing a paper gown. While sitting on an exam table. Because he’s the doctor. Shoot. Me.

But what if, for once, the man I’ve had the dirtiest, most scandalous fantasies about turned out to be everything but wrong?

 

Purchase Links:

 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1HGF8l9

UK: http://amzn.to/1OdYgwt

Australia: http://bit.ly/1Vzp2QA

Canada: http://amzn.to/1PZaIPN

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1OdzfD7

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1YSj9lZ

iBooks: http://apple.co/1MlkIUt

Amazon paperback: http://amzn.to/1PnTwXj

 

 

Kristine's Review:



Reviewed: November 2015.

In the lead up to the release of Wrong I kept seeing teasers and the bright pink cover flood my news feed, I was intrigued, in the wake of release I kept seeing Wrong fly up the charts, I read the blurb and it seemed like a good fit for me, it seemed slightly irreverent, funny, sexy, all things that immediately appeal to me in a book, and for the first chapter or two I was still intrigued, unfortunately though for me that's where it ended.

The premise is that Sophie, a college student has been fairly unlucky in love and relationships, she's currently dating Mike, and is thinking she's finally ready to go all the way... virgin college student isn't a far fetched plot line, I actually kind of liked that about Sophie, she was quirky, and cute and yet so incredibly strong willed, she wasn't going to just blindly follow everyone else to satisfy what other people thought was normal. While Sophie is getting ready to approach the whole sex thing she's been busy lusting after a regular customer Luke, at her part time job where she works as a barista. For those few moments each visit she lusts after the mysterious Luke, he seems so much more of an adult her college buddies and boyfriend, but it's an innocent crush, it's not like she's ever going to see him in real life.

Until of course she goes to the student medical clinic to discuss her contraception options and get a routine physical, this is where this story started to crumble for me.... having your crush turn out to be none other than the doctor who's about to get all up in your business wasn't what made me scratch my head, I'm sure stranger things have happened and this is fiction after all, but that was the beginning of the end for me.... a physical and pap smear that results in Sophie having an orgasm on the table while Luke checks her over had me rolling my eyes, Luke constantly turning up when she least expects it, the way in which they get together, even their sex scenes, and I'm not a prude, give me hot, sweaty, dirty and kinky sex scenes and I'm there in a flash, I don't mind the odd spot of erotica, but generally I expect sex to further the story, propel it in some way, and unfortunately it never did, it felt off, gratuitous at times, and had me skimming just to get past it, there were numerous times I was tempted to DNF and yet I kept going back, hoping the author could draw me in but it never happened. Sophie started out as being a heroine I thought I could really get behind, but the more I read the less I cared about her, and Luke was almost Dr Jekyll/ Mr Hyde for me, he had this sweet side, and yet was so totally stand offish and almost brutish, I had hoped he was just exhibiting some alpha tendencies but for me he fell flat, much like the rest of the story. I know Wrong has been hugely popular, nabbing it's spot on both USA Today and New York Times best sellers lists, unfortunately it completely missed the mark for me.

About Jana Aston:

Jana Aston works a really boring day job. Really. Boring. In her spare time she loves to read sexy romance novels, especially if they involve an alpha CEO. Wrong is her first novel.

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