Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Meet Van Ransom from Last Second Chance by Caisey Quinn




MEET VAN

BIO
Twenty-six year old lead singer and guitar player for Hostage for Ransom. Currently residing at The Second Chance Ranch rehabilitation facility in Dallas, TX. He is originally from New York but lives in LA when he's not on the road with his band. 

LIKES 
Bourbon and brunettes. And blondes. And redheads. 

DISLIKES 
Anyone or anything that gets in his way. 

VICES 
Whatever drowns out the painful memories of his past. 

INK 
A black-winged angel on his back. A full sleeve on one arm depicting the path that led him to music.    A small cross below his left thumb. And some more, um, intimate ink in places you have to discover for yourself. 




VAN RANSOM





EXCERPT 

“Damn you taste good, cowgirl,” he told her once she’d ridden out the remaining violent waves of ecstasy. “Here, taste.” Ignoring her wide eyes, he pressed his mouth to hers and lashed his tongue inside. He knew the sugared honey that was her arousal flared her desire because she clamped her legs around him and gripped his biceps hard enough to hurt. The way she dug her fingers in, as if she were holding onto him for dear life, made him ache to be inside her.
“Made up your mind yet?”
She pulled back from their kiss, still panting enough to make his entire life. “About?”
“Whether or not you believe the rumors. About me. Be honest.”
An impish grin lifted her lips. “Well, I can say with absolute certainty that you are, in fact, a madman.”
“That’s what they tell me, sweetheart.” He brushed his lips softly against hers to show her that, even as crazed as he was, madman or not, he could be gentle too—if that’s what she needed.
“Van…I need you,” she breathed. “Soon.”
The plea soothed every open wound he’d nursed for as long as he could remember. She needed him. And unlike the last woman who’d needed him, the one he’d failed miserably, he would be what Stella Jo Chandler needed. He would keep this one safe.
“You’ll have me. Soon. We’ll just have to be careful. I don’t want to cost you your job, cowgirl.”
She nodded. His eyes met hers and he saw it. She trusted him completely.
He would be worthy of that trust. Of her.
Or so help him, he’d cut out his own damn heart. 


MEET VAN IN LAST SECOND CHANCE BY CAISEY QUINN
COMING MAY 12, 2014

Or check out the giveaway below and enter to win 1 of 3 ARCs being given away! 


VISIT CAISEY QUINN 




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Cover Reveal: To Have and to Harm by Debra Doxer


She kept everyone from harm, except herself…
Raielle’s life was shrouded in secrets. Her power was a secret and so was her past. When she came to Fort Upton, everything changed. She discovered her family, and she found the boy who would own her heart forever. But it couldn’t last. Knowing so little about her power nearly destroyed her. She had to leave and break both their hearts.
Now she’s back in California, and she doesn’t have to hide who she is anymore. But there is no relief in that because she’s drowning in regret. She knew it would take a miracle or a sin to save her, and there was no miracle. Her survival came at too high a price. She found her father, but she can’t go back to Lucas until she finds redemption.
She saved him. Then she left him…
She came out of nowhere and changed him forever, then she disappeared and left him reeling. Her whole life, she never had anyone who really loved her. Until him. Did she think he wouldn’t come for her? Did she believe she wasn’t worth it?
Lucas leaves everything behind to follow Raielle. When he finds her, she’s a pale shadow of the girl he remembers. Her power is betraying her and so are the people around her, but one thing hasn’t changed. She selflessly wants to save the world, and he just wants to save her.
With more secrets to uncover and dark truths to face, Raielle and Lucas must make sacrifices to be together again. But in the end, will those sacrifices bring them closer together or tear them apart? When he’s forced to make the ultimate sacrifice, will she turn her back on everything she believes in to save him again?
~ This book is intended for mature readers due to sexual situations and strong language. ~



About the Author:
Debra Doxer was born in Boston, and other than a few lost years in the California sunshine, she has always resided in the Boston area. She writes fiction, technical software documents, illegible scribbles on sticky notes, and texts that get mangled by AutoCorrect. She writes for a living, and she writes for fun. When her daughter asks when she’ll run out of words, her response always is, “When I run out of time.”
Connect with Debra:
twitter.com/debradoxer



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About Keep You From Harm (Remedy Series 1)
Secrets…

They weigh you down. I’ve kept a secret all my life. It’s my mother’s secret, too. I inherited it from her along with a unique ability that only we possess. She’s gone now, another victim of addiction. If her death isn’t enough to bring me to my knees, her betrayal flays me to the bone. Because the secret my mother and I have been keeping is just one of many she’d kept. She never told me I have an older brother. And now he’s here, eager to be my guardian.

There is no one else. So I move across the country to live with this stranger, my brother. But experience has taught me that most situations are temporary and forming attachments only leads to hurt in the end. That’s why I’m determined to keep to myself in this new place, struggling to seem aloof while I’m quietly breaking apart.

Then I meet Lucas…

His magnetism is hard to resist, and most girls at school aren’t resisting. I don’t fall so easily though, especially not for guys who use their good looks as a weapon. From the start, our interactions are tense and volatile. I know it’s because I’m denying the unwelcome desire that grips me when he’s near. I think he feels it, too. He looks at me with an intensity that threatens to unhinge my resolve. Soon he’s trying to break through the walls that past hurts have built.

But I’m not what I appear to be, and it wouldn’t be fair to get involved with him. At least that’s what I tell myself. Until a terrible act of violence reveals that Lucas has a secret, too. It’s a secret that links us together and ties us to an evil history I could never have imagined.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Nash by Jay Crownover


Today is my stop on the blog tour for Nash by Jay Crownover, hosted by Literati Author Services. I adore this series and Nash has become one of my favorites so far. I can't wait for y'all to meet him! Check out my review and the giveaway below.
Nash
(Marked Men #4)
Author: Jay Crownover
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks, an imprint of HarperCollins
Publication Date: April 29, 2014
Genre: New Adult
Source: eARC via  Literati Author Servics & Edelweiss

~Synopsis~
Will their past determine their future?

Saint Ford has worked hard to achieve her childhood dream of becoming of nurse. Focused on her work and devoted to her patients, there’s no room for love. She doesn’t need a guy making waves in her calm, serene life—especially when he’s the unforgettable hottie who nearly destroyed her in high school. Dark, brooding Nash Donovan might not remember her or the terrible pain he caused. But he turned her world upside down... and now he’s trying to do it again.

Saint has no idea that Nash isn’t the cocky player he once was. Uncovering a devastating family secret has rocked his world, and now he’s struggling to figure out his future. He can’t be distracted by the pretty nurse he seems to meet everywhere. Still, he can’t ignore the sparks that fly between them —or how she seems so desperate to get away from him. But the funny, sweet, and drop-dead gorgeous Saint is far too amazing to give up on—especially since she’s the only thing in his life that seems to make sense.

When Nash discovers the truth about their past, he realizes he may have lost her heart before he could even fight for it. Now, Saint has to decide: is Nash worth risking herself for all over again?


~Review~
I love the Marked Men series and Nash was no exception. While I love all the boys, Rule has always been my number 1 but Nash has given him a real run for his money. I love the complexity of Nash’s character and I think Jay really did a great job of showing all sides to this incredible man. His outward appearance makes him intimidating but he is the epitome of “don’t judge a book by its cover.” He is sweet, smart, caring and has incredible determination. I would be so lucky to find a man like Nash.

I liked Saint but she definitely frustrated me a time or too. She has a lot of insecurities and sometimes I wanted to shake her for projecting them onto Nash. However, I completely understood her fears and hang ups. In fact, I really related to Saint and that was one of the things I loved about this book. Jay really made Saint a character that any woman with past male issues or self-esteem problems can really relate too.  She has gone from an awkward teen to a beautiful woman and she has a fulfilling career but she still holds all of the anger and hurt from high school. I really felt for her because she was really holding herself back being happy by not letting go.

Nash is confident and charismatic but he’s also had a lot of disappointment in his life and when things with his uncle take an unexpected twist, he is thrown a major curveball that really changes his life. Saint is there when he needs her and he finds himself really counting on her to hold him together. I loved how Nash is with Saint and the determination he has to prove himself to her. While he worked to prove that he isn’t the guy she always thought he was, he also calls her out on her insecurities and doesn’t let her use them as an excuse to push him away.

I think Nash and Saint had incredible chemistry, both emotionally and physically. They really complimented each other and Saint was able to give Nash the support he needed during a very difficult time. Saint also needed Nash to help her overcome her insecurities and learn to love herself. He knew what she needed most and he wanted her to see herself the way that he did. Saint definitely had some issues from her past with Nash that were really hard to get over and she made some mistakes along the way but I liked that she owned up to them and she finally opened her eyes. Nash really showed a lot of maturity and growth as well and I liked the way he handled the situation he was dealt with his uncle. I also liked the way he handled his mother and the way he came to terms, finally, with the relationship he had with her. He realized that real family doesn’t have to be blood, real family is the people that love you for you no matter what.

Overall, I loved this book and I will cry a little inside when this whole series is over. I love the way Jay begins the next story at the end of the previous so the storyline flows together, even though each book revolves around a different set of characters. We still get to see the continuation of Rule, Jet and Rome’s stories and I love that. Rowdy is next and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for him.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18655937-nash
PURCHASE LINKS:


About the Author
I'm supposed to share interesting details about myself so that my readers get to know me so here we go in no particular order: I'm an natural redhead even though I haven't seen my real hair color in years, I'm a big fan of tattoos and have a half sleeve on either arm and various other pieces all over the place, I've been in the bar industry since I was in college and it has always offered interesting insight into how men and women interact with each other, I have 3 dogs that are all crazy, I live in Colorado and love the snow, I love music and in all reality wish I could be a rock star not a writer or a bartender but I have zero talent so there is that. I love to write, love to read and all I'm interested in is a good story with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. Thanks for taking the time to check my stuff out...
Connect with Jay: Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads


Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Cover Reveal: Finding Haven by T.A. Foster

FindingHaven Amazon Smashwords Goodreads-1

FINDING HAVEN by T.A. Foster

Releasing May 15th, 2014

New Adult Contemporary Romance


Power. Money. Control. Love.
He has all but one.
When movie star, Evan Carlson, discovers his girlfriend’s picture with another man splashed on the cover of gossip magazines, he decides he’s had enough of his fishbowl life and attempts to outrun the media frenzy his relationships have become. Driving until the road stops, he ends up on the remote and quaint Perry Island, where a heartthrob can blend in like the locals and be a beach bum as long as he wants. All that changes when Evan meets Haven Owen, aspiring songwriter and the girl he just can’t get enough of. A summer romance turns into something much deeper and Evan gets tangled in his own web of lies to keep Haven in his life. But when his ex tracks him down, Evan learns there are some things you just can’t outrun.
Is the cost of love, losing all control? 

FH_Teaser2

FH_Teaser3
  

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headshotAUTHOR BIO: T.A. Foster once spent a monthlong spring break on South Padre Island, where she soaked in the Texas sun, beach, and learned what real Texas country music is. Sometimes fiction does spring from reality. She grew up catching rays and chasing waves along the North Carolina Outer Banks and now resides in the state with her adventurous pilot husband, two children, and two canine kiddos. T.A. has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. When she’s not chasing her two-legged and four-legged children or trying to escape for date night, you can find her reading, writing, or planning her next beach trip. 
Author Links: 
Blog: http://www.tafosterauthor.com/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tafosterwriter 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TAFosterauthor 
Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7164289.T_A_Foster

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Chelsea & Jessica Get Brazen! Private Practice by Samanthe Beck


Hey guys! So happy it's time to get Brazen again! This week we read Private Practice by Samanthe Beck!



He’ll teach her how to bring a man to his knees…

Dr. Ellie Swan has a plan: open her practice in tiny Bluelick, Kentucky, so she can keep an eye on her diabetic father, and make hometown golden-boy Roger Reynolds fall in love with her. But Ellie has a problem. Roger seeks a skilled, sexually adventurous partner, and bookish Ellie doesn’t qualify.

Tyler Longfoot only cares about three things: shaking his bad boy image, qualifying for the loan his company needs to rehab a piece of Bluelick’s history, and convincing Ellie to keep quiet about the “incident” that lands him on her doorstep at two a.m. with a bullet in his behind.

The adorable Dr. Swan drives a mean bargain, though. If sex-on-a-stick Tyler will teach Ellie how to bring a man to his knees, she’ll forget about the bullet. Armed with The Wild Woman’s Guide to Sex and Tyler’s lessons, Ellie is confident she can become what Roger needs…if she doesn’t fall for Tyler first.


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An incredibly hot guy stumbles into your house at 2 in the morning with a bullet in his ass. Do you: a) freak out?  b) die laughing?   c) seek medical help 

Jessica: Where's D: all of the above? Because I would freak if someone (hot or not) showed up outside my house at 2AM. I would die laughing if I saw that someone wasn't in life threating pain because hello? Bullet in the ass? REALLY? And then I'd seek medical help. Because I'm not a doctor.


Chelsea: Haha! Love your answer Jess. There should definitely be an option D. I am definitely going to have to say that I would freak out first because I think every single girl who lives alone would assume an intruder is up to no good on their doorstep at 2AM.


Do you have any stupid nicknames from high school?

Chelsea: LOL, I was actually called "Superstar" but not because they thought that's what I was. When I was a freshman, some of the hot senior guys thought I looked like Molly Shannon and they were constantly calling me that and asking me to do the superstar move from the movie. 

Jessica: Ugh. Yes. I don't even really know how they came up with it, but a couple of guys starting calling me Worm one day in elementary school. And it stuck. There's nothing worse than being in high school and having those guys (who were actually quite cute) yelling 'Worm' down the hallway when they saw me.  


What did you think of Ellie's character?

Jessica: I liked her. She cracked me up because of how she approached the whole situation with Tyler and just how her obsessive personality wouldn't just let her go with the flow when it came to sex.

Chelsea: I really liked Ellie a lot. She is very type A personality and while I wanted to strangle her a few times for being a little too meticulous, I think she was really strong and brave. 

What would you do if you ran into someone you knew at a sex shop?

Jessica: Probably die of mortification. I get embarrassed easily, so I would probably turn tail and run.

Chelsea: Umm.... I may be recognizable at Lovers by the girl who works behind the counter so I wouldn't be embarrassed at all. 
Motorcycles: Yay or Nay?

Jessica: A big fat YAY. I love them. I love riding on the back of them and there's just this rush of freedom that I love. I definitely want a man with a Harley.

Chelsea: Me too! I think motorcycles are dead sexy and I love the thrill being on the back of one.

What did you think of the 'Mistress Ellie' scene?


Jessica: I was DYING of laughter. That was hilarious. It was sexy and fun at the same time! I would never have been able to keep a straight face. It just goes to show how comfortable she was with Tyler already and I really liked that.

Chelsea: That scene was hilarious! I loved how brazen Ellie was and the way she dominated Tyler so easily. This was definitely a time when her need to control came in handy.




The first Brazen feature Jessica and I did was a Samanthe Beck book and I loved it so when we had the opportunity to read Private Practice for this week, I was super excited. This book was funny, sexy, sweet and romantic. I genuinely loved everything about this book, especially Tyler and Ellie.

Ellie has just come back to her small hometown to open her own medical practice and look after her father, who was recently diagnosed with diabetes. She also has another agenda; to win over her childhood crush and build the dream life she's always wanted. However, she hears that good ol' Roger likes his sex a little wild and little miss Ellie has no idea what wild sex is. When the town sex God, Tyler, shows up on her doorstep, she makes and arrangement with him to teach her everything she needs to know. What she doesn't anticipate is the feelings she develops for Tyler.

I really liked Ellie a lot. She is smart, brave, caring, loyal and she cracked me up with her obsessive attitude. It is clear from the beginning that her relationship with her dad has always been strained and it has definitely shaped her views for the future. She has this idea of a perfect life with a big loving family in her head and she thinks that Roger is the man to provide that. While I liked Ellie, I wanted to shake her a few times for being so obsesses with a life she built up her head with Roger and not seeing what was right in front of her with Tyler.

I freaking loved Tyler, like I need a Tyler in my life. He is sexy, smoldering and mysterious. However, he is also sweet, smart, hard working and a really good guy. I liked that he was the town bad boy but he really made something of himself and became successful all on his own despite his upbringing. He is immediately taken by Ellie and she really makes him want and feel things that he's never wanted before. I liked that he took the opportunity that Ellie gave him so that he could prove that he could be the guy for her. 

Ellie and Tyler together was phenomenal. They have that chemistry that really jumps off the pages and makes you want to keep reading. I liked the way Tyler handled Ellie's obsessive nature and the way he opened her up and brought some spontaneity in her life. I was cracking up at some of the scenes with them between the sheets. It is just so easy with Tyler and I could see that Ellie was falling for him long before she realized it. Beyond the sexy times, I loved how protective Tyler was with Ellie and the way he made her feel okay about the life she was dealt and the relationship with her father. He understood her like no one else could. I also liked how supportive Ellie was of Tyler's dream and how encouraging she was with his business. No other woman had cared or shown interest before and not many people believed he could be the success he was but Ellie was 100% in his corner.

I also really liked the side characters including Melody, who became a really good friend to Ellie. She was everything Ellie wasn't in high school but she wasn't a mean girls. She was sweet and kind and I really liked her. While Roger wasn't the guy for Ellie, he was still a nice guy and I liked him too. Overall, this was such a great read and I loved the characters and the writing and the plot. It had me swooning one minute and laughing the next. It was a true romantic comedy and definitely one that I would re-read. 


Woooo! Another 5 star read! I'm on FIRE! I adored this book so much! Beck blended the perfect amount of steam and romance, which made for a really enjoyable read. I'll admit this did have some predictability to it and the storyline wasn't one I haven't read before, but that is all irrelevant. Beck's added humor and her characters will draw you in and leave you smiling for hours.

Pacing: I felt it was really well-paced. I love how fast Brazens are to read. I do wish we would have had a bit more at the end. I actually am one of those people who like epilogues because I need good closure.

Storyline: As I stated, it's pretty predictable and one that's been done before, but that's a non-issue for me. I loved that Ellie was brazen enough to proposition Tyler the way she did. The girl has guts! I liked the added humor that Samanthe added to the story too. Ellie was such a great heroine.  Having just returned to her hometown to help take care of her less than pleasant diabetic father and open her new practice, she has just heard the news that her long time crush Roger is no longer engaged to his glamorous girlfriend Melody. She overhears a conversation between Melody and a friend about how Melody just wasn't adventurous enough sexually for Roger. This really gets Ellie's brain turning. If SHE could be sexually adventurous enough, maybe then she'd be the one to snag Roger's heart. She enlists the help of Tyler Longfoot, a sexy, dark-haired, guy she remembers from high school. He was a few years older than her, but his reputation certainly precedes him. However, things start to really escalate as Tyler and Ellie realize they are attracted to one another.

Characters:  Ellie is just one of those heroines you have to laugh at. She is determined and willful, but she also looks at things from a very analytical perspective. She is very literal, so it's hard not to laugh at how insistent she is her and Tyler go by this Wild Woman guide she bought to help make her more adventurous in bed. She has everything planned out, so naturally she gets frustrated when Tyler tries to get her to loosen up and just FEEL. I felt bad for Ellie. This guide is all about how to pleasure a man, but what about HER pleasure? She is so wrapped up on how to rock Roger's world that she doesn't even pause to consider her own needs. Thank goodness Tyler is not a selfish lover!

I really loved Tyler. He's not the same guy he once was and he is really getting his life on track and what he wants out of it. He's not interested in being the playboy anymore and is looking for something real. Ellie is using him to be better for someone else and feelings for her or not, that's got to be a hit to the ego. Tyler is determined though. The more time he spends with Ellie, the more he realizes he actually likes her... and he's going not letting her go without a fight. I liked how he stood up for her and how he thought her Wild Woman guide was ridiculous. She knows how to take care of a man and he really does a great job of making her feel beautiful and sexy as is.

Final Thoughts: I highly recommend this one if you're in the mood for a short, sexy, fun read. I really didn't see the Roger twist coming until I read one scene in particular and then I was laughing because... really, Ellie? You didn't figure that one out? I love that she's a little naïve, because it really makes her that much more endearing as a character. I loved watching her struggle with what she thinks she wants versus what she actually needs...

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Join us next time as we discuss Laura Kaye's One Night with a Hero!

Friday, April 18, 2014

Release Day Launch & Giveaway: Night After Night by Lauren Blakely

We are thrilled that Lauren Blakely's NIGHT AFTER NIGHT is available today!!! NIGHT AFTER NIGHT is the first full-length novel from her first Erotic Romance Series, The Seductive Nights Series! The prequel novella, FIRST NIGHT, is included in NIGHT AFTER NIGHT!! Grab your copy today and don't forget to enter to win a signed paperback copy of NIGHT AFTER NIGHT! 

Night After Night - Cover

 **Warning: Spare panties are needed for reading this book...you're welcome.*** "You are being rewarded for turning me on. But we're doing it my way. You teased the hell out of me, and now I want to watch you squirm. Crawl up on my bed and get on your hands and knees." Their world was sex, love, and lies. He intoxicated her. Commanded. Consumed. With a dirty mind and a mouth to match, Clay Nichols is everything Julia never knew she wanted and exactly what she cannot have. He walked into her life one night and unlocked pleasure in her that she never knew was possible. Possessing her body, captivating her every thought. Which makes him way too dangerous for Julia to risk her heart, given that she has a price tag on her head. She ran after one mind-blowing week with him, but now he's back, and determined to make her his own. No matter the cost. She was a sexy drug to him. Fiery, unforgettable, and never enough, Julia is an enigma, and Clay isn't willing to let her go without a fight. But she's got dark secrets of her own that threaten to destroy any chance of happiness. She's a wanted woman - the stakes are high, her every move is watched, and yet the lure between them can't be denied. Can two people burned by love trust again when desire and passion are met by danger at every turn? 
A sensual, emotionally-charged erotic romance from the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Lauren Blakely...

Please note: This book is intended for 18+ due to dirty talk, light bondage, and lots of sexy scenes. This ebook edition also includes the prequel novella First Night, which precedes Night After Night.


Night After Night Teaser

BUY LINKS: 
 Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1ijJ9Sz 

After This Night
Also, the sequel in The Seductive Nights Series, AFTER THIS NIGHT, is up for pre-order now! Here are the links! 

Seductive Nights Series banner

Author PhotoAbout Lauren Blakely: Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and her books have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. Like the heroine in FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. Her novels include Caught Up In Us, Pretending He’s Mine, Playing With Her Heart, and Trophy Husband. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney.
Links: Website Blog Facebook Twitter NIGHT AFTER NIGHT Goodreads Lauren Blakely Goodreads




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