Thursday, July 25, 2013

Virtual Book Tour for Trust Me by Anna Wells




Welcome to my stop on Anna Well’s Virtual Book Tour for Trust Me.  Please leave a comment or question for Anna to let her know you stopped by.  You can follow Anna’s tour stops here. 



Trust Me
By Anna Wells

Publisher:  Anna Wells
Release Date: May 24, 2013

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Length: 237 Pages

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Book Description:

Lawyer  Alaina  Simmons  never imagined  that  she  would  be  defending  her deceased father against accusations of terrorism when she agreed to protect his legacy, a group of  documents  he’d placed  in  an  archival  repository.  FBI  Lawyer Donovan Prentice insists that her father and the organization he worked for were terrorists and that crucial evidence is in the documents Alaina has sworn to protect.  Now she is forced to combat the FBI  and  her  compelling  attraction  to  Donovan Prentice  while  unaware  that  she  is also Donovan’s suspect. 

Special  Agent  Donovan  Prentice  is  working undercover posing  as  a  lawyer  in  an attempt to gain access to the evidence he needs to convict a group of terrorists as well as determine if Alaina Simmons is working with them.  Things become complicated as Donovan becomes more intent on getting his suspect in bed than putting her in  jail.

When the bullets start to fly and the lies begin to unravel Alaina and Donovan begin to explore their intensely sexual relationship, but the couple will have to learn to trust each other both in and out of bed before the terrorists’ game of intrigue can end.

Warning: This book contains steamy sex scenes and amusing banter.

Buy Links
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Excerpt: 

Alaina rushed out the door of her three-bedroom bungalow.  She had intended to be at the office earlier, but for some inexplicable reason she was running late.  She also had a splitting headache and not a single aspirin in her house.  She was going to have to make a quick trip to the drugstore, which was going to make her even later.  There was no way she was going to get through a meeting with opposing counsel with this headache.

Climbing into her new black Ford Focus, she made a conscious effort to relax by taking a calming breath and absorbing the California sunshine.  She was going to be late so she might as well accept it and stop worrying.  Besides, Californians were much less worried about being on time. Obviously she had yet to shed her east coast mentality.  It would take her about a half an hour to get to work since she lived in Chula Vista, a surrounding residential community of San Diego.  She chose a drugstore close to her home, quickly parked and rushed inside.  The store, a chain she frequently patronized, was quiet at this early hour of the morning and essentially empty of customers.  Alaina hastily made her away across the white tile floors in search of pain relievers and finally spotted them in aisle four. So intent on her quest, she didn't notice the tall dark haired man in her path until a very hard masculine chest halted her.

Alaina slowly lifted her head to find herself staring into deep blue eyes with thick black lashes.  Apparently the gorgeous eyes belonged to an equally gorgeous face.  Frankly the man was striking, and in that brief moment she wondered why her friends never tried to set her up with a hottie like the one before.  His hair was black and his sculpted features, reminded her of those guys in the cologne ads.  His tall and perfectly shaped frame filled out his well-tailored navy suit and from him emanated an unmistakable aura of strength and confidence.  As their eyes met there was an instant mutual awareness as the physical attraction vibrated between them.   Never had she felt anything remotely like this and certainly not with a complete stranger.  She realized she was staring and was completely mortified by the awareness that he had caught her doing it.  Alaina decided it was probably the time to apologize.

She opened her mouth and stammered, “I'm sorry, I'm late for an appointment and I was rushing. I didn't even see you.”
Gleaming white teeth appeared as he said, “It was my pleasure.”  The blatant sexual undertone sent goose bumps down her arms.  His spicy cologne wafted over her as she stared up into his penetrating eyes.  His eyes that seemed to know her most intimate secrets, what an absurd thought, Alaina chided herself.  This is ridiculous; he’s just some strange guy she would probably never see again and she was completely turned on.  She felt like a teenager being overwhelmed by his appearance.  It was not as if she had never seen an attractive man before, but this one was somehow different. She couldn't put her finger on it.  Okay so maybe it was because just looking at him was making her wet.  Well, she thought, two can play at the flirting game.  She returned his smile with a sexy one of her own, a smile that had a history of turning many heads. Her smile appeared to throw him a little off balance and she took advantage of his apparent discomposure, responding in her most sensual tone “Well, I'll make sure I look where I'm going from now on. Again, I really am sorry.”  Her statement had been innocuous but her tone and smile had let him know how attractive she found him.

“Don’t worry about it.  Like I said before it was my pleasure, and feel free to run into me any time you want.” He smiled revealing an engaging dimple.

Alaina thought that sounded like a great idea when she came to her senses and realized that she was flirting with a perfect stranger in a drugstore before nine in the freaking morning, who could, for all she knew, be an axe murderer.  On top of that she had been so caught up in their encounter that she completely forgot she was late for work and she still hadn't picked up any aspirin.  Suddenly she realized that she no longer had a headache.  A little sexual turn-on and the headache had disappeared. Maybe it had been caused by lack of sex?  If that was the case she definitely needed to get laid. 

She looked up at him with regret and almost sighed.  She really didn’t want to walk away from this one, but really you can’t pick up a stranger in a drugstore.  “As much as I’d like to take you up on that offer I gotta run. Sorry again.”

“Stop apologizing,” he said. “Are you sure you won’t change your mind?  We could go for coffee?” He flashed another sexy grin.

She couldn’t help but return his smile.  “I’m really tempted, but I don’t know you and I‘ve got to get to work,” Alaina said as she quickly grabbed a bottle of aspirin from the shelf.

He looked down at the bottle. “Why don’t you call the office and tell them you’re not feeling well?”  His voice was coaxing, seductive.

If she didn’t have such an important meeting this morning she would have actually gone with him.  She shook her head regretfully.  “I have an appointment I just can’t miss.  Maybe some other time?”  She turned and dashed to the cash register not giving him time to respond.    After making her purchase she quickly tossed the bottle in her purse while she rushed out of the store leaving her unexpected flirtation behind.  As she got into her car she wondered why she felt like she’d just made a big mistake.  Maybe she should have given him her number?

Donovan Prentice watched her walk away wondering what had led him to be so careless.  He had never let anyone he was following be aware of his presence, but somehow he hadn't been able to resist the opportunity to meet her before she knew who he was.  Unfortunately, he was extremely attracted to her.  When he first observed her running out of her house, he had noticed how much more beautiful she was in person than in the surveillance pictures he’d seen of her. The photographs had not done her justice: they had failed to capture that sway in her walk, the confidence she exuded, and the fresh citrus scent of her perfume.  Not to mention that fine ass and firm chest, a chest that he had the pleasure to feel bump up against him. Her features were soft and delicate: a small pert nose, large green eyes and a somewhat determined chin surrounded by a thick mass of dark brown hair. It was enchanting.  A small woman, probably not much more than 5'2”, but her shape was perfect.  Had they met in different circumstances he wouldn't have let her go, he would have  tried to find out more about her and definitely had her in his bed by nightfall. 

The problem was he already knew everything about her.  He knew where she was born, who her parents were, how many siblings she had, where she had grown up, where she had gone to school, what she had majored in, where she worked and lived.  He even knew what credit cards she had and what she purchased with them.  He was always thorough in his research and he probably knew more about her than her own mother.  The only thing he didn't know about Alaina Simmons was whether or not she was guilty.  That was something he was going to find out, after all it was his specialty.




My Review

Two lawyers deeply attracted to each other, a father’s secret documents, and the rule of government versus one’s personal privacy are all key elements in Anna Well’s Trust Me.   Well developed characters, scintillating dialogue, and plenty of chemistry kept me turning the pages to discover what was going to happen next.  I enjoyed the mystery and found the timing of Ms. Well’s topic apropos.

Young and attractive, Alaina Simmons is kept busy with her career as an attorney.  While her real life and legal cases aren’t as exciting as the attorney’s on TV, Alaina is satisfied with what she does.  It just doesn’t leave her much time for a personal life.  Meeting an attractive man by “accident” at the drugstore is a surprise, discovering he’s her morning appointment and is the opposing counsel on a personal case …….not so much.

Donovan Prentiss knows everything there is to know about Alaina Simmons.  He just didn’t’ realize she would be more beautiful, and intriguing, in person.  Unable to resist the temptation, Donovan flirts with Alaina during a “chance” meeting.  He just didn’t count on her ability to resist his charms or her determination to keep the FBI away from her father’s personal documents.

The scenes between Alaina and Donovan are full of lively dialogue and plenty of emotional and physical chemistry.  While deeply attracted to each other, they are both determined to prove they are right in their opposing beliefs and Donovan has the added pressure of needing to prove Alaina is not a traitor to the country.  Ms. Wells does a good job developing them both as individual characters and developing their romance.  Though I will admit that there were times I wanted to smack Donovan upside the head for all of his “lies” or “omissions” and I also occasionally wanted to hit Alaina for denying they had a real relationship.


Will Alaina be able to prove her father is innocent of what the FBI is accusing him off?  Will Donovan’s career and his devotion to his job ruin what could be the love of his life?  You’ll have to read Trust Me to find out.  I enjoyed it and I think you will too.

My Rating:  4 out of 5 Stars




FTC Disclosure:  I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review.  I was not given any additional compensation for my opinion of the reading material provided.





Author Bio:
I’ m happily married with two children. I love to cook, hike, bike, and hang with my girlfriends. I’m an avid romance reader and enjoy all types of romance novels including historical, contemporary, paranormal, and erotica.Oh and did I mention I have my own consulting business?I obviously had a couple of hours left in the day so I began writing romance.   I wanted to bring readers hot, sexy romances that are brought to life with compelling characters.  Who knew writing romance could be as fun as reading it! 

AnnaWel07914287 (Twitter)




Monday, July 22, 2013

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway for The Warlord's Concubine by J.E. & M. Keep


Welcome to my stop on the Virtual Book Tour for The Warlord’s Concubine by J.E. & M. Keep.  Please leave a comment or question to let them know you stopped by.  Don't forget to enter the tour wide giveaway by filling out the Rafflecopter form below. 

Guest Post - Love by J.E. & M. Keep

We’re junkies for twisted relationships. Dominant characters with murky intentions, who have secrets and hoard them away. Characters who are opportunistic but find with this one person, they can be themselves. Their true selves.

I think that’s what we really managed to do with The Warlord’s Concubine. The characters aren’t good people, they don’t always do the right things. They’re not downright evil, but they’re certainly closer to that then to good. They do things to get more power, to put themselves ahead. For a long time, these two characters think about no one but themselves and their own futures.

Yet with each other, they find something new and fresh and unfamiliar. They find caring and concern for someone other than themselves.

It’s hard to say who changed more, through the course of the story, and I certainly don’t want to spoil it! I think, though, that their love really did amazing things not just for themselves, but for a lot of people around them, too.  Because that’s what love does. It softens you, and makes you better. Not just for your partner, but for everyone. And that’s why these characters are afraid of love, because they’ve learned that the way to get what they want is through strength. Through control. Through having power.

Giving that power to someone else is a hard task, and that’s what makes it so special. When a character can let someone in, can expose their weaknesses, you’re witnessing a transformation. I love this about Mirella and the God-King, because they’re both so selfish and cruel and power hungry. Their relationship develops around sex and subservience, but slowly they begin to let one another in.

I think that’s why I like the romance genre so much, seeing these constant transformations and positive changes. I love when people fight the odds and find love, find happiness and contentment in another person. It really affects me, and we’ve been hearing from readers that it’s really affecting them too.
Not only are they saying that the sex is hot, but that the love is at times rough or tender but always real, and that’s just so rewarding. We can’t wait to hear what you think, too!

 The Warlord’s Concubine
By J.E. & M. Keep

Publisher:  J.E. & M. Keep
Release Date: July 1, 2013

Genre: Erotic Fantasy Romance
Length: 208 Pages


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Buy links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | AllRomance | DriveThruFiction



Book Description:

Mirella often wonders what her life would've been like had she been born a princess, rather than the property of one.

When a dark warlord from the north conquers her princess' kingdom, however, he has plans for the dainty young future-queen. It makes the question all the more poignant, because now, more is at stake than just her rough treatment, but love and lust as well.

As an indentured servant and handmaiden to the princess for much of her life, the middle-aged Mirella sees the conquest of the land as an opportunity to elevate herself. Though as she earns the trust of their conquerors, she finds her own nature challenged as well. A life of callous disregard has made her hard, but as she battles the princess' will for the first time and finds new allies and friends, does she have what it takes to win the love and favour of the brutal warlord? Will love and friendship be her downfall? Or will her station in life yet again be her undoing?

Caution: The Warlord's Concubine is a dark fantasy novel that contains explicit scenes, and a twisted romance between a handmaiden and a God.

Excerpt

A great table filled the center of the tent, and upon it was heaped food. A mix of the rich pantry of the palace with the flavours of the harsh tundra, making for the oddest banquet Mirella had ever seen.
But at the heart of it stood a statue, carved from obsidian stone. It was unmistakable though the craftsmanship was not as refined as that of the courtly artists who decorated the millennia old palace. The presence of the mighty man, albeit nude and holding a great scimitar that was lodged into the spine of some defeated foe, inspired all the other women, even the guards, to fear. Mirella could tell they—unlike her—knew much greater terror of the God-King, even in his lifeless representation.

It was curious to her why the man of such taste would be so destructive, but it didn’t matter. She barely glanced to the other women. The evening prior she might have been a handmaiden, but now she was on equal footing with all of them, and it filled her with a strange sense of righteousness. Her eyes worked over the statue as she left the princess to recover on top of some pillows, her gaze one of wonderment and a lingering, heated desire.

His power radiated from the stone and she briefly wondered at what the more skilled artisans could do for him.

She couldn’t recall at how long she might’ve been staring at that statue when she was disturbed, her gaze lost on that harsh stone depiction, entranced by the generous proportions of his muscles and loins. It was, as far as she could tell, true to form, but lacking in the expert subtleties a court artisan would bring to it.

“Most don’t even dare to look at it,” came that otherworldly voice, so richly masculine, irradiating such strength and command in a manner she’d never heard before.

In the torchlight of the tent she could make him out all the clearer. His charcoal skin was smooth and flawless. His face so chiselled and handsome. Hair long and perfectly shiny. Her first guess only seemed all the more right; a god. Though the dark clothes he wore, looking a blend of velvet and leather, mixed with his piercing dark gaze and skin, it didn’t take much guessing to place as what kind of deity he might be.


About the Authors:

J.E. and M. Keep have a passion for all things sci fi/fantasy, and a desire to see what characters do when others fade to black. They set out to explore the most sexual, titillating and sometimes terrifying encounters. The plots are contemporary, fantasy, or science fiction, but they all have one thing in common: they’re hot.

From dark and taboo smut to coming-of-ages lust, from twisted love stories to tragic tales of self-destructive needs, they explore the fact that not all ‘Ever Afters’ are happy, and not everyone’s idea of happy is the same.

Come explore the limits of erotica and discover new desires from the smutty minds of J.E. & M. Keep. They can be found on their website at http://www.darkfantasyerotica.com/.






My Review

Set in an interesting world, The Warlord’s Concubine by J.E. & M. Keep is a fair mix of dark fantasy and erotic romance.  An interesting plot and plenty of action kept me turning the pages to discover what was going to happen next. 

A servant from her birth, Mirella is used to taking care of someone else’s needs and ignoring her own.  When a warlord from the “savage” north attacks the city of Ariste and she and Princess Anabelle Flair become his prisoners, Mirella realizes that fate has given her the opportunity to have a better life.  It’s also introduced her to the warlord, who she considers a “god-king”.  A man she desperately wants for herself.

Spoiled from birth, Princess Anabelle Flair has no intentions of becoming a savage warlord’s concubine.  Regardless of the fact it could save her kingdom.  She’s determined to wait to be rescued and no matter what Mirella tries to convince her to do, she’s determined to not let herself get “sullied”.

A huge and powerful warrior, Kulav is determined to not only conquer the city of Ariste but to seize control of the entire empire.  A “savage” at heart, Kulav’s only concern is staying in control and finding a way to legitimize his hold on the empire.  Determined to have a strong heir, Kulav only adds women who will help him gain power to his harem. 

The scenes between Mirella and Kulav are interesting and showcase two people whose immediate attraction is a powerful force.  While Kulav is not a man who will only tie himself down to one woman, he can’t help his growing emotions for Mirella.  Mirella is so caught up in her adoration for Kulav, that she’ll do whatever it takes to help him realize his dreams.  Meanwhile, Princess Anabelle Flair continues to think only of herself and refuses to consider anything that could salvage her kingdom.


The authors do a pretty good job developing the characters, and the story takes some interesting twists and turns, I had a hard time connecting to the primary characters; Mirella, Kulav and Princess Anabelle.  At the beginning all three characters were self centered and very selfish, though I have to admit that towards the end Mirella and Kulav did begin to think of others too.

Will Mirella be able to convince Anabelle to grow up and think of her people before it’s too late?  Will Kulav and Mirella’s relationship survive all they will need to sacrifice at the end?  You’ll have to read The Warlord’s Concubine to find out. 

My Rating:  3 out of 5 Stars



FTC Disclosure:  I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review.  I was not given any additional compensation for my opinion of the reading material provided.




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Release Day Book Blast for Collared for a Night by Susan Arden



Welcome to my stop on the Release Day Book Blast for Collared by Susan Arden.  Please leave a comment or question for Susan to let her know you stopped by.  You can enter her tour wide giveaway by filling out the Rafflecopter form below.  You can also follow her tour here. 




Collared for a Night
by Susan Arden

Publisher:  Crimson Romance
Release Date: July 22, 2013

Book Description:  

All it takes is one mistake to be marked. One bite, she crosses a line...into forever.

Diana Hambre's body is blazing. For days this leopardess shifter has spun through a body-searing heat cycle. Alone. Her senses reel when Shawn Barclay, her boss, walks into her reserved room at the Downtown Den, a stud club for shifters. He gives Diana a choice: spend the evening with him, give into his every desire, and she'll find out what it means to quench her heat-crazed thirst—or try her luck with a stranger, one of the club bangers.

Shawn hates when his back is against the wall. One sip of Diana’s pheromone-laced scent is enough to force his alpha hand. The tables have turned and it's Diana's back he wants up against a wall or any other surface for that matter.

As the moon rises toward midnight, Shawn and Diana come to understand the difference between sex and bonding. For a night, neither of them resist their primal instincts, blindly giving into carnal desire. Her wild nature fights being subdued and she risks spontaneously shifting without warning.

Now, bearing Shawn's bite marks, she can’t simply walk away from him; not when he has the means to teach her to harness her leopardess nature. Shawn accepts the challenge of training Diana to control her untamed cravings. Employing every method available in and out of the bedroom, he discovers he's on the verge of ensnaring himself in the process.

Warning: Erotic scenes hot enough to peel paint



Excerpt

Explicit Content: For Adults Only

She teased and nipped at his sweet spot, underneath his head, licking and sucking, and pushed past his dominance.

“Suck me harder, sweetheart.” Shawn’s voice was an inhuman, hoarse whisper. He stopped tonguing her pussy and held her head. He fucked her mouth, pumping and thrusting across her lips.

She adored the feel of his cock in her mouth and did as he instructed. Diana ran her claws across his flesh.

He followed suit, rasping the tips of his nails over her skin. Shivers broke out from the tiny pain-pleasure scratches over her skin. His muscles quivered around her. His scent filled her mouth and head. She could savor him without fear and, at this moment, had to taste his orgasm. A savage hunger tore into her.

Previously, her mouth had been a safe spot on her body where an alpha’s semen couldn’t cross her physical barrier. Yet now, her whole body convulsed and shifted, a sign of error in her judgment. This man was different. Her leopardess nature pushed outward. She told herself she must absorb his musky scent and taste if only to recognize his marking in the world beyond this room. He pulled out of her mouth and her leopardess mind quaked in frustration, on the edge of claiming her mate.

“No,” she roared. Her pelt rippled and she shook, flexing feline muscles. Spontaneously she’d let go and shifted. The experience was more than exhilarating. On all fours, she crouched next to him on the futon. Her long tail slapped against the wall. Never had shifting felt this powerful. She licked his face, stared at him from behind twitching whiskers, and she flicked her tail, snapping his leg.

“Diana, reel in your leopardess nature. Come back to me.” His whispered command eased her nature.

 “Now, sweetheart.” He rubbed his thumb on the ridge between her eyes, then petted the side of her cheek. She could feel his essence without responding to the content of his words. Deep within her, primitive instinct was a force that drove her, and she responded by purring and rubbing up against him, marking her scent over him.

Shawn’s voice lulled her. She calmed instantly. Acquiesced. Her animal and human forms flickered.

The scent she released as leopardess would be near impossible for him to resist. She dropped beside him, blinking, and lowered her lids. For him, she began the process of shifting back. She hissed, and then moaned, curling up next to him.

“I’m sorry,” she said, opening her eyes and contemplating him. This was the first time she had shifted in front of an alpha male for over a year. Was Shawn taken back at her lack of control?

Her fur receded, emitting sparks of energy over the length of her skin, tightening and smoothing into her human form. Her claws got caught in the futon. She tugged each curved spike free, then focused and steadied her nature. “I understand if we shift during sex, things will get away from us.”




Author Info

"I love to laugh. More than anything in the world, humor is food for the spirit."

Previously, a teacher in the field of special education and biology, now Susan pursues her dream of writing fiction with several releases this year. Crafting sweet and spicy tales, she writes hot love stories across romance genres including contemporary erotic, Western, and fantasy/paranormal. She also writes under the name of Susan D. Taylor. She currently lives in TN along with husband, two cattle dogs, two crazy cats, a gecko and a corn snake.

Author Links


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Brazen Book's One Year Anniversary Bash



Brazen Books, who brought us Wrong Bed Right Guy, Officer Off Limits, Seducing Cinderella, and Tempting the Player - to name just a few - is turning 1 this month, and they’re celebrating in a big way. They’ve got a ton of great things going on this week, including Twitter parties, FB events, and even a huge sale! Full deets below:
  • Epic Giveaways - Don’t miss the Brazen Bash on Thursday, July 25th from 7 to 10 pm EST where you can comment to win a $50 prize pack, $75 prize pack, or $125 prize pack. Prize packs will be a combination of Gift cards from Amazon/B&N, Adam & Eve, and Sephora! You can find out more details on the Brazen Facebook page here - https://www.facebook.com/BrazenBooks                   
  • Q&A’s with NYT bestselling authors - Twitter Chat with Laura Kaye @laurakayeauthor Tuesday, July 23rd from 9 to 10 pm EST. Twitter Chat with Katee Robert @katee_robert Wednesday, July 24th from 6 to 7 pm PST. They’ll be using the hashtag #BrazenBash so you can easily join in the conversation. 
  • Photo contest - Be sure to check out Brazen’s Tumblr page to share your favourite pictures of swoon-worthy men that remind you of the heroes in Brazen books! Either post your picture to your own tumblr using the tag “brazenbash” Or you can submit your photo directly to the Brazen tumblr page here http://brazenbooks.tumblr.com/submit. Make sure to tweet your tumblr posts as well using #BrazenBash
  • Surprise 99 cent sale! - They’ve dropped the price of 8 of their top-selling titles for 1 week only - and it could happen at any moment this week. So be sure to keep your eyes peeled! Tell your mom, your sisters, your co-workers!