Strong - Release Day Launch

Strong - A Stage Dive Novella for 1001 Dark Nights

 by Kylie Scott

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kylie Scott comes a new story in her Stage Dive series…

When the girl of your dreams is kind of a nightmare.

As head of security to Stage Dive, one of the biggest rock bands in the world, Sam Knowles has plenty of experience dealing with trouble. But spoilt brat Martha Nicholson just might be the worst thing he’s ever encountered. The beautiful troublemaker claims to have reformed, but Sam knows better than to think with what’s in his pants. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to make his heart fall into line.

Martha’s had her sights on the seriously built bodyguard for years. Quiet and conservative, he’s not even remotely her type. So why the hell can’t she get him out of her mind? There’s more to her than the Louboutin wearing party-girl of previous years, however. Maybe it’s time to let him in on that fact and deal with this thing between them.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

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Look out for my review coming 30th!

Excerpt:

“My Valentino boots are actually sticking to the floor. That’s how gross this place is.”

Lizzy just smiled. “Told you to dress casual.”

“I am.”

The smile widened.

“Jeans and a tee is casual.”

“A tee? It’s velvet, Martha.” She held a bottle of beer up to her lips, taking a sip. “I said we were going to a dive bar. You have only yourself to blame for the fashion faux pas.”

“But velvet is in!”

“Would you two quit talking? I’m trying to listen,” said my brother, Ben. The big hairy idiot was slouched back in his chair, bopping his head in time to the music.

Lizzy shuffled closer all conspiratorial-like. “I know why you’re all dressed up.”

I said nothing. There was nothing to be said.

Next her gaze went to the man standing at the end of the bar across from us. No, no, I would not turn my head. I would not fall prey to her bull. After all, I’d managed to successfully avoid him for the forty-eight or so hours since my not so triumphant surprise return to the West Coast. Even with us both being in the same house. A very big sprawling house, but still.

On the other hand, it should probably be mentioned that he looked awfully good tonight in jeans and a white T-shirt with a leather jacket. Samuel Rhodes, otherwise known as Sam. Not a pretty man with his harsh features and bull-like neck, but something about him appealed to me. As always, his head was shaved and his body was built and my idiot fingers itched to explore.

Okay. So I guess at some point I must have turned my head. And shit, he caught me looking.

The corner of his lips rose just a little, just enough to mess with me, before he returned to doing his job by casually surveying the packed room. My heart did not speed up due to anything done by him. Clearly, I hadn’t totally caught my breath from when we’d walked in half an hour ago or something. That was all. Interesting to note, he did none of the checking me out typical of a heterosexual male who might have been into me. In fact, he didn’t really give me any signals at all. Ever.

Author Spotlight:

Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013 & 2014, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet. You can learn more about Kylie here:

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Rocco - Review

Rocco - Ruin & Revenge #3 by Sarah Castille

What they say: Mafia enforcer, Rocco De Lucchi is the best in the business.

Cold, hard and utterly ruthless, Rocco is the most dangerous of men. Feelings are a luxury he cannot afford—until a chance encounter brings him face to face with the only woman who found her way into his heart and touched his soul.

Grace Mantini has spent her whole life running from the mob. Daughter of the boss's right hand man, she is both a prize and a target. When Rocco walks back into her life, she wants nothing to do with the man who betrayed her and broke her heart. But only Rocco can protect her from the dangerous forces that seek to destroy her family. Can they escape the hands of fate closing around them? Or will love be the kiss of death for them both?

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I received a copy in exchange for an honest review!
What I say: I enjoyed Rocco (character and the book) but I found myself wondering how I can find these types of controversial characters so intriguing.
If you've read the previous books in the series you'll likely remember Rocco. I'm not sure what I expected from his story but it's dark. Rocco is mafia enforcer, so he's responsible for some terrible things. I'm not sure what it says about me but I still liked him, although I'm really not sure about the age difference (more of this later).  
I really liked Grace. She's a charming blend of vulnerable, flawed and determined, but mostly she's filled with a huge inner strength I couldn't help but admire. Whilst she finds it hard to see past her own scars, she manages to see the best in others, particularly in Rocco.

If you're after a 'softer' or 'lighter' bad boy then Rocco is most definitely not your guy. He's the real deal, the ultimate bad boy alpha to the core. This seems to work for Grace, who despite her feelings towards the mafia, can't see past Rocco. 

I wonder who will take centre stage in the next book...?

3.5 Stars in my Sky!

Luca - Review

Luca - Ruin & Revenge #2 by Sarah Castille

What they say: Luca Rizzoli was nearly destroyed by a brutal betrayal that cost him his family. Now a ruthless crime boss in the city of sin, he lets nothing touch his frozen heart--until a smoldering encounter with a beautiful stranger ignites his passion. One night isn't enough for a man who takes what he wants, but his mysterious temptress has slipped away.

For two years police detective Gabrielle Fawkes has lived for revenge. But a night of indulgence with a sexy stranger changes everything. Powerful, charming, and deliciously dangerous Luca, has his own private reasons for offering to help her pursue the drug lord who killed her husband. There's a lot Luca isn't telling her and the more she finds out the less she wants to know.

When Gabrielle becomes the target of the drug lord she has vowed to hunt down, she must do the unimaginable: place her life in a mobster's hands. To save her, Luca must break his Mafia ties--or risk losing Gabrielle forever.

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I received a copy from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review!
What I say: I read Luca quickly then delayed reviewing it. It took me a little while to write my review of Luca because even after sitting thinking about it for a while, I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about the story. This is largely because I loved Nico's book and although I liked Luca, I wasn't bowled over in the same way. I think this is mainly down to my uncertainty towards Gabrielle. 

Luca is the ultimate alpha male. He's hot, sexy, determined, dominant and totally bad ass. If this is your thing then be prepared to swoon over Luca's dirty Mafioso badassness. 

Gabrielle was a harder sell for me. I hate to say it but I didn't love her. I respected her mission and reasoning but didn't really like how quickly she changed her mind nor her unusual policing approach. This being said, I've never been faced my a hot Mafia Capo like Luca.

The naughty scenes are frequent, dirty and not for the faint hearted. Luca definitely lives up to his alpha status in these scenes.

It was great to catch up with some old favs and am looking forward to seeing which character is up next in the series.

3.5 Stars in my Sky




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Bronx’s Wounded Wolf - Release Blitz!

Bronx’s Wounded Wolf

by Elle Boon

Bronx’s Wounded Wolf is book four in the Mystic Wolves Series by Elle Boon!

NOW AVAILABLE!

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A WOUNDED WOLF…A FIERCE PROTECTOR…AN UNSHAKABLE BOND…Will Bronx and Taya be able to create that mystical bond without her inner wolf, or will their love be enough?

A WOUNDED WOLF… Having suffered at the hands of a rogue pack, Taya’s wolf retreat’s deep inside her. She learns to rely on her humanity as she seeks sanctuary from the pack she’d been taken from as a child.

A FIERCE PROTECTOR…Bronx feels an instant connection to Taya the moment he set eyes on her, even though he couldn’t sense her wolf. Her pain and wariness stop him from claiming her right then and there, keeping him and his wolf on edge.

AN UNSHAKEABLE BOND…Neither Taya nor Bronx can deny their feelings for one another, and as the weeks go by, they both give into their desires. Bronx’s wolf is ready to claim Taya, wolf or not. Taya misses her wolf, but when her past catches up to them, she’ll need more than her humanity and Bronx to save her. They’ll need the strength of the pack and help from the Fey if they hope to come out of the battle alive and whole.

Excerpt:

Taya looked up, still shocked at how large the man was. Damn, he had to have eaten every damn little boys Wheaties in a five state radius. Six and a half feet tall with dark blond hair, blue eyes, muscles upon muscles, tattoos upon tattoos and he scared the ever-loving-shit right out of her. When she’d first met him, he’d been the one whose arms she’d woken up in after she’d blacked out. He carried her around like she was precious, calling her his, but she couldn’t feel her wolf. She knew he thought she was his, but there was no way she could allow him to claim her without that same instinct clawing at her. A one-sided mating would tear them apart, and she didn’t think she could ever allow a man to… dominate the way he would want, or need to do with his woman. Taya was no longer the same female she used to be. She loved the way it felt to be with a man, and wasn’t ashamed of her past. What she was ashamed of, was what had happened to her. Not being in control broke her. She shut the memories down that threatened to pull her under, knowing they’d send her into a space where she didn’t want to be for days.

“Son of a b****,” Bronx cursed, then bent to face her. “Stop it right now. We will fix this.”

She nodded at his vehemence. Nothing sounded better than being fixed, but the saying and doing were two very different things.

She could see the small filthy room with the full-sized bed every time she closed her eyes. The chains that held her down had left their marks on her wrists and ankles. Without thought she ran her thumb across one raised scar, then wrenched her eyes open as Bronx pulled her hand away and placed a kiss on each of her wrists.

“I wish I could have saved you from this. From all of it.” Anger glistened in his beautiful eyes before he stood and abruptly walked away.

In a blink, he went from extra-large man, to extremely large and angry tawny wolf. Envy hit her at his ability to change, yet her wolf didn’t even stir.

“He’s not angry at you, you know,” Taryn said, sipping on her drink while she stared out into the woods.

Taking a deep breath, she turned to look into familiar eyes. “Yeah, but that doesn’t make it easier to deal with.”

Taryn nodded. “I suppose not. So, how we gonna get your wolf back? You know, sorta like that movie with Stella, only you don’t need to get your groove back. Or maybe you do, but I don’t need to know that. Well, maybe I can help you there too. I mean Jett has taught me a shitton of things. I could totally help you,” she stopped talking as the man in question growled out a warning.

“I’m thinking that is his way of telling you to pipe down?” Taya put the straw in her mouth to hide her grin. Taryn was just too damn cute. Oh, she was aware her little whatever she was had a hell of a life before finding her mate in Jett, but damn, she was adorable.

“Really, you should not make fun of me. I’m a total badass who has multiple forms,” Taryn growled.

“Way to rub it in.” Taya stood, her own lack of one form made the food she’d eaten earlier turn in her stomach.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that to be b****. I was teasing.” Taryn’s hand on her arm, holding her in place felt like a tether, taking her back to a place she didn’t want to be.

“Don’t touch me.” She stumbled backward, falling over the back of the bench, she scrambled up, backing away from the crowd. She felt their eyes on her, saw the way Taryn held her hand against her chest. Watched Jett come to his mate’s side, worry written all over him.

“Taya, you’re safe here,” Cora Malik soothed from a few feet away.

She looked at the tiny woman who she’d been talking to for the last week or so. Although she wasn’t a therapist, but a doctor, a vet, she wanted to laugh at the absurdity. “I’m okay. I just need to go home.” Home. She didn’t have a home. She didn’t have a pack. She had nothing. Shoving her fist in her mouth, she turned away from the knowing eyes of the Mystic Wolves and went down the path toward Emerson and Payton’s cabin. They’d been gracious enough to allow her to stay in the small studio space their daughter had when she was alive located at the back of their property line.

The lighted path led the way to the one room place she slept in. It was quaint with enough space for a bed that folded up to be a couch, a small kitchen area and a bathroom. She didn’t need any more room. Hell, she wasn’t sure how long she was going to be here. Looking before she unlocked the door she didn’t sense anyone watching her, but without her wolf, she was like a normal human. “I hate you. Why did you leave me? Come out so we can shift,” she begged her wolf. When nothing rippled beneath her skin, she screamed then slapped a hand over her mouth, not wanting to alert anyone to her distress.

Author Spotlight:

I’m a full-time wife and mother of two who has loved to read and write since childhood. I survived cancer and decided I could do anything, setting personal goals then and there. Four years later, after meeting many wonderful writers who allowed me to beta read for them, whom I can now call friends, I decided to write a book. Several years later I’ve attained my first goal, becoming a published author.

I love to write and have all kinds of stories in my head waiting to be written. The best part about my new journey is that if I don’t like it, I can re-write it, unlike real life, so I always make sure there’s a happy ending.

I’m creating new worlds, and I hope you all enjoy them with me. I can guarantee you’ll always have a hero or two you’ll love, and a heroine you’ll want to be.

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Retaliate - Book Tour

Retaliate

by M. N. Forgy

Retaliate (Sin City Outlaws Book 3) by M.N. Forgy is

NOW LIVE!

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Being the Vice President of the Sin City Outlaws Motorcycle Club comes with its perks.

Respect, power, and easy women whenever I want. I have control in everything I do.

Because of that, I wasn’t expecting my president to put me on babysitting duty, and on a female cop of all fucking people. I kill law enforcement, not protect them.

Alessandra pretends to be the good-guy hiding behind that shiny badge. But I see the darkness dancing in her eyes, and it draws me to her in the worst way. I want to devour that act of innocence, pull her over the line of justice, and into my bed.

I just wasn’t expecting the handful of secrets I got behind that badge of honor I ripped from her chest.  Because now, we’re retaliating against a common enemy together.

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I received a copy in exchange for an honest review!

What I say: Retaliate is the third book in M.N. Forgy's Sin City Outlaws biker series. Although you don't have to have read the previous two instalments, I'd say it definitely helps with back story and getting into Alessandra and Felix's heads.

If you're familiar with the series then you'll remember Alessandra as Jillian's bestie and former colleague. Alessandra really hates bikers and cannot stand Felix. As a biker outlaw there's now way he'd be into a cop - or would he? Now before you start thinking this is just another good girl meets bad guy story it's worth considering that Alessandra really isn't your average cop. She packs quite the punch and has quite the edge. She's definitely not a good girl!

Alessandra is after answers and unfortunately the only way she's going to get them is by asking her least favourite biker to help. Felix is confused by his attraction to Alessandra. Criminals don't date cops. Ever! Throw in a potential war with the other bigwigs in town and Felix has one heck of a dilemma on his hands.

Alessandra is kinda badass! I really liked her sassy no-nonsense approach and her loyalty to her friends and family. Felix really puts the A in Alpha! Those offended by violence and bad language may find him a bit much but I liked his more domineering tendencies.

I'm looking forward to Mac's story up next...

4 Stars in my Sky!

Excerpt:

“So, you came here to what, let loose?” I ask suggestively, lust hanging from the tip of my tongue.

She looks up through hooded eyes, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

Taking a small step, I invade her space. Using my finger, I tuck it firmly under her chin making her look me in the eyes. God, she’s so fucking soft to touch, my hands itch to take advantage of her body and soul. That’s what I do, I devour innocent women, and scar their souls to the point they’re damaged goods.

“Were you going to f*** one of my men tonight, Alessandra?” I ask hastily.

Her throat bobs as she swallows, fire igniting her eyes as she pulls away. She’s a pistol and not the kind you love and shine every day with care. More like the kind you’re scared to use because it may backfire on you at any minute.

“So what if I was? Why do you care?” She raises a challenging brow, her voice sharp.

Author Spotlight:

M.N. Forgy was raised in Missouri where she still lives with her family. She's a soccer mom by day and a saucy writer by night. M.N. Forgy started writing at a young age but never took it seriously until years later, as a stay-at-home mom, she opened her laptop and started writing again. As a role model for her children, she felt she couldn't live with the "what if" anymore and finally took a chance on her character's story. So, with her glass of wine in hand and a stray Barbie sharing her seat, she continues to create and please her fans.

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Retreat - Review

Apologies for the delay...

★ RETREAT - Getaway #1★

by Jay Crownover

Retreat is the first instalment in Jay's shiny new standalone Getaway series about the Warner brothers.

What they say: These boys are very good at putting the wild in wilderness.

Every once in a while, you need to get away from it all.

I was a woman on the edge, shaken and shattered after a breakup that felt like it tore my entire world apart.

My best friend, sick of watching me drown in misery and melancholy, harassed me until I agreed to go with her on a week-long wilderness retreat.

She promised days spent bonding and getting in touch with our inner badasses. It was supposed to be all about the two of us roughing it and making do with the bare minimum. She assured me we were going to be pushed to our limits in ways that were unimaginable. Neither one of us could have ever guessed just how right she was.

Nowhere in the glossy brochure did it say anything about the fact I was going to have to battle the insufferable but deliciously rugged and sexy trail guide instead of the elements. The brochure also forgot to mention the part that warned when you left civilization behind, there was no place to pack your inhibitions and fears.

I was told that I would be facing a week where the only thing I should expect was the unexpected. However, no one mentioned that I was going to have to fight for my life…and my heart as soon as I ventured into the unknown.

I was a pro at hiding from my feelings but when it came time to face a real threat, one that could change everything, I learned I was more of a no surrender, no retreat kind of girl.

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What I say: I love a surprise realise from one of my favourite authors, even when it's in a genre outside of my normal reading comfort zone. I don't tend to read many cowboy stories, but that's okay because Cyrus isn't a cowboy, apart from of course, when he's totally a cowboy - it's a JC book so of course this conundrum totally works.

Crownover really shakes things up with Retreat. She changes the subjects from her (and our) beloved Denver based troubled tattoo artists to ranch life in the middle of nowhere. The characters are a little older than in most of Crownover's previous books but both Cy and Leo are fun of all the great things we've come to expect from a JC character. 

Cy the not-a-proper-cowboy cowboy is gruff, vulnerable, determined, sexy and brave - he's extremely easy on the eye which always helps. I particularly liked Cy's devotion to his family and selflessness - the dude always puts everybody else first, but once he meets Leo he's determined to have her.

Leo is heartbroken and embarrassed when finds herself shoehorned into going on a back-to-nature holiday with her bestie Emrys, and is unprepared for the drama and romance facing her.

I loved the romance and spark between Cy and Leo but I particularly appreciated the mystery, thriller aspect - it's so different from anything Crownover has written before and really is a treat. There are moments of real darkness packed into the romantic adventure story and I'm looking forward to seeing more of Emrys, Sutton and of course a certain other cowboy...

Oh the drama!

4.5 Stars in my Sky!

Author Spotlight: 

Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men, The Point, and the Saints of Denver series. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she'll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.  

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