Wednesday 31 December 2014

Blog Stop: Dangerous by Patricia Rosemoor


Dangerous
By: Patricia Rosemoor
Releasing January 6th, 2015
Loveswept




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Fans of Linda Howard will love Dangerous, the story of a driven female cop who teams up with an irresistible ex-con to bring a killer to justice—and discovers that breaking the rules is hotter on the wrong side of the law.
Chicago homicide detective Camille Martell will stop at nothing to track down “Angel,” a sexual predator who has already butchered two young victims—even after her off-the-books investigation leads to her suspension. But when her relentless attempts to contact Angel online puts her teenage neighbor in mortal danger, Camille’s worst fears are realized. Panicked and overwhelmed with guilt, Camille needs help—even if it comes from the one man she swore she’d do anything to forget.
After serving time for a trumped-up charge, private investigator Drago Nance doesn’t trust cops. Nothing will change that, not even the steamy weekend with Camille that burned itself into his memory. But with an innocent girl’s life at stake, Drago can’t ignore the need in Camille’s eyes, or the heated promise in her touch. He agrees to help—if she’s willing to play by his rules. He just never suspected that seducing his partner could be just as thrilling as chasing a madman.


But what made her hold her breath was the IM block at the bottom of the screen. Angel had tried contacting her—rather Morrigan. Sandy must have been checking her email when the IM came in.

Camille focused on the last exchange. Sandy asking where Angel wanted to meet her . . . Angel saying the coffee stand at the new Riverfront Shopping Center at five thirty . . . Sandy saying she would be there.

What the hell!

Camille sat stunned for a moment, not believing her eyes. Her heart drummed so fast the beat filled her ears.

She should have been the one who’d seen the instant message from Angel, not Sandy. And Sandy was fourteen years old—what was she doing agreeing to meet a man she didn’t know?

Rather Morrigan, her own alter ego, had accepted.

Angel thought he was meeting her . . .

And Sandy would have known that!

Horrified, Camille flew from the chair and grabbed her keys. No time to call the kid’s mom. She raced to the door. Max beat her there.

Sorry, boy.”

She ruffled his fur and blocked him from going outside as she turned and left. It was nearly five thirty now.

Camille pulled away from the curb turning on her flashing headlights and siren so other drivers would pull their vehicles to the side. Her gut clenched and her throat closed. She had to get there on time. Had to! Her hands were trembling uncontrollably, so she gripped the steering wheel tighter, slowing only at intersections long enough to make sure they were clear.

Throughout the drive, Camille tried not to panic. She could feel the adrenaline rushing through her—her breathing was erratic. All she could think about was that a girl’s life was at stake.

Her fault . . . all her fault . . .

Focus!

Panic would render her useless, and Sandy would suffer for it. Why hadn’t she locked her computer so the girl couldn’t access it? Had Sandy used her computer before and Camille just hadn’t realized it? Lord knows what else she may have seen. Camille often sent herself notes from the office about her cases so she could review them as needed.

She should have talked to the girl, gotten to know her better, but getting close to people was something Camille avoided. In her world, she skirted personal relationships and focused on understanding criminals and how they worked so she could track them down, arrest them, and get them off the street. Relationships were for other people. Camille was her job.

Arriving at the shopping center in record time, she parked curbside and raced to the upper-level entrance where she’d have the best view. Once in the center of the mall, she ran to the rail and scanned the lower level. Chest tight now and barely breathing, she searched for a familiar blond ponytail around the coffee stand. No Sandy.

Her fault . . . all her fault . . .

Swallowing hard, she raced to the down escalator, her gaze skipping from one part of the mall to the next. No Sandy. No man who appeared to be a predator, though how would she know? They came in all shapes and sizes. She could be staring straight at him now and not recognize him.

At the coffee stand, she pulled out her star and flashed it at the wiry teenager behind the counter. “Detective Camille Martell. How long have you been working this afternoon?”

Um, I didn’t do nothin’ wrong.”

I’m not accusing you. I’m just looking for someone who might be in trouble . . .” She glanced at his name tag. “. . . Keshawn. How long?”

A-after school. Four.”

The kid could be a witness, then. Angel’s message had instructed her to be here at five-thirty. It was now a little before six.

Do you remember serving a girl with long blond hair?” She was looking around again, hopeful that she could still spot Sandy. “Always wears it in a ponytail. A fresh-faced fourteen-year-old.”

Lotsa kids hang out here.”

Indeed, three girls occupied a nearby table.

She stared hard into the kid’s deep brown eyes filled with suspicion, no doubt because she was a cop. “Think hard, Keshawn. This is really important. Pretty. Blue eyes. Blond ponytail. Maybe a half hour ago. She was probably alone to start, but she was meeting someone. Not a boy. A man.”

His dark face pulled into a frown. “A man? Yeah, maybe I saw her. I thought it was kind of weird, ’cause the guy was way old for her, but she got all blushy and giggly. She was sittin’ with her coffee over there . . .” He pointed to an empty table. “Then the man got up from where he’d been over there . . .” He pointed in the other direction. “. . . and joined her.”

What did he look like?”

Longish blond hair. Kinda curly. Okay lookin’, I guess, for a white guy. He was tall and kinda built, like he works out.”

Her stomach knotted. “How long ago did they leave?”

Five . . . ten minutes, maybe.” He indicated the closest exit, making Camille’s stomach free fall. “Looked like they were goin’ to the parking lot, but I got busy with a customer.”

I’m calling this in.” She pulled out her cell phone and walked backward toward that parking lot. “You don’t leave, Keshawn. Another officer will be here shortly to talk to you. You may just have saved a girl’s life. Thank you.”

With that, she whipped around and connected to Dispatch and gave them her ID. “We may have another victim in the Chat Room Predator Case. The suspect may have taken a fourteen-year-old girl out of the Riverfront Shopping Center. I need uniforms and crime scene investigators here as soon as possible to follow up.”

Someone official needed to talk to Keshawn and to get prints from that table. Too much to hope for DNA.

Heading out the door, she quickly scanned the parking lot. No Sandy. What had she expected? Certainly not for a levelheaded girl to leave with a man she’d just met.


The thought slammed her with a memory she would rather forget. How she’d instantly fallen for Drago Nance. How she’d left the bar with him after one drink.



With 90 novels and more than seven million books in print, Patricia Rosemoor is fascinated with "dangerous love" – combining romance with danger. She has written various forms of romantic and paranormal romantic thrillers, even romantic horror, bringing a different mix of thrills and chills to her stories.
Patricia has won a Golden Heart from Romance Writers of America and two Reviewers Choice and two Career Achievement Awards from RT BOOKreviews, and in her other life, she teaches Popular Fiction and Suspense-Thriller Writing, credit courses at Columbia College Chicago. Three of her Columbia grad students and two students from other venues are now published in novel-length fiction


Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
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Tuesday 30 December 2014

Review: In His Shadow by Tiffany Snow


Title - In His Shadow
Author - by Tiffany Snow
Genre - Romantic Suspense
Publisher - Montlake Romance




Ivy Mason is hiding—from her past, from herself, and from anyone who could love her. The only kind of love she’s ever known hurts, leaving scars on her body and soul. Now, her world may be boring and predictable, but that’s exactly what she wants. Until Devon Clay walks into her life.

A lonely man in a deadly profession, Devon works as an agent for an underground British agency known only as the Shadow. Nothing about him is safe or ordinary. The danger that consumes his life turns into an addiction Ivy can’t resist...even if it proves fatal.

As Ivy’s past begins to catch up with her, she wonders if love really is the twisted thing she’s always thought it was. Maybe it could be more with this man, who’s shown her that she doesn’t need to protect herself from everyone. Is what she feels for Devon worth the risk? He may save her heart or break it, if she manages to stay alive.





My overall impression of this first book in the new Tangled Ivy Trilogy is it's going to get better. For me, In His Shadow was a slow start, setting the scene for the following books and lacked the “wow factor.”

As an victim of abuse, Ivy has built a wall around her life to protect herself. Her best friend Logan introduces her to suitable guys to date, but she prefers to remain single and unattached. She's living her life as she sees fit and enjoys a lifestyle comparable with young women her age, whilst hanging out with friends that she trusts and make her feel safe. So with this in mind, I didn't comprehend why Ivy was attracted to Devon; the mysterious customer from the bank she works at.

Devon Clay is an enigmatic guy, who plays his cards close to his chest. He has an eye for the ladies' but only long enough to satisfy his needs. He is a man of few words, at least in the beginning, so I didn't feel any chemistry between him and Ivy. For me, actions didn't speak louder than words on this occasion. Towards the end, Devon begins to open up more about his feelings, so only then did I see a glimpse of mutual attraction.

I find both Ivy and Devon confusing characters to relate to. Some of Ivy's decisions, including her attraction to Devon are seriously questionable, which I can only attribute to the abuse she suffered. Devon's identity to me is confusing because he speaks with a “cultured British accent” (??) but his preferred term of endearment is “luv” which is a contradiction to me.
The author likes her protagonists to carry firearms, so you know people are going to be shot at and fatally wounded along the way. These darker elements presented were not to my personal taste, so I skimmed those pages along with the sex scenes which did little to convince me of Ivy and Devon's attraction to one another.

Towards the end of the book, the plot picks up pace and we finally begin to see the brilliance of Ms Snow's writing, hopefully a launch pad for better things to come in books two and three. I particularly like looking for easter eggs within the author's books and whilst I'm not completely sold on this first book in The Tangled Ivy Trilogy, I firmly believe what will follow will be worth taking the time to reading.

3 Stars

***arc received courtesy of Montlake Romance via NetGalley***








Monday 29 December 2014

Release Day: A Necessary Sin by Georgia Cates


A Necessary Sin- Book 1 of The Sin Trilogy – Release Date: Dec 29
Bleu MacAllister is consumed. A horrific childhood incident has caused every decision in her life to revolve around bringing a monster to justice. With years spent studying The Fellowship, an organized crime brotherhood of liars, thieves, and killers, Bleu will rely on her skills as a special agent to cut Thane Breckenridge off at the knees. But walking hand in hand with retribution means risking collateral damage, in the form of Breckenridge’s son Sinclair—until Sin becomes so much more than Bleu bargained for. She’s always known this undertaking would place her life in danger—she never imagined her heart would be as well.

The Next Sin – Release Date – Feb 9th, 2015

One Last Sin – Release Date – March 23, 2015


Sinclair Breckenridge’s POV:
I’m in the business of boundaries and limits. I’m aware of what mine are and how far I’m willing to go to get my job accomplished. It can include lying and sometimes stealing.” I wait a moment for driving the last nail into the coffin. “And perhaps the occasional killing.”
How do you feel when you do those things?”
Powerful.” I purposely choose that word because it’s the one she used to describe how she felt when she brought Duff to his knees. I want her to see just how similar we are.
She watches out the window for a minute before speaking again. “Do you like the way it feels?”
I can’t lie. I get a high from it. “Very much.”
Another minute passes. “Okay.”
What? “Just … okay?”
Would you like me to be horrified?” she asks. “I can do that if it would make you feel better or improve your opinion of me.”
She’s no fucking Pollyanna. So I guess there’s no reason for her to pretend to be. “No. Okay works for me.”
I’m not sure if I should be disturbed by her lack of appall. It feels like a double standard to be shocked by an absence of dismay.
My God, has the pot met the kettle? “I wish I could get inside your head.”
No, you don’t,” she says. “My mind is a dark place to be.”

I think I may have met the perfect woman. In her eyes, I’m not a monster at all.




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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Georgia resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent fourteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author and hasn’t looked back yet.

When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. When she’s being domestic, she’s listening to her iPod and visualizing scenes for her current work in progress. Every story coming from her always has a song to inspire it.

Representation: All questions regarding subsidiary rights for any of my books, inquiries regarding foreign translation and film rights should be directed to Jane Dystel of Dystel & Goderich.


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Release Day: Talk Dirty To Me, Cowboy by Jodi Linton


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TALK DIRTY TO ME, COWBOY!




She takes her cowboys tall, tattooed, and tempting as hell...

Texas Ranger Gunner Wilson is sittin’ in a bar, all six-foot-five-inches of long, hard cowboy. Waitin’. Watchin’. Bidin’ his time for Laney Briggs and her hot little behind to saddle up and make his night. His girl. Hell, after all these years, he knows exactly how to drive her crazy with need...for him.

And Laney is ready to play. Tonight is their new beginning, and she has on her red cowboy boots—the ones that make Gunner wild. She knows that she’s only a few tequilas away from being pressed up against his firm, demanding bod. At his wicked mercy. But tonight, Gunner has something he wants. Needs. Even if it means that Laney will be the one in complete control...


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Growing up in a small Texas town didn't have many perks, but it allowed for some colorful writing material. After settling down with her family in central Texas, Jodi found her passion: writing kick-ass, southern contemporary romance stories. Today she can be found cozied up to the computer escaping into a quirky world of tall tales, sexy, tight jean wearing cowboys, and a protagonist with a sharp-tongue quick enough to hang any man out to dry.


Find Jodi Here


The Deputy Laney Briggs Series


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Friday 26 December 2014

Blog Stop with Excerpt: Want It by Jennifer Chance


Want It
Rule Breakers # 3
By: Jennifer Chance
Releasing December 9th, 2014
Loveswept




In the latest tantalizing Rule Breakers novel from Jennifer Chance, an irresistible alpha male follows his ex into a deadly standoff—and reignites a heated affair.
For Erin Connelly, being a good girl isn’t such a bad thing. She’s working her dream job at a Boston art gallery and staying out of trouble, which is more than she can say for her deadbeat mom. Unfortunately, her mother’s latest misadventure lands her in the clutches of a Mexican drug lord. Now the only person who can save her is the one man Erin has no business asking for help: the sexy-as-sin army ranger who just so happens to be her former high school sweetheart.
Zander James is no gentleman—and no officer, either, thanks to Erin. Four years ago, she made a call that terminated his highest aspirations . . . and their relationship. He’s never forgiven her, but when he learns that Erin’s embarking on a half-baked rescue mission, he sure as hell can’t let her go alone. Now, with a treacherous enemy lying in wait, the electrifying tension between them may just be Zander’s undoing. Because while he may be able to keep Erin alive, he can’t promise to keep his hands off her.

You can do this.

Erin’s heart was already slamming against her ribcage when she reached Zander’s brothers, murmuring her prepared words—“I’m sorry for your loss. He was a good man.”—as she moved quickly past them. Even if they remembered her, they had that glazed-over look that indicated they’d already seen way too many people today, and she was simply another face in the crowd. Not too surprising. The brothers had both been in their late twenties when she’d known Zander, and deployed for most of that time. His sister, Karen, recognized her immediately, however. She was only six years older than Zander. It had seemed like an impossible age difference four years ago, but now, not so much. And as Karen turned to see Erin approach, her gaze flashed with open curiosity. “Erin,” she said, nodding. Her manner seemed cool, though, perfunctory, and Erin rushed into the exact explanation she’d just convinced herself she didn’t need to give.

I’m so sorry, Karen,” she said, drawing on every ounce of serene, professional distance she’d learned from putting her own work up to scrutiny week after week in art school. “Your mom let me know about the funeral. I—”

No, no—thank you for being here, of course.” Karen didn’t cut her off as much as give her an out, but Erin shut up anyway. Wow, this was maybe the dumbest idea ever. Zander wasn’t going to help her. Zander probably never wanted to see her again. No one in his family did. It was only what she deserved.

She wondered if he ever thought about her anymore. If he still blamed her for everything that had happened that last summer. Not that he shouldn’t, of course. But still, Zander hadn’t known all that she’d been dealing with back then, hadn’t known what his crazy, out-of-control antics were costing her every time she saw him put himself in danger—put others in danger. Back then, no one knew how much of a train wreck her life really was.


She still didn’t want anyone to know.


Link to Follow Tour: Here

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Jennifer Chance is the award-winning author of the new adult Rule Breakers series. A lover of books, romance, and happily-ever-afters, she lives and writes in Ohio

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Wednesday 24 December 2014

Blog Stop & Review: Seducing The Princess by Diane Alberts



SEDUCING THE PRINCESS 
by Diane Alberts




A sexy category romance from Entangled's Brazen imprint...

He'll give her exactly what she needs…

Protecting a princess is not what former marine Gordon Waybrook signed up for when he joined the Shillings Agency. But instead of the spoiled, regal little creature he expects, Isabelle VanGuard is a fiery, sexy-as hell woman who's been denied what she needs for too long. And he's just the man to break through her frozen public facade and give it to her.

When she's with Gordon, all Isabelle can think about is pleasure. Their blistering chemistry is immediate and intense, but volatile. In fact, the only thing they agree on is that their one night together is just that—one night. Even after it becomes more. But tempers and temptation can't disguise reality. Isabelle is a princess, and a hot, hard, and tattooed bodyguard isn't the Prince Charming her country expects…even if he's exactly what she needs.





I dived into Seducing the Princess not knowing what to expect. Is it a modern day fairytale?

I enjoyed the book for what it is; a piece of escapism. It's an entertaining story that takes you away from the realities of real life for a few hours.

I'm immediately drawn to the very likable Gordon Waybrook, ex-Marine now security agent working for The Schilling Agency. He's a tough, good looking and sexy guy but underneath his tattooed skin, he's rehabilitating after active service and nightmares are still a frequent occurrence. His new assignment is to keep a visiting spoilt, foreign princess safe during a private visit to US.

Isabelle Van Guard is a feisty, beautiful young woman; a princess from Maldeva who's in Maine to meet up with a prince from the kingdom of Linton. The meet-up is a formality before an engagement between these young royals is announced. Isabelle is torn between duty for her country; after all she'll be a queen one day, and wanting to follow her heart.

There is an instant attraction between Gordon and Isabelle and despite all the hurdles I was routing for them as a couple. Lines between them become blurred as both protagonists want to act and behave like a normal couple, but too quickly they are reminded that culturally they are not on the same page. Or are they? Evidence of their illicit liaison comes to light which causes a scandal. How they both react and respond to this news is a surprise to both of them.

I've read this as a standalone and am intrigued to read more about the guys of The schilling Agency. Overall I liked this book but after repeatedly told and reminded that Isabelle is a princess and royal protocol it got rather tiresome. On a final note, Prince William and not Prince Harry married Kate Middleton ;-)

3½ stars.
***arc received in exchange for an honest review***







Diane Alberts is a multi-published, bestselling contemporary romance author with Entangled Publishing. She also writes New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling new adult books under the name Jen McLaughlin. She’s hit the Top 100 lists on Amazon and Barnes and Noble numerous times with numerous titles. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. Diane is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency. 
Diane has always been a dreamer with a vivid imagination, but it wasn’t until 2011 that she put her pen where her brain was, and became a published author.  Since receiving her first contract offer, she has yet to stop writing. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, and a cat. Her goal is to write so many fantastic stories that even a non-romance reader will know her name.
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