ARC Review of Mary Jo Putney's Not Quite A Wife

I would rate this bokk at about 3 3/4 stars. I love MJP's Lost Lord series. Unfortunately this particular title was not the best. I would give a recommendation for this book but with a caution that the heroine is a little inconsistent. The particular plot involving the wife leaving early in marriage with a reconciliation attempt bringing the characters back together is a popular one. My issue was with the exact reason she left and how easily that objection was overcome. If Lord Kirkland's action were abhorrent enough for a besotted Laurel to leave, how was it possible for her to overcome them and crawl into to bed with said man? Personally, if a wife left over murder, I couldn't see her coming back so easily. The rest of the book was wonderful. Thumbs up to MJP though for her skill at weaving a tale. I'll be waiting for Daniel's story next. Here's to happy reading...

ARC Review of It's In His Kiss by Jill Shalvis

It is not very often that I give a 5 star review but today it happened. The lovely Jill Shalvis is supremely talented and her Lucky Harbor series is Fantastic. Yes, It's In His Kiss is book 10, and stretching a series that long can be a risky proposition.  I initially started this book worried that this series might be at a point where it would not be new or fresh. Boy was I surprised by how original this installment felt. From the very beginning it was addictive and I had difficulty putting the book down. No sense of a I've been there and done that. Really, I shouldn't be surprised as Jill wrote the book and her stuff is always great.
 This story is about Sam and the new Lucky Harbor resident, Becca. Their story really drew me in. It was warm, witty, and very sexy. I can totally get behind a man that kills spiders and surfs shirtless. Plus he could comfort and protect. Sigh...Jill Shalvis has some great alpha men.

Once again I am enthralled by this series and can't wait for the next book. It's In Kiss is available 8/26. It's not too late to pre-order your copy today and here's to happy reading.....  

Review of The Wickedest Lord Alive by Christina Brooke

Followers of Christina Brooke's writing have been anticipating Lord Steyne's story and we have all been interested in what kind of man he would turn out to be. The vice alone would account him as a wicked man but in previous books he is shown to care for his family. This book answered the questions about the man and Lord, along with providing a few surprises. We have a wicked rogue, a secret bride and a mother who is not the loving ideal. Not to mention an uncle who would love to remove his nephew from the world. It was really a great book but unfortunately I was a bit lost when the Marquis was shown a letter after dinner and then suddenly he was on a roof readying to fight a killer. I may have missed something crucial but it felt like a portion of the book was cut. I also may be mistaken but it sometimes happens and it's not always the writers choice. I loved the whole book but the that particular part threw off the rhythm of the story. I would give this book 4 1/2 stars if not for that issue and as it is I felt that I could only give it 3 1/2 stars and be honest. I truly love Christina Brooke's writing and all her previous books were splendid. I will definitely be looking for more from this author. Here's to happy reading.....

Laura Kaye's Hard To Hold On To Release Day Giveaway

Hello lovely people! Today we are helping Laura Kaye celebrate the release of her latest Hard Ink Novel: Hard To Hold On To with a giveaway and an excerpt. Hot, hot, hot! The buy links are below along with a link to Goodreads, the giveaway, and the author's social media, email, and website. So check out the excerpt, lengthen your TBR, follow Laura, and order your copy while helping support wounded veterans. It really is a win, win situation. You get a hot book and a chance to support a charity. So here's to happy reading....

Buy at Amazon | Amazon.ca | Amazon UK | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

About Hard To Hold On To:

Edward "Easy" Cantrell knows better than most the pain of not being able to save those he loves—which is why he is not going to let Jenna Dean out of his sight.  He may have just met her, but Jenna's the first person to make him feel alive since that devastating day in the desert more than a year ago. 

Jenna has never met anyone like Easy. She can't describe how he makes her feel--and not just because he saved her life. No, the stirrings inside her reach far beyond gratitude.

As the pair are thrust together while chaos reigns around them, they both know one thing: the things in life most worth having are the hardest to hold on to. 

 Other Books in the Hard Ink Series:

Hard As It Gets

Hard As You Can

Hard to Come By (11/25/14)

Hard to Be Good (3/10/15)

Untitled (7/28/15)

EXCERPT:

Easy tugged down the covers and gestured for Jenna to get in. She chose the side that would allow her to lie on the uninjured side of her face.

“After what you’ve been through, I don’t want to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable,” Easy said.

Propping herself on an elbow, Jenna shook her head. “You won’t. You’re the—” She blanched as if she hadn’t meant to say whatever she’d nearly said.

Which made Easy need to know. He crawled on the bed as if lured by the words. “Finish. That. Sentence.”

She eased back onto the pillow, red hair sprawling around her shoulders like silk, and stared up at him. And it took everything Easy had not to settle himself on top of her and tease the words out with his hands and tongue.

“The only one who makes me feel safe," she whispered.

Satisfaction humming through him, Easy turned and stretched out on his back. Because if he kept looking at her while she was looking at him like that, he might not be able to restrain himself from having what he wanted. A taste. A chance.

None of which she was in any shape for. And given the shitstorm in his head, probably neither was he.

“Good. That’s good,” he murmured, blowing out a long breath. Damn, he was tired. Not just because he hadn’t slept much the night before. But because of the size of the load he’d been shouldering for the past twelve-plus months. If he could only figure out how to put it down. He scrubbed his hands over his face, wishing he could shake himself out of this fucking slump.

If Rimes were here, he’d kick Easy’s ass for being such a morose motherfucker.

But he wasn’t here. Which was the damn problem in a nutshell.

He dropped his arms to the bed and peered over at Jenna.

She lay on her side facing him, hand tucked under her chin, not looking the least bit settled or relaxed.

“Whatchu need?”

“You.” She spoke the word without any hesitation, any doubt, any seeming self-consciousness.

“Have me, Jenna. Whatever you want,” he said, his cock stirring no matter how hard he reined himself in.

Holding his gaze, she moved closer until her head rested on his shoulder and her body trapped his arm between them. And, suddenly, she wasn’t fucking close enough.

“Here,” he whispered, lifting his arm and inviting her closer. And damn if his heart didn’t soar when she fitted herself the rest of the way against him, her face against his throat, her breasts against his ribs, her leg curling up onto his thigh.

He wasn’t sure whose sigh was louder. All Easy knew was that this was the first time in more than a year he didn’t feel alone. Wrapping his arm around her, he couldn’t resist squeezing her in just a little closer.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her breath ticklish against his neck.

He laced his fingers between hers where they rested on his chest. “I gotchu. You just close your eyes and know I’m here.”

  Hard to Hold On To on Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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Praise for the Hard Ink Series:

For Hard As You Can:

"TOP PICK! There is a sinister and desperate edge to this tale that will keep readers glued to their seats. Kaye has dark romantic suspense nailed!" ~ RT Book Reviews Magazine

"Hard As You Can is another five star read. The characters Ms. Kaye has created are wonderfully broken and the drama is gritty, but the burgeoning romance and the tight-knitted relationship of the team leaves you with a sense of redemption. A must read series!" ~San Francisco Book Review

For Hard As It Gets:

"Edgy, sexy and full of suspense!  A great read from a great new author!" ~ #1 NYT Bestselling Author J.R. Ward

"Sizzling romance... The intriguing tattoo parlor and military background will appeal to fans of Suzanne Brockmann and Lindsay McKenna." ~Publishers Weekly Review

"Kaye's depiction of sexual tension and her sex scenes are masterful and this will appeal to fans of Maya Banks' KGI and Julia Ann Walker's Black Knight's series." ~Booklist

ARC Review of Sabrina Jeffries How The Scoundrel Seduces

Tomorrow is release day for the wonderful Sabrina Jeffries and I would like to congratulate her. I decided to time my review to coincide with the release rather than doing it early and I've also kept it short. Many of you will be reading this tomorrow so I don't want to give it all away. The latest installment/ upcoming release in her series "The Duke's Men" is titled How The Scoundrel Seduces. Can I say a one word description for her newest book? Fabulous, maybe more than one word, simply fabulous. I found the entire book enticing. The story flowed from beginning to end. We have a dashing rogue/ investigator, a lady with a mystery, white hot chemistry, and a possible would be groom or a possible major disaster looming on the horizon. There is also a fortune and the welfare and livelihoods of many people on the line. The lady and the rogue clash and sizzle but will they find there footing on the path to a happy ending? I gave this book 4 stars and I can't wait for the next book in The Duke's men. Here's to happy reading....

Review of The Accidental Duchess by Madeline Hunter

So I went through my Tbr and pulled this book. It came out earlier this year and I absolutely try to read everything by this author. So I found time give it a go and review. I have been reading Madeline Hunters books for a while now and have been curious to see where she would take Lydia and the Duke of Penthurst. The final book of the Fairbourne quartet was a bit of a surprise. Not my favorite of the series but an excellent ending to the series. It contains blackmail, a woman of independence (or stubbornness), an autocratic Duke, and a love/ hate relationship. Oh, and lets not forget the steamy scenes. This  story has a perfect amount of passion. It held my interest from beginning to end and although there are times that the lead female drove me bonkers with her missteps, I totally get why she did what she did. There where some twists and turns for the characters but the story works itself out and we find the answers to the mystery of Lakewood. Those who have been following the quartet have been teased with his deeds or misdeeds and no clear answers. Well, we get them and in a full accounting. Our dear Lydia also learns a different kind of excitement other than gambling while Penthurst becomes a little more human and learns that not even Dukes can always have their own way. I would recommend as it was a wonderful read. I gave this story 3 3/4 stars. So here's to happy reading...

Review of Susan Mallery's Until We Touch

I'm so excited and will jump right in to this one. I've been a big fan of the Fool's gold series by Susan Mallery for a couple years now. It is a funny, sweet, and steamy series. I feel it contains all the key components of a great romantic series. This latest installment, Until we touch is another fab story in a series that is really great all the way around. I was wondering if things would get old in the series but honestly it keeps getting better. Every new character that comes along is an individual and brings their own set of issues to the story. It makes everyone of the Fool's Gold stories truly unique. The HEA couple are 2 very different people from the Score team, Jack and Larissa. One is totally involved in life, or so it appears from the outside while the other is an observer in many ways. It was really fun reading their story. There were a lot of revelations between the characters and Mallery did a wonderful job bringing her characters to life. I give this 4 1/2 stars and will be anxiously waiting for the next installment that finally features Kenny and Bailey. Here's to happy reading......