Book Review: Blindsight Volume 2 by Adriane Leigh

I was so flippin' excited when this book hit my Kindle; it was literally a stop what I am doing and start reading immediately moment.Book 1 of this serial ended with Hunter dropping the bomb that he knows Erin's secret and we pick right back up from there. In turn, some of his own secrets are revealed, but I get the feeling he is hiding a whole hell of a lot more.

Erin is torn between running for the hills or staying in the comfort of Hunter's bed/ She makes the choice I know I would have made - Hunter. I mean really, there is just no denying that man. Some hot sexcapades ensue as they travel for his photography, but when they return home things get a bit frenzied. And then BAM, another mega cliffy.

I have some ideas on who some people truly are and some of the connections that are still unknown. But then with that ending, I'm left thinking that I have no clue what the hell is going on. There is definitely more to Hunter then he is letting on and I can't decided if it is good stuff or bad.

This second installment was steamy and thrilling and still has me hooked. I can't wait for book 3!

Book Review: Unlawful Justice by K.C. Lynn & K. Langston #Giveaway

The town of Harmony Falls, Texas has recently been riddled with crime. The once peaceful town is now in full blown chaos as things have escalated into deaths and disgusting acts of vengeance. Hate fill the streets and homes of this small town, wreaking havoc with no end in sight. Despite it all, is it possible for two souls at the center of it to find love? Just maybe peace, love and truth will prevail...

So this is one of those books that I needed to take a day (or five) off after reading it before I could sit down and attempt to write a review. Even now, almost a week later, I'm not sure my thoughts will be very coherent or even come close to doing this novel justice, but I'll try.

These two authors have come together to write a truly powerful story that not only engages your heart but your mind as well. (And, ahem, other body parts). It makes you think about the world around us, the hate that sadly still consumes the world, and what the heck are we going to do about it? As much as I wish it wasn't so, racism and corruption are very much a part of our society. Hate is an ugly, multifaceted stone with so many sides at war with each other. It's not just black vs. white here in Harmony Falls, but also good cops vs. bad cops; right vs. wrong and so on... and I was truly impressed how these authors managed to equally and honestly show all sides.

Book Review: Slaying the Dragon (Deception #2) by T.K. Leigh #Giveaway

Slaying the Dragon is the thrilling and sexy conclusion to the Deception duet by T.K. Leigh and must be read AFTER Chasing the Dragon. Which means if you haven't read book one yet, you might not want to read this review.

Book one, which in my opinion was T.K.'s best work to date, left us with a heartbreaking cliffhanger. Book two picks up where we left off with Tyler and Mackenzie's relationship at a crossroads, if you will. This is the part where you want to shake up the H and h a bit and make them snap out of it and straighten stuff out. Alas, since I couldn't physically maul these two, I read on as they both dealt with the aftermath. So many factors came into play to keep them apart and it was agony, only made a tiny bit sweeter by the hope I held onto that eventually all would be OK. And there was certain family member who was a complete jerk here and deserved a good throat punch. They had such a long way to go but I loved watching them gradually get there. Second first dates and second first kisses and Tyler Burnham back in the bedroom. Sigh.

Book Review: With Visions of Red (Broken Bonds #2) by Trisha Wolfe

Holy. Crap.

I have absolutely NO IDEA what is really going on but hell, I love it! We pick up right where we left off in book one with a sadistic serial killer on the loose and anyone could be him. One of my suspects has been cleared, but a new character has come into play and now I am torn in so many directions. When I say the killer could be anyone one, I literally mean ANYONE!

I didn't think it was possible to get sucked into the story even more, but I did. This second installment was even better than the first, which is saying a whole lot. Once I started it I could not stop. I'm not even sure that I blinked. it held me captive and at the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next and looking for clues. And then mixed in with the suspense and guessing who it is, there is Colton. Sigh. Colton is amazing. The book alternates between Sadie's, Colton's and the killer's point of view and being inside of Colton's mind is my favorite. He is so intense and passionate and when he unleashes all of that on Sadies? GAH! Hot does not even begin to describe it

Cover Reveal: Slaying the Dragon (Deception #2) by T.K. Leigh #Giveaway

Book Review: With Visions of Red (Broken Bonds #1) by Trisha Wolfe

Police profiler Sadie always distances herself from the victims she's working with. She has to in order to do her job. But this latest case hits a little too close to home for her. She can't shake the feeling that something about this killer and crime scenes is somewhat familiar. That this is somehow personal. As more bodies are added to the killer's list, the darkness inside her seems to be growing. She's been repressing it for so long that when she meets Colton, she has little choice but to give in to him and finally let her dark side free.

Erotic thrillers aren't something I read a lot of and I am just now realizing what a shame that is because this one was fantastic. The author drew me in from the beginning and I was almost hypnotized by the story. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the next victim while searching for clues. And while all that nerve wracking crazy is going on, I'm also dying with anticipation to see where Colton can take her. When the two get near each other, I can practically feel the sparks. Where will they go from here? We know about Sadie's past and how it's made her into a damn fine profiler but Colton is a bit more of a mystery. Is there more to him than we realize? I'm really curious as to what his full story is.

Book Review: Forsaken (The Secret Life of Amy Bensen #3) by Lisa Renee Jones #Giveaway

Before you dive into this book, I highly recommend reading the previous two in the series first. Technically they might not be required, but I think you will have a better understanding of things if you do. As it was, it had been so long since I myself had read them that it took me a chapter or two for my brain to kick in and remember where we left off. Quickly I was reminded of how perfectly Lisa combines edge of you seat suspense with panty melting sexiness and I was sucked right back into the story.

Chad doesn't trust anyone, and given his past, you really can't blame him. Now he is in a race to get to his sister before the evil he is responsible for gets to her first. Enter Gia. She helps him escape but why? What are her true motives? Chad doesn't want to trust her; he can't afford to. But he is given little choice if he wants to save his sister and get the revenge his soul craves.

I have to say that Ms. Jones did a fabulous job of keeping me guessing at who was on Chad's side and who could be betraying him. Had he been trusting the wrong people all these years or was the newcomer to blame? I had my suspicions but they kind of wavered back and forth for most of the book. It was clear Gia wasn't telling him the whole truth and I was dying to find out what all of her story was.

Excerpt Reveal: Beautifully Brutal by Nicole Edwards

Book Review: Chasing the Dragon (Deception #1) by T.K. Leigh

Most people don't know that Tyler is secretly working for his family's private security company. That he has been scoping out an asset for the past six months. Least of all her. His target. He is only meant to make her fall for him. To make her trust him implicitly so that she shares her deepest secrets and the intel he has been sent for. He never thought he would fall for her too.

Mackenzie lives her life in a well planned out and organized manner. She has to because she simply can't face any heart break ever again. She doesn't have time for relationships but the night she meets Tyler changes everything. They fall fast and hard amidst numerous threats to Mackenzie. But the biggest threat of all may be to her heart.

Oh.
My.
God.

Book Review: Shadows and Lies by Eden Butler #Giveaway

Eden Butler is a new to me author who I first got a taste of with the prequel to this book, Swimming in Shadows, which appears in the Night Shift Anthology. As soon as I finished that short novella I absolutely knew that I needed to read the rest of this series.

Former Navy SEAL and previous cop Neil Ryan is on a mission to solve the mystery surrounding his mother's murder. But it seems like every turn he takes leads him to another dead end. Until he meets Alex Black. Again. Alex has been a thief and cheat since she was a kid, it was the only way for her to survive. What could a goody goody boy scout and a grifter have in common? More than they could have imagined and now Alex may be the only key to Ryan getting some answers.

So before this book even starts, Ms. Butler gives her readers a warning that there are less sexy times in this than in her previous books. Being that I am new to her writing that did not deter me and I must say that this made little difference to me because the story gripped me from start to finish. There is just so much going on and so many lies and mysteries to solve that your brain just does not get a rest. Add in a bucket load of sexual tension between Alex and Ryan and just... wow.

Cover Reveal: Chasing the Dragon by T.K. Leigh

Book Review: Heart of Light by T.K. Leigh

Jolene has finally escaped. After 10 years in that monster's captivity, she has gotten away. She no longer has to lay there while him and his clients use and abuse her body. Now she just has to make sure they never find her because she absolutely cannot go back there. This beach front cottage on a small Florida island seems like a good place to start over.

For the last few years, Cameron hasn't been in a good place. He is still hurting over the one that got away and just hasn't been his usual self. When he finds out that his best friend rented out his beach house he is livid. And he is a ginormous jerk to Jolene this first time they meet. He softens, however, once he gets a good look into her eyes. She is beautiful for sure, but it is more than that that draws him in He sees some of the pain and fear that she is trying to hide and if nothing else, he wants to help her.

It's not too long before part of Jolene's past finds her. She is torn between the feelings that she is developing for Cam and trying to protect him from the horror that is her life. What will happen when Cam finds out everything?

Cover Reveal: Heart of Light by T.K. Leigh

Book Review: My Hunger (Inside Out #3.2) by Lisa Renee Jones

It has been quite a while since I've been in Lisa's Inside Out world and I almost forgot how much I love it! And these novellas from Mark Compton's point of view are probably my favorites. After 3 full length novels and watching Mark through Sara's eyes, it is wonderful to get a glimpse into this complex, dominant man's mind.

He is still reeling from Ava's confessions, the upcoming trial and his mother's illness. Plus  now he has this Crystal issue. He shouldn't want her. She is the opposite of submissive in every way. But he can't stay away from her, or out of her for that matter.

This brief novella did an excellent job of sucking me back into this world and making me ravenous for the next novel, No In Between. I am nervous for this trial and anxious for the outcome and I can't wait to see how it all unfolds.

I do not do spontaneous, out-of-control sex. I do planned Master and submissive encounters. I do contracts. I do it my way.

Beautiful Mess Series Box Set by T.K. Leigh

The complete best-selling Beautiful Mess series in one e-book box set. This includes A Beautiful Mess, A Tragic Wreck, and Gorgeous Chaos, as well as a previously unpublished deleted scene from A Beautiful Mess and a glimpse into an unannounced super-secret project, due to be released in 2016.

Book Review: Gorgeous Chaos (Beautiful Mess #3) by T.K. Leigh

Here we are, at the end of Alex and Olivia's journey. So far, they have been on quite a bumpy ride and this is no different. If anything, it's about to get harder. There are several things we can always count on with these two: 1. hot sex and 2. angst. On the damn angst. They sure don't like to do things the easy way, do they? My frustration level was pretty high once again with them between Alex's secrets and Olivia's running. I wanted to smack them both (repeatedly) and then lock them in a room together to get everything out in the open. Followed by that hot sex I mentioned. But they wouldn't be Alex and Olivia without all that crazy now would they? And hell, I don't want them any other way!

As they start planning for their wedding, the people after Olivia start kicking things up a notch. They have run out of patience and want what they think she has. These are awful people who don't care who they hurt in the process. Will Alex ever tell her about her past? Will she even know what it is these people are looking for? There is a brilliant twist here that I did not see coming until seconds before it smacked me in the face. It was totally an "oh shit!" moment for me.

T.K. has given us a great conclusion for Alex and Olivia in Gorgeous Chaos that just makes you feel. It wasn't easy and it hurt a lot at points, but it was the perfect fit for these characters. Once you read this, and you WILL read this (waves hand like Jedi), I want to you to come back and tell me if you figured it all out!

Cover Reveal: Gorgeous Chaos by T.K. Leigh

Book Review: A Tragic Wreck (Beautiful Mess #2) by T.K. Leigh

Where do I start with this book? Sigh. This is probably one of the most painful books I have ever read - definitely in the top five. If you were frustrated with Olivia's actions at the end of A Beautiful Mess, you are going to want to strangle her while reading A Tragic Wreck. And then after that you will want to smack the hell out of Alexander. These two make so many unnecessary mistakes and are basically slowly killing each other. It is pure agony watching it all unfold. T.K. Leigh exquisitely tortures the reader for what feels like the majority of the book. This was my second time reading A Tragic Wreck as I was lucky to be part of a beta read a while back, and I cried just as hard this time around. And I'm not talking about silent tears, oh no, this is an ugly cry kind of book. A.G.O.N.Y. But there are also some very happy moments and of course hot as hell Alexander Burnham style sex. That man's mouth and dominance are delicious!

"Where are my panties?" Olivia asked, searching the bedroom for where Alexander had thrown them during their intense moment. "You're not getting them back, and don't you dare go clean up either. I want my come dripping down your leg, reminding you that I'm the only one allowed to do that."

There is no happily ever after just yet, and I have my doubts if these two can ever have one, but I will say that this ends on a better note than book one. Plus there is also a hint of a major blow up and danger to come to drive your anticipation up another notch.

Excerpt: Ever Hopeful (Ever, Texas #1) by Lori Ryan

Combining heart-soaring contemporary romance with heart-pounding suspense is a trademark of New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lori Ryan—and in her novel Ever Hopeful she delivers spectacularly on both counts.

Excerpt
Laura laid her hand in his, so big and strong and protective. She tried to ignore the way that hand made her feel, the way his warm strength caused her body to thrum with electricity. He tugged her out the back of the barn and around to one side where the Jeep she’d seen many times was parked.

“Shane was going to show you this later, but this is probably a better time,” he said, opening the door and reaching into the glove box. Cade pulled out a set of keys and turned to sit on the seat of the car, long legs hanging over the edge. He pulled Laura into him so that she stood with one of her legs brushing his. They’d never stood this close – this intimately. He’d always kept his distance. But, now there was a closeness she hadn’t dared to crave for more than three years. Cade held out the keys to her and pointed out the key to the Jeep. He looked her dead in the eye when he spoke and she could see how much he meant the words he was saying. “This is always in here. If anything happens, if you even think someone is coming or you see anything suspicious, I want you to take the Jeep.”

Book Review: My Beautiful (Lifeless #2) by J.M. La Rocca

So... 2 mob stories in one week for me! This is so not my norm, but damn I enjoyed them.B ook one, Lifeless, ended with a cliffhanger and this books picks up eight months later. Kade and Scarlett have not seen each other since that lat night in Atlanta 8 month ago. During that time, Scarlett has tried to pick up the pieces of her shattered heart and move on with her life. Meanwhile, Kade has been pretending to be interested in his uncle's mob empire in hopes of finding a way out. When their paths cross again, will he be able to push Scarlett away once more?

Finally Kade and Scarlett are thrown back together and I was glued to my Kindle to see how this would play out. What I really enjoyed about in My Beautiful is that the "misunderstanding" between them is not long and drawn out or overfilled with angst. No, they got to the point and move forward and that was refreshing. The mob aspect adds a layer of suspense and I found myself genuinely intrigued by what would happen next. There is a pretty big twist in here somewhere and it totally caught me off guard. Usually I can somewhat see it coming, but not this time. It left me proud of some characters and incredibly disappointed in others but it all fit perfectly into this story. I would have liked to see a bigger glimpse into their future in the epilogue, but I found this to be a very satisfying conclusion to Kade's and Scarlett's story.