Book Review : First Touch (First and Last, #1) by Laurelin Paige

First Touch

First and Last, #1
by Laurelin Paige

Release Date:
December 29th, 2015

Publisher:
St.Martin's Griffin

Source:
Publisher via NetGalley

eARC received in exchange of honest review

Synopsis:

When Emily Wayborn goes home to visit her mom while on hiatus from her hit TV show, she receives a voicemail from her former best friend, Amber. Though the two were once notorious party girls, they haven't spoken in years. Although the message might sound benign to anyone else, Amber uses a safe word that Emily recognizes, a word they always used to get out of sticky situations during their wild days. And what's more chilling than the voicemail: it turns out that Amber has gone missing. 

Determined to track down her friend, Emily follows a chain of clues that lead her to the enigmatic billionaire Reeve Sallis, a hotelier known for his shady dealings and play boy reputation. Now, in order to find Amber, Emily must seduce Reeve to learn his secrets and discover the whereabouts of her friend. But as she finds herself more entangled with him, she finds she's drawn to Reeve for more than just his connection to Amber, despite her growing fear that he may be the enemy. When she's forced to choose where her loyalty lies, how will she decide between saving Amber and saving her heart?

Purchase Links:

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First and Last Series on Goodreads:

Review:

I decided to wrap-up my reading challenge of 2015 with First Touch by Laurelin Paige. This book has been appearing on my social media news feed for the last few weeks. The reviews have been fantastic and I could not wait to read my first Laurelin Paige book. I have heard many amazing things about her other books and I could not wait to experience an unforgettable reading escape.

Emily Wayborn is left speechless when she gets a message from her long lost friend. They have not talked to each other in years, and when Amber leaves their safe word in her message Emily knows that she's in trouble. It's a race against time to find out what happened to Amber. As days go by, Emily creates a plan that will bring her in the arms of dangerous Reeve Sallis. He might have the answers that she is looking for and she is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding Amber disappearance.  Emily knows she is playing with fire, but she can't resist Reeve's scorching touch. How far is she willing to go to save her friend?

First Touch is the first installment of The First and Last Series. I really did not know what to expect since this was my first time reading a book by this author.  It was an intense, passionate, twisted and a page-turning reading escape!  I have to admit that it started out slow for me. I could not feel the chemistry between Emily and Reeve. Don't get me wrong their chemistry was extremely hot, but Reeve's hot and cold behaviour towards Emily got me so mad! It took me a while to connect with them, but when they started to open up about each other's past I could really feel the connection then.

This story played out like a movie in my head. I was trying to solve the mystery surrounding Amber's disappearance at the same time that Emily did. It was like a crazy game of Ping-Pong when it came to Reeve's involvement. Guilty, not guilty, guilty, not guilty ... I was going crazy trying to figure it out!! I was on the edge of my seat until the very end. That cliffhanger?!?! Gah!!!!! WTF!!!!!

I'm really happy I closed my reading challenge with this book. I can't wait to see what happens next! I want answers to my questions!!!!! lol!!! The next installment is going to be extremely intense. I can't wait to put all the pieces of this mysterious puzzle together!

Rating:

I give First Touch, by Laurelin Paige, 4 intriguing, intense, erotic, thrilling stars!

About the Author:

USA Today and New York Times Bestselling Author Laurelin Paige is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead, or dreaming of Adam Levine. She is represented by Rebecca Friedman.

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Book Review : The Stocking was Hung by Tara Sivec

The Stocking was Hung

by Tara Sivec

Release Date:
November 30th, 2015

Source:
Purchased via Amazon

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Synopsis:

What happens when your life goes to crap the week of Christmas? You invite a hot Marine you met in an airport bar to come home with you for the holidays, to distract your crazy family from the truth. 

With a handsy aunt, a meddling mother and a father concerned for the wellbeing of his daughter's eggnog, there's no chance Sam and Noel will have time to fall in love...or will they? 

The Stocking Was Hung is a standalone, Christmas story that will make you laugh, make you HOT and maybe even make you say, "Awwwww" a few times.

Purchase Links:

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Review:

The Stocking was Hung, by Tara Sivec, is a romantic, sexy and hilarious Christmas novella that will leave you with a smile on your face. This novella delivers all the feels that you expect in a Christmas novella. It's filled with romance, holiday traditions and an excessive dose of laugh out loud moments. This is my first time reading a book by Tara Sivec. I have to admit that I own 6 of her books and after reading this little gem, I am making it a priority to read her previous work. 

Noel is having a really bad week. The last thing she wants is to go back home for Christmas. Her family can be a bit overwhelming when it comes to her personal life. When she meets Sam, she thinks he could be the solution to her problems. The last thing she expected was for Sam to fit in so well with chaotic family. What started out as deal between two strangers soon becomes more. Will Noel and Sam declare their true feelings to each other and give themselves the gift of love for the holidays?

Noel and Sam are so perfect for each other! From the moment that they meet, their chemistry is undeniable and addictive. You will be cheering for their first kiss and your heart will be bursting with love for these two lovebirds. I connected to them from the very beginning of the story. I felt like my favorite romantic Christmas movie was playing in my head. I could picture every scene and feel every moment of this story. If you are a fan of romantic Christmas movie this is the book for you. If you are not a fan, I will guarantee that you will be one once you are done reading this wonderful Christmas novella.

The supporting characters all brought their little touch of awesome awkwardness to the story. I have never seen such a crazy family!!! OMG!! I want to spend Christmas with them and be inappropriate ... lol!! I want my matching pyjamas too!! I'm so jelly!! ;) Jokes aside, this as to be one of my favorite families in the book world. I love them to pieces and I am making it a holiday tradition to read this novella every year. Sit back, relax and enjoy this wonderful story. You won't be disappointed!!!

Rating:

I give The Stocking was Hung, by Tara Sivec, 5 sweetly addictive, hilariously intoxicating, sizzling attraction, romantically heart-melting, hold the eggnog stars!

About the Author:

Tara Sivec is a USA Today best-selling author, wife, mother, chauffeur, maid, short-order cook, baby-sitter, and sarcasm expert. She lives in Ohio with her husband and two children and looks forward to the day when they all three of them become adults and move out. 

After working in the brokerage business for fourteen years, Tara decided to pick up a pen and write instead of shoving it in her eye out of boredom. Her novel Seduction and Snacks won first place in the Indie Romance Convention Reader’s Choice Awards 2013 for Best Indie First Book and she was voted as Best Author in the Indie Romance Convention Reader’s Choice Awards for 2014. 

In her spare time, Tara loves to dream about all of the baking she’ll do and naps she’ll take when she ever gets spare time. 

Tara loves tackling new genres so there’s something for everyone! Currently, she has books in the following categories: 

Romantic Comedy 
Romantic Suspense 
Erotic Romantic Suspense 
Romantic Mystery/Comedy 
Contemporary Romance 
Psychological Thriller

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Book Review : Tempting by Alex Lucian

Tempting

by Alex Lucian

Release Date:
November 23rd, 2015

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Source:
Purchased via Amazon

Genres:
Adult Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

His body climbing over mine. 

My teeth biting his neck. 

His scent on my skin. 

My nails carving a path down his back. 

His commands whispered in my ear. 

All of my senses filled with him. 

I knew it was bad. 

But I craved more. 

It had begun innocently enough, bumping into one another in a crowded Boston bar. What followed that night had been anything but innocent. 

Because I'd known, even as he'd slid inside of me, that he was my professor. I'd pursued him, a predator stalking its prey. 

And he didn't know I was his student. 

But he would. 

*** Author's note: This isn't a jail bait student/teacher novel with a butterflies-in-the-belly kind of romance. The characters portrayed in this novel are consenting adults with functioning brains. If curse words, sex, and hard ass college professors with secrets offend you, move right along. 

Tempting is Nathan and Adele's story. Tempting does not have a cliffhanger ending, but it's the first book in a duet. The Tempting series will have other novels featuring characters with concurrent story lines.***

Purchase Links:

Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon UK | Amazon US

Review:

The cover and synopsis of Tempting, by Alex Lucian, has been appearing on my social media for the last few days. I have heard great things about it. I always try to discover new authors to follow and I am so happy I gave this book a chance. I went into this book having no expectations at all. I just knew that this was a forbidden romance student/teacher story and that it was the authors first novel. 

Oh.my.world.

I knew I was going to like the book because some of my friends read it and loved it. What I never expected was for the writing style to be so captivating and the characters to be so unforgettable. The author did a fantastic job at making me feel like I was a part of Adele and Nathan's memorable journey. I have read many student/teacher romance books. They become fairly predictable and I sometimes lose interest in the story. With this book, it was different. Adele and Nathan's chemistry was so intoxicating and perfect that I always wanted to know more about them.

The story is pretty simple. Adele is obsessed with Nathan, which is her teacher. They have an unforgettable one-night stand, but he has no idea who Adele is. That is until something catches his attention in class. What follows is the beginning of an intense and all-consuming love story. The attraction between them is undeniable. Nathan knows that he's playing with fire, but he's ready to get burned because Adele makes him feel alive for the first time in a long time. 

Adele was an awesome heroine to follow. She knew what she wanted and she stopped at nothing to get it. I have to admit that I thought she was a bit cray-cray at the beginning of the story. She wanted Prof. Easton with a wild intensity and that made me feel uncomfortable. I could not figure out why she was trying so hard to get his attention. I continued to read and the change I saw in Adele surprised me and made me happy. I understood why she was acting the way she did after all.

Prof. Easton will melt your heart ... and your panties too! OMG!! He's one fine dirty talker!!! It was difficult for him to accept that Adele was taking so much place in his heart. My heart broke for him when I learned what happened in his past. Adele was like a soothing balm on his broken heart. 

This was a great reading journey and an amazing first time novel by Alex Lucian. Whatever comes next in this series, I want to read it!! I loved Adele's best friend, Leo, and I hope he gets his own book. He deserves to find ''The One''.

Rating:

I give Tempting, by Alex Lucian, 4.5 captivating, passionate, surprising stars!

About the Author:

Tumblr is 18+ 

My favorite word is YES.

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Book Review : Roped In (Armed & Dangerous, #2) by L.P. Dover

Roped In

Armed & Dangerous, #2
by L.P. Dover

Release Day:
October 19th, 2015

Publisher:
L.P. Dover LLC

Source:
NetGalley

eARC received in exchange of honest review

Synopsis:

Who says a wild heart can’t be tamed? 

For years, I lived for the job and let it control me. Violence was all I knew. I protected, killed, and served. My name is Blake Evans, one of the best undercover cops in the country. I thought I was about to live a quiet life on my ranch in Wyoming until an old friend showed up and changed everything. He brought me her, Hadley Rivers, country music sensation and the one woman I couldn't have. I didn't want her but she had me completely roped in. 

My job is to protect her, to keep her away from some psycho who wants her for himself. However, there's more to her story than I was led to believe. I promised to keep her safe and I won't back down . . . even if I have to die trying. I can't let him have her.

Purchase Links:

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Armed & Dangerous Series on Goodreads:

Review:

The second installment of the Armed & Dangerous Series, by L.P. Dover, was an action-packed, sexy and page-turning reading escape. I really enjoyed the first book in this series, which is No Limits. When I saw the cover and the blurb of Roped In, I knew I wanted to read Hadley and Blake's story. This book can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading No Limit as well. I really liked it and I am sure you will enjoy it as well :)

The last thing Blake Evans wants is to be stuck with Hadley Rivers. She is country music royalty and he knows that this sexy and sassy princess is about to turn is world upside down. From the moment he meets her, he knows he's in trouble. As days go by, Blake falls hard for Hadley. Danger is close and he will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. Even if it means putting his life on the line to save hers.

I have to admit that I did not like Blake at the beginning of the story. He was really mean to Hadley, but I knew he would come around once he got the chance to really get to know her. Hadley is such a wonderful heroine and she has such a bubbly personality! No wonder our cowboy could not resist her! She won't take crap from anyone, especially from Mr. Evans. They had the perfect chemistry and the more I read their story, the more I fell in love with this couple. 

What I really liked about this story is that the author included some twists and turns that I did not expect. I was trying to figure out who was Hadley's stalker. I was shocked when I found out!! The author did an amazing job with the plot. I won't say much more because I don't want to give out spoilers, but expect the unexpected when it comes to Hadley's stalker.

Hadley and Blake's story kept me turning the pages non-stop. I also loved how the author wrote about their respective careers. We got to go undercover with Blake on his mission to keep Hadley safe and we also get to experience, through Hadley's eyes, what it's like to be a country music sensation. It's all the little details that made this book such a fantastic reading escape!

Rating:

I give Roped In, by L.P. Dover, 4 sexy, exciting, unexpected, captivating stars!

About the Author:

NYT and USA Today Bestselling author, L.P. Dover, is a southern belle residing in North Carolina along with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she even began her literary journey she worked in Periodontics enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries. Not only does she love to write, but she loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes, white water rafting, and you can’t forget the passion for singing. Her two number one fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime and those songs usually consist of Christmas carols. 

Aside from being a wife and mother, L.P. Dover has written over nine novels including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, and her standalone novel, Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read is romantic suspense and she also loves writing it. However, if she had to choose a setting to live in it would have to be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.

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Book Review : Reap (Scarred Souls, #2) by Tillie Cole

Reap

Scarred Souls, #2
by Tillie Cole

Release Date:
November 10th, 2015

Publisher:
St. Martin's Griffin

Source:
Publisher via NetGalley

eARC received in exchange of honest review

Synopsis:

Raised as a prototype for the Georgian Bratva's obedience drug, 221 fails to think, act, or live for himself; he's his master's perfectly-crafted killing puppet. Standing at six-foot-six, weighing two-hundred-and-fifty pounds, and unrivaled in to-the-death combat, 221 successfully secures business for the Georgian Mafiya Boss of NYC, who rules the dark world of the criminal underground. Until his enemies capture him. 

Talia Tolstaia dreams to break from the heavy clutches of Bratva life. She dreams of another life--away from the stifling leash of her Russian Bratva Boss father and from the brutality of her work at The Dungeon, her criminal family's underground death-match enterprise. But when she stumbles upon her family's captive who is more monster than man, she starts to see the man underneath. A powerful, beautiful, damaged man whose heart calls to hers. But sacrifices must be made--blood for blood...life for life...souls for scarred souls...

Purchase Links for Reap:

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Scarred Souls Series on Goodreads:

Purchase Links for Raze:

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Review:

The second installment of Tillie Cole's Scarred Souls series, Reap, has exceeded all of my expectations. Raze was an extremely intoxicating read and I was scared that the following book in the series would not deliver the same emotions that I felt while reading the first book. I was wrong!!! Tillie Cole ALWAYS delivers an emotional, passionate and unforgettable reading journey! Her writing style is addictive and her characters unique.

I usually do a little recap of the story at this point of my review, but with Reap I won't. The blurb gives you all that you need to know to get you hooked on this story. I highly suggest that you read Raze before reading Reap. This book is not only about Talia and Zaal. We get an inside look at what Luka is going through after Rage. Believe me when I say that you will not only read this story, you will FEEL it.

Talia and Zaal will own every single part of your heart when you finish reading their incredible love story. A forbidden love story that was meant to be since the moment Talia and Zaal's hearts started beating to the same rhythm. Zaal has gone through a lot has a kid. Pain and darkness is all that he knows, but when Talia enters his life he wants to reach for that light that has been hiding behind all that darkness. 

The connection between Talia and Zaal was incredible! Talia has always wanted to find her soulmate and when Zaal entered her life she became obsessed with him. She could feel it in her heart that he was the one for her. She's a strong and passionate character that caught my attention in the first book and I knew that her story was going to be powerful. The love that she feels for Zaal is indescribable.

Zeal's journey was heartbreaking. I just wanted to reach into the book and give him a huge hug!!! Everything about him was broken until Talia came along and starting putting the pieces of his life back together. His past has left him numb, but Talia brought him back to life with the love she feels for him. Reading about what happened to his family was very difficult for me. I wanted him to find peace, but that will only come with time.

If you are a big fan of Luka and Kisa, like I am, you will love every single scene that they have in this book. My heart was pretty happy when I saw that the author wrote a few chapters in his POV. This is not only Talia and Zaal's story, but also the continuation of Rage. Luka made a promise in book one that he intended to keep at all cost. He has a different life know, but the darkness within him is craving that revenge. I won't spoil the reason behind his revenge, but I can assure you that you will be cheering for him to Raze Hell when it happens.

The little surprise at the end of the epilogue has left me happy dancing left and right! I can't wait to get my hands on Ravage, which will be released in 2016. The waiting is going to be brutal, but oh so worth it!

Rating:

I give Reap, by Tillie Cole, 5 dark, heart-pumping, tortured, passionate, be strong, keep strong, all-consuming stars!

About the Author:

Amazon & USA Today Best Selling Author, Tillie Cole, is a Northern girl through and through. She originates from a place called Teesside on that little but awesomely sunny (okay I exaggerate) Isle called Great Britain. She was brought up surrounded by her English rose mother -- a farmer's daughter, her crazy Scottish father, a savagely sarcastic sister and a multitude of rescue animals and horses. Being a scary blend of Scottish and English, Tillie embraces both cultures; her English heritage through her love of HP sauce and freshly made Yorkshire Puddings, and her Scottish which is mostly demonstrated by her frighteningly foul-mouthed episodes of pure rage and her much loved dirty jokes. 

Having been born and raised as a Teesside Smoggie, Tillie, at age nineteen, moved forty miles north to the 'Toon', Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, where she attended Newcastle University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts honours degree in Religious Studies. She returned two years later to complete a Post-Graduate Certificate in Teaching High School Social Studies. Tillie, regards Newcastle to be a home from home and enjoyed the Newcastle Geordie way of life for seven 'proper mint' and 'lush' years. 

One summers day, after finishing reading her thousandth book on her much loved and treasured Kindle, Tillie turned to her husband and declared, "D'you know, I have a great idea for a story. I could write a book." Several months later, after repeating the same tired line at the close of another completed story, she was scolded by her husband to shut up talking about writing a novel and "just bloody do it!" For the first time in eleven years, Tillie actually took his advice (he is still trying to get over the shock) and immediately set off on a crazy journey, delving deep into her fertile imagination. 

Tillie, ever since, has written from the heart. She combines her passion for anything camp and glittery with her love of humour and dark brooding men (most often muscled and tattooed – they’re her weakness!). She also has a serious side (believe it or not!) and loves to immerse herself in the complex study of World Religions, History and Cultural Studies and creates fantasy stories that enable her to thread serious issues and topics into her writing -- yep, there's more to this girl than profanity and sparkles! 

After six years of teaching high school Social Studies and following her Professional Rugby Player husband around Europe, they have finally given up their nomadic way of life and settled in Calgary, Alberta where Tillie spends most of her days (and many a late night) lost in a writing euphoria or pursuing a dazzling career as a barrel-racing, tasselled-chap wearing, Stetson-sporting cowgirl... Ye-haw!

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