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Best Books of 2017

Even though I'm on hiatus I thought I'd do a best books of 2017 because I do it every year and even though I didn't read as many (new) books as I usually do I did really enjoy a lot of newbies! So here goes..

The Edge series by Megan Crane
This series ticks all of my boxes. Dystopian. Vikings. Alpha Male hotness. Badass women who don't always need their alpha male to fight their battles. I can't recommend this series enough to people. Go! Read! Now!

Silver Silence by Nalini Singh
It's no secret I love Nalini Singh's PNR series. I read them twice a year because I love them THAT much. Silver Silence starts a new story arc and I love the direction she's taking the series!

Wicked Abyss by Kresley Cole
This is one of my all-time favorite series and this is book freaking 18 so you know that if I still have a love for this series KC is doing something right. This book is a play on—Beauty and the Beast which is one of my favorite fairytales—and Kresley does it beautifully.

Deacon by Kit Rocha
Deacon is the second book in the spinoff of the Beyond series called Gideon's Riders. Following? Good. Because the Beyond series is a must-read if you love post-apocalyptic badassery and the Gideon's Riders series follows the same tune. Love love love love love.

   
  
Basically Every Single Thing that Mariana Zapata Has Written.
Okay, that may be a little dramatic but I just discovered her writing this year and I binged all of her books and totally fell in love with her writing. If you're fan of a slow (and I mean s l o w) burn then check out her books!

Ashes by Suzanne Wright
I love every single that Suzanne Wright has ever written and Ashes was no exception. The Dark in You series is so unique and unlike most PNR books I read! Worth checking out!

The Cad and the Co-Ed by L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid
I love love love this series just the right amount of humor, romance and angsty-angst (yes I just made that up). For sure one of my favorite romantic comedy sportsy series!

Eternal Ecstasy by Setta Jay
The last book in the Guardians of the Realms series and it was so good! Just reading the description makes me want to do a series re-read! This series is PNR erotica at it's finest so if that sounds like something you'd want to read definitely check this series out!

   
Boston Underworld series by A. Zavarelli
If you like dark romance look no further. Each book held my attention and I wish there were more! 

So those were my favorite books of 2017! What were yours?

Hiatus

It's with a heavy heart that I'm letting you know that I'll be on a blogging hiatus until further notice. I've lost my reading juju and motivation right along with it. I've only read 13 books since June—which if you know anything about me is abysmal—I've been reading a book a day/every other day for the past 4 years and I think it finally caught up with me. I love reading and being a part of the book community but forcing myself to read and review books won't be fun for anyone. I will still be active on social media so you can find me there! Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years I hope to be back soon.
❤️

Review: Deacon by Kit Rocha

Book #2 in explosive new series from bestselling author Kit Rocha...

Ana has trained most of her life to achieve one goal: to prove that anything men can do, she can do better. Now she’s Sector One’s first female Rider, and being the best is the only way to ensure she won’t be its last. Distractions aren’t allowed--especially not her painful attraction to the reserved but demanding leader whose stern, grumpy demeanor has already gotten into her head.

Deacon has spent the last twenty years trying to atone for his past, but the blood he spilled as a mercenary and assassin will never wash away entirely. If his riders knew the extent of his sins, he’d lose their trust and respect. It’s easier to keep them all at arm’s length, especially Ana. But his newest recruit’s stubbornness is starting to crack his defenses.

And their sparring matches are driving him wild.

The passion sparking between them can’t be denied, but neither can the vengeance barreling toward Deacon. When his old squad comes back to punish him for his betrayal, Ana and the Riders are squarely in the line of fire. The only way to save his people may be to make the ultimate sacrifice. 

But first, he has to convince Ana not to follow him straight into hell.

Buy Links:
Amazon - iBooks - Kobo - B&N

Read Chapter One here.


Review:
I'm just coming off of being awake for 24 hours and simultaneously fighting jet lag so my apologies if this review is short but oh my god I loved this book! We know Deacon as stoic and totally focused on his role as a Rider and we know Ana as the first female Rider and intent to prove herself worthy.
It's so interesting to me that although Gideon's Riders is set in the same world as the Beyond series, the feel of these two series is super different. And I'm here for it.

"It was just a normal card, the kind you'd find at any poker game or blackjack table. The king of hearts, staring blankly, one arm thrusting a sword through his head.
The suicide king."

The Suicide Kings are introduced and we find out that Deacon has a long, not so pretty history with them. And Deacon eventually tells his fellow Riders how he came to be one of them, what his final mission as a Suicide King was, to kill Gideon. Naturally they aren't too impressed with him and Ana wants answers. 

"For the first time, maybe, he understood how Gideon must feel. Being worshipped wasn't a compliment. It went straight past flattery or admiration into something almost sinister. You'd have to shoulder an inhuman weight just to try to live up to those kinds of expectations.
And you would always, always fail."


This story is also about Ana and Deacon, and what it means for two Riders to be in love when forming attachments to someone isn't always the smartest thing for someone who doesn't know how long their life will last.

"Losing him would be tough for the Riders. But Ana was a different story entirely. He could see it in her eyes, feel it in her touch as she folded her hand in his and followed him to his room.
The other Riders would grieve, but Ana would be heartbroken."


If you love Kit Rocha then this book is a must read. We get a few side POVs (which I loved) and now we have Ivan's book to look forward to!

*I was provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Tour Excerpt & Giveaway: The Forbidden by Jodi Ellen Malpas




THE FORBIDDEN by Jodi Ellen Malpas (August 8, 2017; Forever trade paperback original; $15.99)
A new story of dangerous temptations from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the This Man trilogy. 


Annie has never experienced the 'spark' with a guy - the kind of instant chemistry that steals your breath and blindsides you completely. Until a night out with friends brings her face to face with the wickedly sexy and mysterious Jack. It's not just a spark that ignites between them. It's an explosion. Jack promises to consume Annie, and he fully delivers on that promise.

Overwhelmed by the intensity of their one night together, Annie slips out of their hotel room. She is certain that a man who's had such a powerful impact on her and who could bend her to his will so easily, must be dangerous. But she's already in too deep. And Jack isn't only dangerous. He is forbidden.

“Every kiss, every sexy scene, every word between this pair owned a piece of my soul. I could read this book a hundred times and still react as if it was the first time. The Protector is a top 2016 fave for me.” –Audrey Carlan, #1 bestselling author of The Calendar Girl series

Buy the Book!
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2lxLoqV


Excerpt
“Thank you for your help,” I say quietly, studying him, definitely detecting that he’s deep in thought. Don’t ask, don’t ask, don’t ask. I need to get back into my apartment without engaging with him, which could prove tricky when he’s blocking the doorway and looking like he has no intention of shifting to let me in. 

“Annie,” he breathes. “I’m struggling so badly.” 

“I’m not doing this.” I swallow, pushing my way past him. He grabs me by the top of my arm and holds me in place. “Let me go, Jack.”

“I’ve already told you I can’t do that. Annie, I’m drowning here. I’m going out of my mind, and the more time I spend with you the fucking worse it’s getting. Listening to you, talking to you, sharing a passion with you that goes way beyond the amazing time we had in bed together.”

“You have to forget!” I yell, knowing anger is the only way forward. Be angry with him. Let it dominate me and rule me, because the alternative scares me to fucking death.

He pushes me into the hall and slams the door behind us, forcing me to back up. “No,” he says, straight and even. “No,” he repeats, moving one more step forward, except this time I don’t retreat. Because I can’t. Because he has me locked in place with those grey eyes, and now they’re back to their full glory. Sparkling, even if it’s with anger. He reaches for his shirt and starts unbuttoning it before shrugging it off and throwing it to the floor, revealing the chest that’s haunting me. 

I quickly look down at the pile of material, my mind reeling. His chest. His perfect damn chest. “What are you doing?” 

“I have no fucking idea.” He reaches for me and slides a hand around my neck, pulling me to him. Our chests meet, and my determination to repel him vanishes under our connection. Wrongs turn into rights. Conflict turns into craving. 

“I can’t get you out of my head, Annie.” His forehead meets mine, his palm massaging away the tightness in my neck muscles, softening me up until I relax in his hold. “I want you all over again, and I can’t even find the will to worry about how much more that’ll make me want you.” He breathes down on me. “I’ve played that night on repeat. I’ve dreamed of holding you in my arms again. I’ve craved the sound of your voice, the feel of your touch, the softness of your lips on mine. I know I shouldn’t want you. But I do. Nothing has ever made me feel this insane with need. Nothing has taken up so much space in my head. I can’t fucking help it, Annie.” His grey gaze sinks into me, my heart steadying to an even thrum. His head starts to shake mildly, his splayed hand moving up to the back of my head and fisting my hair. “I don’t want to help it,” he growls. “I want you. I don’t care how wrong it is.” His clenched fist tightens, gripping my hair harshly. “I know I’ve been on your mind since I fucked you every which way in that hotel room. Stop denying it. Don’t insult me and tell me you don’t crave that amazing feeling all over again. I can see it in your eyes every damn time I look into them. You. Want. Me.” 

It’s me who moves in first. All me. I lunge forward and smash my lips to his, the magnetic force winning. His words winning. Jack winning. My heart winning. I coax his mouth open with hard, hungry kisses. I’ve lost my mind to a craving too powerful to fight off. And, like Jack, I don’t care how wrong it is. 
Lost.

Yet as he walks me backward until my back slams into the wall, I feel found again. 

I cry out, and Jack moans. We’re clumsy and desperate. He’s pushing me up the wall with the force of his kiss, then he’s rolling away, taking me with him until it’s his back slamming into the wall. It’s the elevator all over again. The atmosphere is sizzling. I’m on fire. He scoops me up, pinning me to him, and carries me into my bedroom. I focus on him. Only him and the return of feelings that I’ve fantasized about since that unforgettable night. All the guilt is abandoning me, and I let it, unprepared to let anything stop me from taking the forbidden.

About the Author
Jodi Ellen Malpas was born and raised in the Midlands’ town of Northampton, England, where she lives with her two boys. Working for her father’s construction business full-time, she tried to ignore the lingering idea of writing until it became impossible. She wrote in secret for a long time before finally finding the courage to unleash her creative streak, and in October 2012 she released This Man. She took a chance on a story with some intense characters and sparked incredible reactions from women all over the world. Writing powerful love stories and creating addictive characters have become her passion, a passion she now shares with her devoted readers. 

Social Media Links
Add The Forbidden to your shelf on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2kclflm
Follow Jodi Ellen Malpas on BookBub: http://bit.ly/2qXejZ7
Follow Jodi Ellen Malpas on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2qXqwwZ

Blog Tour Giveaway
Enter to win 1 of 10 copies of The Forbidden! http://bit.ly/2qXSfOk

Release Day: Jilted by Sawyer Bennett

     

Hollywood hath no fury like a woman scorned. In this fun, flirty second-chance romance from New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett, an aspiring starlet reconnects with her first love.

“Sawyer Bennett never fails to deliver heroes I fall hard for and heroines I adore.”—Violet Duke

Eden Goodnight went to Los Angeles to make it big, not to be publicly humiliated by her cheating fiancé at a red-carpet premiere. But when Eden returns to her hometown to put the scandal behind her, she can barely find a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. Turns out the locals are worse than the paparazzi, and they all think she’s turned into a spoiled brat. But in a strange twist of fate, the one person who seems to understand what Eden’s going through is Cooper Mayfield . . . the boy she left behind.


Small-town charm is no match for the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. At least that’s what Coop’s been telling himself all these years. As Eden’s old flame—and the landscaper for her family’s historic home—Coop feels some responsibility for getting her out of her funk. But as soon as he sees that million-dollar smile, he’s a goner. Soon they’re making out like teenagers again. But when a life-changing role falls into Eden’s lap, Coop just hopes she doesn’t give up on a love that’s meant to be. 

BUY NOW
Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo

   

         
A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.
Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.

Cover Reveal: About That Kiss by Jill Shalvis

   

From New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis comes the next sexy, standalone novel in the Heartbreaker Bay series...

   

About ABOUT THAT KISS:

When love drives you crazy . . .

When sexy Joe Malone never calls after their explosive kiss, Kylie shoves him out of her mind. Until she needs a favor, and it’s a doozy. Something precious to her has been stolen and there’s only one person with unique finder-and-fixer skills that can help—Joe. It means swallowing her pride and somehow trying to avoid the temptation to throttle him—or seduce him.

the best thing to do . . .

No, Joe didn’t call after the kiss. He’s the fun time guy, not the forever guy. And Kylie, after all she’s been through, deserves a good man who will stay. But everything about Kylie makes it damned hard to focus, and though his brain knows what he has to do, his heart isn’t getting the memo.

… is enjoy the ride.

As Kylie and Joe go on the scavenger hunt of their lives, they discover surprising things about each other. Now, the best way for them to get over “that kiss” might just be to replace it with a hundred more.

    Pre-Order ABOUT THAT KISS in ebook or paperback, releasing 1/23/18


Excerpt:
            Kylie Masters watched him walk into her shop like he owned it while simultaneously pretending not to notice him. A tricky balancing act that she’d gotten good at. Problem was, like it or not, her attention was caught and captured by the six foot, leanly muscled, scowling guy now standing directly in front of her, hands shoved in his pockets, body language clearly set to Frustrated Male.
            She sighed, gave up the ridiculous pretense of being engrossed by her phone, and met his gaze. She was supposed to smile and ask how she could help him. That’s what they all did when it was their turn to work the front counter at Reclaimed Woods. They were to show potential clients their custom made goods when what they really wanted was to be in the back workshop on their own, individual projects. Kylie’s specialty was dining room sets, which meant she wore a thick apron and goggles to protect herself and was perpetually covered in sawdust.
            And she did mean covered in sawdust. Wood flakes dusted her hair, stuck to her exposed arms, and if she’d been wearing any makeup today, they’d have been stuck to her face as well. In short, she was not looking how she wanted to be looking while facing this man again. Not even close. “Joe,” she said in careful greeting.
            He gave her a single head nod.
            Okay, so he wasn’t going to talk first. Fine. She’d be the grownup today. “What an I do for you?” she asked, fairly certain he wasn’t here to shop for furniture. He wasn’t exactly the domesticated type.
            Joe ran a hand through his hair so that the military short, dark silky strands stood straight up. He wore a black t-shirt stretched over broad shoulders, loose over tight abs, untucked over cargos that emphasized his mile-long legs. He was built like the soldier he’d been not too long ago, as if keeping fit was his job – which given what he did for a living, it absolutely was. He shoved his mirrored sunglasses to the top of his head, revealing ice blue eyes that could be hard as stone when working but she knew that they could also soften when he was amused, aroused, or having fun. He was none of those three things at the moment.

And don’t miss the first books in Jill Shalvis’s Heartbreaker Bay Series, SWEET LITTLE LIES, THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE, ONE SNOWY NIGHT, ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE and CHASING CHRISTMAS EVE! Grab your copies HERE!

     
About Jill Shalvis: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s sexy contemporary and award-winning books wherever romances are sold and click on the blog button above for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.      

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June Favorites

How the heck is it already July? Jeez. Anyways I had a great reading month, I read 32 books (go me!) and here are the stand outs...

1. Everything that is Mariana Zapata
So I went on a bit of a binge when I discovered this author and read all (7) of her books and found a new auto-buy author! If you're a fan of the slow-burn character building stories then definitely check her out!

2. Night Huntress and Night Prince series by Jeaniene Frost
I read Halfway to the Grave years ago but never read the rest of the series and I was going through my TBR and saw that I had Once Burned and ended up reading the Night Prince series first and then went back and read the Night Huntress series. Really really enjoyed! I <3 p="" vampires="">

3. God's Eye by Susan Fanetti
One word–VIKINGS! I really enjoyed this book and the world Susan Fanetti created, it's the first in the series and I will definitely be reading the rest of the books ASAP.

4. The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon
This was my first Amy Harmon book but it definitely won't be my last. Extremely well written and loved the world this author created!