(Book blitz) In Kelly's Corner by Roxie Rivera

Publication date: September 27th 2013
Genres: Adult, Romantic Suspense


Synopsis:

After a stalker breaks into her home, internet entrepreneur Bee Langston decides Kelly Connolly is the only man who can help her—but seeking help from the former Marine isn’t easy, especially after she made a spectacular fool of herself trying to kiss the sinfully sexy bodyguard.

When Kelly spots Bee weaving her way through the Houston nightspot where he’s working security, all those feelings he’s desperately tried to deny for his best friend’s sister come flooding to the surface. He’ll do anything to keep her safe, even if means getting up close and personal with the one woman he simply can’t have.

Soon, Bee’s stalker isn’t his only problem. His gambling addict father is tangled in a mess of debts to two of Houston’s toughest loan sharks. With the family gym on the line, there’s only one way for Kelly to make everything right. He agrees to fight for the Albanian mob in an underground bare-knuckle fighting tournament.

But winning the tournament and saving his family’s legacy comes at a high price—one that just might cost Bee her life.


Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18591210-in-kelly-s-corner?ac=1

Buy the book:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Guest post:

It's Complicated I've always been a fan of the "I'm in love with my brother's best friend" trope. Judging by this list at Goodreads, I'm not alone!
I'm not quite sure why that setup revs my engines but it does. It's an inherently complicated situation with plenty of possibilities for high-stakes drama. Plus I've always had a thing for slightly older guys. You know, the good-looking, confident sweetheart with a bit of swagger and a protective streak a mile wide. Added bonus? The best friend of a sibling already has the family seal of approval!
Bee Langston shares my outlook. She knows that she's just asking for trouble but she just can't help falling head over heels for Kelly Connolly, the unbelievably sexy former Marine who takes it upon himself to watch out for her after Jeb's death. Of course, she'd rather Kelly took a more, ahem, hands-on role in her life…
But when a stalker threatens her safety, Kelly unleashes those alpha male overprotective instincts he's kept suppressed. Bee begins to realize they've only just scraped the surface of complicated!
Creating this intense, complex relationship between Kelly and Bee made this such an interesting book to write. Both characters have brothers they love and sibling bonds they would do anything to protect—even if it means keeping some pretty huge secrets. Add in Kelly's gambling addict father and his troubles with not one but two (!) loan sharks and, well, it's a recipe for some super intense drama that really amps up the sexual tension.
And who doesn't love more of that?

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AUTHOR BIO:

I like to write super sexy romances and naughty erotica that make your pulse pound. You can get updates on new releases by visiting my website (roxierivera.com), signing up for my newsletter (http://eepurl.com/sX-z1) or liking my author page on Facebook.

I also write erotic romances as Lolita Lopez including the red-hot GRABBED series for Ellora's Cave and the upcoming Dragon Heat series from Forever Yours/Grand Central.


Author links:
Website: http://www.roxieriverawriter.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6740126.Roxie_Rivera
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lowriter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Roxie-Rivera/498250823565481

A best friend's sister story AND a alpha fighter romance? Sounds great! Thoughts are already going to Remington Tate from Real by Katy Evans for the fighter theme. What do you think about this book?

Until next time, 

(Blog Tour) Impossibly Love by Shane Morgan

Buy the book:

Amazon 

Author's:

Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Blog

Release date: October 2013.

TSW Books

Book summary:

"All Moya Douglas wants to do is study hard, maintain her scholarship, and make her mother proud while attending college. She doesn't have time for a boyfriend or going on dates arranged by her best friend. Moya doesn't believe in love. And she has no intention of ever finding it.

Branden McCarthy is determined to change her views.
A selfless romantic who's had his heart broken in the past, Branden is fascinated with Moya's personality and hopes to develop something real with her—a connection so strong it'll open her heart. But just when things start to work between the two, Branden’s secret threatens to get in the way.

Will Moya finally do the impossible and give love a chance with Branden, or will fear keep them apart?"

Tour Schedule (Itching for Books Blog) 

About author

 Shane Morgan is a lover of "interesting" books. Her imagination is always running wild so it's best to collect and organize them into separate stories.

Shane's love for writing started the moment she picked up a Nancy Drew book. At a young age, she began writing short stories, delving into a variety of genres: from comedy and drama, to horror and contemporary romance. Shane's quite intrigued by the otherworldly or things otherwise deemed "impossible." Well, in her opinion, people never really grow up, do they? 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xoxo,

 

Waiting on Wednesday (#10)

Waiting on Wednesday is weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. Goal is to connect bloggers and readers trough their most anticipated upcoming reads. So, here is what we on Way Too Hot Books can not wait to grab.

Bound by Lorelei James

Book summary:
"Former small-town girl Amery Hardwick is living her dream as a graphic designer in Denver, Colorado. She’s focused on building her business, which leaves little time for dating—not that she needs a romantic entanglement to fulfill her. When her friend signs up for a self-defense class as part of her recovery after an attack, Amery joins her for support. That’s where she meets him.

Ronin Black, owner of the dojo, is so drawn to Amery that he takes over her training—in public and in private. The enigmatic Ronin pushes Amery’s boundaries from the start, and with each new tryst, Amery becomes addicted to the pleasure and to him. But when Amery senses Ronin is hiding something, she questions her total trust in him, despite the undeniable thrill of his possession…."

 Expected publication date: January 28th, 2014.

 Oh, boy, oh boy, oh boy... This is going to be one hot read! We can't wait!

What did you pick this week? Tell us in comments, leave us link to your post and we will stalk you back.

Don't forget to share some love and

follow Way Too Hot Books!

xoxo,

(Blog tour) Second Chances by Jo Briggs

Tour schedule:

http://www.itchingforbooks.com/2013/09/blog-tour-sign-upsecond-chances-by-jo.html

Release date: June 27th 2013
Publisher: Daydream Books
Purchase: Amazon


Goodreads link: 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18133262-second-chances



BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Layla Keyes is back in England. Much has changed in the five years since she moved to New York to pursue a modelling career - On the outside she appears independent, self-assured and enjoying running her own successful fashion label.

On the inside she is determined to take back what she lost five years ago when misunderstandings allowed a jealous third party to manipulate and interfere in destroying her relationship with Evan Carter.

Evan Carter has spent all that time pretending to not be affected by the loss of Layla from his life.

A twist of fate brings the two back together as they are forced to share a few days alone.

Can their love be rekindled despite the secrets they still have to confess to each other?

Review:

You see, sometimes relationships are over because the persons involved turned to be too different and couldn't get on. Sometimes,  personalities clash and their temper gets the better of them. Sometimes, people cheat, hurt intentionaly, or just plain get bored with each other. There are a lot of reasons people break up. But sometimes, the couple is perfect for one another, but life's circumstances became too much and people need a time out. But there is a thing called a second chance. And as the tittle says, this is a book just about that.

I have to say that the first chapter/prologue was my favorite - the break up. It was so intense and emotional and completely brilliant in showing how much a seperation hurts even if it is needed. Layla and Evan went through a lot that past month - Layla's parents died and then they lost their unborn child. That a lot of stress and hurt at once, and they drifted off in their grief and anger, creating a gulf between them. It even hurt to be together so Layla left.

Five years later, a lot happened - kids came up, relationships formed and broke, a certain someone did everything to keep Layla and Even from getting in contact but they finally came together it it wasn't awkward at all which I was surprised about. After 5 years apart even loving each other still tents to make you uncomfortable. At least, I find that rational much. But the author didn't waste time on misunderstandings. As soon as Layla and Evan met again, they realized they have to work out everything between them. I guess I liked that - they really discussed a lot and that's great in relationships. Just not so exciting in books. The story was there - perfect set up, good enough style of writing, promising story. But it lacked a boom, a little bigger drama effect. I think the fact that they are both born and breed in high class, all elegant and sophisticated that made it a little boring. But I DO applaud the author for the way she portrayed the rich, pretty authentic - it's not just the money, it's the whole way of life.

So, the book was pretty good - the steam was surprisingly high, kinda funny when you compare the normal conversation and sex, but there wasn't anything that screamed unique and memorable, and that's why it's only an interesting enough story. I recommend it for all of you that like second-chance romance.

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

As well as writing, Jo Briggs also enjoys reading; her favorite classics include Pride & Prejudice, Persuasion and Jane Eyre having studied English Literature before moving onto Art and Graphic Design. Current genre of choice on her iPad are angsty steamy romances. Particular favorites at the moment are by S.C Stephens, R K Lilley, Sylvia Day and Jodi Ellen Malpas. Jo is also a regular visitor to eBook readers anonymous to keep her addiction under control.


facebook.com/DaydreamBooks | twitter.com/daydreambooks

Until next time,

Taming the Beast by Emily Maguire (Autumn Taboo Review)

Buy the book:

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

Author's:

Website / Twitter / Goodreads

First published: 2004.

My rating: 4 stars

Book summary:

"At the tender age of fourteen, Sarah Clark is seduced by her thirty-eight-year-old English teacher, Daniel Carr, and becomes entangled in an illegal, erotic, passionate, and dangerous affair, a vicious meeting of minds and bodies that ends badly. Devastated by grief and longing, Sarah embarks upon a series of meaningless self-abasing sexual encounters, hoping to reclaim the intensity of that first relationship. Then, seven years later, Carr unexpectedly returns and Sarah is drawn again into a destructive coupling. Now that she is no longer an innocent young girl, is she strong enough to finally tame the beast within her?
A modern Lolita, Taming the Beast is an emotionally unflinching and alluring tale that introduces a powerful new writer."

      What did just happen? Again I am in position where I have no clue how to write review. It took me some time before I could make myself sit down and say something coherent and not sound like little kid that's just learning how to talk. Taming the Beast is not book for everyone. It deals with so many twisted, messed up things - I can't decide with to begin with. Taming the Beast could open up some old wounds if you were victim of abuse so think carefully before you pick up this book.

      I'll have to insert few spoilers. This is not kinky, dark erotica. This is not the book that plays with your sexual fantasies. Taming the Beast is the story about abuse and way it affects lives of everyone involved. Told from perspective of Sarah and her best friend Jamie, it deals with subject of pedophilia and sexual abuse. Sarah was only fourteen years old when she had sex for the first time - in the classroom, with her teacher who is twenty four years older than her. I will repeat - he is her 24 years older teacher. Now you probably think it was a rape. Well, that is a tricky part - it would probably be a rape if Sarah didn't react the way she did. (And you are confused! I know, trust me. I figured some things out much later.) But does it make okay? Hell no!

        But the story doesn't stop there - we will get a fast forward and meet Sarah again - this time she is very smart and beautiful college student known for her sexual exploits and Jamie, her only friend who knows the truth, as her constant guardian. She is epitome of liberated woman, but just on the outside - everything she does is because Sarah is broken and doesn't know how to deal. Her reckless actions doesn't affect only her, but everyone around her.

      What made this book so intriguing is the way author gave you this two possible outcomes - what might have happened years back while she had set across from Jamie first time she met him and what did happen with Mr. Carr, and years later again - what might have happen if Mr. Carr didn't came back. All "might-haves" are there between the lines and your heart breaks for that girl who never really grow up and the boy who tried to save her all his life. It's not just Sarah who was victim of abuse, in some indirect way Jamie was victim too.

      Emily Maguire doesn't just talk about victims - she goes one step further and gets in the head of abuser. You will realize just how horrific everything actually was when you read about his motivation and reasons for his actions. Both him and Sarah are victims and abusers at the same time.

      Should you read this book? I honestly do not know. If you think that you can deal with this topic, you should - Taming the Beast is not light read and it's not novel about secret fantasies that should give you few hours of mindless fun. This is a kind of book that will hunt you for the rest of your life.

xoxo,

(Autumn Taboo Guest Post) Hey teachers! Leave those kids alone! by S. Walden

Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Book summary:

"Cadence Miller is a good girl. She just happens to make one terrible mistake her junior year in high school which costs her ten months in juvenile detention. Now a senior, she’s lost everything: her best friend, the trust of her parents, driving privileges, Internet access. It’s a lonely existence.

But there is one bright spot: Mark Connelly, her very cute, very off-limits 28-year-old calculus teacher. She falls hard for him—a ridiculous schoolgirl crush headed nowhere. She can’t help it. He’s the only good thing at Crestview High. She doesn’t expect him to reciprocate her feelings. How inappropriate, right? But he does. And he shows her.
And that’s when her life goes from bad to good."

     My Too Good series keeps lending itself to Pink Floyd songs, so I’ll just go with it. Speaking of, did anyone catch Cadence’s subtle Pink Floyd reference in Good when she’s talking to Avery in the cafeteria about how she feels? She describes herself as “comfortably numb.”

    Yeah, music is a big deal in this series. It drives my characters. It sheds light on my characters. It heals and comforts them. It speaks for them when they don’t have the words. It’s no coincidence that I named my heroine “Cadence.” And it’s no coincidence that it’s her and no one else Mark feels compelled to pursue: “How could he ever forget that name? Cadence. Rhythmic. His song. His life. He decided that afternoon on the side of the road. She was his cadence.” There’s a little teaser for you from the upcoming sequel.

     But music aside, I incorporate a lot of elements in my student/teacher series that buck the trends. And I really wasn’t prepared for the controversy my book would generate. After all, I’m far from the first author to write on such a taboo subject. But I suppose it’s the way I went about it—pushing the limits just a bit too far with a story set in high school and a heroine who starts out at seventeen. Didn’t matter that a sexual relationship between a 28-year-old and seventeen-year-old is perfectly legal in the state of Georgia. Because in the minds of some readers, it was never going to be okay.

     I’m usually pretty good about doing my market research before giving myself the go-ahead on a book. Normally I like to see what’s trending and what readers are interested in devouring before I invest a massive amount of time in a story. I definitely don’t pander, but I also don’t want to waste my time and my readers’ time. Time is precious, after all. There are a lot of books out there to read! So I did some research and discovered that most student/teacher books toe a safe line. The line includes the following “acceptable” elements to include (or not) in this type of taboo story:

1.    College setting (Somehow a college freshman is viewed as light years ahead in maturity than a high school senior . . . *shrug*)
2.    No drastic age difference (This is so readers only have to grapple with lukewarm moral dilemmas: breaking school rules, taking advantage of being in a position of authority, etc.)
3.    Ultra mature heroine (Again, this tends to justify the relationship. She’s wise beyond her years, so the relationship is okay.)
4.    No references to God or religious talk of any kind, thank you very much.

     I totally understand why writers go this route. It’s safe. I mean, no one wants to be called a “SEX PERVERT” in an Amazon review or have her hero referred to as a “child predator,” “creep,” and “manipulator.” Then again, if I’m going to be true to my story, I recognize it’s the chance I take, and I can’t fault the reader for feeling uncomfortable, for getting angry, for feeling like she was reading something immoral. Evoking those types of emotions from readers is just as good as the positive ones. I made you feel. And that’s the point.

     So yeah . . . I have no idea what all my market research was really for because I didn’t include any of the above-mentioned staples. I didn’t play it safe by setting the story in college, though I’m aware that it could have been received completely differently. I didn’t start my heroine at eighteen, and horror of horrors, I wrote a realistic seventeen-year-old girl! I made her moody and petulant and insightful and sweet and bitchy and jealous and awkward and naive and all the things that are so distinctly “teenage girl.” And then I paired her with a 28-year-old man who is the exact opposite, though he does have his own moments of utter immaturity. Don’t we all? I topped it off with a religious cherry, and that did it. How dare my Christian heroine have sex outside of marriage!

     So why did I do it? Well, because despite what I learned about student/teacher books and how to play it safe, I couldn’t ignore the characters who burst in my brain. They told me what they wanted. They told me how the story should go. And I’ve no desire or intention to ever play it safe with my literature because I’m scared of its reception. Can’t do it. Won’t do it. To me, the risk of writing Cadence’s and Mark’s story and giving it to the public was well worth it. I believed in it. I believed in them. Still do, actually.

      More importantly, though, is the idea of reality. I write realistic fiction. It’s not always easy to read. There are cringe-worthy moments. Moments that will make you blush. Moments that will make you scream, “Oh, no she didn’t!” Moments that will piss you off. And that’s okay. A story like this one is bound to elicit those kinds of reactions. It wouldn’t be good if it didn’t. As an author, I’m much more interested in making my readers feel something. I don’t care what that is as long as they’re engaged, challenged in some way, experiencing some sort of emotion. If I played it safe with Good and Better, all of that would be lost. The story, to me, would be meaningless, because I don’t know about you, but I want my literature to affect me in some way. Whether it makes me angry or explodes like sunshine in my heart, I want to feel the characters, journey with them, and come out on the other side with new insights: good, bad, or better.

About author
S. Walden used to teach English before making the best decision of her life by becoming a full-time writer. She lives in Georgia with her very supportive husband who prefers physics textbooks over fiction and has a difficult time understanding why her characters must have personality flaws. She is wary of small children, so she has a Westie instead. Her dreams include raising chickens and owning and operating a beachside inn on the Gulf Coast (chickens included). When she's not writing, she's thinking about it.

Find S. Walden:

Website / Twitter / Facebook

ARC REVIEW: Up To The Challenge (Anchor Island, #2) by Terry Osburn

Buy The Book:

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / BOOK DEPOSITORY / BOOKS-A-MILLION

Author's Page:

Goodreads / Blog / Twitter

Genre:

Contemporary Romance/ New Adult

Summary on Goodreads:

Opposites attract in a sexy tale of unexpected love

When the Dempsey patriarch suffers a heart attack, Lucas Dempsey steps up to keep the doors of the family restaurant open. The proverbial prodigal son returns home to Anchor Island—putting family first and his quest to make partner at his high-powered law firm on hold. Sporting a bruised ego after losing his fiancée to his older brother, Lucas would rather walk on glass than spend six weeks within spitting distance of the happy couple. But family duty calls. And that duty includes working side-by-side with a tantalizing spitfire intent on driving him mad.

Tough-as-nails boat mechanic Sid Navarro is happy to trade her tools for an apron to help the Dempseys in their time of need. That is, until she realizes she’ll be working alongside Lucas, the man she’s loved from afar since she first laid eyes on him in high school. Lucas could charm the paint off a schooner, but Sid knows she doesn’t fit his girl-next-door type. To show her true feelings would mean certain heartbreak, but the temptation of Lucas in her bed might be more than she can resist.

After a rocky start punctuated by verbal barbs and exasperating arguments, things heat up between them—big-time—but their steamy affair turns more than casual in a matter of weeks. Sid’s life has become the dream she’s always wanted, and Lucas has fallen hard for the last woman he ever expected to love. 

But this affair has an end-date, as Lucas must return to his life and career in the big city, a place where Sid would never fit in. When the end comes earlier than expected, walking away turns out to be a challenge neither of them wants to win.

Up to the Challenge is a sexy, fast-paced, romantic story of family, island life, and finding love in unexpected places.

RATING:

***REVIEW***

Arc provided via Netgalley in exchange for honest review.

I didn't read anything by Terry Osburn until this book, so I had no expectations when I started reading it. What dragged my attention at first was the pretty & romantic cover and the premise with a promise of a fun, easy and romantic story and I was in desperate need for one of those after a couple of heavy reads. I was already a few pages into the story when I realized that this book is a part of the series and that this is actually the 2nd book with Meant To Be (Anchor Island, #1) as the first one, but fortunately, both books can be read a s standalones. 

"We've got six weeks. You want to make this a pissing contest, give it your best shot." He leaned so close, she could feel his breath on his lips.

"Move your hand a little higher, and you'll know there are no shortcomings here." Sid jerked back, the heat from his body still imprinted on her hand. Her heart beat double time, and she feared he'd see how tempted she was.

"You wish, pretty boy."

Just like the premise promised- this was a fun, romantic and fast-paced story which I liked very much. It's a true rarity for  me nowadays to find a book with such a likable female heroine, so imagine my surprise when I found it in this one. Yes, I had a big girl-crush on  Sid Navarro. She is definitely my favorite character in the book. I liked her even better from the main male character Lucas. Why is that? Well, the main reason is that she isn't your typical girley-girl, but more of a tomb-boy who is totally oblivious to her beauty, isn't afraid to speak her mind no matter the situation or the people involved and whose favorite word in the dictionary is "fuck." In short, she is everything that Lucas didn't look for in a woman.

"You're more the boy next door trapped in a porn star's body."

"Is that what you're wearing?" Sid looked down. "What's wrong with this?"
He tucked the menu under his arm. "Your shirt says 'Mechanics Do It With Lube.'" His shirt should have said Captain Obvious. "Yeah, so?"

Sid was in love with Lucas since high school, but he was always going for those Barbie-type of girls and didn't notice her. Stupid, stupid guy. Another thing I loved about her is that despite of her strong feelings for him, she wasn't one of those clingy and whiny women who threw themselves on their feet when the guy in question walks in the room, but more of those feisty and independent types who don't need a guy to fight their battles. Lucas, on the other hand, was exactly the opposite- calm, closed-off with that "I know the best" attitude and he preferred city life over island. That's why Sid's main goal, when he came back home, becomes to show him how wrong he was in all aspects. Lucas was one tough cookie to break, but he never had a "opponent" like Sid who live for challenges and when she makes up her mind about something, you can consider that thing already a done deal. There was an undeniable chemistry between them from the very beginning which ended up in some pretty hot & steamy scenes. It made me wanna play pool again (you'll get it, when you read it ;). The plot of the story to be honest wasn't anything spectacular or new. What won me over is the humor and strong family bonds and friendships on the island which give you that warm and fuzzy feeling.

The book would definitely be a fun romantic comedy if it were ever made into a movie. I would highly recommend it to readers who want a drama-free, cheerful & romantic story. See, I don't read only masochist reads! ;)

..When she didn't respond, Lucas scooted closer. "What do you say? Are you up to the challenge?"
"Fuck yes", she said...

xoxo