Contemporary Romance
Dominant Persuasion’s Author Spotlights – Bella Juarez
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I’ve been a fan of Bella Juarez’s for several years, having become addicted to her “Black Ops Brotherhood,” series. She was one, of a select few authors, who featured strong Latinas as heroines, in a sea of “New Adult,” early-20-somethings mania.
Bella’s characters were unique in that they were “Everywomen.” Many were middle-aged, yet in the prime of life. They were intelligent, confident, and fully embraced themselves as sexual beings…with some scorchingly sexy, strong men at their sides.
I am looking forward to the “Dominant Persuasion” Anthology, and “Out of Touch,” in particular, because it is based in my stopping grounds of the Tampa Bay area. I’m interested in how Bella handles the dynamic between a Domme and her gentleman love, who just happens to be a Dom. It should make for an erotically good time! Can’t wait!
Out of Order
by Bella Juarez
BIO:
Bella Juarez has a passion for writing and tells her stories with a high level of military suspense and erotic romance. A few years ago, Bella was an IT technician with a craving for military and espionage history and would devour anything, fact or fiction, about the subject. Today, she lives on a south Texas ranch with her family and dogs.
With stories of intrigue running through her imagination, she always dreamed of writing a novel. Finally, in 2012, she wrote and released Rapid Dominance, book 1 of the Black Ops Brotherhood Series. Since then, she has released five more novels in this series. Branching out, she’s written three erotic romance novellas all with military elements.
Her stories blend today’s headlines into thought provoking, intricate plots interwoven with razor-sharp suspense, intrigue, and scorching, white-hot romance.
Bella’s idea of a perfect day starts out…
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Top Ten Reasons “Secretary” Beats “50 Shades of Grey” – SundanceTV
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I mentioned how poorly 50 Shades of Grey, tries to depict a D/s or BDSM relationship, in a few earlier posts. This article illustrated it more concisely than I could.
Top Ten Reasons “Secretary” Beats “50 Shades of Grey” – SundanceTV.
Cover Reveal and Giveaway – “Reasonable Doubt (Volume 2)” by Whitney Gracia Williams
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Title: Reasonable Doubt (Volume 2)
Author: Whitney Gracia Williams
Genre: 3-Part Erotic Romance Serial
Release Date: Very Soon!
Cover Designer: Najla Qambers of Najla Qamber Designs
Goodreads Link: Reasonable Doubt: Volume 2
Cover Reveal Tour Organized by: Between the Sheets Promotions
Synopsis:
She lied to me…
She betrayed the one rule that I’m most adamant about: Honesty. Complete and utter fucking honesty .
I really wish she was someone else–someone who didn’t have the ability to make me feel, someone I could easily discard like the hundreds of women before her.
She isn’t.
I’m drawn to her like I’ve never been drawn to a woman before–completely captivated by the very sight of her. But unfortunately, with my past slowly re-surfacing for all of the world to see, I’ll have to find a way to let her go.
She can never be mine.
Teaser (Appropriate for ages 18+):
Subject: ASSHOLE.
Just emailing you to say hello since you haven’t reached out to me, and you haven’t heard from me in a while.
Hope all is well.
—Aubrey
His response came immediately.
Subject: Re: ASSHOLE.
I fucked you this morning, and from what I remember, I heard you loud and clear.
—Andrew
Subject: Re: Re: ASSHOLE.
That’s not what I meant…I meant that you and I no longer talk on the phone or email each other like we used to. You only want to fuck, and you still have a big ass problem with leaving me hanging right after. Talking about the weather for five seconds once we get done is not what I meant by post-conversation and you know it.
You’re an asshole.
—Aubrey
Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win a $5.00 giftcard, an ebook copy of Reasonable Doubt (Volume 1), or an eARC of Reasonable Doubt (Volume 2).
Reasonable Doubt (Volume 1) buy links: Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
About the Author:
A self diagnosed candy addict, travel junkie, and hypochondriac, Whitney Gracia Williams LOVES to write about characters that make you laugh, cry, and want to (in the case of Selena Ross) reach through your Kindle and slap them.
She is the “imaginary bestselling” author of the Jilted Bride Series, Mid Life Love, Wasted Love, and Captain of My Soul.
When she’s not locked inside her room, feverishly typing away on her laptop, she can be found on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. She also loves getting emails from her readers, so if you want to tell her how much you loved (or hated) her stories, email her at whitgracia@gmail.com.
A-Z Challenge: “A” is for “Aiden” – Book Trailer Reveal for Gina Maxwell’s “Fighting for Irish”
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He’ll fight for her life. She’ll fight for his love.
Former MMA fighter Aiden “Irish” O’Brien hasn’t stepped into the ring since he accidentally took someone’s life in the heat of rage. When his friend calls in a favor that sends him south to check on family, Irish figures he’s got nothing to lose. His life is on the ropes. The least he can do is make sure the sexy redhead is safe.
Kat MacGregor has forty-eight hours to settle the twenty thousand dollar debt her deadbeat ex-boyfriend owes a crime boss. If she doesn’t, she’ll pay for it—with her life. Kat’s halfway out the door when a sexy new guy walks into the bar and insists he’s there to help.
Irish is forced to fight in the underground MMA circuit to win the money she needs. But he’s been lying to Kat. About who he is, about knowing her sister, about why he comes home bruised every night. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to him, but breaking her trust will cost him the most important fight of his life: the one for her heart.
Here is the link to my 5-Star Review. Enjoy the book trailer for “Fighting for Irish!”
About the Author:
Growing up she dreamed of helping people escape reality with her acting abilities…until college when she realized she had none to speak of. Another ten years passed before she discovered a different means to accomplishing the same dream: writing stories of love and passion for addicts just like her. Her debut novel, Seducing Cinderella, landed on the USA Today and NY Times Bestseller lists in less than a month.
Now she splits her time between writing more books and acting as Boss of the world’s first organized romance mafia, the Maxwell Mob.Thanks to the support she receives from her amazing family, Gina is finally able to live her dream of bringing a little romantic fantasy to the world, one steamy novel at a time.
Find out more about Gina on her website, follow her on Twitter, and Pinterest and like her Facebook page.
4-Enchanted Stars for A.D. Marrow’s “Love and Other Cosmic Nonsense” – Book Review
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Breaking it off with her long-time non-magical boyfriend, Evan, was for his own good. At least that’s what Maggie Owen tells herself. After all, a witch and a human can have no future together. Her vision told her so. But now it seems the universe is exacting revenge for upsetting the balance of what “should be” and her heart is telling her she was wrong.
Evan Jackson can’t believe his bad luck. It’s been a year since Maggie broke his heart, and now his business partner has hired her as their new receptionist. Fine, they need the help. But no way will he let her get close again. He can’t take another heartbreak from the woman he still dreams about, even if it feels like there’s still a magical pull between them.
Being in the same building with Evan is a start, but it’s going to take more than Maggie’s special talents and a wink to get the hard-hearted bad-boy to see that love is really more than just cosmic nonsense and set the universe back into balance.
My Review:
Take Bewitched, mix in a little Miami Ink For a Bewitching Debut – 4 Enchanted Stars
Disclaimer: While I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for an honest review, I enjoyed the book so much I purchased it for my ebookshelf.
This lovers-reunited novella, found Maggie Owen accepting a job at the very tattoo shop co-owned by her ex-boyfriend, Evan Jackson. In a cosmically ironic turn of events, their reunion was the impetus they needed to face their strong feelings for each other and the reasons for their breakup. There were several naughty, but not overtly explicit, sex scenes, that pulled readers in, as Maggie and Evan’s personal barriers were torn down and their mutual desire heated up. They had to look past their surface attraction, to the deep feelings underneath and both learned to accept the other’s gifts, including Maggie’s magical connection.
Annabel, Maggie’s sister and Liam, Evan’s business partner and friend, rounded out the cast and there were hints of a possible love match for Liam in future books. These secondary characters were even funnier and snarkier than the lead characters. My favorite quote was delivered by Annabel as she described Evan, “Maggie, the man looks like Aphrodite and David Gandy had a love baby. He loves art and building stuff. He likes puppies. He volunteers at a soup kitchen. His favorite movie is Love Actually for heaven’s sake.” (Marrow, A. D. (2014-03-24). Love and Other Cosmic Nonsense (Entangled Covet) (Kindle Locations 246-247). Entangled Publishing, LLC. Kindle Edition.) Who wouldn’t fall for a tattooed good boy, like that?
My only note was that the story was too short. I know A.D. Marrow planned to continue the series but this reader would have enjoyed some flashbacks to the characters’ “meet cute,” “first date,” or “first sex scene.” The length did not detract from the story – I just wanted more! However, fans of Entangled books will be pleasantly surprised with at least one cameo from another author’s popular MMA fighter series.
I look forward to Ms. Marrow’s future books and recommend Love and Other Cosmic Nonsense (Entangled Covet) for those days when you need a short, sweet and funny happily ever after to curl up with on a cold or rainy day.
Review links: Amazon and Goodreads.
About the Author:
A.D Marrow is a a registered Sapiophile, a proud Geek since before Geek was chic and believes that everyone deserves a happily ever after. She lives in the foothills of North Carolina with her ridiculously hot and amazingly supportive husband, three kids that rock so hard there should be a national holiday for their awesomeness, two really stupid dogs and a plethora of Post-it notes with book ideas to last her until she’s 90.
Her childhood dream is realized in the fact that YOU have cause to read her bio. She hopes that one day, it lends her enough credibility to live out her second dream, which is to write an episode of “Doctor Who.
Her personal mantra echoes that of Morticia Adams; “Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.”
You can find A.D. on her website, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
5-Stars for Robin Covington’s “Sex and the Single Vamp” – Book Review
Cici Trent, vampire and media darling, spends her days finding true love for humans and supernaturals (the “Others”) at her dating agency. But someone is trying to sabotage her business and she needs help. Unfortunately, the best man for the job is the one who broke her still-beating heart two hundred fifty-four years ago.
Deacon is a patient vampire. He’s only loved one woman in over three hundred years— CiCi— and she chose another. So when she shows up in his office asking for help, he finally has the chance to lay that demon to rest. He’ll help her, but for a price—a night in his bed.
Adrenaline, mischief, and a little late-night B&E light the passion that even a couple of lifetimes couldn’t put out. But Deacon has a secret and when Cici is suddenly mortal, his deception might be the only way restore her immortality. Can love bridge the gap between a heartbeat and forever?
My review:
I went through a huge vampire phase and devoured every popular series starring vampires – from Anne Rice’s darkly tortured The Vampire Chronicles to Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampire Mysteries, also known as the “Sookie Stackhouse” novels to Stephanie Meyer Twilight Series series. I was “all-vampyred” out! Not only did I stop reading all vampire stories, when they began to resemble these popular series, I avoided all by J.R. Wards’ Black Dagger Brotherhood. Vampires became passé to me and romance genres had jumped the proverbial shark with them. I was happy in my animal shifter world, with warm-blooded wolves, lions, tigers and bears….oh my. Yummy, yummy bears.
When I heard Robin Covington was writing a vampire novel I was intrigued. She was one of my favorite contemporary romance authors and I gave her the benefit of the doubt.
Reunited After 200 Years. A Blessing or a Curse?
Robin Covington’s paranormal debut was a hit! I was a fan of her books – the Boys are Back in Town (A Night of Southern Comfort, His Southern Temptation, Sweet Southern Betrayal) series and Playing the Part. Even though I was on a self-imposed ‘vampire strike,’ avoiding all vampire books after many years of devouring them, I decided to read Sex and the Single Vamp with an open mind. I received a complimentary copy of Sex and the Single Vamp, and was not disappointed!
I already knew Ms. Covington had purposefully taken a new direction with this book. Both main characters, Felicity ‘Cici’ Trent and Thomas Samuel Deacon (aka. Deacon) were vampires at the beginning of the story. Over two hundred years after their first meeting, Cici sought out Deacon’s help because someone was sabotaging her business. Deacon agreed to help her, if she spent a night in his bed.
Suspense-filled reunion. Check.
Two-hundred-year-old unrequited feelings. Check.
Layers of lies, secrets and mistrust. Check.
Smoking hot and poignant sex. Check.
Deacon may be Ms. Covington’s most tortured hero. This was no easy feat, as several of her alpha men are former/active duty military with layers of sublimated pain. Deacon balanced a dichotomy between the sexy, honorable soldier and a ruthless vampire killer, which made him an alpha hero we rooted for more and more as the story developed. At the same time, Cici faced her fears, acted on her desires and embraced her true power. Midway through the action, Ms. Covington provided an interesting plot twist that forced this well-matched pair to revisit two-hundred years of pain and unanswered questions.
Ms. Covington’s talent for subtly tackling themes of discrimination and loss were integral parts of the story. Her secondary characters, Mya and Andy are the voices of reason; adding comic relief and the swift kick in the pants that Cici and Deacon needed to open up their hearts to each other. The suspense built, as we learned more about her diverse world of Others and their human counterparts. I hope she writes Andy, Mya and Ramirez’s stories in the future.
I highly recommend Sex and the Single Vamp, as a sensually, pleasant departure from the typical vampire tale.
Review links: Amazon and Goodreads.
About the Author:
Robin Covington, who NYT Best Selling authors, Robyn Carr and Carly Phillips, said was their new “auto-buy author”, writes sizzling hot contemporary and paranormal romance.
A Night of Southern Comfort, her best-selling debut novel was a 2012 finalist in the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Awards, earned 4.5 stars and was touted by RT Book Reviews as bringing a “fresh, modern feel to the genre while still sticking to the things that get our adrenaline pumping — sex and danger”. When she’s not exploring the theme of fooling around and falling in love, she’s collecting tasty man candy, indulging in a little comic book geek love, and stalking Joe Manganiello.
Robin is a member of the Romance Writers of America, the Washington and Maryland Romance Writers, a faculty member at Romance University, a member of the Waterworld Mermaids, and a contributor to the Happy Ever After blog at USA Today. You can find Robin on her website, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter (@RobinCovington).
Robin lives in Maryland with her hilarious husband, brilliant children, and ginormous puppies.
Happy Release Day to Olivia Cunning!
Olivia Cunning’s Sinners are going to the chapel and going to get married!
So, the paperback proof copy of Sinners at the Altar just arrived on my doorstep. Freaking finally… *grumble, overnight airmail my ass, grumble*
And all those lines that were on the digital proof’s cover are nowhere to be seen on the hard copy, so in celebration of the release (of the breath I’ve been holding since Friday *cough*) of Sinners at the Altar, I’m giving away 10 autographed copies of the book w/ a Sinners on Tour wristband. (Two are in the picture so you can see both sides.)
And since I’m feeling generous, I’m giving away 20 additional wristbands. 1 per winner.
So that’s 30 prizes up for grabs!
Well, you do have to enter…
Click on the link below to enter for your chance to win.
Sinners at the Altar Release Day Giveaway!
Good luck!
And yes, it’s open internationally.
Sinners at the Altar Available for Pre-Order on Amazon!
Olivia is the Queen Mother of rocker erotic romances. She is second-to-none and her “Sinners” series knocks all other “rock star” stories out of the park. She uses her behind-the-scenes knowledge of the music industry to create a realistic, sometimes depraved, but always entertaining world for her characters. Highly recommended!
We finally have a definitive release date for Sinners at the Altar!
March 11, 2014
And it’s already up for preorder on Amazon.com.
I encourage you to take advantage of the special introductory price. This massive, 450-page collection of Sinners goodness is only $3.99 until March 18th and then the eBook price will go up.
So I’m anticipating some questions. Check the FAQ below before you barrage me with questions. Thanks!
FAQ
Q1. When will Sinners at the Altar be available for preorder on B&N, Nook, iTunes, Kobo, etc, etc, etc?
A1. I don’t know. But I will let you know as soon as it is. And yes, it will be at the special price on those sites too. The process for setting up pre-orders is a bit different on those sites, so Amazon got first dibs. If the pre-orders don’t happen on those sites, the book will be available…
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5-Stars for Hayson Manning’s “Winning the Boss’s Heart” – Book Review
Mason Christian has twelve weeks to flip something old into something new, and then he’s getting the hell out of Footsteps Bay – a tiny New Zealand coastal town. Not even his temporary secretary and personal assistant–the feisty, luscious Billie McLeod–will deter him, but there’s no denying she makes him feel alive. More alive than he’s felt in three years…My Review
With her second book, Winning the Boss’s Heart, Hayson Manning took us to her beautiful home country of New Zealand. Set in the bucolic coastal town of Footsteps Bay, Mason Christian hired Billie McLeod to work as his personal assistant on a project he hoped would be completed quickly.
Billie was a heroine who knew her own worth. After suffering some personal setbacks, she was saving money to finish her degree, and working for Mason seemed like the fastest way to earn the most money. She fearlessly challenged Mason and the sarcastic nicknames she created for him, were inspired. Nothing like treating the boss with the same impersonal disdain, as he treated his employees.
Mason was a deeply broken man, sublimating his emotions in his work and keeping people at arm’s length. As his feelings for Billie grew, he was forced to confront some painful events from his past. Little did Mason know that fate would intervene, to give him a compelling second chance at love story. Ms. Manning beautifully constructed and sensitively handled, Mason’s heartbreaking past.
Billie and Mason’s interactions ran the gamut of emotions from trepidation, to antagonism, to friendship, and finally, acceptance, and love. Lovingly meddlesome townsfolk and growing spicy, sexy action rounded out this terrific story.
With Wife in Name Only, Hayson Manning became a must-read author for me. After, Winning the Boss’s Heart, she became a must-preorder or must-1-click author for me. I highly recommend her books for well-developed characters, richly illustrated locations and secondary characters and multilayered storytelling,
Hayson Manning grew up in a small New Zealand town in a family of scientists and engineers Hayson was told firmly that her ‘day dreaming’ phase would end. Soon, she’d be entranced by the inner workings of the periodic table and be spellbound by quantum physics. But Hayson loved living in the lands she created. Oh, the creatures that stopped by. The princes and princesses, unicorns and Frank a friendly chain-smoking shark.
It soon became apparent Hayson wasn’t going to be awarded the Nobel Prize for services to the atom.
She conformed and has worked as a demon word processor, sliced ham in a delicatessen, sorted freight, pulled midnight shifts in a bank and counted baked bean cans in a stock-take. She never stopped dreaming of writing alpha dudes and sassy woman.
She’s lived in Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne, London, California and is now in Sydney. All she ever wanted to do was write fun and flirty people who aren’t perfect but will fight for that one person who will love them for who they are.
Represented by Nalini Akolekar of Spencerhill Associates, that dream has come true, writing for Entangled Publishing. She loves a good glass of wine, dreams of winning the lottery, cries while watching Antiques Roadshow and cannot speak she’s sobbing so much by the end of Undercover Boss. She is also an expert at finding new and inventive ways to avoid exercise.
Find out more about Hayson on her website, follow her on Twitter and like her Facebook page. She loves to hear from her fans.
5-Stars for Gina L. Maxwell’s “Fighting for Irish” – Book Review
Former MMA fighter Aiden “Irish” O’Brien hasn’t stepped into the ring since he accidentally took someone’s life in the heat of rage. When his friend calls in a favor that sends him south to check on family, Irish figures he’s got nothing to lose. His life is on the ropes. The least he can do is make sure the sexy redhead is safe.
Kat MacGregor has forty-eight hours to settle the twenty thousand dollar debt her deadbeat ex-boyfriend owes a crime boss. If she doesn’t, she’ll pay for it–with her life. Kat’s halfway out the door when a sexy new guy walks into the bar and insists he’s there to help.
Irish is forced to fight in the underground MMA circuit to win the money she needs. But he’s been lying to Kat. About who he is, about knowing her sister, about why he comes home bruised every night. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to him, but breaking her trust will cost him the most important fight of his life: the one for her heart.
My Review:
Like Irish’s favorite cranberry juice – Fighting for Irish (A Fighting for Love Novel) (Entangled Brazen) was a bitter, sweet, tart and delicious 5 stars!
We learned about Kat MacGregor, Vanessa MacGregor’s sister, in Rules of Entanglement (A Fighting for Love Novel) (Entangled Brazen). Kat’s upbringing, tough at best and cripplingly devastating at its worst, left her with deep emotional scars and a protective covering around her heart. She was on the run from the Tennessee Mafia and unable to communicate with Vanessa. A worried Vanessa, led Kat’s soon-to-be brother-in-law, Jax, to hire his friend Aiden O’Brien “Irish”, to find, follow and if need be, protect her, in Fighting for Irish.
Irish, a retired MMA fighter, was also hiding a tortured past and despite their best efforts their mutual attraction brought them closer. Together the tore down each other’s walls, brick by brick, exposing more deep seeded pain and allowing the possibility of love to blossom. Both Kat and Irish were beautifully broken characters who deserved healing, forgiveness and the opportunity at happily ever after, as they faced their pasts.
In true Gina L. Maxwell fashion, the sex was explosive. However, the slow, deliberate, yet gentle, buildup to their lovemaking was handled with care, respect and sensitivity for two characters who believed they were unlovable. Ms. Maxwell’s pacing of their relationship, amid the suspense, was impeccable. Of the three books in the series, Fighting for Irish was the most poignantly moving.
While Fighting for Irish, may be read as a standalone novel, I highly recommend reading the first two books in the series – Seducing Cinderella (A Fighting for Love Novel) (Entangled Brazen) and Rules of Entanglement, to get a complete sense of the previous relationships and characters that brought Kat and Irish together. In addition, I am looking forward to reading Xander’s story, as he will be another tough nut to crack, and deserves his own ladylove.
About the Author:
Growing up she dreamed of helping people escape reality with her acting abilities…until college when she realized she had none to speak of. Another ten years passed before she discovered a different means to accomplishing the same dream: writing stories of love and passion for addicts just like her. Her debut novel, Seducing Cinderella, landed on the USA Today and NY Times Bestseller lists in less than a month.
Now she splits her time between writing more books and acting as Boss of the world’s first organized romance mafia, the Maxwell Mob.Thanks to the support she receives from her amazing family, Gina is finally able to live her dream of bringing a little romantic fantasy to the world, one steamy novel at a time.
Find out more about Gina on her website, follow her on Twitter, and Pinterest and like her Facebook page.
5-Stars and 2 Snaps in Z-Formation for Avery Flynn’s “High-Heeled Wonder” – Book Review
Sylvie Bissette may be one of Harbor City’s youngest glitterati, but only her best friends know her most closely guarded secret. She’s the woman behind The High-Heeled Wonder, the newest must-read blog for fashionistas everywhere. Gossip, fashion advice, exposés. Too bad some people can’t take a little criticism. When an internet troll discovers her secret identity, Sylvie turns to security expert Tony Falcon for help. The investigator from the other side of the tracks is the olive oil to her Evian water, but it’s not just her temper he’s inciting…
Tony Falcon wouldn’t know a kitten heel from a tabby cat, but since most of the bad guys he tracks down aren’t wearing stilettos, it’s never been a problem…until he meets Sylvie. The feisty fashionista may be his best chance at catching the criminals responsible for his best friend’s murder. But solving that case means going after the people Sylvie cares about, and soon the attraction—and the danger—has him wondering if solving the case is worth hurting the woman he can’t stop fantasizing about …
When Sylvie’s stalker escalates from sending nasty e-mails to trying to run her over in broad daylight, Tony goes undercover as Sylvie’s boyfriend to infiltrate the close-knit fashion community. In a world full of overblown egos and cut-throat ambition, Tony and Sylvie must work together to find her revenge-obsessed stalker before Sylvie ends up with a literal knife in the back.
My Review:
Bogie Meets Gracie Lou Freebush and they “Make it Work”
Sylvie Bissette was the mastermind behind the popular, “High-Heeled Wonder,” a blog that exposed all of the fashion industry’s dirty little, and not so little, secrets. Her scoops garnered her huge a fan base, the ire of both a magazine’s editor-in-chief and a self-absorbed, talentless designer and her very own cyberstalker. This troll indicated he/she would stop at nothing to reveal Sylvie’s identity and take down her blog.
After a very public attempt on her life, she relented to having Tony Falcon, former cop turned security expert, pose as her boyfriend to discover who was threatening her. At the same time, he was trying to track down the criminals who killed his best friend. Tony, who never had a problem maintaining his distance from his charges, met his match in feisty Sylvie, who was determined to “help” with the investigation. As the threats against Sylvie escalated, so did Tony’s innate need to protect her. The more time they spent together, the more problematic their mutual attraction became. When they finally gave in to temptation, it culminated in a fully clothed, sultry exploration that only heightened their appetite for each other.
Clues were pieced together to deduce the identity of the perpetrator, while Sylvie and Tony continued to become close. He narrowed down the list of suspects. Unfortunately, that list included people Sylvie cared deeply for. Hell-bent on retribution, yet blinded by hurt, Tony uttered one of the most touching boy-loses-girl lines “You’re going to hate me later. You will and when you do, promise you’ll give me the chance to fix it,” as he broke Sylvie’s heart – along with his own.
Like a delightful visit to Imelda Marcos’ legendary shoe closet, High-heeled Wonder (A Killer Style Novel) (Entangled Ignite) took readers on a sexy, chick lit ride worthy of early Helen Fielding or Sophie Kinsella. Additionally, Avery Flynn added classic thriller plot twists, thrills and surprises. Her characters were multi-layered, balanced and intelligent. Sylvie was a fully developed, professional woman who overcame a tragic childhood and Tony was the wounded alpha, with a heart of gold, who needed her to begin to heal. A colorful and motley crew of secondary characters – their families, friends, and coworkers, provided further action, suspense and comic relief.
Both my inner fashionista and nerd girl appreciated the references to the fashion industry, as well as, the nod to Doctor Who and the gaming world. High-heeled Wonder (A Killer Style Novel) (Entangled Ignite) earns an old-school, Men on Film, two-snaps in Z-Formation and my recommendation as a great book to curl up with on a cold winter’s day. I look forward to Ms. Flynn’s next book.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Then purchased the book for my private library.
About the Author:
Avery Flynn has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip.
She fell in love with romance while reading Johanna Lindsey’s Mallory books. It wasn’t long before Avery had read through all the romance offerings at her local library. Needing a romance fix, she turned to Harlequin’s four books a month home delivery service to ease the withdrawal symptoms. That worked for a short time, but it wasn’t long before the local book stores’ staffs knew her by name.
Avery was a reader before she was a writer and hopes to always be both. She loves to write about smartass alpha heroes who are as good with a quip as they are with their *ahem* other God-given talents. Her heroines are feisty, fierce and fantastic. Brainy and brave, these ladies know how to stand on their own two feet and knock the bad guys off theirs.
Find out more about Avery on her website, follow her on Twitter and Pinterest, and like her on her Facebook page. Also, if you figure out how to send Oreos through the Internet, she’ll be your best friend for life.
5-Stars for Robin Covington’s “Sweet Southern Betrayal” – Book Review
Privileged and ambitious attorney Teague Elliott is on the fast-track to getting everything he wants. All he has to do is stay on the straight and narrow and a high-profile political career is his for the taking. Until he wakes up naked with a Vegas showgirl…
Risa Clay has worked hard to put her showgirl past behind her and start fresh. But she owes ten grand to the wrong people, and to pay off her debt, she agrees to betray a stranger. . .but she ends up with a husband and guilty conscience.
My Review:
“Messy is where the good stuff lives.” ~ Risa Clay
Sweet Southern Betrayal: A Boys Are Back in Town Novel (Entangled Indulgence), the third book of Robin Covington’s “Boys are Back in Town” series, featured attorney, Teague Elliot. Known as a “fixer” among the elite power brokers of Washington D.C., he worked at one of the most prestigious firms and had political aspirations. He stayed away from anything he considered “messy,” like relationships. While attending his sister, Taylor’s wedding to his best friend, Lucky, in Las Vegas, he met redheaded bombshell, Risa Clay – his new showgirl wife. His showgirl wife who owned a side business selling tasteful “marital aids.” Not exactly the ideal woman for a man with dreams of living in the White House. Everything about Risa was “messy.” And personal. And amazing.
They agreed to keep their marriage a secret. Unfortunately, secrets have a way of taking on a life of their own, and soon Teague’s family, friends and colleagues found out about Risa. As beautiful as she was on the outside, Risa was even lovelier on the inside. She immediately tried to protect Teague from the possible repercussions of their Vegas nuptials, and knowingly placed herself directly in harm’s way.
At its core, Sweet Southern Betrayal was an “opposites attract” story, but as the layers were peeled away, we learned that both Risa and Teague were survivors. They saw the dreams they never believed could be realized, in and with, each other. It required that they to look past their set life plans, and into an unknown, unexpected and uncontrollable future. How they navigated it was beautifully crafted, through self-doubt, heartbreak, betrayal, forgiveness, and the possibility of love. In addition to some very steamy sex.
Many series have recurring characters that make cameo appearances, but Ms. Covington created a deep connection between the four friends – Teague, Lucky, Jack and Beck – that was itself another fully developed character. The men formed a bond in childhood that sustained them through personal and professional successes and failures. Ms. Covington took that circle of friendship and expanded it, as each man found love, and their family of friends grew.
While each book may be read as a stand-alone novel, I highly encourage readers to read A Night of Southern Comfort (The Boys are Back in Town Series) (Entangled Indulgence) and His Southern Temptation (The Boys are Back in Town Series) (Entangled Indulgence). Ms. Covington is writing Beck’s book and it promises to be as emotional, entertaining and hot, as the rest of the series.
Disclaimer: While I received an ARC of this book for an honest review, I purchased it for my “Boys are Back in Town” Collection.
About the Author:
Robin Covington, who NYT Best Selling authors, Robyn Carr and Carly Phillips, said was their new “auto-buy author”, writes sizzling hot contemporary and paranormal romance.
A Night of Southern Comfort, her best-selling debut novel was a 2012 finalist in the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Awards, earned 4.5 stars and was touted by RT Book Reviews as bringing a “fresh, modern feel to the genre while still sticking to the things that get our adrenaline pumping — sex and danger”. When she’s not exploring the theme of fooling around and falling in love, she’s collecting tasty man candy, indulging in a little comic book geek love, and stalking Joe Manganiello.
Robin is a member of the Romance Writers of America, the Washington and Maryland Romance Writers, a faculty member at Romance University, a member of the Waterworld Mermaids, and a contributor to the Happy Ever After blog at USA Today. You can find Robin on her website, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter (@RobinCovington).
Robin lives in Maryland with her hilarious husband, brilliant children, and ginormous puppies.
Another Year. Another Birthday. Hell, Yeah!
Ponder this thought for a moment: middle age rocks. I speak of this from experience, as a member of the last generation to have a truly “innocent” childhood and adolescence.
I grew up during the Cold War, learned what GRID/HIV/AIDS was and how it was really transmitted, in middle and high school. I watched the Challenger accident happen live. I remember the launch of MTV, and when the “M” was synonymous with music, like the “US Festival” and “Live Aid.” “Lollapalooza” was a little known festival advertised on college radio that took place in an empty field in Orlando, which now houses another shopping center. Trips to New York City included a stop on the observation deck of the World Trade Center, as well as, dodging drug dealers and prostitutes on Broadway and 42nd Streets.
Some days I feel every bit of my age, as I reach for my bifocals to read menus or an article online. Often, however, I do not. I have been told consistently that I look about ten years younger than I am. I have no desire to pretend to be anything but 46. I earned each grey hair, extra pound and stiff joint and muscle. I have also earned the right to look back upon my life fondly, but choose to look forward with a renewed sense of adventure. I have no desire to be in my twenties, or thirties, again. Did you hear that Madison Avenue?
The best part about being in my mid-forties is the ability to say, “fuck it,” and mean it. I am not going to be an attorney, police officer or super-heroine, as I dreamed about in my youth. I am happy to know it and move on. Age brings wisdom, but also self-reflection and self-care. It is liberating, sexy, peaceful and joyful.
My goal is to help contemporary fiction authors realize they are missing a rich demographic by not writing about middle-aged characters, who are sexy, intelligent, independent, quirky and fully developed. After all, we have more disposable income to purchase books, and will, if we see ourselves reflected back. The beauty of self-publishing is that consumers, not publishing companies, are driving demand. I will be demanding more experienced characters, loudly. I am 46 today, hear me roar!
Reading, Drinking and Dancing with a Chaser of Snark 