Review & Giveaway: Come to Me Softly by A.L.Jackson

Come to Me Softly (Closer to You #2) by A.L. Jackson

Publication Date: June 24th 2014 by NAL

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

About the book:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Come to Me Quietly comes a scorching new adult romance in the Closer to You series.

A second chance at life…
A second chance at love…

Jared Holt never thought he deserved either—until he found both in the arms of Aly Moore. Aly has loved Jared for as long as she can remember, and she’s more than ready for the future they’re making together. But Jared can’t help remembering his own family. And he’ll never forgive himself for what happened to them. How can he allow himself the very happiness he once destroyed?

To live a life worthy of Aly, Jared knows he has to stop running and finally put his past to rest. But when he decides to face his demons head on, he encounters more than he bargained for: a dangerous mix of jealousy, lies, and dishonest intentions. When those intentions threaten Aly, Jared loses all control, giving into the rage that earned him his bad boy reputation years before. And he’ll fight to protect her no matter what it costs…even if he destroys himself in the process.

My Thoughts:

*******Spoilers ahead if you haven’t read the first book.*******

Come to Me Softly picks up with Aleena and Jared’s reunion after three months apart when he realizes he can’t live without her and comes back.  Jared is both scared and cautiously excited about Aly’s pregnancy, but he’s is still haunted by the guilt from his past.  Jared feels he doesn’t deserve Aly or the happiness she bring, but he’s no longer willing to part with her.  So these two commit and resolve to do whatever it takes to make it work.

Aly is beyond thrilled that Jared came back, but at the back of her mind she knows that if Jared doesn’t deal with his guilt and pain they won’t ever be able to make a true go of things.  But Aly’s willing to be patient for Jared to realize that he is worthy of their happy future.

“God, Aly, what did I ever do to deserve you?”

I pressed myself to him, to his gorgeous body and the power that radiated from his spirit. That warmth covered me whole. “It doesn’t work like that.  We don’t earn love…it’s a gift we’re given.”

My heart went out to Jared both in this story and the first one, because he shouldered so much guilt and pain that he clearly didn’t deserve.  I was excited that he wised up enough to realize that he and Aly belonged together. These two were meant to be from childhood.  I wanted nothing more than for these two to have their HEA because unrequited love stories always get to me, and there were big payoffs in this installment in that regard. They are so utterly sweet together, and you just feel the intense, burning passion they have for each other.  But I knew as a reader that Jared was ticking time bomb waiting to explode.  I was happy that it wasn’t near as bad as I expected and that Jared and Aly dealt with things pretty maturely.

Come to Me Softly is beautifully written, and A.L. Jackson really can make you feel all the powerful emotions of her characters.  But here’s the tricky part, while I did really enjoy this story, I didn’t love it. I felt Jared and Aly’s inner thoughts were too repetitive.  Their feelings on each other and the battles they faced were repeated over and over and I ended up skimming parts because it was too much for me. I just wanted the story to move on.  I feel like this story could’ve been shortened by about 50-100 pages.  Still, even with that issue, my heart soared with joy for Jared and Aly by the end.

 3.5 Suns

Connect with A.L. Jackson

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

The publisher generously provided a Paperback copy of Come to Me Softly to one Waves of Fiction follower. Open US residents only.  Just fill the rafflecopter for a chance to win.

Review & Giveaway: When Day Breaks by Maya Banks

When Day Breaks (KGI #9) by Maya Banks
Publication Date: June 24th 2014 by Penguin
Purchase Links: Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

About the book:

The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super-elite, top secret, family-run business.
Qualifications: High intelligence, rock-hard body, military background.
Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the U.S. government can’t…

Eden is said to be one of the most beautiful women in the world. Her face has graced countless magazines and her body has sold millions of dollars of clothing. But her fame and beauty has earned her more than she ever imagined. Evil is stalking her, determined to extinguish the ethereal beauty forever.

Swanson or “Swanny” as his teammates call him is always up for the next mission. He came back from Afghanistan wounded and scarred. Hardly the kind of man who even belongs in the same room with Eden. And yet there’s something about the quiet beauty that stirs his blood and makes him dream of the impossible. Because Beauty loving the beast only happens in fairy tales and KGI doesn’t deal in fairy tales. Ever.

My Thoughts:

Eden is a supermodel whose beautiful face has graced countless magazine covers.  But her life is about to be turned upside down when an attempt is made on her life which throws her into the protective arms of Swanny, and his teammates at KGI.

Swanny remembers Eden’s pictures and sweet, thoughtful letters her brother shared during their time in the military while stationed in Afghanistan.  The thought of Eden in danger brings all of his protective instincts to life.  When his team is sent in to guard her, Swanny takes point in the assignment even though he’s not technically the leader.  He just can’t help it.  Right away Eden zeroes in on him just as he’s focused on her, but he can’t fathom why.  He knows the facial scar he gained while held captive brings out pity in others, sometimes even disgust, so what could Eden, one of the most beautiful women in the world want with him?

This story is one of instant chemistry and attraction. Both Swanny and Eden felt an immediate magnetic pull between them, but both are plagued by insecurities and doubt. Both wonder if the other feels as strongly and as deeply, but that doesn’t hold them apart for long. 

I truly felt for Swanny, who felt like Beast to Eden’s Beauty:

“What could I possibly have to offer you? I feel like we’re caught up in a modern Beauty and the Beast situation. I’m not handsome. Most would consider me ugly. I’m scarred not just on my face but on my entire body. How could you want someone like me?”

He went through unimaginable horrors in Afghanistan while held captive, and so it’s not only scarred him physically, but emotionally as well.  Eden doesn’t see any of the scars when she looks at Swanny. She sees a completely sexy, honorable man. Eden is just as insecure with Swanny wondering if he thinks of her only as a superficial beauty. But Swanny sees Eden’s beauty inside and out.

I really enjoyed this story and Eden and Swanny had lots of chemistry leading to some pretty hot scenes.  This was an insta-love/lust situation and it didn’t bother me, because I get that. There are times I’ve met someone, and had an instant, strong connection, and just clicked, so I can totally relate.  The only drawback for me with this story was the repetitive inner thoughts from both characters.  Even so I wouldn’t mind continuing with this series because I do adore romantic suspense.

 3.5 Suns

Connect with Maya Banks:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

The publisher graciously provided a Paperback Copy of When Day Breaks to one Waves of Fiction follower.  US Residents only.  Just fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win.  Good luck!

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Razed by Shiloh Walker

RAZED, a sexy romance by award-winning author, Shiloh Walker, is the much awaited sequel to WRECKED in the Barnes Brothers series and it releases this December from Berkley!

Take a look at the cover and let us know what you think!

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a signed paperback copy of WRECKED, along with some fabulous swag! (Yes, it’s international :))

Razed (Barnes Brothers #2) by Shiloh Walker

Expected Publication Date: December 2nd 2014 by Berkley

Purchase Links: Indiebound | BN | BAMM | iBooks | Amazon

About the book:

Tattoo artist Keelie Jessup can handle that someone else has claimed the man of her dreams. She’s just not pleased with her remaining options…

Keelie doesn’t believe in the “perfect man.” But the men who are worth the trouble are usually taken—like her business partner Zach Barnes. After a string of bad luck and the lost chance with Zach, Keelie decides that maybe flying solo—and living with suppressed desires—is the key to happiness.

As a photographer, Zane Barnes has an eye for the human form, and his eyes can’t get enough of Keelie’s curves. Unfortunately, Keelie is like most women—always fawning over his little brother, Zach. Zane is about ready to give up, but then a few stolen moments at his brother’s wedding have him thinking maybe there’s a chance there after all. Now he just has to prove that the perfect man does exist…for her.

 Also in the Barnes Brothers series: WRECKED by Shiloh Walker!

Click on cover for Goodreads link:

About Shiloh Walker:

Shiloh Walker has been writing since she was a kid... she fell in love with vampires with the book Bunnicula and has worked her way up to the more...ah... serious vampire stories. She loves reading and writing anything paranormal, anything fantasy, but most all anything romantic. Once upon a time, she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest. She also writes under the pen name J. C. Daniels.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Review: Kiss a Falling Star by Barbara Elsborg

Kiss a Falling Star by Barbara Elsborg
Published March 4th 2011 by Ellora's Cave

How far can you fall? Caspar had once shone brighter than any star in the sky. He led an exciting life, had a good job and the love of his family. Now he barely survives in a village where he's shunned by everyone, even his parents. Unemployed, unemployable, he consoles himself with stringless sex-lots of it.

How hard can you land? Ally escapes death by a whisker when she falls in front of a train. Not an accident, someone pushed her, and she doesn't hang around to give them another shot. But she finds herself falling in a different way when she meets Caspar, and she plummets hard and fast. He's dark, he's brooding, he's hotter than any man she's ever met, and she wants him-bad.

How high can they soar? With Ally's adversary closing in, plus Caspar's tendency to screw things up, if they don't open their arms and catch each other, they'll burn up in an atmosphere determined to keep them apart.

My Thoughts

I love Elsborg's writing... ESPECIALLY when she couples two unlikely people and shares their journey with sexy, witty banter, tons of chemistry and high action adventure.

Caspar and Ally were a perfect match in all the right ways. When Ally find herself running off to her brother's cottage after several attempts on her life, she meets the recluse, outcast Caspar. Ally makes it her mission to get to know him despite the villagers warning her to keep her distance. Throughout the entire novel, these two match up like oil and water, but it's the perfect combustible combination. I loved Ally's constant quest to redeem Caspar, and it was hard not to fall for this brooding, sexy man. They were a great match!!

As signature to Elsborg’s style, she wins her readers over immediately with her funny, smart and sexy dialog. Her characters are often bumbling messes, but that’s what makes her adventures even more fun. I can always count on Elsborg to entertain me and make me fall in love with her cast.

I’ve just about exhausted my list of possibilities with this author because I’ve breezed through most of her novels. Write more Elsborg!! Lots more!!

4 Suns

Release Day Blitz & Giveaway: Come to Me Softly by A.L. Jackson

Happy Release Day to A.L Jackson as we celebrate her new book Come to Me Softly!!

From the New York Times bestselling author of Come to Me Quietly comesa scorching new adult romance in the Closer to You series.
A second chance at life…
A second chance at love…  Jared Holt never thought he deserved either—until he found both in the arms of Aly Moore. Aly has loved Jared for as long as she can remember, and she’s more than ready for the future they’re making together. But Jared can’t help remembering his own family. And he’ll never forgive himself for what happened to them. How can he allow himself the very happiness he once destroyed? To live a life worthy of Aly, Jared knows he has to stop running and finally put his past to rest. But when he decides to face his demons head on, he encounters more than he bargained for: a dangerous mix of jealousy, lies, and dishonest intentions. When those intentions threaten Aly, Jared loses all control, giving into the rage that earned him his bad boy reputation years before. And he’ll fight to protect her no matter what it costs…even if he destroys himself in the process.

*Enjoy the trailer created by the wonderful Becca the Bibliophile*

♥BUY YOUR COPY OF COME TO ME SOFTLY♥

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Be sure to join us for the Come to Me Softly Read Along Party! We’re kicking off the celebration on June 24^th with a ton of prizes, then the read along begins. Daily prizes all the way up to grand prize on July 2^nd!

Grand Prize: Coach Bag stuff with A.L. Jackson Goodies!

♥JOIN THE COME TO ME SOFTLY READ ALONG PARTY!♥

Come to Me Softly Release Celebration Giveaway!

Grand Prize: Coach Bag, Kindle Paperwhite, and A.L. Jackson Swag

Second Prize: Come to Me Quietly Custom Charm Necklace

Third Prize: A.L. Jackson Swag Pack

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♥BUY BOOK 1 IN THE CLOSER TO YOU SERIES♥

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Aleena Moore is content with her life. She has goals and dreams and an easy smile. She also has a secret she holds locked inside. Jared Holt believes he doesn’t deserve to love or be loved. He destroys everything he touches. Haunted by the mistake that shattered his life, he’s fled from the memory of that pain. Jared doesn’t know why he’s compelled to return, but finds himself drawn back to the place where it all began. The exact place where it ended. When he runs into his childhood best friend, Aleena’s older brother Christopher, he agrees to share Christopher and Aleena’s apartment while he looks for a place of his own. Aleena is no longer the little girl Jared remembers from his past and evokes feelings in him he never wanted to feel again. Terrified of destroying her, he fights to keep her away. But her touch is something he can’t resist—the touch that sealed his fate. Their pasts are intertwined and their futures uncertain. The only truths they know are the secrets they whisper in the night.

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Take This Regret and Lost to You, as well as other contemporary romance titles, including Pulled, When We Collide, If Forever Comes, and Come to Me Quietly. She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life. Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children. Look for Come to Me Softly and When We Met: Behind Her Eyes coming soon.

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Blog Tour & Giveaway: Hold on Tight by Serena Bell

I'm excited to be part of the Blog Tour for Hold on Tight by Serena Bell because it sounds like an awesome story and because Serena is giving away part of the book sales to Ride 2 Recovery an injured veterans support group. Pretty amazing, right?! Be sure to scroll down for a chance to win a this generous Giveaway: $30 e-Giftcard, an e-Copy of Yours to Keep by Serena Bell, Loveswept tote & mug.

Hold on Tight by Serena Bell

A Loveswept Contemporary Romance

On Sale June 17, 2014

Purchase Links:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iBooks  |  Google Play  |  Kobo  |  Other retailers

In Serena Bell’s heartwarming novel, a young mother and a battle-scarred veteran must decide if they can rekindle the sparks they once shared. Fighting for his country gave Jake Taylor’s life shape and meaning. Now as an injured war hero he struggles to find purpose, until he runs into the gorgeous woman he dated briefly—and disastrously—before being deployed eight years ago. Turns out Jake doesn’t just need to figure out how to be a civilian . . . he also needs to learn how to be a dad.

Eighteen, pregnant, and totally lost, Mira Shipley couldn’t track down the soldier who fathered her child, so she put college on hold and focused on making a good life for her son. Now she’s determined to be something more than Sam’s mom, her parents’ daughter, or Jake’s girl—as hot as she finds her old flame’s take-charge attitude in and out of bed. Soon Mira and Jake realize that their passion didn’t disappear when Sam was conceived—and that instead of running away, sometimes it’s better to hold on tight.

ABOUT SERENA BELL:

Serena Bell writes stories about how sex messes with your head, why smart people sometimes do stupid things, and how love can make it all better. She wrote her first steamy romance before she was old enough to understand what all the words meant and has been perfecting the art of hiding pages and screens from curious eyes ever since—a skill that’s particularly useful now that she’s the mother of two school-aged children.

Connect with Serena Bell on her website, Facebook and Twitter. 

Review & Giveaway: With This Heart by R.S. Grey

With This Heart by R.S. Grey
Published April 6th 2014 by Createspace

If someone had told me a year ago that I was about to fall in love, go on an epic road trip, ride a Triceratops, sing on a bar, and lose my virginity, I would have assumed they were on drugs.

Well, that is, until I met Beckham.

Beck was mostly to blame for my recklessness. Gorgeous, clever, undeniably charming Beck barreled into my life as if it were his mission to make sure I never took living for granted. He showed me that there were no boundaries, rules were for the spineless, and a kiss was supposed to happen when I least expected.

Beck was the plot twist that took me by surprise. Two months before I met him, death was knocking at my door. I'd all but given up my last scrap of hope when suddenly, I was given a second chance at life. This time around, I wasn't going to let it slip through my fingers.

We set out on a road trip with nothing to lose and no guarantees of tomorrow.

Our road trip was about young, reckless love.

The kind of love that burns bright.

The kind of love that no road-map could bring me back from.

My Thoughts

Thank you so much to R.S. Grey for sending me a signed copy of With This Heart. I absolutely adored Abby and Beck! Couple an awesome pair of characters and a road trip, and you’ve instantly won my heart. That’s exactly what Grey did with her novel. Such bliss!

In With This Heart, we have the pleasure of meeting Abby who is ready to live her life to the fullest after a long bout of suffering from a congenital heart disease. At the age of nineteen, she is a recipient of a heart transplant, and her desire is to live life to its fullest. When she meets the gorgeous, tender hearted Beck and they make an impulsive plan to set off on a road trip, these two begin to discover the possibility of love and the meaning of enjoying the here and now.

Abby was such a fun narrator for this story. I adored her awkward moments and innocent reactions throughout the book. To read about someone that from such a young age never thought it was important to plan for a future because according to doctors and specialists, her time lime was limited, was absolutely rewarding. I cared about her instantly, and I commended some of the hard choices she was forced to make, especially toward the end of the story.

I really wish we would have had a few more chapters from Beck’s perspective. He had the stage at the end of the book, and BOY did I love his voice. I think I would have appreciated the opportunity to get to know him more from the beginning, but throughout the novel he could do no wrong, so I have nothing but fondness for this character.

Overall, the book gave me a rewarding road trip fix and a fictional adventure that’s made me an instant fan of R.S. Grey. Love!

4 Suns

We is giving away an ebook of With This Heart by R.S. Grey to one lucky Waves of Fiction Bloglovin Follower who can receive an ebook from either US Amazon or US Barnes & Noble. Simply fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win!

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Cover Reveal: All or Nothing by Kendall Ryan

ABOUT ALL OR NOTHING:

You’ve met Ben Shaw. Now meet Braydon Kincaid, the devil-may-care male model who nearly stole the show in Working It by New York Times bestselling author Kendall Ryan.

As one of the world’s most sought-after male models, Braydon is no stranger to the finer pleasures in life. The last thing he wants to do is limit himself, especially when it comes to women. His best friend, Ben, might’ve settled down, but Braydon doesn’t want to waste his youth on the messy complications of commitment. He wants fun. He wants easy.

Ellie isn’t looking for a casual relationship, but her tough and sassy personality instantly attracts Braydon, who proposes a “friends with benefits” arrangement. Unable to resist the powerful pull of the charming bad boy, Ellie eventually relents, though she longs for all-consuming love.

As the two spend more time together, Ellie soon realizes that Braydon’s posing skills extend off the runway. His carefully crafted façade masks a secret hurt that he’s reluctant to share with Ellie, even as they embark on a passionate affair that sends them hurtling toward a fate neither expected. Can Ellie risk her heart while she waits for Braydon to let her in, or will she be forced to demand all or nothing?

About Kendall Ryan:

Kendall Ryan is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the contemporary romance novels Unravel Me, Make Me Yours, Hard to Love, Resisting Her, The Impact of You, Working It and Craving Him. She's a sassy yet polite Midwestern gal with a deep love of books and a slight addiction to lip gloss.

All Or Nothing by Kendall Ryan

Paperback: Atria Books | 272 pages | ISBN: 9781476764641 | September 9, 2014 | $15.00

eBook: Atria Books | 352 pages | ISBN: 9781476764658 | September 9, 2014 | $7.99

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Review: In the Fields by Willow Aster

In the Fields by Willow Aster (Goodreads Author)

Published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

1971—In the tiny, backward town of Tulma, Tennessee, optimistic, bookish Caroline Carson unwittingly finds herself in the middle of a forbidden romance. Severely neglected by her family and forced to flee Tulma to protect her secrets, Caroline’s young life comes crashing down around her. She finds refuge in a new town, but the past always has a way of stretching around time and stirring up trouble.

When a new love comes into her life, she has to decide if she can give her heart to someone else, or if she will always be tied to someone she can’t have.

Willow Aster is the author of True Love Story and In the Fields, and many more to come. She loves her crazy life with her husband and kids.

My Thoughts

Beautiful story, unforgettable characters and amazing conclusion. Willow Aster proves once again she was born with a pen in her hand and a gorgeous story to tell straight from her heart. Isaiah, Caroline, Gracie and Davis were perfection personified through fiction.

Now for full disclosure… I have a feeling this book might not be for everyone, and I believe I appreciated the story as much as I did because I needed something with depth, emotion and heart. There are some scenes in this story that are tough to absorb because of the violence and insensitivity from some of the characters. However, Aster pushed the boundaries in many ways to bring her readers to a time and place that is unforgettable and powerful.

In the Fields takes us back to 1971, where Caroline and Isaiah both live in Tennessee during a time when segregation and racial bigotry is rampant. This affects their love story because Carolina is white and Isaiah is black. However, as love has dictated from the beginning of time, the heart wants what the heart wants. Despite the many obstacles they face because of the time and place they live in, their love runs strong and deep.

Overall, this story was absolute perfection. I adored Isaiah for his patient and passionate ways, and when the author coupled him with a strong heroine like Caroline, the story turned magical. There were so many moments in this book that pulled me in so strongly, and I attribute that to Willow Aster’s ability to create a world with such detail and realism that the reader can’t help but fall into the pages of the story.

I loved In the Fields! Plain and simple. It’s left me contemplating the characters and events for days. When a book brands itself on my brain like that, I know the author did something right. Adore!

5 Suns

Review: Losing Control by Jen Fredrick

Losing Control (Kerr Chronicles #1) by Jen Frederick

Publication Date: June 16th 2014

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

I’d do anything to keep my mother alive.

Anything, including ask Ian Kerr for help. I don’t know much about him, except that he has more money than some small countries. And he’s willing to spend it on me. Just one catch: there’s a string attached, and not just the one I feel pulling me into his arms and his bed. There’s also the plan for revenge he wants my help with.

Every time he says my name, it makes my body shiver and my heart stutter. I know he’s going to wreck me, know there won’t be anything left of me but lust and sensation by the time he’s done with me, but even though I can see the heartbreak coming towards me like a train, ready to crash into me, I can’t get out of the way. I want what he makes me feel. Want what he’s offering.

This may have started out as something to save my mother, but now…now it’s about what he makes me feel. I’m in danger of losing everything that’s important. Worse? Ian's whispered words and hot caresses are making me believe that's okay.

My Thoughts:

Losing Control was an intense romance with a side of revenge.

Victoria’s mother, Sophie fought cancer and won, but without it draining all of their resources.  Now that the cancer is back Victoria resolves to do just about anything to pay for her mother’s treatments, and care.  Sophie is her much beloved mother and best friend and she means the world to Victoria.  As a bike messenger her pay isn’t the greatest but she doesn’t have many options available due to a reading/learning disability never properly addressed.  Taking on more shady deliveries puts her on Ian Kerr’s radar and he has a much more lucrative job offer for her.  Rich and handsome, this man spells all kinds of danger for Victoria, or “Tiny” and it seems that her heart is most at risk. He’s intense and relentless in his pursuit of Victoria.   Can they keep the boundaries between the job of revenge and their love life separate?

Ian’s family suffered an unjust and tragic blow and he can’t let go of the past.  Someone needs to pay and Ian’s willing to do whatever it takes to inflict his revenge, that is until Victoria comes into the picture. Suddenly his thirst for revenge isn’t as urgent, especially if it risks her in any way.  She pushes his protective and possessive feelings to extreme levels.

This relationship was reminiscent of Fifty to me, in a completely good way!  It brought to mind the  powerful and desperate need for each Anna and Christen Grey had with some smoking hot results!

“I wanted to delay making love to you until I was completely sure you were with me—mind, body and soul—because yes, Tiny, you are mine. And this isn’t for show.”

“I’ll never have enough of you.”

This story doesn’t wrap up, but it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger either, more of a “to be continued” situation.  The revenge plot is unresolved, and it leaves an uncertainty that makes me uneasy about what is to come. 

4 Suns

About the Author:

Bestselling author Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She's been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com

Connect with Jen Frederick:

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Review: The King (Black Dagger Brotherhood #2) by J.R. Ward

The King (Black Dagger Brotherhood #12) by J.R. Ward
Published April 1st 2014 by Penguin Group (USA)

J.R. Ward's # 1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood continues as a royal bloodline is compromised by a grave threat to the throne.

Long live the King…


After turning his back on the throne for centuries, Wrath, son of Wrath, finally assumed his father’s mantle--with the help of his beloved mate. But the crown sets heavily on his head. As the war with the Lessening Society rages on, and the threat from the Band of Bastards truly hits home, he is forced to make choices that put everything--and everyone--at risk.

Beth Randall thought she knew what she was getting into when she mated the last pure blooded vampire on the planet: An easy ride was not it. But when she decides she wants a child, she’s unprepared for Wrath’s response--or the distance it creates between them.

The question is, will true love win out... or tortured legacy take over?

My Thoughts

I feel like I’ve said this before because I probably have, but once again… I’m getting close to calling it quits with JR Ward’s BDB series. Now I know I said I wouldn’t read this installment after the huge disappointment I experienced with Qhuinn and Bhlay in the previous book, but I fell for the hype and at the end of the day, I truly am a BDB fan on some sort of deep level.

However, as with most of the books that have come after the fifth or sixth installment in this series, I’ve completely lost interest in Ward’s secondary stories. They are just noise to me at this point and when I find myself skimming everything that’s not coming directly from the Brothers’ perspectives, I have to admit that a portion of this story has lost its appeal.

My favorite moments were between Beth and Wrath… of course. I even fell into the story when Wrath’s parents took the stage. I liked how it all played out between these main characters and if the story was a fraction of the size because it simply focused on just Wrath and Beth, I probably would have given it closer to five stars.

I won’t even waste my time speculating about why Ward ignored Qhuay in this installment, so I’ll chalk it up to her not being a MM writer and maybe she needs time, research and writing practice for that skill. I’ll leave it at that…

As for Sola and Assail, simply stated… I didn’t care for them at all. For a while there, I thought Ward forgot she left Sola in the trunk of the car. Assail had some bad habits I don’t care reading about, so in the end, I skimmed over their portions.

iAm, Trez and Selena were of mild interest to me, but I really don’t get how the Shadows fit into the BDB world. At the end of the day, they seem to just take up space in the book.

I’m so confused about John Matthews. Is he Beth’s brother? Her reincarnated father? What did I miss?

Zcor and Layla’s part could have been summed up in a short paragraph and the fact that he gives up on the quest for the thrown so easily left me baffled. Overall, I really don’t care what happens to these two.

I still feel resentful every time Jane makes an appearance. I stand firm on my opinion that her ghostly form just doesn’t work. She can patch up a million injuries and deliver a thousand vampire babies, but she still won’t make it on my list of characters I care about. Ward messed up her story the first time and she should just let her go!

Overall, the jury is still out as to whether I’ll invest in unlucky book 13. At a point where I only care about Qhuay and Rhage, chances are I might not crack that book open, but we’ll see. Stranger things have happened.

3 Suns

Release Day Launch, Review & Giveaway: Better When He's Bad by Jay Crownover

 

I'm thrilled to be part of the Release Day Launch for BETTER WHEN HE’S BAD by Jay Crownover, because I loved this story!  BETTER WHEN HE'S BAD is the first novel in her Welcome to the Point Series published by William Morrow, and imprint of HarperCollins. This book, and the series to come, is one you don't want to miss!! As part of this post I have my review, an excerpt, and a very generous giveaway!

Better When He's Bad (Welcome to the Point #1) by Jay Crownover

Publication Date: June 17th 2014 by William Morrow

Purchase Links:   Amazon US ** iBooks ** Barnes and Noble ** Kobo

About BETTER WHEN HE’S BAD: 

  New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jay Crownover returns with a heart-stopping new series… Welcome to the Point. There’s a difference between a bad boy and a boy who’s bad . . . meet Shane Baxter. Sexy, dark, and dangerous, Bax isn’t just from the wrong side of the tracks, he is the wrong side of the tracks. A criminal, a thug, and a brawler, he’s the master of bad choices, until one such choice landed him in prison for five years. Now Bax is out and looking for answers, and he doesn’t care what he has to do or who he has to hurt to get them. But there’s a new player in the game, and she’s much too innocent, much too soft…and standing directly in his way. Dovie Pryce knows all about living a hard life and the tough choices that come with it. She’s always tried to be good, tried to help others, and tried not to let the darkness pull her down. But the streets are fighting back, things have gone from bad to worse, and the only person who can help her is the scariest, sexiest, most complicated ex-con The Point has ever produced. Bax terrifies her, awakening feelings she never thought she’d have for a guy like him. But it doesn’t take Dovie long to realize . . . some boys are just better when they’re bad.  

My Thoughts:

Better When He’s Bad sucked me in from the first page with its oh-so-sexy antihero, Bax!  Danger, a fiery hot romance, and captivating characters start this series off with a bang!

Shane Baxter or “Bax” has just been released from a five year stint in prison knowing he’s been setup.  Revenge and payback is high on his list of priorities.  But the first person he goes looking for is his best friend, Race.  When Bax finds out that Race went missing the minute Bax got out, he sets out to find him, but it looks like Race is running from some trouble and Bax isn’t the only one trying to track him down.  His search leads him to Dovie Price, Race’s sister, a seemingly innocent and untouched girl. She’s completely not his type in any way, but there’s something magnetic about Dovie, the redheaded spitfire, and he can’t keep away:

That red hair wasn’t a lie. She was all kinds of fiery and full of fight. I shouldn’t like that nearly as much as I did.

Dovie Price knows how to keep her head down and survive. She’s been in and out of sketchy foster homes until Race, the brother she never knew about, rescued her from bad situation.  Race is everything to Dovie so when he goes missing she makes it her mission to find and help him. Bax is just the type of guy she tries to stay away from, yet without his help Dovie’s chances of finding her brother are slim at best.  As they work together, she finds herself more and more drawn to the dark, broody, and dangerous, Bax:

He was scary hot, and having him that close, being that intimate with him, was terrifyingly encompassing.

Dovie sees the rough side of Bax, but she also gets parts of him that make her feel precious and protected.  Both parts attract her wildly, and Dovie can’t help but fall fast and hard.  Their matchup was unexpected, but so very steamy! 

It was impossible for me not to fall for Bax even when he was unapologetic for the life he led, because underneath all his grit and questionable morals was a big heart.  Bax is loyal and willing to protect the few that he loves and cares for.  Dovie seems to make it on that list fairly quickly, and what follows is an intensely passionate romance!

Jay Crownover has a way of making you love the imperfect characters she creates, and Bax is no exception.  Dovie was just the right amount of sweet and pure to inspire him to be a better man, not completely good, but that works for these two.  I can’t wait to read this next one!

Favorite Quote:

“I’ve never had very clean hands, but the first time I touched you, that first gasp out of that perfect mouth, the first time I thrust into you, God, Dovie, you made me feel like I was the king in the land of second chances.”

 4.5 Suns

  

Excerpt:

I let out the breath I was holding and took another step closer to her. The water was splashing on the sleeve of my shirt as I reached up to grab both of her cheeks in my palms. “Are you scared of me?”

It was the start of the questions I had asked her what felt like a lifetime ago. Her answer didn’t change, but this time when she answered, she was holding back a smile that made my heart hurt.

“Terrified, but I kind of like it now.”

“Do you trust me?” My voice broke. I had never really trusted anyone but Race and now there was her and my brother and just all kinds of new things making my life so much more complicated and undeniably fuller.

“With my life. I trust all the parts of you, Bax. You need to know that.”

 “You going to go to bed with me?” That made her outright laugh and she reached up to curl her hands around my wrists.

 “As often as I can and anyplace in between when the mood strikes.” The rest of the blood racing around my system went solidly south.

I dropped my forehead so it was resting on hers and the water from the showerhead was cascading down around us. I was making a mess, but I didn’t care because I had her, and she was my home. “Do you love me?”

The words sounded so foreign, but so right, when I was saying them to her. She brushed her full lips across mine and the last three months without her faded away.

“Do you want me to lie to you or tell you the truth?”

 I smiled against her mouth and kissed her back twice as hard as she had kissed me. “Lie to me.”

 She reached up and put her arms around my neck and took a step back, dragging me all the way into the shower stall with her. The water was lukewarm at best, and it made me shiver. So did the fact that she started to impatiently pull the tail of my shirt up over my head. A task made increasingly difficult considering I was now soaked head to toe and the material was clinging to me.

 “Of course not. You’re the last person in the world I could love.”

 

About Jay Crownover: Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men series. She will also be introducing the dark and sexy world of The Point in a new series this summer starting with Better When He’s Bad. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she'll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.        

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GIVEAWAY: There is an international giveaway. It includes 5 prizes for 5 individual winners! 1st $100 Amazon gift card and a signed BETTER WHEN HE’S BAD for 1 winner 2nd $50 Amazon gift card and a signed BETTER WHEN HE’S BAD for 1 winner 3rd $25 Amazon gift card and a signed BETTER WHEN HE’S BAD for 1 winner 4th BETTER WHEN HE’S BAD swag and a signed BETTER WHEN HE’S BAD for 1 winner 5th BETTER WHEN HE’S BAD swag and a signed BETTER WHEN HE’S BAD for 1 winner