Review: Romancing Lorelei by June Stevens

Title: Romancing Lorelei (Oak Hallow #2)

Author: June Stevens

Publisher: Classy Scribe Publications

Page Count: 96

Genre: Romance/Contemporary

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I received this book from the author in exchange  for an honest review.

 

Blurb:

She doesn't believe in love...He fell in love at first sight. 

The moment he laid eyes on her, Kaden McAllister knew there was something special about Lorelei. After spending one incredible night with her, he knew he wanted her in his life. But the next morning she was gone, without even giving him her last name. When he finally finds her can he convince her there can be much more between them than sex? 

Lorelei Graham isn't interested in falling in love with anyone, ever. Yet, she can't deny that something deeper lurks beneath the intense sexual attraction that sizzles between her and Kaden, She agrees to get to know him, but can she put her past behind her and open herself up to the possibilities of love?

 

My Review

When I started reading Romancing Lorelei, I was worried that it would be one of those romances. You know, the ones where they fall in love immediately, but I was pleasantly surprised. You get to watch Lorelei and Kaden fall in love over time.

I loved that the author took the time to develop the characters, even though it is a novella. You are able to really get to know them and you don't get that rushed feeling.

This is the second book in the series but it is a standalone. I like the fact that I can read this one and not feel as if I have to read the first book too.

Kaden is a great character and such a gentleman. At many times his character could have went a different way. He stuck to his gentlemanly charms and that's why we love him. =)

Favorite Quote:

" I can live without you. But I don't want to. If the day comes where there is no other choice than to go on each day without you it, then I will do it. But until that day comes, I will fight with every fiber of my being to keep you by my side."


I did wish that there was more from Kaden's mom, Tildy. She seems like she would be a great character. I wish she had more story time.

Overall the story was great. It is a fast read but one that is worth the time. It was full of romance and will leave you swooning. I recommend this read to any romance lover. =)

 

Purchase Links

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | All Romance eBooks | Smashwords | Manic Readers

Author Links:

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

Review: Climbing Out by Lila Rose

Title: Climbing Out (Hawks Motorcycle Club #2)

Author: Lila Rose

Publisher: Lila Rose

Page Count: 197

Genre: Romance/Erotica

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

Blurb:

Deanna Drake has a past she longs to forget, but won't ever be able to. She's always been the tough one. No one, but her best friend Zara has ever been able to penetrate her cold, hard, shell.

Until Griz

Griz— a.k.a Grady Daniels, Hawks Motorcycle Club second in command, also has a past that he wishes he could undo...all except one part. 

It's her past that brings them together. Only will it be forever?

 

My Review:

What I loved about Climbing Out:
Deanna's vulnerability is shown in this book. In Holding Out, she was shown as this tough take no gruff woman. Now we see that she is just human.
We learn more about Griz and his life outside of the MC.
The author doesn't have Deanna and Griz professing their love for one another early in the book. I appreciate that. Most authors rush to have the characters fall in love rather than get to know each other.
Julian has to be the best character. I love him. He is always hitting on the bikers just for the help of it. He reminds me of Sway from Harper Sloan's Corps series.

What I didn't love:
I felt it was another book where it reached a certain point and then the story is rushed through. There is mention of Jason briefly throughout and then bam. He is seen then gone as quickly as he came. I had hoped for more to that part of the story.

Overall I have to say I still loved the book. I have looked forward to Griz and Deanna's story since the beginning. I look forward to the next book from the author. A definite recommend read. Should only be read by adults 18+ due to HOT and STEAMY sex scenes. ;)

 

Purchase Links

Amazon | Amazon UK  | Kobo

Cover Reveal: The Raven by Sylvain Reynard

The Raven 

by Sylvain Reynard

 

Blurb: 

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Gabriel Series comes a dark, sensual tale of romance in a city shrouded in mystery…

Raven Wood spends her days at Florence’s Uffizi Gallery restoring fine works of Renaissance art. But an innocent walk home after an evening with friends changes her life forever. When she intervenes in the senseless beating of a homeless man, his attackers turn on her, dragging her into an alley. Raven is only semi-conscious when their assault is interrupted by a cacophony of growls followed by her attacker’s screams. Mercifully, she blacks out, but not before catching a glimpse of a shadowy figure who whispers to her…

Cassita vulneratus.

When Raven awakes, she is inexplicably changed. She returns to the Uffizi, but no one recognizes her and more disturbingly, she discovers that she’s been absent an entire week. With no recollection of the events leading up to her disappearance, Raven also learns that her absence coincides with one of the largest robberies in Uffizi history – the theft of a set of priceless Botticelli illustrations. When the baffled police force identifies her as its prime suspect, Raven is desperate to clear her name. She seeks out one of Florence’s wealthiest and elusive men in an attempt to uncover the truth about her disappearance. Their encounter leads Raven to a dark underworld whose inhabitants kill to keep their secrets…

Release Date:

Early 2015

About the Author

I'm interested in the way literature can help us explore aspects of the human condition - particularly suffering, sex, love, faith, and redemption. My favourite stories are those in which a character takes a journey, either a physical journey to a new and exciting place, or a personal journey in which he or she learns something about himself/herself.

I'm also interested in how aesthetic elements such as art, architecture, and music can be used to tell a story or to illuminate the traits of a particular character. In my writing, I combine all of these elements with the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the transformative power of goodness.

I try to use my platform as an author to raise awareness about the following charities: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation, WorldVision, Alex's Lemonade Stand, and Covenant House. For more information, see my Twitter account.

You can find Sylvain at

         

 

Review: Dragon's Lair by Chantal Fernando

Title: Dragon's Lair (Wind Dragons MC #1)

Author: Chantal Fernando

Publisher: Chantal Fernando

Page Count: 255

Genre: New Adult, Romance

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Blurb:

When I found my boyfriend cheating on me, I did something stupid.

Or should I say, someone?

Because of that mistake, I’m now stuck in a world I don’t belong in.

I’m a law student. They’re criminals.
He’s the Vice President of a MC. I’m a good girl with a strict upbringing. 

He’s my ex-boyfriend’s brother.
And I’m screwed.

My Review:

Dragon's Lair contains romance that will leave you panting. The connection between Dex and Faye is immediate. They try to fight it but love can not be denied.
Action is in place too. With an MC book it is almost expected. There is some violence but nothing graphic or gritty.
I loved the humor in the story too. It helps to lighten the mood. The author does well to break up the tension in the storyline with humor. Faye's demeanor with the other bikers is hilarious. Especially when she cleans their rooms. The fact that she watches Sons of Anarchy to get tips is funny. I would too, if I was seeing a biker.


My only thing  that I didn't like was that I wished the book was longer. At some points it felt rushed through. I wanted to get to know certain characters more, and I feel I didn't get a chance to.

Overall the book was an enjoyable read. I was able to sit down it get through it in a few hours. I look forward to her next book in the series. I'm sure it will be awesome. I definitely recommend this read for ages 18+.

Purchase Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Flame by Alicia Michaels

COVER REVEAL AND GIVEAWAY:

 FLAME by Alicia Michaels 

(Book #5 in The Bionics Series.) 

Release Date: June 27, 2014

Publisher: Crimson Tree Publishing

War has come to the United States. It’s been brewing for years as the government and Military Police wage war on the outcasts known as the Bionics. It’s spilling out into the streets as the militant Rejects continue to wage war against the ‘inferior’ humans, the M.P.s are raiding neighborhoods and putting Bionics to death, and I am fighting alongside the Resistance to save our kind from extinction. To top it all off, the president has now declared martial law, and the rights of American citizens are being stripped away one by one.

 

Together, with the vigilante known as The Patriot, and my Resistance family, I am prepared to fight the impossible fight, to stand up for what’s right. From a single spark, our little rebellion has grown into a revolution, a roaring fire that will envelop the nation. At the same time, things in my personal life are finally turning around. I’m in love with a beautiful girl who loves me back, and we might have a shot at a real future … unless the enemy manages to snatch away from me everything that I hold dear.

 

WIN THE BIONICS BOX SET (DIGITAL VERSION) and A SWAG PACK. (Bookmarks & Bracelet) 

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The Bionics Series by Alicia Michaels

The year is 4010. Nuclear war and the wasteful nature of humans have all but destroyed the United States. A new government regime rules the day with strict laws, rationed food, and careful control. When those injured in the nuclear blasts that rocked many of the nations largest cities are offered another chance by the Restoration Project, how could they refuse? Little do they know that the robotic additions to their body will paint targets on their backs once the government decides that they are dangerous. At the forefront of the resistance is a girl with a bionic eye, Blythe Sol, who wants nothing more than to be a normal girl. Blythe has yet to realize that normal will never exist again for her, or anyone else.

 

The Revolution has begun...

 

 

The Bionics (Book 1) 

FREE

(New Adult or YA Mature) 

 

Most nineteen year-old girls are thinking about college, stretching the wings of newfound adulthood, and boys. Well, I’ll probably never go to college and all my dreams of the future are gone. I’ve been an adult for much longer than I should have been and my girlhood was stolen the minute the North Koreans dropped their nukes over the United States. As for boys … well, that’s pretty much out of the question now, too. My love life is too messy to even talk about.

 

I have nothing.

 

Except, maybe, my cause, my mission, The Resistance. It is the hope I have to cling to, I am counting on it to pave the way to my future. As things heat up and the terrorist sect known as The Rejects make themselves known opponents of society in this war, the choice to be on the side of good is harder than ever. My friends are broken; Olivia is a shell of her former self and Jenica is barely hanging on. Dax and Gage … well, we’re not talking about my love life, remember? 

 

The Rejects, the government, President Drummond; they are pressing in on us from all sides and the weight is tremendous. Still, when given the choice to crumble or stand, I’d rather stand. Times are dark, but we are here, a rebellion, a whisper in the dark, a spark that lights the flames of change.

 

Titanium (Book 2) 

(New Adult or YA Mature) 

Secrets (Book 3) 

(New Adult or YA Mature) 

 

SPARK (Book 4) (New Adult or YA Mature)

 

About Alicia Michaels:

Ever since she first read books like Chronicles of Narnia or Goosebumps, Alicia has been a lover of mind-bending fiction. Wherever imagination takes her, she is more than happy to call that place her home. The mother of two and wife to an Army sergeant loves chocolate, coffee, and of course good books. When not writing, you can usually find her with her nose in a book, shopping for shoes and fabulous jewelry, or spending time with her loving family.

 

 

 

New Release from Crimson Tree Publishing: The Power to See by Jennifer Anne Davis

A CRIMSON TREE PUBLISHING NEW RELEASE-

THE POWER TO SEE by Jennifer Anne Davis

AVAILABLE NOW!

Save $2 when you buy your copy today! Price: $4.99 / Early Bird Sale: $2.99

  

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWGHo60klaE]

THE POWER TO SEE BY JENNIFER ANNE DAVISPublisher: Crimson Tree Publishing Content Rating: Mature Content (Rated YAm with 5's in all categories.) 

At first glance, twenty-two-year-old Brianna’s life seems perfect. But she harbors a deadly secret—her father is the leader of a ruthless drug cartel. Brianna struggles to find her place in a world her father meticulously controls, and believes she is nothing but a pawn in her father’s deadly games. 

 

After graduating from college with an enormous debt, Dominic finds himself lured by money and power into a job that appears too good to be true. He doesn’t realize he works for a drug cartel until he’s in too deep. Trying to keep his family safe, he takes a deal offered by Brianna’s father and agrees to marry Brianna while continuing to work for the cartel. 

 

Brianna and Dominic must rely on one another as their lives become further entwined in the lethal drug world. When Dominic discovers a deadly secret, he begins to question everything and turns to Brianna for support. However, Brianna’s heart belongs to another man—an undercover DEA agent. 

 

The DEA closes in on the drug cartel, forcing Brianna and Dominic to choose sides, igniting a battle between family loyalty, love, and survival. Brianna soon realizes that she may be the only person capable of bringing down her father’s empire—if she can find a way to outsmart the master manipulator, without losing herself, and her heart, in the process.

 

 

READ AN EXCERPT:

There was a soft knock on her door. Matt popped his head in, making her flush. As much as she fought against it, Brianna had to admit, Matt was hot. She hadn’t seen him since their dinner the other night. There was something different about him from other men she’d known. She liked that Matt was intelligent and highly sought after in the law field. Even though he was confident, he wasn’t cocky, and there was something gentle about him. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but she liked that he seemed interested in getting to know her. It was a refreshing change. Of course, it was also nice that Matt was untouched by her father.

“Do you have any plans for the weekend?” he asked, giving her a half smile.

“Nothing too exciting. I have a lot to do before we meet with the judge on Monday.”

“Well, you can’t work all weekend, so I have a proposition for you.” Matt walked in and sat on the edge of Brianna’s desk, pulling two tickets from his shirt pocket. “I’m taking you to a baseball game Saturday night.”

Did he just ask her out? Was Matt interested in her? This wasn’t good. Why couldn’t Matt be married or unattractive? Why did she have to meet him now? “I don’t know,” she managed to say.

“You owe me a dinner,” Matt reminded her, the dimple in his cheek showing.

“I can’t.” She really wanted to, but her father would never approve.

Matt raised his eyebrows. “I’m not asking you out on a date, so don’t get all defensive. I’m simply asking you to a baseball game, and it’s work related if that makes you feel any better.” He leaned in close, smiling like they shared a secret.

Why did he have to keep looking at her like that? “Work related how?” she asked. Perhaps there was a way to get her father’s approval.

“The firm has a box. So, technically it’s a work function.”

“Is anyone else going?”

“No,” he whispered.

Brianna wanted to be alone with Matt, but she wasn’t sure she could control herself around him. Salazar’s plan was very direct and specific, and Matt was definitely not a part of the plan. She couldn’t afford to lose focus now. But the way Matt sat on the desk, his smile, those eyes—she was drawn to him. She closed her eyes, smelling his musky scent. Not once in Brianna’s life had Salazar ever asked her what she wanted. Everything was planned and she was expected to go along with it. Against her better judgment, she agreed to go to the game.

“I’ll pick you up at six.” Matt smiled. He slid from her desk and strolled to the door.

“No, I’ll meet you there.”

After glancing back at her, Matt responded, “Suit yourself,” and left.

Brianna was grinning so big, her cheeks hurt. A baseball game sounded like fun. She just needed to make sure her father knew it was a work function so he wouldn’t jump to the wrong conclusion. A little voice in the back of her mind screamed at the stupidity of getting involved with Matt, but Brianna chose to ignore the voice of reason.

 

BOOKS BY JENNIFER ANNE DAVIS:

THE KEY IS FREE! 

About Jennifer Anne Davis

Jennifer graduated from the University of San Diego with a degree in English and a teaching credential. Afterwards, she finally married her best friend and high school sweetheart. Jennifer is currently a full-time writer and mother of three young children. Her days are spent living in imaginary worlds and fueling her own kids’ creativity. Visit Jennifer online at www.JenniferAnneDavis.com.

More from Crimson Tree Publishing:

WWW.CRIMSONTREEPUBLISHING.COM

Review: Miles By H.J. Bellus

Title: Miles (My Way #3)

Author: H. J. Bellus

Publisher: Limitless Publishing LLC

Page Count: 273

Genre: Adult Contemporary

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

 

Blurb:

I lost it all...

My hope, my happiness, and my will to live. My heart was tattered and torn from the promise of real love.

Until him...

His profound love for living, fortune cookies and collection of rusty matchbox cars made me smile again. It is a simple love story. I found my rainbow, my pot of gold, my piece of beautiful all in one simple man. Miles.

Not every happy ending is perfect...

A hidden secret forces me to reveal my hand and choose between my Prince Charming and my family.

My choice. My consequences. My story. My Mistake.

 

My Review:

Miles, Miles, Miles. What can I say about this man that can not be said by looking at the cover? Me. Bellus knows how to write an alpha male and make him sensitive at the right times.
This had to be my favorite book because it rocks the stable relationship that the main characters have had. It brings to light the question, which side would you choose? Is there really a side at all.
Miles shows up in town with more secrets, other than where he gets his fortune cookies. His meets Willow, who is trying to find her way after Greyson. They are opposites, yin and yang. At the same time they are the same. They fall in love. They are able to be each others rock.  End of story right. No.
Miles' secret comes out and lines are drawn. Willow is thrown in the middle. Before she would have cracked under the pressure. With the love and guidance of Miles she makes it through.
The story is a heartbreaking one. When you read what Willow went through with Greyson, you feel for her. Then with Miles. Such a strong gentle giant has had a hard life. Reading his start was hard also.
Ms. Bellus never disappoints her readers. Her books are always excellent and entertaining. I enjoy reading them.
This is a definite recommend read. I do suggest that the books be read in order though.

My Way Series Order:

Cree (My Way #1)

Tripp (My Way #2)

Miles (My Way #3)

Purchase Links:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble