Review: Hard As Steel - Laura Kaye

After identifying her employer's dangerous enemies, Jessica Jakes takes refuge at the compound of the Raven Riders Motorcycle Club. Fellow Hard Ink tattooist and Raven leader Ike Young promises to keep Jess safe for as long as it takes, which would be perfect if his close, personal, round-the-clock protection didn't make it so hard to hide just how much she wants him—and always has.

Ike Young loved and lost a woman in trouble once before. The last thing he needs is alone time with the sexiest and feistiest woman he's ever known, one he's purposely kept at a distance for years. Now, Ike's not sure he can keep his hands or his heart to himself—or that he even wants to anymore. And that means he has to do whatever it takes to hold on to Jess forever.

Hard Ink Series:
Hard as It Gets
Hard as You Can
Hard to Hold on to (Novella)
Hard to Come By
Hard to Be Good (Novella)
Hard to Let Go
Hard as Steel (Novella) (This is a Raven Riders MC crossover novella)
Hard Ever After (Novella)
Hard to Serve (Novella) (This is a Blasphemy crossover novella)

Raven Riders MC Series:
(This is a spin off from the Hard Ink Series)
Hard as Steel (Novella) (This is a Hard Ink crossover novella)
Ride Hard
Ride Rough
Ride Wild
Ride Dirty (Novella)

Blasphemy Series:
(This is a spin off from the Hard Ink Series)
Hard to Serve (Novella) (This is a Hard Ink crossover novella)
Bound to Submit
Mastering Her Senses
Eyes on You (Novella)
Theirs to Take (Crossover with Reveal Me by Jennifer Probst)
On His Knees
Switching for Her (April 2018)

Visit Laura Kaye's website for more information

Review:
I'm a huge fan of Laura Kaye's Hard Ink series so when I found out she was writing a spin off about the Raven Riders MC I was thrilled. Hard as Steel is a crossover novel that bridges the two series and gives us the chance to meet some more of the Raven Riders characters. We've already met both of the main characters, Jess and Ike, in the Hard Ink novels and timeline of this novella is during Hard to Let Go so will contain spoilers for that book if you haven't already read it.

Ike and Jess both work alongside Jeremy and Nick as tattoo artists at Hard Ink but they are drawn into the fight to clear Nick's Special Forces team of wrongdoing when Jess is targeted by their enemy. When it becomes clear that Jess is in danger Ike, who is also a member of the Raven Riders MC, immediately steps up to offer her his protection. They have been friends for a long time and he will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

Jess has been attracted to Ike since they first met but there has always been a very clear line drawn between them so they have never given into temptation but now that she finds herself in close quarters with him for a prolonged period of time she is finding him harder to resist than ever before. Ike has never wanted a relationship, he let down the first woman he loved and has never been able to forgive himself so doesn't feel that he deserves a second chance at happiness. Jess tempts him more than any other woman has though and it isn't long before the heat between them blazes out of control.

I enjoyed seeing this couple get their happily ever after, they have both been through some traumatic times and it was nice to see them talk things through and come out the other side. There was a moment when Ike was a complete idiot and really annoyed me with the way he spoke to Jess but he's man enough to apologise so I was able to forgive him. The chemistry between them was great but I did feel that in the circumstances things happened a bit sooner than I would have expected them to. Hard as Steel is a novella so there is less time for relationship development but it was an enjoyable story and has left me looking forward to spending more time with the Raven Riders when Ride Hard releases next year.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Hard to Let Go - Laura Kaye

Five dishonored soldiers.
Former Special Forces.
One last mission.
These are the men of Hard Ink.

Beckett Murda hates to dwell on the past. But his investigation into the ambush that killed half his Special Forces team and ended his Army career gives him little choice. Just when his team learns how powerful their enemies are, hard-ass Beckett encounters his biggest complication yet - a seductive, feisty Katherine Rixey.

A tough, stubborn prosecutor, Kat visits her brothers' Hard Ink Tattoo shop following a bad break-up - and finds herself staring down the barrel of a stranger's gun. Beckett is hard-bodied and sexy as hell, but he's also the most infuriating man ever. Worse, Kat's brothers are at war with the criminals her office is investigating. When Kat joins the fight, she lands straight in Beckett's sights . . . and in his arms. Not to mention their enemies' crosshairs. Now Beckett and Kat must set aside their differences to work together, because the only thing sweeter than justice is finding love and never letting go.

Hard Ink Series:
Hard as It Gets
Hard as You Can
Hard to Hold on to (Novella)
Hard to Come By
Hard to Be Good (Novella)
Hard to Let Go
Hard as Steel (Novella) (This is a Raven Riders MC crossover novella)
Hard Ever After (Novella)
Hard to Serve (Novella) (This is a Blasphemy crossover novella)

Raven Riders MC Series:
(This is a spin off from the Hard Ink Series)
Hard as Steel (Novella) (This is a Hard Ink crossover novella)
Ride Hard
Ride Rough
Ride Wild
Ride Dirty (Novella)

Blasphemy Series:
(This is a spin off from the Hard Ink Series)
Hard to Serve (Novella) (This is a Hard Ink crossover novella)
Bound to Submit
Mastering Her Senses
Eyes on You (Novella)
Theirs to Take (Crossover with Reveal Me by Jennifer Probst)
On His Knees
Switching for Her (April 2018)

Visit Laura Kaye's website for more information

Review:
The Hard Ink series just got better and better with every book and I think this final instalment was my favourite. Fans have been waiting a long time to find out if the guys would manage to figure out exactly who was behind the ambush that killed several of their team members and we've all been hoping to see them clear their names but they've had quite a fight on their hands and I wasn't quite sure if they'd all manage to survive the final battle. I'm not going to answer any of those questions for you so you'll just have to read the book for yourself to find out how it all ends but I will say that Hard to Let Go was an epic, action packed finale that was everything I'd hoped for and more.

Alongside the conclusion to the ongoing investigation and a chance to catch up with the previous couples this book gives us the chance to get to know Beckett, the gruff and closed off member of the team who has always held himself at a distance from the others. We know he's best friends with Marz and we know he blames himself for Marz's injuries but we haven't had a chance to get to know him that well before now so I wasn't too sure what to expect. There is so much more to Beckett than first meets the eye, his heartbreaking past brought tears to my eyes and I fell head over heels for the bossy, grumpy bastard.

Beckett and Kat are like oil and water and they can barely spend more than a minute in the same room without starting an argument but underneath the banter is a deep attraction that turns completely explosive when they finally give into it. Beckett has worked hard to keep himself closed off from others, thanks to his upbringing he's never really had a close connection to anyone but Kat makes him feel things he's never felt before and he doesn't know quite how to handle it. He isn't used to the emotions that she brings out in him and he's scared of hurting Kat if he gets too close. Kat is much more open and willing to act on the chemistry between them but she doesn't want to push Beckett into something he's not comfortable with so she's willing to take their relationship slowly. Here we have two strong and independent individuals who are wary of letting anyone close but who are both willing to fight for what they want. They make a fantastic couple and I loved spending time with them.

Hard to Let Go is a fantastic conclusion to the Hard Ink series, it ties up all the loose ends and gives readers answers to all our questions. It also sets things up nicely for the spin off Raven Riders MC series that starts next year with Ride Hard and I really hope that we're going to see some of the Hard Ink characters make the occasional appearance in the new series.

Source: Received from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

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Release Blitz: Hard As Steel - Laura Kaye (Excerpt & Giveaway)

We are absolutely thrilled to bring you the Release Day Launch for Laura Kaye's HARD AS STEEL!! HARD AS STEEL is a Hard Ink/Raven Riders Series Crossover Novella brought to you by 1001 Dark Nights. Grab your copy today!!

Amazon eBook ** Amazon Paperback

Excerpt:

I’m thrilled to be here celebrating the release of my 21st book, HARD AS STEEL! After a midnight break-in at her apartment, close friends and Hard Ink Tattoo co-workers Ike Young and Jessica Jakes are forced into hiding—and forced to confront the feelings they’ve always denied for one another. I have always adored friends-to-lovers and forced proximity stories, and HARD AS STEEL delivers that and more, including a taste of both my award-winning and best-selling Hard Ink and upcoming Raven Riders series! Check out this excerpt:

They stared at each for a long moment. Jess went from feeling amused to awkward to observed…and that made her hot. Especially as she was standing there in nothing but a towel.

As if he could hear her thoughts, Ike’s gaze slowly ran down her neck to her chest. She wiped at something there and the wetness on the fingers told her it had been a droplet of water from her hair. Ike watched the movement of her hand openly, hungrily, and his desire made her bold, daring, hungry in return.

Without giving herself time to second guess the idea, she reached out and lightly dragged her wet fingers against his bottom lip.

And it was like she’d unleashed a beast.

Ike grabbed her wrist and hauled her to him. He was on her everywhere. His hands in her hair, on her back, grabbing her ass and lifting her up. His tongue licked the exact route that water droplet had taken, from chest to neck to ear. And then he was kissing her, fucking her mouth with his tongue, absolutely devouring her.

Jess held on like her life depended on it, and at some point she became aware of the breeze on her bare skin. She’d dropped the towel, which meant she was totally buck-ass naked in Ike’s big arms, and she couldn’t have cared less.

Ike licked her mouth, sucked her tongue, nipped at her lips. He turned and made for the stairs, and Jess thought she might die from sheer joy and anticipation. He tasted like strength and sin and sex, and she tightened her legs around his hips as he carried her to the loft, eager to see if all of him tasted so good—or even better.

When they reached the second floor, Ike growled low in his throat and his grip tightened on her on her ass, his fingers digging in. She moaned and—

Cool air from the ceiling fan washed over Jess as Ike dropped her onto the bed—and promptly turned around to leave. Jess was so stunned she couldn’t speak. Just as he hit the top of the steps, he said, “Don’t fucking tease me, Jessica. I’m trying to do right by you, but I’m still just a goddamned man.”

About HARD AS STEEL: A Hard Ink/Raven Riders Crossover Novella

After identifying her employer's dangerous enemies, Jessica Jakes takes refuge at the compound of the Raven Riders Motorcycle Club. Fellow Hard Ink tattooist and Raven leader Ike Young promises to keep Jess safe for as long as it takes, which would be perfect if his close, personal, round-the-clock protection didn't make it so hard to hide just how much she wants him—and always has.

Ike Young loved and lost a woman in trouble once before. The last thing he needs is alone time with the sexiest and feistiest woman he's ever known, one he's purposely kept at a distance for years. Now, Ike's not sure he can keep his hands or his heart to himself—or that he even wants to anymore. And that means he has to do whatever it takes to hold on to Jess forever.

About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp | HARD AS STEEL on Goodreads

Giveaway:

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Review: Hard to Be Good - Laura Kaye

Two damaged men.
One dangerous mission.
One healing love.
These are the men of Hard Ink.

Hard Ink Tattoo owner Jeremy Rixey has taken on his brother's stateside fight against the enemies that nearly killed Nick and his Special Forces team a year ago. Now Jeremy's whole world has been turned upside down by the chaos - and by a brilliant, quiet blond man who tempts him to settle down for the first time ever.

Recent kidnapping victim Charlie Merritt has always been better with computers than with people so when he's drawn into the SF team's investigation of his army colonel father's corruption, he's surprised to find acceptance ad friendship - especially since his father never accepted who he was. Even more surprising is the heated tension he feels with sexy, tattooed Jeremy, Charlie's opposite in almost every way.

With tragedy and chaos all around them, temptation flashes hot, and Jeremy and Charlie can't help but wonder why they're trying so hard to be good . . .

Hard Ink Series:
Hard as It Gets
Hard as You Can
Hard to Hold on to (Novella)
Hard to Come By
Hard to Be Good (Novella)
Hard to Let Go
Hard as Steel (Novella) (This is a Raven Riders MC crossover novella)
Hard Ever After (Novella)
Hard to Serve (Novella) (This is a Blasphemy crossover novella)

Raven Riders MC Series:
(This is a spin off from the Hard Ink Series)
Hard as Steel (Novella) (This is a Hard Ink crossover novella)
Ride Hard
Ride Rough
Ride Wild
Ride Dirty (Novella)

Blasphemy Series:
(This is a spin off from the Hard Ink Series)
Hard to Serve (Novella) (This is a Hard Ink crossover novella)
Bound to Submit
Mastering Her Senses
Eyes on You (Novella)
Theirs to Take (Crossover with Reveal Me by Jennifer Probst)
On His Knees
Switching for Her (April 2018)

Visit Laura Kaye's website for more information

Review:
I have been looking forward to reading this book every since Laura Kaye announced that Jeremy would be getting his story told, he's been a favourite character since the beginning of the series and when I found out he was being paired up with Charlie I was really excited to see that it was going to be a MM pairing.

Jeremy has been such a fantastic character since the beginning, he's Nick's brother, the owner of the Hard Ink Tattoo shop and he opened his home to Nick's whole team without question. Since then his life has been torn upside down but he's never said a word of complaint, in fact he's always there lightening the mood with his silly slogan t-shirts and light hearted banter. Even after the explosion that destroyed half of his building he doesn't feel resentment towards the others, he just feels guilty that he wasn't able to do more to help protect the place and blames himself for the deaths of the people who were with him when the roof collapsed.

Charlie is Jeremy's opposite in a lot of ways, he doesn't have the Jeremy's outgoing confidence and instead is rather shy and introverted. He has trouble interacting with people and has been surprised by the way the whole team have welcomed him when his own father (their commanding officer) practically disowned him because he was gay. Charlie has been through a lot, first being kidnapped and then having a finger amputated as he was drawn into this whole conspiracy alongside his sister. He's been a valuable asset thanks to his computer skills though and is enjoying being part of the team.

It has been obvious for some time that a bond was forming between Jeremy and Charlie so I was really looking forward to their story. The covert glances they've shared along with a strong friendship that has been growing gave me very high hopes but unfortunately it didn't quite live up to my expectations. It's not a bad book by any means but the romance wasn't quite what I hoped for. I think the main issue was how quickly things moved between them, they went from warily circling each other to having sex at every opportunity to I love you and let's live happily ever after within about 24 hours and it just didn't come across as completely believable. They have undeniable chemistry and the sex was definitely hot but I think the emotional connection was missing until right at the very end of the story. I think if the story had been a little longer and there had been more time for conversation in between all the sex I would have enjoyed it so much more.

We get a chance to catch up with the rest of the team though and see the immediate aftermath of the explosion. There is an interesting new animal addition to the Hard Ink family and I enjoyed the banter between Beckett and Kat who are the main couple for the next (and final) book Hard to Let Go. I am really enjoying this series and I have to give kudos to both Laura Kaye and Avon for including an MM story in what has so far been a fully straight romantic suspense series. It's great that stories like this one are becoming more mainstream and I hope that trend continues.

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

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Review: Revenant - Larissa Ione

HELL HATH NO FURY . . .
For five thousand years, Revenant believed he was alone in the world, a fallen angel beyond any redemption. Now he finds he has a twin brother who had all the light and love Revenant was denied. Caught in a  tug of war between Heaven and Hell, he must weigh his thirst for revenge against his desire for a mysterious female named Blaspheme - a female whose very origins could deliver him into salvation . . . or destruction.

LIKE AN ANGEL SCORNED
Blaspheme has a deadly secret: she's the forbidden offspring of an angel and a fallen angel. Hunted by both heavenly and satanic forces, she has survived only by lying low and trusting no one. When Revenant claims he can save them both, how can she possibly believe him? But the powerful angel is persistence incarnate and for Blaspheme, there's no place she can hide in Heaven or Hell where he won't find her . . .

The Demonica Series:
Pleasure Unbound
Desire Unchained
Passion Unleashed
Eternity Embraced (Novella)
Ecstasy Unveiled
Sin Undone
Eternal Rider (Lords of Deliverance book 1)
Vampire Fight Club (Novella in the Supernatural anthology or as a separate ebook)
Immortal Rider (Lords of Deliverance book 2)
Lethal Rider (Lords of Deliverance book 3)
Rogue Rider (Lords of Deliverance book 4)
Reaver
Azagoth (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 1)
Revenant
Hades (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 2)
Base Instincts (Novella)
Z (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 3)
Razr (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 4)
Hawkyn (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 5)
Her Guardian Angel (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 6, also part of the Masters and Mercenaries Crossover Collection)
Dining with Angels: Bits & Bites from the Demonica Universe (Short Story Collection & Recipe Book, Demonica Underworld book 7)
Cipher (Demonica Underworld book 8)
Reaper (Demonica Underworld book 9)

For more information visit Larissa Ione's website

Review:
I was incredibly disappointed when I found out that Revenant would be the last book in Larissa Ione's Demonica & Lords of Deliverance series. I've been a huge fan of these books since the beginning and wasn't ready for the journey to end but if you have to go out then it's best to go out on a high and that's definitely been achieved with this book. Thankfully the author has continued to visit the world in a couple of novellas too so even though it's a fantastic end it isn't quite the last we've seen of these characters.

Revenant may be Reaver's twin brother but their very different upbringings have made them almost complete opposites. Reaver was raised in Heaven and has spent his whole life knowing love and safety while Revenant was raised in Hell and both witnessed, suffered and carried out horrendous torture and suffering. Revenant has spent his whole life believing he was a fallen angel so it's no surprise that he's incredibly bitter when he finds out the truth, he is jealous of the life Reaver had and although logically he knows it wasn't Reaver's fault that doesn't make it any easier and Reaver makes a convenient scape goat for his wrath and anger. Revenant is the epitome of dark, brooding bad boy heroes, he's cocky and arrogant and he's done horrible things in his life just to survive. Larissa Ione excels at creating complex characters though, ones who you fall in love with in spite of their horrific actions in the past and ones you are desperate to see redeem themselves.

Blaspheme is a doctor at UGH, she loves her job and all she really wants to do is stay under the radar and be able to treat her patients. She has a major secret though and as the forbidden child of an angel and a fallen angel she has a very large target on her back. Both heaven and hell will destroy her if they discover who she really is so it's important that she doesn't draw the attention of anyone, especially not a dangerous fallen angel like Revenant.

I absolutely loved the romance between these two, Blaspheme is a strong character and she does't take any of Revenant's crap, he's a dominant guy who is shocked that someone could possibly reject him and when the two of them are together the fireworks fly. We also get to catch up with all our favourite characters and see the epic conclusion to the battle that has been building since the start of the Lords of Deliverance series. I really don't want to say too much about what happens but you won't want to put the book down so make sure you've cleared your diary for the day before you start it. I'm a huge fan of Larissa Ione and this whole series has been brilliant, it isn't always easy to finish a story line with so much build up without it feeling a bit of a let down but that definitely hasn't happened here. I'll definitely be rereading this series in the future and in the meantime I'll be auto-buying anything that this author chooses to write.

Source: Initially received from publisher via NetGalley but I also received a print copy from Piatkus in exchange for an honest review

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US Cover

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Review: Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues - Diana Rowland

Angel Crawford is finally starting to get used to life as a brain-eating zombie, but her problems are far from over. Her felony record is coming back to haunt her, more zombie hunters are popping up, and she's beginning to wonder if her hunky cop-boyfriend is involved with the zombie mafia. Yeah, that's right-the zombie mafia.

Throw in a secret lab and a lot of conspiracy, and Angel's going to need all of her brainpower-and maybe a brain smoothie as well-in order to get through it without falling apart.

White Trash Zombie Series:
My Life as a White Trash Zombie
Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues
White Trash Zombie Apocalypse
How the White Trash Zombie Got Her Groove Back
White Trash Zombie Gone Wild (2015)

Visit Diana Rowlands's website for more information

Review:
I absolutely loved the first book in this series - in fact, I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to considering I don't tend to read zombie novels and I'm very squeamish! - so I had incredibly high hopes for Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues. I fully expected this book to be just as awesome but unfortunately it ended up falling a little flat which was really disappointing.

One of the best things about My Life As A White Trash Zombie was the humour but somehow much of that seemed missing in the sequel. It's really hard to put my finger on exactly why I stopped finding Angel amusing but I think it was possibly the fact that she had completely turned her life around so quickly. I loved that she was working so hard to improve her life but it seemed like she had managed to get herself sorted out far too quickly and put her roots more or less completely behind her in a lot of ways. I also missed the blood, guts and brains from the first book (something I NEVER expected to find myself saying!), yes Angel still has to eat brains to survive but it was much more mundane here as she mixed it in with normal everyday food before eating it.

I think I was most disappointed by the direction things took between her and Marcus though. At the end of the previous couple they had just started to get to know each other properly and were beginning to date but here their relationship seemed to have jumped forward at the speed of light and they were practically living together. I could have dealt with that if it hadn't been for the way Marcus was so completely and utterly dismissive of Angel whenever she tried to ask his advice or tell him her suspicions about what was going on. It seemed completely out of character for him to act like that, especially considering the way he treated her in the first book. I'm not a fan of characters who keep secrets for no apparent reason and it puts other people in danger because they don't have all the information they need to stay safe and there was more than one occasion when I really wanted to reach into the book and slap some sense into Marcus.

The beginning of the book was a little on the slow side but things really picked up pace in the second half and in spite of the issues I had with Marcus I did find myself starting to enjoy the story much more. I may have been a little disappointed with this instalment but I loved the first book enough to give the series another chance. I just hope Diana Rowland manages to bring the magic back in White Trash Zombie Apocalypse.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Hunted - K.F. Breene

With a new Chosen coming forward, Shanti has lost sight of her duty. With her plans unraveling, she does the only thing she can think of-- frees her brother and a mysterious stranger from a Graygual camp before heading back to beg for Cayan's aid.

Unfortunately, that stranger was precious to the enemy, guarded by one of the elite. A Superior Officer known as the Hunter, this man always catches his prey, and his focus is now on the elusive, violet-eyed girl and the man she ripped from the his hands.

With danger mounting, and one of the best constantly on her heels, Shanti will learn that running will never be enough.

The Warrior Chronicles:
Forged in Blood (Short Story in the Legends: Fifteen Tales of Sword and Sorcery anthology or free if you sign up for the author's newsletter)
Chosen
Hunted
Shadow Lands
Invasion
Siege
Overtaken

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
After absolutely loving Chosen I couldn't wait to find out what happened next so I dove straight into Hunted and K.F. Breene has given us another fantastic instalment in this series. This is quite different to the first book, in some ways it's a bit darker and there is a little less funny banter and humour but that's because Shanti is facing more danger than ever before.

At the end of the previous book we saw her walk away from the help Cayan was willing to offer her, she turned her back on her allies and set off alone because she didn't want to pull anyone else into her fight. Now she's running scared, she's afraid to be on her own, she's afraid to go back and ask for help, she's afraid of her destiny and to be honest I can't blame her for that. She has been under pressure since she was five years old, her people are relying on her to provide them with safety and she's already had to make some horrendously difficult decisions. What I love about Shanti is that she pushes forward in spite of her fears, she just keeps on going no matter how tough things get and she always tries to do her best by the people she cares about. She's also willing to admit when she makes a mistake, she realises that she may have lost her best chance of survival by walking away from Cayan and when she goes back to request his assistance she isn't afraid to apologise and admit that she was wrong to leave like she did.

I'll admit I was a little disappointed that Shanti and Cayan were apart for the first part of the story but I actually enjoyed seeing what they were both up to and it just made it all the sweeter when they were back together again. Cayan isn't planning on letting Shanti get away from him without a fight and he's making plans to build an even bigger army so he can help her on her quest. Shanti on the other hand hears rumours about a man who has been causing trouble for the Grayguals and she thinks she might know his identity so she sets out on a rescue mission. She had always thought Rohnan gave his life to save her but discovering that he survived gives her a new sense of hope. I absolutely loved the introduction of Rohnan, the bond between him and Shanti is fantastic and I like the more playful side that he brings out of her but what I really appreciated was that K.F. Breene hasn't introduced a love triangle. Shanti and Rohnan are like siblings and their relationship is very much platonic but it was a lot of fun seeing them together and I loved the way Rohnan constantly teased her about Cayan.

As far as Cayan and Shanti's relationship goes I'm happy with the way things are progressing, there is definitely a connection there but it's nice that things are developing slowly, especially considering how stubborn they both are. I enjoy watching Cayan's reaction whenever Shanti finds another man attractive and don't think he's going to let her get away with avoiding his advances for too much longer. The side characters get another chance to shine in this book, along with Rohnan and another fab new addition who I'm not going to tell you anything about, we also get plenty more of Sanders (I love that guy!) and Shanti's Honor Guard.

The only thing I think we're missing from this series is other strong female characters, Shanti seems to be really good at collecting people, she inspires loyalty from everyone she meets and they all want to find a way to help her, but they're nearly all guys. We've met very few women and the ones we have come across so far have only had very minor side roles to play. That's something I really hope changes as the series continues but I'm loving everything else. The humour, the action, Shanti's ability to completely annihilate her enemies, the friendships, the budding romance, it's all spot on and I'm about to dive straight into Shadow Lands because I just can't stop myself!

Source: Purchased

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Review: Chosen - K.F. Breene

It is said that when war threatens the world, one individual will be selected by prophecy to lead the Shadow Warriors out of the Land of Mist and reclaim the freedom which has been stolen.

Shanti has grown up under the constant threat of war. Since she helped her people defeat a raiding party by using a special power, she's been a hunted woman. Carrying rare abilities and an uncanny fighting aptitude, Shanti is the only hope of salvation for her people. The problem is, she doesn't believe in her own divinity, and when she flounders, she nearly fails in the duty hanging so heavy on her shoulders.

It seems like any other day when Sanders and his band of misfit boys find a foreign woman clinging to life in the wastelands. Oblivious to the weapon they now have in their possession, they are content to harbor the mysterious woman until she is well enough to continue her journey.

But when the war spreads its arms and lands on her borrowed doorstep, Shanti has no choice but to reveal her secrets, plunging her saviors into danger. If they band with her, they will face certain death. But to trade her to Xandre, the warlord desperate to add her to his war machine, would be to give up their entire way of life.

War is coming. The only choice becomes: Which side do you choose?

The Warrior Chronicles:
Forged in Blood (Short Story in the Legends: Fifteen Tales of Sword and Sorcery anthology or free if you sign up for the author's newsletter)
Chosen
Hunted
Shadow Lands
Invasion
Siege
Overtaken

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
Shanti has spent her whole life training to be a warrior, she is the Chosen one, the one who is meant to be the saviour of her people, and trying to live up to that has cost her everything. Now her people are in hiding and she has been alone for a year, searching for allies who can help her defeat their enemies. She is desperate and on the verge of starvation when a band of soldiers rescue her and take her back to their home town to recover. All she really wants is to heal up and get enough supplies to continue her journey but the town Captain Cayan is determined to find out where she came from and what secrets she is hiding. It quickly becomes obvious that Shanti has unusual abilities, ones that call to a similar power deep inside Cayan, and it isn't long before he is forced to chose between handing her over to her enemies or going into battle at her side.

I don't think I can even put into words how much I loved this book, the fact that I stayed up until 6am reading should give you a clue though, especially when I tell you that I'm planning to dive straight into the sequel, Hunted, as soon as I've written this review. I hardly ever read series books back to back but this one is definitely calling for a reading binge!

Shanti is a brilliant main character, she is incredibly strong, independent, intelligent, fierce, determined, ruthless, powerful, honourable, protective and completely badass. She has been honing her skills both physical, with all kinds of weapons and fighting styles, and mental, where she is able to use her Gift to attack on a psychic level, since she was a child and that really shows when she goes into battle. She is the kind of woman who takes no nonsense, she refuses to be seen as weaker than men and she has no time for the old fashioned gender roles in Cayan's town. I'll admit some of her actions are questionable in the beginning but I think any woman who wakes up surrounded by male soldiers is going to be immediately on the defensive and once she realises that they're not bad guys and they aren't intending to harm her she dials back on her Gift.

Shanti is slow to trust and let people into her inner circle but she's the kind of woman who inspires loyalty from those who get to know her properly. She is happy to pass on her skills and when she is forced to deal with an honour guard of young and still fairly untrained soldiers she takes it upon herself to teach them how to protect themselves. Scenes with her and her boys were absolutely hilarious and I loved the banter between them but what I really liked was how the author took her time building relationships between them all. We get to see that bond of loyalty slowly develop as they train together.

Cayan had to be another highlight, he's another complex and multi layered character who has a lot of the same great qualities of Shanti. He's a little old fashioned and the last thing he wants is a woman on the battlefield but that is before he sees Shanti in action and once he realises quite how skilled she is he is more than willing to see her as an asset. The relationship between him and Shanti is complicated, he wants to know all her secrets and she sees him as a threat, but when they decide to work together they can achieve the impossible. I really loved the way Shanti goes out of her way to tease and irritate Cayan and I have high hopes that things might develop beyond friendship at some point. I don't think it's going to happen quickly because they're only just starting to trust each other at the moment but that kind of will they / won't they build up is the best kind of relationship if you ask me.

Chosen is a fantastic start to this series, it has a whole collection of fantastic characters, a lot of humour, plenty of action and I think the world has a lot of potential. I still have a lot of questions about things but I'm definitely looking forward to learning more about Shanti's Gift and how she can use it. If the rest of the series remains as good as this book then I definitely have a new favourite on my hands.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Fans of the Impossible Life - Kate Scelsa

"May we live impossibly," Sebby said when he opened his eyes. "Against all odd. May people look at us and wonder how such jewels can sparkle in the sad desert of the world. May we live the impossible life."

Mira is trying to pretend that she's a fully functioning human - rather than a girl who can't get out of bed for days on end.

Jeremy is a painfully shy art nerd in self-imposed isolation after an incident that ruined his last year of school.

And Sebby is the charming gay foster kid who seems to carry sunlight around with him.

For Jeremy, it's as if he has always been expecting Sebby, though they've only just met.

For Mira, she finally feels awake when she's with him.

But Sebby has his own secrets. And it's only together that the three of them can fix their broken selves - and live their impossible lives . . .

Visit Kate Scelsa's website for more information

Review:
I had such high hopes for Fans of the Impossible Life, the tag line "The story of a girl, her gay best friend and the boy who falls in love with both of them." caught my attention the moment I saw it and I was expecting some kind of epic bisexual love triangle or possibly even a relationship that developed between all three main characters. I'm not usually a fan of love triangles but I would definitely put my irritation to one side for a story like that! Unfortunately that isn't what this story is about so I ended up feeling incredibly disappointed. I don't think that's necessarily the author's fault but whoever was in charge of writing that marketing tag line definitely did the book a disservice. Hopefully if you go into it without that same expectation you'll end up enjoying the story much more than I did.

This book is told from three different points of view which should really allow us to get to know all of the main characters but for some reason I never really connected with any of them. The POVs of Mira and Jeremy weren't too bad but the way Sebby's sections were written was completely jarring and the left me feeling completely disconnected from anything that happened to him. His POV should have been the one that moved me most, he was really going through some very tough times, but I felt so distanced from him that I didn't even come to like him that much and I struggled to see why both Mira and Jeremy were so drawn to him. He was supposed to be the brightest character, someone they both adored, but I just didn't feel it.

I didn't really believe in the romance either which was incredibly disappointing. The most realistic relationship was the friendship that developed between Mira and Jeremy, I really felt like they cared about each other and were there for each other but I didn't feel any chemistry or romantic love between them. Sebby was a bit too distant and the way he kept so many secrets and held the others at arms length just didn't work for me. There was also one particular scene between the three of them (possibly the scene that was inspiration for the tag line) that made me feel really uncomfortable, it never quite felt that all three of them were on board with what was happening and it seemed more like their actions sprung from too much alcohol rather than any real desire they felt. I was also uncomfortable about the actions of a certain teacher, he doesn't exactly do anything wrong but he definitely oversteps boundaries and I was extremely upset by the way things played out when they turned to him for help with a major problem they were having. It felt a bit like it was sending a message to teenagers saying that going to an adult for help is just going to make matters worse so you're best off keeping silent and I don't think that's a helpful message to give.

I have to give Kate Scelsa kudos for having such a diverse cast of characters though and she really does touch on some difficult issues. We get some interesting insights into drug addiction, living in foster care, coping with mental health issues, coming from a mixed race family, having two gay parents and even questioning your own sexuality and I definitely enjoyed that about the story. Unfortunately the rest of the story fell flat and it didn't really feel like any of them had achieved much by the end of the book, I was hoping to see them grow up and become more comfortable in their own skins but I was left feeling that they were right back where they started only this time they had become codependent on each other for their survival.

Source: Received from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review

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Review: His Lover to Protect - Katee Robert

He's never met a challenge he couldn't take . . .

Alexis Yeung did everything right . . . only to watch everything go horribly, horribly wrong. Broken and angry, Alexis high-tails it to Europe, determined to face the world on her own terms and without consequence. Which includes a mind-blowing night with a sexy, scarred stranger.

Except, embittered former pararescuer Luke Jackson isn't exactly a stranger. He's supposed to keep an eye on Alexis without her knowing. Ending up in bed together was definitely not the plan. Now he's chasing her (admittedly hot) ass across Europe, a game of cat and mouse that always ends with the two of them tangled up in the sheets.

Something in their scarred, damaged souls calls to each other. And God help them, the sex in unbelievably hot. But if Alexis discovers who Luke really is, he'll lose the one thing that makes him feel whole . . .

Out of Uniform Series:
In Bed with Mr. Wrong
His to Keep (Novella)
Falling for His Best Friend
His Lover to Protect
His to Take (Novella) (December 2015)

Visit Katee Robert's website for more information.

Review:
We met Alexis in Falling for His Best Friend and I've been desperate to see her get a happily ever after ever since. She has been through so much having to face cancer and come to terms with no longer being able to have children of her own, throw in the treatment she received from her ex and the way her grandfather calls her a failure it's no wonder she has had enough. She is thrilled that Avery is happy but watching her sister's pregnancy is just too much for her and she decides to head off to Europe to get some space and take the time she needs to let herself get over her losses. My heart broke for Alexis when we first met her but she's made of strong stuff and I was proud to see her go out there and live her dreams. She's been knocked down by life but refuses to stay there and it was great to see her start to put herself back together as she visited the places she's always dreamed of seeing.

Luke is friends with Drew and Ryan and they've asked him to keep an eye on Alexis for them, they're worried that she took off with little preparation and don't want to see anything happen to her. Luke is recovering from his own injuries and the last thing he wants is to follow a spoiled princess around Europe just because she decided to take off and cause her family trouble. He has completely the wrong idea about her but when they eventually meet he is quick to realise his mistake. There is more to Alexis than meets the eye and he's desperate to uncover her secrets.

Alexis and Luke have great chemistry but they're both emotionally wounded and trying to put their lives back together in their own ways. While the story was undoubtedly hot, and Luke is a brilliant dirty talker (my favourite kind of hero!), I think what I enjoyed most was seeing them help each other rebuild their confidence and start to put their issues behind them. I have to admit that I was a little annoyed with Alexis's family for the way they viewed her as so helpless but luckily Luke doesn't take long to realise how wrong they are about her and he helps her see just how brave and capable she is.

The one issue I had was with how long Luke kept his identity secret, it was obvious that she was going to be hurt when she found out he'd been sent to protect her and I think I would have had more respect for him if he'd been honest with her sooner. However, things all worked out in the long run so I was able to forgive him quite easily. The romance between them was really sweet and it was great to see Alexis happy again, we also get a glimpse at some of the previous couples from the series and got to travel around Europe a little which made a nice change of setting. Katee Robert has definitely become one of my go to authors for contemporary romance and I'm looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

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

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Release Blitz: His Love to Protect - Katee Robert (Extract + Giveaway)

To celebrate the release of Katee Robert's latest novel His Lover to Protect I have a brilliant giveaway to share with you today! I'm a huge fan of Katee's writing and I loved this book (watch out for my review which will be posted later today) so it's definitely one I'm happy to recommend and I'm sure the extract below will convince you.

He's never met a challenge he couldn't take . . .

Alexis Yeung did everything right . . . only to watch everything go horribly, horribly wrong. Broken and angry, Alexis high-tails it to Europe, determined to face the world on her own terms and without consequence. Which includes a mind-blowing night with a sexy, scarred stranger.

Except, embittered former pararescuer Luke Jackson isn't exactly a stranger. He's supposed to keep an eye on Alexis without her knowing. Ending up in bed together was definitely not the plan. Now he's chasing her (admittedly hot) ass across Europe, a game of cat and mouse that always ends with the two of them tangled up in the sheets.

Something in their scarred, damaged souls calls to each other. And God help them, the sex in unbelievably hot. But if Alexis discovers who Luke really is, he'll lose the one thing that makes him feel whole . . .

See where it all began with book 1 of the Out of Uniform series, In Bed with Mr. Wrong.

Get More information at: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

About Katee Robert:

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. She found romance novels at age twelve and it changed her life. When not writing sexy contemporary and speculative fiction romance novels, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her wee ones, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

Connect with Katee at: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google + | GoodReads | Instagram | Tumblr | Youtube

Catch up on the Out of Uniform series:
In Bed with Mr. Wrong (read my review HERE)
His to Keep (read my review HERE)
Falling for His Best Friend (read my review HERE)

Excerpt:

Kiss me, please kiss me, and make me forget all about the countless things trying to drag me under.

Luke froze, and for one eternal second she thought she’d misread his signals. But then his mouth crashed down on hers, erasing any chance of misinterpretation. His tongue speared between her lips, stroking along her tongue once, twice, a third time. She couldn’t fight back a moan as he raked his teeth over her bottom lip before sucking it into his mouth. The spark of attraction inside her burst into an all-out bonfire. Alexis shifted her grip, letting go of his shirt with one hand so she could twine her fingers through his longish blond hair. She pulled it sharply enough to make him groan against her mouth, and then he was kissing his way along her jaw and nipping her earlobe. “You taste so goddamn good, darlin’, like a Georgia peach. I can’t get enough of it.”

Thank God, because if he stopped right now, she might not recover. She’d never felt such all-encompassing need pounding through her veins, pushing her to do something she’d never even considered before. I could take him back to my hotel. He doesn’t know me. I don’t know him. I’ll never see him again, and that’s okay. Why not take what this man was so obviously offering? He didn’t have to know that this wasn’t something she ever did. “Please.”

He ran one hand up her thigh, his heat seeming to brand itself through her jeans. “Tell me what you want.”

A thousand answers flitted through her mind, but one dwarfed them all. Still, she hesitated. She’d just met him, and he was an ass—not exactly the prime candidate for someone to take to bed. But then he kissed down her neck, sucking on a spot that made the whole pub go blurry. God, how was she supposed to pass a man like him up? It’s just sex. It’s not like I’m going to marry the man. The Old Alexis wouldn’t think to do this.

Which meant that was exactly what the New Alexis should do. She was supposed to be learning to take what she wanted. Right now, there was one need and one need alone dominating the forefront of her mind. She took a shuddering breath. “You. I want you.”

“This wasn’t supposed to happen.” Before she could process his words, he kept going, his hand sliding a few inches higher, until he pressed against the vee of her legs. “But fuck, I’m not a saint. I never have been.”

Giveaway:

To celebrate the cover reveal Katee Robert and Entangled Publishing are giving away a $25 gift card. You can enter using the rafflecopter form below and the winner will be contacted directly by Entangled so they can arrange to send out the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Wings of Hope - Pippa DaCosta

"I am his muse. But not for long..."

When Mammon, the Prince of Greed, 'acquires' a half-blood slave known as 'Muse' for three nights, and bespells her with tales of a world where people live like kings and queens among towers of steel and glass, the seed of hope takes root in Muse's soul. But hope, for a half-human half-demon creature like her, is a dangerous thing. Especially when that tentative hope springs from the honeyed words of a Prince of Hell. What is Mammon's price for freedom?

Meanwhile Da'mean, her ruthless owner, would rather see her dead, than free. She belongs to him. She is his muse. And no beast will take her from him.

The netherworld is harsh and violent. Muse's demon kin are merciless, blood-hungry beasts, but little do they know, Muse has something far more dangerous coiled inside her, desperate for a taste of freedom.

Her humanity.

The Veil Series:
Wings of Hope (Novella)
Beyond the Veil
Devil May Care
Darkest Before Dawn
Drowning in the Dark
Ties That Bind
One for Sorrow (Novella)

Chaos Rises Series:
(Spin off from the Veil series)
Chaos Rises
Chaos Unleashed
Chaos Falls

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
Wings of Hope is a short prequel to the Veil series and you can actually get a free copy by signing up for Pippa DaCosta's newsletter here. I've not read any of the other books in this series so can confirm that this definitely worked as an introduction to main character Muse and the world she lives in and it was more than enough to make me want to dive into the next book as soon as possible.

Muse is half-demon and half-human and has been raised in hell where she is a basically a slave. Her master Da'mean treats her like a possession and he is determined to break her will so life definitely hasn't been easy for her. She is used to being treated as nothing and considered lesser by the full demons that surround her and she knows that death is in the cards for her. Especially when the Prince of Greed Mannon takes a sudden interest. Da'mean does not like to share his toys but he's unable to refuse a prince and Muse knows she will be the one to suffer his wrath.

Although Wings of Hope is a relatively short story Pippa DaCosta does a fantastic job of introducing this world, she paints a vivid, if dark, picture of what life has been like for Muse and it isn't always easy reading. Muse herself is a fascinating character and I can't wait to get to know her better. She has always tried to keep her human side hidden because she considers it her weakness but Mannon makes her begin to hope for things that she never even thought of before. She longs for freedom but that isn't something that is going to come easily for her.

I don't really want to say much more in this review but I definitely think this is going to be an interesting series and I'm looking forward to finding out what happens to Muse next.

Source: Received a free copy for signing up for the Pippa DaCosta's newsletter

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Review: This is One Moment - Mila Gray

A forbidden romance.
A wounded Marine who thinks he's beyond saving.
A girl who's determined to prove him wrong.

Didi Monroe's waited her whole life for the type of romance you see in the movies, so when Hollywood heartthrob Zac Ridgemont sweeps her off her feet, Didi believes she might finally have met the one.

While Zac's away filming for the summer, Didi begins her internship at a military hospital in California. There, she meets wounded Marine Noel Walker. Frustrated on the outside and broken on the inside, Walker's a pain-in-the-ass patient who refuses all help.

Yet Didi can't help but be drawn to him, and though he's strictly out of bounds it soon becomes impossible to ignore the sparks flying between them.

As the attraction simmers into dangerous territory, Didi finds herself falling hard for a man she knows is going to break her heart. Because Walker doesn't believe in love or happy ever afters. So what possible future can there be?

Then tragedy hits, shattering both their worlds, and Didi is forced to choose between fighting for love or merely falling for the illusion of it.

From Mila Gray, author of the bestselling romance Come Back To Me, comes a devastatingly beautiful, compelling and sexy story about the meaning of love and the heartbreak of loss.

Come Back to Me Series:
Come Back to Me
This is One Moment

Visit Mila Gray's website for more information

Review:
I'm a huge fan of Mila Gray / Sarah Alderson so I couldn't wait to read the sequel to Come Back to Me and had very high expectations for This is One Moment. We already met the heroine Didi in the previous book, she is Jessa's best friend, and after everything she's been through I was looking forward to seeing her get a happily ever after.

Didi is a romantic at heart, her parents have a fantastic marriage and Didi has always dreamed of having the same but her love life has always been disastrous. Things finally seem to be looking up though, she's finished her degree in psychology, she's dating movie star Zac, a guy most girls would kill to be with, and now she's about to start an internship at a military hospital while she studies for her masters. She has her whole life planned out and it doesn't include falling for one of her patients, especially not a frustrating and grumpy Marine like Noel Walker.

Only two members of Walker's team survived the roadside ambush that cost him his sight and although he was able to get Sanchez to safety he is full of guilt about those who were left behind. Suffering with PTSD makes Walker's life unbearable, he has no idea what to do with his life and no hope for the future because he is being crippled by the guilt he feels. The first meeting between Walker and Didi doesn't go well but she is determined to find a way to get through to him and the more time they spend together the more she starts to realise that her feelings are in no way platonic.

I really enjoyed the romance between these two, it's such a slow build up as they become friends and slowly start to open up to each other and it was nice that nothing felt rushed between them. They obviously have chemistry but it takes a long time before they act on it because Didi is worried about crossing lines and losing her internship but the wait just made things that much sweeter when they finally give into temptation. Didi is such a kind and caring person, she wants to do her best by Walker and the other guys she's working with but at the same time she's aware that she's risking getting her heart broken if Walker doesn't learn to open up and let her in. Walker's back story broke my heart, he had been through so much and he did his best to survive and help his team mates but he can't forget the ones he wasn't able to save. He wants Didi but doesn't feel worthy of her love so he tends to push her away thinking he's doing it for her own good and there were definitely times when I wanted to shake some sense into him.

I think one of the things I enjoyed most about this story was meeting the other wounded soldiers on the ward though, Mila Gray does a fantastic job of showing the challenges that these guys face after coming home with horrific injuries and how they all have different coping mechanisms. Sanchez lost an arm and a leg but he's just grateful to be alive, he's the life and soul of the party who is determined to live life to the fullest and his banter often had me laughing out loud. On the other hand Dodds who lost both of his legs and is really struggling to come to terms with what happened. He's deeply depressed and seeing how miserable he was just broke my heart.

Although This is One Moment is at it's heart a romance novel there is a lot more to it than that and some of the other story lines can be quite painful to read at times. This isn't all sweetness and light, there is a realness that will tug on your heartstrings and make you feel grateful to be alive. Mila Gray has given us a fantastic follow up to her first novel and I'm definitely excited to see what she comes up with next.

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

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