REVIEW: The Paper Swan by Leylah Attar

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*BOOK SUMMARY*

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit.

They lie.

For 21 days she held on.

But on Day 22, she would have given anything for the sweet slumber of death.

Because on Day 22, she realizes that her only way out means certain death for one of the two men she loves.

A haunting tale of passion, loss, and redemption, The Paper Swan is a darkly intense yet heartwarming love story, textured with grit, intrigue, and suspense. Please note: This is NOT a love triangle.

A full-length, standalone novel, intended for mature audiences due to violence, sex and language. Subject matter may be disturbing for some readers.

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MY RATING:

***MY REVIEW***

And – here is my first 2016-favorite! 

Revenge. Mexican cartels. Action. Hot sex. Drama.

Basically, everything you may need. 

I have no idea why I choose to read this book. I guess I just wanted something light. And that’s when biggest surprises happen! I was so swept with the story, I couldn’t stop reading. I was reading the Paper Swan before my classes, while eating, during breaks, when I should’ve been studying, I couldn’t stop; I had to know what happens next, where the story would take me. 

If you close your eyes and think about someone you love, what comes back is not a precise list of hair color, eye color, or the things that go on their driver’s license. Rather, it’s the bits and pieces that seep through your consciousness, the things about them that you never realized were storing away.

I liked the writing, there were some really poetic passages. I also liked the characters, they felt real to me, and I loved their chemistry (Skye + Damian). Moreover, I liked the story, my favorite part is that it spans over the years, so we really get to know the characters.

I think this book would be perfect for a movie! There are some things towards the end that could’ve been avoided (drama drama), but all movies have those unexpected twists, so it was fine. For a book like this one, it was even suitable. 

Therefore, I must admit I rather enjoyed this! I recommend this to anyone who wants a fast, action-packed story, but also filled with emotions and hot, yet tender romance. The author managed to perfectly balance all the elements. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for Leylah Attar.

In the grand scheme of things, we do the best we can, all of us, and we make up our stories as we go along; we write them and direct them and project them into the world. And sometimes we get other people’s stories, and sometimes we don’t, but always there is a story behind a story behind a story, linked in a chain that we can only see a small part of, because it’s there when we’re born and it continues after we’re gone. And who can comprehend all of it in one lifetime?

xoxo,

Beatrix 

SPOTLIGHT TOUR: Dirty Little Secrets by Erin Ashley Tanner

Dirty Little Secrets by Erin Ashley Tanner

Genre: Romantic Suspense, Mafia

BLURB:

Danger ignites a passion neither of them can refuse. 

Ava Hill learned early in life that to survive, she has to be twice as smart, twice as ruthless as those who seek to undermine her. And as the widow of a mob boss with a daughter to raise, nothing is more important than protecting what’s hers. Her determination to shield her child from the ugliness of her past takes a hit when a man claiming to be her late husband’s son barges through her front door. 

Dominic Sambarino demands half of her daughter’s inheritance. Ava wastes no time showing him she’ll come out swinging with everything she has. But no amount of fight in the world can prepare her for the instant, smoldering chemistry between the two of them. A friend’s invitation for a weekend getaway is a welcome chance to regroup, or so Ava thinks. But she soon finds herself caught in a circle of her dead husband’s secrets and lies that threaten to cost her everything. And her only safe haven is the one place she vowed she’d never go—Dominic’s arms. 

Warning: Strong language, graphic sex scenes between a woman whose well-ordered life is turned upside down by the only man with arms strong enough to catch her when she falls. 

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EXCERPT

 

Dominic caressed her cheek. His voice grew soft. “I can be your happy ever after.”
And then his lips were on hers. Taking. Consuming. Forcing her to admit the truth that her body had already decided. She wanted him. He gripped her face tight as he kissed her with ardent passion. Ava moaned against his mouth as his other hand slid between her legs. Rubbing. Caressing. She pressed herself into his hand. His tongue slipped into her mouth, mimicking what he was doing with his finger. Her breasts were crushed against his chest. Her hands gripped his shoulders pulling him closer to her. She whimpered when he stopped kissing her.
His eyes burned into hers and she was surprised when he picked her up and placed her on the counter. He wedged himself between her thighs. Her bottom lip trembled as he played with her breasts.
“I’m not going to force this, Ava. If you say stop, this goes no further, but I think you want it too.”
He leaned down and kissed her neck softly. Repeatedly. Her body was screaming, begging her to give in to his seduction. It wasn’t like she hadn’t already enjoyed the fruits he had to offer. Why not, Ava? She tried to ignore the voice in her head, but she couldn’t. Not with the way her body was humming.
“Tell me, Ava. Do you want this just as much as I do?” he whispered against her neck.
Her body tingled and she bit her tongue trying to hold back her response. Trying to deny her body what it wanted most. But every kiss across her neck weakened her resolve. “Yes.”
“Yes what?”
“I want you.”
Dominic kissed his way back along her jawline. “What do you want? Tell me how you want it.”
“I want you kissing me. Touching me. Rubbing me. Pleasing me.”
“Pleasing you how, Ava? Tell me. I want to hear you say it,” he whispered.
“I want…I want…”
“I’m waiting.”
“I want you to go down on me and don’t stop until I tell you to.”
Her hands flew to cover her mouth. She was sure her cheeks were red with embarrassment. Dominic’s laughter rumbled in her ear. She made a move to push him away, but he stopped her.
“Your wish is my command.”
She didn’t breathe as he pressed her back against the mirror behind the counter and dropped to his knees. He grabbed her thighs and opened them wider. The first lick of his tongue made her nerves dance. Bracing herself on the counter, she closed her eyes and gave herself over to the pleasure he made her feel. He lapped at her, licking and sucking like she was a juicy sweet mango. His grip on her thighs was tight. And already hovering closer was the promise of an orgasm.
“More. More.”
He complied by sucking her harder. Her pleasure increased and before she knew it she was grabbing his hair holding on to him.
Her entire world burst to life between her legs and the force of the orgasm left her trembling.
“Everybody freeze. Right now.”
Ava opened her eyes. Two uniformed men were standing in the entrance of the bathroom with guns pointed at her and Dominic.

   

 AUTHOR BIO 

A proud Alumna of the University of Central Florida and Florida State University, Erin Ashley Tanner specializes in steamy tales with romantic suspense elements. Prior to journeying into the world of contemporary romance, Erin wrote paranormal romance for Evernight Publishing. Her debut novel, Goddess of Legend released in October 2013, was an Amazon bestseller and was the first in her Demi-God Daughters paranormal romance series. The follow up, Goddess by Chance was released in November 2014. Dirty Little Secrets is Erin's first book with Samhain Publishing. Her next release with Samhain, Devious Little Lies is scheduled for release in March 2016.
 

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COVER REVEAL & GIVEAWAY: The Capo: Riccardo (Stud Mafia series, #2) by Elle Raven & Aimie Jennison

Title: The Capo: Riccardo 

SERIES: Book Two – Stud Mafia Series

AUTHORS: Elle Raven and Aimie Jennison

RELEASE DATE: late April, 2015

GENRE: Erotic Thriller

COVER DESIGNER: Margret Asselbergs

PHOTOGRAPHER: Shauna Kruse

COVER MODEL: Stephen Hughes-Landers

Temptation. Seduction. Forbidden pleasure. 

As the right hand man to The Don, Riccardo Rossi's role is all about Duty. Respect and Honour. Being the crime boss's daughter, Lorena Morassi is forbidden. Although she is young and off limits, that doesn't stop Riccardo from wanting her. She is a pure temptation and to have her would be a betrayal to his Boss and his mafia family.

Lorena has wanted Riccardo for years and she knows he wants her, too. Being with him would only cause bad blood between her father and his right hand man. She doesn't want their strong friendship to be ruined, but her feelings for him grow, and Lorena knows she can't stay away. But a night of seduction and forbidden pleasure changes everything. 

Betrayal will not be tolerated and long-standing friendships will be broken.

Warning: This book contains violence, excessive language, and strong sexual content. It's intended to be read by mature audiences

ARC Review: Cartel by Lili St. Germain

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Expected publication date: January 27th 2015

Book summary:

"How much is a life worth?

I grew up in Colombia, the daughter of a wealthy drug lord. I lived a life of extravagance, until one day a drug run went horribly wrong and everything came crashing down around us.

I was given away. A payment for a debt. The Gypsy Brothers Motorcycle Club became my new owners, and I did everything I could to survive.

But falling in love with the man who owned me wasn't part of the plan..."

 5-zero-spoilers-stars 

     One of the biggest 2014 surprises was Gypsy Brothers series by Lili St. Germain. My co-blogger at Way Too Hot Books, Purple, told me from the start that I would love it. I knew that she was probably right, but I still left those books for later. I am glad that I did, because I'd go crazy waiting for the sequels. (Seven Sons is free on Amazon, so you can always download it and see for yourself if we are obsessed with this twisted story for a good reason.)

      Before Juliette Portland, there was Dornan Ross. Cartel is the first book in the trilogy that follows the events prior to everything that happened in Gypsy Brothers. You don't have to read Julette's story first, you can start with Cartel. Good news is that all three books will be published in 2015 - the second book, Kingpin, should be released on June 1st, and the third book, Empire, on October 1st.  

     There are no good guys here. One of the most appealing traits of Lili St. Germain writing, at least for me, is how realistic everything feels. When the focus of the story is on extremely violent world of drug and weapons trade and human trafficking, you can never talk about people who are innocent or without a fault. Yes, there are victims, but those involved into machinery behind every crime that is committed, are not victims. They made a choice, it doesn't matter for what reason, but they are involved, willingly. But than again there's that saying about "sins of our fathers"... Maybe deep down you long for a different life, but it's hard to escape the only world you have ever known. Cartel is dark and brutal story about people who are facing all of those things. Even the most innocent person involved, has the darkness inside her mind and heart.  

      No one can save you. You have to take care of yourself, however you can. Morals of the story. No sugar-coated fantasy about prince on the white horse. No higher power that will save you because you pray every day. Just simple, cold truth. If you have any wish to survive, even for just a little bit longer, you have to became the wolf. You have to be ready to do things you loath, you need to adapt, you need to forget your inhibitions and become a power player. You have to manipulate and lie and cheat. And be aware - all the time - that maybe even that won't be enough and learn to live with it.  

      Very dark read. Cartel is a kind of book you should read without knowing anything about it before, just pick up the book and go into the story blind. But one thing that I have to warn you about is that Cartel, and the rest of the books written by brilliant Lili Saint Germain, are dealing with a lot of dark and twisted aspects of our world. There is no fluffy romance and redemption. No one is innocent. If you can deal with that, you don't want to miss reading these amazing books.

xoxo,

*Copy of the book provided by author in exchange for an honest review.*