Waiting On Wednesday (W.O.W) 39: The Hidden Heather Graham, Doing It For Love Cassie Mae, Down the Rabbit Hole JD Robb, Forever With You J Lynn,

Hosted by: Jill over at Breaking The Spines.  This is a weekly book lust prompt, asking for us to share our absolute can't wait to get our hands on a copy books. Swing on over to find out how to participate and to see what others are sharing.  

Young Adult/New Adult

Forever With You (Wait for You 5) by J Lynn

In the irresistibly sexy series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout, two free spirits find their lives changed by a one-night stand… Some things you just believe in, even if you've never experienced them. For Stephanie, that list includes love. It's out there. Somewhere. Eventually. Meanwhile she's got her job at the mixed martial arts training center and hot flings with gorgeous, temporary guys like Nick. Then a secret brings them closer, opening Steph's eyes to a future she never knew she wanted—until tragedy rips it away. Nick's self-assured surface shields a past no one needs to know about. His mind-blowing connection with Steph changes all that. As fast as he's knocking down the walls that have kept him commitment-free, she's building them up again, determined to keep the hurt—and Nick—out. But he can't walk away. Not when she's the only one who's ever made him wish for forever . . . (

Due Date: September 28

Print: ebook, Mass Market

Pages: 384

Publisher: AVON
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If it's by Jenn then I need to own it. I already pre-ordered this back in Jan somewhere there and I can't wait to get back into this world, I've been loving all the books recently so, yep time for another one.

Doing It For Love by Cassie Mae

Cassie Mae’s charming, sexy new novel, perfect for fans of Emma Chase, puts a steamy twist on modern love as one bride-to-be tries to put the spark back in the bedroom—by any means necessary. Elizabeth Fanning’s life looks pretty perfect, judging by the diamond ring on her finger. Her fiancé, Landon, is sweet, handsome, and hilarious. The trouble is, before they’ve even tied the knot, their sex life has gone from mind-blowing to “meh”—and Liz isn’t ready to be part of an old married couple. After a cathartic call to her best friend, Liz comes up with a brilliant idea. She and Landon may never be able to re-create the magic of their first time, but how amazing would their wedding night be if everything below the neck was off-limits until then? Liz thinks it’ll bring them closer together. Landon’s convinced she’ll cave first. So they raise the stakes: Whoever lasts longer gets to pick their honeymoon destination. With her heart set on the Bahamas and Landon fighting for snowbound Utah, Liz simply has to win. But pretty soon, her body is screaming for attention, and Landon’s never seemed so far away. Has Liz’s experiment backfired? Losing their little competition would be frustrating—but the one thing she can’t afford to lose is him.

Due Date:  September 29th

Print: ebook, 

Pages: 282

Publisher: LoveSwept

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I've been loving Cassie's writing for the past two years, and I'm super excited to get into this one.  She writes great relateable characters and I can't wait to see how she does this one up.  

Adult Fiction/ Romance / Erotica

Down The Rabbit Hole

Some of your favorite New York Times bestselling authors present five all-new stories told through the looking glass—including a new Eve Dallas novella! You’re late for a very important date... Enter a wonderland of mesmerizing tales. It’s a place that’s neither here nor there, where things are never quite as they seem. Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s whimsical masterpiece, ranging from the impossible to the mad to the curiouser, these stories will have you absolutely off your head. Don’t be afraid to follow them… DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE Contains Wonderment in Death by J. D. Robb Alice and the Earl in Wonderland by Mary Blayney iLove by Elaine Fox A True Heart by Mary Kay McComas Fallen by R. C. Ryan

Due Date: Sept 29th

Print: Paperback

Pages: 432

Publisher: JOVE
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This is another book in the In Death novella section that I want to read.I'm really only getting it because of that.

The Hidden by Heather Graham

Can the same killer strike again—a hundred and fifty years later? Estes Park, Colorado, is a place of serenity. But it wasn't always so serene. Shortly after the Civil War, Nathan Kendall and his wife were murdered there, leaving behind a young son. The crime was never solved. Now…historian Scarlet Barlow is working at a small museum attached to a B and B, the same building where that murder occurred. She recently came to Colorado, reeling after her divorce from FBI agent Diego McCullough. Diego—who's just been asked to join the Krewe of Hunters, a unit dealing with "unusual" situations… When Scarlet unwittingly takes pictures of people who've been murdered—just like the Kendalls a hundred and fifty years before—the police look at her with suspicion. Then the museum's statues of historic people, including Nathan Kendall, begin to talk to her, and she knows it's time to call her ex-husband. Diego heads to Estes Park, determined to solve the bizarre case that threatens Scarlet's life—and to reunite with the woman he never stopped loving.

Due Date: September 29th

Print: Mass Market Paperback

Pages: 400

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

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It's another in the Krew of Hunters series, and I just love everything Heather G anyway, so obsessed I have already pr-ordered this one.  

Are you getting any of these?? What's on your book lust list?? Share in the comments down below!!

Happy Lusting

Book #Review: Fall With Me by J Lynn .@JLArmentrout

Book Title: Fall With Me ( Wait For You 4)
Author:  J Lynn |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: New Adult Romance
Series/Standalone: Book 4
Format: ebook, MM Paperback

Cost: $7.99

Pages: 376

How I got it: Purchased

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: March 2015
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Synopsis:

Eleven months ago, bartender and weird-shirt-wearing extraordinaire Roxy and Officer Reece Anders had a one night stand. Well, kind of. She’s been in love with him since she was fifteen, and he wishes that night they shared never happened. She’s sworn him off forever, but the past and future collide, forcing her to rely on the one man who broke her heart not once, but twice. Her best friend since birth has been in a long-term care facility since he became a victim of a hate crime years ago, and the person who put him in there is out of prison and wanting to make amends with him and Roxy. She’s not sure she has room for forgiveness in her and when she begins to receive frightening messages and is on the receiving end of escalating violence, she thinks she knows who is to blame. The man who already destroyed one life already. But Reece isn’t convinced. The threats are too personal, and even if Roxy doesn’t believe him, he’s not willing to let anyone hurt her. Including himself. He’s already messed up more than once when it comes to Roxy and he’s not going to let history repeat itself.

I really enjoyed diving back into this world.    I really loved this one, Got so into it,  I had it in physical form but I couldn't put it down so I bought it on Kindle so I could read any chance I could get.  It's truly smoking hot between them. Seeing Reece was awesome and getting to know Roxy was cool, she's really the kind of girl I could really be friends with.

I loved reading this story so much, Roxy is one of my favorite women to have read in a while, she brash, funny, witty, a fangirl, an artist and a woman who loves deeply and fiercely, she's also a woman dealing with pain from the past.  Unlike the other books in the series, Roxy comes from a well adjusted family, a loving family at that, she and her parents get along really well.  She's loving her job at the bar, where her friends and ever expanding circle all hang out, her only fly in the cream is Reece.  I loved that she really kinda had it together, she had some things to tweak but she wasn't a complete mess either, and she wasn't just relying on the bar as her job, she had a side hustle that she loved a secret talent that she nurtured.

Reece was like so many of the other guys in this series, a good guy with a tough job, he's not perfect but he isn't a fool around and hurt the woman he's with just because he can kinda guy, and I love him for that.  Having decided that enough is enough he confronts Roxy and our story unfolds from there. I absolutely love them together, they were witty and snarky together and I just loved all the references they kept making. The story unfolded quickly and allowed us to catch up with old friends and see how this relationship was developing as well.  We already know that Jen can write the hell out of sex scenes so you know these were amazingly hot and great to read.  (It's a talent I promise you, cause nothing can kill a scene more quickly than awkward phrasing)

Even though I had kinda guessed the who, the why escaped me until the end, and I did guess the way they were doing things, but only because I've lived in a big ole house like that before and know all about those ...well now I almost gave it away. Nope you gotta read it and see it to believe it.  The big ole bowl of crazy that came pouring out?? I don't think there is anyway to prep for that at all.  Villains always have the dumbest reasons to become villains and this one is a flipping idiot but they give good mystery.

I really loved Roxy and Reece coming together, and how much Reece helped to bolster Rosy when she needed it, gave her an understanding shoulder to lean on and was at her back if he thought she needed it. Roxy was pretty bad ass and only had one moment of being too stupid to live, but even she called it that when it happened.  I loved that her decision to be an adult and embrace changed helped her along and even...well I almost gave away another major clue, just know that good karma gets repaid quickly and man she needed all the good she could get.

I'm wondering if we are going to get his story, the boy that Roxy grew up with.  It would be interesting to get a few more stories, I can't wait until their best stripper friend ( for the life of me I can't remember her name right now, I can't wait til she gets a story as well, and the man that gets her is going to have to be hella awesome as well).  and Nick the other bartender and so many more stories, I can't wait to get my hands on them.

 ★★★★★

Happy Reading and happy lusting for the next one, which I can't wait for!!!

Book #Review & Giveaway : 1001 Dark Nights: Hard As Steel (Hard Ink /Raven Riders Crossover ) by Laura Kaye .@LauraKayeauthor .@InkSlingerPR

Book Title: Hard As Steel ( A Hard Ink/Raven Riders Crossover Novella)
Author:  Laura Kaye |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts via Amazon Digital Services
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series/Standalone: Series
Format: ebook

Cost: $2.99

Pages: 128

How I got it: Publisher via Blog Tour Company

Purchase: Amazon  |
Publication Date: Septermber 22, 2015
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Synopsis:

After identifying her employer's dangerous enemies, Jessica Jakes takes refuge at the compound of the Raven Riders Motorcycle Club. Fellow Hard Ink tattooist and Raven leader Ike Young promises to keep Jess safe for as long as it takes, which would be perfect if his close, personal, round-the-clock protection didn't make it so hard to hide just how much she wants him—and always has. Ike Young loved and lost a woman in trouble once before. The last thing he needs is alone time with the sexiest and feistiest woman he's ever known, one he's purposely kept at a distance for years. Now, Ike's not sure he can keep his hands or his heart to himself—or that he even wants to anymore. And that means he has to do whatever it takes to hold on to Jess forever.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt

Jesus, his cock was never going to let him go to sleep at this rate.

           

And was it fucking hot in here or what? He tossed the cover off, wishing he had a ceiling fan downstairs, too. Something for the to-do list around this place.

           

Ike sighed and flung his hand over his head. And wondered why the hell he was torturing himself this way.

           

He could just go up there and get in the bed—and take what he wanted, and what he knew Jess would be only too happy to give. Neither of them was immune to the mutual attraction that had always been there between them. And her reaction to his kiss the other day made it crystal fucking clear that she was waiting for him to make his move.

           

Jess had plenty of one-night stands and casual hook-ups. Ike knew she was perfectly capable of handling that kind of relationship.

           

Except.

           

Except Ike wasn’t a clueless idiot, and he wasn’t in the habit of doing things he knew damn right well would hurt someone he cared about. Jess wore her emotions like she wore her ink—out loud and unapologetically. He had a pretty good idea that she was rocking some more-than-friendly and more-than-physical feelings for him. Right now, she thought them unrequited, and that kept a kind of sexually tense equilibrium between them. But if he let himself off the leash—even just once—he’d very likely raise and dash her hopes, give her all kinds of mixed signals, and screw things up royally between them.

           

He shook his head and heaved a deep breath. If he wasn’t going to go the distance with her, he had no business taking the first step.

            

Whoever came up with this concept of having some of the best writers today create novellas and do them in this theme is so winning at life right now. I've read three others so far and loved everyone of them. This one comes from Laura Kaye and her Hard Ink series (which incidentally right before BEA I bought all of them on ebook then went to BEA and got most of them in physical form signed, yass my loves I'm winning at life as well).  Anyway I picked this one up and dived right in because hot bikers and snarky women with tattoos, are my kind of books and I was so happy I did, this has one hell of a kick butt story told really quickly because of course it's only a novella.   Now I'm not going to lie I haven't read all the Hard Ink books yet and now I know I have to go back because this seems to be tying up a few loose ends, while giving us the story of these two lovers, and also expanding the world of the Hard Ink crew to include the bikers, and that's all good to me.  

Ike is helping out a friend; a friend who is scared out of her mind because she can identify the men who have killed two of his friends and have done some serious damage to the Hard Ink premises. at least that's what he tells himself, he's not going to think about how close he came to losing her, or that he finds her sexy and funny, and of course he's not even going to think about how hot she makes him.  

Jess is tired of being a trouble magnate and she want the big hot biker to not only protect her but be more but he clearly doesn't want more; yet when she needed help he came running. Hiding out is going to drive her mad because it's just the two of them and he has a few rules that he's implemented and all of them mean hands off.  And she's not sure she can be a good girl when it means just her and her fantasy man all alone in a cabin.

I really loved Laura's writing, she was able to create the world for the reader and yet allow us the space to fill in the blanks and make our own interpretations about the characters.  I loved the woman that Jess was, even faced with danger, even with her past, she's still, fun, funny, loyal, sarcastically witty and knows how to laugh.  Even though she's faced with not having it all she still embraces what she has and I really like her for that.  Ike has his share of hard knocks and the Ravens have been his home for the past 18 years, they saved him and gave him something and someone to believe in a in doing so helped to make him a better man.  I really loved how Ike and Jess flowed together, their conversations, their little spats, and even their funny moments, and of course the sex is hot.  Ike has good reason to be afraid and Jess has even greater reason to doubt and yet between them they create a pretty good reason not to doubt of be afraid.  I loved how funny their voices were when they were alone and how that translated even when they thought they were in danger, they could still have a few moments between them.

I loved that even though Jess knew Ike was going to lose his mind, she still did what was right and still managed to make even deeper friends in the process.  I loved meeting the different people on the compound and even the reaction the prospects caused was so freaking hot, even if he was an idiot right after.  

I loved reading their coming together and how quickly the story progressed, I wanted to know more about everyone and now I must go back and read all the books from the beginning and finally catch up.  I must say my heart is in my chest after certain events, and I'm sure if I loved them as characters I would be freaking out right about now.  I can't wait to dive into the adventures Laura has in store for us.  Even though I'm missing some of the big picture mystery, I'm getting enough of it here to know there is some seriously bad stuff coming for the Hard Ink crew and I want in on it like asap.  

Good Luck to all those who are entering into the giveaway.  Now excuse while I go catch up on all these smoking how men mentioned and their badass women.  

 ★★★★☆

Happy Reading

Stacking The Shelves (32): Library Haul & Ebooks

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page!

Library Book Sale:

I picked these two up purely for sentimental value, I read these and shared them with friends years ago and that was the last time I saw the books, so when I saw these for a quarter each I couldn't resist.

The Year I turned 16: Daisy

The Year I Turned 16: Laurel

I also snagged a copy of BJ Daniels' Wedding At Cardwell Ranch and the Cowgirl in Question bind up. I have these as ebooks so to snag them for a quarter as a physical copy is pretty cool.  

I grabbed a hardback copy of Thankless in Death by JD Robb, it doesn't have a dust jacket but that's ok.  for $0.50 I really can't complain, besides it's the story inside that counts.

Borrowed From the Library

 I snagged two from my favorite paranormal queen Heather Graham

 The Forgotten by Heather Graham

The Last Noel

NetGalley

 I got a few new approvals, and few invitations that seemed too good to pass up so here we have a few more books on the tbr.

Hot Toy by Jennifer Cruise. This is a re-release of a book that was published in an anthology called Santa, baby. 

The African Equation

No Interest In Love (All About Love 2) by Cassie Mae

The Suffering (The Girl From The Well 2) by Rin Chupeco

And there you have it. All the books that have made their way into my home this week. I'm loving my selection. What'd you get?? Share down below and I'll come check them out.

Happy reading my loves and of course happy book hauling and lusting.

Book #Review: Caged Warrior (Dragon Kings 1) by Lindsey Piper .@LindseyPiper .@GalleryBooks

Book Title: Caged Warrior ( Dragon Kings 1)
Author:  Lindsey Piper |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Pocket Books
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series/Standalone: Series Book 1
Format: Mass Market Paperback

Cost: $5.99

Pages: 380

How I got it: NetGalley

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: June 25th, 2013
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Synopsis:

The first installment in this fierce and sensual new paranormal romance series features demonic gladiators, ruthless mafia villains, and a proud race on the brink of extinction. Ten years ago, Audrey MacLaren chose to marry her human lover, making her an exile from the Dragon Kings, an ancient race of demons once worshiped as earthly gods. Audrey and her husband managed to conceive, and their son is the first natural-born Dragon King in a generation—which makes him irresistible to the sadistic scientist whose mafia-funded technology allows demon procreation. In the year since her husband was murdered, Audrey and her little boy have endured hideous experiments. Shackled with a collar and bound for life, Leto Garnis is a Cage warrior. Only through combat can Dragon Kings earn the privilege of conceiving children. Leto uses his superhuman speed and reflexes to secure the right for his two sisters to start families. After torture reveals Audrey’s astonishing pyrokenesis, she is sent to fight in the Cages. If she survives a year, she will be reunited with her son. Leto is charged with her training. Initially, he has no sympathy for her plight. But if natural conception is possible, what has he been fighting for? As enemies, sparring partners, lovers, and eventual allies, Leto and Audrey learn that in a violent underground world, love is the only prize worth winning.

WARNING:

Don't let my exposition on the similarities between history and this story make you afraid to read it.  The author creates a world where the Dragon Kings live their lives among the humans, and we are few and far between that know of their existence.  It echoes the themes from many Dystopian novels where a King uses a people to entertain the wealthy class with more and more exotic brands and people as well.  I don't believe the author realized how much her story echoes the history of the Black and Brown, or Indigenous people of the world, nor do I believe she was attempting to write to that, it's just as a Black woman in the world I realize how much the story echoes my history, and much like someone else will read this book and find different themes to latch onto, these are the ones that stuck out to me.  It's a great book, a good paranormal mystery, an even better romance, but once again a good story about what happens to a people when they begin to go extinct.

A bit of a slow start since I went into the book blind, I didn't read the synopsis, but with a title like Dragon Kings, it's kinda hard to miss that Dragons are involved right??  I'm glad I went in blind because the story that unfolded?? So Amazing, heartbreaking, made me want to cry at moments, and yell at others, just demanded that I continued to read so I could know just what happens in the next scene.

This world is so different and so brutal and these people are operating under the guise that they are gladiators and worthy of their titles but how do you know if you're enslaved?? Raised on his beliefs Leto doesn't know that he's the best slave, a title he inherited and then worked really hard to keep, he's a Gladiator and an honorable one, but as the story progresses and as his world view is challenged who he believes he is, is tested daily by Nynn's existence and presence.  Forced to train Nynn, who he doesn't believe is who she says she is, Leto is forced to look at the privileged sphere he has lived in his whole life with a new light.  I love that they challenge his ideals, his morals, who he thought he was.

Oh my gosh Nynn, was the most amazing character I've read in a while, tested, used,abused and still resilient.  I totally fell for  Nynn and her plight.  My heart hurt when she thought about her child, her life before and for all she lost.  With no other choice but to now fight in the cages, she has to learn to become something she has never been, something she has never had.  As one of the few born without a gift from the Dragon, Nynn despite her Royal lineage is outcasted from the safe haven of her people and forced to learn to live as a human.  There she makes a life for herself and that life is one day blown to smithereens and she awakens to find herself trapped and being experimented on by the Asters. Nynn how fights not just for herself, but for revenge, she wants her freedom, her child and her husband's death avenged and she will use whoever she has to.  Pitted against and told she has to fight with Leto or her life becomes forfeit, Nynn decides to play with the narrow lines drawn for her now, but eventually she will dance across those lines. This is her motivation, and I totally felt for her when reading from her perspective.  Seeing what she had to live through, the brief flickers of thoughts of what happened in the labs, when she was helpless and considered less than human and therefore used and abused by both the lab workers and the guards, I wanted to cry.  Others would have given up, just let themselves die, but Nynn made herself fight, she refused to let this go and she became the biggest catalyst for change.

This book appealed to me on so many levels.  The mystery of how the people came to be under the thumb of the cartels, why the Dragon left his people without guidance, who betrayed Nynn and her family to the cartels, how comes Leto never knew that this wasn't the truth??  This story was amazing and encompassing and challenging to read.  The romance came later well after the characters have become people you love and care about and I loved that the romance was there but didn't immediately change the characters or drift the story away from the larger themes.

The story of their people and what happened to make them who they are it was so good.  The discussion of experimentation, and what that does to the population, the lack of morals exhibited by those doing the experimentation.  The 'othering' of the people being used, just everything about this echoes so many real life experiments where the scientist believe the science is more important that the lives of the people ( See the Tuskegee Experiment, Nazi Human Experiments and so many more on Brown and Black bodies the world over with devastating consequences). I wanted to yell and hit something and demand to know why people where so dumb they went along with hurting others for a paycheck.

The humans who had managed to gain control of such a powerful race, to me it just boggles the mind.  The asters are monsters on a level that is so evil even the devil would disown them.  They and the other cartels perpetrate psychological warfare, genetic modification, and so much more as a way to control these more powerful beings; so much is used to keep these powerful beings down and to keep so many more of them brainwashed and believing that this is how the whole world is.  I wonder if the author realizes how much this story echos the devastation of slavery and colonial imperialism  on black and brown people the world over??

I think part of why this hit me so hard,  is the fact that it echoes what happened to black and brown people everywhere, heck even to the Jews, the stripping of culture, the destruction of language or traditions, The experimentation, the belief that somehow you can't feel pain, you're not normal so therefore they aren't breaking any of the laws to do what they are doing.  The idea that people thought if they played along it would get better and the few who did try to run were punished brutality.  The loss of a people,  the people who volunteered to become gladiators because they were so deep in debt to the cartels and the idea that some others thought this was going to help their people was just too amazing.  That cycle of abuse helped to keep so many in check yet as such a larger group if they had banded together their freedom would have been guaranteed.

I want all the other books, I want all the characters stories, I want to know what happens after this; will the other cartels be challenged as well, will the dragon return?? Will they be able to save their people?? Will Leto's dream become a reality?? I'm going to definitely find out. And I suggest you do as well.

 ★★★★1/2☆

I hope you enjoy the glimpse of the Dragons and I can't wait to get to the others. Happy Reading

Waiting On Wednesday (W.O.W.) 38:Wild Crush Simone Elkeles, Life On The Level by Zoriada Cordova

Hosted by: Jill over at Breaking The Spines.  This is a weekly book lust prompt, asking for us to share our absolute can't wait to get our hands on a copy books. Swing on over to find out how to participate and to see what others are sharing.  

Young Adult/New Adult

Wild Crush (Wild Cards 2) by Simone Elkeles

When the only girl you want is the one you can't have... Bad boy Vic Salazar breaks all the rules except one: Don't make a move on your best friend's girl. It’s a Guy Code that Vic lives by. It doesn't matter that he's had a crush on her for years. Monika Fox is off limits. Monika has a secret of her own and when a tragedy throws her and Vic together, the only boy she trusts is the one she shouldn’t confide in. Vic. As Vic struggles to keep his distance, and Monika struggles with her secrets, will their wild connection violate every rule both vowed never to break—about relationships, about friendship, about love?

Due Date: September 22, 2015

Print: Trade papaerback

Pages:

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
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The highly and late as heck follow up to Wild Cards, I can't wait to read this, Wild Cards was one of my favorite books of 2014.

Adult Fiction/ Romance / Erotica

Life On The Level Zoraida Cordova

Never gamble more than you can afford to lose. River Thomas was born a wild card. Her father took one look at her and decided that his daughter would have the best poker face in the city. But when he dies unexpectedly, River's already dangerous life is spiraling out of control. After six months without gambling—staying away from the tables where she makes and loses her fortune—she relapses, and soon must go on the run from a guy looking to settle a score. She wants to be better, needs to be better, before she ends up like her dad. The road leads her to rehab in Sun Valley, Montana. But first, one last hurrah, and the beautiful stranger at the bar is just what the doctor ordered. She leaves before sunrise still thinking of his face. But her last hurrah with the guy of her dreams is also her counselor for the next ninety days... Attraction, however, is too strong a lure to ignore, and soon River finds herself gambling with the one thing she never thought she would—her heart.

Due Date: September 15, 2015

Print: Kindle

Pages:

Publisher: Diversion Books
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I've been reading and loving this series and I can't wait to join back up and see where our characters are and what's going on in their lives.  Plus Zoraida is a great writer and creates a story that pulls you in from the get go. 

Have you read either Zoraida's Merman series, or Simone's previous books?? I've enjoyed both Wild Cards and the Perfect Chemistry book *I still have to read the other two*?? Are you getting any of these?? What's on your book lust list?? Share in the comments down below!!

Happy Lusting

Book Review: Brazen Virtue (D.C. Detectives 2) by Nora Roberts

Book Title: Brazen Virtue ( D.C. Detectives 2)
Author:  Nora Roberts |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Bantam
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series/Standalone: Series Book 2
Format: trade paperback

Cost: $11.69

Pages: 288

How I got it: Purchased 

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: November 22, 2011
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Synopsis:

Grace McCabe was shocked to find her sister Kathleen living in a grungy D.C. suburb, supplementing her income as a phone sex operator after a bitter divorce. But with the company Fantasy, Inc. guaranteeing its employees complete anonymity, how dangerous could it really be? Grace was soon to learn the answer when she returned home one night to a horrifying scene that might have come from one of her own novels. Ignoring the warnings of cool-headed detective Ed Jackson, Grace sets her own daring trap to rouse a killer out of hiding. But what can protect her from a brilliant madman whose lust for murder stops at nothing...and no one?

First Trigger warnings for those who need it. Because graphic scene involving sexual violence is in the first few chapters of the novel.

OMG this book is clearly an older book that has been republished, because the attitudes, the lack of cellphones, the smoking casually without people freaking out and telling the characters to quit, the discussion of typewriters, all of it dates the book, and yet murder never changes, the methods may advance but it's the same crime throughout the ages, however the actually story?? The characters, the mystery and the case keep you intrigued and glued to the pages, and let you know why Nora Roberts has been a powerhouse for so many years, she can really tell a tale.

I wasn't expecting the story to go so hard when it did, and I certainly didn't expect it to be so close to the protagonist and man listen, it just went there.  Grace is a novelist, who is trying to hide out and get a chance to relax, then this big crazy case goes off right in front of her and she needs to see it through to the end.  I like Grace, but umm honey, you're not a cop. Detective Ed (can I just say there are almost no Eds as heroes now a days, in all the reading I have done they generally tend to be the serial killers or the side characters of no real consequence, but this was pretty cool to see as a hero).  I really liked that hte characters were two strong, determined well established people, and that Grace was so fluid in her ability to make her life and living anywhere, that the thought of getting up and moving around didn't affect her strength as a character.  I'm all for strong willed heroines but I'm not down for dummies. When I read I imagine how I would react and way too many times the character goes way too far into the stupid barometer for me to be coll with it, and at page 173 she went right into the full fledged full time idiot mode.

Ed and Grace made me laugh because they just flowed so well together, sometimes a little more than I expected considering the circumstances.  Funny how beards are now back in style if she'd said he had a ,an bun I would have loved Ed even more than I did. I pictured him looking like :

found on Pinterest using the search term ' red beards"

On page 187 I started to panic, Don'e do it dude, she's way too nice, just leave her alone, as I'm reading the scene my palms start to sweat and my heart hammers. please let some one come back and let her kick his butt please, just please anything to save her.  OMFG sweet Goddess that moment that effing moment just wow.  I almost cried reading that scene it was so emotional. Oh gawd there is going to be so much fear and issues to deal with.

I loved the mystery, no the devastation being left behind by the killer, but the motivations that pushed him were so odd.

I enjoyed the overall story, even though it's a bit dated, I still loved the chemistry between them and I'm going to pick up Sacred Sins the first book in the series soon so I can really get the full expedience.

★★★★☆

Happy Reading

Book #Review: Asa (Marked Men 6) by Jay Crownover .@JayCrownover

Book Title: ASA (A Marked Men 6)
Author: Jay Crownover  |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: New Adult Romance
Series/Standalone: Series
Format: ebook, paperback

Cost: $13.99

Pages: 265

How I got it: Purchased

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: April 2015
Add To Goodreads

Synopsis:

Jay Crownover’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling Marked Men series continues with the much anticipated story of southern charmer and certified criminal Asa Cross. Starting over in Denver with a whole new circle of friends and family, Asa Cross struggles with being the man he knows everyone wants him to be and the man he knows he really is. A leopard doesn’t it change its spots and Asa has always been a predator. He doesn’t want to hurt those who love and rely on him, especially one luscious arresting cop who suddenly seems to be interested in him for far more than his penchant for breaking the law. But letting go of old habits is hard, and it’s easy to hit bottom when it’s the place you know best. Royal Hastings is quickly learning what the bottom looks like after a tragic situation at work threatens not only her career but her partner’s life. As a woman who has only ever had a few real friends she’s trying to muddle through her confusion and devastation all alone. Except she can’t stop thinking about the sexy southern bartender she locked up. Crushing on Asa is the last thing she needs but his allure is too strong to resist. His long criminal record can only hurt her already shaky career and chasing after a guy who has no respect for the law or himself can only end in heartbreak. A longtime criminal and a cop together just seems so wrong . . . but for Asa and Royal, being wrong together is the only right choice to make.

Series Order & My Reviews (click the titles)

Rowdy (5) 

Nash (4)

Rome (3)

Jet (2)

Rule (1)

It's the end of an era, and I'm both a little heartbroken to see the boys go and happy they went out like this. I'm sure we'll get snippets from the and of course more from the southern charmer because there are just so many characters she's gotta follow up on and so many different avenues for us to go down. I loved this book and at the end Adele's To Make You Feel My Love seemed to sum it up perfectly.

I absolutely loved the ending of this series, I can't wait to see the newest guys and gals in the Saints of Denver series.  We got a good new view of the few characters coming up next and I can't wait to dive in to these stories.

But back to the Marked Men, oh my gawd Asa has been southern charmer for a minute, and we've peaked into who he was since book 2 so now that we're here years later is just both amazing and terrifying. How was Asa we got to know going to be a lead?? Well I should've remembered Jay loves her men complicated and a little dirty and Asa doesn't disappoint, he's brash, ballsy, tormented and hellbent on fighting back from the darkness. Asa at his core is a man with an addiction, to fast cars, fast cash, faster women and isn't exactly particular about how he goes about getting it at times, but after the events of Jet, and being given a second chance by Rome, Asa is doing his best to stay clear, and working in a bar, doesn't make it easy.

I loved seeing that it was a daily struggle, it didn't come easy, he didn't get over it for the love of a woman (well kinda but not really), he fought it, and because of it he was brutally honest about his needs, his failures, his wants and he shared those with Rome, and Royal when she cared to see beyond what he could do for her.

As the story progressed we got some serious angst, and catching up with the different Marked Men and their lives as they progressed along side Asa, seeing them motivated Asa, and at times depressed him because he didn't believe that was out there for him.  I loved that most of the angst in this book was an internal struggle to walk a new path, and how to walk that path with someone who is just beginning to understand how rough your path is.  I liked Asa's acceptance of his errors that lead to Ayd having to do some seriously effed up things to keep him from losing one too many times.  I liked seeing the dynamic between the siblings and how as times passed and wounds scabbed over, and somewhat healed that their was progress between them.

OMG that moment close to the end??? When all seemed to be moving in a whole new direction?/My heart almost couldnt' take it.  I liked that Jay showed an alternative that would have been a bit heartbreaking but at the same time, could have totally happened.  That dilemma?? Yeah I feel bad that he's in that position and I loved that Asa was man enough to make some hard choices.

This book was a bitter sweet read for me, because I knew the Marked Men were coming to a close and it meant saying goodbye to the men and women I have loved for years.  Asa's an outsider tot he group but his perspective is one that aides the group when they need it.  Knowing that we're getting new stories form this world, and knowing that there will be glimpses of my faves in those make me happy.  Reading the conclusion was awesome, and it kinda made me tear up (I'm not going to lie, I may have shed a few thug tears).  I'm so happy to see the progress, and I know I can always revisit by re-reading, but it's the end guys, and I'm kinda happy but kinda sad as well.

I am looking forward to the Saints of Denver series and have already ordered BUILT, and I'm dying to see more from the Denver crew.

 ★★★★★

I hope you enjoyed reading along with me, let me know what you think about the books down below, Happy Reading my loves. 

Fall 2015 Shows I'm Looking Forward To:

It's about to be that time again, my loves. It's going to be good t.v. time, always the good ones that will come back soon.  Like Lost Girl (which is on it's final season), Haven, Scandal (which is life on Thursdays).  So here is what my tv calendar looks like for the next few months:

Monday:  
Gotham @ 8 pm on FOX
NCIS Los Angeles  @ 10 pm on CBS

Tuesday:
NCIS
NCIS New Orleans

Wednesday:
Empire @ 9pm @ FOX
Supernatural  @ 9 pm on CW
Blackish @ 930 pm @ ABC

Thursday:
Bones @ 8pm on FOX/ The Vampire Diaries @ 8pm on CW
Scandal @ 9pm on ABC
I'm so mad right now why the fudge did FOX and CW move The Originals and Sleepy Hollow. Why would y'all try to compete with Scandal? WHY, just WHY???!?!!!!!!  It's almost like they want to cancel these shows so they put them across from I hate everything, I will be watching these on HULU.

Friday:
Grimm @ 9pm on ABC

Saturday: 
Nothing that I can think of, although I think Lost Girl comes out on Saturdays

Sunday: 
Once Upon A Time @ 8 pm on ABC
Brooklyn 99 @ 830 pm (only if I need something funny to watch, I mean almost all the shows I have on here are pretty dark).

I'm also interested in seeing when The 100 comes back, as well as Call The Midwife, Downton Abbey, and Beauty and the Beast.

I don't watch shows except Scandal on their air date, so all of these are going to be Hulu watches for me.  What are you going to watch this Fall??

Book #Review: The Frigid (Frigid # 1) by Jennifer L Armentrout .@JLArmentrout

Book Title: Frigid(Frigid 1)
Author:  Jennifer L Armentrout|Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary
Genre: New Adult Romance
Series/Standalone: Book 1
Format: Trade Paperback

Cost: $9.95

Pages: 252

How I got it: Purchased

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes
Publication Date: July 2013
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:

For twenty-one-year-old Sydney, being in love with Kyler isn't anything new. They'd been best friends ever since he pushed her down on the playground and she made him eat a mud pie. Somewhere over the years, she fell for him and fell hard. The big problem with that? Kyler puts the 'man' in man-whore. He's never stayed with a girl longer than a few nights, and with it being their last year in college, Syd doesn't want to risk their friendship by declaring her love. Kyler has always put Syd on a pedestal that was too high for him to reach. To him, she's perfect and she's everything. But the feelings he has for her, he's always hidden away or focused on any other female. After all, Kyler will always be the poor boy from the wrong side of tracks, and Syd will always be the one girl he can never have. But when they're stranded together at a posh ski resort due to a massive Nor'easter, there's nothing stopping their red-hot feelings for each other from coming to the surface. Can their friendship survive the attraction? Better yet, can they survive at all? Because as the snow falls, someone is stalking them, and this ski trip may be a life-changer in more ways than one.

Took less than 24 hours, because I defied sleep to finish this. I waited while my video loaded on youtube and got into it in the meantime, I fell asleep around 5 am, woke up at 930 am and dove back into it, It was sooo good!!!

I really enjoyed the unfolding story.  I do however call bullshyt on Kyler's manwhore ways, plenty of guys wait for their girls.  How y'all took this long?? Y'all that dense??  I was so ready when this story unfolded, them being in the ski resort, their friends getting stuck it's just so awesome.  I loved that the basis for their relationship came from their long friendship, and yet they struggled with taking it to the next level because they didn't want to lose what they had, what if it all went wrong?? This I could totally understand.  As the story progressed and they confronted different issues within their friendship and about becoming more I felt how they felt and I really got where they were both coming form.

Syd has the patience of Job because really I'm not sure I would have waited around for you to discover me.  When the mysterious events began to unfold I was intrigued and wanted to know what was happening, as we get closer to the end of the novel and the big reveal happens those scenes really terrified me because OMG it was going to go wrong so badly.   I really loved Syd's reactions, because once again they felt real.

I enjoyed the couple coming together (and boy did they come together) , their shared history helped to hinder their relationship while making it easier as well.  Syd had some serious confidence issues, and she was too easily swayed when it came to listening to rumors but she was good, she kinda reminded me of Shay, Rule's girl from the Marked Men series, they both waited a long time before declaring their feelings for the men they wanted.  And when they finally reached their respective end points they stuck to their guns.

I really liked how they each called bullshyt on each other, and how much their friends loved them and worked hard to be good friends to them individually as well as a couple.  Loved their friends and can't wait to find out what happens to them and how Jennifer makes it all work out.  It kept me hooked definitely getting a physical copy when I see her in November in Chicago.

Now onto the next one.

★★★★1/2☆

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. and of course as always Happy Reading.