Book Review: Let Me Burn by Carrie Elks

Let Me Burn

(Angel Sands Book 1)

by Carrie Elks 

Amazon US / UK / Universal 

She isn’t looking for love. He’s not planning on staying around. But when they meet, sparks fly… 
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Lucas Russell lives for his job as a big city firefighter. But when he’s forced to take extended leave following an accident, he returns to his small hometown to stay at the beach cottage his grandparents left him. The problem is, he’s not used to having so much time on his hands.  After a broken engagement, Ember Kennedy isn’t ready for love right now. But she didn’t count on meeting a handsome firefighter with a dimpled smile. After Lucas saves her from one awkward situation too many, she can’t stop thinking about him.
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Ember finds Lucas impossible to resist, and he’s determined not to let her. As long summer days melt into sultry, passionate nights what begins as a fling develops into something much deeper. Until the day Ember’s ex-fiancé returns to town and threatens to destroy the fragile connection that’s building between them.

*This stand-alone romance is low on angst and big on feels. If you enjoy a heartwarming read that’s sweet with heat, Let Me Burn is for you*

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“Hey, if life gives you lemons—” “Add a little tequila,”

 

“She’s beautiful and she’s funny but she’s fresh out of a relationship.” “How fresh?” “I’m not sure. A few months maybe.” “That’s not fresh… That’s rancid. She’s probably ready for another date.”

 

If he’d felt like the King of the World before, now he felt like he’d expanded his empire to include the rest of the galaxy… “I like you, Lucas Russell,” she whispered. “I like you a lot.” Forget the galaxy, he was king of the universe.

 

He’s gorgeous. And a natural with kids. I only have to look at him and my ovaries start to flutter.

 

My Review:

 

Lucas and Ember were the sweetest couple and easily fell into a fun, satisfying, considerate, sexy, and supportive relationship. Let Me Burn was a pleasant start to a promising new series and an enjoyable and welcome change from angsty stories with constant conflict and drama. The writing and storylines were engaging, well-paced, lively, easy to follow, and performed an excellent job of introducing the characters and establishing the foundation for subsequent installments. I am anxious to see who will be the focus of the next book as I am already curious about several of the characters.

About the Author

 Twitter – CarrieElks

Facebook – CarrieElksAuthor

Goodreads – 7266211.Carrie_Elks

Website – https://carrieelks.com

Carrie Elks writes contemporary romance with a sizzling edge. Her first book, Fix You, has been translated into eight languages and made a surprise appearance on Big Brother in Brazil. Luckily for her, it wasn’t voted out. Carrie lives with her husband, two lovely children and a larger-than-life black pug called Plato. When she isn’t writing or reading, she can be found baking, drinking an occasional (!) glass of wine, or chatting on social media.

Book Review: What If (Small Town Big Love Series #1) by Kelly Collins

What If 

(Small Town Big Love Series #1)

by Kelly Collins 

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA 

She’s a town icon. He’s all business. Will their rivalry bring ruin or romance?  Graphic artist Lucy Shoemaker has never known a life outside of Blackwood. And she’s determined to show the world why she loves her quaint Colorado hometown. But when a billionaire arrives looking to sell the land, Lucy feels both outrage and an irrepressible attraction…

John Blackwood usually gets what he wants. He never expected that selling the Podunk town would send him directly into a firecracker of a local. John knows that Lucy won’t stop causing him problems…but is that why he can’t get her off his mind?

With compromise off the table, will John and Lucy’s passion disappear along with Blackwood or can they discover love’s common ground?

What If… is a standalone contemporary romance with sizzling chemistry. If you like headstrong heroines, small-town drama, and a fresh twist on billionaire boyfriends, then you’ll adore Kelly Collins’ sassy saga.

Buy What If… to negotiate romance today! 

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

If sin had a look, he’d be the model.

 

All her life she’d tried to shove a hundred-pound dream into a ten-pound bag and it never worked.

 

She thought that whoever had designed the bra should be given an award equivalent to the Nobel Peace Prize. Anything that could make a pair of ordinary breasts extraordinary deserved recognition. A Grammy? An Oscar? A mammogrammy? The booby prize, she thought with a giggle.

 

The dark room was lit by beer signs and the bright eyes of jealous women.

 

“Are they hoping money will just fall off you?” She laughed, imagining people following him with cups, hoping for his pockets to empty into them.

My Review:

 

I always seem to start a new series with an equal measure of hopeful anticipation and trepidation. Will it be too similar, too different, too complicated, or too familiar? Silly me, I should know better by now when it comes to Kelly Collins. Although, the style and tone of What If seemed considerably different from her usual and the main characters were a bit of a challenge for me to warm up to, especial Lucy. Lucy had a difficult personality; she was a childishly impulsive drama llama who was flippant, hot-tempered, testy, and obstinately resistant to change. I did enjoy her feisty sass and smart mouth –  takes one to know one. 😉

I also initially had doubts about John, the wealthy and sex on legs Lamborghini driving lothario, who currently holds the lofty position of my current BBF. I was afraid he was playing Lucy to influence her into moving out of her home and business space without fuss to allow his family to sell their holding without issue, and he kind of was and kind of wasn’t. Of course, Lucy’s heated tantrums and behavioral outbursts led to increasingly hotter exchanges and sheet-scorching sensual encounters. The storylines were original, easy to follow, and held my interest despite a considerable amount of conflict and the pervasive angsty uncertainty about the vexing issue of Lucy’s future living situation.

ABOUT KELLY COLLINS   

Kelly Collins writes with the intention of keeping the love alive.

Always a romantic, she is inspired by real-time events mixed with a dose of fiction. She encourages her readers to reach the happily ever after but bask in the afterglow of the perfectly imperfect love.

Kelly lives in Colorado with her husband of twenty-five years. She loves hockey, shiny objects and has a new-found appreciation for green smoothies.

Book Review: It Never Goes Away (Brighton’s No.1 Private Detective #3) by Tom Trott

It Never Goes Away

  (Brighton’s No.1 Private Detective #3)

by Tom Trott

Amazon US / UK / CA / AU 

From No.1 Private Detective to No.1 Suspect

A cryptic message from an old friend leads Joe Grabarz to an abandoned farmhouse in the middle of the South Downs. But Joe is too late, someone else has got there first: his friend is dead, and all the evidence points to him.

Ten years ago the farmhouse was the scene of three infamous murders when a young boy killed his mother, father, and little sister. Now an adult, he was released from prison with a new identity. Could he be involved? The farmhouse also sits on valuable land, fought over in a struggle between building houses and drilling for shale gas. But could it really be worth killing for? Whatever is going on, Joe knows one thing for sure: his friend’s murder is just a tiny part of it.

To bring the killer to justice Joe must dig up the past, and reckon with his own, because no matter how hard you work, it never goes away.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

He had a strong nose with a bridge that could support haulage, a jaw that could grind stones, and a face that rested in a scowl.

 

He didn’t reply for a couple of minutes, going over the story in his head, different wrinkles twitching as though his face was being prickled with electricity.

 

That look could boil an egg.

 

We’re not all carnivores… not all the time. It’s the lifecycle of a lawyer, Mr Grabarz: you start out with morals, then pretty soon you have to pay your rent so you sell them, then before you know it you’ve got a Mercedes on the drive and you desperately try to buy them back.

 

She had a mass of curly red hair that spilled out in all directions, and wore a purple one of those fashionable but comfy Scandinavian jumpers under a blue Anorak. In the middle of it all sat the sort of face that instantly inspires friendly feelings. They should make her as a cuddly doll for children who can’t sleep.

My Review:

 

It Never Goes Away picked up three years after the end of the last book and Joe had been quite prosperous in between as he was enjoying a nicer apartment, better wardrobe with Italian leather shoes, a nice new office with associates, and was driving a Jag. He feared he had gotten soft, and too bad for him, this tale was none stop danger and high activity with car chases and crashes and running for his life from violent criminals while also dodging the police. The story has as many twists and turns as a nest of snakes and was as complicated as the highly compelling characters of Joe and his arch nemesis, Max. I will admit to falling into a fuzzy state of confusion more than once, but I’d follow the enigmatic Joe through a blizzard as he is like my mailman – he may occasionally be late but he always delivers.

 

New additions to my Brit word list include prang – which is British informal for a car crash; and near the knuckle – a risqué joke, typically about sex and likely to offend. Mr. Google was unable to help me with the idiom of a man being “far too wet” but I am assuming it means wimpy. But you know what usually happens when I ass/u/me…

Author Bio 

 Born in Brighton, I went to school in here, worked many jobs here, and have never lived anywhere else. I first started writing at school, where I and a group of friends devised and performed comedy plays for assemblies, much to the amusement of our fellow pupils. The young ones would cheer (and the old ones would groan) as we stepped up onto the stage, the buzz was tangible. It has been with me ever since.

As an adult I have written a short comedy play that was performed at the Theatre Royal Brighton in May 2014 as part of the Brighton Festival; Daye’s Work, a television pilot for the local Brighton channel; and won the Empire Award (thriller category) in the 2015 New York Screenplay Contest. I published my first novel, You Can’t Make Old Friends, in 2016; my second, Choose Your Parents Wisely, in 2017, my third, The Benevolent Dictator, in 2018, and now my fourth, It Never Goes Away, in 2019. When I’m not writing books, I’m writing about writing, books, and film on Medium.

My inspirations as a writer come from a diverse range of storytellers, but I have a particular love for the works of Raymond Chandler, Agatha Christie, Joel & Ethan Coen, Arthur Conan-Doyle, Daphne du Maurier, Alfred Hitchcock, Bryan Fuller, Ira Levin, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Towne, JRR Tolkien, and many many more books and films beside. If you can’t find me, or I’m not answering my phone, I’m probably at the cinema.

Social Media Links 

 www.twitter.com/tjtrott

www.facebook.com/tomtrottbooks

www.tomtrott.com

Book Review: Choose Your Parents Wisely (Brighton’s No.1 Private Detective #2) by Tom Trott

Choose Your Parents Wisely

(Brighton’s No.1 Private Detective #2)

by Tom Trott

Amazon US / UK / CA / AU 

One missing girl and the whole city goes crazy.

It’s been three days, and now everyone in Brighton is looking for her. There is an army of police searching, her picture is on every front page, and the public can’t get enough of it. Gangs of good citizens are going door to door, turning their neighbors’ houses upside down, but still, no one can find her.

For Brighton’s No.1 Private Detective, Joe Grabarz, it brings back too many memories of his first case, another missing girl, when he learned too many lessons the hard way. No one was going door to door then. No one cared. But her mum and dad weren’t nearly as photogenic, nor quite so saintly.

It’s a lesson Joe learned long ago that has come back to haunt him: choose your parents wisely.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Despite being only fifty-something she had the coiffured helmet of hair you expect to see on a pensioner. Hairsprayed to the point where it could be removed in one piece and swapped for something different. Except that it couldn’t, of course, because if it could there was no way you would choose that one. I could see why her husband had left her, I couldn’t live with that hair either.

 

I had broken my oath to stay calm. In fact I had probably broken a record for the fastest broken oath in history. But that was just a practice run. From now on. Again: I will stay calm.

 

I’ve always known there was something wrong with me. They say the secret ingredient when making a baby is love. I’m what you get when you leave it out.

 

This was a place where in twilight elves lurked and fairies larked. But right now, rich people were lurking and larking instead.

 

My Review:

 

Thomas Trott has provided another compelling and clever read which was a bit dark, twisted, and complicated, while also smartly crafted, quickly paced, and cunningly plotted. Choose Your Parents Wisely involved three mysteries and two timelines. The timelines narrated his first and most recent cases, each with missing children, and were despairingly similar. The third mystery involved his questionable parentage, which I was never quite certain if the background info was accurate or a possible shakedown. The two timelines were not clearly delineated, nor were they always easily differentiated, which was occasionally frustrating but I was up for the challenge as I adore Mr. Trott’s stylized writing, oddly compelling characters, sardonic humor, and the stealthily placed levity he deftly laced among the tense and dangerous situations our tarnished hero, Joe Grabarz, found himself in. I am enamored with Joe; he appears to be a tried and true smart ass, yet he has a soft heart. Joe would quickly agree to my first observation but would hotly deny the later. I adored his witty banter and snarky quips; even his meaningless conversations often appeared to be amusingly combative. Lucky me, I have one more grand adventure ahead with the enigmatic shamus as I have the newest installment, It Never Goes Away, patiently idling on my new Kindle.

 

Author Bio 

 Born in Brighton, I went to school in here, worked many jobs here, and have never lived anywhere else. I first started writing at school, where I and a group of friends devised and performed comedy plays for assemblies, much to the amusement of our fellow pupils. The young ones would cheer (and the old ones would groan) as we stepped up onto the stage, the buzz was tangible. It has been with me ever since.

As an adult I have written a short comedy play that was performed at the Theatre Royal Brighton in May 2014 as part of the Brighton Festival; Daye’s Work, a television pilot for the local Brighton channel; and won the Empire Award (thriller category) in the 2015 New York Screenplay Contest. I published my first novel, You Can’t Make Old Friends, in 2016; my second, Choose Your Parents Wisely, in 2017, my third, The Benevolent Dictator, in 2018, and now my fourth, It Never Goes Away, in 2019. When I’m not writing books, I’m writing about writing, books, and film on Medium.

My inspirations as a writer come from a diverse range of storytellers, but I have a particular love for the works of Raymond Chandler, Agatha Christie, Joel & Ethan Coen, Arthur Conan-Doyle, Daphne du Maurier, Alfred Hitchcock, Bryan Fuller, Ira Levin, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Towne, JRR Tolkien, and many many more books and films beside. If you can’t find me, or I’m not answering my phone, I’m probably at the cinema.

Social Media Links 

 www.twitter.com/tjtrott

www.facebook.com/tomtrottbooks

www.tomtrott.com

Book Review, Giveaway: Summer on the Italian Lakes by Lucy Coleman

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Summer on the Italian Lakes

by Lucy Coleman

Amazon US / UK / CA / AU / B&N

 

Bestselling Brianna Middleton has won the hearts of millions of readers with her sweeping – and steamy – love stories. But the girl behind the typewriter is struggling… Not only does she have writer’s block, but she’s a world-famous romance author with zero romance in her own life.

So the opportunity to spend the summer teaching at a writer’s retreat in an idyllic villa on the shores of Lake Garda – owned by superstar author Arran Jamieson – could this be just the thing to fire up Brie’s writing – and romantic – mojo?

Brie’s sun-drenched Italian summer could be the beginning of this writer’s very own happy-ever-after…

Escape the January blues with this sun-drenched, heart-warming story from the bestselling author of Snowflakes Over Holly Cove.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I hang my head, bringing up the rear like some wayward child as everyone files into the sitting room. It looks like there has been an explosion and most of it is snack related.

 

Where were you when he proposed?

Oh, sitting opposite him in the kitchen watching him chopping garlic.

Did he get down on one knee?

No, but he did stop chopping for a moment.

 

Sometimes a hero doesn’t arrive on a white charger or knock on your door with his arms full of flowers. Often, he makes you laugh when you least expect to – like when you are staring at a photo of you both naked on the internet and your mother comes up behind you.

 

‘That’s easy for you to say as it isn’t your naked rear that keeps popping up on the internet.’ The smile he’d given me was wicked. ‘Yes, but you look good, so don’t knock it… and when you’re eighty years old I bet you’ll get a little thrill when you remember that moment. I know I always will.’

 

It’s officially wine o’clock, and this glass has your name on it.

My Review:

 

This was a slowly developing story written in the first person POV of Brie, a best-selling romance writer who was initially suffering from writer’s block. The vast majority of the narrative consisted of Brie’s inner musings and observations, which were often lushly detailed from floor to ceiling.   Each vista, meal, person, and room was lavishly and colorfully described while bringing each character to life fully formed in my mind’s eye. Brie was a hopeless romantic who was still waiting for “The One” to make his appearance in her life but by age thirty, he continued to remain elusive. She was sent as a last minute replacement to assist with a writers’ retreat to a lovely Italian villa, hosted by Arran, a handsome yet complicated man who primarily did not appear impressed with her romantic ideals and successful backlist, but of course that quickly changed and the sheets were scorched.

The storylines were pleasantly engaging although the writing style was quite verbose and took a slow and somewhat complicated route to arrive at that oh-so-satisfying HEA. And bonus – in addition to amusing entertainment, I actually learned a lot about the process of writing fiction during their interesting and thoughtful lessons and workshop discussions.

 

About the Author

From interior designer to author, Linn B. Halton – who also writes under the pen name of Lucy Coleman – says ‘it’s been a fantastic journey!’

Linn is the bestselling author of more than a dozen novels and is excited to be writing for both Aria Fiction (Head of Zeus) and Harper Impulse (Harper Collins); she’s represented by Sara Keane of the Keane Kataria Literary Agency.

When she’s not writing or spending time with the family, she’s either upcycling furniture or working in the garden.

Linn won the 2013 UK Festival of Romance: Innovation in Romantic Fiction award; her novels have been short-listed in the UK’s Festival of Romance and the eFestival of Words Book Awards.

Living in Coed Duon in the Welsh Valleys with her ‘rock’, Lawrence, and gorgeous Bengal cat Ziggy, she freely admits she’s an eternal romantic.

Linn is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and writes feel-good, uplifting novels about life, love, and relationships.

Social Media Links 

Website: http://linnbhalton.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LinnBHaltonAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LucyColemanAuth

Giveaway

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Book Review, Giveaway: Lust – The Elite Seven #1 by Ker Dukey

NOW’S YOUR CHANCE TO DELVE INTO THE SECRET SOCIETY

 

THE ELITE SEVEN

LUST an Elite Seven novel by Ker Dukey is LIVE!!

Keep reading to grab your copy & to enter to win a $20 gift card!!!

 

I was born with wealth, athletic ability, and looks that could melt the panties off a nun.
I had a clear path to success.
Until fate dealt me a cruel blow, leaving me empty and in need of purpose.
My only focus now is to become part of The Elite—a secret society in one of the most prestigious colleges in the world.
But everything comes at a price, and with The Elite, you have to earn your place.
Lucky for me, being sinful is in my DNA.
The only obstacle to full initiation is my task: seduce the un-seducible, the forbidden, and lure her with the sins of the flesh.
Easy for a man like me…in theory.
She started as my task, but what happens when the lines between lust and love blur, and the need for power rages war with the need for her?
Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak—they’re for The Elite.
This is my life, my chance, my legacy.
I am Rhett Masters.
I am Lust.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

Her eyes take in every part of my face before dipping low to my crotch. “Tempting, but I’ll pass. I already had Vienna sausage for lunch. One’s enough for any lifetime.”

My Review:

 

I struggled with this one as I could only find one likable character through most of the story, yet I was intrigued and couldn’t put my Kindle down.   I despised the main character of Rhett, as he was arrogant, irresponsible, spoiled and just vile, as was his friend. I hissed at his duplicitous, contemptible, and supercilious inner musings, yet I couldn’t stop reading. Man, if this overindulged, crass, and entitled wastrel was one of the best the school had to offer I don’t want to contemplate what the rest look like… But yet, I was also perplexingly involved in this despicable story and consumed with an intrusive interest. Curses!   A pox on the wily minx known as Ker Dukey for her wickedly addictive arrangements of words. Her sinister word skills were like sharp talons deeply embedding themselves into my gray matter and prickling my curiosity. I was physically unable to put my Kindle down, and in a near frenzy, I devoured this twisted tale to the very last page.   It was not my fault – Ker Dukey’s word voodoo was far too strong. Resistance was futile…

PURCHASE NOW

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Amazon CA | Amazon AU

 

The Elite Seven

7 AUTHORS.
7 STORIES.
7 DEADLY SINS.

 

Since 1942, The Elite Seven Society have created and guided influential leaders, molding the country into something better. This society was birthed by Malcom Benedict, II who wanted more for Americans. More wealth. More influence. More power. Some leaders have the skills, but not the influence, and that simply wasn’t fair according to Mr. Benedict. He invested his own money and time to construct a society that bred the best of the best, year after year.

But to be the best, you must be ruthless.

Good leaders make sacrifices. Sometimes the sacrifices are hard, but the rewards are plentiful. Mr. Benedict made sure to indulge these leaders with their utmost desires. A devout Catholic himself, he designed a society that rewarded his leaders with the sins that were frowned upon. If they were giving up love and happiness and joy for the betterment of the country, they deserved something in its stead.

Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, and Lust.

Choosing leaders for this society means that it takes intense focus. Only seven are to be selected, and the investments and time are showered upon the new seven chosen every four years. The predecessors of each group of seven choose people who fit the sin that will mold them into who they are needed to be in the future—what America needs them to be. This is after a detailed study of many potential candidates. The university’s acting dean behaves as a liaison for the society bringing the college applicants to the predecessors so that the selection may begin. The society members who are going out will bring forth a candidate that the society votes on and approves.

After they are chosen, the initiates are given a token and an invitation to initiation. The initiation will be a test to their character and ability to do what’s right for the betterment of the society. Once the initiates pass their test, they are discreetly branded with the mark of the society, and are groomed through challenges during the course of their elite education to breed them into the influential people they were meant to be.

Once in The Elite Seven, there is no getting out. The money and power are their reward. Should they choose to stray or break the rules, the society strips them of everything. Anything they once had will be removed. Opportunities will never arise. They will no longer have the support of the society. To this day, there have been no known occurrences of anyone from the society having to be banished. This elite group of people are what every young man and woman aspire to be a part of. While the group is a secret society, they are whispered about amongst the privileged folks in the country. Anyone who is anyone knows of the group and secretly hopes it’s their son or daughter who are selected, for good fortune is showered on the family for decades to come.

Lust: NOW LIVE

I was born with wealth, athletic ability, and looks that could melt the panties off a nun.
I had a clear path to success.
Until fate dealt me a cruel blow, leaving me empty and in need of purpose.
My only focus now is to become part of The Elite—a secret society in one of the most prestigious colleges in the world.
But everything comes at a price, and with The Elite, you have to earn your place.
Lucky for me, being sinful is in my DNA.
The only obstacle to full initiation is my task: seduce the un-seducible, the forbidden, and lure her with the sins of the flesh.
Easy for a man like me…in theory.
She started as my task, but what happens when the lines between lust and love blur, and the need for power rages war with the need for her?
Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak—they’re for The Elite.
This is my life, my chance, my legacy.
I am Rhett Masters.
I am Lust.

Purchase LUST by Ker Dukey NOW

Amazon US | Amazon UK
Amazon CA | Amazon AU

 

 

Pride: Releasing February 25th

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.

But who said the devil was a he?

In my world, she was out to cause havoc on all our lives.

She’ll use the one thing I care most about to control me—force me into her Elite world, filled with sin, deceit, and power. And under her spell, I’ll lead a sinister brotherhood of seven at one of the most prestigious universities in New Orleans.

Seven tasks set forth by the devil herself, promising nothing less than the forbidden fruit of power. What they don’t understand is it will all end in bloodshed and regret.

They call me the alpha. The one in charge. The one with pride bigger than any task I could be given. And my pride won’t let me be anywhere but at the top of the food chain until she gives me what I truly want.

My task is Meghan Thorne.

She’s too pure for me to touch, too good for me to ruin—and the only thing standing in my way to freedom.

Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak…they’re for The Elite.

As they say, pride comes before the fall.

I am Mason Blackwell.

I am Pride.

PRIDE By J.D Hollyfield

PRIDE Pre-Order Now!!
Amazon US |Amazon UK
Amazon CA | Amazon AU

 

Wrath: Releasing March 11th

I’m a motherless son to a father who hates me. Fury has lived and breathed in my black heart for so long, it’s a part of my soul now. The only thing that’s ever mattered to me is protecting my twin sister, Sabella, from my father’s temper.

So when the chance to join a secret society presents itself, there’s no question I’ll do whatever it takes to become a member and earn my place in the ranks of only the most Elite.

With a taste for the deviant, I’m drawn to the darkest of desires, and no one ever leaves my bed unscathed.
My task: seduce Patience Noelle, St. Augustine’s sweetheart and the mayor’s beloved daughter—then break her heart.

Sinning is what I live for, and deviance is my passion. Failing has never been an option.

But what happens when my sin becomes my curse—when destroying the only woman I’ve ever wanted is my key to protecting my sister?
Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak…they’re for The Elite.

This isn’t just my chance, it’s my legacy and reckoning.
I am Samuel Gunner.
I am WRATH

WRATH by Claire C. Riley

 

Envy: Releasing March 25th

It was temptation that broke the sinner.

People say I have everything.
They’re wrong.
I may have looks, money, and privilege, but I don’t have the one thing that really matters, the one thing I crave: a woman with eyes only for me.
I’m searching for my woman—one who will fall to her knees because I’m her king. She’ll wear the crown of my tarnished name, and long for me when I’m not near. And when I am close, she’ll be naked across my lap, feeling the sting of my palm across her milky skin.
You could say I’m a sinner because I’d do anything to have the perfect woman—compliant to my every need and whim—and I’m envious of every couple who walks around naive to the luxury they have.

That’s why I joined The Elite, the most prestigious brotherhood in the south.
It’s the one place that will give me what I cannot have.
Only…the task assigned to me is too much for my jealous eyes.
Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak…they’re for The Elite.
Those who envy have no peace.
My name is Sabastian Westbrook.
I am Envy.

ENVY by M.N Forgy

 

Greed: Releasing April 8th

I was born into a world of darkness—one that never touched me when I was around my brother, Mason Blackwell. Leader of The Elite Seven. The thing about darkness, though, is it’s persistent. Eventually, it pushes itself into my life, penetrating my soul and leaving its stench latched to every vein, rooted inside every bone, and sunken into every pore. I thought I reached rock bottom when I fell in love with my brother’s best friend. My very own brand of drug with no comedown. My own nightmare I never woke from. But I was wrong. So very wrong. When I returned to New Orleans, I arrived as a shell of the girl they once knew. Put on a smile. Be the sweet innocent girl they remember.

I’m Evie Blackwell, hostage to my demons. Can the damned be saved?

I’ve done some unforgivable acts in my years, but I never asked for forgiveness. Nothing beats the feeling of wrapping my hand around someone’s throat and watching as their life bleeds down their cheeks. She was everything I should have stayed away from. The first night I saw her, I knew I was doomed—a slave to the girl with the pretty eyes and soft smile. The girl who turned out to be my best friend’s baby sister. I couldn’t stay away. I had to be near her, even if it meant ruining her in the process. I wanted to wreck her, so I could piece her back together—a puzzle only I knew how to solve.

I’m Micah Dixon.
Greed.
I come for everything and get everything I come for—and I want all of her. But she’s changed, and so have I.
I’m much, much worse now…

GREED By Amo Jones

 

Gluttony: Releasing April 22nd

My life has been served to me on a gold platter to be devoured by my silver spoon.

Money, money, and more money. It’s the backbone of the Goddard name. I’m the only son, so it’s all mine for the taking.

But sometimes money isn’t enough. I always want more, yet nothing seems to satisfy me.

My father has made sure I become a part of The Elite Seven. Where most candidates are chosen, I was given my place. Everything comes at a price, though. Luckily, I can afford any price—no one has more money than God.

The Elite Seven have their initiations. My assignment is personal and beneath me: steal a car and send a warning. It’ll hurt my best friend in the process, but we both made a pact going into this. There’s no line we won’t cross.

My task makes an ugly turn and I nearly take a life. Such a small, unimportant person—someone no one would even notice was gone. She’s a problem my money and power can easily sweep under the rug.

It’s what my father wants. It’s what my brothers want. But when she finally opens those big, innocent brown eyes, I realize I’ve found what I’ve been searching for my entire life. I don’t want my little problem to disappear…I want to keep her.

Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak—they’re for The Elite.

Money is my legacy, but I want something money can’t buy.
I am Baxter Samuel Goddard V.
I am Gluttony.

GLUTTONY by K. Webster

 

Sloth: Releasing May 13th

I don’t give a fuck.
Not about money or fame, beauty or power. I’ve had all those things since birth, and trust me, they’re a fucking snooze.
I don’t give a fuck about anyone, not even myself.
Until my father proves evil can exist in the most holy of places. For the first time ever, something like interest stirs in my soul.
He wants me to enroll at St. Augustine.
Join The Elite.
Court the virginal daughter of Archbishop Savoie.
Prove to him I’m worth the family name.
I’ll do it all.
And I’ll do it so well, no one will know what’s coming. People are so quick to underestimate the wicked and lazy.
They forget idle hands are the best tools for the devil’s work.
I am Rush Dempsey.
I am Sloth.

SLOTH By Giana Darling

 

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Book Review: The Secret to Falling in Love by Victoria Cooke

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 The Secret to Falling in Love

by Victoria Cooke

 

Amazon US / UK / CA AU / B&N

 

Lifestyle journalist and thirty-something singleton Melissa hashtags, insta’s and snapchats her supposedly fabulous life on every social media platform there is.

That is until she wakes up on her birthday, another year older and still alone, wondering if, for all her internet dates, love really can be found online? The challenge: go technology free for a whole month!

 

Forced to confront the reality of her life without its perfect filters, Melissa knows she needs to make some changes. But when she bumps into not one, but two gorgeous men, without the use of an app, she believes there could be hope for love offline.

If only there was a way to choose the right guy for her…

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Go without technology for a month. Give it up; live in simpler times. Think 1980 without the terrible hair and godawful shell suits.

 

Calm down… Jeez, did the North Koreans design your self-defence system?

 

The china cups were presented neatly on saucers. I didn’t think I owned a saucer. I didn’t even own matching cups, just random mugs I’d received as gifts over the years sporting classy slogans such as ‘Basic Bitch’.

 

I rummaged through my bag; I seemed to have everything but that card. Amanda cast a disapproving look at my collection of ancient tissues going through various stages of decomposition. ‘Don’t you ever clean out your handbag, you disgrace of a woman?’

 

… he thinks his wife has run off with another man. He’s wondering why, wondering what this man has got that he hasn’t – it turns out it’s boobs!

 

My Review:

 

This was a fun and pleasantly entertaining read – shot through with irreverent humor and clever levity that provided frequent snickers and smirks. Melissa was days away from marking her thirty-fifth birthday and feeling quite dissatisfied with her constantly single standing. Maternal pressure was mounting, online dating had tanked, and fix-ups had been an uncomfortable disaster. She had been focused on her career and party-girl lifestyle for nearly two decades but didn’t seem to be feeling the love for her previous pastimes. She was highly motivated to upgrade her relationship status, yet her most recent e-Harmony perfect match had resulted in a humiliating walk of shame with a torn dress, courtesy of her date’s dog as she snuck out of his doggie flap in the locked door. Oh yeah, Melissa was a hot mess.

Her heinous boss challenged Melissa to unplug and go without her phone or internet usage for a month as the basis of her next article, which caused major adjustments, considerable inconvenience, and humorous results. Although there were some benefits to be had as well. She thought she had scored big time after engaging with a handsome man in a coffee shop led to an oddly exciting date with a bewildering conclusion and continued complications. Although Melissa also found unplugging to be unexpectedly freeing and more enjoyable than she expected and was hesitant to reboot once the month was up. She was still a bit of a hot mess with or without technology, although the wily Ms. Cooke allowed her to find that highly desired HEA and everything she had been longing for.

About the Author

Victoria Cooke grew up in the city of Manchester before crossing the Pennines in pursuit of a career in education. She now lives in Huddersfield with her husband and two young daughters and when she’s not at home writing by the fire with a cup of coffee in hand, she loves working out in the gym and traveling Victoria was first published at the tender age of eight by her classroom teacher who saw potential in a six-page story about an invisible man. Since then she’s always had a passion for reading and writing, undertaking several writers’ courses before completing her first novel, ‘The Secret to Falling in Love,’ in 2016.

Social Media Links

https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaCookeAuthor

https://twitter.com/victoriacooke10

https://www.instagram.com/victoriacookewriter

Book Review: Fenella’s Fabulous Fountain Fondue (Scott Family Short Stories #3) by Amanda Paull

 

Fenella’s Fabulous Fountain Fondue

(Scott Family Short Stories #3)

by Amanda Paull

 

 Amazon US / UK / AU / CA 

B&N 

 

It’s the day of the party. Laura and Ben are in love. But could a posh marshmallow put the kibosh on their relationship?

They’ve survived Scott Family mayhem twice so far, and now Laura and Ben’s relationship is rock solid. They are having a wonderful time at the Grand Hotel, relaxing in the spa and putting the final touches to Ben’s mother’s 85th birthday party preparations. It’s all going to plan.

Fenella loves her party. The two families get along fabulously. It’s a marvelous do. What could possibly go wrong?

Download the third Scott Family Short Story today to discover whether the Scotts have a cheeky little surprise of their own for long-suffering Ben and Laura.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

Well, at least my family aren’t snobs. You wouldn’t find any of them insisting on stupid posh marshmallows from Snootytoff and Stuck-Upingtons… Anyway, who calls their mother “Mother” for goodness sake? You sound like Norman Bates in Psycho. Why don’t you just don a shawl and one of “Mother’s” dresses and get into her highfalutin chair?

My Review:

 

The cyclone of chaos known as the family Scott are at it again, and their shamelessly unrepentant and uncouth behavior has reached a dangerous pitch which may just be the undoing of Laura and Ben’s romance. Exposing her patient and kind boyfriend to her witless and asinine family seems like cruel and unusual punishment for the gentle and sweet man, he should be running for the hills. I adore Ms. Paull’s clever sense of humor and comedic storytelling.

About the Author

Amanda Paull is a writer of humorous romantic fiction. She lives in the North East of England with her husband and works in the public sector. The inspiration for her stories comes from real life, which she tries to show the funnier side of by embellishing to the hilt.

Amanda’s Website: http://www.amandapaull.co.uk

Social Media Links – Twitter: http://twitter.com/Apaullfiction

                       Facebook: http://facebook.com/Apaullfiction

Book Review: One Hundred Lifetimes (An Aspen Cove Romance Book 7) by Kelly Collins

One Hundred Lifetimes

(An Aspen Cove Romance Book 7)

by Kelly Collins

Amazon  US / UK / CA/ AUB&N

Kelly Collins invites you back to Aspen Cove, the charming mountain town where dreams never die and love lives on forever… 

Poppy Dawson has spent her entire life wanting what she can’t have—namely Mark Bancroft, Aspen Cove’s deputy sheriff. Growing up the daughter of a cattle rancher, there was no time for silly things such as love. But after watching her terminally ill mother wither, Poppy realizes that life is not only unpredictable, it’s short. She has to decide if she’ll settle for the life laid out for her or the life she desires. 

Abandoned by his no-good father at the age of eight, Mark Bancroft has spent over twenty years trying to redeem his family name. He’s been a good man. An honest man who’s been in love with Poppy Dawson ever since he can remember. But when his father stole everything from the Dawson’s and left town, he took Mark and Poppy’s future with him. Done carrying the burden of his father’s crimes, Mark sets out to win her heart, but first, he must win her father’s respect.
Can a decades’ old family feud be ended for love? Find out in One Hundred Lifetimes. 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Some girls were always a bridesmaid and never a bride. Poppy had never been either.

 

She was sadly inexperienced when it came to all things men. Her knowledge about relationships came from the Hallmark Channel or the books she managed to pick up on her occasional trips to Copper Creek.

 

“I think it would look great. That and flower boxes and flower beds. A picket fence out front to keep your litter of children under control,” she teased. He jingled the cuffs he’d placed back on his belt. “I’ve got cuffs. Or we could buy lots of duct tape and rope.”

 

I’m mortified. Even the damn chickens get more action than me, and there’s only one rooster.

 

… she liked to chat with Mark, who was too kind to shut her up and leave. It didn’t hurt that he was easy on the eyes. Mrs. Brown was old, she wasn’t dead.

 

At some point, you make your own family. If people didn’t move on from their parents, no one would have populated the world. Or everyone would be inbred with three eyes and two noses.

 

My Review:

 

This was a fun read that was equal parts humor, romance, and family drama. Kelly Collins expertly captured the small town feel and tendencies of eccentric characters, the wildfire speed of gossip, long memories, and narrow thinking; as well as the positive aspects of community cohesiveness and support such as delivering food and assistance in times of loss. Poppy and Mark were endearing and lovable characters but her father was an odious piece of work, he was a selfish and bitter jackass on a good day and totally vile or repugnant when riled. He was an unpleasant reminder of what I so merrily moved away from when I last glimpsed the small town of my youth in the dust from my rear view mirror. I always get a kick out of Ms. Collins’ personal style of pithy humor, which she so deftly tucks into her sweet and steamy tales.   Her books are pleasantly entertaining and easy to follow. While the appealing stories easily interconnect and provide tasty updates on the earlier featured characters, each book stands strong on their own while keeping your appetite teased and a bit hungry for more.

 

 

ABOUT KELLY COLLINS   

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Kelly Collins writes with the intention of keeping the love alive.

Always a romantic, she is inspired by real-time events mixed with a dose of fiction. She encourages her readers to reach the happily ever after but bask in the afterglow of the perfectly imperfect love.

Kelly lives in Colorado with her husband of twenty-five years. She loves hockey, shiny objects and has a new-found appreciation for green smoothies.

Book Review, Giveaway: Whisper to Me by Sherrie Lowe

Whisper to Me

by Sherrie Lowe

 

 Amazon US / UK AU / CA 

 B&N / Smashwords 

 

A new wife and a vengeful ghost. Not a good mix.

Letitia – Tish – Stanyer makes husband Theo promise never to remarry if she dies and he complies just to pacify her. She isn’t going to die.

She does – and he does remarry. Tish isn’t happy. Her spirit cannot rest with another woman in her domain, sampling the delights of her husband. Theo belongs to her – Sheena will have to go.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

Sheena might have other attributes than being a domestic goddess.

My Review:

 

Whisper To Me was a quick, easy, and engaging read that kept me a bit on edge with both curiosity and anticipation of the next spectral manifestation and/or act of retribution.   I enjoyed the premise and creative storylines as well as the cleverly unique characters who enticed and beckoned my interest. Theo had promised his first wife Tish, that he would not remarry if she were to die before him, although after several years as a widower, he lost his big head and was primarily using his little head when Sheena, a less than hygienic yet wildly carnal woman with a large sexual appetite, showed him some attention.   Sheena quickly got a ring on her finger and she and little yappy dog with indiscriminate toileting habits were soon ensconced in Theo’s home, soiling and defiling every surface and invoking a demented rage from Tish’s lingering entity. Odd things began to happen, but being that she was not the brightest bulb in the pack, it took a while for Sheena to notice.

Additional storylines involved other characters although those involving the vile and odiferous Sheena were my favorites. The story wrapped up but didn’t fully conclude and left room for continuation, which I sincerely hope will be the case.   I gleaned a new addition to my Brit word list with midden, which from Northern UK and Scottish usage would be a trash heap.

About the Author

 I am a divorced mum of two adult sons and nana to three grandchildren, soon to be four. I’ve always had a notion to write but didn’t get round to it seriously until I became ill with M.E in 1995 when I was 40 and was too ill to continue my job as a learning support assistant in a mainstream high school. I was devastated to have to resign from my job but writing saved my sanity. My first attempt was a memoir, Shadow Across the Sun which covered the loss of my mum to breast cancer two days before my 13th birthday. When the rejections began to flow in from traditional publishers and agencies I joined a creative writing class and learned to write fiction. Whisper to Me is my 10th novel. I have a strong belief in the afterlife due to events following my mum’s death so most of my stories have some form of supernatural aspect to them.

Social Media Links –  

Website http://www.sherrielowe.co.uk/

Blog https://sherrielowe.wordpress.com/

Twitter https://twitter.com/SherrieLowe2

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