Hearts in Darkness Anniversary Edition Cover Reveal

I read and instantly loved Hearts in Darkness years ago and it's always held a special place in my heart! 

I'm excited to have Laura Kaye join us today to share the cover reveal for her 10th Anniversary edition of HEARTS IN DARKNESS COLLECTION!

   

Title: Hearts In Darkness Collection

Author: Laura Kaye

Cover Artist: Tricia "Pickyme" Schmitt

Dear Readers, It’s my 10th publication anniversary & HEARTS IN DARKNESS is 10!! I can hardly believe it! This book has been such a wild, special ride and I'm so grateful that so many people fell in love with it. It's how so many readers found me and that is just incredible to think about! Thank you so so much for all the love, fun, and support over the past 10 years! To celebrate, I’ve put together a special 4-story collector’s edition volume that includes two new and/or never-before-published stories that continue Caden and Makenna’s story! Preorder the collection for a discount now before the price goes up on release day! 

xx Laura  

PREORDER NOW at a special price! COMING AUGUST 24!

Amazon 

Barnes &Noble

Apple 

Kobo

Goodreads

Links to come: GooglePlay, paperback, hard cover

About the Collection:

"Laura Kaye has a gift for writing beautifully damaged men." ~ NYT Bestseller Tessa Bailey

 

Two strangers. Four hours. One pitch-black elevator. And their struggle to find love in the light…

 

This beloved, bestselling series has it all! Scorching hot chemistry. Achingly heartfelt emotion. Strangers-to-lovers, forced proximity, and opposites attract goodness. And, with “one of the most beloved couples in romance,” Caden Grayson and Makenna James will stay with you long after the last page! Plus, a brand-new story and a never-before-published epilogue. All in one gorgeous edition!

 

This Special Collector’s 10th Anniversary Edition Includes:

Hearts in Darkness – the bestselling story that started it all!

 

When two strangers get trapped in a pitch-black elevator, they find connection, attraction, and red-hot heat in the darkness.

 

Lovers at Dawn – a brand-new follow-up story!

 

In the light of the morning after, these new lovers wake up in each other’s arms. But will this buttoned-up accountant and tattooed paramedic still want what they found in the darkness?

 

Love in the Light – the bestselling sequel to Hearts in Darkness

 

Can a man who’s lost everyone he’s ever loved trust that he won’t crash again if he lets himself fall? Or will the pressures of commitment be more than Caden and Makenna’s love story can handle?

 

Forever in the Light – a never-before published epilogue to the series

 

The happily-ever-after story Caden and Makenna deserve, including their heartfelt wedding and sexy wedding night! 

 

"Passionate and poignant! This will have readers falling in love with Caden and Makenna all over again!" ~ NYT Bestseller Jay Crownover

PREORDER NOW! COMING AUGUST 24!

Amazon | B&N | Apple | Kobo | Goodreads

 

About the Author:

 

  Laura Kaye is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over 40 books in contemporary romance and romantic suspense and has sold more than one million books in the U.S. alone. Laura grew up amid family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses, cementing her life-long fascination with storytelling and the supernatural. A former college history professor, Laura also writes bestselling historical women's fiction as Laura Kamoie. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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Blog Tour Review: Blacklisted by Jay Crownover

 

Blacklisted (Loveless, Texas #3) by Jay Crownover

Publication Date: October 27th 2020 by Forever

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★½ 

Links: Universal | Amazon | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Blacklisted is the classic opposites attract kind of romance. Shot is the President of the local Motorcycle Club/Gang and Presley is a doctor for the State’s Medical Examiner’s office, assigned to investigate deaths, suspicious and otherwise. So, while Shot is on the murkier side of the law, Presley is sworn to uphold it, but the heart wants what the heart wants…

These two are thrown together when Presley is called out by her half sister to tend to Shot after a life threatening injury and neither can stop thinking about the other after the incident.  Presley has her own problems; a psycho trying to take Presley’s life apart because of a jealous obsession, and anyone close to Presley usually suffers blowback. The start of this played out in the last book, which is why I think it’s better to read the series in order. I guess in a pinch this would work as a standalone, too, but you’d miss the backstory of the Lawton’s, Presley’s newly discovered family, and the previous stories are really good!

I’ve been loving this series from the beginning, but I was super excited to get to Presley and Shot’s romance because I love the opposites attract troupe! Blacklisted did not disappoint. Presley and Shot had oodles of chemistry, and I was hooked into their little back and forth dance, mostly with Shot chasing and Presley trying to resist. So much fun! However, Presley’s psycho stalker, the things she pulls and then the question of when she would strike next kept me glued to the pages as well. I read the story in a 24-hour period, because I couldn’t put it down!  

4.5 Suns

About the book:

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series comes an irresistible and suspenseful romance between a doctor who plays by the rules and the outlaw who breaks them in order to protect her.

Dr. Presley Baskin has always lived a quiet, calm life. Unfortunately, nothing about her life in Loveless, Texas -- especially not the wild, rowdy, and impossibly close-knit Lawton family who've claimed her -- is quiet or calm. Which is how loner Presley finds herself roped into patching up local bad boy Shot Caldwell against her better judgment. Presley wants nothing to do with the dangerous, brooding leader of the local outlaw motorcycle club. But when someone starts stalking her, Shot is the only person she trusts to help. Plus he owes her one . . .

Palmer 'Shot' Caldwell has always known his life isn't made for relationships. At least until shy, secretive, Presley reluctantly pulled a bullet out of him. He's oddly protective of the pretty doctor, so when she comes to him for help, hard-hearted Shot suddenly realizes there's nothing he wouldn't do to keep her safe.

About Jay Crownover:

Jay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, The Point Series, Breaking Point Series, and the Getaway Series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.

Connect with Jay Crownover:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Reader Group

Blog Tour Review: Fragmented Loyalty by Tonya Burrows

Fragmented Loyalty (Class Alpha #1) by Tonya Burrows

Publication Date: February 26th 2020 by Entangled Embrace

Pages:330

Source: Publisher

Purchase Links: 

Universal Buy Link

Amazon | Apple US | Apple CA | Apple UK | Apple AU | Kobo US | Kobo CA 

Kobo UK | B&N US | Google Play

About the book:

All I want is to leave my past of criminal hacking behind. Oh, and ditch the blackmailer who has been dogging my every move for the last three years.

The plan: Hack my way into being part of Class Alpha, a training program for a secretive organization that rescues hostages the government can’t or won’t go after. Save the world and make enough money to pay back my blackmailer—solves all my problems, right?

The complication: Sweet, nerdy, and unbearably sexy Eric “Harvard” Physick. Harvard is my ideal man, but he’s also my instructor. Seriously a no-go, except we can’t seem to keep our hands off each other.

My blackmailer isn’t willing to let me off the hook, though, and a series of freak accidents—deadly accidents—sends Class Alpha into a tailspin. And the more I get to know Harvard, I start to realize his past is just as troubled as mine.

Am I the cause of this chaos...or is he?

My Thoughts:

After getting caught as an “hacktivist”, and paying for her crimes, Samira gets a second chance to use her computer genius skills for good with the group HORNET, a private security group that specializes in rescuing hostages. She shows up in Wyoming for her training, and immediately falls for her instructor, Eric aka “Harvard” a fellow nerd at heart with hacking and computer skills that rival and surpass her own.

Eric falls hard for Samira, too, but as her instructor he’s feels he must keep things professional.  It’s love at nerd first sight! I do love a sexy nerd, especially when they switch from shy and sweet to man-in-control in the bedroom! I didn’t expect this one to be quite so hot, but oh my, yes!

However, things are far from smooth sailing. Both Samira and Eric have past secrets that weigh heavily and could spell danger for everyone at HORNET.  Samira makes a mistake that I knew would come out and bite her in the ass, and I wasn’t thrilled waiting for it to come out.  My one main niggle with the story was Eric’s over-the-top reaction to it, especially when he had a dark secret of his own. Kind of a “pot calling the kettle black” situation, that made me want to smack him upside the head. Fortunately, it was short lived and put aside with the more immediate and dangerous situation they were thrown into. I’m a full believer in proper groveling when someone screws up in a relationship and I did think Eric made up for his errors, so all was forgiven.

Thrilling, sexy, and fast-paced, I really enjoyed Fragmented Loyalty! This is the first in a spin-off from the HORNET series, but it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone.  

4 Suns

About the author:

Tonya Burrows wrote her first romance at age 13 and hasn't put down her pen since. Originally from a small town in Western New York, she suffers from a bad case of wanderlust and usually ends up moving someplace new every few years. As of now, she lives in the Pacific Northwest with The Boyfriend, a diva schnoodle, a plucky pug-mix, and #writercat. 

When she's not writing about hunky military heroes, Tonya can usually be found kayaking, hiking, or road tripping across the country. She also enjoys painting and B grade disaster movies.

Connect with Tonya:

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Blog Tour Review: Unforgiven by Jay Crownover

Unforgiven (Loveless, Texas #2) by Jay Crownover

Publication Date: February 25th 2020 by Forever

Pages: 410 (275 without bonus story)

Source: Publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Apple | Kobo | Audible

About the book: 

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series comes an irresistible and suspenseful romance between a tough Texas Ranger and his first love--a woman in danger who insists she doesn't need his protection.

Hill Gamble is a model lawman: cool and collected, with a confident swagger to boot. Too bad all that Texas charm hasn't gotten him anywhere in his personal life, especially since the only girl he ever loved has always been off-limits. But then Hill is assigned to investigate her father's mysterious death, and he's forced back to the town--and the woman--he left behind.

When Hill left Loveless, he broke Kody Lawton's already battered heart. And now that he's working on her father's case, avoiding him is impossible. She can handle Hill and her unwanted feelings--until he puts his life on the line to protect her. Suddenly, Kody realizes that Hill could be taken away from her...for good.

My Thoughts:

Hill and Kody have a complicated past where both have loved each other from afar. It was complicated as Kody was involved with Hill’s younger brother, Aaron, before Aaron took his own life. Lots of guilt, blame and anger have colored their relationship since, but underneath it all, Kody has always loved Hill.

Hill was more honest to himself with his feelings from the beginning.  Knowing that he loved his brother’s fiancée made it impossible to stick around home. He couldn’t stay and feel the way he did for Kody and not feel completely horrible.

Being assigned to investigate the murder of Kody’s father brings Hill back home, making these two finally face their true feelings, and move on from the past, and oh did things get deliciously steamy!

I’m a sucker for the unrequited love trope, and a fan of Jay Crownover so I knew I was pretty much guaranteed to love Unforgiven!  Like Justified, book one, Unforgiven is romance with a mystery/danger element, and while the culprit is identified, the Lawton’s are not out of danger yet. You don’t have to read any of the previous books first to love Unforgiven, but Justified was oh-so-good, too, and should not be missed! I’m already dying for the next book, Blacklisted, featuring Shot, the president of the local biker club, and Presley.  

4.5 Suns

About JAY CROWNOVER:

Jay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, The Point Series, Breaking Point Series, and the Getaway Series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.

Connect with Jay:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Readergroup

Blog Tour Spotlight & Giveaway: Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa by Nancy Naigle

If you're like me and are a sucker for a sweet Hallmark Movie type of romance, you'll enjoy Christmas In Evergreen: Letters to Santa by Nancy Naigle.  Below there's information on the book and a giveaway: Audio of Christmas in Evergreen & a $20 Hallmark Giftcard!

Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa by Nancy Naigle

Publication Date: July 16th 2019 by Hallmark & Crown Media Publishing

Pages: 264

Source: Publisher

Purchase Links:  Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Walmart

About the book:

Return to Evergreen,

the town where Christmas wishes come true…

But only if you know what your heart really wants.

When Lisa takes a last-minute Christmas trip to her hometown of Evergreen, she finds that the historic general store has closed. The place was a beloved local tradition, and she decides to use her skills as a professional retail designer to bring it back to its former glory. She charms a local contractor, Kevin, into working with her, and the pair find themselves facing one surprise after another.

One of the biggest surprises of all is finding the mysterious 25-year-old letter to Santa that never made it to the North Pole. Who really wrote it, and will its request come true at last? And will Lisa and Kevin figure out what they’re truly wishing for?

This sweet small-town romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Incredible Apple Dumplings.

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle whips up small-town love stories with a whole lot of heart. She began writing while juggling a successful career in finance and life on a seventy-six-acre goat farm. Her many books include The Secret Ingredient, Christmas in Evergreen, and Christmas Joy and Hope for Christmas, which were adapted into Hallmark movies. Now happily retired from a career in the financial industry, she devotes her time to writing, horseback riding, and enjoying the occasional spa day. A Virginia girl at heart, Nancy now calls North Carolina home. 

Connect with Nancy:

Facebook | Website | Twitter  

Nancy's Giveaway:

Review & Excerpt: Tempting Brooke by Kristen Proby

Tempting Brooke by Kristen Proby

Publication Date: October 23rd 2018 

Pages: 125

Purchase Links: Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | Amazon AU

About the book:

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby comes a new story in her Big Sky series…

Brooke’s Blooms has taken Cunningham Falls by surprise. The beautiful, innovative flower shop is trendy, with not only gorgeous flower arrangements, but also fun gifts for any occasion. This store is Brooke Henderson’s deepest joy, and it means everything to her, which shows in how completely she and her little shop have been embraced by the small community of Cunningham Falls.

So, when her landlord dies and Brody Chabot saunters through her door, announcing that the building has been sold, and will soon be demolished, Brooke knows that she’s in for the fight of her life. But she hasn’t gotten this far by sitting back and quietly doing what she’s told. Hustle is Brooke’s middle name, and she has no intention of losing this fight, no matter how tempting Brody’s smile -- and body -- is.

My Thoughts:

I just love a story of best friends turning into more, especially when the two have quietly longed for more.  Brooke and Brody were best friends in high school until Brody’s homelife made him feel ending his friendship with Brooke was for the best. Brody moved away from Cunningham Falls, but never forgot Brooke just as she’s never forgot him. Now years later, Brody is back in town to sell the business property Brooke is renting for her burgeoning flower shop.  Brooke proposes an offer: stay and see how her business works, the happiness she brings to clients, and if he still wants to sell, then so be it. 

Along the way Brooke and Brody rediscover the friendship they left behind, remember all the feelings buried away and start to fall all over again. 

Being a friends-to-lovers novella, Kristen Proby did an excellent job laying a strong foundation for Brooke and Brody’s romance. They already have a history of unrequited love going in that’s highlighted, so was easy to get invested in their HEA.

3.5 Suns

Excerpt:

  “Let’s go.” He signals for our waitress, pays the tab, and leads me out to the car. I drive us to my house where his car is waiting for him, quiet the whole way.

  What is there to say? We just admitted to loving each other yesterday, and now he’s leaving.

  It sucks. And I don’t know what this means for us.

  When I pull into my driveway, I immediately get out of the car and march inside my house, opening windows and doors to get a cross breeze going.

 This is the first time I can say that I hate my house. I should have installed the fucking air conditioning.

  “Stop,” Brody says softly. He’s standing in the middle of my living room, his hands in his pockets, watching me with tormented eyes.

  “What?”

  “Stop this. You’re running about here like mad, and you just look pissed off. We need to talk about this.”

  I feel my shoulders fall in defeat. “I don’t mean to sound like a bitch here, Brody, but I’m not sure what there is to talk about. You’re leaving, and I’m here. So, thanks? It was fun? Have a nice life?”

  “Are you assuming that I’m never coming back?”

  “No, you have a building here, so I guess you’ll be back now and then.”

  “I’m coming back,” he insists and pulls me to him, lowering his mouth to mine in one of his   Olympic-style kisses. “I can’t give you a timeline, but I am coming back.”

  “Okay.”

  “You don’t believe me.”

  I sigh. “It’s not that I don’t believe you. I think you want to come back. But you have a job, and a life, and so do I. So, I just think it’s going to be hard.”

  “I don’t just have a job, I own the firm.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes. So, I have some things to get in order, but it’s not impossible.”

  “Owning the firm only complicates things,” I argue, shaking my head.

  “It’s not forever,” he promises, then checks his phone. “And I’d better go. I have to pack my things at the hotel and turn in my car before my flight in just over two hours.”

  I stare at him, and I want to beg him to extend his trip one more day. One more week.

  But I can’t do that. He’s already done so much for me by staying this past week.

  “I didn’t realize you were leaving so early in the day.”

  Do not get needy, Brooke. No one likes that.

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” He kisses me once more, and I know this kiss is goodbye.

  Whether it’s goodbye for now, or goodbye for good, only time will tell.

  “Be safe.”

  He smiles and frames my face. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  One more forehead kiss, and Brody is out the door. I don’t watch as he pulls out of my driveway and away from my house.

  Watching him go just seems like torture.

About Kristen Proby:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kristen Proby is the author of the bestselling With Me In Seattle and Love Under the Big Sky series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong, humorous characters with a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen lives in Montana, where she enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps.

Connect with Kristen Proby:

    

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Release Day Launch & Giveaway: Dirty Secret by Emma Hart

About the book:

Chelsey Young's dad was a rock star. Glamorous, right? But late nights, frequent travelling, and watching endless women rub their bodies against Lukas Young's in a bid for his attention wasn't exactly how Chelsey planned to spend her senior year of high school. So when Kye Burke, of the ultra-sexy band Dirty B, sets his sights on Chelsey, she figures the best way to get him off her back is by taking his sexy butt to bed. But after one night together, Kye has no intention of staying away from Chelsey, especially when she's kissing him one minute then pushing him away the next. From watching her father, Chelsey knows the rock star lifestyle that Kye leads—being away for long stretches of time, girls throwing themselves at him on the regular, shirtless photos showing up in his inbox ten times a day. She wants no part of it. Kye is determined for Chelsey to get to know him, the real him behind the rock star persona. But that isn't so easy when Kye's schedule will take him away for days, weeks, even a month or two at a time, which is a dealbreaker for Chelsey. Long distance means temptation to stray, and infidelity was the reason her own parents split. She knows it's not fair to project her own insecurities onto Kye, but some things are unavoidable. But Kye Burke isn't Lukas Young.   And, distance or not, he's going to damn well prove it.

 

Amazon US *** Amazon UK *** B&N *** iBooks

 

Excerpt:

“What,” Chelsey exclaims, “the hell is that?”

With a wide smile spreading across my face, I shove my hands in my pockets like a teenage boy and look at her. “A Christmas tree.”

“Are those . . . penises?”

“Technically, dildos.”

“Like real ones?” She jerks her alarmed gaze to me.

“No. Just plastic.”

She flicks her tongue across her lips. “Uh-huh. Why do you have penises across your Christmas tree?”

“Because he’s an immature little bastard,” Leila answers for me.

“You didn’t stop me,” I shoot back.

“Hell no I didn’t. I cannot wait to see Mom’s face when she sees this!”

“When she sees what?” Mom’s voice creeps through the house ominously, and the close of the door after her sounds like the signal that I should run away.

“Uh . . . I’m just gonna go . . .to the store. . . .” I shuffle toward the door that connects the front room with the kitchen.

Chelsey lifts her eyebrows in amusement, and Dad grabs the back of my shirt so I can’t escape.

You wouldn’t think I was twenty-four. For numerous reasons, obviously.

“Kye Burke, why are there tiny penises on my Christmas tree?”

Her voice is calm. Really calm. I’m even more convinced that I should run. “Merry Cock-mas?”

Mom’s expression is somewhere between insane amusement and extreme frustration.

“I’m just gonna come back later . . .” Chelsey whispers, edging toward the living room door. “When there are less . . . cocks.”

“Good idea! I’ll come with you.” I wrestle out of Dad’s grip and dart behind him, through the kitchen, and into the hall.

Chelsey laughs and grabs my arm, dragging me back into the room. “I said I was going. I didn’t say you were escaping this cock-up.”

“Great choice of words,” Dad chuckles.

Mom pinches the bridge of her nose. “I should have known that when three boys left, one boy would have to make the impression of three,” she says, mostly to herself. “I should have known that the one who never left his little peep alone at two would one day decorate my tree in cocks.”

“Mom! What the hell?” I sputter.

“I should have known that his ball-hoarding obsession at six was a sign of things to come,” she sighs heavily and drops her hand. “After all, there’s one in every boyband. I thought I was ready for this.” Then, she turns to me. “Kye, son, we love you anyway, but I have to ask. Are you gay?”

Chelsey lets go of me, and laughter rips from her. Leila laughs, too, her book falling to the floor. Dad covers his face with his hands, and Mom just stands there in the middle of the room, her eyes wide. Her hands are now clasped in front of her sympathetically, and the tiny upturn of the right side of her mouth explains it all.

“Well played, Mother,” I say reluctantly, walking back toward the front door. “Well. Played.”

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By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to two beautiful little monsters. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of whatever she fancies - usually wine - and writes books. Emma is working on Top Secret projects she will share with her followers and fans at every available opportunity. Naturally, all Top Secret projects involve a dashingly hot guy who likes to forget to wear a shirt, a sprinkling (or several) of hold-onto-your-panties hot scenes, and a whole lotta love. She likes to be busy - unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life. NEWSLETTER FACEBOOK TWITTER GOODREADS AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

 

Teaser Blast: Bait & Switch by Kendall Ryan

iBook Pre-Order

RELEASE DAY: February 9th 2016

Bait & Switch

Alphas Undone Book 1

             Love is a trap, a trick only other people fall for. Former Navy SEAL Nolan has no such illusions. The only things real in his life are his beloved bulldog and the two women who regularly share his bed. One is light—soft, innocent, and tender touches. The other is dark—and gives him all of the wicked things he craves behind closed doors. It’s not cheating when each is aware of the other. But when he begins to feel much more than he ever bargained for, the order of his carefully crafted world is shaken, and he stands to lose everything.

             Nolan thinks we met by chance. We didn’t. I sought him out, seduced him, and in return got the sanctuary I needed to survive. But now, impossibly, I’ve fallen in love with him. I don’t care that he has another lover, because when he finds out who I am, it’s going to ruin any chance I ever had with him anyway. She’s the least of my worries.

            Bait & Switch is Book 1 in a new contemporary romance series by Kendall Ryan.

Release Blitz Review, Giveaway & Excerpt: Surviving Ice by K.A. Tucker

I'm excited to bring you the Release Week Blitz for K.A. Tucker's SURVIVING ICE, because I've loved the series!  SURVIVING ICE is a standalone romantic suspense novel and is the fourth book in K.A. Tucker's Burying Water Series, published by Atria, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Grab your copy today! Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post for a chance to win the Complete Burying Water series SIGNED!

 

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iBooks ** Kobo ** IndieBound

 SURVIVING ICE Synopsis:

The USA TODAY bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths series and Burying Water—which Kirkus Reviews called “a sexy, romantic, gangster-tinged page-turner”—returns with a new novel packed with romance, plot twists, and psychological suspense. Ivy Lee, a talented tattoo artist who spent the early part of her twenties on the move, is looking for a place to call home. She thinks she might have finally found it working in her uncle’s tattoo shop in San Francisco. But all that changes when a robbery turns deadly, compelling her to pack up her things yet again. When they need the best, they call him. That’s why Sebastian Riker is back in California, cleaning up the mess made after a tattoo shop owner with a penchant for blackmail got himself shot. But it’s impossible to get the answers he needs from a dead body, leaving him to look elsewhere. Namely, to the twenty-something-year-old niece who believes this was a random attack. Who needs to keep believing that until Sebastian finds what he’s searching for. Ivy has one foot out of San Francisco when a chance encounter with a stranger stalls her departure. She’s always been drawn to intense men, so it’s no wonder that she now finds a reason to stay after all, quickly intoxicated by his dark smile, his intimidating strength, and his quiet control. That is, until Ivy discovers that their encounter was no accident—and that their attraction could be her undoing.

My Thoughts:

Ivy Lee has been filled with wanderlust for years, but working back at her Uncle Ned’s tattoo shop in San Francisco makes her feel like she could finally put down roots.  Her feelings are shattered when her uncle is murdered in the front room of his tattoo parlor and Ivy is the lone witness.  Was his murder just collateral damage in a robbery gone wrong or did her uncle get mixed up in some unsavory business? 

Ever since Sebastian was discharged from the navy, he’s been working for an elite security company that mop up “problems” the US Government doesn’t want to touch.  When he’s called in to do damage control in a botched job in San Francisco, Sebastian quickly realizes not all is as it seems. Ivy, the little sassy tattoo artist, while tough and independent, is in a whole lot of danger.  While spending time with Ivy as he investigates, Sebastian starts to care for her seriously, but can things ever work if she finds out the truth about him?

Ivy has been the most bristly character in the series, but I liked her spunk, individuality, and her big heart underneath it all.  She was abrasive at times, and she tried to keep her feelings guarded but she’s met her match in Sebastian.  Sebastian is the master at covering emotions with impenetrable shields, so every time Ivy tried to hide reactions, he was able to sense her underlying feelings.  They got each other, and didn’t force things out when the other was uncomfortable sharing; just waited it out until it would spill out naturally. Their romance progressed slowly while they got to know each other, building sexual tension as they grew closer, and to me they just clicked. 

Surviving Ice, the last book in the Burying Water series, ties as my favorite with the first in the series, Burying Water.  I adored Ivy and Sebastian’s story; the two were perfectly matched!  I also enjoyed the suspense and thrills the mystery provided, wondering exactly what Ned got himself into that cost him his life. 

In each of the Burying Water installments there was a gray area between right and wrong.  At the heart of it were characters trying to do the right thing in a difficult situation, but having to live with some of the gray area, as well. Made me wonder what I’d do in similar situations.  I applaud K.A. Tucker’s handling of the New Adult category/genre.  You won’t find the usual ridiculous relationship drama and angst.  Instead what powered her stories were chemistry filled, realistic romance, and a captivating mystery. I’m sad to say goodbye to the series, but I’m eager to read whatever Ms. Tucker comes up with next!

4.5 Suns

Excerpt:

It’s just a regular ringtone. For me, though, it’s the wail of a war siren, and I’m immediately alert. There is only one person who has this number, and I didn’t expect him to use it again so soon.

The tile is cool against my bare feet as I roll out of bed. I collect the phone from the nightstand with one fluid movement, unhindered by sheets or the morning sluggishness that an average person might face. Stepping through the propped-open patio doors and onto the balcony, I answer with a low, curt “Yeah.” The sky is just beginning to lighten over the quiet bay. Dozens of boats sit moored below, their passengers lulled into deep sleep by the ocean air and rhythmic waves. I’m high enough up that I’m not likely to offend anyone with my lack of clothing, especially at this hour. Not that I’m truly concerned by it.

“Ice.”

The code name is a sharp contrast to the warm breeze skating across my bare skin. My adrenaline begins to spike, all the same. Hearing it means that I will be forced to leave this haven soon. Sooner than I had hoped.

“How is recovery going?”

I instinctively peer down at the angry red scar on the outside of my thigh, where a bullet drilled into my flesh and muscle just three weeks ago, outside of Kabul. I nearly bled out before I made it to the doc. He patched me up on a makeshift operating table, buried deep in a maze of rooms, and charged me a hefty price.

“Like new,” I lie.

“Good.” Bentley’s voice is rich and smooth, a welcome sound in a sea of strangers. “Where are you now?”

I peer out over the beautiful vista of crystal blue water and whitewashed stone buildings, the volcanic rock cliffs in the distance, reluctant to divulge my location. I sank a good chunk of my last payout on renting this one-bedroom villa for the month. It’s my private sanctuary, where I can revel in anonymity and peace for a while, before finding somewhere else to drift to.

Bentley has never asked before.

But he also has the technical capabilities to trace this call. If he really wants to find out, then he will. In fact, the second I picked up, he probably already had his answer. “Where do I need to be?” I say instead.

“San Francisco.”

And don’t miss the previous titles in the Burying Water Series!

BURYING WATER

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iBooks ** Kobo ** IndieBound

BECOMING RAIN

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iBooks ** Kobo ** IndieBound

 

CHASING RIVER

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iBooks ** Kobo ** IndieBound

        About K.A. Tucker: 

 Born in small-town Ontario, K.A. Tucker published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.          

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