Wednesday 1 July 2015

Spotlight: Sweet The Sin by Claire Kent


Sweet the Sin
Revenge Saga # 1
By: Claire Kent
Releasing July 7, 2015
Loveswept



Sweet The Sin

Revenge Saga Series



In the first novel in USA Today bestselling author Claire Kent’s deeply sensual story of love, lust, and deception, a woman searching for the truth discovers that she’s sleeping with the enemy.

Portrait artist Kelly Watson keeps her relationships simple and steamy, with no strings attached. She’s had a hard time trusting other people since she was a child, when her father was murdered for trying to blow the whistle on corporate corruption. Nearly twenty years later, Kelly finds herself in the arms of a seductive stranger—the very same man who may have ordered her father’s death. And even as she plays him, using hot sex as a means to revenge, Kelly is tormented by one question: Is she committing the ultimate betrayal?

Caleb Marshall has spent decades forging a high-powered career, rejecting intimacy for the convenience of fast women and cheap thrills. But Kelly intrigues him, pushing commitment buttons he didn’t know he had. Still, something is wrong. Despite their physical and emotional chemistry, Caleb feels the fear inside of her. Now the only way to keep her safe is coming clean, before secrets and lies destroy their connection—no matter how deep, intense, and addictive it may be.

Pet portraits?” the man asked skeptically, with that same smug laughter in his eyes.
“Whats your point?”
“Nothing. Youre just that type, arent you?”
“What type?”
“Pet portrait artist. At one with the universe. Lover of flowers and trees and all furry creatures. Filling the world with pretty objects and warm fuzzies. I bet they call you Blossom, dont they?” His tone was bone dry, as if far above such sentiment.
He probably was. She could tell even from their brief interaction that he was too intelligent, too experienced, too competent to have patience with anything trite or saccharine.
She liked that about him. Despite her intentionally bohemian appearance just now, she was as far as possible from those feelings herself.
“You dont know me at all,” she said, pleased at the cool aloofness of her tone.
It just made him smile. When his dog lay down with the Frisbee, panting blissfully, the man started walking toward him, evidently expecting Kelly to fall in step with him. “I know a little about you. I know you paint pet portraits. I know youre wearing vegan sandals and are reluctant to cut your hair. And I know you have on your bracelet various charms of dogs, cats, birds, and flowers.” He arched his eyebrows. “I think Ive got a pretty clear sense of you.”
The bracelet was stupid, but her clients always liked it, and her hair was indeed very long, hanging down to the small of her back. But this arrogant man couldn’t be more wrong.
He might be eerily observant, but he knew nothing.
“Is that right?” she replied, giving him arched eyebrows in response. “You might be surprised about me. But theres no way Id be surprised about you. Id know your type in my sleep.”
“Blossom, you could know my type in your sleep, if you asked nicely.”
She felt another tingle of excitement at the sexiness of his tone but ignored it. “You wear a suit to work every day, dont you?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Nothing. Its just your type. Youre one of those guys who wears a business suit like armor—going through the world as if the nameplate on your office entitles you to whatever you want. As if your bank account makes you superior.”
The words werent particularly gentle, but he looked interested rather than offended. “What makes you think I have anything impressive in my bank account?”
“Please. I know roughly how much that watch youre wearing costs.”
Because of the Watsons, her adoptive parents, Kelly was in good shape financially, but she didnt own anything except her car that cost as much as the watch he was wearing.
“And I bet youre wondering why would I spend money on something so superficial when I could be donating it to all the homeless animals in the world?” Again, he was teasing in that intimate way, as if he really did know her.
“Im not like that,” she told him, speaking only the truth.
“Sure you arent.” He flashed her a grin. “What happened to your client, anyway?”
Kelly had actually forgotten about her client, so absorbed in the conversation had she been. She gave a little jerk and turned back to scan the park, focusing on the entrance, but there was no sign of another man with a German shepherd. “I think Ive been stood up. It happens sometimes.”
Just then, her phone chirped with another text, so she reached in to pull it out of her bag. “Maybe thats him.”
When she focused on the screen, she realized it wasnt her client. Are you sure? I’d make it worth your while. Promise.
She sighed. Jesse. Why the hell wouldn’t he just give up?
Not your client,” the man beside her said.
She glanced up. “How do you know?”
“Im pretty good at reading expressions. Who is it? Your boyfriend being annoying?”
He was actually quite close. Impressive, given that they were strangers. “No. Just a guy who wont take no for an answer.”
“He has my sympathy.”
She sucked in a breath. “Why should he have your sympathy?”
He had that smug, heated amusement in his eyes again. “To get a taste of a hot little thing like you—and then get the door slammed in his face? Cant help but feel sorry for him.”
“I didnt slam the door in his face. I was nothing but honest with him. He’s the idiot who ignored what I told him and keeps bumbling on toward something he already knows he cant have.”
The man chuckled and reached out to run his fingers gently down a long strand of her hair. “It doesnt matter what you tell him, blossom. Youve got this gorgeous, untouched sweetness about you. Its like a promise and a challenge.”
Her whole body went hot at the texture of his words, at the tension and power she could feel in his hand, his shoulders, his gaze.
She knew what he was referring to. Shed been born with clear creamy skin, pink cheeks, big blue eyes, and a heart-shaped face that gave the impression of innocence. There was no way she could dress that would change her natural look, even though shed desperately tried when she was younger.
“Dont assume the way I look is the way I really am,” she said, her pulse starting to throb in her wrists and her throat. She knew how to recognize the look in this guys eyes.
He wanted her.
And despite his smug superiority—or maybe because of it—she wanted him too.



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Claire Kent has been writing romance novels since she was twelve years old. She has a PhD in British literature and, when she’s not writing, teaches English at the university level. She also writes contemporary romance under the pen name Noelle Adams.

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New Release & Review: Saved By An Angel by Roberta Capizzi



Title: Saved By An Angel
Series: Angel #2
Author: Roberta Capizzi 
Genre: Contemporary Romance
 Release Date: July 1, 2015



Soul mates always find each other . . .

For twenty-four years, Claire Neeson has been invisible. Ever the nerdy type, boys never spared her a second glance, and the one time one did, she ended up bruised and heartbroken.

After the last member of her family leaves her, she hopes a new life in Galway with her former college roommate might be the fresh start she needs. Falling in love isn’t her plan, especially now that she’s busy building a new life for herself.

That’s when she meets him.

David O’Hagan is haunted by nightmares. After losing his older brother in a car accident more than a year ago, he has been trying to go back to his old life, hiding his grief behind a mask nobody can see through. He thinks he’s getting by just fine. He thinks he’s happy with his life, his job, and his girlfriend.

That’s when he meets her.

When their worlds collide, David and Claire feel something spark but one minute is all they have before they go their separate ways. They never expected to meet again after that serendipitous encounter, but fate has its own plan . . .

Sometimes true love can heal the deepest scars. If you believe.

***Saved By An Angel is book 2 in the Angel series. It can be read as a standalone or after reading Hugged By An Angel.***



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This is a book that took me by surprise - “Could love at first sight really exist, then?”

Despite having beautiful red curly hair, Claire Neeson has always considered herself invisible to other people. Instead of trying to make herself visible, she's always preferred to stay in the background, away from attention and within her comfort zone. The loss of her mother prompts Claire to move back to Galway, where she plans to share a house with her former college roommate. Making a fresh start in a place she knows; finding love isn't part of her plans to re-build her life. However a chance meeting and a twist of fate change the course of Claire's life.

Tragedy struck David O'Hagan's live and he's still coming to terms with his loss. As the now older sibling, he's the one who's had to be strong and supportive to his family, whilst never finding closure himself. He believes his recurring nightmares are trying to tell him something...but what? Little does he know that a stunning redhead will solve the mystery of his nightmares and lead him to happiness he never dreamed existed.

Claire and David's attraction to one another is instant, but this is certainly not an inst a-love story. Their chemistry is palpable and both protagonists are relatable and likable. Neither can act on their feelings immediately as there is too much emotional baggage between them as well as the obstacles placed in the way by a jealous admirer. Hello, slow burn romance!
Supporting characters like Claire's friend Ciara and David's sisters Kathy and Maggie lighten the dialogue with their friendly banter, adding to a truly beautiful story to immerse yourself into.

This second book in the Angel series will touch your heart and even make you shed a tear or two like myself. There is an overwhelming feeling of hope and inspiration as the plot unfolds. Whilst some like myself may be cynical towards guardian angels, I wholeheartedly understand that many find great comfort from finding inner eternal peace from phenomenon that can't always be explained. Saved By An Angel is well written although a bit overly descriptive at times for me, but not enough to cause any page skimming. I read this as a standalone and is the first but definitely not the last novel I will read by this author.

3.5 Stars

***arc generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review***


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SMASHWORDS



We reached our house minutes later, and as I opened the door Robbie came barking down the corridor.
I hope you’re not afraid of dogs.” I’d forgotten to mention Robbie while we were walking home, but I doubted a grown man could be afraid of a tiny little thing like Robbie.
That looks more like one of those battery-operated toys for kids.”
I laughed, and he picked up Robbie from the floor, earning a lick on his cheek. “Thanks, buddy. I really needed some love.”
Take a seat in the living room. I’ll be right back.”
When I walked back with antiseptic wipes, Band-Aids and a bag of frozen peas, he was sitting on the couch, Robbie sprawled on his lap as David scratched his belly.
Apparently we don’t have an ice bag,” I said, as I handed him the bag of frozen peas. The bleeding had stopped but he was now sporting a shiner which would surely look a lot worse in the morning.
David smiled as he took the bag, placed it on his left eye and winced. Robbie whined almost empathically, which under other circumstances would have made me laugh. Seeing David’s discomfort now only made me feel guilty for being the cause of it.
I’m so sorry,” I said, as I sat next to him on the couch, careful to leave enough distance between us so that no limbs were touching, but still close enough to dress his wound. “I don’t know how I can apologize for what happened.”
He shrugged. “It’s not you who punched me.”
I know but . . . it’s my fault that you got punched in the first place, and I’m really, truly sorry.”
He gave me a crooked smile that made my legs turn to jelly. Good thing I was already seated or I would’ve made a fool of myself, crumbling to the floor. I concentrated on cleaning the cut with the antiseptic wipe, careful not to lock eyes with him.
It’s not your fault, Claire. The guy’s a gobshite and I couldn’t stand to see him hurting you. When he said those things, I just . . . I lost it completely.”
He flexed his fingers, and I saw him trying to hide a wince but failing miserably. I hated to see him in pain, knowing it was because of me. As he removed the packet of peas from his eye for a moment and placed it on his hand, I could see the skin above his cheekbone had already started turning purple.
You’re going to have a black eye.” I felt so awful I wanted to fling myself at him and cry in his arms. The thought made me want to slap myself; after what I’d been through tonight I should feel shaken and scared of all men in general, but all I could think of was how much I wanted David to hold me. Seeing him stand up for me, when nobody ever had, only made me like him more. I was walking in a minefield, and sooner or later a bomb would blast right in my face, I was sure.
David shrugged, then gave me a cheeky grin. “My students are going to think I’m cool. I’ll be the cool, kickass professor.”
I laughed, as I placed the Band-Aid on the cut. “I doubt your colleagues will share the feeling. They’ll think you’re a troublemaker.”
He shrugged again, and stared at me. “I look cool, though, don’t I? The bad-boy kind of cool, like Johnny Depp.”
He quirked an eyebrow, and I wanted to melt right there. He was way more handsome than Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt and Hugh Jackman put together, but I obviously couldn’t say that. After all the bad memories that had come back to kick my butt tonight, how could I still have fantasies over a man? A man who had a girlfriend, for heaven’s sake—a girlfriend who’d probably dig my eyes out with her perfectly manicured nails when she found out why he had a black eye.  
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An avid reader since her childhood years and being an only child, Roberta always enjoyed the company of her fictional friends from the children’s books she loved reading, while she dreamed of writing her own stories one day.


It was when she discovered novels by authors Rosamunde Pilcher and Maeve Binchy in her teenage years that she realized it was time she put down in words the stories she had kept well hidden in her mind until then.

What started as a hobby, soon turned into a real passion and a way of life, until she could no longer keep the stories to herself, and decided to get over her fears and share them with the world.

Roberta lives in Italy, but her dream is to move out of her country and live either in a thatched cottage in the Irish countryside or in a country house with a swing on the back porch, somewhere in the United States, where she would love to spend her days writing novels as a full-time job, and maybe one day even get as far as writing a screenplay for a movie.

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