Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Release Launch: Perfectly Paired by Lexi Blake

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A table for two

Waitress Tiffany Hayes knows what she wants and she wants Sebastian. Top’s grumpy sommelier calls to her in a way no man has before. She simply needs to show him that they belong together. Finding an opportunity to spend some quality time with him turns out to be the easy part. Convincing Sebastian to look beyond his damaged heart and soul is far more difficult.

A thirst he can’t deny

After losing everything he held dear, Sebastian Lowe has finally rebuilt his life and the walls around his heart. Tiffany is a sweet temptation he struggles to resist. She’s bright and complex, but he’s sure she can’t handle his dark desires. When they’re thrown together on an assignment, he can’t help himself.

A perfect pairing

  As passion builds, the new lovers are both forced to face their pasts. To have a future, they must find a way to heal the wounds they thought would haunt them forever.


* * * *  

Amazon | iTunes | Barnes & Noble

EXCERPT:

Damn but she was a beautiful woman. She was also something he needed to keep his hands off of. No matter what Big Tag said, he did not date women he worked with.
He didn’t really date anyone. He played with subs. When the need got too great, he found a partner for a brief time. He didn’t sleep with anyone. He fucked, and that was starting to get very old. Empty.
“So you said something about house rules?” Tiffany leaned forward, her elbows on the bar. “Are these housekeeping rules or like big bad Dom rules?”
“I don’t suppose I differentiate.” He couldn’t let those big eyes of hers soften him up. It had almost happened at her apartment. When she’d stood up after he’d spanked her and there had been tears running down her face, his impulse had been to reach for her. He’d wanted to draw her in the way he had that night when she was drunk and she’d cried on his shoulder. He’d wanted to smooth back her hair and promise her everything was going to be all right, that he could fix things for her. It was a path that was sure to lead to discomfort for her and humiliation for him. “I prefer a clean living space. I don’t like for things to be messy. I expect that you will keep your things in their proper place.”
Because no matter how hard he tried, he could still trip. The legs he now walked on were only a year old. He’d spent the first two years in a wheelchair.
The Garden’s Wheelchair Dom.
He still wasn’t completely comfortable in the prosthetics.
“I can try,” she said with a frown. “I’ll be honest, I’m not the world’s biggest neat freak.”
He’d been able to tell that from the state of her apartment. It had been cluttered, a bit dusty. With the exception of her easel. That had been perfectly taken care of. He rather wished he’d taken the time to ask to see her art.
He’d seen one painting that night he’d taken her home. It had been a painting of three laughing girls, the swirling colors so vibrant he could hear them giggling as they splashed in a puddle on a rainy day. The figures had been more impressions than photographic reality, but he’d known what she was trying to convey.
“If you cook I’ll clean, and the other way around.” He’d started a list in his head on the long drive. The drive that would have been considerably shorter had they left at the proper time. As she’d sung along to sugary pop songs after she’d changed his radio, he’d sat and considered how to proceed.
With caution. Lots and lots of caution.
“I’m not the best cook in the world,” he continued, “but I can manage. Most nights, of course, we’ll be eating at Top as our training sessions for the new restaurant will last long hours, but I would prefer to eat breakfast here rather than skipping the meal or picking up fast food. Eric made sure the fridge was stocked with a few items I requested.”
“Breakfast.” She gave him a little salute with her free hand. “I can manage that.”
“In addition to our duties at Top, we will now be taking on the additional task of appearing to be a long-term D/s couple, and we need to talk about what that should look like.” Another thing he’d been thinking about ever since that moment the trap had closed around him. “You know you probably could have gotten us out of this assignment. It’s much more difficult for the Dom to say no. The sub always holds the power. Is there a reason you didn’t use yours today?”
“I didn’t want to,” she replied simply. “I don’t have a full-time Dom and I thought it would be interesting to see what that’s like.”
Was she thinking at all? “You know nothing about how I function as a dominant partner.”
“And now I do,” she replied. “You like rules and schedules and you tend to be very fair.”
“I can be quite exacting in my standards.”
“I can be quite flexible,” she shot back as the sexiest smile crossed her face. “I’m serious about that. I can still do the splits and everything.”
“You’re far too reckless, Tiffany.” He didn’t appreciate recklessness so why was she like a siren calling to him? If he listened, he would end up wrecked.
“You’re far too uptight, Sebastian.”

 

  
NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog int eh world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.



FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Monday, November 28, 2016

Book Review: Legacy of Lies by Jillian David

Author: Jillian David
Series: Hell's Valley #1
Audience: +18
Genre: Erotic Romance, Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Release Date: November 14th 2016
My Rating: 4 cups
Source: Author
Blurb (from Goodreads):
Fans of the Hell to Pay series will love this new spin-off saga, Hell’s Legacy!

Garrison Taggart doesn’t have time to deal with touchy-feely junk like “trust issues” or “feelings.” His dad’s health is waning and the family’s Wyoming ranch is being sabotaged. Too bad his supernatural ability to tell when someone is lying has been exactly zero help in ferreting out the betrayer so far. So, when sweet schoolteacher Sara Lopez raises concerns about his son being bullied, who can blame a guy for getting a little testy?

The last thing Sara needs is any more attention or gossip after her recent breakup with big-shot rancher Hank Brand. So her attraction to surly but sexy Garrison, Hank’s rival, is entirely unwanted. When she uncovers an insane plot to kidnap the Taggart boy and throws herself in harm’s way to protect him, Garrison must risk his deepest secret and his own life to save the people he cares for the most. But will his heroics cost him everything?

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or my opinion of the book in any way.

You might remember that a few months ago I found a new series on Reading Alley, Hell To Pay, which I loved and adored. What you might not know, is that my hopes and dreams came true and we might have some answers about a lot of stuff regarding that series, because there's a spin-off series, Hell's Valley. I cannot even describe how happy I am that there's a spin-off, guys!

Garrison Taggart is absolutely wonderful. He's the kind of guy that doesn't trust a lot of people, but in his case it's because he can actually find out if you're lying to him. He has some pretty powerful abilities, and it's pretty clear that they're playing with his head a little bit. I like that he tries really hard not to use them on certain people, even if the temptation to make sure they're being honest is there all the time. But more on his powers later. At the beginning of the book he seems this cold, closed off guy, but I think that's just how Sara sees him. As the story progresses, I found him to be just weary and scared of being betrayed again by someone he trusts, so he tries to intimidate the people around him.

I liked Sara. I like that she is trying to make up for her mistakes. Her childhood wasn't perfect, and she got lost a little bit along the way. I also liked how she stood up for Zach, Garrison's son, even when it meant possibly losing her job, or maybe even more.

Turning back to Garrison and his powers. He has two other brothers and a sister, and they all have various powers or abilities. Now, since this is a spin-off series, I wonder if they're somehow related to either Ruth or Barnaby (or both, who knows?). We know that Ruth had powers and that everyone, or at least the women, descended from her had some powers as well. And we also know that Barnaby had some form of powers, because his intuition was way too precise to not be some supernatural power. So I wonder if in some way, this means that the Taggart siblings are also related to the original Indebted.

I also loved seeing the mental degradation of Hank Brand. It kind of reminded me a little bit of Jerahmeel, so I wonder if Hank is on the road to becoming the new manifestation of Satan. I also wonder if his brothers are as sane as they wanted to seem at the end of this book. It would be absolutely awesome if they weren't, and if somehow they're becoming some new forms of minions.

The pacing was fantastic, and the plot was even more so. I am absolutely excited about this new book, and this new series, and I cannot wait to see what happens next, what new stuff we learn, as well as if we get to see some of the characters from the original series.

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Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Release Day Launch: The Darkest Torment by Gena Showalter

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Gena Showalter’s THE DARKEST TORMENT is now available in paperback! The Queen of Paranormal Romance, USA TODAY bestselling author Gena Showalter, returns with THE DARKEST TORMENT, the eagerly anticipated twelfth novel in her Lords of the Underworld series! Grab your copy today!

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Order THE DARKEST TORMENT here!

Amazon * Barnes * Book Depository * GooglePlay * iBooks * BAM * Kobo * IndieBound

THE DARKEST TORMENT Synopsis:

Can Beauty tame her Beast?

Driven to his death by the demon of Distrust, Baden spent centuries in purgatory. Now he’s back, but at what cost? Bound to the king of the underworld, an even darker force, he’s unable to withstand the touch of another…and he’s quickly devolving into a heartless assassin with an uncontrollable temper. Things only get worse when a mission goes awry and he finds himself saddled with a bride—just not his own.

Famed dog trainer Katarina Joelle is forced to marry a monster to protect her loved ones. When she’s taken hostage by the ruthless, beautiful Baden immediately after the ceremony, she’s plunged into a war between two evils—with a protector more dangerous than the monsters he hunts. They are meant to be enemies, but neither can resist the passion burning between them…and all too soon the biggest threat is to her heart.

But as Baden slips deeper into the abyss, she’ll have to teach him to love…or lose him forever.

Includes Q&A featuring J. R. Ward, Jeaniene Frost, Nalini Singh and more!

 

Add it to your Goodreads Now!

    thedarkesttorment-available-now-teaser-2     EXCERPT:

Baden reached the keeper of Defeat’s door and knocked hard enough to crack the wood.
Note to self: Buy a new door.
“Coming, coming.” A patter of footsteps rang out and the door swung open, revealing Strider’s mate, Kaia. She greeted him with a dagger in hand, her mass of red hair anchored in pigtails, her eyes bright with fury.
She’s armed…a true threat. Kill her!
Baden did his best to ignore the beast, staring over Kaia’s shoulder. He scanned the room, checking for hidden threats out of habit. Well. Her decorating style could probably be classified as a hoarder died here. “Did you reach your sister?”
“Yep. She’ll meet you at Downfall in an hour.”
“Thank you.”
“Save your thanks and do me a favor.” She gave the hilt of her dagger a kiss. “Next time you’re with Hades, demand to know each of William’s hideouts.”
The urge to protect suddenly overwhelmed him. Protect William? Or Hades?
Both. Destruction snarled inside his head. They are mine, and I will annihilate anyone who even thinks to harm them.
His mouth watered. Her blood, I’ll taste it. His hands itched. Her bones, I’ll break them.
As a predator, Kaia sensed his intentions and reacted accordingly, crouching, readying for attack.
Rational thought intruded: No, no. Not her.
But Destruction had already pulled back his fist to strike. At the last second, Baden regained a semblance of control, raining the fury upon the wall with punches and kicks.
The beast roared as more and more of Baden’s friends sprinted from their rooms, grabbing hold of him to try to stop him.
They dare try to restrain me?
Again, the beast was able to overtake him, flinging one warrior after another across the hall.
He laughed.
“How do we corral him?” someone shouted.
“Keeley.” Torin’s voice poured over the intercom. “You’re needed in Strider’s room. ASAP.”
“No time. We need Katarina,” a female called. “She calms him, I think.”
A handful of warriors rushed him at once, tackling him to the floor, but again, flinging them away wasn’t difficult. Power expanded his limbs, reinforced his bones. He was able to work his way to his feet.
I might fall, but I’ll never stay down.
A grinning blond stepped into his path. The male named Strider. Killing him would be a pleasure.
Baden screamed at Destruction. He’s my friend. They all are!
“Hey! Over here.” One of the women said, “I’m going to rip you a new asshole—in your face.”
Not my friends, Destruction told Badenas he grabbed her by the neck and lifted her off her feet. Anya. Destruction had made of point of learning the identities of the residents. Know your enemy
“No!” Lucien shouted, tackling him from behind.
The goddess of Anarchy twined her legs around Destruction’s neck and, as he stumbled, squeezed with surprising strength.
From the corner of his eye, he spotted Katarina and the one named Ashlyn rounding the far corner. Both females stopped to gap at him. He paused, he wasn’t sure why, giving Baden the opportunity to regain a bit of control. Not enough to claim ownership of the body, but enough to slow him down as their wills clashed. He bellowed to the rafters.
“Run, Ash and take the girl with you,” Maddox demanded. “She’s only making him worse.”
Katarina…leave?
Baden and Destruction worked together to pull Anya off their shoulders and drop her. They sidestepped Lucien and stalked to the woman who’d haunted them. The woman who belonged to them. If only for a little while.
“Go!” multiple voices screamed at once. The warriors were giving chase, trying to beat him to the object of his fascination.
Ashlyn attempted to tug Katarina away, but Katarina shook off her hold and stepped forward. Toward him.
The moment she reached him, she framed his face with her delicate hands. He had to crouch to allow the action, which wasn’t exactly a prime position to mount a proper defense—butworth it.
“What’s wrong with you?” she asked.
He drew in a breath, his usually useless lungs suddenly infused by the sweetness of her scent…as if he were coming back to life. “They are threats.”
“Wrong. There are no threats here.”
“They are threats,” he insisted.
She brushed her thumbs over the rise of his cheeks, gentle, so gentle, and yet still the action stung. But he didn’t pull away. The air between them thickened and crackled with awareness. He liked it.
The others stopped their pursuit and maintained a proper distance, whispering with incredulity.
“Is this really happening or am I hallucinating?” someone asked.
“Does the human have a magic hoo-ha?”
“You have a job to do,” Katarina reminded him, ignoring the others. “Why don’t you go do it, and I’ll take care of the threats here?”
He snorted. “You’re not strong enough.”
That earned a raised brow. “So you’ve told me.”
“Dude. Isn’t she married?” Kaia asked.
He snarled at the Harpy, though his gaze remained on Katarina. She’d lost weight and looked more fragile than ever, and yet her beauty took his breath away.
Breath he now needed to survive?
“Baden,” she said.
“Destruction,” he corrected.
“Since he’s affected by you, I’m willing to bet you’re affected by him. Why don’t I call you Baduction?” She smiled at him, inviting him to play with her. “And a hat tip to you. If your newest job is to stare at me, you’ve got it nailed.”
He didn’t know how to play, but he liked seeing her like this. Happy rather than despondent.
He shouldn’t care what she felt. Caring left him vulnerable.
He scowled at her. “Stay out of trouble today.”
“I will, but not because you ordered it. Because I’m a girl and girls are made of—”
“Sugar and spice,” he interjected, remembering the rhyme. Boys were made of snakes and snails.
“Wrong. Girls are made of vodka and ice. The two combined increase our tolerance for masculine nonsense.”
   
   

And don’t miss the previous titles in the Lords of the Underworld Series!

THE DARKEST NIGHT

THE DARKEST KISS

THE DARKEST PLEASURE

THE DARKEST WHISPER

THE DARKEST PASSION

THE DARKEST LIE

THE DARKEST SECRET

THE DARKEST SURRENDER

THE DARKEST SEDUCTION

THE DARKEST CRAVING

THE DARKEST TOUCH

    thedarkesttorment-available-now    

About Gena Showalter: Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over fifty books, including the acclaimed Lords of the Underworld and Angels of the Dark series, and the White Rabbit Chronicles. She writes sizzling paranormal romance, heartwarming contemporary romance, and unputdownable young adult novels, and lives in Oklahoma City with her family and menagerie of dogs. Visit her at genashowalter.com.          

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads








 

Monday, November 21, 2016

Book Review: On Her Master's Secret Service by Lexi Blake

Author: Lexi Blake
Series: Masters and Mercenaries #4
Audience: +18
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, BDSM
Publisher: Dlz Entertainment
Release Date: May 12th 2013
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: Author
Blurb (from Goodreads):
Her submission fulfilled her

When Eve St. James married Alex McKay, she had her whole life ahead of her. They were the FBI’s golden couple by day, but by night Eve gave herself over to her husband’s world of Dominance and submission filled with pleasures she came to crave.

His betrayal destroyed her

Worried for her safety, Alex left Eve behind to tackle a dangerous mission. But Alex never suspected that Eve was the real target and her security is destroyed by a madman. By the time he rescues her, his wife has been changed forever.

But when her life is in danger, he is her only hope
Unable to heal the damage, Alex and Eve are still trapped together in a cycle of pleasure and misery that even their divorce cannot sever. But when a threat from Eve’s past resurfaces, Alex will stop at nothing to save her life and reclaim her heart.

*Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or my opinion of the book in any way.

One of the major subplots in the first three books, in my opinion, regarded Alex and Eve, and it's one that has kept me guessing and insanely curious, so I was very happy when I learned that I didn't have to wait too long before finding out what happened between them.

As expected, this is one hard story to read. We finally get to learn what happened to Alex and Eve, why they broke up, but also why they keep having what seems like a very toxic relationship. During the previous books, I'll be honest and say that I thought Eve was too harsh, to mean, too cruel to Alex. But then I got it. It wasn't that she was cruel to him,but that she was cruel to herself, he was just the instrument. I truly respect her for being able to survive what she went through, for not letting what happened to her rule her life indefinitely. From what she herself says, it actually helped her become a stronger, more independent version of herself. As I said, I truly respect her.

Alex broke my heart in his own way. I honestly don't think he deserved to be on the receiving end of a psycho's wrath and evilness. It was especially heartbreaking because you can see how much he loves Eve, and how much he's willing to go through for her, how much he's willing to suffer.

I have to be honest, I got some Mentalist vibes during this book, if only for the way their background story developed, in a "what if she was still alive" kind of way, which I very much liked. The betrayal mentioned in the blurb of the book was not the one I was thinking about, it's actually quite different than what I had in mind. Strangely enough, I liked that the story went there, even though it made Alex and Eve go through a really rough patch in their relationship, because it showed a very important aspect of what someone needs when trying to get past a trauma. It's hard to talk about that aspect of the story without giving too much away, but let's just say I liked the fact that Blake went there with her story.

The plot is very well paced, and the story kept me guessing for a very long time. I kind of figured some stuff out in advance, but that didn't take away from the story. This was a very good installment in the series, and I was super happy that Eve and Alex got to have a second chance. All in all, a great book that I enjoyed very much.


Friday, November 18, 2016

Blog Tour Book Review: The Darkest Torment by Gena Showalter

the-darkest-torment-tour-banner    

Gena Showalter’s THE DARKEST TORMENT is coming in paperback! The Queen of Paranormal Romance, USA TODAY bestselling author Gena Showalter, returns with THE DARKEST TORMENT, the eagerly anticipated twelfth novel in her Lords of the Underworld series! Order your copy today!

 
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Lords of the Underworld #12
Audience: +18
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Harlequin Books
Release Date: 31 May 2016
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):
Can Beauty tame her Beast?

Driven to his death by the demon of Distrust, Baden spent centuries in purgatory. Now he's back, but at what cost? Bound to the king of the underworld, an even darker force, he's unable to withstand the touch of another and he's quickly devolving into a heartless assassin with an uncontrollable temper. Things only get worse when a mission goes awry and he finds himself saddled with a bride just not his own.

Famed dog trainer Katarina Joelle is forced to marry a monster to protect her loved ones. When she's taken hostage by the ruthless, beautiful Baden immediately after the ceremony, she's plunged into a war between two evils with a protector more dangerous than the monsters he hunts. They are meant to be enemies, but neither can resist the passion burning between them and all too soon the biggest threat is to her heart.

But as Baden slips deeper into the abyss, she'll have to teach him to love or lose him forever.

Includes Q&A featuring J. R. Ward, Jeaniene Frost, Nalini Singh and more!

*Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book from InkSlinger PR and Harlequin in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my opinion or rating of the book in any way.

One of the urban fantasy series that everyone seems to be talking about is Lords of the Underworld, and I finally decided to pick this series up. I have to say, it's a bit scary going into a series that you've heard great things about, but haven't read the previous books, however I'm very pleased with what I discovered.

As you probably know, I'm a huge lover of all things regarding ancient mythology, so this take on the myth of Pandora's Box is quite interesting and unique. I loved reading about the Lords and how each had to live with a demon inside, and I was quite intrigued with how this was portrayed and with how each character had to deal with that. 

Baden was an interesting male. He's kind of a reluctant hero, he seems like one of those guys that has a mission and just wants to do his job. I felt quite sorry for him, to be honest, because he went through a lot of bad stuff. Sure, when you think about it, a bit of karma was in there somewhere, but he certainly didn't deserve centuries of torment. At some point during the story though, I started to understand him better, and to actually get it, why he did certain things, why he took certain decisions that affected everyone, not just him, why he was so closed off. I think the thing that most made me want to give this guy a hug was how lonely he is. It's so heartbreaking to see him crave something that he once had, that he had to give up on, and that he might never have again. That was so painful.

Katarina was a great heroine. Her story is quite sad, as well. I love how she managed to not let that story break her spirit though, and how she managed to find the good in any situation, and how she keeps fighting. Katarina is a fighter, she's a badass woman, and that is awesome. I love how brave she is. There's a scene at the end of the book where she shows exactly how brave and how totally badass she is, involving herself and a very scary god, and I wanted to high-five her afterwards.

There are a few characters that intrigued me in this book, some that I hope will get their stories told, some that already have their happy ending, I just need to read those books. I love how there are things revealed in this book that makes me wonder what that means for the rest of the series, and I am dying to see if it also helps explain some of the events from the past.

It takes a lot of time for me to read a book in a series, without having read the previous books, and it just goes to show how great a storyteller Showalter is, that I didn't feel lost or confused, or worse, like I'm missing something. Sure, I know that I'm missing parts of the story, but that didn't keep me from totally enjoy this book. In case you're like me, and have had this series for a long time on your TBR, trust me, you won't be sorry for starting to read this series. 


Order THE DARKEST TORMENT here!

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Book Depository GooglePlay *iBooks * BAM * Kobo * IndieBound

Add it to your Goodreads Now!

    the-darkest-torment-tour-teaser-2  
“—friends are looking for you,” an unfamiliar voice said, breaking into her awareness. It belonged to a male. Was deep and raspy, with the same cocky and perpetually amused timbre as William. “I think they want your head on a platter.”
“Thanks to you, Baden brought trouble to Buda,” William replied, utterly unconcerned by the threat. “Gillian needs peace and quiet right now.”
“I told you not to befriend her. She’s human.”
“And I told you to go fuck yourself. More than once!”
“Is that any way to speak to your dear father?”
“Adopted father,” William grumbled. “And I’m tempted to say worse. Let’s take this conversation outside.”
So. He was speaking with Hades, she realized, sweat beading on her brow. The bad boy of the underworld. And that was saying something!
William didn’t know it, but Hades had appeared to her one night. He’d warned her: Stay away from my son. You aren’t the one for him. Don’t make me prove it.
He’d scared her, but she hadn’t heeded him. William was too important to her.
“Not being blood related to me is an embarrassing secret you’d do well to hide,” Hades remarked now.
Gillian cracked open her eyes…caught sight of two towering shadows on the balcony.
“She’s deathly ill. She’s going to die if you fail to make her immortal,” William snapped. “So, make her immortal.”
“I have the power to change her, yes. But in her condition, she’ll die before she’s turned.”
“Then you’re useless to me. Leave.”
“Tsk-tsk. So rude. You might want to be nice to me, my son. I’m the only thing standing between you and scores of angry husbands you’ve cuckolded over the centuries.”
“As if a legion of them would be any match for me.”
“True. I trained you well. But the girl…they’d hurt her without a qualm.”
William unleashed a storm of curses. “Anyone touches her, and I’ll spend the rest of eternity ensuring they and everyone they love suffer unending torments.”
“What’s so special about her?” Hades asked.
Yes, Liam. What’s so special about me? She’d always wondered.
“I’m not discussing her with you.”
“I’m discussing her with you, then. You can’t be with her. You can’t be with anyone.
You know as well as I that your happiness walks hand-in-hand with your doom.” Gillian had heard a little about William’s doom. Aka, his curse. The woman he loved was destined to destroy him.
Did Gillian believe in curses? Yes and no. She’d lived with demon-possessed immortals for three years now. She’d seen things. Supernatural things. Wild things. Impossible things. But curses…good luck versus bad luck? No. Bad things happened because bad decisions were made. End of story.
“I’m searching for a way to break—” William began.
“You’ve been searching,” Hades interjected. “For centuries.”
“My book—”
“Is nonsense. A trick to make you hope for what can never be so that your demise will be that much sweeter. If the book could be decoded, it would have been decoded by now.”
Another tense pause. Then William spat, “Did you come here to piss me off?”
“Pissing you off is a bonus. I came to warn you.”
“Well, you’ve done both.”
“No, son, I haven’t.” Hades’s voice hardened. “The warning is this: if I think you’re falling for the girl, I’ll kill her myself.”

  lord-of-the-underworld-series-banner  

And don’t miss the previous titles in the Lords of the Underworld Series!

THE DARKEST NIGHT

THE DARKEST KISS

THE DARKEST PLEASURE

THE DARKEST WHISPER

THE DARKEST PASSION

THE DARKEST LIE

THE DARKEST SECRET

THE DARKEST SURRENDER

THE DARKEST SEDUCTION

THE DARKEST CRAVING

THE DARKEST TOUCH

    the-darkest-torment-tour-teaser-1    

Don’t Miss each stop on THE DARKEST TORMENT Review & Excerpt Tour!

November 7
Ashleyz Wonderland – Excerpt
 November 8
danielriding.com –Excerpt
 November 9
 November 10
Reading in Pajamas – Review & Excerpt
 November 11
The Book Beacon – Review & Excerpt
The Bookery Review – Excerpt
 November 12
 November 13
Reese's Reviews – Review & Excerpt
 November 14
EskieMama Reads – Excerpt
 November 15
New Adult Addiction – Review & Excerpt
November 16
WTF ARE YOU READING? – Review & Excerpt
 November 17
Book Lovers Hangout – Review & Excerpt
Canadian Book Addict – Review & Excerpt
 November 18
Grownup Fangirl – Excerpt
Ruby's Books – Review & Excerpt
 November 19
 November 20
Natalie TheBiblioholic – Review & Excerpt
 November 21
PBC – Excerpt
The Eater of Books! – Review & Excerpt
 November 22
I Smell Sheep – Review & Excerpt
Bound by Books Book Review – Review & Excerpt
 November 23
evocative book reviews – Review & Excerpt
Sassy Moms Say Read Romance – Review & Excerpt
 November 24
The Opening Hook – Review & Excerpt
Books n Wine – Excerpt
Once Upon a Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
 November 25
Jax's Book Magic – Excerpt
Pardon My Blurb – Review & Excerpt




author-pic-gena-showalter      About Gena Showalter: Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over fifty books, including the acclaimed Lords of the Underworld and Angels of the Dark series, and the White Rabbit Chronicles. She writes sizzling paranormal romance, heartwarming contemporary romance, and unputdownable young adult novels, and lives in Oklahoma City with her family and menagerie of dogs. Visit her at genashowalter.com.        

Website | Twitter@genashowalter | Facebook | Goodreads

 






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Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Cover Reveal: Mastering Her Senses by Laura Kaye

Decadent… Sensual… Forbidden…

12 Masters. 12 Desires. 12 Fantasies Come to Life. Meet the Masters of Blasphemy…

Releasing February 21, 2017, MASTERING HER SENSES is the second full-length novel in Laura Kaye's Blasphemy Series. Check out the amazing cover created by Kim Killion from The Killion Group below!

 

A Note from Laura Kaye:

Friends! I’m so excited to share the cover for Mastering Her Senses, the second book in my new erotic Blasphemy series! I’ve been dying to write Master Quinton since he first appeared on the page, and now he is coming your way this February. I’m also excited because the heroine, Cassia Locke, is the sister of one of the Raven Riders (Jagger Locke), so there will be some fun series crossover happening in this book, too! So, so much to love! I hope you’ll check it out and the other books in the series, too!

xo, Laura

12 Masters. Infinite fantasies. Welcome to Blasphemy…

He wants to dominate her senses—and her heart…

Quinton Ross has always been a thrill-seeker—so it’s no surprise that he’s drawn to extremes in the bedroom and at his BDSM club, Blasphemy, where he creates sense-depriving scenarios that blow submissives’ minds. Now if he could just find one who needs the rush as much as him…

When an accident leaves Cassia Locke with a paralyzing fear of the dark, she’ll try anything to get help. Ready to fight, she knows just who to ask for help—the hard-bodied, funny-as-hell Dom she’d always crushed on—and once stood up.

Quinton is shocked and a little leery to see Cassia, but he can’t pass up the chance to dominate the alluring little sub this time. Introducing her to sensory deprivation becomes his new favorite obsession, and watching her fight fear is its own thrill. But when doubt threatens to send her running again, Quinton must find a way to master her senses—and her heart.

Exclusive iBooks Preorder

Look for other preorder links in 2017

Add to your Goodreads

 
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Books in Series:

Hard to Serve #.5

Bound to Submit #1

Mastering Her Senses #2 – 2/21/17

Eyes on You #3 – 7/11/17

Laura Kaye - author pic  About Laura Kaye: Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirty books in contemporary and erotic romance and romantic suspense, including the Blasphemy, Hard Ink, and Raven Riders series. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. Laura also writes historical fiction as the NYT bestselling author, Laura Kamoie. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.    

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Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Release Day Blitz: Spiral Of Bliss Coloring Book by Nina Lane

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Nina Lane has released a coloring book inspired by her bestselling Spiral of Bliss series and it is stunning. Proceeds from the coloring book will be donated to three breast cancer charities. Find out more about the coloring book below!

spiralofbliss

ABOUT A SPIRAL OF BLISS COLORING BOOK

Proceeds from sales of this book will be donated to three breast cancer charities.
Flowers, lovebirds, Paris, cupcakes...all embellish the pages of this beautiful coloring book inspired by Nina Lane's bestselling Spiral of Bliss series and hand-drawn by artist Victoria Colotta.
This is the book Olivia West creates when she draws pictures of "things that make her happy." A visual expression of hope and love, the Spiral of Bliss coloring book features intricate pen-and-ink illustrations waiting for you to bring them to colorful life.
Proceeds from the sale of A Spiral of Bliss Coloring Book will be donated to the following breast cancer organizations:
The Wisconsin Breast Cancer Coalition (http://www.wibreastcancer.org)
Hope Chest for Breast Cancer (http://www.hopechest.com)
The Metastatic Breast Cancer Network (http://www.mbcn.org)
Colored pencils and crayons rather than ink are recommended for coloring this book.

Get your hands on the coloring book now!

 

About Nina Lane

New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Nina Lane writes hot, sexy romances and spicy erotica. Originally from California, she holds a PhD in Art History and an MA in Library and Information Studies, which means she loves both research and organization. She also enjoys traveling and thinks St. Petersburg, Russia is a city everyone should visit at least once. Although Nina would go back to college for another degree because she's that much of a bookworm and a perpetual student, she now lives the happy life of a full-time writer.


Saturday, November 12, 2016

Book Review: Flame's Dawn by Jillian David

Author: Jillian David
Series: Hell to Pay
Audience: +18
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Erotic Romance
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Release Date: February 29th 2016
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: Reading Alley
Blurb (from Goodreads):
ll’s fair in love and war when specialist Jane Larson and Captain Barnaby Blackstone give into their lust for each other while stationed in Vietnam. As the world disintegrates around them, their one night of passion ends with her evacuation back to stateside duty.

Years later, Jane is neck deep in an undercover DEA operation gone horribly wrong. Kidnapped and then committed to an asylum, she has no hope of escape from the clutches of a notorious cult leader. The only thing that sustains her through the pain is her memories of Barnaby—even as she knows she’ll never be with him again.

Little does she realize that Barnaby has spent several of his years as an immortal, Indebted killer yearning for the fierce and beautiful woman who had unlocked hope in his cold, hard soul. When his sixth sense leads him to her hospital room, he sets her free, but in the process attracts the attention of an otherworldly maniac intent on revenge. To save Jane from the dark forces surrounding her, Barnaby must reveal his deepest secret. Can she live with the man he’s destined to be, or will the truth leave her lost to him forever?


*Disclaimer: Review copy provided via Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.

A great story that completes the series, but also leaves room for more questions.

I was sad when I finished reading the Hell To Pay series a few months ago, and now that I've finally found the courage to read this prequel novella, I'm sad all over again, but also kind of hopeful. Sad, because the series is really over, but hopeful because there are a few questions left unanswered that could possibly be explored in a future series/book/novella? *is hopeful*

Throughout the first three books of this series, Barnaby is a constant character, but he's such a mystery. We know he was an Indebted, we know he was the first one to perform the "Meaningful Kill", and we also know it was all because of Jane, his wife. This novella offers a glimpse into their relationship, we get to see them fall in love and save each other, both literally and figuratively. I loved learning more about Barnaby. I loved learning more about his life, about why he became a servant of Jerahmeel, and we also get to see the beginning of the end for the Lord of Hell. I loved Barnaby's sense of duty, his courage, and how ingenious he was in some situations.

Jane is adorable. I can see why Barnaby fell in love with her. I absolutely loved her myself, and I am so sad we didn't get to meet the "present" version of her in the previous books. She's a strong woman, a stubborn one, but also a bit reckless. I was also a bit sad for her, learning a bit about her history.

I have to say though, the ending was not what I expected. That wasn't a bad thing, but it left me a bit confused. One, because I wasn't expecting it, and two, because it left the door open for some interpretation. I am glad though that the book didn't end as I wanted it to, because, in a way, we already know what "the end" is for Barnaby and Jane. I still have questions, though.

The plot was pretty fast paced, and it kept me on the edge the entire time. I love the "Author's Notes" at the end. Not being so familiar with the US history, it was really nice to learn a bit more about the events mentioned in the book, if only just to explain a few things. I also loved the musical references. All in all, a great way to really end the series, a story that needed to be told, and I'm very happy I found the guts to read it.

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Monday, November 7, 2016

Book Review: Promise The Moon by Hailey Edwards

Author: Hailey Edwards
Series: Lorimar Pack #1
Audience: +18
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: 29 Oct 2016
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: Netgalley
Blurb (from Goodreads):
War is a constant threat on Dell Preston's horizon. As beta of the Lorimar pack, her job is to maintain the peace on the new border between Faerie and Earth at all costs. Even if that means playing nice with her ex, Isaac, the fae who savaged her wolf's soul, and Enzo Garza, the flirty witch who ought to be focused on building up their magical defenses instead of tearing down the walls around Dell's heart.

Butler, Tennessee is a pinprick on the map with a diverse population of supernaturals. It's also chockful of humans who are unaware of the magical rift bruising the sky or the otherworldly insurgents raining down into their zipcode.

A local fae's disappearance catches Dell's attention, but she dismisses it as an isolated event. Until it happens again. Unable to ignore the strange happenings in her town, she begins an investigation that uncovers so much more than a simple rash of kidnappings.

Now Dell finds herself at the sharp end of a pointed ultimatum. Find the missing and return them to their families or get ready for prime time. Botch this job, and forget coming soon. The war will become tomorrow's featured attraction instead.


*Disclaimer: I received an eARC from Netgalley and CrushStar Multimedia LLC in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or my opinion of the book in any way.

I honestly can't get tired of the world of the Black Dog and connected series. I was super happy when I saw that Dell was also getting her own story.

We met Dell in the Gemini series, as Cord's friend, packmate and protégé. I love that in the Lorimar pack she gets to be her true self. In her old pack, she had to hide who she really was, and you could tell that it was getting really difficult for her to do that, so I was really happy to see her explore who she was really meant to be. I felt sorry for Dell at times, reading about her having to make decisions that she really didn't want to make, but that's because it was easy to see how uncomfortable she was in that role. I like how loyal she is, and how, no matter the danger, she's willing to do anything to protect those she cares about.

One thing I loved about this book is that it gives the readers a very different idea of what being a werewolf means. I loved the duality of this creature, how the woman was not the same entity as the wolf. I think that's a pretty unique approach to the image of the werewolf, and it explains so much of what happened in the Gemini series.

The plot was fast-paced, and I enjoyed reading more about the fae. There were some really funny scenes in this book, that had me giggle like a loon. As per usual with a book by Hailey Edwards, expect a big cliffhanger at the end. I am really curious to see how the next book in the series will continue this story, to see what will happen to Dell and her friends and packmates next.


Sunday, November 6, 2016

Book Review: Master Bits & Mercenary Bites by Lexi Blake & Suzanne M. Johnson

Author: Lexi Blake, Suzanne M. Johnson
Series: Topped, Masters and Mercenaries
Audience: +18
Genre: Erotic Romance, BDSM, Contemporary Romance, Cooking
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
Release Date: November 1st 2016
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):
Top restaurant has become the hot spot in Dallas for elevated comfort food—and a side of spicy romance. Run by executive chef Sean Taggart, Top is the premiere fictional destination for gourmet food. Join creator, New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake, and Southern food expert Suzanne Johnson as they guide you through the world of Masters and Mercenaries via the secret recipes behind the food served in Top.

But what would a gourmet meal be without some company? Spend an evening with your favorite characters from McKay-Taggart as they celebrate the special moments that make up their happily ever afters. Learn how to make Sean’s specialty dishes and Macon’s desserts while exploring the private lives of the characters who make up the world. From Charlie and Ian’s next demon spawn to a change in path for Simon and Chelsea, these are the times that bind us together, the moments that make us a family.

Good meals, good times, good friends.

Bon appétit!

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC from InkSlinger PR and Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or opinion of the book in any way.


My second favorite thing, after reading, is cooking, so when I first heard of this book, I didn't quite know which part excited me most, the recipes, or the glimpses inside the lives of my most favorite characters from the Masters & Mercenaries series.

I loved seeing small "life episodes", let's call them, into the lives of the couples of this series. Some were hilarious, some were heartwarming, some were hot, but they were all awesome. A few of these characters were new to me, since I'm still not fully up to date with the series (I'm getting there, guys!), but I still loved reading about them. I also loved how, in some way, it was all tied to the idea of food. I loved how that was the background theme with these short stories. And I loved seeing how some things never change, especially with Ian.

The recipes are very tasty. I'm a foodie. I'm obsessed with food, and finding new recipes to try out is a hobby of mine. There are so many great recipes in this book that I want to try out. What I love is that it's has recipes for everybody, so no matter your tastes, you'll definitely find a recipe that you'll want to make. I certainly have my eye on a couple of them for the near future. I love how some of these recipes go from super easy to kind of difficult to make, but also how they can actually make you look like an actual chef for cooking them.

I also loved trying to figure out how the recipes related to the characters they were related to. That was a really fun game, and for the most part I managed to figure them out. I absolutely loved this book, and I can only hope that maybe someday in the future, a second book like this will come out for the series.



Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Release Blitz: Master Bits & Mercenary Bites by Lexi Blake, Suzanne M. Johnson

mbmb-hot-cookbook      

masters-bits-mercenaries-bites_300dpi

Top restaurant has become the hot spot in Dallas for elevated comfort food—and a side of spicy romance. Run by executive chef Sean Taggart, Top is the premiere fictional destination for gourmet food. Join creator, New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake, and Southern food expert Suzanne Johnson as they guide you through the world of Masters and Mercenaries via the secret recipes behind the food served in Top.

But what would a gourmet meal be without some company? Spend an evening with your favorite characters from McKay-Taggart as they celebrate the special moments that make up their happily ever afters. Learn how to make Sean’s specialty dishes and Macon’s desserts while exploring the private lives of the characters who make up the world. From Charlie and Ian’s next demon spawn to a change in path for Simon and Chelsea, these are the times that bind us together, the moments that make us a family.

Good meals, good times, good friends.

Bon appétit!

Amazon | iTunes | Barnes & Noble | GooglePlay | All Romance eBooks | Kobo

 

 Ian went to grab the dog’s leash. Bud started up his pee-pee dance, his massive body twisting and turning as he ran after Ian. His big paws thudded against the brand new hardwood he would never have spent that god-awful amount of money on had he realized a dog would pee on it.
He looked back Charlie’s way. “You know there’s a whole forest out back for him to go in. He should be a free-range dog. Aren’t we taking away his dogness by putting him on a leash?”
Charlie frowned his way as she refilled Kenzie’s cup. “Yes, he’s the mighty wolf dog, Ian. I watched him run away from a bunny the other day.”
He grabbed the leash. “See, if he had to go out and hunt, he wouldn’t be such a shitty guard dog. Don’t even say it, you two. Say good words. Not Daddy words.”
Charlie put a hand to her belly. “I swear this one will come out giving the world the finger and cursing.”
Bud whined, running back and forth in front of the door. Ian sighed and attached the leash. He stepped outside and Bud took off, barking and jumping against the leash until he managed to drag Ian out onto the lawn where he immediately squatted in the middle of Charlie’s azaleas and started to take a crap.
Yep. This was his life. Watching the dog crap. He was so building a fence. “You know you were supposed to be a guard dog. You were supposed to be a raging, feral beast who would take out anything in your way.”
Sort of like Ian had been at one time.
He’d been the bane of intelligence agencies. He’d been Dr. Death, raining down justice and protecting America.
Now he was a dumbass with a mortgage, a dog who seemed to be a bit constipated, two tiny chaotic things, and another on the way. No one even let him kill people anymore.
It was a never-ending cycle of waking up in the morning and seeing their faces, taking care of them, going to work, coming home, and going to bed with his wife.
It was kind of fucking awesome.
Sure, his younger self would likely tell him he’d sold out and he was a pathetic version of himself, but his younger self had been stupid as shit. His younger self thought a great time was following a known terrorist around for three weeks so he could find the cell. His younger self had needed a freaking shower, some decent food, and a comfy bed.
And a dog who didn’t take his time with the poop.
“Come on, Bud. Pinch off, man. We’ve got shit to do today.” Well, he did anyway. He was sure Bud would have a full day of licking his private parts and waiting for the girls to drop food. Bud seemed forever optimistic that one of these days the girls or Charlie was going to drop a ham in front of him.
A butterfly landed on the bush next to Bud and that was when he went into protective mode. He barked, the deep sound threatening to anyone who didn’t know what a wuss he was, and he pulled hard at his leash.
Hard enough to make Ian stumble and damn near break his toe on the garden gnome Alex had left as a joke. Hard enough to send Ian crashing down to his knee, pain flaring and making him curse.
Bud twisted again and Ian tripped over the riding ladybug thing Kala liked to push around the yard. He landed flat on his back, looking up at the sky.
Taken down by a freaking ladybug. And his back was spasming. The pain flared through him and he could feel his lower back seizing like a motherfucker.
Bud suddenly blocked out the sky, his big doggie face staring down.
“Don’t you dare.”
It was too late. Bud licked his face and Ian realized he shouldn’t have gotten up that morning. Nope. He should have stayed in bed and then he would be warm and happy and not having his face licked by a gargantuan mass of body odor and a tongue that licked its own ass from time to time.
God, if he didn’t die from breaking his spine he was going to catch some dog disease and waste away. Right here. Because he wasn’t sure he could move. “Bud, I need you to go get Charlie. Go on. Run and get her.” He let the leash drop. Bud simply sat down beside him. “Go get Charlie, boy. I think she’s got a ham for you. Go on.”
Bud laid his big head down on Ian’s chest.
Now he had a sleeping mutt and a garden gnome that was practically up his ass. He could feel the pointy cap thing attempting to violate him.
“Ian? Ian, I need you.”
Thank god. His wife would laugh her ass off, but at least she would be able to maybe help him up.
“Ian, I think the baby’s coming.”
Yep. It was that kind of day.
   
NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog int eh world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE


suzanneauthorSuzanne Johnson is family-trained, a south Georgia native who’s been cooking all of her life, creating not only some really unique food, but precious memories that re-occur every time she smells something simmering in the oven.  In all of her books, Suzanne shows that making a delicious meal doesn’t have to be complicated — it just has to be made with love.  So go ahead, don’t be bashful, dive right in.  Who knows?  You might just make a few memories of your own.









 

Release Day Launch: Hearts & Ink Coloring Book by Laura Kaye

rdl-banner

Laura Kaye’s HEARTS & INK, the adult coloring book inspired by her award-winning and bestselling novels releases today! Thirty exciting and original designs will inspire, relax, and entertain fans old and new! Grab your pencils and crayons and get ready to read - and color - hard!

A Note from Laura:

Friends! I am so excited to share that I’ve worked with the awesome Jessica Hildreth at Creative Book Concepts to design my first adult coloring book based on my bestselling books! HEARTS & INK features 30 original designs with quotes from the books, iconic images, and fun backgrounds that I hope will excite long-time fans and intrigue new-to-me readers! I drew the title from my two bestselling series: the HEARTS in Darkness Duet and the Hard INK books! But you’ll also find pages from my new Raven Riders and Blasphemy series, my older paranormal series (the Hearts of the Anemoi based on Greek mythology, my Vampire Warrior Kings series, and my stand-alone novel, Forever Freed). Plus an absolutely gorgeous page from my historical fiction, America’s First Daughter (written as Laura Kamoie). So there’s a lot here to explore and color!

 
heartsandink-promo

COLOR/POST/WIN GIVEAWAY CONTEST! For your chance to win one of 5 $10 Amazon or B&N gift cards, simply COLOR a page from my coloring book, POST it to Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #HeartsandInk by November 30 at midnight EST, and look for my posts on December 1 to see if you won!

 
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About the Hearts & Ink Adult Coloring Book:

New York Times Bestselling Author Laura Kaye invites you to immerse yourself within her fictional worlds with this adult coloring book inspired by her award-winning and bestselling novels. Thirty exciting and original designs will inspire, relax, and entertain fans old and new! Featuring book quotes and a variety of simple and intricate designs with lots of colorable space, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So grab your pencils and crayons and get ready to read - and color - hard!

Order on Amazon



laurakaye-34-crop-2  About Laura Kaye: Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense, including the Hard Ink and upcoming Raven Riders series. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.  


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