UK Giveaway: What If - Rebecca Donovan (win one of 5 copies!)

Thanks to the lovely people at Penguin I have a fabulous giveaway for my UK readers today for the chance to win one of five copies of What If by Rebecca Donovan. I had planned to post my review to go alongside this giveaway but I was wiped out for the last few days with a viscous migraine and haven't managed to do any reading. I'm half way through What If though and really enjoying it so watch out for my review which will be posted in the next couple of days.

In the meantime let me give you a bit more information about the book:

What if you had a second chance to meet someone for the first time?

Cal Logan is shocked to see Nicole Bentley sitting across from him at a coffee shop thousands of miles from their hometown. After all, no one has seen or heard from her since they graduated over a year ago.

Except this girl isn't Nicole.

She looks exactly like Cal's shy childhood crush, but her name is Nyelle Preston and she has no idea who he is. This girl is impulsive and daring, her passion for life is infectious. But Nyelle is also extremely secretive. And the closer Cal comes to finding out what she's hiding, the less he wants to know.

Visit Rebecca Donovan's website for more information



Giveaway Details:

Thanks to Penguin I have five copies of What If to give away to UK winners.

Giveaway terms & conditions:

• Giveaway is open to UK residents only and closes on the 8th of February at 12:01 GMT
• You can enter using the Rafflecopter form below, FIVE winners will be chosen at random and contacted soon after the giveaway ends for their contact information.
• The prizes will be sent out directly by Penguin so you must give me permission to share your address if you wish to receive your prize.
• You will have 48 hours to respond to my email or new winners will be chosen

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Blog Tour: One Month of Elle Kennedy - Excerpts & Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Elle Kennedy's latest novel One Night of Trouble Entangled Publishing are hosting a month long blog tour and I'm thrilled to be taking part in it. I've really enjoyed all three novels in the series (my review of One Night of Trouble will be posted later today) and have some fab extracts to share with you today. Make sure you read right through to the end of the post to enter the giveaway too!

One Night of Sin:

Sometimes it’s good to be bad . . .

When it comes to sex, good girl Skyler Thompson always plays it safe, choosing stable and sedate over wild and thrilling. She doesn’t do one-night-stands, but one look at sinfully sexy Gage Holt and she’s willing to reconsider. He makes her want to be bad for once in her life, and she’s prepared to take what she wants.

Danger follows former MMA fighter Gage Holt like a shadow. Despite his successes as part owner of Sin, an exclusive nightclub in Boston, Gage can’t risk getting involved with a woman, especially one as sweet as Skyler. Still, he can’t resist a taste—and it’s so damn good he has to see her again.

As addicted as he is to her, Gage knows there’s no future for him and Skyler—not with his past lurking in the dark corners of an MMA cage. But Skylar’s tougher than she looks, and she’s ready to fight for her man.

Goodreads Book Link: http://bit.eNightSinGR
Amazon Buy Link: http://bit.ly/OneNightSinAM
Barnes & Noble Buy Link: http://bit.ly/OneNightSinBN
Entangled Page: http://bit.ly/OneNightSinEP

Excerpt:

“I’m Skyler,” she said.

He nodded.

“Maybe you’re new to civilized society, but normally when people introduce themselves, you reply by providing your own name.” She arched one perfectly defined eyebrow.

“Is that right?” His lips twitched. “Well, what makes you think I’m at all civilized, Skyler?”

That made her falter. She bit her lower lip. Tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and the scent of her shampoo floated his way. She smelled like green apples. A sweet and feminine fragrance, serving as a reminder that he shouldn’t be out here talking to her.

“How old are you, sweetheart?” His voice came out rough.

“Well, my ID held up at the door, so I’m over twenty-one if that’s what you’re worried about. Twenty-four, actually. In some cultures that would make me a spinster.”

Gage swallowed a laugh. There was something truly refreshing about her sarcasm, especially when contrasted with the flush of her cheeks and the way she fidgeted with her hands. She didn’t belong here. Not at this club, not even in this neighborhood. She should be nestled between crisp white sheets right about now, snuggled next to a wholesome man while the two of them watched late-night talk shows before bed.

“Go back inside,” he said gruffly. “Your date’s probably wondering where you are.”

That made her snicker. “I doubt it. I think he wrote me off the second he realized I wasn’t going to fuck him tonight.”

Gage’s cock jerked in his pants. Jesus. That angel mouth wasn’t allowed to say things like that. Not in front of him, a man whose inner devil could be summoned at the drop of a hat.

“Go back inside,” he repeated.

“Why? You don’t like talking to me?” Hands planted on her slim hips, she moved closer, a pensive look on her face.

He shrugged. “I don’t like talking, period.”

“Huh. So what do you like to do?”

Gage met her eyes in another long, deliberate stare. Leaving no question as to what he enjoyed doing.

She visibly swallowed. And then she startled the hell out of him.

“So maybe that’s what we should do.”

A laugh rumbled out of his chest. “You’re playing with fire, baby.”

“Am I?”

She had the nerve to lick her lips. He didn’t think she’d done it as an intentional taunt, but damn, the response to seeing her tongue dart out was instantaneous. His erection pulsed against his zipper, hard and persistent, like it was trying to tunnel its way out of his pants and into her pussy.

Gage took a breath, trying to ease the ache down south. Nope, he wasn’t giving in, wasn’t going to acknowledge the awareness prickling over his flesh. He was fighting in two days, and he didn’t like to screw before a match. The frustration fueled him, gave him the edge he needed to send an opponent to his knees.

But at the moment, he wanted to be the one on his knees. With his head underneath Skyler’s skimpy dress, his face buried between her legs as he licked her up until she screamed.

“Yes,” he rasped. “You’re definitely playing with fire.”

“Maybe I like fire, did you ever think of that? Maybe I want to get burned.”

One Night of Scandal

The wrong man never felt so right . . .

Ex-fighter Reed Miller has been secretly lusting over his best friend’s girl for months, but he refuses to jeopardize a friendship over a woman—especially one who doesn’t like him all that much. Now that Darcy’s on the market again, it’s even more imperative to stick to his strict hands-off policy. But the sizzling attraction between them is too powerful to ignore, and once he’s had a taste of her…all bets are off.

Darcy Grant is tired of walking the straight and narrow path. She’s on the hunt for passion, and there’s no denying Reed is just the man to give it to her. Although she has no interest in dating a bad boy, and certainly not her ex’s best friend, it’s impossible not to melt beneath Reed’s skillful touch. Now it’s just a matter of setting a few ground rules—and hoping her rule-breaking, sweet-talking bad boy agrees to follow them. But if she lets Reed into her bed, does she stand a chance of keeping him out of her heart?

Goodreads Book Link: http://bit.ly/OneNightScandalGR
Amazon Buy Link: http://bit.ly/OneNightScandalAM
Barnes & Noble Buy Link: http://bit.ly/OneNightScandalBN
Entangled Page: http://bit.ly/OneNightScandalEP

Excerpt:

“Last night you said that you have to act like a jerk towards me because it’s the only way for you to…” She eyed him sternly. “Finish that sentence, Reed. To what?”

Reluctance dug a deep groove into his forehead. “It’s nothing. Forget I ever said it.”

“I can’t forget. It’s been bugging me all day. I need to know what you meant by that.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Sounding frustrated, he gently uncurled her fingers from his arm. “Nothing good can come out of this conversation, baby.”
Darcy frowned. “Don’t baby me. And PS? I never took you for a coward. You’ve always struck me as a man who says exactly what’s on his mind.”
Something hot and dangerous moved through his eyes. “Why are you pushing this?”

“Because I’m curious.”

“Curious? No, I don’t think that’s it.” His voice was silky now, deep and mocking. He eased closer, his arm brushing hers as he shifted so they were facing each other. “This is more than curiosity. You’re blushing. You know what that tells me?”

Her breathing went shallow. “What?”

“It tells me you know exactly what I meant last night.”

“I…” Her next words were barely over a whisper. “I need to hear you say it.”

Her body grew tight and achy as she searched his face, waiting for an answer. God, why was she pushing him? He was right, nothing good could come of this. Nothing good at all.

“Don’t do this.” A warning note crept into his husky voice. “Don’t make me say it.”

Darcy’s heart was no longer beating at double time. It had skipped right over triple and was now veering into cardiac arrest territory. The air in the alcove became stifling, rippling with the tension she’d only begun to notice last night. And now it was impossible to ignore.

Reed was standing so damn close to her. Close enough that his addictive scent was once again wreaking havoc on her senses. Close enough that all she had to do was lean in slightly and their lips would be touching.

“You’re right,” she stammered. “You shouldn’t say it.”

“I shouldn’t.” Yet even as he voiced his agreement, his hand had risen to her face, his thumb delicately sweeping over her bottom lip.
Her breath hitched. God. Her entire world had reduced to this one moment, this one man. Her lips were actually trembling from the crazy urge to kiss him.

“Fuck.” The expletive tore out of Reed’s throat, his frustration thick between them. “I want you, Darcy. I. Fucking. Want. You.”

Shock slammed into her, along with a burst of arousal that seized her core. Oh God. She couldn’t believe he’d said it. Couldn’t believe she’d pushed him to.

Because now there was no way to unhear those blunt words. No turning back from them.

“Is that what you wanted to hear?” he said angrily. “I’ve wanted you forever. Every goddamn time I see you, I’ve had to force myself not to blurt it out. I can barely even look at you, for chrissake, because I’m scared you’ll see it in my eyes. Is that what you want to hear?”

The confession sizzled through her body like merciless flames ravaging a dry forest. Her thighs clenched, breasts tingled, heart stopped. She wanted to dive through the curtain and pretend she’d never seen the raw lust in his eyes, never heard those gruff, honest words tumble out of his mouth.

But she was rooted in place.

They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, neither one speaking. Darcy had stopped breathing a while ago, and now her lungs burned, almost as painfully as the desire burning in her blood. Reed’s hand was still on her face, his calloused fingertips tracing the edge of her jaw. Her skin felt tight and prickly, the flames traveling south and tingling between her legs.

Reed’s blue eyes blazed with accusation. “Why are you still here?” he burst out. “Go, Darcy. Just go.”

“No,” she whispered.

He took another step closer, crowding her, his broad body dominating every inch of the tiny space. Their mouths were so close she could feel his warm breath fanning over her lips, mingling with the sudden rush of air that seeped out of her lungs.

“You have to go.”

She swallowed. “No.”

“This is wrong.” Half mumble, half moan. The anguish in his voice matching her own.

He cupped her cheeks with both hands, groaning when their eyes locked again. “Just once,” he muttered. “I just need to know.”

Her voice wobbled. “Know what?”

“What it would feel like.” A determined glint lit his gorgeous eyes. “Maybe it won’t be as good as I imagined.”
A laugh shook out. “It might be awful,” she said helpfully.

He groaned again. “Worse than awful.”

“We’ll probably hate it so much that—”

Reed’s mouth crashed down on hers before she could finish.

And there was nothing awful about it.

One Night of Trouble:

No More Mr. Nice Guy . . .

The moment AJ Walsh sees the sexy, tattooed pixie walk up to his bar, it's lust at first sight. He's always been labeled the "nice" guy―opening doors, buying flowers, and never, ever having one-night stands. But with this wicked little angel with red lips and unfathomably dark eyes? Oh, yeah. Tonight, "nice" has nothing to do with it . . .

Brett Conlon is trying to convince her family that she's put away her reckless wild girl side for good. Nothing―and no one―could be better for her reputation than golden boy AJ Walsh. So they make a deal: if he plays The Good Boyfriend for her family, he can be a very, very bad boy with her. Now their one naughty night is about to turn into a whole lot of trouble . . .

Goodreads Book Link: http://bit.ly/OneNightTroubleGR
Amazon Buy Link: http://bit.ly/OneNightTroubleAM
Barnes & Noble Buy Link: http://bit.ly/OneNightTroubleBN
Entangled Page: http://bit.ly/OneNightTroubleEP

Excerpt:

AJ pulled a cell phone from his back pocket and glanced at the screen. “It’s eleven fifty-eight. Looks like you’re about to turn into a pumpkin. Did you drive here?”

She shook her head. “I’m calling a taxi.”

“Or…” His eyes gleamed recklessly.

Brett’s throat went dry. “Or?”

“Or I could drive you home.”

Uh-oh.

Big uh-oh.

The awareness that had sizzled between them earlier returned in full force, leaving pinpricks of heat along her bare arms. The air was cool and she’d left her coat inside, but she wasn’t cold. Not by a long shot.

She knew exactly what would happen if she let AJ drive her home. She might have willpower when it came to alcohol, but around this man? With his sandy-blond hair and chiseled features and sparkling green eyes? And that incredible body? And throw in the fact that she hadn’t had sex in six months?

Willpower? Fat chance.

“What do you say, Brett? Do you want a ride?” No missing the way his voice went husky at the word ride.

Oh boy. Oh boy oh boy oh boy.

This was not the AJ Walsh she remembered. Back then he’d come off as a gentleman.

Right now there was nothing gentlemanly about him. His expression was downright smoldering, broad body radiating pure sex appeal. If he took her home, she knew it wouldn’t end with her walking up to her apartment alone.

But she still had to make sure she wasn’t misinterpreting that look on his face.

“What are you really asking me?” she said bluntly.

“I’m asking if I can take you home and screw your brains out.”

Her thighs clenched so hard she almost keeled over.

Okay, well, that certainly left nothing to interpretation.

“Judging by your response, I think you like the sound of that.” There was something smugly male in his voice.

Hers was embarrassingly squeaky and as weak as her attempted ignorance. “What response?”

He flashed a knowing smile. “What, you think I can’t tell when a woman is attracted to me?”

Nope, this was not the AJ she remembered. The golden boy was gone, replaced by a primal creature teeming with raw sexual energy. The electricity in the air was liable to burn her alive.

“Y-you…” She swallowed hard. “You don’t seem like the kind of man who does stuff like this. Sleeping with someone you’ve just met…”

“Why do women always take it upon themselves to decide what kind of man I am?”

“Am I wrong?” she challenged.

After a beat, he gave a sheepish grin. “Fine. I haven’t had a lot of one-night stands. But…” His eyes burned. “I have a feeling not going home with you tonight would be the biggest mistake of my life.”

About the Author:

Elle Kennedy

Author Bio:
A USA Today bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a BA in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

Elle loves to hear from her readers. Visit her website www.ellekennedy.com or sign up for her newsletter to receive updates about upcoming books and exclusive excerpts. You can also find her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter (@ElleKennedy).

Connect Online:
Website: www.ellekennedy.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElleKennedy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorElleKennedy
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1935000.Elle_Kennedy
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/OR9cr

Giveaway Details:

To celebrate the release of One Night of Trouble Elle Kennedy is giving away a fabulous Seduction Gift Basket. You can enter the giveaway using the form below, the winner will be chosen at random and announced via Rafflecopter. Elle Kennedy will contact the winner directly to arrange sending out the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Risking It All - Tessa Bailey

NYPD detective Seraphia Newsom will avenge her brother’s death at any cost. Even if it means insinuating herself into a rough, Brooklyn street gang and going so far undercover, she’s not sure she’ll be able to get out. Every minute she spends in their midst means the clock ticking down on her life, especially when she overhears something that could get her killed.

Bowen Driscol is the heir to a crime enterprise. He never asked for the job, but with his father behind bars, he has no choice but to step in and keep the operation running. But when the NYPD blackmails him with a piece of damning information in exchange for aiding an undercover cop, he finds himself on the other side of the law for the first time in his life.

Bowen knows the danger Sera is in, and keeping her safe trumps saving his own ass. The problem? She can’t know he’s on her side. And there's the matter of the seriously inconvenient heat sparking between them that's incinerating his resistance. But Sera only sees Bowen's past, and men like him are the reason her brother is dead. If they're to get out alive, he'll have to risk exposing the man beneath, and hope to hell he doesn't blow the whole operation in the process.

Crossing the Line Series:
Riskier Business (Novella)
Risking it All
Up in Smoke (2015)

Related Stories:
His Risk to Take (Ruby and Troy from Riskier Business first appeared in book 2 of the Line of Duty Series His Risk to Take)

Visit Tessa Bailey's website for more information.

Review:
I've been curious about Bowen ever since we first met him in His Risk to Take so of course I was excited to finally get my hands on his story. Tessa Bailey excels at writing dirty talking alpha heroes and Bowen is no exception to that, in fact I think he might just be her hottest one yet! What I love most about him is how complicated he is. Bowen would be the first person to tell you he's not a good man, in fact, he was raised to be as bad as they come. His father used to be the boss of the criminal underworld in South Boston and ever since he was sent to prison Bowen has taken over his role. Bowen has done a lot of terrible things but he's living a life he never asked for an doesn't really want and as much as he has that dark side he also has a good side to him too. He's always been very protective of his younger sister Ruby, to the point where he has now pushed her away from him to keep her safe, and he has his own code of honour that he sticks to. When undercover cop Sera gets in too deep police officers use Bowen's connection to Ruby and Troy to put pressure on him to go to her rescue. The last thing Bown needs is the added complication of a rookie cop but he can't leave her alone and unprotected so reluctantly agrees to play bodyguard.

Sera couldn't be more different to Bowen, she's a good girl who initially trained as a nurse but changed her career path after her police officer brother was murdered. All Sera wants is to put her brother's murderer behind bars but even though they know who was behind Colin's death the police haven't been able to prove it. Sera isn't willing to leave things at that though so she takes it upon herself to go undercover to find the proof she needs to get Hogan locked up for good. I ended up having mixed feelings about Sera, in some ways I really liked her but there were times when I found her incredibly frustrating. I could completely understand her need to get revenge but I struggled to believe that she'd had any kind of police training. I think I would have found it more realistic if she'd just quit her job as a nurse and gone in completely unprepared - that's certainly how she acted. Overall I was able to forgive her naivety though and I did love the slow build relationship between her and Bowen.

Risking it All is one of Tessa Bailey's hottest books yet and the fact that it was longer than most of her other stories really allowed readers the chance to connect with both of the characters. The way things ended have left me very excited to continue reading this series and I'm already hoping that Connor's story will be up next. If you love Tessa's Line of Duty series I have a feeling you're going to enjoy this one even more!

Source: Received from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: One Night of Scandal - Elle Kennedy

The wrong man never felt so right . . .

Ex-fighter Reed Miller has been secretly lusting over his best friend’s girl for months, but he refuses to jeopardize a friendship over a woman—especially one who doesn’t like him all that much. Now that Darcy’s on the market again, it’s even more imperative to stick to his strict hands-off policy. But the sizzling attraction between them is too powerful to ignore, and once he’s had a taste of her…all bets are off.

Darcy Grant is tired of walking the straight and narrow path. She’s on the hunt for passion, and there’s no denying Reed is just the man to give it to her. Although she has no interest in dating a bad boy, and certainly not her ex’s best friend, it’s impossible not to melt beneath Reed’s skillful touch. Now it’s just a matter of setting a few ground rules—and hoping her rule-breaking, sweet-talking bad boy agrees to follow them. But if she lets Reed into her bed, does she stand a chance of keeping him out of her heart?

After Hours Series:
One Night of Sin
One Night of Scandal
One Night of Trouble

Visit Elle Kennedy's website for more information

Review:
Reed has been dying to make a move on Darcy since the moment he first met her but there was always one thing stopping him - the fact she was dating his best friend AJ. No matter how attracted he is to her he would never step over that line and risk breaking his friend's heart. All bets are off now that Darcy is single again though, as hard as he tries Reed just can't resist temptation and the attraction between them is far too hot to walk away from. Reed isn't like the guys Darcy usually dates, she's never gone for bad boys in the past but she's desperate for some excitement and passion in her life and Reed certainly fits the bill for a hot fling. Darcy may want to settle for a fling but Reed is looking for a whole lot more and he's determined to do whatever it takes to win her around.

I have to start by telling you how much I loved Reed, not only is he an ex-MMA fighter who is as sexy as hell but he's also a really sweet and caring guy. He goes out of his way to do things for others and his bad boy reputation dates back to when he was much younger and doesn't really fit the man he has become now. He doesn't feel worthy of love because of his background but apart from a major misunderstanding towards the end of the book he really is pretty perfect boyfriend material. For the most part I liked Darcy, she's the kind of woman you can picture yourself being friends with but it did get to the point where I started to get a little irritated with her for always seeing Reed as nothing more than a bad boy player. She based her thoughts purely on his reputation rather than the way he constantly acted towards her and I wanted to shake some sense into her a couple of times. Thankfully she soon came to her senses and I was really pleased that she was the one who made the first move in apologising after their misunderstanding.

It was great to see a glimpse of how the previous couple, Gage and Skyler, are doing. This book is only set a few months later but I was glad to see them still happy and head over heels in love. AJ's character really stood out for me here which is good because he's the star of the next book and I'm now even more excited for One Night of Trouble. AJ was so sweet about things when Reed told him he wanted to be with Darcy and I loved that they didn't let it effect their friendship. I think that's mainly because the others were upfront and open with him fairly quickly into their relationship, I hate it when people keep secrets so I was really pleased that Reed and Darcy weren't going around behind AJ's back.

One Night of Scandal is a very sexy read, Reed and Darcy are quite an adventurous couple which makes for fun reading but I enjoyed the time they spent outside the bedroom as much as the sexy times. Elle Kennedy is a fairly new author for me but this series has definitely made me sit up and take notice so I'm looking forward to exploring her back list of titles.

Source: Received from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Kindle:

Review: Grave Matters - Jana Oliver

A legendary Demon Trapper, Riley Blackthorne frequently battles with Hell's minions. So when she travels to Scotland to meet up with her hunky boyfriend, and celebrate her eighteenth birthday, she's thrilled at the chance to leave Atlanta and it's troubles behind.

Denver Beck, who has been studying for months to become a Grand Master - a rare and highly dangerous job - is just as eager to see his girl. He's anticipating a romantic reunion, keen to take their relationship to the next level.

Riley's twisted history with Hell has garnered unwelcome interest by people willing to use her for their own purposes. Trouble is brewing in the land of the heather, the kind that will drive a wedge between her and Beck, and prove the ultimate test of their love . . . and their survival skills.

The Demon Trappers Series:
Retro Demonology (Free Short Story)
Forsaken (Released in the US as The Demon Trapper's Daughter)
Forbidden (Released in the US as Soul Thief)
Forgiven
Foretold
Grave Matters (Novella)
Mind Games
Valiant Light

Visit Jana Oliver's website for more information

Review:
Riley and Beck have been apart for months while Beck is in Scotland studying to become a Grand Master but they're finally about to see each other again now that Riley is travelling to join him to celebrate her eighteenth birthday. Unfortunately their reunion doesn't go smoothly thanks to a shocking betrayal by one of the other demon trappers.

I absolutely loved this series so I was excited to get the chance to spend more time with Riley and Beck. It was also nice to see the couple outside of their usual hunting ground in Atlanta spending time together in Scotland. I'll admit that I didn't like seeing their relationship on rocky ground though, they've been through so much together that I had hoped they would be stronger than that. Thankfully they soon work through their differences and band together to stop their enemies though.

Grave Matters is a fairly short novella but I enjoyed every minute of it and my main complaint was just that I wanted more. The book also includes four illustrations by Mark Helwig of some of the different demons we've encountered throughout the series and two other demon trappers short stories written by Jana Oliver. You may have already read Retro Demonology which is a story about Riley's first solo attempt at trapping a demon and is already available as a free ebook but it's nice to now have this story available in print for the first time. The other story is called Personal Demons and it's another prequel to the series this time from Beck's point of view when he's hunting with Riley's father. Both of these short stories give us glimpses into younger versions of the characters we know and love from the series and were a great addition to the book.

This book isn't a good starting point for people who are new to the series but I'm sure Demon Trappers fans will love Grave Matters as much as I did. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that Jana Oliver decides to revisit these characters again in the future but in the meantime I feel a series reread coming on.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Hunt - Rachel Vincent

It’s been more than four years since Abby survived capture and torture by a quartet of rogue shifters. Back then she was a scared kid, just trying to survive.

Now Abby is all grown up, and if she’s learned anything from training with Faythe Sanders, the world’s first female Alpha, it’s that she can take care of herself—and anyone else who comes along. So when her college roommate is abducted from a campsite deep in the Appalachian woods, Abby knows exactly how to get her back . . .

The rules of the hunt are simple. Kill or be killed.
Abby Wade is not ready to die.

This short story was previously published in the Chicks Kick Butt anthology

Shifters Series:
Stray
Rogue
Pride
Prey
Shift
Alpha
Hunt (Novella that links the Shifters and Wildcats Series)

Wildcats Series:
(This series is set in the Shifters world featuring characters we've already met but is paranormal romance rather than urban fantasy)
Hunt (Novella that links the Shifters and Wildcats Series)
Lion's Share
Blind Tiger
Wild Card

Visit Rachel Vincent's website for more information

Review:
I absolutely adore Rachel Vincet's Shifters series, I read it way back in 2010 and I still miss the world so as you can imagine I was incredibly excited when I heard that she was writing a new spin off paranormal romance series featuring some of the characters we've already met. The first book in the new Wildcats series, Lion's Share, is going to be published in February and features Abby and Jace as the main characters. I realised that I never read Abby's novella though so I thought this would be a great way to jump back into the world and get me even more excited for the new series. Hunt is actually a perfect crossover between the two series so I'd highly recommend picking it up if you haven't already.

Hunt is a short story set sometime after the ending of Alpha, I can't quite remember the timeline now but it's four years after we initially met Abby's character. Abby is living away from the rest of her pack while she studies at college and she's spending the weekend camping with her college friends when things go terribly wrong and her group is attacked by a bunch of humans. Abby knows fear, she was captured and tortured by rogue shifters as a young teen and there is no way she's going to sit back and let her friend's be terrorised by mere humans.

This may be short but Rachel Vincent packs a lot in and it was great to see how much Abby has grown since we first met her. She is able to put her fear to one side so that she can fight for her friends and it was great to see her kicking butt and taking names. We get a glimpse of her current alpha who just happens to be the lovely Jace and I really enjoyed the interactions between them, I have a feeling Abby is going to cause quite a bit of stress for Jace before she's finished!

I loved diving back into this world and Hunt has made me even more desperate to get my hands on Lion's Share. It's also made me really tempted to go back and reread the whole Shifters series.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Kindle:

Cover Reveal: Morning Star - Pierce Brown

I am a HUGE fan of Pierce Brown's trilogy, Red Rising was my favourite book of 2014 and although it's only January I can pretty much guarantee that Golden Son has already won the top spot for 2015 so as you can imagine I'm desperately waiting for any news of the final book in the series Morning Star. Well today Entertainment Weekly have revealed the cover and I thought I'd share it here in all it's glory:

Isn't it wonderful? If you've read either of the previous books you'll already understand the significance of Darrow's reaper blade but I also love the colouring and can't wait to have this book on my shelves next to the others.

Entertainment Weekly also posted a great interview with Pierce Brown where he talks about the reason the book is called Morning Star and gives a few hints about what readers can expect from the story. Warning this does contain spoilers so if you haven't read Golden Son yet you may want to save the link & come back to it later but you can check out the interview HERE.

Just in case you've been living under a rock for the last year and haven't discovered the series yet you can read my review of Red Rising here or my review of Golden Son here. This is absolutely one of my favourite series so I can't recommend it highly enough!

Review: Darkness Unmasked - Keri Arthur

Risa Jones, a half-aedh/half-werewolf, can speak to the souls of the dying and the dead, and see Reapers, the collectors of souls. She received a phone call from Madeline Hunter, the leader of the vampire council, ordering her to investigate the death of Hunter's close friend and lover, Wolfgang Schmidt. His body has been discovered wrapped in a web-like substance and has been completely drained. As the body count continues to grow Risa must summon her gifts to find the dark spirit before it strikes again.

Meanwhile, as the search for the keys that keep the gate to Hell closed grows more intense, Risa begins to unravel mysteries that will have startling consequences for her.

Dark Angel Series:
(This is a spin off from the Riley Jenson Guardian series)
Darkness Unbound
Darkness Rising
Darkness Devours
Darkness Hunts
Darkness Unmasked
Darkness Splintered
Darkness Falls

Riley Jenson Guardian Series:
Full Moon Rising
Kissing Sin
Tempting Evil
Dangerous Games
Embraced by Darkness
The Darkest Kiss
Deadly Desire
Bound to Shadows
Moon Sworn

Visit Keri Arthur's website for more information

Review:
I've been on a bit of a reading slump for the last couple of days so I decided to pull out the big guns and I knew Keri Arthur wouldn't fail me. I was right, this series just get better with every instalment and Darkness Unmasked was absolutely fantastic.

Risa has already been through so much but the pace just never lets up and this story sees her facing worse challenges than ever before. Hunter has set Risa the task of tracking down a murderer, one who leaves her victims little more than a dried up, empty husk that has been encased in a mysterious web. As if tracking down a murderer that seems to be part giant spider wasn't bad enough she is still trying to track down the remaining keys to hell and more than one enemy has a vested interest in her succeeding quickly. Risa is juggling a lot of balls all while trying to keep her friends safe and stop the gates to hell from being opened permanently but now more than ever she is at risk of losing everything.

I really don't want to say too much about the plot of Darkness Unmasked because I'd hate to give spoilers but oh wow Keri Arthur does not hold back in this story and she takes Risa to dark places I'd never have dreamed of even in my worst nightmares. An old enemy makes a reappearance and as despicable as his behaviour was in the past that was nothing compared to what he has up his sleeve this time around. I was shocked and horrified by what happens, not just to Risa but also to one of her closest friends, and I have no idea who that is going to effect things for the rest of the series.

It isn't all bad though and one of the things I've been loving for the last few books is the continued development of Risa's relationship with Azriel. It's been so great to see Azriel become more human in his reaction to things, I've been fascinated by his character from the beginning but I love him even more now we're starting to see his sense of humour and how much he obviously cares about Risa. Their relationship has never run smoothly and they still have more challenges to face but I have hope that they'll be able to work things out eventually.

Darkness Unmasked had me on the edge of my seat and it's left me desperate to know what happens next. I'm thankful that the entire series is already available and I'm sure I'll be devouring the remaining two books very soon. In fact, I'm planning on diving right into Darkness Splintered as soon as I finish writing this review!

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle

Review: One Night of Sin - Elle Kennedy

Sometimes it’s good to be bad . . .

When it comes to sex, good girl Skyler Thompson always plays it safe, choosing stable and sedate over wild and thrilling. She doesn’t do one-night-stands, but one look at sinfully sexy Gage Holt and she’s willing to reconsider. He makes her want to be bad for once in her life, and she’s prepared to take what she wants.

Danger follows former MMA fighter Gage Holt like a shadow. Despite his successes as part owner of Sin, an exclusive nightclub in Boston, Gage can’t risk getting involved with a woman, especially one as sweet as Skyler. Still, he can’t resist a taste—and it’s so damn good he has to see her again.

As addicted as he is to her, Gage knows there’s no future for him and Skyler—not with his past lurking in the dark corners of an MMA cage. But Skylar’s tougher than she looks, and she’s ready to fight for her man.

After Hours Series:
One Night of Sin
One Night of Scandal
One Night of Trouble

Visit Elle Kennedy's website for more information

Review:
Good girl Skyler isn't usually into one night stands but from the minute she spots Gage across a crowded nightclub she knows she's going to make an exception. Ex-MMA fighter turned club owner Gage has bad boy written all over him but Skyler is more than willing to explore her bad side with him and she's not going to take no for an answer. Gage knows he's the last thing someone like Skyler needs in her life but she's impossible to resist and he soon finds himself falling into a hot affair that could just turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to either of them.

One Night of Sin is the introduction to Elle Kennedy's After Hours series and she sure gets things off to a scorching hot start with Gage and Skyler. This is a fairly short novel and the attraction between the main couple is pretty instant but their chemistry practically steams up the pages so I didn't have a problem getting invested in their story. They're both great characters and although there are plenty of reasons for them not to be together I thought they were a fabulous couple. I loved that Gage brings out Skyler's more confident side, he makes her feel sexy and she isn't afraid to tell him exactly what she wants. Gage has no problem handling any of Skyler's requests and has plenty of his own ideas on how to spice things up in the bedroom.

We are also introduced to Gage's two business partners who all own an equal share in Sin nightclub and are the heroes of the next two stories. I have a feeling I'm going to love Reed and AJ just as much as Gage so I have high hopes for the rest of the series. If you're a fan of dirty talking heroes and are looking for an incredibly hot read then One Night of Sin is just what you need.

Source: Received from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Kindle:

Review: Golden Son - Pierce Brown

I'm still playing games.
This is just the deadliest yet.

Darrow is a rebel forged by tragedy. For years he and his fellow Reds worked the mines, toiling to make the surface of Mars inhabitable. They were, they believed, mankind's last hope. Until Darrow discovered that it was all a lie, and that the Reds were nothing more than unwitting slaves to an elitist ruling class, the Golds, who had been living on Mars in luxury for generations.

In Red Rising, Darrow infiltrated Gold society, to fight in secret for a better future for his people.

Now fully embedded amongst the Gold ruling class, Darrow continues his dangerous work to bring them down from within. It's a journey that will take him further than he's ever been before - but is Darrow truly willing to pay the price that rebellion demands?

Red Rising Series:
Red Rising: Sons of Ares (Graphic Novel, originally published as 6 comics)
Red Rising
Golden Son
Morning Star
Iron Gold
Dark Age (September 2018)

Visit Pierce Brown's website for more information

Review:
I'm going to apologise in advance for this review because I just don't think I have the words to do Golden Son justice, I've been trying for days to write this and I can't seem to express myself in any sensible way so you'll just have to put up with my fan girl raving. Red Rising was without a doubt my favourite book of 2014, it was one of my first reads of the year and even though I read over 200 books after it none of them managed to knock it off the top spot. So as you can imagine my excitement levels for Golden Son were off the charts. I was a little nervous at the same time though, so many times you find the second book in a trilogy is a disappointing filler that doesn't really add to the story and I would have been gutted if that had happened here. I needn't have worried though because Golden Son is incredible, in fact I think it blows Red Rising out of the water which is quite an achievement!

To put it simply Golden Son is epic. It is a book that will grip you from the very first page. It will take you on a roller coaster of intense emotions - you will laugh, cry, cheer and scream in frustration. There are shocking plot twists, new friendships are built while old ones end in betrayal, your heart will be ripped out when characters you love are destroyed but you'll find yourself rooting for others to survive. The story is fast paced, the plot is intricate and has so many layers that I'm sure there are things I won't fully understand until I reread the book and the character development is fantastic. We get to experience epic battles but we also get to learn more about the society as we see Darrow working hard to bring it down from the inside. The world building is just incredible, it's already so detailed yet I feel like we've hardly begun to touch the surface and I can't wait to see where things go from here.

It's so hard to write a review when you don't want to give away any of the plot so I'm just going to talk about a couple of the main characters. Darrow has changed so much from the boy we first met, he has become quite cold in some ways and the only thing he really cares about is destroying the Golds who betrayed him and his people. He pushes his friends away and has become a bit of a loner but at the same time he manages to draw people to him, his allies would willingly walk into hell by his side and we see this happen time and time again. One of the things I've always loved about Darrow is that he isn't perfect, he makes so many mistakes but he is smart enough to recognise that and he tries hard to learn from them. There are times when it can be frustrating watching him push people away but it is easy to understand where he is coming from. I can't help but love him and I desperately want to see him find some kind of happiness even as he brings the system down around him.

Without a doubt my favourite character is Sevro though, he steals every single scene he appears in and I love him more than words can say. I've lost count of the number of times that Sevro and the Howlers have saved the day, the war would truly have been lost without them. I absolutely adore the friendship between Sevro and Darrow too. Sevro is often the voice of reason, the one who calls Darrow out when he isn't thinking clearly but at the same time Sevro can often be the more bloodthirsty of the two and he's brilliant at plotting against their enemies. Other highlights include meeting Pax's family, finally discovering who Ares is (I would never have guessed in a million years!) and meeting new character Ragnor who I hope we see a lot more of.

To be honest there are too many highlights to mention, Golden Son is so tightly plotted that there isn't a single wasted sentence. Every line is important, every single chapter is full of suspense, emotional anguish and shocking reveals. This is an exhausting read but in the best possible way and once again I feel confident in naming my book of the year even though it's only January. I think I'd be willing to sell my soul to the devil if I could get my hands on a copy of the final book, Morning Star, right now but in the meantime I'll just have to console myself with multiple rereads of the first two books while I wait.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Hardback / Kindle:

Review: Ascension - Caris Roane

Discover a secret, sensual world of winged vampire warriors and the women they crave - in an epic battle between unearthly longing and immortal love . . .

On the wings of desire

Alison Wells is no ordinary woman. Born with supernatural powers, she can never make love to a man without putting him in grave danger. But when her special vision reveals a glorious muscled man soaring overhead on mighty wings, she feels an overwhelming attraction she cannot resist - even as he tells her: "I have come for you. Your blood belongs to me."

In the heat of passion

Kerrick is a vampire and a warrior who has fought his hunger for a woman's love for the past two hundred years. As a Guardian of Ascension, he is sworn to protect Alison from the death vamp armies who crave her blood and her power. But Kerrick has cravings of his own - a forbidden longing to open his heart and veins to Alison. To share his blood . . . satisfy his thirst . . . and seal their fates forever.

Guardians of Ascension Series:
Ascension
Burning Skies
Brink of Eternity (Novella)
Wings of Fire
Born of Ashes
Obsidian Flame
Gates of Rapture
The Darkening (Novella)

Visit Caris Roane's website for more information.

Review:
Ascension is the first book in Caris Roane's Guardians of Ascension series and it introduces readers to a world of winged vampire warriors who protect the human dimension from evil vampires who have become addicted to draining their victims to death. The world building is actually really interesting, I enjoyed the author's unusual take on vampires and I liked the idea of multiple dimensions which humans can ascend to if they have certain abilities or powers. I also enjoyed the camaraderie between the warriors of the blood, I'm a sucker for that kind of set up so it's no surprise I was excited to read this story.

Alison is a human with extraordinary abilities that have meant she never quite fitted in, she has had to keep at a distance from others so that they don't get hurt accidentally and although she has a sister she is very close with she feels isolated and alone. All she ever wanted was a family but she's never been able to risk a long term relationship since her attempts at sex always end in a trip to the hospital for her partner. Kerrick is the warrior who has been assigned to protect Alison throughout her ascension into the next dimension, it is a dangerous time and more than one side of the war are interested in Alison because of her incredible powers. Kerrick has sworn off love because he has lost too many people who are close to him but he immediately recognises Alison as his breh-hedden (fated mate) and finds her very hard to resist.

For the most part I liked Alison, I was interested by her abilities and I do love the fact that the women in this series seem to be just as strong as, if not stronger than, the men. It makes a change to have the girls kicking ass as much as the guys even if I thought the way Alison learned to fight was a bit on the ridiculous side. One thing I didn't like was how much she cries though, she seems to weep at the slightest provocation and I found it irritating to read about. Kerrick is easy to like but he's fairly standard for a paranormal romance romantic lead, there isn't anything about him that particularly stands out so I think he'll be fairly easy to forget about now I've finished reading the book. I would like to see something a bit more from the other warriors so that they stand out against the other PNR series that I read.

Although there were a lot of things to like about the story it does suffer a bit from first book syndrome, there are a lot of new terms to get to grips with (there is a handy glossary at the back of the book though) and there were times when I struggled to keep track of who the characters were and what was going on. In my opinion the story is just too long, there is a lot of repetition and I found parts of the story quite dry and boring. I got sick of reading about the way Alison & Kerrick smell (they recognise each other as their fated mates because of the scent they give off but it's mentioned CONSTANTLY) and I was also ready to scream at the number of times Alison said the words "Warrior Kerrick", yes we know he's a warrior but his name is Kerrick, you don't have to use his job title every single time you think of him! The word warrior was just overused throughout the whole story if I'm honest and I'm really hoping that is something that is toned down in the rest of the series.

The second half of the book has much better pacing though and that's where the story got its hooks into me. So much so that I've gone ahead and ordered the next book in the series so I can see what happens next. I have a feeling that this is one of those series that will just get better with each new book so I have high hopes for Burning Skies.

Source: Won in a Goodreads giveaway

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Once Loved - Cecy Robson

He’s the campus golden boy. She’s picking up the pieces of her broken past. But in Cecy Robson’s scorching novel of second chances—perfect for readers of Monica Murphy and J. Lynn—their differences only make their connection more explosive.

Every memory Lety Tres Santos has from her childhood comes with a scar—some emotional, some physical. Her father is an abusive drug addict, and her mother enables his destructive behavior. College offers Lety a fresh start . . . until her father finds a way to ruin that, too. Now, after losing her scholarship to kick off junior year, Lety must somehow stay in school, pay tuition, and turn a deaf ear to the whispers that follow her. And she intends to do it all without Brody Quaid’s help.

Brody is a lacrosse star, a 4.0 student—and as a freshman, he fell hard for the beautiful and spirited Lety. But their relationship crashed and burned because he couldn’t break through the walls she’s put up around her heart. With Lety hurting more than ever, Brody strives to win her back and make her believe in real love and true partnership. That will mean opening up secrets locked away in his own past—and trusting someone more than he’s ever dared.

Lety knows how painful it can be to depend on the wrong man. She also knows how much Brody wants to do this the right way. But it takes more than sizzling desire to move on and build a future together.

Shattered Past Series:
Once Perfect
Once Loved
Once Pure

O'Brien Family Series:
(Characters were introduced in the Shattered Past series but this series can be read separately)
Once Kissed
Let Me
Crave Me
Feel Me
Save Me

Visit Cecy Robson's website for more information.

Review:
Once Loved is the second book in Cecy Robson's new adult Shattered Past series and it's a real emotional roller coaster of a story. The series is just getting better and better and I absolutely loved both of these characters, Lety and Brody have been through so much but they're survivors who refuse to let their pasts define them.

If you've read Once Perfect you'll already have met both characters, Lety is Mateo's sister so we've already seen some of her horrific family history. Her father is a drunk and a bully who regularly beats on his wife and his children. Lety has suffered verbal and physical abuse for the majority of her life and even though she's now moved out of the family home to go to college she still can't quite escape from her father's clutches. It's heartbreaking to see everything that Lety goes through but I was so proud of her for the way she copes with everything that happens. She is brave enough to make a stand even when her mother won't and I was cheering her along from the sidelines. Lety has worked hard to get her scholarship to study nursing but she also works as a carer to earn enough money to pay her bills. You have to admire her determination to make something of her life and the way she tries so hard to stand on her own two feet.

On the surface Brody's life looks perfect, he's the son of a wealthy family so he has plenty of money and the freedom to do whatever he wants and he's also one of the popular guys at the college. What most people don't see is that he is still damaged from a major event in his childhood. He keeps his emotional scars well hidden but they're definitely there and Lety is the only person who he feels understands him. I think what I loved most about Brody is that he's such a great guy, he's sweet, kind and doesn't have a mean bone in his body. I've started to get a little bored of the bad boys and players so coming across a guy like Brody makes a really nice change. Lety and Brody were a couple when we first met them but after an incident with her father Lety pushed Brody away to protect him. Brody cares deeply for Lety though, he knows they had something special and he is determined to win her back and show her that together they can survive anything.

I don't want to say too much more about the plot but I have to tell you what an adorable couple they are. I loved seeing the two of them together, they have a great relationship and they're both surrounded by supportive friends which was great. I liked how protective they are of each other and I was glad that their relationship is so solid with very little angst between the two of them. Both of their family situations were heartbreaking but there were some really sweet moments both with Brody's family and with Lety's siblings. We get to see some incredibly sweet moments between Mateo and Evelyn which made me smile and we are given a further glimpse at the next couple Sophia and Killian. Once Loved is a fantastic story and I'm already desperate to get my hands on the final book Once Pure, I've had a feeling from the beginning that Sophia and Killian will be my favourite couple but it's going to be hard for them to knock Lety and Brody off the top spot.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Kindle:

Blog Tour: Exclusive Deleted Scene from Once Loved - Cecy Robson (+ Giveaway)

To visit the rest of the stops on the tour CLICK HERE

I absolutely love Cecy Robson's Shattered Past series and it's one I'd definitely recommend to fans of new adult contemporary romance. Today I'm excited to be taking part in the blog tour to celebrate the release of the second book in the trilogy Once Loved. I've already read the book so watch out for my review which will be posted later today but in the meantime I have an exclusive deleted scene from the book to share with you today thanks to Cecy!

First let me give you a bit more information about the book though:

Blurb
He’s the campus golden boy. She’s picking up the pieces of her broken past. But in Cecy Robson’s scorching novel of second chances—perfect for readers of Monica Murphy and J. Lynn—their differences only make their connection more explosive.

Every memory Lety Tres Santos has from her childhood comes with a scar—some emotional, some physical. Her father is an abusive drug addict, and her mother enables his destructive behavior. College offers Lety a fresh start . . . until her father finds a way to ruin that, too. Now, after losing her scholarship to kick off junior year, Lety must somehow stay in school, pay tuition, and turn a deaf ear to the whispers that follow her. And she intends to do it all without Brody Quaid’s help.

Brody is a lacrosse star, a 4.0 student—and as a freshman, he fell hard for the beautiful and spirited Lety. But their relationship crashed and burned because he couldn’t break through the walls she’s put up around her heart. With Lety hurting more than ever, Brody strives to win her back and make her believe in real love and true partnership. That will mean opening up secrets locked away in his own past—and trusting someone more than he’s ever dared.

Lety knows how painful it can be to depend on the wrong man. She also knows how much Brody wants to do this the right way. But it takes more than sizzling desire to move on and build a future together.

Shattered Past Series:
Once Perfect
Once Loved
Once Pure (May 2015)

Once Loved is being published by Loveswept's Flirt imprint and will be available on the 20th of January.

Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Author Info
CECY ROBSON is the New Adult and Contemporary author of the Shattered Past series, and the award winning author of the Weird Girls Urban Fantasy Romance series. A self-proclaimed professional napper, Cecy counts among her talents a jaw-dropping knowledge of useless trivia, the ability to make her hair big, and a knack for breaking into song, despite her family’s vehement protests. A full-time writer, registered nurse, wife, and mother living in the South, Cecy enjoys spending time with her family and silencing the yappy characters in her head by telling their stories.

Author Links: Facebook | Twitter | Website | TSU | Google+ | Goodreads

Please give Cecy a very warm welcome as she shares a fabulous deleted scene with you all!

Exclusive Deleted Scene from Once Loved by Cecy Robson

Thank you for hosting me on your blog. In Once Loved, Lety and Brody are resident advisors at their college. Below is a deleted scene from one of their training sessions before their relationship resumed full-speed ahead.

We gathered around our first obstacle. Basically a bunch of small elevated platforms, gathered in a circular pattern, wide enough to accommodate one person comfortably. Dude (no shit, that was his name) the camp’s obstacle expert explained our tasks in what could only be described as Joe Pesci’s voice from My Cousin Vinny. “Youz are at sea. Your ship has sunk. Your crew mates are dead. And youz are surrounded by hungry man eatin’ sharks.”

“Fucking sharks,” Meathead muttered.

Dude continued. “Youz are the sole survivors on these here floatin’ leftover ship parts. Your goal is to get yourself and what remains of your crew to that island.” He pointed to the opposite side of the clearing. “You fall in, you got three seconds before a shark eats you and ya die.”

Brody raised his hand. “Are there hot chicks with coconut bras waiting for us on the island?”

“Ya,” Dude offered without blinking. There was a man who hated his job.

Brody nodded appreciatively. “Cool.”

We lined up. Alice and I were separated, which sucked. She glanced over her shoulder just before she climbed the first platform. I smiled. “You can do it, Alice. There are hot guys with coconut jockstraps there, too.”

“Is that the kind of thing that turns you on?” Brody asked.

I tried to ignore him.

“Because if it is . . . I know a guy.”

“I’m sure you do, Brody.”

I kicked at the ground with my worn canvas sneakers. It was too easy to talk to Brody. But we couldn’t be friends. We couldn’t be anything. I was an idiot for thinking I could ever measure up.
I moved ahead as the line proceeded forward. As the exercise advanced, seven were eaten by sharks including poor Alice, Piper, and Meathead. Meathead didn’t take getting devoured well and started swearing. Four fell in trying to help other RAs back onto the platform. Four made it across without incident. That left me, Brody, and Razor.

Razor was surprisingly agile, despite the amount of metal weighing his body down. Brody’s long legs and athleticism also helped him across. But as coordinated as I was, the distance between the wooden platforms made it hard to maneuver.

Brody squatted on his platform, the next one I needed to reach, and extended his arm. “Come on. I’ll help you.”

This jump seemed longer than the others, and the platform looked too small to hold us both. I glanced down to the clumps of leaves and pine needles littering the floor. “Don’t look at the sharks, Lety. Look at me.”

I kept my attention on the forest floor. “I don’t know if I’m going to make it. Maybe you should get to the coconut bra wearers without me.”

“Nah, can’t leave you behind, beautiful.”

I bit my lip at his ‘beautiful’ remark. Brody wasn’t making this easy.

Dude spat in the woods. “Come on. The sharks are circlin.” This guy was all class.

“Lety, look at me.” Brody’s voice lowered, pleading. “It’s not an island with hot, coconut bra wearing chicks.”

I grinned. “It’s not?”

“No, sweetheart. It’s America―the land of opportunity.” Mock sympathy replaced his smart ass grin. “You’ve been swimming across the Straits of Florida from Cuba for six days.” He held out his fingers. “Six. You’re almost there. And your baby―the one strapped to your back―all she wants is to breastfeed and learn English.”

“Lety has a kid?” Meathead asked.

Brody continued. “Give your baby, little Consuelo, that gift. And the freedom you’ve for so long been denied. Jump, Lety. Jump for little Consuelo.”

Dramatic voice and all, Brody was really pushing it. He knew I was born in Philly. No one seemed to care. The first girl eaten by sharks, started to sing the first verse of God Bless America. The others joined in, placing their hands over their hearts.

I laughed. I just couldn’t help it.

Brody held out his hand. “Forget the sharks. Forget Immigration waiting for you on the shore. Do it for me, Lety,” Brody continued. “Do it for America.”

“Don’t forget Consuelo!” Razor chimed in.

Brody’s expression shattered with mock pain as the RAs reached the last verse. “Yes. Don’t forget your nipple-wanting, back-straddling, English wanna-be speaking baby Consuelo.”

I gave a determined nod. “For Consuelo.”

“For Consuelo!” everyone yelled.

The group cheered when I jumped into his arms. We just barely kept our balance and he grabbed my ass in the process. At first I thought it was an accident until he gave my round trunk an extra two squeezes. “Brody. You’re crushing Consuelo.”

“Sorry,” he said although his devilish grin told me he didn’t mean it.

Thank you so much for being a part of my tour. I hope you enjoyed this deleted scene, and that you enjoy Once Loved even more.

***************

Thanks for a fab deleted scene Cecy, one of the things I loved most about Once Loved was the banter between Lety and Brody and this is a great example of that!

Giveaway Details:

As part of the blog tour Cecy is hosting a fabulous giveaway for the chance to win a $25.00 eGift Card to Choice Book Seller & Loveswept Mug with Romance at Random Nail Polish. You can enter the giveaway using the rafflecopter form below, the winner will be selected at random and contacted directly by Cecy so that she can arrange for the prizes to be sent.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: The Sleeper and the Spindle - Neil Gaiman & Chris Riddell

A thrillingly reimagined fairy tale from the truly magical combination of author Neil Gaiman and illustrator Chris Riddell - weaving together a sort-of Snow White and an almost Sleeping Beauty with a thread of dark magic, which will hold readers spellbound from start to finish.

On the eve of her wedding, a young queen sets out to rescue a princess from an enchantment. She casts aside her fine wedding clothes, takes her chain mail and her sword and follows her brave dwarf retainers into the tunnels under the mountain towards the sleeping kingdom. This queen will decide her own future - and the princess who needs rescuing is not quite what she seems. Twisting together the familiar and the new, this perfectly delicious, captivating and darkly funny tale shows its creators at the peak of their talents.

Lavishly produced, packed with glorious Chris Riddell illustrations enhanced with metallic ink, this is a spectacular and magical gift.

Visit Neil Gaiman's website or Chris Riddell's website for more information.

Review:
The Sleeper and the Spindle is a dark and twisted fairytale that takes components of Sleeping Beauty and mixes in Snow White and three of the dwarves. A sleeping enchantment has been spreading across the neighbouring kingdom and it won't be long until it starts effecting Snow White's people too. As the queen it is up to her to put a stop to it so Snow happily puts her wedding plans on hold, swaps her gown for chain mail and sets out on a quest to wake Sleeping Beauty and her people. I'm not going to tell you if she manages or not so you're just going to have to read the book to find out.

I loved fairytales as a child, in fact I still love them now as an adult, but I got a little sick of reading about princess who sit around waiting to be rescued by their handsome prince so I absolutely loved this story for bucking that trend. There are no handsome princes in sight, well there is one but he's only mentioned in passing as Snow White postpones her wedding to go off and save a fellow princess so he doesn't really count! This is a story where girls take centre stage and prove that they are more than capable of fighting their own battles and I loved every minute of it. Neil Gaiman has written a fabulous story that turns the usual fairytale tropes upside down and the twist at the end was fantastic.

I can't review this book properly without talking about Chris Riddell's gorgeous illustrations. The black and white drawings with gold foil accents are on every page and they're so beautifully detailed that I probably spent longer looking at the pictures than I did actually reading the words of the story! The illustrations really bring the characters to life and help to make the story even more special. The hardback is just stunning, from the transparent slip cover to the gold foil throughout this is a book to treasure and it would make a wonderful gift for children of all ages.

Source: Received from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Hardback: