Cover Reveal - Blue Dahlia by Vivian Winslow

Blue Dahlia (The Dahlia Trilogy of The Gilded Flower Series Book 1)
by Vivian Winslow

Pre-order link

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1qy8RFY

Release Day: October 16, 2014

Blue Dahlia is the first book in the second trilogy of Vivian Winslow's Gilded Flower series, featuring Lily Baron's free-spirited twin sister, Dahlia.

New York socialite Dahlia Baron is falling for her Latin lover, Rodrigo Cruz, the scion of the Mama Linda Latin foods empire, and hopes to take the relationship to the next level. But there’s a dark secret that she must deal with first in order to truly give her heart to him. When Dahlia visits the man from her past, will the undercurrents of her emotions let her go to Rodrigo or will they pull her back to the one person who stands between them?

Mature readers only. 18+

If you haven't read The Lily Trilogy yet, don't miss it. This first trilogy from The Gilded Flower series is available on: AMAZON | B&N | KOBO  

 

About the author

Vivian Winslow was born and raised in Southern California. Before becoming a writer, she made a career out of moving around the world every couple of years thanks to her husband’s job. She currently lives in New York City with her husband and two elementary school age children, and is grateful to finally have a place to call home for more than two years. New York is the perfect city to indulge her love of shopping, the arts and especially food. If she’s not at home writing or running around the city with her kids, you’ll most likely find her indulging in pizza on the Lower East Side or having a cocktail at her favorite bar in Alphabet City. That said, she’s still a California girl at heart and would gladly trade in her heels for a pair of flip-flops to catch a sunset on the beach

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Worth The Fall (McKinney Brothers #1) by Claudia Connor - #bookreview

Worth the Fall (The McKinney Brothers #1)

by Claudia Connor (Goodreads Author)

 
Prepare to be swept away by a talented debut author with a passionate, powerful story to tell.

They meet on a beach. . . . Abby Davis isn’t wearing a skimpy bikini or sipping umbrella drinks, not when she’s busy chasing around four little ones. And Matt McKinney isn’t looking for fun—he’s a Navy SEAL, a grown man with a long list of missions . . . and fallen brothers.

They only have a week. . . . Abby has brought her children to this beach to start over, to give them the enjoyable memories they deserve. Matt’s been sidelined by a combat injury, and haunted by the best friend he lost and the promise he made: to remain a SEAL—focused and dedicated. This leaves no time for what he’s always wanted: a family.

But a week is all it takes. . . . Matt opens her heart while Abby soothes his soul. And though they plan to say good-bye when the week is over, something magical happens on that beach, something neither can forget. Something utterly, completely worth falling for.
 
Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from other Loveswept titles

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Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy from Loveswept  via NetGalley

Genre: Adult Contemporary

Part 1 in a potentially great series

My Worth The Fall Review ...

God! What a sweet love story!!!!!!

I loved Matt from the get go. *swoon* The book starts basically with Matt getting hit by a football and falling instantly in love with a family.  It is not your typical love story but it was amazing.  I loved the fact that Matt saw past all the baggage of 4.5 kids and fell in love with all of them.

How long had it been since she'd been sheltered instead of being the shelterer? No one wanted to be strong all the time.

For Abby, god she was so broken.  Often I get frustrated with heroines who are whiny and insecure and there were moments where I was like 'Gah! Just pull your big girl panties up and move on' but then I had to step back and remind myself that Abby wasn't whiny and insecure she was just really broken, which broke my heart.

"Everything in life's a chance.  Nothing is a sure thing. people die, they leave, they change. ..."

Matt had his own demons but he knew what he wanted from the beginning and powered through to make it happen because he had to fight  so many aspects for Abby to let go and fall where Matt would be to catch her.

This is a debut book by Claudia Connor and it rocked! I can NOT wait for Worth the Risk.  January can not come soon enough.  This book was well written and captured me from the beginning. I was only going to read a few chapters before bed but I ended up staying up all night because I couldn't put it down having to find out how this story ended and what a sweet end it was. *sigh*

4.5 I fell thumbs up!

. 5

Lauren

Pre-Order: AMAZON (Kindle)  

  

Cover Reveal - Temper For You (For You #3) by Genna Rulon

Temper For You

For You Series, book #3

By Genna Rulon

"Life is messy. Love is messier." -Catch and Release

Meg Adeio has led a life of isolation—not by choice, by necessity—until one act of heroism forces her out of seclusion. Despite a past shrouded in mystery, Meg is “adopted” by an eclectic group of friends that become the family she never had. Life was good for the first time in…ever.

Or it was until Westly Black reappeared on her doorstep. She knew he was the last man any woman should give her time to—only good for one thing—yet a temptation no woman could deny. Wes might make her life messy, but Meg’s eyes were wide open and she had it under control.  At least she thought she did.

When past and present collide, loyalties are tested, forcing Meg to sacrifice her future to protect those she loves.

Temper For You is a gripping story of regret, deception, and redemption – filled with raw emotion, sarcastic wit, intrigue, and love’s propensity to forgive.


• Though Temper For You is a final book of the For You Series, it can be read as a stand-alone
• This story is appropriate for readers 18+

McFarland's Farm (Hope #1) by Cardeno. C -#bookreview, #mm

McFarland's Farm (Hope #1)

by Cardeno C. (Goodreads Author)

Wealthy, attractive Lucas Reika treats life like a party, moving from bar to bar and man to man. Thumbing his nose at his restaurateur father's demand that he earn his keep, Lucas instead seduces a valued employee in the kitchen of their flagship restaurant, earning himself an ultimatum: lose access to his father's money or stay in the middle of nowhere with a man he has secretly lusted over from afar.

Quiet, hard-working Jared McFarland loves his farm on the outskirts of Hope, Arizona, but he aches to have someone to come home to at the end of the day. Jared agrees to take in his longtime crush as a favor. But when Lucas invades his heart in addition to his space, Jared has to decide how much of himself he's willing to risk and figure out if he can offer Lucas enough to keep him after his father's punishment is over.

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Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Cardeno. C

Genre: MM Adult Contemporary

Part 1 in a series

My McFarland's Farm Review ...

Right off  the hop this book was way too short, just as I was getting into it , then it was finished. 

Jared is a hard working man who tried to do the right thing but it failed.  After his marriage ended he started to become more true to himself but kept a strong bond with his ex wife and her family.  The whole time he was married he was a bit smitten with his wife's little brother but at that time he wasn't being to true to himself.

Lucas really is acting like a spoiled rotten brat which causes his family to ship him off to the ex brother-in-law so hopefully Jared can teach him a thing or two about responsibility and living within your means and being comfortable with yourself.

Lucas is pissed that he was sent away especially to his biggest crush as a boy so instead of playing nice he plays the role of asshole instead of acknowledging his feelings.

Once the cat is out the bag then Lucas and Jared start to hit it off and then boom the book was done.  Just as I felt Lucas and Jared were growing the book ended, to me it was too early which left me wanting more from these two.

Even though it ended to soon for me, it once again was a sweet mm loving romance from Cardeno. C.  So far everything that I have read from Cardeno has been a success. 

3.5 to 4 Too Short Thumbs up!

Lauren

Pre-Order: AMAZON (Kindle)

 

Go with Me (With Me #2) by Elyssa Patrick -#bookreview

Go With Me (With Me #2)

by Elyssa Patrick (Goodreads Author)

New Adult/Contemporary Romance - Recommended for readers 17 and older

I, Daphne Fox, have a few things to confess:

1. I hate Nick Brady. Loathe. Abhor. Can’t stand him 95% of the time.
2. That other 5%? I’m not talking about that at all.
3. People think I’m lucky for surviving the car crash. I disagree.
4. Nick is the only guy who makes my nightmares go away.
5. I won’t love him, though. Love is not worth the pain.

I, Nick Brady, have a few confessions of my own:

1. I don’t hate Daphne Fox. At all.
2. I find her scar sexy. Just like the rest of her.
3. I may be her older brother’s best friend, but that’s not going to stop me.
4. I love her.
5. And I’m going to do everything I can to have her.

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Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy from Author and Xpresso Book Tours

Genre: NA Contemporary

Part 2 in a series but could be read as a standalone

My Go With Me Review ... 

Ok, so I don't know if the NA genre is growing old for me our I'm just been jaded lately but this book didn't do it for me. I really liked the first book so I was excited to read this one but in the end it was just ok.  Cute but ok.

I liked the idea of the book but it just got a bit tiresome for me with ....we hate each other , now we like each other, oh girl has issues (that weren't even that dramatic but did she milk them yes Daphne did), boy likes girl more than girl like boy, girl is afraid of basically everything then boom all of a sudden girl is just as head over heels in love with boy then way to lovey dovey for me then a tiny blow up then lovey dovey again.  (wow maybe I am jaded. Hmmph!)

It was a cute book and if I was in the age of 17 to 19 I think I would have loved it, but sadly I am WAY older and it didn't quite cut it for me.  It had sweet elements, I feel like it was trying to be too steamy and didn't quite fit in between all the lovey dovey stuff.  Nick was a sweetheart and I got a bit tired of Daphne's issues but the idea and premise were decent.  

3 Ok thumbs up!

Lauren

BUY : AMAZON (Kindle)

Hard Knox By Nicole Williams Blog Tour - #bookreview & #giveaway

HARD KNOX

A New Series by NYT Bestselling Author Nicole Williams

The Outsider Chronicles, #1

New Adult/Adult Contemporary

Released August 12, 2014

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Knox Jagger. The name inspires resent in every male at Sinclair University, want in every female, and contempt in Charlie Chase.

Charlie can be summed up in three words: independent, independent, and independent. To Charlie, Knox epitomizes everything that’s wrong with college males: prolific one-night stands, drunken senseless fights, and a body that hints at prioritizing gym time over study time.

As an up-and-coming writer for Sinclair University’s newspaper, Charlie’s tasked with getting to the bottom of who’s been dropping little white pills into girls’ drinks at parties. In an ocean of All-American boys sporting polo shirts and innocent smiles, Knox is the obvious suspect. As evidence piles up against the bad boy of Sinclair, Charlie becomes more and more certain it isn’t Knox. But when her drink is dosed at a party and she wakes up on Knox’s couch the next morning, Charlie’s left with more questions than answers when it comes to Knox Jagger.

How can Charlie ever hope to uncover the truth behind a guy so closed off he’s become . . .

Hard Knox.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22672422-hard-knox

About the Author

I’m the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the CRASH series (HarperTeen, S&S UK), LOST & FOUND series, UP IN FLAMES (S&S UK), The EDEN TRILOGY, and a handful of others. I write stories about everyday kinds of people who find themselves in extraordinary kinds of situations. I tell love stories with happy endings because I believe in making the world a better place, and that’s one tiny way I can make it so. I’m one of those people who still believe in true love and soul mates, and would rather keep my head in the clouds any day over having my feet firmly on the ground.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Nicole's Giveaway Click Here

Follow the tour here 

Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy from Author and ATOMR

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Part 1 in a series. 

My Hard Knox Review ... 

I do really adore Nicole Williams and her bad boys.  Here we have Charlie an inspiring journalist who has a knack and making enemies and keeps everyone an arms length away.   Charlie is many things: independent, STUBBORN, a virgin and tenacious.  As Charlie is trying to undercover and underage drinking story she finds herself being the victim of being roofied not once but twice.   Charlie is determined to find out who is the culprit to this act as she is not the only one who has been a victim.  

One thing Charlie knows is to stay away from the school bad boy. So when Knox volunteers to be her savior she doesn't understand why. 

Knox and Charlie are the unlikely duo but to avenge these wrongs but many things are working against them like: Knox's personal demons, Charlie's stubborness, Charlie's mentor, and many more. However, thankfully she has other sources like her best friend and ex.  But so many things are happenings and secrets come to the surface causing Charlie not knowing who to trust and what is the truth until it is almost too late. The one thing she does know for sure is that she feels safe with Knox but can that be enough. 

This book had a great balance of angst, suspense, mystery, chemistry and love.  I think this will be another great series from Nicole and I can't wait to read more. 

4 I love Knox Thumbs up!

Lauren

 

Blurred (Connections #3.5) & Frayed (Connections #4) by Kim Karr - #bookreviews

Blurred (Connections #3.5)

by Kim Karr (Goodreads Author)

A Connection Series Novella featuring Ben Covington

The story before the love story….

When he lost the only woman he’d ever loved, it seemed there was nothing left to live for.

Even as a boy, all Ben Covington ever wanted was to spend forever with Dahlia London, the beautiful girl next door...then one life-altering decision tore them apart and he was forced to leave her.

Now, despite having returned to win her back, he’s still alone. She’s with someone else—someone she’s never going to leave.

Resigned to a future without his former girlfriend, Ben numbs his broken heart in a haze of liquor and women. But then the only woman who ever even turned his head while he was with his girl reappears unexpectedly. And he’s never forgotten their one incredible night together. But will Ben’s destructive behavior destroy his future with her before it even begins?

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BUY: AMAZON (Kindle)

Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy from NAL Trade

Genre: Adult Contemporary 

Part 3.5 in a series and needs to be read as a series 

My Blurred Mini Review ...

This review is going to be short and sweet just like this novella.  At first I wasn't sure if I was going to ever like Ben since he did not win me over in the first couple of books but in this novella we get to see a bit more behind the elusive Ben and why he made the decisions he did.  

Ben did start to grow on me throughout this novella as well as the idea if Ben with Bell.  

I really think Kim Karr is fabulous with out she has set up this series and all the characters.  With this novella we get to see into Ben more and find more pieces of the puzzles of the entwined lives of all the key players in this series.

4 Blurring Thumbs up!!

Lauren  

 

Frayed (Connections #4)

by Kim Karr (Goodreads Author)

The Connections series continues with this spin-off novel.

He didn’t think, he didn’t question—he just acted.
What she wanted, she took—without regard.
It was only one night, but it changed everything.

After losing his fiancée, Ben Covington is unsure he’ll ever love again. But when he sees Bell Wilde, he’s so deeply drawn to her, that he’s thrown for a loop. Maybe it’s purely sexual chemistry that’s igniting this spark between them...or maybe it’s his second chance at love.

Bell has just gotten her life back on track and may not be up for the challenge of Ben Covington. But once they’re reunited, there’s no holding back—even if a secret from Bell’s past just might shatter them both

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BUY: AMAZON (Kindle)

Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of NAL Trade

Genre: Adult Contemporary

Part 4 in a series 

My Frayed Review ...

I am an absolute fan of this series but I sadly have to say that I did not care for this book as much as the others.  I think after reading Blurred it was over redundant with Ben.  I did start to like Ben in Blurred but I found Frayed was just a longer version of Blurred with the addition of Bell's POV. 

I did like Bell in the previous books even though she was a bit too sheltered from her family but she had many qualities that had potential and Kim Karr did a good lead into Bell's life with the other books tying in with this book but this book ended up still falling flat for me. 

As we start to read this I have to admit that Bell's hot and cold mood swings and her secret holding got a bit old for me.   Plus she was holding a grunge on Ben when she pursued him knowing he had a girlfriend at the time plus he didn't even know her secret that caused her so much pain so I didn't see how that was fair (Hmmm I guess I'm turning Team Ben here... who knew).

I don't know if I'm reading too many books which is started to get me jaded or what but lately the story lines of pure assumptions where she thinks he is with someone else and vice versa are driving me batty. I want more from books than this story line and the gem of miscommunication.  I do still like Kim Karr and I did like this book I just didn't love it as much as the others.  This rant is really just a rant but unfortunately this book is what through me over my edge as I have just read it too many times. 

I know I was reading the ARC version so many of the errors may have been fixed with more editing but it was hard to read for me because one of the things I adored most about Kim Karr's books was her genius way at organizing all the details of her tangled web of all the characters but this book had many time line and wrong name errors that it threw me.  I hope it is the case of not the final edit not the case of too many details have finally gotten to hard to keep on top of.  

Even though this was not my favorite of the series I can't wait to find out the secret behind Caleb. 

3 Fraying Thumbs up!

Lauren