Friday, November 18, 2016

Weekly Reading Update: Catch Up Edition


It's been quite a while since I did a weekly reading update! But considering how much I've overloaded you all with reviews lately, I haven't had too much time for pleasure reading. But I figured I can at least give you a quickie update on some recent reads, in no particular order.

I got the chance to read Carry This Book by Abbi Jacobson, famous for Broad City - which is an absolutely hilarious show, if you're not already familiar with it. Carry This Book is entirely self-drawn, with Abbi drawing what she assumed celebrities, historical figures, and fictional characters might keep in their wallet/purse/etc. It's totally worth a read, if you like quirky things!

I also read the newest book in Cherise Sinclair's Masters of the Shadowlands series, Mischief and the Masters. Finally, Uzuri gets her own story! And like Sally (from If Only), she's too much of a handful for just one man - luckily Alastair and Max are up for the task. If you like BDSM with your romance, you really, truly, absolutely HAVE to check out Cherise Sinclair. She knows what she's doing - both when it comes to consensual smut, and the love story.

I also tried out a new (to me) Kristen Ashley book - Until the Sun Falls from the Sky. I tried, I really did, even got 60% into the book... but I had to DNF it. The whole talk of "taming" her, and "breaking" her... I just didn't find that sexy at all. In fact, it made me incredibly nervous. I think I'll stick with the Rock Chick series, which I am definitely enjoying thus far. I'm not sure who I like more, Eddie or Lee. And Hank is up next!

When browsing the newly purchased items at the library, I happened upon Jim Henson's Labyrinth Tales, and had to request it. And it was absolutely adorable. Not sure it would work as a picture book, considering I don't think most of the young kids it was geared to would understand the characters. But for fans of Labyrinth and Henson in general, it's a fun read.

 I'd say that's more than enough for this week's update. The rest of what I read was a bunch of graphic novels, with Injustice: Gods Among Us still being the best of the bunch. Thank goodness I have another volume at home I can read - they're incredibly addicting!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Disclaimer: The above books were either borrowed from the library or purchased. None were provided in exchange for a review.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Review: READY FOR FLYNN by KL Shandwick

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Today we have the blog tour for Ready for Flynn by K.L. Shandwhick! Check it out and grab your copy today!

Type: Series, Contemporary, Romance, New Adult, Rock Stars,

My Review: Ah, it's happened - a book that broke my awesome book streak. Ready for Flynn left me feeling more than a little torn. I liked the story - I thought there was a good amount of drama, I was intrigued enough to want to know what would happen next. It was the storytelling itself that I had problems with. From page one, this book is definitely one of those "tell, don't show".. which is hard for me to get into. Being shown the story is what makes a reader get sucked in, but being told makes me very aware the entire time that I am reading something, not experiencing it.

I had a few other issues here and there. For every little thing I found that bugged me, there would be a plot twist that I liked enough to keep me going. For that reason, this book is difficult to review. If asked, I'd say this was good, or okay.. not great.

Cover Lovin': I don't know which part I like the best! 1 or 3, maybe..

Recommendation: This is a continuing series, so you'll want to read all three.

Final Rating: THREE out of FIVE stars (3/5)! Story is good, but the storytelling was rough for me.
Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~
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About Ready for Flynn: At fifteen years old, Valerie Darsin, was loved and cherished by her brothers and boyfriend. Her small town world was happy and secure until a sudden betrayal forced her to flee. Returning home, Valerie found support in Flynn Docherty-a guy who left her with unfamiliar feelings when he disappeared from her life.   Valerie learned to move on, until a life-changing event brought Flynn back, but was she ready?   Has she ever been Ready For Flynn?   (A contemporary rock star romance). flynnconcert Get your copy today! Ready For Flynn, Part 1 https://www.amazon.com/Ready-Flynn-Part-Rockstar-Romance-ebook/dp/B01BJ32978 Ready For Flynn, Part2 https://www.amazon.com/Ready-Flynn-Part-Rockstar-Romance-ebook/dp/B01FGKZS6E Ready For Flynn,Part3 https://www.amazon.com/Ready-Flynn-Part-Rockstar-Romance-ebook/dp/B01KBF1SK4 flynn33 flynn32 flynn8 14060259_1777012175902612_38619647_o About K.L. Shandwick: single-logo Writing came relatively later in life for K.L. Shandwick after a challenge by a friend led to The Everything Trilogy. She loves creating new characters and story lines. Her characters have flaws and she hopes this helps the connection between them and her readers. K.L. enjoys the journeys they take her on during the creation of her stories, and each character has his or her own voice. She doesn't use prepared outlines for her stories preferring the characters to take their own direction as the story progresses. These days K.L. lives in the Yorkshire countryside in the UK, and writes full-time. rff3teaser7 Connect with K.L.: WEBPAGE: http://www.klshandwick.com/   FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/KLShandwickAuthor/   TWITTER: https://twitter.com/klshandwick   TUMBLR: https://www.tumblr.com/search/klshandwick   INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/klshandwick/   KL'S HANGOUT : https://www.facebook.com/groups/870180453066621/   KL'S FANPAGE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/512704868937247/   NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/bik4Qr   giveaway  
Enter K.L.’s giveaway:   a Rafflecopter giveaway   5star-reviews

Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for a review. 

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Cover Reveal: MASTERING HER SENSES by Laura Kaye!

Decadent… Sensual… Forbidden…

12 Masters. 12 Desires. 12 Fantasies Come to Life. Meet the Masters of Blasphemy…

Releasing February 21, 2017, MASTERING HER SENSES is the second full-length novel in Laura Kaye's Blasphemy Series. Check out the amazing cover created by Kim Killion from The Killion Group below!

 

A Note from Laura Kaye:

Friends! I’m so excited to share the cover for Mastering Her Senses, the second book in my new erotic Blasphemy series! I’ve been dying to write Master Quinton since he first appeared on the page, and now he is coming your way this February. I’m also excited because the heroine, Cassia Locke, is the sister of one of the Raven Riders (Jagger Locke), so there will be some fun series crossover happening in this book, too! So, so much to love! I hope you’ll check it out and the other books in the series, too!

xo, Laura

12 Masters. Infinite fantasies. Welcome to Blasphemy…

He wants to dominate her senses—and her heart…

Quinton Ross has always been a thrill-seeker—so it’s no surprise that he’s drawn to extremes in the bedroom and at his BDSM club, Blasphemy, where he creates sense-depriving scenarios that blow submissives’ minds. Now if he could just find one who needs the rush as much as him…

When an accident leaves Cassia Locke with a paralyzing fear of the dark, she’ll try anything to get help. Ready to fight, she knows just who to ask for help—the hard-bodied, funny-as-hell Dom she’d always crushed on—and once stood up.

Quinton is shocked and a little leery to see Cassia, but he can’t pass up the chance to dominate the alluring little sub this time. Introducing her to sensory deprivation becomes his new favorite obsession, and watching her fight fear is its own thrill. But when doubt threatens to send her running again, Quinton must find a way to master her senses—and her heart.

Exclusive iBooks Preorder

Look for other preorder links in 2017

Add to your Goodreads

 
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Books in Series:

Hard to Serve #.5

Bound to Submit #1

Mastering Her Senses #2 – 2/21/17

Eyes on You #3 – 7/11/17

  Laura Kaye - author picAbout Laura Kaye: Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirty books in contemporary and erotic romance and romantic suspense, including the Blasphemy, Hard Ink, and Raven Riders series. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. Laura also writes historical fiction as the NYT bestselling author, Laura Kamoie. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.    

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Review: HEAT WAVE by Karina Halle!

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Today we have HEAT WAVE by Karina Halle!

Type: Contemporary, Romance, Stand-Alone, Emotional, Accents, One-sitting-read, Not-so-brotherly-love

My Review: I'm so happy - I've read so many amazing books in a row. I cannot believe I've been so lucky. Usually after something as good as Managed was, the next book doesn't shine as brightly. But not so with Heat Wave. This book garnered a lot of buzz in the past few weeks, and I totally get why. Not only could I not stand to put this down - so much so that I took it with me to the dentist to read while I was waiting to get fully numb before a procedure - but it was getting my heart rate up. I'm not ashamed to admit there was a time or two I was on the verge of tears. Especially near the end. I could physically feel my heart breaking.

Karina Halle is one of those authors I have heard people talk about, and there's a few of her books on my TBR, but I just hadn't gotten around to reading her yet. And now I'm tempted to kick myself for waiting so long. This author has an excellent writing style, and her emotional punches are dead on. Veronica and Logan were in a very tough situation, and I appreciate that the author didn't just let that slide. They had to deal with the real world consequences. And she created a real sense of community at the resort. By the end of the book, I felt like they were my family too.

Cover Lovin': Very dramatic - I like it.

Recommendation: Stand-alone, so no prior knowledge necessary.

Final Rating: FOUR AND A HALF out of FIVE stars (4.5/5)! This was such a good read. Highly recommended.


Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

    heat-wave-3d-bookThey say when life closes one door, another one opens. This door happens to lead to paradise. And a man I can never, ever have. Still grieving the loss of her sister who died two years ago, the last thing Veronica "Ronnie" Locke needed was to lose her job at one of Chicago’s finest restaurants and have to move back in with her parents. So when a window of opportunity opens for her – running a kitchen at a small Hawaiian hotel – she’d be crazy not to take it. The only problem is, the man running the hotel drives her crazy: Logan Shephard. It doesn’t matter that he’s got dark brown eyes, a tall, muscular build that’s sculpted from daily surfing sessions, and a deep Australian accent that makes your toes curl. What does matter is that he’s a grump. Kind of an asshole, too. And gets under Ronnie’s skin like no one else. But the more time Ronnie spends on the island of Kauai, falling in love with the lush land and its carefree lifestyle, the closer she gets to Logan. And the closer she gets to Logan, the more she realizes she may have pegged him all wrong. Maybe it’s the hot, steamy jungles or the invigorating ocean air, but soon their relationship becomes utterly intoxicating. There’s just one major catch. The two of them together would incite a scandal neither Ronnie, nor her family, would ever recover from. Forbidden, Illicit, off-limits – sometimes the heat is worth surrendering to, even if you get burned.  

AMAZON | Amazon Paperback | iBooks | B&N

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PROLOGUE

I saw him first. It shamed me to think it then, it shames me to think it now. But that’s what the truth does to you sometimes. It shames you because it’s only in the truth that you realize how human you really are. What a raw, devastating thing that is, to embrace your humanity and learn to live with all your sharp points, the hollow places, the cracks and the crevices. To be utterly real. To be terribly flawed. Those cracks had always been forming inside me, slowly making their way to the surface over the years. In my family, there wasn’t much you could do but try and hold yourself together, to stick glue on your wounds, to paste over the imperfections. But the cracks still grew, until all of us were held together by crumbling cement, just statues waiting to collapse. That was years and years ago. I was just twenty-two at the time. A baby. I’m still a baby in the grand scheme of things, but there’s something precious about your early twenties, where you think you’re so much older, bigger, than you are, where life is just about to deliver the crushing blows that will knock you off your feet for the rest of your days. The small things become the big things and the big things become the small things and you aren’t quite sure when they made the switch. But in the end, I saw him first. He was mine, even before he knew it. He was mine in some strange way that I still don’t understand. The only way I can think of to explain it is… You just know. There are moments in your life, people in your life, that when they cross your path and meet your eye, you know. Maybe it’s all in the chemistry, certain pheromones that react when they mix together, maybe it’s a smell that triggers a memory, maybe it’s a glimpse at a future you don’t recognize or a hint at the past, a life you’ve lived and forgotten. Whatever it is, you know that moment, that person, is going to shape you for the rest of your life. That’s what it was like when I saw him. Standing over by the windows and staring out Lake Michigan, like he was wishing he could be anywhere but there. I wished the same. My mother’s the deputy mayor of Chicago and this was another one of her fundraisers I felt obliged to attend. It was tradition in my family, for my father, for me, for my sister, to show up and wave the flag of support. It didn’t seem to matter that the stuffy politicians that surrounded these events never paid me any attention. And if they did, it was the wrong kind of attention, always the sixty-year-old man leering after the young thing with the nice smile. Luckily I didn’t smile all that often. My resting bitch face took over whenever I was deep in thought, which was pretty much all the time. But this guy…I felt a kinship with him. I felt like I knew exactly what he was thinking, feeling, and that it was completely wrapped up in and connected to everything that was going through me. I don’t know where I found the nerve to go over and talk to him. He seemed so much older, not quite the sixty-year-old politicians I was used to seeing, but maybe in his early-thirties. More than that, there was some kind of aura around him. Sounds stupid, I know. Whatever it was, it was like he belonged in some whole other universe than here, a star on earth, permanently grounded and yearning to be in the sky. It was usually Juliet’s job to go around and make everyone feel warm and comfortable at these events—hell, in every event—but she wasn’t here yet. And though I could have easily stayed in the shadows, I was pulled to him, like he had a wave of gravity whirling around him. I remember what I was wearing. Strappy flats because I hated wearing heels, a knee-length cocktail dress in emerald green, sleeveless, high-neck. It made me look older and I wore it because my mother always wanted me to look like a lady. With a glass of champagne in hand, I made my way over to the windows, my heart racing the closer I got to him. He looked taller up close, well over six feet. His shoulders were broad, like a swimmer’s, and suddenly I had a vision of him diving into the lake. The navy blue suit he was wearing looked well-tailored but he seemed uncomfortable in it, like he couldn’t wait to get rid of it. I stood beside him for a moment, following his gaze out the window. He seemed lost in his thoughts but out of my peripheral his head tilted slightly and he brought his eyes over to me while I kept staring at that wide expanse of water, stretching out to the horizon. “Can’t wait to get out of here?” I asked, but though my tone was mild, my delivery was bold. It was as if someone else had taken a hold of my body, forcing me to speak. I slowly turned my head to meet his eyes. I was taken aback for a second. He was staring at me like he knew me, even though I’d never seen him before. Then again, I was sure I’d been staring at him in the same way. That feeling of knowing. He knew me, I knew him, and who the hell knows how that was possible. His eyes were brown—are brown—dark with currents of gold and amber, giving them beautiful clarity. Slightly almond shaped. His brows were also dark, arched, adding to the intensity of his gaze. He’s the type of guy whose eyes latch onto you, dig deep, trying to sift through the files of your life, see who you really are. “How did you know?” he asked, a full-on Australian accent rumbling through his gruff voice. It made my stomach flip, my core smolder. How deed you now, is what it sounded like. Funny how I stopped hearing the accent after time. I gave a half shrug and looked back to the party. More people had flooded the room, mingling around the appetizers. My mother was in the corner, a crowd of politicians around her. She didn’t see me. She never did. “Because I think I’d rather be in the middle of Lake Michigan too,” I told him, “then be stuck here with all these people.” “These people,” he repeated. My focus was drawn to his lips, full, wide, tilting up into a smirk. Beneath them was a strong chin and even sharper jaw, dusted with a five o’clock shadow that seemed permanent, like the man couldn’t get a clean shave even if he tried. “How do you know I’m not one of these people?” “Because you’re over here and not over there. How come you keep answering my questions with more questions?” He studied me for a moment. My blood pounded in my head and I felt a giddy kind of thrill at how this was progressing. If anything, I was proud for holding my own with this handsome stranger. He was the first man I ever really felt at ease with. He cleared his throat, offered me a quick smile before he nodded at the lake, his hands sliding into his pockets. “She almost looks like the ocean, doesn’t she?” “Not quite the same as Australia, I would imagine.” “No hiding this accent, is there?” He glanced at me and stuck out his hand, which I shook for a moment, warm palm to warm palm. “I’m Logan Shepard. Australian. And the reason I’m here is because I was invited by a friend of mine. I’m only in town for a few days and he didn’t want to go alone. He’s over there.” He nodded at a tall black man in the corner, listening intently to another man. “Warren Jones,” he said, as if I should know him. Perhaps I should. He probably thought I was one of them. “He’s local and the key piece to my investment.” I wasn’t one for business talk—I never had anything to contribute other than lamenting student loans—but I wanted him to keep talking. “What’s your investment?” “Starting my own hotel,” he said. “In Hawaii. Have you ever been there?” “Once. When I was eight. I think we were in Honolulu. I remember a city, anyway. Waikiki Beach.” “This hotel is in Kauai. The Garden Isle. Went there once as a teenager and couldn’t get it out of my mind.” I didn’t know the right things to say. I wanted to ask more about the hotel, what it means when you have an investor, but I didn’t want to appear dumb. I kept my mouth shut. “You haven’t introduced yourself,” he said. “Protecting a secret identity?” I smiled, close-lipped. “Not really. I’m Veronica Locke. American. And I unfortunately I don’t have much else to add to that.” “Locke?” he repeated, eyes darting to my mother. “Are you the daughter of the deputy mayor, Rose Locke?” “One of them,” I told him. He nodded quickly. “I see. No wonder you’d rather be in the middle of the bloody lake. I bet you have to do this stuff all the time.” “It’s not so bad.” I took a sip of my drink so I didn’t have to say anything more and looked away at the crowd. The bubbles teased my nose, making my eyes water. I could feel his gaze on me as he spoke. “I’m sure you have plenty more to say about yourself though. Where do you work? Student?” “Culinary arts,” I told him. “I’m one of those crazy people who dream of being a chef one day.” He frowned. “Why is that crazy?” I gave him a look, forgetting that most people have no idea how hard it is. “Because it’s a long road, long hours, and nothing is guaranteed. People think being a chef is easy. They see Gordon Ramsey or Nigella Lawson and think it’s all fame and food and money and they have no idea what it’s really like. I’m not even out of school and already I feel half-beaten.” He was still frowning. He did that a lot, I would soon learn. “Sounds like life to me.” His eyes dropped to my lips and something intensely carnal came over them, like suddenly I was the food, not the wannabe chef. “Did you want to get a drink somewhere. After this? When you’ve done your daughterly duties?” I swallowed hard. I didn’t know what a drink meant. Just a drink? A date? Was it sex? I started going through my head, trying to think of reasons why it was a bad idea. My legs were shaved, did my bra and underwear match? Did I have a condom? I had taken the pill this morning, even though my last boyfriend and I had broken up months ago. I hadn’t been with a guy, let alone a man, in a long time. Don’t flatter yourself, I quickly thought. What makes you think he’d be interested in you that way? “Yes,” I said when I finally found my voice. “Yes, I would like that.” A spark flashed in his eyes, lighting them up in such a way that made my toes literally curl. Damn. I was in trouble with this man. “Any way you can get out of your duties sooner?” he asked. I couldn’t help but smile, raising my brow at his presumptuousness, while simultaneously trying to hide the fact that I was freaking out. I looked around the room and tried to judge how likely it was that someone would notice if I was gone. My mom was still surrounded by a wall of people and no one was paying any attention to us, standing by the windows, already removed. A sad thought hit me, sliding past before I could really dwell on it: no one even notices when I’m here. “If we’re quick and sneaky,” I told him. “Being quick isn’t in my repertoire,” he said, “but I could give it a shot.” Again. Damn. I wasn’t one to blush but I could feel my cheeks heating up and hoped my skin supressed the flush. He was so much older than me in so many ways, the last thing I wanted was to appear the naïve schoolgirl. And I didn’t know what to say to that. He was staring at me with those dark eyes, a look so intense yet sparkling with charm and something…wicked. I’d never find out how wicked they could be. “Ronnie!” A melodic, ultra-feminine voice sliced through the moment like an unwieldy machete, causing me to flinch, my fingers tightening around the stem of the glass. Oh no, I thought. Not now. Logan’s head swiveled toward the sound of the voice, like a hound picking up a scent. I didn’t bother looking over, I kept my focus on him, watching his expression intently. It changed, as I knew it would. She had walked into the room. He saw her. And like it was for so many men, that look of lust I had thought was for me, was now for her. That’s when I knew it was over. Whatever thing I had felt for him, it didn’t matter anymore, not when she was in the room. Nothing ever mattered as long as she was around. I might have saw him first. But he was all hers after that.     heat-wave-teaser-3         Halle HeadshotKarina Halle is a former travel writer and music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of The Pact, Racing the Sun, Sins & Needles and over 25 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her rescue pup, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books. Halle is represented by the Waxman Leavell Agency and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster and Hachette in North America and in the UK. Hit her up on Instagram at @authorHalle, on Twitter at @MetalBlonde and on Facebook. You can also visit www.authorkarinahalle.com and sign up for the newsletter for news, excerpts, previews, private book signing sales and more. FACEBOOK TWITTER GOODREADS AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
 
Disclaimer: I received a free advanced copy in exchange for a review. 

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Review: MANAGED by Kristen Callihan!

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Type: Contemporary Romance, British Accents, Series-yet-stand-alone, Rock Star Lifestyle

My Review: I belong to this Facebook group called The Locker Room - and Kristen Callihan is one of the coaches. This group has never steered me wrong - each of the authors is a certified genius. And this is just another excellent example. We all know I love romances with rock stars - and here we have a manager of a rock band. Gabriel is everything I've ever wanted. A sexy British genius, with an amazing self-made family. I was hooked from the very beginning. Gabriel and Sophie's meeting on the plane had me laughing out loud - good thing I was home alone at the time.

There are certain tropes I expect when reading a romance with rock stars, and Managed gave me those with enough of a twist to make it new and original. And though Gabriel is not himself a rock-star, I am still considering this a rock star romance since it involves the lifestyle.. And frankly, to me, Gabriel is a bit like a rock star. I think I really fell in love with him. I'm more than a little jealous of Sophie, to be honest. But thank goodness I can re-read this book over and over again.

Cover Lovin': So elegant! I love it.

Recommendation: Technically this is the second book in a series - but this can easily work as a stand-alone.

Final Rating: FIVE out of FIVE stars (5/5)! I loved, loved, loved this! I didn't want to put it down. And it made me desperate to read the first book.


Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~


   managed-amazonIt started off as a battle of wits. Me: the ordinary girl with a big mouth against Him: the sexy bastard with a big...ego. I thought I’d hit the jackpot when I was upgraded to first class on my flight to London. That is until HE sat down next to me. Gabriel Scott: handsome as sin, cold as ice. Nothing and no one gets to him. Ever. He’s a legend in his own right, the manager of the biggest rock band in the world, and an arrogant ass who looks down his nose at me. I thought I’d give him hell for one, long flight. I didn’t expect to like him. I didn’t expect to want him. But the biggest surprise? He wants me too. Only in a way I didn’t see coming. If I accept his proposal, I leave myself open to falling for the one man I can’t manage. But I’m tempted to say yes. Because the real man beneath those perfect suits and that cool façade just might be the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And I just might be the only one who can melt the ice around his heart.   Let the battle begin…  

AMAZON | iBooks | B&N | KOBO | Paperback

    managed-teaser-5   In all this time, I had yet to see Gabriel without a shirt. He hides his body like a pious Victorian, never letting me see anything other than him fully dressed and polished. Now I know why. Had he let me get a glimpse, I might never have been able to form a coherent thought around him. This man’s chest is a work of art. It’s every fantasy I’ve had about a man’s body made real. I don’t even know how that’s possible, but I’m not about to complain. God, he looks touchable. Olive skin, tight little brownish nipples, a smattering of dark chest hair over the most incredibly honed— “You’re staring.” His tone is dry. “Yes, I am.” I drag my eyes up and find his expression bemused. A thick brow lifts. I try to mimic the look and fail when both of my brows lift as one. His lips twitch in amusement. He shifts his weight, causing his abs to clench. Good Lord. He’s not some overdeveloped gym worshiper, just solid and strong, that perfect balance between defined musculature and healthy male— “You’re still staring, Sophie.” “You think it’s easy looking away from all this splendor?” I ask his belly button, licking my lips when he huffs out a laugh and just a little bit more of his lower abs are revealed, slanting toward the thick bulge of his cock, which is lamentably hidden behind his slacks. “You’re impossible,” he mutters, though there is humor in his voice. He strolls farther into the room and then practically kills me when he sits in one of the low-slung armchairs. That body, sprawled out on display, those thick, long thighs braced as if to take me in his lap—it’s too much. I want to straddle him and lick my way from the hollow of his throat to the tip of his cock. He eyes me as if he knows what I’m thinking, and the air thickens. So many things we left unsaid. I’m remembering his lips now, surprisingly soft, but strong with purpose. From the way his lids lower, I wonder if he’s remembering things as well. But he doesn’t move. Tension glides over his body and snakes around the room. I feel it in my throat and down my spine. We’re closing up again, retreating. Slowly, I toe off my shoes and set my gear down, never breaking eye contact. “I was being completely honest,” I tell him. “I see you like this and I want to stare forever.” He snorts, shaking his head even as he rests his temple on his knuckles. “What do you mean ‘like this’?” “Undone.” He tenses. It does lovely things to that chest. I focus on his face, mainly to maintain some semblance of decorum. “You think this is me undone?” he asks quietly. “It’s a start.” I reach for my camera bag. “Will you let me photograph you?” There is safety to be found with the camera between us. A way for both of us to hide until we’re comfortable around each other again. “You’re serious?” “You sound surprised.” Holding my camera, I sit in the sofa opposite him. “Don’t tell me no one has asked to take your picture before.” “They’ve asked. I never saw the point.” He shrugs. “I’m not the story.” You’re my story. You always were. “This is just for me,” I say instead. “No one else.” His shrewd gaze pins me. “Why do you want this?” So I can have a bit of you forever. “Pictures capture moments in time. I want this one—when you finally let me see a sliver of the man behind the clothes.” His nostrils flare on an indrawn breath, and he slowly lets it out. When he speaks, his voice is a rasp. “Take the pictures.”         managed-teaser-3     KCauthor
Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal , best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for review. 

Monday, November 14, 2016

Review & Excerpt: TRU BLUE by Melissa Foster!

Today we have a new book from Melissa Foster, Tru Blue! Check out this gorgeous new contemporary romance and grab your copy today!
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   Type: Dark, Series-yet-stand-alone, Tattoos, Jail time, Ow-my-heart


My Review: Melissa Foster is an author I discovered entirely by chance - I happened upon a blog tour sign up to review one of her new releases. And I'm so, so, so grateful that I was in the mood to try something new that day, and give her a chance. Crushing on Love, released earlier this year, had me giddy because I enjoyed it so much. And then Tru Blue happened. Whoa, guys. Just whoa. 

This is one of those books that is truly emotional. And because of that, it's hard for me to review. When I'm so wrapped up in a book and how it made me feel, I can't do more than squeak and hold my kindle in a death grip. Sometimes a book comes along and you don't know what to say, or how to describe it, or even how to express what it made you feel - Tru Blue is that, for me. All I can think to say is that I couldn't put it down, and I think I'm going to need some soothing tea to calm me down after finishing it.

Cover Lovin': Oh my, yes. 

Recommendation: While this may be part of an over-arching series, Tru Blue is essentially a stand-alone. 

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars. Whoa, just whoa. After this, I think I'll need some time to lower my heart rate. 

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

  About Tru Blue: Imagine falling in love with a man, then finding out he was a killer…TRU BLUE is a sexy, dark stand-alone novel written in the same loving, raw, and emotional voice romance readers have come to love, and the deeply emotional literary prose women’s fiction readers have come to expect, from New York Times & USA Today bestselling, award-winning author Melissa Foster. He wore the skin of a killer, and bore the heart of a lover… There’s nothing Truman Gritt won’t do to protect his family–Including spending years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. When he’s finally released, the life he knew is turned upside down by his mother’s overdose, and Truman steps in to raise the children she’s left behind. Truman’s hard, he’s secretive, and he’s trying to save a brother who’s even more broken than he is. He’s never needed help in his life, and when beautiful Gemma Wright tries to step in, he’s less than accepting. But Gemma has a way of slithering into people’s lives and eventually she pierces through his ironclad heart. When Truman‘s dark past collides with his future, his loyalties will be tested, and he’ll be faced with his toughest decision yet. teaser-5 Get Your Copy Today! Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | iBooks | Nook | Kobo | GooglePlay | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound | Books-A-Million | Powell’s Books | Amazon teaser-6

Exclusive Excerpt:
TRUMAN GRITT LOCKED the door to Whiskey Automotive and stepped into the stormy September night. Sheets of rain blurred his vision, instantly drenching his jeans and T-shirt. A slow smile crept across his face as he tipped his chin up, soaking in the shower of freedom. He made his way around the dark building and climbed the wooden stairs to the deck outside his apartment. He could have used the interior door, but after being behind bars for six long years, Truman took advantage of the small pleasures he’d missed out on, like determining his own schedule, deciding when to eat and drink, and standing in the f**king rain if he wanted to. He leaned on the rough wooden railing, ignoring the splinters of wood piercing his tattooed forearms, squinted against the wetness, and scanned the cars in the junkyard they used for parts—and he used to rid himself of frustrations. He rested his leather boot on the metal box where he kept his painting supplies. Truman didn’t have much—his old extended-cab truck, which his friend Bear Whiskey had held on to for him while he was in prison, this apartment, and a solid job, both of which were compliments of the Whiskey family. The only family he had anymore. Emotions he didn’t want to deal with burned in his gut, causing his chest to constrict. He turned to go inside, hoping to outrun thoughts of his own f**ked-up family, whom he’d tried—and failed—to save. His cell phone rang with his brother’s ringtone, “A Beautiful Lie” by 30 Seconds to Mars. “F**k,” he muttered, debating letting the call go to voicemail, but six months of silence from his brother was a long time. Rain pelleted his back as he pressed his palm to the door to steady himself. The ringing stopped, and he blew out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d trapped inside. The phone rang again, and he froze. He’d just freed himself from the dredges of hell that he’d been thrown into in an effort to save his brother. He didn’t need to get wrapped up in whatever mess the drug-addicted fool had gotten himself into. The call went to voicemail, and Truman eyed the metal box containing his painting supplies. Breathing like he’d been in a fight, he wished he could paint the frustration out of his head. When the phone rang for the third time in as many minutes, the third time since he was released from prison six months ago, he reluctantly answered. “Quincy.” He hated the way his brother’s name came out sounding like the enemy. Quincy had been just a kid when Truman went to prison. Heavy breathing filled the airwaves. The hairs on Truman’s forearms and neck stood on end. He knew fear when he heard it. He could practically taste it as he ground his teeth together. “I need you,” his brother’s tortured voice implored. Need me? Truman had hunted down his brother after he was released from prison, and when he’d finally found him, Quincy was so high on crack he was nearly incoherent—but it didn’t take much for f**k off to come through loud and clear. What Quincy needed was rehab, but Truman knew from his tone that wasn’t the point of the call. Before he could respond, his brother croaked out, “It’s Mom. She’s really bad.” teaser-4 About Melissa Foster: melissa-author-photoo Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance, contemporary women’s fiction, suspense, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary Café and Fostering Success. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine. Melissa hosts an Aspiring Authors contest for children and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa lives in Maryland with her family. Visit Melissa on social media. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and welcomes an invitation to your event.
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 STREET TEAM: http://www.facebook.com/groups/melissafosterfans teaser-3 Enter Melissa’s Giveaway: a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy in exchange for a review. 

Review & New Release: SWEET CHEEKS by K. Bromberg!

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Release Date: November 14th, 2016

Type: Stand-Alone, Well-loved author, Contemporary, Romance, Second Chance Romance

My Review: K. Bromberg is one of those authors I've heard about for years, with everyone saying how much they loved her Driven series. I finally jumped on the Driven bandwagon this year, and read the first two books - and the third is sitting on my nightstand for whenever I get free time. And I get it, I understand why everyone loves her stuff. Her stories are compelling, her characters realistic, and the whole thing is just plain addicting. Seriously, everything I've picked up by her, I've been unable to put down.

And Sweet Cheeks is no exception. I'm a huge fan of second chance romances anyways, but this took it to a whole new level. I didn't want to put it down - so thank goodness I had the entire evening free to devour this. In fact, I think I liked this even more than the Driven series - or at least the two books in that series I've read thus far. Do yourself a favor and go add this to your TBR list now!

Cover Lovin': Uh, heck yes!

Recommendation: Stand-alone, so there's no backstory needed!

Final Rating: FOUR AND A HALF out of FIVE stars! Love, love, love! And you will too!


Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~ 


sweetcheeks_frontcoverAn all new second chance love story by the New York Times Bestselling author of the beloved Driven series. It all started with the invitation. To my ex-fiance’s new wedding. I should have ignored it. Thrown it away. Set it afire. But I didn’t. I replied. With a plus one. And then my assistant accidentally mailed it. Enter Hayes Whitley. Mega-movie star. The man who has captured the hearts of millions. But I gave him mine years ago. He was my first love. He was my everything. Right until he up and left to chase his dreams without so much as a simple goodbye. When he showed up out of the blue ten years later, I should have known to steer clear of him. I should have rejected his offer to take me to my ex’s wedding. I should have never let him kiss me. But I didn’t. And now we’re left wondering if the pieces of the life we once shared still fit together somehow. First loves are hard to forget. The question is, do we want to forget? Or do we risk the chance and see what happens next? ADD TO GOODREADS  

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      stealone-moremoment_tall-1       dsc_0087New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love. She’s a mixture of most of her female characters: sassy, intelligent, stubborn, reserved, outgoing, driven, emotional, strong, and wears her heart on her sleeve. All of which she displays daily with her husband and three children where they live in Southern California. On a whim, K. Bromberg decided to try her hand at this writing thing. Since then she has written The Driven Series (Driven, Fueled, Crashed, Raced, Aced), the standalone Driven Novels (Slow Burn, Sweet Ache, Hard Beat, and Down Shift), and a novella (UnRaveled). She is currently finishing up Sweet Cheeks a standalone novel out November 14th. Her plans for 2017 include a sports romance duet (2 books: The Player, The Catch) and the Everyday Heroes series (3 books: Cuffed, Combust, and Cockpit). She’s also writing a novella for the 1,001 Dark Night series that will be out in February 2017. She loves to hear from her readers so make sure you check her out on social media.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy to review. 

Review and Blitz: SEXY LIES AND ROCK AND ROLL by Sawyer Bennett!

Another sexy rock star for your TBR!

Type: Stand-Alone, Contemporary Romance, Rockstar Romeo, Love-this-author, Lawyer versus Rocker - who wins?

My Review: You know how some books bring you into the story slowly, giving you a chance to acclimate to an unfamiliar setting? Well pft, screw that! Sexy Lies and Rock & Roll dives right in - with Evan getting a visit from the cops asking for his whereabouts the night before, since his former bandmate was murdered. I was sucked in already, but then Evan and Emma met for the first time, and I was hooked for good. Their initial interaction sold me for sure. FYI - if you're suspected of murder, probably best to not piss off your attorney.

I think what really made this book work for me was the character interactions - mostly those between Emma and Evan, but author Sawyer Bennett does a good job of making her characters, and how they speak to one another, feel genuine. This isn't the first book I've read by her, but this is my favorite thus far. And it definitely solidifies her on my watch list!

Cover Lovin': Two thumbs up!

Recommendation: This is a stand-alone, so no prior knowledge needed!

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars! This was so cute, I loved them both. Sawyer Bennett has been on my watch list for a while now - and she should be on yours too!


Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~




New Release from Sawyer Bennett

Opposites attract. Then they fall in love.

SEXY LIES AND ROCK & ROLL, the all new stand alone romantic comedy from Sawyer Bennett, is available now ----> http://sawyerbennett.com/bookstore/sexy-lies-and-rock-roll/


From New York Times Bestselling author, Sawyer Bennett, comes a SEXY new stand alone romance…

When you’re a rock god, fame and fortune are your two best friends, but they can be fickle bitches. Everyone wants a piece of me and I have no clue how to deal with it all. I’m being sued, pressured to sign contracts, and fending off rabid women who want to steal my virtue.
Well, not that I really have any virtue, but still… my life has turned completely bat-shit crazy.
That’s why I need Emma Peterson. She got me out of a bit of a jam once, and I know she can do it again. The only problem is that sweet, prim and totally straight-laced Emma doesn’t want anything to do with me. Not professionally, and certainly not personally. 
It’s not that I want her in that way. Let’s be realistic… it would take a crow bar of epic proportions to get her to spread those legs for me.
No, I only want her legal expertise and for her to make sense of my crazy world. It’s a good thing I have just the leverage to make her do my bidding, because her refusal is not an option.

*Sexy Lies and Rock & Roll is a hot, romantic comedy stand alone.

 Sexy Lies and Rock & Roll:
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2ecbsnW


 Disclaimer: I received a copy in exchange for review.