Weekly Winners

Below is a list of all of the winners from last week.

Rita W.
The Game or the Governess by Kate Noble

Meredith M.
Trudy D.
Denise C.
With Every Breath by Lia Riley

Lori M.
Box of Books

Natasha D.
Swag Pack

Ashley
Never, Never by Colleen Hoover & Tarryn Fischer

Glenda
The Deal by Elle Kennedy

Katie L.
All Played Out by Cora Carmack

Danielle M.
Dirty Rowdy Thing by Christina Lauren

All winners have been notified via email and are posted on the Rafflecopter form from that giveaway post. Thank you to everyone that stopped by and entered. =)

ARC Review: Wicked Lust by Sawyer Bennett

I have to start by saying that while I am an avid fan of the erotic romance genre and also a fan of this particular author, this book crossed some of my personal taste boundaries. I say that because I think it's fair to give you context for why this was a four-star star read for me as opposed to a higher rating. I am NOT a reader who enjoys a hero that is willing to share the heroine. I am much more inclined towards the intensely jealous, possessive heroes. So without spoiling too much for you, the first thing you should know about this book is that you will read about the characters engaging in sex with other people. As far as the hero, his only "extra heroine" activities are prior to his relationship with the heroine, the same cannot be said for her.

Now for some specific information about the book, this is the story of Sloane and Cain. Sloane is an undercover reporter looking for a story about the rumored Silo. The Silo is a sex club which may or may not have ties to a political scandal which Sloane has been assigned to investigate. When the book begins,Sloane believes that she may be able to use a relationship with Caine as an in to the club. The "fake" relationship quickly evolves into more for both Sloane and Caine. The book becomes about Caine's journey to introduce Sloane to her deepest desires and her corresponding struggle to do her job without falling deeper in love with Caine.  An extra twist is thrown into the book when Sloane loses control of the story she is supposed to be writing.

I think this book is 4 stars because of the relationship between Caine and Sloane, the erotic content and the overall plot.  I pretty much liked Sloane as a character.  Sloane seems intelligent and driven.  Even though her quest to sort of bring down the Silo might irritate you, she is a woman of principles and quickly abandons that pursuit.  The best part about Sloane is that she was true to her feelings and willing to give up everything based on what was really important to her.  I have less clear feelings about Caine.  I didn't really feel like we got a lot of information about Caine so I'm not sure I walked away feeling like I really knew him.  Also, Caine very much gave me a total sexual debauchery vibe.  Now if you know me, you know I'm a fan of steam but even I have limits, Caine had none. Well, maybe there was one limit but it was all by itself.  Caine was into girls, guys, groups, rape fantasy etc. etc. etc. It was just a bit much for me. And then there was Caine's reaction when the truth about Sloane comes out.  I got that he was mad, but in my opinion his reaction went too far and it went on for too long. 

Overall, this was a good book even though it wasn't really the right book for me.  For all you super freaky erotic romance fans, you don't want to miss this one.

**ARC provided by Author**

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A Naughty New Year...Brazen Style with Clare James and Giveaway

Clare James writes steamy contemporary romance and new adult stories, penning nearly a dozen novels. Her Entangled Brazen debut, CAUGHT, was a #1 Amazon Best-Selling Romance Series, and the touching family drama, WEDNESDAY, also hit #1 as a category bestseller on Amazon.

Clare is fan of spunky women, gorgeous guys, and super-hot romance, and spends most of her time lost in books. When she's not reading, you can find her locked away writing. Clare is also a former dancer and still loves to get her groove on - mostly to work off her beloved cupcakes and red wine. She lives in Minneapolis with her two leading men - her husband and young son - and is always on social media chatting with readers. 

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ARC Review: Forbidden by Lauren Smith

Forbidden is the first book in Lauren Smith's new Her British Stepbrother series. These books are not standalones and the story of Tristan and Kat continues from one book to the next, so readers should expect cliffhanger endings. After finishing this first installment, I am definitely interested to see where things go from here.

Kat is an American studying at a university in England in order to be close to her dad who took a job there. While she is a 19 year old virgin, she is ready to start really living her life. So one night while at a pub with friends, she takes matters into her own hands and kisses a sexy stranger. Things between her and Tristan are electric right away, with a chemistry and connection neither of them can deny. But Tristan is known for being a playboy and Kat isn't willing to get her heart broken for a chance that she will be different. Tristan is determined to show her that things are different with her, and just as things appear to be turning around their parents announce their marriage. Despite everything that they have been building, Kat knows that she can't be with the one man she wants. 

I really liked Tristan. He was sexy and confident, verging on the point of cocky at times. He was still very easy to like though, and I loved his determination with Kat. He was sweet and patient with her, and their connection was different right from the start. They had amazing chemistry that was smoking hot, and yet they were able to connect intellectually as well. These two had a lot of passion and while it was about different things, they could relate to one another. I really believed that these two were good for one another, and I enjoyed seeing them get to know one another. The one thing I will say is that Kat was a bit frustrating to me at times. While I understand some of her reluctance to give Tristan a shot because of his reputation and her inexperience, it got old seeing her judge him and make assumptions when he had given her no reason to. He never hid his past, and went out of his way to show her she was different.

The other thing I will say is that while I did enjoy much of this book, things were a bit cliched and very predictable. There wasn't much new ground broken here, and everything was pretty much what you would expect from the title alone. Although I have to say that to me this isn't really forbidden even with their parents getting married as they have been strangers their entire lives and met before their parents even told them they were seeing anyone. Their becoming step-siblings was entirely coincidence and just didn't feel that forbidden to me. I really liked Tristan and I like him with Kat, so I am anxiously awaiting the next installment and hoping that Kat isn't as frustrating in the next book as she was here. Forbidden is worth checking out, especially if you are a fan of new adult romance and sexy British heroes.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Seduction in Session by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake

This book gave me EVERYTHING that a reader like me needs, just everything. You'll have to excuse me because I'm in the middle of a serious book hangover. I'm a romance, bossy alpha male, mystery, suspense and action girl. I got ALL of that from this book with several sides of heaping hot sex and it gave me life.

If you want to know what to expect in this book, think the TV show Scandal meets, Patriot games and is the cousin of that movie The Skulls. It was all of that. The underlying story is that Lara writes a political tabloid of sorts. Lara is a crusader, she uses certain salacious details to get readers to pay attention to stories written for the greater good of society. Lara stumbles on some serious ish involving the President and the entire country. As a result of her discovery, Lara is intercepted by Connor who poses as a bodyguard assigned by a "friend" to protect Lara. Connor and Lara have an instant attraction, explosive chemistry and diametrically opposed world views. It's a lot of fun.

I don't even know where to start about what I loved about this book. I loved the romance between Lara and Connor. Lara is maybe not the strongest heroine but she was sincere and believed in the greater good. Connor is a complete cynic because he has seen and done the very worst things in life. Lara brings Connor into the light. With Lara, Connor learns that there is actually good in the world and Lara learns that she doesn't need to be an absolutist about her principals. It is fun to watch the couple grow as individuals and then to grow together. I love that Connor is so bossy and so brooding and so protective, he's just sooo everything. Nothing is half way with Connor, he is intense and I loved him for that.

The other thing about this book that I believe any reader like me would enjoy is the whodunnit aspect. There are layers of mystery in this book and untangling everything, or trying to, is extremely entertaining. The pace of the book doesn't lag for a minute, there is action and intrigue lurking around every corner. When you think you know what's going on, you don't. I really appreciate how the author wove detail after detail into a giant mystery that is going to continue in the next book. Even though the big mystery continues, I didn't at all feel like this book ends on a cliffhanger. All the issues between Connor and Lara are wrapped up and the next book picks up with Dax investigating the big mystery. I can't wait for that!

Did I mention that Connor has a dirty dirty mouth and loves to use it on Lara? Oh yes, the sex was HAWT and totally worth the read. This was a great book and I highly recommend you read it.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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A Naughty New Year...Brazen Style with Lauren Blakely and Giveaway

Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and she has had eight books on the New York Times Bestseller list and thirteen on the USA Today Bestseller list. Like the heroine in her novel, FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. She loves hearing from readers! Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire. She recently released SWEET SINFUL NIGHTS, the first novel in her new sexy romance series Sinful Nights that became an instant New York Times Bestseller. Her new adult forbidden romance, 21 Stolen Kisses, hit e-readers in May and landed on the USA Today Bestseller list. This summer she'll release Consumed by You, her next title in her NYT Bestselling Fighting Fire series about sexy firemen and the women they love. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney.

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ARC Review: Resisting the Moon by L.P. Dover

Resisting the Moon is the second book in L.P. Dover's Royal Shifters series and I could not wait to get my hands on it! I am absolutely loving this series from her! Though she is one of my favorite authors that is saying something as I do not read much paranormal at this point. But this series is so good, and I really love the characters. If you like paranormal romance, this series is one you should be reading! If you are like me though and don't usually read much paranormal, I still recommend giving these books a try as they are such good stories and have a very similar feel to her Gloves Off series.

For Tyla Rand, love is pain. Death seems to follow her and those that she has loved. She knows that her true mate is Sebastian Lyall but even if he wasn't constantly surrounded by women, she couldn't handle mating with someone just to lose them. But when her cousin goes missing and members from her old pack show up, Tyla has no choice but to accept Sebastian's help. Sebastian knows that an unmated male will slowly go crazy if they don't find an outlet, and he is determined to show Tyla that they belong together before it gets to that point. Though they may be in danger, their journey to find her cousin and help her old pack allow Tyla and Sebastian to realize that they have more than just attraction between them. But can Tyla and Sebastian escape death and find happiness together?

I really liked these two. Having seen them in the previous book and Tyla in Dover's Roped In, I felt like I had a great introduction to her character. She is such a strong female and I have liked her all along. Not only is Tyla strong, but she is loyal and fiercely protective of those she cares about, something that she shares with Sebastian. Sebastian is one of those characters that I liked right away, and I really liked that despite appearances he wasn't out sleeping with every female he came into contact with. He was so determined to show Tyla just what they could have together, and I really believed he was genuine and cared about her. These two were good for one another and I thought that they made a great team. The chemistry between them was smoking hot and I couldn't get enough of them! 

Overall, another great addition to this series and I am really enjoying each book about these sexy shifters! I can't wait for the next one, and I really love each of the characters here. I hope that L.P. Dover gives each of them their own book, and I would be completely happy if this series never ended! I love where she left things off here and I think that there is so much more to be explored here and I for one will definitely be keeping an eye out for news on when we can expect next from her. If you haven't read Dover's books yet, she is one of my favorite authors and I think her books are well written and worth the read. If you are already a fan, this book is a must read!

**ARC Provided by Enticing Journey Book Promotions**

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ARC Review: How to Rescue a Rake by Jayne Fresina

How to Rescue a Rake was a debut for me of Jayne Fresina. It left me wanting more! What is good is that there are two other books and one novella in this series for me to delve into! Jayne Fresina's writing was very good if not a little drawn out. There were points I found myself wishing things would speed up a little. After I was finished however, I appreciated that the author took her time to tell the tale right.

Diana is a part of a group of young ladies who call themselves the Book Club Belles. In this book the girls are reading Persuasion by Jane Austen. Unfortunately I haven't read Persuasion but from the snippets in this book, the story lines were very similar. Diana connects quite a bit with the main female character of the Jane Austen novel. She is quiet and very proper.

Sherry (Nathaniel Sherringham) is the opposite of quiet and polite Diana. He is wild and doesn't care about rules. He falls in love with Diana before the events of the book and completely botches a proposal because he is drunk. A little miscommunication after the proposal and the two don't see each other until the book starts three years later.

The story really focuses on Diana coming out of her shell and learning to stand up for herself and her wants. I felt for Sherry because the feelings were there, but he made mistakes in showing it. The physical relationship is calm at first and gets spicy towards the end, but what I really liked was Jayne Fresina's in depth look into each characters' feelings. She really made the events play out cleanly and at a good pace.

I enjoyed the diversified cast of this book. There were several characters that were eccentric and wild and some who were strict and proper. It made the book come alive for me and relate a little more to Diana's situation. The story never had me laughing out loud but a I did chuckle a time or two. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from Jayne Fresina. The heat level was on the low side for a historical romance, but I liked it. I'm glad to have found another author I enjoy.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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A Naughty New Year...Brazen Style with Jennifer Bonds and Giveaway

Jennifer Bonds writes sizzling contemporary romance with sassy heroines, sexy heroes, and a whole lot of mischief. When she's not writing or wrangling toddlers, she can be found curled up with a good book and a bottle of wine. Jennifer lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where her overactive imagination and weakness for reality TV keep life interesting. She's lucky enough to live with her own real life hero, two adorable children, and a pair of rambunctious dogs. Loves Buffy, Mexican food, the Winchester brothers, and all things zombie. Sings off-key.

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Review: Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

I am so late to the party here when it comes to Hopeless by Colleen Hoover, but I am so glad that I read this book! My friend has been telling me to read this book for so long now, and I honestly just never got around to it. Now that I have read it though, I cannot believe how long it took me! This book is amazing, brilliant, and was so surprising. Colleen Hoover is a great writer, and I didn't expect this story to go the way it did at all. I know why so many people rave about this book now, and for anyone who hasn't read this one yet, you absolutely should!

Seventeen-year-old Sky is immediately drawn to Dean Holder, though she has no idea why. Their first meeting leaves her with more questions than answers, and he seems to have a well deserved reputation. Yet she also is unable to stay away from him, despite what she thinks she knows about him. But the more Sky and Holder get to know one another, the more Sky begins to realize that Holder isn't who she thinks he is at all. When the truth starts coming out and secrets are revealed, Sky soon realizes that her life will never be the same. 

I absolutely loved Holder! He is impossible not to fall for, and honestly I could go on and on about him. He is a great guy, caring and protective, patient and kind. This is the kind of guy that girls dream about having for a boyfriend, and oh how I wish he was real! He had moments where he struggled with anger and didn't handle himself the best, but I understood where he was coming from even if I didn't agree with how he acted. He was so great for Sky and I loved how he was with her. Sky was easy to like. She was different and complicated, and I loved that she was a bit odd. She was one of those characters that you just like right away. These two had such a strong connection, and it was unlike anything I have ever seen before. They had me swooning and I couldn't get enough of them. 

Overall, I really cannot say enough good things about this book and I feel as though I could just ramble on about these characters and the story forever but that the words would never do it justice. It was so good and honestly I won't ever forget this book. There were so many twists, and I didn't see any of them coming. This book was beautiful and heartbreaking, and completely unexpected. It was such an emotional read, and I found myself laughing out loud and crying on more than one occasion. This book is everything, and if you haven't read it yet, it is a must read. I might be late in reading this one, but I know that it will be one that I read many more times in the future. No one writes like Colleen Hoover, and I honestly can't wait to see what else she comes up with in the future.

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ARC Review: Firsts by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

I don't really know where to start with this review. Firsts by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn wasn't at all like I thought it was going to be and unfortunately this book did not work for me. There were too many things that I had issues with, and I just don't even really know exactly what to think. First, this book while it is stated to be young adult and is about that age group is not one that I would actually let anyone from that age group read. Second, the only reason I even finished this book was because it was like a bad train wreck that you can't look away from and I just had to see how it would all end. I will try to be as vague as possible, but beware there might be spoilers below as some things that bothered me need a bit more explanation. 

Seventeen-year-old Mercedes has an open door policy for virgins looking to get their first time out of the way. As long as they promise to give their girlfriends the best first time possible (the kind she didn't have), she views it as doing them and their girlfriends a favor. With her mother never around, her best friend having no idea what she does in her spare time, and her friend with benefits none the wiser, Mercedes has kept her secret through many guys. But when her best friend's boyfriend threatens to ruin everything if she doesn't hook up with him, Mercedes knows her secret is about to be found out. When everything is exposed, will she be able to salvage her friendships and her reputation? 

I could not stand Mercedes. Not only was she clueless, but she was completely delusional. She thought that by having sex with these guys that their girlfriends would be grateful for it. (of course that was on the assumption that they would never find out...yeah right) She really felt like she was doing all parties involved a service and that she was happy to hook-up with them as long as they "paid it forward", and what started out as only five virgins quickly turned into the teens. All of this for a seventeen-year-old. I am not a prude by any means, but since when is it okay for a seventeen-year-old to sleep around that much and her mother to joke about her one night stands? It was pretty disgusting and I felt like the whole thing was excused because her mom was hardly around, her dad up and left when she was a kid, and she had a bad incident at a young age. Seriously I had no compassion for Mercedes at all, and I found her beyond ridiculous. Her friend with benefits (although for most of the story she refused to even call him her friend) wanted more with her and went above and beyond, and I honestly felt so sorry for him! Zach deserved so much better and I really wanted him to just leave her like she deserved.

There was a situation with her best friend's boyfriend that I felt was left completely unresolved, and the fact that nothing seemed to happen was so unrealistic to me. I couldn't believe that nothing happened, considering the fact that it was widely known and several people (including adults/teachers) were aware of it and she was underage. How there weren't child pornography charges involved or the police I still don't understand. There were issues with rape and dubious consent. All of this for high school aged kids and nothing really happened. Mercedes and her friends took matters into their own hands and that was the only way that any of it was dealt with. It was just completely unbelievable and honestly I felt like the whole book was just an excuse for this girl to have sex with as many guys as possible and in the end it was just glossed over as if that is normal or okay. It was completely inappropriate, there was a ton of cheating as all the guys had girlfriends, and the one guy that was actually likable in the whole book ended up being treated horrible and still wound up with her in the end though he deserved far better. Firsts is Laurie Elizabeth Flynn's first book, and I honestly doubt that I will be reading anything from her in the future. This book should not be marketed to youth in my opinion, and I think it glorifies promiscuity and perpetuates so many things that are wrong with kids today. Kids have become so desensitized to sex these days, and it is books and movies like this that show them that there are little to no consequences for their actions and that it is alright to act like this and sleep with as many people as possible.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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A Naughty New Year...Brazen Style with Nina Crespo and Giveaway

Nina Crespo lives in Florida where she indulges in her favorite passions—the beach, a good glass of wine, date night with her own real-life hero and dancing. Her lifelong addiction to romance began in her teens while on a “borrowing spree” in her older sister’s bedroom where she discovered her first romance novel. Curiosity about people and places, including what’s beyond the stars, fuels her writer’s imagination.

Her Birthday Dare series novellas, TAKE ME IF YOU DARE and NAUGHTY LITTLE WISHES, are available from Entangled Publishing. Her fantasy series, THE SONG, is available through Kensington Publishing-Lyrical Press. Let Nina’s sensual contemporary stories and steamy paranormal tales feed your own addiction for love, romance, and happily ever after. 

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ARC Review: Heir to the Duke by Jane Ashford

I wasn't very fond of Heir to the Duke by Jane Ashford. Boredom can't even begin to cover it. I also cannot say that this book was a romance. I never felt my heart beat fast or "swoon" over any occasion. The story felt more of a Chicklit with the female lead "coming out of her shell" being the main focus.

The book begins with Violet and Nathaniel's wedding. They'd been acquaintances and felt the match would be amiable. Shockingly for Nathaniel, Violet had been holding back from having fun because of her overbearing grandmother. Violet blooms so to speak with marriage and independence but soon finds herself in sticky situations she could have easily avoided.

I never got a true feel for Nathaniel's character. Violet's history and family secrets are the only things that drove me to finish the story. I was tempted to quit several times. I really don't know what compelled me to finish. Sadly, not a great sampling from this author, and I'll be shocked if I read another of her books.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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