EVERYTHING CHANGED IN AN INSTANT. I thought I knew what was important, but one phone call sent my life into a tailspin. Alone and afraid, I clung to the one man I shouldn’t. I was warned about him and told to stay away. “He’s dangerous,” they said. But the man who could hurt me the most, gave me the greatest comfort. “He’s not who they think,” I told myself. But just like an illusion, things are never what they seem.
Chelle Bliss, USA Today Bestselling author, currently lives in a small town near the Gulf of Mexico. She’s a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, and coffee fiend. Currently she’s written a dozen books in three different series. She loves spending her free time with her boyfriend, 2 cats, and hamster.
Before becoming a writer, Chelle taught high school history for over ten years. She holds a master’s degree in Instructional Technology and a bachelor’s in history. Although history is her first love, writing has become her dream job and she can’t imagine doing anything else.
No matter how hard I tried to push her away, fate thrust us together again.
Screw relationships. My motto: Hit it and quit it. Simple worked. Feelings weren’t on the line, hearts weren’t able to be broken,
and I could keep my life simple. My friends told me to move on and find the “one,” but I wasn’t ready to love again. Until I met her. A dirty-mouthed temptress with a killer body that had me questioning everything. I knew I could ruin her forever, but not without losing myself. I wouldn’t do it. But Georgia Phillips was innocent, pure, and total perfection. I wouldn’t be the one to strip her bare and break her heart. I swore I’d never call another woman mine, but that was before I almost lost her.
Warning: If you can’t handle a cocky bad boy or a badass chick with a dirty mouth,
this might not be the book for you.
*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
All thoughts and comments are my own.*
Holy F&#%, Unlawful Desire is hands down my favorite Chelle Bliss book to date! Ok, I seriously love all her books, but this one lived up to every imaginable expectation and then some. I was impatiently awaiting the release for this one and I loooooooved it! I could not put it down. It was definitely a one sitting read. I sat in a café and lost hours not even realizing I had been there so long until it was nearly closing time (hangs head in shame). Sigh, I knew I would fall hard for Frisco and I 1000000% did. He is the epitome of the dream alpha male book boyfriend.
Frisco swore off relationship, but the day he meets Georgia he knows he’s in for trouble. He does everything in his power to fight his feelings, but Georgia isn’t like the rest. She’s smart, sassy and pretty freaking bada$$. There’s something about her that Frisco can’t escape and try as they may, fate keeps intervening pushing these two closer together. I loved the banter between Georgia and Frisco. They were playful and snarky in a way that only Chelle could perfect. I fell hard for Frisco and Georgia, unsure of their fate, I devoured every page and rooted for them along the way. I hoped these two would find a way to open up and trust one another. Georgia and Frisco’s lives intersect at a time when they both need to drown out past hurt. What they never imagined is that they’d find solace in one another. Will they take a leap together or will Frisco’s reservations and Georgia’s innocence be the thing that tears them apart?
As with all Chelle Bliss books this one felt familiar, as though they could be your own friends, it was witty, and I laughed a lot at certain points (when you get there you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about). Let’s just say that extended family and friends are always an important factor in Chelle’s books and they certainly make the stories interesting and utterly hilarious. As always, the steam factor was off the charts, but I do believe Unlawful Desire may have had some of the steamiest, blush worthy moments I’ve ever read. This book is everything! 5 stars hands down for Unlawful Desire. It is erotic and steamy, but the second chance romance aspect will sucker punch you at times leaving you breathless and longing for more. I am a huge fan of this book and the ALFA PI series. This is a must read for all Erotic (Adult) Romance/Second-Chance Romance/Contemporary Romance fans! You will not be disappointed.
Happy Reading Lovelies xo
Unlawful Desire Excerpt
She leaned back against the bar with her tits jutting out and her arms crossed underneath. “What’s your problem with me? Did I do something to you, Frisco?”
Caught off guard by her question, my body jerked backward. “N-no,” I stuttered.
She tapped her foot. “You ditched me, marched off when you heard my age, and tonight, you seem less than happy that I’m here. What the fuck gives?”
I cleared my throat, trying to find my voice and a reasonable explanation. “I don’t have anything against you.” I was in so much trouble.
“Let’s cut the shit, Frisco. I’m a big girl. What’s the problem? Would you rather I leave?” Her body oozed attitude.
I cringed. I never wanted to hurt anyone, but I knew that I had hurt her feelings. “No. Don’t go. I’m sorry. It’s just that Sunshine…” My chest tightened. “She’s trying to fix us up.”
Georgia filled her cheeks with air before slowly exhaling. “Is that so bad?” She narrowed her eyes. “If I’m not your type, it’s cool. But otherwise, what’s the issue? I thought we had a nice time up until you left the party. I’m a big girl. Just be honest with me. I’m not into playing games.”
I wanted to play games. Naked games that ended with us against a wall, tangled together like we’d played the sexiest game of Twister.
Chelle Bliss, USA Today Bestselling author, currently lives in a small town near the Gulf of Mexico in Florida. She’s a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, and coffee fiend. She’s written over thirteen books and has three series available. She loves spending her free time with her boyfriend, 2 cats, and her hamster.
Before becoming a writer, Chelle taught high school history for over ten years. She holds a master’s degree in Instructional Technology and a bachelor’s in history. Although history is her first love, writing has become her dream job and she can’t imagine doing anything else.
Title: Unlawful Desire Series: ALFA PI Book #2 Author: Chelle Bliss Release Date: September 22, 2015 Cover Photo by:SC Photography Cover Models:Lance Jones & Brit Love
My fiancée ripped a piece of my heart out when I caught her with another man. It made me jaded, and I swore off relationships. But as with any plans, life had a way of making me its bitch.
When a way too young bombshell walked into my world, my heart began to beat again. Georgia asked me for one night—nothing more—and with no strings attached.
Our night of passion turned my universe upside down.
When she almost slipped out of my life, I knew I had to make her mine. Willing to do anything to protect her, I took justice into my own hands. My feelings for her brought out a side of me I thought I’d left behind.
Chelle Bliss, USA Today Bestselling author, currently lives in a small, west coast town near the Gulf of Mexico in Florida. She’s a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, and coffee fiend. Currently she’s written thirteen books and has three series available. She loves spending her free time with her boyfriend, 2 cats, and her hamster.
Before becoming a writer, Chelle taught high school history for over ten years. She holds a master’s degree in Instructional Technology and a bachelor’s in history. Although history is her first love, writing has become her dream job and she can’t imagine doing anything else.
The moment I saw her, I wanted her. I tried to resist her, but Race had other plans. One night, in a moment of weakness, I gave in to my desires. I still had a job to do before her world collapsed. If I failed at finding the person behind the threats, I could lose her forever. Temptation can be dangerous.
Book Review
*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
All thoughts and comments are my own.*
Chelle Bliss became a favorite author when I was first introduced to her Men of Inked series featuring one of my favorite fictional families, The Gallos. I fell hard and fast for her writing and how she easily brought you into this world that made this family so real that you wanted to crawl into the books and live there. As the series and family grew so did my love for her art of storytelling. She became an author who was able to capture all the perfect elements of love, passion, humor and a true sense of family all in the same book. I have a love for her books and will likely enjoy anything she dips her hands into. Naturally, Sinful Intent, the first book in her newest series (and Men of Inked spin-off ::happy dance::) – ALFA Private Investigations won me over instantly. Not gonna lie to Chelle or the readers and I mean no offense or disrespect when I say this because while I understood the choice to use the name Race True, it is quite possibly my least favorite named character of all the books I’ve read by Chelle thus far. However, as I got used to the name and got a better understanding of the choice I continued on with enjoyed the story as much as I did the Men of Inked books. This book had everything you look for in a good romance/erotic romance – love, passion, friendship, mystery, action and of course family – yup, that’s right, the Gallos are back and you will definitely get plenty of updates on the happenings of their lives as well as the introduction of some new faces which I absolutely love.
Sinful Intent introduces Morgan DeLuca and the story of how he came to join ALFA PI. His story is real enough where it could be someone you knew growing up, he’s a kid from the “wrong side of the tracks” that was fortunate enough to get his life together in most ways, but now he’s trying to figure out…what next? I love how he came to join the ALFA PI family and the story that leads up to him meeting Race True. We are introduced to Race True who becomes Morgan’s first client and after their initial meeting, it is clear they are both attracted to one another. Race suffered insurmountable loss in her life and it only made her work harder. Morgan is a distraction she isn’t sure she can afford to welcome into her life, but she feels hope when he’s around. Lines become blurred one night and their walls come down allowing the two to give in to the overwhelming need they’ve felt since their first encounter, but can they get beyond the reasons that initially brought them together or will everything fall apart before they have a chance to begin?
As much as I loved Sinful Intent, Chelle did what she does best – gives you a taste and makes you want more. I’m salivating for the next book in the series, Unlawful Desire. I am so curious about Frisco and I can’t wait for his story. This series, as with the Men of Inked series is perfect for Contemporary Romance/Erotic Romance/Erotica fans. It is the perfect blend of romance, intrigue and the steam factor, as always, remains off the charts! You won’t be disappointed!
Happy Reading Lovelies xo
Excerpt
“You’re really purdy,” she slurred with a lopsided grin, running her finger down my cheek. “That’s it. No more drinks for you,” I said, dragging the glass away from her. “No! I’ve only had three,” she said as she lurched forward, pulling the drink out of my hands. “I’m enjoying myself. I’ve had a bitch of a week and I deserve to let loose a little.” I held my hands up. “You’ve actually had four martinis, but anything you want, princess.” Her eyes grew into little slits. “I’m not your princess,” she slurred, sounding completely adorable. My cheeks hurt as I smiled. “I’m going to take you home now. I think you need to sleep it off.” “Last time I checked,” she said before hiccupping, “you’re not my daddy.” A slow smile crept across her face. She scooted closer and whispered, “Unless that’s your thing.” She tried to wink, but both eyes closed, one after the other. I leaned into her space, a breath away from her lips. “It’s not my thing, but I’m happy to act out your fantasies. But I don’t think you want to cross that line. Once you go there, there’s no going back.” I stared into her eyes. “Oooh.” Her eyes grew wide. “Is that supposed to scare me, Mr. DeLuca?” I didn’t move. “I’m just giving you fair warning. You’ve had a few drinks, and I won’t take advantage of that. I’m just telling you how it is.” “You’re full of yourself.” Her warm, sweet breath caressed my lips as she spoke. All I wanted to do was reach out, pull her face to mine, and kiss her full, beautiful lips. “I’m sure of myself and confident in my abilities, yes. That’s entirely different than being full of myself.” I licked my lips, testing her. Her eyes dropped to my mouth as her lips parted. “Another?” Lisa interrupted. “We’re good,” I replied, keeping my eyes pinned to Race and waving Lisa off. “Pfft,” Lisa scoffed, stomping away. Race glared in Lisa’s direction. “She wants you,” she whispered. Was she jealous? “I don’t want her.” “She’s a sure thing though.” I leaned closer, leaving very little space between us. “I never liked easy.” “All men like easy.” Her body swayed, moving so close our lips almost brushed.
I’ve loved once. I gave everything that I had to that love. Blindly believing that nothing could ever take that feeling away from me. Away from us. And when my little world of happiness was ripped from my fingers, I felt a loss that still haunts me to this day.
Now I use that lingering grief as a shield to keep my heart from loving again. It’s that fear that keeps me from letting anyone, except my daughter, get close enough to make it hurt. To make my heart bleed when I inevitably lose again.
Until the day I met Liam Beckett and everything I thought I had protected myself from was shoved back in my face.
He’s on a mission to prove to me that a love worth having is a love worth fighting for.
Book Review
*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
All thoughts and comments are my own.*
“When you grow up with parents like mine, you know without a shadow of a doubt that a love worth fighting for is a love worth keeping. The fight—that drive—the desire to have the person you love, love you back just as fiercely? That’s all it’s about. They showed me that when you want something, you don’t stop until it’s yours.”
Harper Sloan never ceases to amaze me. Bleeding Love the second book in the hope town standalone series is a beautiful story that at times gutted me. The raw intensity and passion you feel as you read Megan and Liam’s story will leave it’s mark forever branding a place in your heart. As far as I’m concerned, Harper Sloan has never disappointed me with any of her books and this is just another example of how she brings her characters to life making you love them all.
Megan was dealt a rough hand in life, but when she meets Liam she sees how getting close to him can possibly disrupt the order she’s created for herself. She’s basically living in a bubble made to protect herself and keep away any pain. All the things that scare her, all her uncertainties come rushing to the surface when Liam is around. She can’t handle his desire to let him in, but his persistence is wearing her down. Will she allow him in or will she push him to his limit?
Megan and Liam’s story is reminiscent of Beck and Dee’s. I loved every second of getting to know these two. As usual with Harper Sloan’s books, this one was hot and my kindle sizzled from the very first page…no seriously holy shit this book was hot. I thought Unexpected Fate had its moments, but Bleeding Love O-M-G. Liam I didn’t know you had it in you…majorly crushing on him now. Never a dull moment, Harper.
I fell in love with not only Liam, but also Megan. She had been through more than her share of pain and I understood her. I even found myself tearing up at times. This book makes you feel and if you’re not laughing, you might cry, if you’re not swooning, you might want to yell, either way you’ll feel something. The culmination of emotions will leave you hopeful and completely sated. Although these series are standalone books, I do recommend reading both the Corps Security and Hope Town series in the order they were published. Reading Unexpected Fate got me acquainted with Megan and Liam,but reading Bleeding Love brought their stories to life in a way that made me appreciate all the hurdles they met along their journey. The story is beautiful and as with all of the authors stories this one brings to life “realistic” characters that make you feel as though they could be your own friends or family. The struggles they face are not only in love, but all areas of life and how they look to one another for love and support only makes me love her books and characters more with each release.
The blurb holds back so much of the story that I’m afraid to reveal too much so I’ll just leave it at this, Harper Sloan is amazing, this book rocks, this series rocks, I need more….no seriously I need more and I recommend this book to all New Adult, Contemporary Romance and Erotic Romance fans. You won’t regret it.
Happy Reading lovelies xo
“A love worth having is worth fighting for.”
Excerpt
His mouth leaves mine and with his hand still on my leg, he demands, “Dig your heels in deep, baby.”
I give him what he wants, but not because he told me to. I give him what he wants because when his hand leaves my leg and pushes into the mattress, bringing his body up he goes even deeper into my body and those heels push hard.
Just as he demanded earlier, my hands go to his shoulders on my own accord and as he takes my body hard, my nails dig in with my heels still pushing hard against the small of his back. Our eyes never leave each other’s probing gaze. Never once do I take my eyes away from his, so full of lust that I know there isn’t an ounce of control left in his body.
He drops his head and I lift up to meet him in a kiss so sweet it doesn’t match the powerful way that he’s taking my body. A kiss that gives me more than words ever could at this moment. His hips slow and as his tongue rolls against mine, his hips start to take me in slow, deep rolls. He doesn’t pull back, just rocks his hips against mine.
I push up and cry out when he slips even deeper.
His lips come from mine and his hooded eyes open a sliver. “Feels like heaven,” he says softly. “Everything, darlin’. Feels like everything.”
About the Author
Harper lives in small town Georgia just a short drive from her hometown of Peachtree City. She (and her 3 daughters) enjoy ruling the house they dubbed ‘Estrogen Ocean’, much to her husband’s chagrin. Harper has a borderline unhealthy obsession with books; you can almost ALWAYS find her with her eReader attached. She enjoys bad reality TV and cheesy romantic flicks. Her favorite kind of hero–the super alpha kind!
Harper started using writing as a way to unwind when the house went to sleep at night; and with a house full of crazy it was the perfect way to just relax. It didn’t take long before a head full of very demanding alphas would stop at nothing to have their story told.
New York Times bestselling author Kim Karr turns up the heat in a smoking hot, emotionally compelling romance that takes you into the world of Manhattan’s elite. Meet Jeremy McQueen, a sexy, intense, brooding entrepreneur who goes after what he wants, and Phoebe St. Claire, a socialite-turned-CEO who’s been drifting through life searching for something she thought she’d never find again–the right man to share her future.
Phoebe St. Claire has devoted herself to saving her family’s hotel empire–but her best efforts have not been good enough. With her whole world in turmoil, the tenacious go-getter turns to the once love of her life. Far from innocent, Jeremy McQueen was the guy from the wrong side of the tracks who her parents would never have approved of. Their years apart have only made the sexy bad boy more irresistible than ever–and their reunion is explosive.
When she asks Jeremy to help her salvage her family business, he agrees immediately, with only one condition–he wants her in his bed.
But soon surprising circumstances leave Phoebe reeling. Was this fairy tale romance just too good to be true? Will Jeremy’s secrets pull them apart all over again?
THIS IS A STANDALONE SECOND-CHANCE ROMANCE WITH NO CLIFFHANGER ENDING.
Toxic Book Review
*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
All thoughts and comments are my own.*
This second-chance romance will have you swooning. I fell in love with Jeremy and Phoebe’s chemistry, but I had moments of frustration and doubt. Phoebe and Jeremy met one summer and quickly became hot and heavy. Things were intense and the fire that once burned never seemed to fully extinguish. Years later Jeremy and Phoebe have a run in and although there is an uncertainty between the two, their attraction to one another is undeniable, but the mistakes of their past have a way of coming back to haunt them. Can they trust one another and find a way to rebuild what was once lost or will they allow outside forces to create a wedge between them?
Toxic is my first Kim Karr read (I know, I’m ashamed!) I don’t really know what I was thinking putting off her books until now, I’ve always been interested, but I hadn’t gotten around to reading any of them yet. Let me just say, I should’ve been reading every Kim Karr book ever published and stalking her for any unpublished work. This book is hot, steamy, mucho caliente and completely addictive. The story is engaging. You will get sucked in from the very first page. I felt as though I were watching a film where flashbacks were featured to weave the pieces of the story together. I loved every minute of it. It was incredible how easily I visualized everything. (It might also be because I’m a native New Yorker that I was able to picture everything.) Either way the story grabbed my attention and held it until the very last page. I was ashamed of myself for having thrown Kim Karr books onto my TBR list without having read one. I’m sorry Kim from here on out I’m reading every release the minute I can one-click them.
I can honestly and unequivocally say Jeremy is my newest book boyfriend and shall forever remain on my list of favorite swoon worthy men. Phoebe at times frustrated me, but so did Jeremy. Although these two drove me nuts at times and I wondered which direction this story would take, I absolutely loved them together. I wasn’t certain these two would ever find a way, but I hoped they would. I could not put this book down and read it in one sitting. I laughed, I cried, I even shouted at my new fictional friends, but in the end these two taught me some very valuable lessons and made me take a look at how easy it is to allow not only your internal doubts to affect your decisions, but the voices of all those around you. Sometimes you just have to believe in not only the love you have for one another, but in yourself. Excellent book, excellent author. I cannot wait for more books by Kim Karr. This book is definitely steamy with substance and is an absolute MUST read. It is a perfect summer read for Contemporary Romance & Erotic Romance fans.
Happy Reading my lovelies.
Excerpt
Phoebe St. Claire
Feeling a bit drunk and overwhelmed with so many and so few choices at the same time, I needed some time alone and snuck off toward the beach path.
I ran toward the ocean and twirled in the sand as the wind blew around me. Once I started to feel dizzy from twirling, I still wasn’t ready to head back to the party, so I took the path that would lead me to the large Olympic-sized pool. I tugged my sandals off with thoughts of putting my feet in the water to rinse the mud and sand away. As I approached the pool, I noticed how it glowed like it was lit by small pale fires. Lost in the enchantment of it, the sudden movement beneath the surface startled me.
A fair-haired boy emerged from the water. He pulled himself up and out so quickly that I was momentarily stunned. And then when he drank me in with his eyes, I shuddered.
I couldn’t help it, the way he looked at me just made me shiver. No one had ever looked at me like that before and I found myself gazing back into his intense eyes.
He was utterly beautiful. His bare chest was sculpted but not overly bulky like Danny or Jamie. They worked out every day pumping obnoxious amounts of iron to look the way they did. In contrast, the boy standing before me had a swimmer’s build.
He stood stoic and a cautious look crossed his face. He was long and lean in a pair of bright green neon swim trunks.
Right away I could tell he didn’t care what anyone thought about him.
I loved the idea of that.
So I smiled at him.
He shook his head and his hair fell into his eyes.
I wanted to reach out and push it away. It wasn’t long, but it wasn’t short. It was perfect.
“Hey,” he said, grabbing a towel off the ground.
It didn’t belong to the club. It was small, beige, and a bit worn—not the large hunter-green fluffy ones monogrammed in white I’d always gotten when I used to come here to swim as a kid.
“Hey,” I said back, swinging my sandals nervously.
He grabbed a pair of jeans that lay next to where the towel had been and walked right by me.
I turned to watch him as he strode into one of the cabanas and dropped his trunks. I froze and squeezed my eyes shut, thinking I shouldn’t be watching him but then opened them quickly when I couldn’t resist maybe catching a glimpse.
“Didn’t your parents ever tell you it isn’t polite to stare?” His voice was low and sexy, and it tugged me out of my own head.
I put my hands on my hips. “Didn’t your parents ever teach you not to undress in mixed company?”
He pulled his jeans on and laughed. “My mother might have mentioned that once or twice but I’ve never been good at following the rules.”
And it didn’t escape my notice that he didn’t put any underwear on first.
Hot. Totally and completely hot.
I didn’t see anything I shouldn’t have seen, it was too dark, but something inside me electrified at the thought of seeing him naked and I stepped closer. That’s when I noticed the scuffed-up black work boots on one of the lounges with a T-shirt thrown next to them.
I raised a brow. “Is this your changing room?”
He laughed again but this time added a smile and put his hands up. “Okay you caught me. I better get out of here before anyone else does.”
He was adorable and charming and my heart skipped a beat or two.
Then I stepped even closer and entered the cabana entrance, effectively blocking his way. “Why? You’re not doing anything wrong.”
He shrugged but he didn’t try to move around me. “I usually swim in the ocean but when the water is too rough, like tonight, I come here.”
I bit my lip in contemplation before speaking. “Does it really matter if you get caught?”
He crossed his arms over his bare chest. “Let’s just say it’s not just the swimming. It’s more that I’ve been caught doing a few too many things that I shouldn’t have been doing in the past.”
A bad boy.
The thought made my pulse thunder. “So you’re not a member at this club?”
He cleared his throat and shifted from foot to foot. “No,” he laughed but his laugh was anything but genuine. “Are you?”
I hesitated as I considered my answer. “No, I was just walking the beach and wanted to rinse my feet. I’m Phoebe,” I said extending my hand. Technically, I wasn’t lying. I wasn’t a member, my parents were. I hadn’t even been here in years. And I was out for a walk.
Amusement danced in his blue eyes. “Jeremy,” he said back.
When I chewed on my lower lip, I noticed how his eyes focused on it.
Mine focused on the entirety of his mouth—his strong, firm jaw, his sensuous lips, and his tongue that had snuck out to lick his lips.
That mouth.
It was almost too much.
Almost.
About the Author
I live in Florida with my husband and four kids. I’ve always had a love for reading books and writing. Being an English major in college, I wanted to teach at the college level but that was not to be. I went on to receive an MBA and became a project manager until quitting to raise my family. I currently work part-time with my husband and full-time embracing one of my biggest passions—writing.
THE HURRICANE by R.J. Prescott (July 14, 2015; Forever E-Book; $0.99)
Emily McCarthy is living in fear of a dark and dangerous past. A gifted mathematician, she is little more than a hollow, broken shell, trying desperately to make ends meet long enough to finish her degree. Through an unlikely friendship with the aging, cantankerous owner of an old boxing gym, Em is thrown into the path of the most dangerous man that she has ever met.
Cormac “the Hurricane” O’Connell is cut, tattooed and dangerous. He is a lethal weapon with no safety and everyone is waiting for the misfire. He’s never been knocked out before, but when he meet Em he falls, HARD. Unlike any other girl he’s ever met, she doesn’t want anything from him. Just being around her makes him want to be a better person. They are polar opposites who were never meant to find each other, but some things are just worth the fight.
EXCERPT
He grabbed my hand and pulled me to a stop facing him. He moved in so close that our noses were almost touching.
“Tell me you can feel this. I need to know I’m not the only one,” he spoke gently.
“I feel it,” I whispered, staring at the ground. “But I’m not doing anything about it. Everything that you make me feel is completely overwhelming, and I can’t give you what you need, not even close. I don’t want to talk about why I am this way, but just offering you friendship is a big deal for me right now.”
I finished my rant feeling more desperate than ever. This big, strong, beautiful, terrifying man had feelings for me, but seriously how long would they last? I was getting better, but I was afraid of my own shadow most of the time. I was small, weak, and lacked any self-confidence. O’Connell was dangerous, addictive, and so sexy that I was consumed by lust every time we were in the same room together. He used his body like a weapon and the danger attracted women like a magnet. With that many women, all vying for his attention, what little charm I held for him would fade like mist in the morning sun. If I let him in, he had the power to break what little of me was left whole when I couldn’t keep him.
Reaching out one giant, scarred and calloused hand, he tucked a wayward curl behind my ear. He lifted my chin with his knuckle forcing me to meet his gentle gaze. He looked so happy and intense right now that I could feel my eyes welling up. I never thought that anyone would ever look at me like that.
“I know I’m scary and loud. I’m fucked up, and I’m gonna fuck up with you a lot because I’ve never done this before. I don’t date girls, I fuck them and walk away because that’s what they expect. It’s all they think I’m good for. I’m not smart like you, and I know I don’t deserve you. Right now, I’m dirt poor, but one day, I’m not gonna be. I will fight to make something better of myself, to be someone better. Someone you can be proud of. If you need time, then I’ll give you time. If you need friendship, then I’ll give you friendship. But you’re mine, and when the time is right, when you’re ready, I’m coming for you.”
I nodded, so close to tears I knew that if I tried to speak, I’d completely break down. I swallowed hard, and the tears fell anyway. O’Connell wiped them away with his thumb and gently pressed his big firm lips to mine. Just like that, my fears were forgotten. The kiss was gentle, but fireworks exploded all over my body. It was like he had invigorated every cell with life. The touch of his lips wasn’t enough to satisfy, only to feed my addiction. I knew in my head that I wasn’t ready for a relationship, but my body wanted to drown in the revelation that it could feel something other than cold, hunger, and pain. It was a kiss both chaste and pure and everything I hoped that my first kiss would be, because everything I gave to him, I gave freely. Slightly out of breath, our lips parted, and he rested his forehead back against mine.
“I’m gonna give you the fuckin world, baby,” he whispered against my lips.
He kissed me again quickly and grinning like a kid, threaded his fingers through mine.
“You know friends don’t hold hands,” I whispered, knowing that there was no way that I was letting go first.
“Huh,” he grunted. “Me and Kier hold hands all the time.”
R.J. Prescott was born in Cardiff, South Wales and studied law at the University of Bristol, England. Four weeks before graduation she fell in love, and stayed. Ten years later she convinced her crazy, wonderful fire fighter husband to move back to Cardiff where they now live with their two equally crazy sons. Juggling work, writing and family doesn’t leave a lot of time, but curling up on the sofa with a cup of tea and a bar of chocolate for family movie night is definitely the best part of R.J. Prescott’s week. “The Hurricane” is her debut New Adult Novel.
The unexpected love story that began in MANWHORE continues heating up the pages in MANWHORE +1 by New York Times bestselling author Katy Evans…
Billionaire playboy? Check.
Ruthless businessman? Check.
Absolutely sinful? Check.
Malcolm Saint was an assignment. A story. A beautiful, difficult man I was supposed to uncover for a racy exposé.
I intended to reveal him, his secrets, his lifestyle–not let him reveal me. But my head was overtaken by my heart and suddenly nothing could stop me from falling. I fell for him, and I fell hard.
Malcolm Saint is absolute Sin, and I’ve become a hopeless Sinner.
Now that the assignment is over, Saint wants something from me–something unexpected–and I want this wicked playboy’s heart. But how can I prove to the man who trusts no one that I’m worthy of becoming his plus one?
EXCERPT
FOUR WEEKS
I’ve never been so hopeful as when I board the pristine glass elevator at the M4 corporate building. A handful of employees ride along with me, murmuring perfunctory greetings to each other and to me. I think my mouth must be on vacation because I can’t seem to force it to speak. But I smile in reply—my smile nervous, nervous but hopeful, definitely hopeful. My riding companions step out on their floors one by one until I’m alone, riding up to the executive floor on my own.
Toward him.
Toward the man I love.
My body is raging. My blood is pumping—my blood is storming—my thighs are shaking. My stomach feels filled with little earthquakes that just won’t quit, then they turn into a full-fledged roil when I hear the elevator ting at his floor.
Stepping out, I’m in corporate nirvana, surrounded by sleek chrome and pristine glass, marble and limestone floors. But I hardly have eyes for anything except the tall and imposing frosted glass doors at the far end of the room.
Framing those doors to each side is a pair of sleek designer desks, for a total of four.
Behind these desks are four women in identical black-and-white suits, sitting behind their gleaming dark-oak desks, working quietly behind their flat-screen computers.
One of them, the forty-year-old Catherine H. Ulysses—right hand of the man who owns every inch of this building—stops what she’s doing when she sees me. She arches her brow, then seems both tense and relieved as she lifts the receiver on her desk and murmurs my name into it.
Am. Not. Breathing.
But Catherine doesn’t miss a beat as she motions me toward the huge frosted doors—those intimidating doors—that lead into the lair of the most powerful man in Chicago.
The human being with the most powerful effect on me.
This is what I’ve been waiting for, for four weeks. This is what I wanted when I left a thousand messages on his phones and what I wanted when I wrote a thousand others that I left unsent. To see him.
For him to want to see me.
But as I force myself to step forward, I don’t even know if I’ll have the strength to stand before him and look him in the eye after what I did.
I’m wracked so hard with nervousness and anticipation and hope—yes hope, small but bright, even as I shake like a leaf.
Catherine holds the door open, and I struggle to hold my head high and walk into his office.
Two steps inside I hear the swoosh of the glass door shutting behind me and my systems halt at the familiar sight of the most beautiful office I’ve ever been in.
His office is all vast marble and chrome, twelve-foot ceilings, and endless floor-to-ceiling windows.
And there he is. The center of its axis. The center of my world.
He’s pacing by the window, speaking into a headset in a low, low voice—the kind he uses when he’s pissed. All I can make out are the words have to be dead to let her fall into his clutches …
He hangs up, and as if he feels me in the room, he turns his head. His eyes flare when he sees me. His green eyes.
His achingly familiar, beautiful green eyes.
He inhales, very slowly, his chest expanding, his hands curling a little at his sides as he looks at me.
I look back at him.
Malcolm Kyle Preston Logan Saint.
I just walked into the eye of the most powerful storm of my life. No. Not a storm. A hurricane.
Four weeks, I haven’t seen him. And he still looks exactly as I remember. Larger than life, and more irresistible than ever.
His striking face is perfectly shaven today, and his sensual lips look so achingly full I can almost feel them against mine. Six-feet-plus of perfectly controlled male power stand before me, in a perfect black suit and a killer tie. He’s the very devil in Armani; strong-boned, square-jawed, gleaming dark hair and those penetrating eyes.
He’s got the best eyes.
They twinkle mercilessly when he teases me, and when he doesn’t tease me, they’re mysterious and unreadable, assessing and intelligent, keeping me guessing about his thoughts.
But I had forgotten how cold those eyes used to be. Green arctic ice looks back at me now. Every fleck of ice in those eyes gleaming like diamond shards.
He clenches his jaw and tosses the headset aside.
He looks as approachable as a wall, his shoulders stretching his white shirt, which clings to his skin like a groupie. But I know he’s not a wall; I’ve never wanted to throw myself at a wall like this.
He’s walking towards me. Every step he takes makes my heart pound as he moves with that quiet and confident own-the-world stride of his.
He stops a few feet away and shoves his hands into his pants pockets; and he seems so big all of a sudden, and he smells so utterly good. I drop my eyes to his tie as the little candle of hope I walked in with starts to flicker with doubt.
For every sin there is a sinner!
Manwhore + 1 is now available for pre-order at the following retailers:
Hey! I’m Katy Evans and I love family, books, life, and love. I’m married with two children and three dogs and spend my time baking, walking, writing, reading, and taking care of my family. Thank you for spending your time with me and picking up my story. I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did. If you’d like to know more about books in progress, look me up on the Internet, I’d love to hear from you!
They were a storm I never saw coming, an unforeseen heartbreak on the edge of a dangerous cliff.
In AMBER TO ASHES (Atria Paperback; June 9th, 2015), Amber Moretti’s life changes in the span of minutes. An orphaned outsider, she is desperate to start fresh the moment she walks onto campus. In the time it takes to cross the university’s dining hall, she meets two men who bring color, air, and light to her darkened world.
They became my addiction, each a needle to my next hit, my high.
Brock Cunningham’s appeal is dizzying, a potent force Amber can’t deny. A green-eyed smooth talker, he instantly attracts Amber. It doesn’t take long for him to consume her every thought, her every breath.
Ryder Ashcroft, a blue-eyed, tattooed, and pierced bad boy, turns Amber off immediately—that is, until he kisses her, stealing a piece of her heart, her soul.
They were as opposite as fire and ice, yet I ached for them equally.
Never knowing she could be broken down in so many unexpectedly beautiful yet petrifying ways, Amber finds herself falling for both men.
Immoral? Maybe. I say undeniable. Uncontained.
But one devastating event changes everything, shattering each of their lives…and Amber isn’t sure she can recover from it.
Book Review
*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
All thoughts and comments are my own.*
My favorite thing in the world is picking up a new book and reading through all the words an author has penned together creating a new journey for me to embark upon. Words are powerful and can reveal the most beautiful or even the ugliest inner workings of someones mind. Gail McHugh has a gift with words and through it they reveal a story in which she has claimed contain many layers of her own reality. Parts of her own story woven together with fictional elements to create a gem that will captivate you from start to finish.
This is the first book I’ve read by Gail McHugh and it definitely won’t be my last. I don’t think I have EVER read a story like Amber to Ashes. I was completely spellbound. I could not put it down. I read it in one sitting by the final page I was dying for more. Addiction, obsession, desire, love, lust, pleasure, pain by the end you’ll have fought a battlefield of emotions and even question your sanity. The physical and emotional turmoil all three characters experience will tear at your heart. Their desires overwhelming at times, torturous and completely unlike any story you’ll ever read. It is not an erotic fantasy come to life, it is a dangerous and desperate yearning that plague these three and may be the beginning of the end for all of them. I was intrigued and as I delved deeper into the story it was hard to form an alliance or choose. I almost felt like I was Amber because I became as torn as she was. Parts of this story at least the arrogance of the two leading men made me a bit suspicious of their intentions at times. This book will mess with your head. Gail’s poetic style of writing leaves you to ponder many painful yet harsh realities of love, life, death and everything in between.
Amber to Ashes is a raw and artfully crafted masterpiece that takes you on a bumpy, deeply emotional, chaotic and passionate journey through the lives of three people whose stories culminate in the mother of all cliffhanger endings. This is a dark and gritty story that will rip you to shreds rendering you absolutely speechless . It is a book you won’t soon forget. One that will seep its way into the depths of your soul and completely own you. It is an all-consuming, fiery, get your heart racing, question your sanity kind of ride. I loved every minute of it and I cannot wait for more. Check out an excerpt here.
Buy NOW
AMBER TO ASHES by Gail McHugh
Atria Books Paperback | On sale: June 9, 2015 | 480 pages
Gail McHugh is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Collide and Pulse. She is the mother of three beautiful children and has been married to her husband for fifteen years.
It was supposed to be simple. Find the bad guy and save the girl.
I hadn’t expected Race True—a golden-haired beauty with a silver tongue that made me want to toss the rules aside.
I tried to fight my attraction to her, but she made it impossible.
Our chemistry became too much to ignore.
Temptation is dangerous.
In a moment of weakness, everything changed. We gave in to our carnal desires, letting ourselves drown in the passion we could no longer deny.
The problem was that I still had a job to do before her world collapsed.
If I failed at finding the person behind the threat, I’d lose Race forever.
READ THE PROLOGUE NOW:
MEET THE AUTHOR
Chelle Bliss is a USA Today Bestselling author of the Men of Inked Series. After working as a History teacher for ten years, she now writes full-time. She loves talking with readers and making new friends. Chelle currently resides in Florida with her two kitties, Nola and Peanut, her hamster Chip, and the love of her life.
Author Note: If you know me, you know my Submission and Corruption books. This is different. This is about love and loss, ambition and talent, and our commitments to ourselves and each other. I don’t close the door on the expression of love, but this is not the usual dirty pleasure.
Release Date:May 20th
Blurb
I am not hurt.
I don’t need a second chance with him, or a life I thought I had.
While he was out forgetting me to become a movie star, I was building a career out of nothing. A career as a paparazzi, but a career. For a foster kid who bounced around every home in Los Angeles, that wasn’t easy.
This camera is all I have.
He’s nothing to me. Every time I take his picture and sell it, I remind myself that I did it all without him or his approval, his cinnamon smell or his clear green eyes. He lights up the screen like a celestial body, but he’s nothing but a paycheck to me.
He can throw my camera off a balcony, and nothing has to change. We can stay king and queen of the same city, and different worlds.
Except this is Hollywood, and here, anything can happen.
Add the Hollywood Project aka ShutterGirl to your TBR list:
ShutterGirl Book Trailer:
CD Reiss is a USA Today and Amazon bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn’t pick up, she’s at the well, hauling buckets.
Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master’s degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere, but it did embed TV story structure in her head well enough for her to take a big risk on a TV series structured erotic series called Songs of Submission. It’s about a kinky billionaire hung up on his ex-wife, an ingenue singer with a wisecracking mouth; art, music and sin in the city of Los Angeles.
Critics have dubbed the books “poetic,” “literary,” and “hauntingly atmospheric,” which is flattering enough for her to put it in a bio, but embarrassing enough for her not to tell her husband, or he might think she’s some sort of braggart who’s too good to give the toilets a once-over every couple of weeks or chop a cord of wood.
If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.
I liked who I was. Hell, I loved myself. Women threw themselves at me and I took what they offered without remorse. I promised them nothing. I sank my teeth into life, holding on to the bitch like my very existence depended on it.
Time passed. Women came and went.
The second I let my guard down and released the hold I had on life… What was my award for such carelessness? A love so spectacular and heart wrenching that it threw me for a loop. When I was in too deep to escape, my greatest fears became reality.
This is my story. My downfall. My salvation.
REVIEW
*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*
Tears! Chelle, you brought me to TEARS!!!! God, I loved this book. It is by far the best in the series, but I suspected it would be since I’ve always had a soft spot for Anthony. I knew he would be knocked down when love finally came his way. Chelle did not disappoint.
Without Me is a raw, deeply moving and heart wrenching account of a love so deep it inspires you. Anthony’s story is as tumultuous as I’d envisioned. Despite all the obstacles Without Me is a beautiful story. As with all the Men of Inked books, this one felt familiar, like you were experiencing everything through the eyes of friends or family. There’s something about Chelle’s writing that makes you feel so connected to these characters and their stories. Without Me gutted me at times. I was so invested in this story and the outcome I read it in one sitting…COULD NOT put it down! The story is told in dual POV which I absolutely loved. Chelle nailed both characters. Before the release of Without Me I had my suspicions about Anthony’s love interest and I nailed a few things which made me happy, other things were unexpected curve balls that just made this story come to life for me.
I found it incredibly difficult to write this review because as much as I adore this book I don’t want to spoil one moment for you when you pick up a copy. The synopsis is vague enough that I feel I should leave the love interest out of my review. I think experiencing what Anthony does as it happens is the best way to read this book. I swear I never thought I’d see the day where Anthony Gallo would be knocked out by love. To say he was persistent when it came to this story is an understatement. You will see a kinder, softer, more caring side of him, but you will also see an angry, dark side one that is at times overcome by the emotions sizzling between the two. You’ll experience both their feelings and desires. I think I connected with this book on so many different levels. Chelle never failed to bring the heat we’ve grown to love and swoon over from the Gallo clan. When I wasn’t going through emotional turmoil, I was fanning myself and attempting to stop my kindle from bursting into flames….man oh man was this book HOT!
Warning, this book may cause tears…big fat ugly ones, or maybe just a few, but it will get to you. You know that one stray tear that falls down your cheek as you read a story so beautiful you can’t help but feel for the characters…even as you try to avoid it, it happens. One teardrop that you quickly swipe away and continue reading only to get hit again and again by all the emotional ferocity and fire that is Chelle Bliss…yeah, it just might happen.
This story hit me hard because of the content and I know if you have experienced similar things as Anthony or the other characters you’ll understand that this was an emotional journey for not only the reader, but also Chelle. I urge you to read the Letter to Readers at the end so you understand just how personal this story is. It was beautiful. I loved every minute of it and I’m glad that although this is the end of the Men of Inked series, we won’t be seeing the last of the Gallos. A definite must-read for Erotic Romance/Contemporary Romance readers.
USA Today bestselling author Chelle Bliss is an American authorwho writes stories about real-life scenarios with fantasy Alpha males. Her works include humor as well as steamy sex.
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