Review: Waiting On My Reason by Devon Ashley

Waiting On My Reason by Devon Ashley

Publication Date: January 21st 2014 

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book: 

She loves him. He loves her. But sometimes love just isn't that easy...

Everything happens for a reason. I just wish I knew the why behind mine.

Five years ago, graduation wasn’t what it was supposed to be. Publicly humiliated, Melanie was more than happy to kiss off her high school sweetheart. But in doing so, she lost more than just her boyfriend, she lost the only other guy she truly cared for – his best friend, Shane.

Shane loathed the idea of returning to his small hometown. He just wanted to get in, help his best friend manage a legal matter, and get the hell back out again. But he wasn’t expecting to run into the one girl who got away, who always held a piece of his heart despite the animosity that lingered. Melanie could’ve been the one, but after everything that happened, trust was a serious issue.

She just wanted to do right by her son. He just wanted to do right by his best friend. And just when they thought they could find the strength to forgive the sins of the past, more secrets and lies bubble to the surface, threatening to push them irrevocably apart.

My Thoughts:

Waiting On My Reason was an engrossing and quick read. It was a second chance romance full of chemistry with danger and suspense that made for an exciting read! Once I sat down I breezed right through, rapidly clicking the pages to find out what would happen next.

Shane and Melanie had Brad in common through high school. Brad was Shane’s best friend and Melanie was Brad’s girlfriend.  Shane planned on asking Melanie out back then but the day he was going to do it, Brad swooped in before him, and asked Mel himself. Shane had to endure watching his best friend and Mel together all the while wishing it was him in Brad’s place.

Mel loved Brad for a time, but gradually Shane crept into her heart.  The attraction and pull between them was strong, but Mel knew she could never act on it.  After Shane moved away, things between Brad degenerated with his constant drinking, and an unexpected series of events changed Mel’s plans for the future for good.  Shane is back in town but his reasons stir up trouble and danger for Mel.

Much of this story is unwinding lies and truths between Shane and Mel when they finally cross paths again five years later.  I wanted to shake Shane more than a few times and make him check his facts before hurling accusations!  Mel was understandably ticked for Shane jumping to conclusions, but she prolonged some of these misunderstandings as well by refusing to explain. Just when I was starting to get really impatient these two finally started talking (thankfully!) and their long held back feelings came out in full force.  

“Tell me what you want.” He leaned into me for a moment, his lips against my ear. “Say it’s me.”

That sent a shiver through my body, made my lower jaw actually twitch. I swallowed hard.

“Of course I want you.”

Shane and Mel had sizzling chemistry and their pent up desires from years of longing make for quite an explosion when they finally give in!

Throughout this story Mel runs into danger, and I just hoped nothing truly horrible would happen.  My nerves were on edge several times!

Devon Ashley’s writing is captivating, and entertaining. However, I did feel the ending was a little rushed, and issues that came up earlier in the story were not fully addressed.  I was pleased with the overall outcome, but I wished the future was a little more fleshed out, and an epilogue would’ve been welcome.  With that all said, this story had me hooked from the first page, and I really enjoyed the ride!

3.5 Suns

About the Author: I’m a mom, wife, a lover and a fighter, coffee addict, wicked knitster, Microbiologist, baker of fine yummy treats, and someone who will fight you to death for that last twinkie bag of M&Ms during the zombie-apocalypse. Seriously, my addiction is that important to me. Oh yeah, and writing is cool too!

Connect with Devon Ashley:

Blog | Goodreads | Facebook

New Release: The Plan by Qwen Salsbury

The Plan by Qwen Salsbury

Expected publication: February 11th 2014 by Omnific Publishing

About the book:
Day of Employment: 359
11:05 a.m.
Location: Cubicles outside Canon’s office.Co-workers: Betting on how long Canon’s new PA will last.Me: No doubts. Ms. Gum-smacker won’t last the day. I need to place my bet.Manolo Blahnik’s New Fall Shoes: Mine. As soon as Madeline hands over my winnings.
Emma Baker has never spoken a word to Alaric Canon, nor has he to her. But she’s studied him every day across the office tundra for almost a year. Canon is hard and fierce, terrifying and beautiful. He’s also the most stern, unforgiving person Emma has ever seen. Emma’s co-workers run a betting pool for Personal Assistant terminations. There’s a separate pot for the day one leaves without crying. Not likely…Canon made a former Navy SEAL cry.
He has high standards and low tolerance. Everyone knows it. Everyone stays away. Everyone who can, that is. Except Emma. She can’t look away. Alaric Canon is the single most attractive man she’s ever seen. Bar none.
Canon has never noticed her. Not once in almost a year. She’s not even a blip on his radar. But she will be. His radar will be blipless no more.
It is a goal. Emma has a plan.

My Thoughts:

First of all, thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC and opportunity to read this fantastic debut!

If you're looking for a romantic comedy with some very steamy and erotic moments - this book is perfect! I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis of this book and once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. It's very Devil Wears Prada - only the boss is a really hot guy!

Alaric Canon is super hot but with a reputation of being a major asshole. Every personal assistant he's ever had doesn't manage to last very long, and there's an office pool going for every PA that comes and goes.

Emma Baker has worked for the same company for a year and has been obsessed with Canon from day one. Determined to get him to notice her, just to see if he's really human and not the asshole everyone thinks he is, she devises a plan to get his attention. But before she can even execute her plan, her boss drops the bomb that Emma will be working as Canon's PA on a temporary basis.

Emma knows Canon better than any PA that's walked through the doors. She has watched him and obsessed over him for a year. No one can do the job better than her. Except she doesn't want the job and this isn't how she wanted to get noticed.

Now she's faced with going on a business trip with Canon and playing the role of perfect PA, all while not being true to herself. And Emma will learn that there is so much more to the man who she is falling for.

Without going into too many details that will give away all of the greatness that is this book - I just have to say how much I enjoyed it! I loved the authors humor and writing style. It's written in a choppy way that is quick and makes it hard to put down. I will say that the choppy writing did become a little harder to read towards the end. But by that point, I was so happy with the way the book turned out and had fallen head-over-heals for Alaric Canon! Not to mention all of the butterflies I got while reading their steamy moments...the chemistry between these two was perfect!

This was a fantastic debut that I really enjoyed and I'm glad I decided to pick this one up!

4.5 Suns

Blog Tour: A Fighting Chance by A.J. Sand

Today, we're exciting to join ATOMR for A.J. Sand's blog tour of A Fighting Chance. For our stop we have the book details, a review, and a tour wide giveaway. Enjoy!

A Fighting Chance by A.J. Sand 

New Adult/Adult Romantic Suspense
Released February 4, 2014

Purchase Links: Amazon

Jesse Chance is a bastard.

And that’s all he heard his entire life growing up once news got out that he was the illegitimate child of womanizing ex-con, Henry Chance.

Stuck in Glory, Texas, a town too small to escape the sins of his parents, Jesse turned into exactly what everyone expected him to be: a lover of liquor and women, and so good with his fists, he became a teenage champion of the secret underground fighting rings that float around the South, while doubting the only people who ever believed he could be more, his ailing mother, and his girlfriend, Drew Hallisay.

But determined to make his mother’s dying wish come true, he enrolled in a college on the East Coast, far away from his past. Jesse Chance is reborn into a new life, and set on keeping Glory, Texas--and Henry Chance--in his rear view.

Until a visit from his father in the middle of the night changes everything.

Forced to return to Glory to prevent a tragedy, Jesse is soon back on the fighting circuit with Drew's help and facing the history he was so desperate to escape, the part of him he would prefer to hide.

As he slips back into his old ways--Henry Chance's ways--he finds himself torn between the guy he was and the one he’s been struggling to become. And in a world dead set on betting against you, can you ever really overcome your past… or your destiny?

My Thoughts

Jesse Chance has crafted a nice life for himself after leaving his hometown of Glory and his high school girlfriend Drew behind over four years ago. He was a fighter that both loathed and loved being in a fighting ring, which was the only place his father ever took notice of him. After his mother dies, he packs up and leaves his hometown to finish school and begin a new chapter. Years later, he’s just about to graduate from college and go on a trip of a lifetime with his college girlfriend and best friend, when it all takes a turn the night his father comes looking for him.

Jesse learns that Henry has landed into some trouble that has him owing thousands of dollars because of a business deal gone south. The people he owes are now threating his younger step brother who’s only ten years old, and Jesse can't stand by to see it all fall apart. Despite his father never being there for him, he makes a choice to go back in the ring to settle his father’s debt and protect the brother he never really knew. When Drew comes into the picture to help him train and manage his fights, they realize their old feelings for one another are still burning strong. However, they might not get out alive when they discover that the fights are cartel-sponsored and the people his father owes want him dead.

I loved the underlying messages that were shared throughout the story. Jesse’s mother fought hard to teach her son that he never let himself be defined by who decided to love him or how people treated him. There were evident discriminations he faced coming from a small down, being the product of an affair and being African American. It was inspiring to see him make something of himself, but at the same time never let go of his roots and beliefs that grounded him. It broke my heart to see how his father treated him, and I struggled with Henry Chance from the beginning of the novel. But despite how his father disregarded him, Jesse came to his rescue when there was nothing there in return for him.

“I didn’t like the idea of fighting, but I wanted something – anything – about me to warrant his acknowledgement. The first time I climbed into the ring, on a really stupid whim, he stood front row. He saw me again that night, and he never took his eyes off me.”
Overall, I have to say it was Jesse’s solid character that made this story phenomenal and impactful. He fought hard inside and outside of the ring to protect those he cared for and make sure he lived by his mother’s guidance. Jesse’s life was marred with constant struggles, but he never let that stop him from breaking free from what held him back and making a good life for himself in the end.

I struggled a bit with the secondary characters, especially the dead beat dad Henry and college girlfriend Lydia. However, I was impressed with how Jesse handled these negative forces in his life. In the end, I was happy with the decisions Jesse made and the conclusions he came to as a result of going back into the ring to fight for someone that never really loved him.

Great story that was balanced with an original plot, worthy characters and heartfelt moments. Well done.

4 Suns

About the Author
A.J. Sand grew up an only child whose parents bought her many, many books to keep her busy, so it was only natural that she would start writing her own stories. She is the author of “Documentary,” “Remake” and “Recklessly.” She lives just outside of Washington, D.C.

Author social media links: 

Twitter | Facebook | Blog 

Be sure to enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win the following:

(1) $25 Amazon gift card, (1) copy of A Fighting Chance on either Kindle or Nook, and (1) Wantable gift card or one-time accessories box (U.S. Only giveaway) – all for one person winner 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waves of Sunday #58

Welcome to our weekly edition of Waves of Sunday where each Sunday we spotlight a book that has been making waves in the book scene or has simply caught our attention causing a riptide on our TBR.

Today we are spotlighting:

Ruined (Ethan Frost #1) by Tracy Wolff

Published January 7th 2014 by Loveswept

He’s the last man Chloe Girard should love . . . but the first she ever could.

Ethan Frost is a visionary, a genius, every woman’s deepest, darkest fantasy—even mine. And, somehow, I am his.

He stole into my life like a dream. Turned my reality upside down and made my every desire come true—especially those I never knew I had. He demanded everything I had to give and gave me everything of himself in return.

But dreams don’t last forever, and ours is no exception. Because my nightmares are darker, and my wounds deeper, than I could ever reveal. And as much as Ethan wants to protect me, the secrets we share will only tear us apart.

Arlene's Thoughts

Well, if I'm being completely honest, it was the cover that first caught my eye. I mean look at all of that SUGAR! But aside from the drool-worthy cover, the description sounds intense.  Chloe and Ethan sound like an explosive pair!! And, based off of the reviews I've seen, this sounds like one I don't want to miss.

Review: The Backup Boyfriend by River Jaymes

The Backup Boyfriend (The Boyfriend Chronicles #1) by River Jaymes
Published November 28th 2013

Professionally, Dr. Alec Johnson has almost reached his goals. As this year’s recipient of a humanitarian award with his ex, Dr. Tyler Hall, Alec’s work with the homeless is about to be recognized. Unfortunately, his personal life sucks because now he has to attend several events alongside Tyler—with his ex’s new boyfriend in tow. In an attempt to lift his mood and break out of his rut, Alec purchases a motorcycle he has no idea how to start.

Dylan Booth doesn't have time for Dr. Clueless and his fickle 1964 Harley, but the cocky mechanic can’t say no to the request for help. Having spent his teen years on the streets, and losing his best friend to HIV, Dylan decides teaching the do-gooder how to ride is the least he can do. But watching Alec flounder in his ex's company throws Dylan into protector mode, and the confirmed hetero introduces himself as Alec's new boyfriend.

The ex suspects Dylan is lying.

Alec claims Dylan’s plan is insane.

And Dylan’s not sure he can fake being gay.

But he’s a master bullshitter, and the phony PDA soon turns ultra-hot. Alec can’t afford to get attached, and Dylan’s learned everyone eventually leaves. Unfortunately, playing the backup boyfriend is starting to feel way too real…

CONTENT WARNING: This book contains Man-on-Man action, adult situations, and language.

My Thoughts

"This is the messiest, geekiest kink ever.” Dylan’s voice held a hint of awe. “Why the hell is this a total turn-on?”

LOVE!

What a great story, with humorous dialog, easy to care for characters, and an interesting plot. Well done!

Alec has been struggling to heal from the hurt of his two-year relationship breakup. And what starts off as a reckless impulse buy to add some irrational excitement into his life, turns out to be a huge mistake when he realizes he can’t ride the Harley he purchased. With the help of a hot sexy mechanic and after a few pleaded requests, Dylan agrees to teach him how to handle his bike. However, when Alec’s ex shows up to pick up some belongings and Dylan sees the discomfort Alec is going through, he jumps in to help him out and lands the role of ‘backup boyfriend.”

What starts off as a favor and a fake date, turns out to be much more when Dylan realizes he’s suddenly emotionally invested and not sure what to do next.

From the beginning, I had a soft spot for Alec. He was geeky, handsome and vulnerable all in one serving. LOVED HIM! I loved his tendency for nervous babbling and adored his honest reaction to those around him. I’m not quite sure I could forgive his ex for his sudden abandon, but I was comforted with Alec’s eventual ability to cope.

The relationship between Alec and Dylan was wild and intense from the beginning, so I was glad to see these two finally find stable ground. Their shared moments and light banter was engaging and heartfelt, and I believed these two were perfect for each other from the beginning.

Overall, The Backup Boyfriend had balanced moments of excitement and sincerity leaving me with a sense that these characters were worthy of my attention. I’m not sure how I’ll react to the next story seeing as we get a chance to glimpse into Tyler’s past. I never really connected with him or felt any emotional pull with this character, but I enjoyed River Jaymes’s writing enough, so I'll definitely give it a try. Great story!

4 Suns

Cover Reveal: Player in Paradise by Rebecca Lewis

Player in Paradise by Rebecca Lewis
Publication date: March 1st 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Recent college grad Olivia Kelley just landed her dream job at the famed LA Public Relations agency, the PWR Group. She’s not looking for a relationship, and the agency has a no-dating clients policy, but when she’s tasked with handling overly-flirtatious 23-year-old bad boy actor, Austin Ford, keeping things strictly professional may be harder than she thought.

When Austin is caught cheating on his 19-year-old actress “girlfriend” Cassidy Evans, Olivia’s boss sends the celebrity couple on a romantic Hawaiian vacation to gain some positive press. She instructs Olivia to tag along to keep an eye on their behavior, but soon the getaway to paradise turns into a nightmare as Cassidy concocts a crazy new PR stunt, while Austin tries his hardest to take back control of his life. Olivia wants to help Austin, but is she willing to risk her job and future career reputation for the sexy, sweet-talking Hollywood player?

*New Adult contemporary romance–language and sexual content not suitable for readers under 18*

About the AuthorRebecca Lewis is a lover of all things writing, music, and pop-culture. Her passion for entertainment and writing brought her to Boston University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the College of Communication. She currently resides in Florida with her husband and puppy.

Contact this Author

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Blog Tour Review: Payoff (Market Garden #6) by L.A. Witt & Aleksander Voinov

Today Waves of Fiction is participating in the blog tour for Payoff by L.A Witt.  For our stop we have a review to share with you as well as an awesome post from the authors!

Payoff (Market Garden #6) by L.A. Witt & Aleksander Voinov

Published on February 3rd, 2014 by Riptide Publishing

About the book

Tristan and Jared have got it made. When they aren’t raking in the cash together at Market Garden, they’re burning up their own sheets and getting closer by the day. But something isn’t right. Tristan’s on edge, and Jared doesn’t understand why.

Before they can hash things out, their services are requested by none other than Rolex. And Rolex doesn’t just want to be a bystander this time. He wants Jared while Tristan watches, and he’s more than willing to pay for it.

But Tristan’s reached a breaking point, and even that huge wad of cash might not be enough to keep tonight’s arrangement from crashing and burning.

My Thoughts:
I love these books!  I was immediately hooked after reading Quid Pro Quo and after a sexy lap dance in Take it off I have been dying to know what Jared and Tristan have been up to!  Well Payoff did not disappoint me and I am left squeeing for these two characters!

Payoff takes off where Take it Off left off.  Tristan and Jared are together, but still working at the Market Garden.  Things have been going okay and they both knew going in that their line of work was just that work.  That was until Tristan started questioning things and feeling things he wasn't used to feeling.  When Rolex walks in the true test begins and it was heart breaking to watch both Tristan and Jared come to terms with what was coming.

The previous two books only gave us one POV and I was excited to see that in this one we get to see inside both their minds. They were both thinking the same thing and that was nice to know, it made it to where I wasn't cringing wondering what the other person was thinking.  I don't like being blindsided with my favorite characters which these two definitely are.

Tristan and Jared have come along way since the very beginning but they are just as hot as ever.  This book deals with more emotions which was awesome to see.  In this installment I wanted more than just spicey scenes and I loved seeing them actually talk to one another.  They needed to say a lot and clear the air because if they didn't I don't think they would have lasted.  After having the air cleared I am more than happy with the outcome.  It was what I wanted and I am happy with their HEA.

Now don't get me wrong there are some pretty hawt scenes, I mean its Tristan and Jared.  You shouldn't expect anything less from them, but their soft moments were just heartwarming and awesome.  Their spicey scenes were beyond hawt though and Rolex just added a whole other level.

I am hoping that Rolex gets his own book.  I have only read two others from this series and they didn't involve Rolex, but I am hoping the others might feature him.  He is quite the character and well I just really want to know his story!  This series just gets better and better and they are fun books that pack quite a punch!

4 Suns

Payoff (Market Garden)-Saved by Porn

To avoid getting into any kind of trouble with my still-employers, the following scenario is for entertainment puproses only and does not, in fact, reflect anything bordering reality.

Okay, so I got the disclaimer out of the way. Lori and I have already told the story about how the Market Garden series started. It did not, in fact, start with Quid Pro Quo. The first part was If It Flies. But while If It Flies was in edits, it had already become clear that there was so much untapped potential.

Imagine, if you will, one of London’s financial centres. It’s where we do actually have a number of skyscrapers clustered together. In one of those sits a financial editor with nothing to edit. A slow week, you see. And nobody else in the office—or at least, no boss and boss’s boss. It’s about 13:00, after lunch. Four more hours to go. The nondescript open plan office is quiet. The editor in question is stretched out across his desk, brain liquifying with boredom. Said editor is much better with stress and heavy workload than boredom. Much. Much. Much. Better.

There. A window pops up in Google chat. It’s Lori, who’s just fallen out of bed.

“How are you doing?”

“Kill. Me. Now.”

“What’s up?”

“Soooooo bored. I’m gonna kill somebody just to break up the boredom. Spree killing in Canary Wharf. If you see that headline tomorrow, that was me.”

“Ehhhh. Or we could write something?”

“It’s gotta be short.”

“Let’s write some porn?”

The editor perks up. Porn at work? Awesome. Getting fired for that would definitely shake things up.  “Let’s do this!”

And Lori sent me a link to a shared document, where, in due course, the first few lines appear out of nowhere:

“Feast or famine in this place, isn’t it?” Tristan sighed heavily. He wore his boredom as if he wondered how dare the universe not entertain him, and lounged as much as anyone could on a barstool. He was like a cat in that respect. He could stretch and bend to get comfortable—at least, Jared assumed he was comfortable—anywhere he damn well pleased. Right now, his arm seemed like the only solid piece of his body, his elbow on the bar and his hand against his face, holding up his head as the rest of him poured over the edge of the bar, onto the seat, and down the stool leg to where the toe of his boot touched the floor.

And we wrote a solid 90% or so on paid time, and the rest when I got home that evening. Hurrah for slow workdays. 

***

Aleksandr has been published for twenty years, both in print and ebook. He has ten years’ experience as a writing coach, book doctor, and writing teacher, and he works as a financial editor in the research department of a pan-European investment bank.

After co-authoring the M/M military cult classic Special Forces, Aleksandr embarked on a quest to write edgy, dark, sometimes literary M/M and gay fiction (much of which is romance/erotica)—the only way he can use his American Literature degree these days.

He’s been published with Heyne/Random House, Carina Press, Samhain Publishing, Loose Id, Dreamspinner, Storm Moon Press, and others.

Connect with Aleks:

Website: aleksandrvoinov.com

Blog: aleksandrvoinov.blogspot.com

Twitter:@aleksandrvoinov

Goodreads: goodreads.com/Vashtan

***

 L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer currently living in the glamorous and ultra-futuristic metropolis of Omaha, Nebraska, with her husband, two cats, and a disembodied penguin brain that communicates with her telepathically. In addition to writing smut and disturbing the locals, L.A. is said to be working with the US government to perfect a genetic modification that will allow humans to survive indefinitely on Corn Pops and beef jerky. This is all a cover, though, as her primary leisure activity is hunting down her arch nemesis, erotica author Lauren Gallagher, who is also said to be lurking somewhere in Omaha.

L. A.’s backlist is available on her website, and updates (as well as random thoughts and the odd snarky comment) can be found on her blog or on Twitter (@GallagherWitt).