Book Review & Release Day Launch: Adoring Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan

 

He’s never wanted anything more than her. Carrie Ann Ryan's ADORING INK is available now! Don't miss getting your hand on Holly's story.

 

Author: Carrie Ann Ryan
Series: Montgomery Ink #6.5
Audience: +18
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
Release Date: January 17th 2016
My Rating: 4 Cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):

The Montgomery Ink series continues with the most unlikely of romances between the one that got away and the man who can show her the world.

Holly Rose fell in love with a Montgomery, but left him when he couldn’t love her back. She might have been the one to break the ties and ensure her ex’s happy ending, but now Holly’s afraid she’s missed out on more than a chance at forever. Though she’s always been the dependable good girl, she’s ready to take a leap of faith and embark on the journey of a lifetime.

Brody Deacon loves ink, women, fast cars, and living life like there’s no tomorrow. The thing is, he doesn’t know if he has a tomorrow at all. When he sees Holly, he’s not only intrigued, he also hears the warnings of danger in his head. She’s too sweet, too innocent, and way too special for him. But when Holly asks him to help her grab the bull by the horns, he can’t help but go all in.

As they explore Holly’s bucket list and their own desires, Brody will have to make sure he doesn’t fall too hard and too fast. Sometimes, people think happily ever afters don’t happen for everyone, and Brody will have to face his demons and tell Holly the truth of what it means to truly live life to the fullest…even when they’re both running out of time.

Get your hands on ADORING INK:

Kindle | Print

(ADORING INK is available initially as a 90-day exclusive Kindle release per 1001, after which it will be available across all vendors. Don’t have a Kindle and want this in your hot little hands NOW? Don’t worry! You can get a free Kindle app for practically any gadget, phones, computers, tablets. https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/fd/kcp)

My Review:

*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 the content of this review in any way.

This is my first time reading a Montgomery Ink story, and I truly enjoyed my foray into this new series.

I really enjoyed reading about Holly and Brody. Holly was a bit of a mystery to me, and I have to say, I was a bit confused at first, given that there was a piece of the puzzle that I didn't have. Then, as the story went on, I managed to put enough of the puzzle together to really like Holly, but also to feel a bit sorry for her. It takes a truly brave, selfless person, to give up the person they love, because you can see that maybe you're not the one for that person. So I really respected her for that strength. But at the same time, I felt really bad for her, because all the time, I had this impression of her really putting herself down, because of her family. It was also nice to see her interact with her ex and his family. I was really curious about that relationship, especially since it didn't feel forced or awkward or anything.

Brody was a great hero, and I liked him a lot. I feel like Holly and Brody are perfect for each other, both trying to heal from a really bad childhood. Brody went through something that no kid should go through, and I felt sorry for him and really, really angry at his parents.

The book was pretty well paced, and there's a little detail at the end of the book that makes me really curious about the future of these two lovebirds. If it means what I think it means, then I'm super happy for them! I really enjoyed being introduced to the world of Montgomery Ink, and this is definitely a series I'll soon be binge-reading from the very beginning.

Read a Sneak Peek of ADORING INK:

Holly Rose needed to come.

Badly.

And hopefully she would. The man above her moved with such heat that she knew she was blushing, but she didn’t care. She just needed him to work his magic so she could finally crest that peak and end up a boneless pile of limbs.

She clutched at his tattooed shoulders before sliding her hands down his chest, raking her nails over his thick muscles and the ink that covered his skin. He thrust deeply inside her, and she arched her back, taking more of him in.

Her breath came in pants, and her body shook, sweat-slick from hours of lovemaking with no pause.

Then she looked up and froze.

Once again, her Dream Man was just a blur. A thickly muscled male with ink but no face, no features showing her who he was. No eyes giving her a glimpse of the man deep inside.

She reached out to cup his face, hoping she was wrong.

But she wasn’t.

The alarm pulled her out of sleep in that instant, leaving her right on the edge once again, and confused as hell about the recurring dream that never made sense.

Holly let out a sigh and rolled over to press the button on her phone. Unfortunately, she didn’t have time to hit snooze and go back to sleep, so she forced herself to sit up. Hitting snooze was one of her favorite pastimes since she had the most comfortable bed ever, but she had to be an adult and forego that. She was the kind of person that, once she sat up, she was awake and slightly functional, but it was the sitting up part that was the hardest. She loved sleeping in but couldn’t do it most days because of her job. Heck, she couldn’t even slumber on weekends most times thanks to the piles of grading she had. She might only teach first grade, but her kids had books and binders full of state-mandated homework and classwork to complete.

Holly’s head hurt just thinking about it.

About Carrie Ann Ryan

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.

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Book Review: Strung Up by Lorelei James

Author: Lorelei James
Series: Blacktop Cowboys #7.5, 1001 Dark Nights #46
Audience: +18
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, Western Romance
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
Release Date: September 13th 2016
My Rating: 5 Cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):

From New York Times bestseller Lorelei James…

Rancher Creston Grant retreats from the world after he loses the love of his life... Can his former flame, rodeo cowboy Breck Christianson prove he's a changed man who can give Cres a second chance at love?

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

Strung Up is one of those books that will take you for a wild ride, make you love it and want more. Lorelei James managed to touch so many important themes in this novella, from dealing with the loss of a partner, to finding love, to the struggles of being a gay man in a work environment where everyone prides themselves with their heterosexuality, to family dynamics and so on. You have it all here, and it's one of the reasons why I love James' books so much.

As I haven't yet got to read her Blacktop Cowboys series, I was not familiar with Breck from the very beginning of the series, to see how he changed and how he became the man he was in this book. But I can tell that even before this novella he was a strong, confident man. Reading about what he went through after his ex announced it to everyone that Breck was gay, really made me respect him more, and also be incredibly sad for him. I get even sadder when I think that this is real. Even today, there are people who can lose everything just based on their sexuality, and that is infuriating to say the least. But I greatly respect Breck for finding the strength to move on, to try to make a bad situation into a good one.

I met Cres in the 1001 Dark Nights Bundle Six, and since then I've kept my fingers crossed that he would get his own story. I never imagined that his story would be so tragic, but I wanted his story told. I've hoped for an M/M story from Lorelei James since forever, and I was super happy when Cres got his story. As I said, he has a really sad story, but at the same time a very hopeful one. I also loved that his family was so cool with his sexuality, and that it wasn't something they focused on. Even in the previous novella, the one I was referring to earlier, it didn't feel like the Grant family defined Cres as his sexuality, which was honestly such a great thing.

I am super happy that I was able to read this book and I cannot wait to see what other stories will James write in the future.

Book Review: 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Six

Author: Jennifer L Armentrout, Lorelei James, Alexandra Ivy, Laura Wright, Donna Grant, Rebecca Yarros, Kennedy Layne
Series: 1001 Dark Nights
Audience: +18
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Romance, Military Romance
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
Release Date: August 23rd 2016
My Rating: 4 cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors Jennifer L. Armentrout, Lorelei James, Alexandra Ivy, Laura Wright, Donna Grant, and introducing Rebecca Yarros and Kennedy Layne.

Seven Dark Tales. Seven Sensual Stories. Seven Page Turners.

DREAM OF YOU: Abby Erickson isn't looking for a one-night stand, a relationship, or anything that involves any one-on-one time, but when she witnesses a shocking crime, she's thrust into the hands of Colton Anders. His job is to protect her, but with every look, every touch, and every simmering kiss, she's in danger of not only losing her life but her heart also.

STRIPPED DOWN: A flirty game of sexual truth or dare between best man, Wynton Grant, and maid of honor, Melissa Lockhart during their BFF’s wedding reception results in a steamy hookup. But their plans for a one and done change when a family crisis leaves Wyn shorthanded at the Grant Ranch. Mel volunteers to help and gets way more than she bargained for.

RAGE: Rage has never had a problem charming the females. All except Lucie Gaudet. The lovely Geek is a born troublemaker, and it was no surprise to Rage when she was kicked out of the Wildlands. Now the Pantera need a first-class hacker to stop the potential destruction of their people, and it’s up to Rage to convince Lucie to help.

KILLIAN: Gorgeous, brutal, aggressive, and human, Killian O’Roarke wants only two things: to get rid of the Pantera DNA he’s been infected with, and get back to the field. Rosalie lost her mate to a human, and now the Hunter despises them all. In a time of war between their species, isn’t any chance of love destined for destruction?

DRAGON KING: Grace Clark has found the perfect spot to break through her writer's block. Until Arian, a Dragon King who has slept away centuries in his cave, appears and tries to force her away from the mountain. Unaware of the war she just stumbled into, Grace doesn't just discover the perfect place to write, she finds Arian - the most gorgeous, enticing, mysterious man she's ever met.

IGNITE: In Legacy, Colorado, I buried my father alongside his elite Hotshot team. Ten years later, I’ve followed in his footsteps—fighting fires in the mountains of Alaska with my brother.
Amid the flames, nothing ignites me like Avery Claire. She’s stubborn, strong, sexy as hell, and my best friend. She also has no idea that I’m in love with her.

FATED IDENTITY: Grady Kenton relishes the long seductive weekends with Brienne Chaylse, the beautiful CIA liaison who understands his boundaries and accepts things the way he needs them to be. When Brienne’s identity as a CIA special agent is leaked to the media, she and Grady must race to discover whose betrayal runs deep while their true feelings emerge.

Every Dark Nights tale is breathtakingly sexy and magically romantic.

*Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC of this book from InkSlinger PR and Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or my opinion of this book.

I am slowly, but very surely, becoming addicted to the 1001 Dark Nights series, guys! Besides the fact that most of my favorite authors are writing for this series, I get to find out about more authors that need to be on my shelves ASAP.

Dream Of You by Jennifer L. Armentrout

When I saw that this bundle had an Armentrout novella in it, I did a happy dance. I may have squeed a little bit too (not a very nice sound, let me tell you). I can always trust Armentrout to write a really relatable female character. Abby was phenomenal, there's just no other way to describe her. She has, what is in my opinion, the perfect job. But aside from that, I love how strong she is. She was scared out of her mind, but she still did the right thing, and I respect her a lot for that. Colton was a great hero, and it was really sweet seeing how he viewed her in high school. I loved him mostly for his integrity, for his sense of right and wrong. He's a great guy, and I really loved him, and I'm super happy they found each other again, even in the most terrible way.

Stripped Down by Lorelei James

It seems that not long ago I found the perfect cowboy romance series, by Lorelei James. So when she comes out with another cowboy novella, I trust her to write great heroes, great heroines, but also really natural, real human interactions. There's just something about James' characters that make them feel like real people, and that's what I felt with Wynton and Melissa. They were funny and sexy together, there's no denying that, but I also loved reading about how they interacted outside of the bedroom. Melissa is struggling to come to terms with some really important developments in her life, and it was a really fascinating to read about that. I also loved seeing how even with what was going on with her, she still found it in herself to help Wynton when he needed it the most. I also loved the ending. I laughed at it, because it shows just how perfectly these two characters fit together.

Rage/Killian by Alexandra Ivy & Laura Wright

I really need to go back and read the Bayou Heat series from the very beginning. Rage and Lucie have a very peculiar relationship. Lucie's childhood is filled with a lot of pain, and I was amazed by her strength and by how she managed to make a really good life for herself. I'm pretty sure Rage would have helped her had he known what was going on back then, as he even says as much. I was glad to see these two end up together.

Killian and Rosalie's story has a different tone than the previous one. Both of them have lost a lot, and they're both a little damaged. It was interesting to read about Killian's struggle to come to terms with what was going on with him. I would have wanted to read more about him and about his story prior to being exposed to the Pantera DNA. Rosalie is in a lot of emotional pain, and she's lashing out at everyone, including herself. I was really sad reading about her story and about her past. I like how, in the end, they both kind of help each other heal.

Dragon King by Donna Grant

I loved this take on dragons. I haven't read many books with dragons, but I was really happy with how Grant wrote them. This was my first Dark Kings book, so in a way, I understood Grace and how new she was to this world. I really liked Grace. She's a writer, she travels to Scotland to find her muse, and I really enjoyed reading about that, about her thought process, about her struggles to write a book under a strict timeline. Arian is a great character, and I loved reading about his past. He's really good with words, with explaining the history of dragons, and I found myself kind of lost in that. I know this book is part of a long series, and I am definitely going to check it out, because I need to read more about these dragons. Also, I'm really hoping the King of Kings gets his own story.

Ignite by Rebecca Yarros

River is the kind of guy you just have to love. Everything about him is perfect, from his sense of duty, to his little rituals when getting home from a fire, to his willingness to do the right thing even if it means he doesn't get the girl. He's a nice guy, and I liked him a lot. Avery is a girl who's been through a lot, much more than any person should go through. My heart was breaking while I was reading her story, because she's a good girl that's stuck in a really shitty situation. I respected her a lot, how she took care of her dad and her little sister, but at the same time I wanted to shake her. I was happy with how the story ended for her, but I would have wanted to see her have the courage to do what she did, earlier. I'm hoping there are more books in this series, because I am very curious to see how her life goes on and how her sister grows up.

Fated Identity by Kennedy Layne

The last novella in this bundle was a really powerful one. I kind of felt like watching scenes from NCIS, to be honest. There's a lot of intense scenes in this book, a lot of danger, the pacing is amazing. Brienna and Grady are really great characters, and it was fascinating to read about them. Grady is struggling to adjust to some changes in his relationship with Brienna, when they get the news that she's in danger. And I was really fascinated with how he reacted, and especially with how they were both willing to sacrifice themselves in order to see the mission complete. I also liked how Brienna stated some facts that Grady wasn't really ready to hear, but that he needed to. I am definitely going to check this author out, especially since this particular novella is part of a series.

OVERALL RATING

I was super happy to have received an ARC of this bundle and I absolutely loved it. I cannot wait for more 1001 Dark Nights novellas and bundles to come out, and to discover new authors and new series, as well as read more stories from my favorite authors.