Monday, May 27, 2013

Review & Giveaway: Inked Ever After by Elle Aycart

Inked Ever After (Bowen, #2.5)
Inked Ever After (Bowen #2.5) by Elle Aycart
Publication Date: March 26th 2013 by Loose Id LLC
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Loose Id
About the book: Tattooed bad boy James Bowen is about to marry the love of his life. Everything would be perfect if it wasn't for the tiny detail that his bride-to-be is freaking out big time. And trying to hide it from him.

Tate Cooper is losing it. She loves James with all her heart and wants to be married to him; it's the getting married that's killing her. Still grieving the loss of her father and brother,and totally overwhelmed by the wedding arrangements, she's in full emotional meltdown. But James deserves a happy bride, not a high-maintenance, sorrow-filled, guilt-stricken one, and, by God, she's going to give him that, even if she has to paste on a smile and fake it till she makes it.

James doesn't know whether to be amused or pissed. He understands she's running scared, but there is no way in hell he's going to allow this to continue; he's going to push her to confront her fears until she happily embraces their ever after.

My Thoughts:

5 GUILTY PLEASURE STARS!!

Inked Ever After was the perfect ending to James and Tate’s story. *sigh* I just love and adore this series to pieces!! If you haven’t picked up More Than Meets the Ink or Heavy Issues (you can read my reviews HERE), what are you waiting for?!  I promise, the Bowen Brothers with rock your world!! 

James and Tate are planning their wedding, their HEA, but Tate is freaking out.  Not about marrying James, no, she feels like she’s won the lottery when it comes to James. But celebrating such a monumental life event without her father and brother rubs salt in an already tender wound.  She is still grieving their loss with it happening only two years ago, and when no one, not her sister Elle or her mother, has really dealt with the loss properly.  The wedding and planning are taking their toll on Tate, sending her into panic attacks.  How does she have the right to be so blissful when her father and brother aren’t there to share in the happiness? And she feels guilty for feeling so sad when this should be the happiest time of her life.  How is this fair to James?

James knows that Tate is feeling this way and he’s hurt that Tate is trying to hide it from him.  But that’s okay, because you know Bowen men get their way, and James won’t have Tate shutting him out any longer!  He’ll push, shove, boss, and insist Tate lean on him.  She’s his and he takes care of his own!! Yes, please!! I just love the Bowen Brothers with their alpha male ways!

I have to say that in More Than Meets the Ink, Tate tried my patience at times when she kept pushing James away.  I was afraid I was going to get more of this when I read the synopsis, but I had nothing to fear!!  Tate has grown since we first met her and she trusts James, so they work through their issues like mature and rational adults.

It had taken almost half a year, but by now Tate knew him well enough not to fight him, so she just wrapped her legs around his hips and gave up. “Okay.  Oh, James, my barbarian. Where are we going?”

James has a better understanding of how Tate’s mind operates so he knew just how to deal with her.  James is bossy, possessive and a little caveman-ish so his idea “working things out” might’ve been a little overwhelming, but they were exactly what Tate needed.  I’m not one who minds Alpha-male behavior (in fiction, lol!), so I was totally on board with anything James did!

She tried scrambling to her feet. Fat chance. He tightened his grip on her, leaned on his side, and brought her down on her back. In a flash his face was an inch from hers, his hands at either side of her head, his massive body crowding her. “Shut it, Tate. We tried you way; now we’ll try mine…..”

I forgot what a pro Elle Aycart is at writing toe-curling, panty melting, fiery hot scenes!! Oh my!! She does not disappoint in Inked Ever After!!  James is wicked sexy and his dirty mouth is enough to make any girl blush violently!!  As if that wasn’t enough to win me over, his big heart and sweet ways just made me sigh and swoon!!

Like I said, Tate was more mature and open with James and I really warmed up to her character.  Her actions really showed how much James meant to her even if her actions were a little misguided at first. 

I loved getting a glimpse of all the characters we’ve come to know and love in this series: Christy and Cole, Max, Jack, and even Elle.  There’s something a-brewin’ with Jack and Elle and it was an exciting little side story.  I just checked and it looks like we do eventually get Jack’s story but not before Max and Mike’s.  I guess I’ll have to be patient.

Inked Ever After was the PERFECT ending to James’ and Tate’s story, but Elle was kind enough to give us an epilogue ten years in the future on her blog (click HERE to read it).  Do not miss it, because it was so utterly sweet and satisfying!!  Just make sure your read Inked Ever After first.   

A copy of this story was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!
5 Suns




My PhotoAbout the Author: After a colorful array of jobs all over Europe ranging from translator to chocolatier to travel agent to sushi chef to flight dispatcher, Elle Aycart is certain of one thing and one thing only: aside from writing romances, she has abso-frigging-lutely no clue what she wants to do when she grows up. Not that it stops her from trying all sorts of crazy stuff. While she is probably now thinking of a new profession, her head never stops churning new plots for her romances. She lives currently in Barcelona, Spain, with her husband and two daughters, although who knows, in no time she could be living at the Arctic Circle in Finland, breeding reindeer.  Find Elle on:




If you haven’t given this series a try, I highly recommend it!! To encourage you to do so, I’m giving one eBook (US Amazon or US Barnes & Noble) of your choice in the Bowen Brothers series: More Than Meets the Ink (Bowen #1) OR Heavy Issues (Bowen #2) OR Inked Ever After (Bowen #2.5) to one lucky reader.  Just fill in the rafflecopter below for a chance to win.  Good luck and thanks for stopping by!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

30 comments:

  1. I loved James & Cole they are prime examples of the Alpha Male! I can't wait to read Inked Ever After!! Thank you for the chance to enter. wendynjason04 at gmail dot com

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    1. I totally agree, James and Cole are Alpha male at its best! Good luck! :)

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  2. I read these books last summer! I haven't read this one though. *runs to Goodreads*

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    1. Oh and my favorite male alpha is probably Caleb from The Dark Duet series.

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    2. If you read these books and enjoyed them, you'll love this one Megan!

      Caleb was definitely an Alpha male I will NEVER forget. I can't wait to read the Epilogue that has turned into a full blown novel now, according to the author. I have my copy on pre-order. :)

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    3. I totally agree! I preordered it too! I need the paperback to go with the other two on my shelf!

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  3. I love almost any male character in any Kristen Ashley book!

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    1. Excellent choice, Arely! Kristen Ashley is the queen of writing Alpha males! :)

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  4. There are many alpha male characters that I like but one particularly is different and my favorite is Rhage from the Black Dagger Brotherhood series!!

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    1. Oooh, that is my favorite Black Dagger story: Rhage and Mary. :)

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  5. My favorite alpha male is the one that takes no prisoners and will do anything to protect his mate/love. The first alpha male series I started to follow was Lora Leigh's Breed series.

    Lynn
    lareynolds0316@gmail.com

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    1. I haven't read that book, Lynn. I'll have to check that out. :)

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  6. My favorite Alpha male is Ethan Blackstone from Naked, All In and Eyes Wide Open

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    1. Here's another book I need to check out! I haven't read this one either. :)

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  7. My Most Favorite Alpha Male has to be Vishous from BDB or Any Male from Kristen Ashley's books and of course ames and Cole!!!!

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    1. I haven't got to Vishous' book yet, but I plan on getting there someday, Angela. KA really does write the best Alpha males, and of course James and Cole are amazing examples of Alpha men! Elle Aycart is my new go to author for strong male characters! :)

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  8. Thanks for the awesome post and giveaway! Sounds awesome! I'd have to say my fav is Curren from the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews.

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    1. Oh Erin, you just brought up one of my favorite UF series in the whole world!! Kate Daniels!! Curran is especially yummy and he will always hold a special place in my heart! ♥♥♥

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  9. Way too many too pick just one..I do love the great heroes in Cherise Sinclair & Kallypso Masters' books :)

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  10. There´s so many great ones, I have to go with what I´m reading at the moment, Hop in Kristen Ashley´s Fire Inside.
    Happy Monday!
    //Linda

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  11. Master Sergeant Abraham Marley Forbes from His Sister's Kiss, by Kate Hill. Thanks for the post. lisagk(at)yahoo

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  12. These books are on my wish list! Now I want to read them even more!!! Fav alpha would be Ethan Blackstone or Gideon Cross!

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  13. i love BONES from jeaniene frost novels :)
    thx 4 the giveaway...

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  14. My favorite Apha Male is Gideon from The Crossfire Series :)

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  15. I have two favorites Jesse Ward and James Cavendish. Love an alpha male!

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  16. Bones is my all time fav too, but Gideon Cross is pretty sexy ;)

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  17. Alcide Hervoux in Sookie series. Thanks!

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  18. Lucas and Hawke from Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling Series!!

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  19. I'm a Jesse Ward fan...he's a pretty major Alpha!!

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  20. Tack from Motorcycle Man is a favorite.

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