{eARC Review} Blade Bound (Chicagoland Vampires #13) by Chloe Neill

{eARC Review} Blade Bound (Chicagoland Vampires #13) by Chloe Neill

The thrilling final installment of Chloe Neill’s New York Times bestselling urban fantasy series sees a sinister sorcery advancing across Chicago, and it may usher in the fall of Cadogan House…

Since the night of her brutal attack and unwilling transformation to vampire, Merit’s stood as Sentinel and protector of Chicago’s Cadogan House. She's saved the Windy City from the forces of darkness time and again with her liege and lover, Ethan Sullivan, by her side.

When the House is infiltrated and Merit is attacked by a vampire seemingly under the sway of dark magic, Merit and Ethan realize the danger is closer than they could have ever imagined. As a malign sorcery spreads throughout the city, Merit must go to war against supernatural powers beyond her comprehension. It’s her last chance to save everything—and everyone—she loves. (Blurb via Goodreads) 

{Details} ebook, 384 pages. Published April 25th 2017 by Berkley Books. eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 5/5 - I loved it!

I have a thing I do with books I'm really excited about... I hoard them and wait for just the perfect time to read them because, while you can read them again and again, you can only read them for the first time once. That's what happened with Blade Bound. I love the Chicagoland series, I love Ethan and Merit, and I didn't want their story to be over. I know there is the Heirs of Chicagoland series, and I'm thrilled about that, but still, this is the last Ethan and Merit book.

So, on to the book. I adored seeing Merit and Ethan's happily ever after. The first part of the book was definitely focused on the wedding festivities (the bridal shower was so imaginative and perfect for Merit), and as soon as the wedding is over the weapons are out and the magical drama is on. We have old foes, including the vampire that threw Merit into the vampire world, new magical challenges and solutions and a whole lot of excitement.

I also enjoy watching Merit and the gang solve their magical mysteries and this was no exception. It was exciting (I especially liked how libraries save the day), the gang fights, fail, but never gives up, and in the end it comes down to Merit against the big bad.

Swoony sweet, exciting, funny, and magically satisfying, Blade Bound was a great way to say goodbye to the Chicagoland Vampires series.

{eARC 5 Star Review} Wilder (The Renegades #1) by Rebecca Yarros

Wilder (The Renegades #1) by Rebecca Yarros

He’s Paxton Wilder.

Twenty-two-year-old, tattooed, smoking-hot leader of the Renegades.

Five time X Games medalist.

The world is his playground—especially this year—and for the next nine months I’m stuck as his tutor on the Study at Sea program.

He’s too busy staging worldwide stunts for his documentary to get to class.

But if I can’t get him to take academics seriously, I’ll lose my scholarship…if I don’t lose my heart first.

Six unlikely friends on a nine-month cruise with the Study at Sea program will learn that chemistry is more than a subject and the best lessons aren’t taught in the classroom…but in the heart. (Blurb via Goodreads)

 

{Details} eARC provided in exchange for an honest review. Published September 19th 2016

{Rating} 5/5 - I loved it!

{Review}

Rebecca Yarros is one of the very few authors I have on my "buy everything they write" list. Her books have fabulous characters, heart wrenching storylines, and some of the best love stories I've read.

Wilder, the first book in The Renegades series, is an awesome book. I loved it from start to finish! There is so much to love, the setting (I would have been first to sign up for the Study at Sea program), the romance that is both sweet and hot with the forbidden love aspect, a storyline that has bit of mystery, a twist I didn't see coming and a happy ending.

{eARC Review} Power Game (GhostWalkers #13) by Christine Feehan

Power Game (GhostWalkers #13) by Christine Feehan

#1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan is “one of the best storytellers around” (RT Book Reviews). Find out why as two lovers surrounded by greed and corruption discover there’s no telling whom you can trust—or who will come out on top...

When members of a United Nations joint security force are taken hostage by radical terrorists in Indonesia, Captain Ezekiel Fortunes is called to lead the rescue team. Part of a classified government experiment, Zeke is a supersoldier with enhanced abilities. He can see better and run faster than the enemy, disappear when necessary and hunt along any terrain. There are those in the world willing to do anything for power like that...

A formidable spy genetically engineered to hide in plain sight, Bellisia rarely meets a man who doesn’t want to control her or kill her. But Zeke is different. His gaze, his touch—they awaken feelings inside her that she never thought possible. He’s the kind of man she could settle down with—if she can keep him alive... (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC, Kindle Edition, 1st edition, 464 pages. Published January 24th 2017 by Berkley. Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 5/5 - I loved it!

{Review}

I have to make a confession: I'm reading the GhostWalkers out of order. I do not read books out of order but I saw a sample at the end of Shadow Reaper (her Shadow series - go read it too) and was completely sucked into the story and couldn't help but skip ahead to Power Game.

The book puts us right into the action with Bellisia. She's on a job and with that we see the type of person she is, her skills, the life she's trying to escape and what she'll do to accomplish that.

As I had skipped a few books there was a bit of a learning curve, getting to know Zeke's team, but things made sense even without that background. Zeke is the typical Feehan alpha male, a little over the top but everything he does is to protect those he cares about. Bellisia is one of Feehan's stronger female leads and one of my favorites. She's been trained and used as an asset, and she's good at her job, we see that right off the bat. She's strong, courageous and more than once she saves the day.

I like how the story moved forward, Violet pops up in this one, but the Ghostwalker's eternal foe is still out there, leaving me, as always, anxious for the next installment.

{eARC Review} Call to Honor (Team Poseidon #1) by Tawny Weber

The Poseidon team are hard-bodied, fiercely competitive navy SEALs. But when a sensitive mission goes disastrously wrong, three of the team's finest will have to trust their hearts and instincts to uncover the truth…

"No man left behind" is inscribed in the DNA of every SEAL and Lieutenant Diego Torres is no exception. But with a team member killed—and the body missing—Diego's honor is sorely tested. Now his career and reputation are on the line, and a traitor is hiding among them. Diego wants answers…and only one woman has them.

Single mom Harper Maclean has two priorities—raising her son Nathan and starting a new life. Her mysterious new neighbor may be impossibly charming, but Diego asks too many questions about her past—and about the father of her child. Questions she fears will reveal her burning attraction for Diego, and ultimately put them all in danger's path. (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC, 384 pages. Published January 31st 2017 by Harlequin Books. Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

{Rating} 5/5 - I loved it

{Rating}

I loved this one. I was drawn in from the first page. Tawny Weber does a great job of introducing her characters. You get to see who they are, their personalities, motivations, and more, quickly, but organically. 

Diego is a great hero. He's all about honor. About doing the right thing. He struggles with the concept that one of the 'brothers' in his SEAL team is a traitor, he just can't believe any of them aren't as honorable as he is. He also isn't sure what to do about Harper and Nathan. Diego hates the idea of lying to Harper, of grilling her and her son for information, but he's a guy who gets the job done even if it's hard.

Harper is a strong, devoted heroine. She's pulled herself out of challenging circumstances and built a stable, happy life for her and her son. Nathan was an adorable kid. He lets us see the softer side of Diego, the warm, protective Harper but also their fiercer sides.

The story flows well, slowly unfolding the mystery of the traitor (even if it's not a big mystery), but still leaving me interested in how things will turn out.

By the end of Call to Honor Tawny Weber has shown me enough about Team Poseidon that I'm eager to see what's going to happen next. This may be my first Tawny Weber novel but it definitely won't be the last.

{eARC Review} Shadow Rider (Shadow #1) by Christine Feehan

Shadow Rider (Shadow #1) by Christine Feehan

The #1 New York Times bestselling “queen of paranormal romance”* is back with a sexy new series starring a Chicago crime family that hides a dark, mystical secret...

Whether it’s fast cars or fast women, Stefano Ferraro gets what he wants. When he’s not fodder for the paparazzi, he commands Ferraro family businesses—both legitimate and illegitimate.

While their criminal activity is simply a rumor yet to be proven, no one knows the real truth. The Ferraros are a family of shadow riders capable of manipulating light and dark, an ability Stefano thought ran in his family alone—until now…

With little left to her name, Francesca Cappello has come to Chicago in hopes of a new life. She wasn’t expecting to attract the attention of a man with primal hunger in his eyes, driven to claim her as his to protect and to please. And if he discovers her secret, it could ruin her... (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC, 480 pages. Expected publication: June 28th 2016 by Jove. Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 5/5 - I loved it!

{Review}

Over the last year I've been devouring Christine Feehan's novels. A prolific author, she creates strong alpha males - sometimes too alpha - equally strong women, unbreakable bonds of family both of blood and the family you choose, dramatic storylines and danger and suspense. The first installment in Shadow, her newest series, Shadow Rider, is everything I've come to expect from Feehan.

I loved the way Stefano looked out for his family and friends, for everyone he considers under his protection. He's a dictator but there is a reason for it. He grew up in harsh circumstances, has endured loss, has the weight of many lives on his shoulders and his past has molded him into the man that can bear the weight.

Francesca has been through hell. She's lost everything, been betrayed, she's hungry, she's just dollars away from being back on the street, but she's also the kind of person who would give the coat off of her back to a homeless woman because at least she has a roof over her head. She's generous, kind, stubborn and willing to stand up for herself even when facing off with the head of the Ferraro family.

I liked Stefano and Francesca together, the way they balanced each other, filled in empty spots, and their very awe at finding each other when neither expected something so wonderful. Their journey isn't an easy one, Stefano is overbearing and dictatorial, Francesca is afraid of losing another person she loves and feels like there is too big a gap between their financial circumstances.

This installment has a lot of exposition and setting the stage for the rest of the series - explaining the how and whys of the Ferraro family and their abilities as well as introducing tons of new characters but there's room for action and suspense. I'm already a fan of the Shadow series, I can't wait to see which Ferraro sibling is featured next.

{eARC Review} Midnight Marked (Chicagoland Vampires #12) by Chloe Neill

  

Midnight Marked (Chicagoland Vampires #12) by Chloe Neill

As the Chicagoland Vampires series continues, Merit and Ethan find themselves in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, where winning may require the ultimate sacrifice...

A vampire’s grudges don’t stay dead long...

Merit is one of Chicago's most skilled vampire warriors; these days, she doesn't scare easily. But she and Master vampire Ethan have made a new and powerful enemy, and he won't give up until he owns the Windy City.

With his last plan thwarted, he's more determined than ever to watch Cadogan burn. Ethan has put the House's vampires on high alert, but their enemy will stop at nothing, including pitting vampire against vampire...

In this deadly game of cat-and-mouse, the stakes are life or death—and winning might mean sacrificing everything... (Blurb via Goodreads)

 

{Details} eARC, 361 pages. Published March 1st 2016 by NA. Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

 

{Rating} 5/5 - I loved it!

{Review}

I love the Chicagoland Vampire series; a smart, strong heroine, brave, devoted friends, great storylines! The gang is all back in Midnight Marked and facing a new mystery of magic and murder.

Ethan has secrets, you don't live as long as he had without gathering a few secrets, and we learn a few of them. And when Ethan and Merit go to a club wee see a whole new side of our favorite master. We all see him lose his cool and generally act very un-Ethan like. Ethan and Merit are at odds more than once and while I hate seeing my favorite couple unhappy we also get to see them dealing with their differences.

Chloe Neill, as always, delivers a fast paced, exciting story that leaves me eager for the next installment.

{eARC 5 Star Review} Irresistibly Yours (Oxford #1) by Lauren Layne

Irresistibly Yours (Oxford #1) by Lauren Layne

Meet the men of Oxford magazine! In the first captivating spin-off of Lauren Layne’s Sex, Love & Stiletto series, a not-so-friendly battle of the sexes turns into a scorching office romance.

Hotshot sports editor Cole Sharpe has been freelancing for Oxford for years, so when he hears about a staff position opening up, he figures he’s got the inside track. Then his boss drops a bombshell: Cole has competition. Female competition, in the form of a fresh-faced tomboy who can hang with the dudes—and write circles around them, too. Cole usually likes his women flirty and curvy, but he takes a special interest in his skinny, sassy rival, if only to keep an eye on her. And soon, he can’t take his eyes off her.

Penelope Pope knows all too well that she comes off as just one of the guys. Since she’s learned that wanting more usually leads to disappointment, Penelope’s resigned to sitting on the sidelines when it comes to love. So why does Cole make her want to get back in the game? The man is as arrogant as he is handsome. He probably sees her as nothing more than a barrier to his dream job. But when an unexpected kiss turns into a night of irresistible passion, Penelope has to figure out whether they’re just fooling around—or starting something real. (Blurb via Goodreads)

 

{Details} eARC, 236 pages. Published October 6th 2015 by Loveswept. Source: ebook provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

 

{Rating} 5/5 - I loved it!

 

{Review}

 

They promise not to fall in love but some promises are made to be broken. I loved Cole and Penelope. I loved their friendship, their bantering, and the way they are together, fun and cute and hot.

 

Penelope is sweet. She's the girl next door, the girl you'd want to be BFFs with. She's smart, dedicated and feisty. She's also still dealing with a professional and personal betrayal, in a new city without friends, and has issues with confidence and self-worth. I liked how open and positive she is. Cole hides behind a mask of charm but he has an amazing heart; he's loyal, protective and devoted to his brother.

The chemistry between Cole and Penelope was evident in every interaction, you could feel the strikes they sparked off of each other from their first meeting, to competing for the same job and only intensifies as they get closer.

 

I loved watching Penelope and Cole fall in love and am now eagerly awaiting the next installment in the Oxford series.

{Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway} Taking the Ice (Ice #3) by Jennifer Comeaux

Series: Ice #3

Release date: August 17th 2015

Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Olympic rings and an engagement ring.

Courtney Carlton is ready for both.

She and her boyfriend Josh have skated together and dated for four years, and they’ve reached a critical point in their partnership both on and off the ice. With the Winter Games coming up and their career nearing an end, they are fighting to win a spot on the Olympic team, something Courtney has dreamed of since she was ten years old.

She also has another wish she hopes comes true soon. She’s waiting for a marriage proposal from Josh that she expected to happen by now. Will she realize either dream or will her heart be broken from disappointment?

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennifer Comeaux is a tax accountant by day, writer by night. There aren’t any ice rinks near her home in south Louisiana, but she’s a die-hard figure skating fan and loves to write stories of romance set in the world of competitive skating. One of her favorite pastimes is traveling to competitions, where she can experience all the glitz and drama that inspire her writing.

http://jennifercomeaux.blogspot.com/ | facebook.com/jennifercomeauxauthor | twitter.com/LadyWave4

{Details} ebook provided in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 5/5 - I loved it!

{Review}

I adored Taking the Ice! With all the drama, the nail biting anticipation of competition, and the sweet, romantic exchanges between Josh and Courtney, Taking the Ice is the perfect end to the Ice series.

Comeaux is a master at putting her readers right in the midst of Courtney and Josh's relationship and their fight to get to the Olympics. It's not an easy road to the Olympics, there is a meddling mother, an irritating and not nice competitor, falls and spills, and insecurities to contend with but Courtney and Josh never give up.

And the romance... Josh is one of the sweetest heroes. He's protective, supportive, generous, kind and generally awesome. I adore Courtney and Josh together, they bring out the best in each other. I won't spoil whether or not Courtney gets the proposal she's waiting for but I will say I was very happy with how things turned out.

I'm sad that the Ice series has come to an end but I can't wait to see what Jennifer Comeaux has in store for us next. 

Giveaway

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{eARC Review} The Strongest Steel (Second Circle Tattoos #1) by Scarlett Cole

The Strongest Steel (Second Circle Tattoos #1) by Scarlett Cole

Harper Connelly never expected to find herself outside of a tattoo parlor at one in the morning, summoning the nerve to take back her past. She's determined to forget her old life and is looking for an artist who can tattoo over the scars on her back.

Trent Andrews, local legend and owner of the Second Circle tattoo studio, has his own reasons for specializing in inking over scars. And in spite of her mysterious past and the difficult road ahead, he quickly realizes that Harper is funny, smart, and--under her ridiculously oversized clothing and SPF 100 sunscreen--totally hot. He's happy to take on the challenge of designing a meaningful and deadly full-back tattoo for her.

But when cryptic messages start appearing on Harper's phone, strange deliveries arrive at her door, and Second Circle is vandalized, Harper is convinced that her ex-boyfriend has tracked her down, and worse, that he knows about Trent. Running was the only thing that saved her last time, but now that she's started to put down roots in Miami, she'll have to decide if she can finally fight back instead. (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC, Macmillan. Expected publication: July 7th 2015 by St. Martin's Paperbacks. Source: ebook provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 5/5 - I loved it!

{Review}

I'm a big fan of stories with boys who see a girl, see beyond her armor, see her demons and want to slay them, but also see how brave she was to survive, who want to help make her stronger, and fall hard. And all that happens in The Strongest Steel.

Trent was a fabulous hero. He's supportive and sensitive, but also a badass. And he's tattooed, sweet, devoted, smart, a great friend, and an even better boyfriend. But he's got his own demons, an ex-girlfriend who left a bad voice in his head, a voice that leads to problems.

Harper has survived a horrified ordeal. She's physically healed but not emotionally. But finally she takes a chance and goes to see about changing her scars into a different kind of reminder, a reminder of her strength. I loved that she was a smart girl, a girl who loves words, with a fabulous vocabulary, with a big heart who wants to help everyone in need. I enjoyed watching her development from a timid, terrified girl who is unable to touch or be touched, to taking back, albeit slowly, what was taken.

With engaging characters, an intelligent, clever and interesting storyline, I couldn't put The Strongest Steel down. I can't wait to read the next installment in the Second Circle Tattoos series.

{eARC Romance Review} Ride Steady (Chaos #3) by Kristen Ashley

Ride Steady (Chaos #3) by Kristen Ashley 

The ride of her life . . . Once upon a time, Carissa Teodoro believed in happy endings. Money, marriage, motherhood: everything came easy---until she woke up to the ugly truth about her Prince Charming. Now a struggling, single mom and stranded by a flat tire, Carissa's pondering her mistakes when a vaguely familiar knight rides to her rescue on a ton of horsepower.

Climb on and hold tight . . .
In high school, Carson Steele was a bad boy loner who put Carissa on a pedestal where she stayed far beyond his reach. Today, he's the hard-bodied biker known only as Joker, and from the way Carissa's acting, it's clear she's falling fast. While catching her is irresistible, knowing what to do with her is a different story. A good girl like Carissa is the least likely fit with the Chaos Motorcycle Club. Too bad holding back is so damned hard. Now, as Joker's secrets are revealed and an outside threat endangers the club, Joker must decide whether to ride steady with Carissa---or ride away forever . . . (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC, 640 pages. Expected publication: June 30th 2015 by Forever. Source: ebook provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

{Rating} 5/5 - I loved it!

{Review}

I loved Ride Steady. Within the first few pages I was completely invested in Joker and Carissa's lives and could not put the book down.

Carissa is a sweet girl. She's been beaten down by life - it's still beating on her - but she hasn't lost that sweetness. She's kind, caring, generous, devoted - I absolutely adored her little guy Travis - and fierce when it comes to people she loves.

Joker is all kinds of awesome. He's smart, talented, hard, and just as fierce. He had life beat him down too, survived a horrific childhood, but he found his way out and found his way to a good life, a brotherhood and the career he'd always wanted. He's determined to keep his distance from Carissa but life keeps putting her in his path and soon he can't help but give in. I loved seeing him be sweet and protective and loving towards not only Carissa but Travis.

I liked the relationship between Carissa and Joker - after he gets over being a jerk (which is understandable once you get to know him). They're careful with each other, protective of each other and their relationship. It's not an easy path for them, Joker doesn't think he deserves her, Carissa has an evil ex making her life difficult, and there are issues in Chaos, but everything they have to survive makes their happily ever after so much sweeter.

{eARC Review} Dark Debt (Chicagoland Vampires #11) by Chloe Neill

Dark Debt (Chicagoland Vampires #11) by Chloe Neill 

A vampire never gets old. But neither do his enemies. When a figure from Ethan's dark past makes a splashy debut in Chicago, Merit and her Master don't know whether he's friend or foe. But they'll have to figure out soon, because trouble is brewing in the Windy City.

At an exclusive society soiree attended by the upper echelons of the human and supernatural worlds, Merit and Ethan barely stop the assassination of a guest. When the target turns out to be a shady businessman with a criminal edge, Merit suspects a human vendetta. But the assassins have fangs....

The connections to Chicago's Houses go deeper than Merit knows, and even one wrong move could be her last.... (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC, 368 pages. Published March 3rd 2015 by NAL Trade. Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 5/5 - I loved it!

{Review}

 "There were two seasons in Chicago: winter and construction." (page 1, line 1)

Before I found the Chicagoland Vampire series I was tired of vampire books but Chloe Neill's series with a smart, bookish, clever girl turned vampire rekindled my love of the paranormal. Over the eleven books in the series - which I devoured - Merit has come into her own. She's the same sassy girl but as she faces new challenges, scary ones this time, she becomes more confident in her abilities.

In Dark Debt they face two foes, an unwelcome blast from Ethan's past and the mysterious foe that makes the team work hard to figure out how to save the day. All ends happily though, eventually, but there's excitement and action before we get there.

I love Ethan and Merit together, seeing the hard earned trust and commitment

All their challenges bring them closer instead of tearing them apart. There were some amusing moments too, Merit and Mallory's nickname accidentally comes out. Catcher and Mallory pop up too, I won't spoil it but they definitely bring the adorable.

If you haven't checked on the Chicagoland Vampire series go now and start reading, it has a smart, strong heroine, a well conceived world, interesting storylines, and memorable characters. I'm already eagerly awaiting the next installment.

{eARC Romance Review} Rock Hard (Rock Kiss #2) by Nalini Singh

Rock Hard (Rock Kiss #2) by Nalini Singh

In New York Times Bestselling author Nalini Singh’s newest contemporary romance, passion ignites between a gorgeous, sinfully sexy man who built himself up from nothing and a shy woman who has a terrible secret in her past…

Wealthy businessman Gabriel Bishop rules the boardroom with the same determination and ruthlessness that made him a rock star on the rugby field. He knows what he wants, and he’ll go after it no-holds-barred.

And what he wants is Charlotte Baird.

Charlotte knows she’s a mouse. Emotionally scarred and painfully shy, she just wants to do her job and remain as invisible as possible. But the new CEO—a brilliant, broad-shouldered T-Rex of a man who growls and storms through the office, leaving carnage in his wake—clearly has other plans. Plans that may be equal parts business and bedroom.

If Charlotte intends to survive this battle of wits and hearts, the mouse will have to learn to wrangle the T-Rex. Game on. (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC, 284 pages. Expected publication: March 10th 2015. Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

{Rating} 5/5 - I loved it!

{Review}

 "Charlotte closed the final updated folder with a smile." (page 1, line 1)

I loved it. Charlie Mouse. T Rex. Roaring. Negotiations. Communication. Commitment. Love. There was so much to love about Rock Hard.

Charlotte is a fabulous heroine. Smart, kind, generous. I loved Charlotte's evolution throughout the story.  Getting to know her slowly, her quirks, and then to learn what happened to her, what she survived, how she survived, and how she reclaimed her life, I admired her.

Gabriel. Yum. A former rugby player, a roaring T Rex of a CEO, a man who knows what he wants and usually he gets it. Except for Charlotte. He's got a thing for smarts. He's a driven man but he soon realizes that approach won't get him Charlotte. And his dirty talk...

I adored Charlotte and Gabriel together. Sweet. Tender. Sassy. Growly. Things aren't perfect; they struggle, they mess up but they keep trying because they know what they have is special. I liked that the relationship was slow, that Gabriel respected her reservations and was able to move at her pace but never stopped showing her how much he wanted her.

I'm a big fan of supportive secondary characters and the Molly/Charlotte friendship was fabulous. They're close enough that they can tell each other the hard truths, to encourage them to take chances, to be brave. And then there is Gabriel's family, warm and welcoming; I wish there was even more of them.

I can't believe I waited so long to read something by Nalini Singh. I loved her writing style - her chapter titles too - I was completely engrossed in the storyline, the characters and didn't want to put the book down. Rock Hard may have been my first Nalini Singh book but it will definitely not be the last.

{Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway} The Hurricane by R.J. Prescott

The Hurricane by R.J. Prescott
Publication date: February 16th 2015
Genres: New Adult, Romance

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 mis-fire. 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.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23354073-the-hurricane?ac=1

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKeikI58Np4&feature=em-share_video_user

Purchase:

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00TGNQEA2
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-hurricane-rj-prescott/1121189605?ean=2940151678230&itm=1&usri=2940151678230
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-hurricane-6
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id965693624

AUTHOR BIO:

I was born in Cardiff, South Wales although I left to study law at the University of Bristol, England. Four weeks before graduation I fell in love, and stayed. Ten years later I convinced my crazy, wonderful fire fighter husband to move back to Cardiff with me where we live with our 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 my week. “The Hurricane” is my debut New Adult Novel. 

Author links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rjprescottauthor
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/prescott2223/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rjprescottauth
Website: http://rjprescott.com/

{Details} ebook, 300 pages. Published February 16th 2015 (first published February 10th 2015). Source: ebook provided in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 5/5 - I loved it!

{Review}

"I felt like a total f***ing creeper as I leant, with my hands in my pockets, against the lamp post, and stared at her through the cafe window from across the road." (page 1, line 1)

I'm not sure how to express how much I loved this book. Let's start at the beginning. O’Connell had my heart from the first, him out in the cold without a sweater, trying to impress Em, this girl he'd been crushing on for weeks but is too afraid to talk to, because his appearance is all he think he has going for him. I fell even harder as he slowly insinuates himself into Em's life, earning her trust by showing her that he's someone she can depend on. He's not without his faults of course, he does some dumb ass things, but he's a great guy, solid, loyal, devoted. He's a guy who will demolish anything that threatens his girl.

Em is a sweet girl. Horrible things have happened to her but she's a survivor, and once she meets Danny, O'Connell, Kieran and the rest of the gang she's making a life, not letting what has happened to her dictate her future. She's quiet and reserved but she's also generous and kind. I enjoyed watching her grow over the story into a strong woman who stands up for herself.

Em + O'Connell = perfection. Their relationship is hot, sweet, passionate and inspiring. I love their respect, commitment, that their love for each other drives them to be the best person they can be because they each think their partner deserves better. Theirs is a relationship that you know will last, it won't always be easy but it will endure. And they actually communicate openly and honestly. They talk about their hopes, fears and dreams. There isn't anything they can't share. And then there are the notes... The notes O'Connell writes... Swoon.

And the friendships, the family they weren't born into but build, it was a big part of the book and so well done. I loved Kieran, Danny, Tommy, Nikki. I want to see more of them. Especially Kieran, his banter was hilarious, especially the whole 'friends' thing with Tommy.

The Hurricane is a fabulous debut, I can't wait to see what R.J. Prescott comes up with next.

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{Audiobook Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway} Crossing the Ice (Ice #1) by Jennifer Comeaux @ladywave4 @nereydag1003

 

 

Crossing the Ice (Ice #1)

by Jennifer Comeaux

Release Date: 08/03/14

Narrated by: Emily Stokes

Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins 

Summary from Goodreads:

Falling hard never felt so good.

Pair skaters Courtney and Mark have one shot left at their Olympic dream. They vow not to let anything get in their way, especially not Josh and Stephanie, the wealthy and talented brother and sister team.

The heart doesn’t always listen to reason, though...

The more time Courtney spends with sweet, shy Josh, the harder she falls for him. But they are on opposite sides of the competition, and their futures are headed in opposite directions. Will their friendship blossom into more or are their paths too different to cross?

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About the Author
Jennifer Comeaux is a tax accountant by day, writer by night. There aren’t any ice rinks near her home in south Louisiana, but she’s a diehard figure skating fan and loves to write stories of romance set in the world of competitive skating. One of her favorite pastimes is travelling to competitions, where she can experience all the glitz and drama that inspire her writing. Jennifer loves to hear from readers! Visit jennifercomeaux.blogspot.com for contact information and to learn more about her books.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook│Pinterest

{Details} audiobook, Published August 3rd 2014. (first published August 1st 2014). Source: audiobook provided by Jennifer Comeaux and YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks!

{Rating} 5/5 - I loved it!

{Review}

Falling in love with your competition has never been so adorable.

I liked Courtney. She's the level headed girl next door. She's a girl you'd want to be best friends with. She's kind, considerate, dedicated. Jennifer did a good job of putting me into her head, her drive to skate and win and her tumultuous feelings for Josh. I enjoyed her evolution over the story as she faces personal and professional roadblocks, she reacts in a very human way but eventually in a gracious manner.

I loved Josh. Sweet, charming, sensitive, talented Josh. He's a great guy on his own but he's also a great guy for Courtney. I felt bad for him, along with pressure of skating he's also under pressure from his family - a family that doesn't think Courtney is good enough for him - as well as the life they have planned for Josh after his skating career is over.

The romance is sweet and swoony, angsty and adorable. There are so many things standing in their way but the attraction and connection between them can't be denied. I was rooting for them the whole time. And the skating. Jennifer shows the excitement and competition as we follow them from training and competitions all the way to the Olympics.

The ending was perfect and it has me very excited to read/listen to the next book in the Ice series, I can't wait to see what happens next.

As to the narration I could imagine Emily Stokes as Courtney; she did a good job of conveying Courtney's emotions, excitement and devastation. There were a few hiccups in the recording that took me away from the storyline but hopefully that can be edited.

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