ARC Review: Appealed by Emma Chase

I was so excited to read Appealed by Emma Chase! After seeing Brent previously in this series I just loved him and couldn't wait to get to know him better! Appealed is a standalone, though it is the third book in the Legal Briefs series. Each of the stories are interconnected and a few things might be spoiled, but they are very easily read as standalones. I have to say that Appealed is my favorite of the series though! Loved it and couldn't put it down. 

Brent Mason and Kennedy Randolph have a history. At one point they were best friends, until everything changed. Now they haven't seen each other in 14 years, and they are no longer even close to friends. Brent doesn't like to lose in court and out, and he has set his sights on Kennedy. But Kennedy doesn't lose either and has no intention or allowing him anywhere close to her. Out for revenge, things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out that Kennedy is the prosecutor on one of his cases. But the passion between them is undeniable, and soon they both find themselves with feelings that never went away. 

I really loved Brent! He was so much fun and I loved his attitude. He had lost his leg as a child, and yet it never slowed him down. He was determined to live life to the fullest and didn't let it get in his way. He was sexy and confident, and one of those guys with so much charm you can't help but fall for him. Even when he did things that would drive me nuts, I couldn't help but love him. Kennedy was smart and driven and had also been through a lot. She had been bullied when she was younger and had some bad things happen that had her feeling insecure at times and unable to trust anyone. I really felt for her, even if there were times that she came off as bitchy. It was clear that she was just trying to protect herself, and I really liked her with Brent. Once she started to let him in a little and see where things could go, it was very easy to like her and I could see how perfect they were for one another. The heat between these two was very strong, and I loved their chemistry. 

Overall, this book was so good and I had such a good time reading it! I loved the witty banter between Brent and Kennedy, and seeing them go toe-to-toe in the courtroom was the best sort of foreplay. They had such a spark between them that I just knew things would be explosive once they finally gave in and went for it. Appealed had everything I look for in a great story. It is very rare to find such a well balanced story, but Emma Chase has done it here! Appealed is funny and sexy, charming and emotional, and I think that no matter what genre you read is one that readers will enjoy. Emma Chase is a great writer and you can't go wrong with anything she has written. I can't wait to read more from her in the future and see what she comes up with next.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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Feature and Giveaway: Appealed by Emma Chase

When Brent Mason looks at Kennedy Randolph, he doesn’t see the awkward, sweet girl who grew up next door. He sees a self-assured, stunning woman…who wants to crush the most intimate—and prized—parts of his anatomy beneath the heels of her Louboutins.

When Kennedy looks at Brent, all she sees is the selfish, Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue–worthy teenager who humiliated her in high school in order to join the popular crowd. A crowd that made those years a living hell for her.

But she’s not a lovesick social outcast anymore—she’s a Washington, DC, prosecutor with a long winning streak. Brent is the opposing attorney in her next case, and Kennedy thinks it’s time to put him through a little hell of his own.

But things aren’t exactly working out the way she planned. Brent has his sights set on Kennedy, and every fiery exchange only makes him want her more—and makes her wonder if he’s as passionate in the bedroom as he is in the courtroom. In the end, they may just find themselves in love…or in contempt of court.

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ARC Review: Off the Clock by Roni Loren

I absolutely love Roni Loren! Not only does Roni Loren never disappoint, but she continues to impress me with her captivating stories, sexy heroes and likable heroines. Just when I think I have a favorite book of hers, she comes out with a new one that takes the other's place. Off the Clock is the first book in her new Pleasure Principle series, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! I love her Loving on the Edge series, but this was a fantastic start and I can't wait for more of these characters! 

Marin Rush and Donovan West met when they were in college and shared a week together over spring break in the lab at their school. While doing research things got hot between them, but their lives went in separate directions. Now nine years later, they are once again thrown together when Marin takes a job for The Grove, a high-end sex therapy institute that specializes in experimental treatment options for their elite clientele of celebrities and rich people. Marin needs Donovan's help to land a permanent position and to help her out since she is about to become the only sex therapist that isn't having sex and is as inexperienced as they come. While Donovan has been trying to land a promotion and needs to show that he can be a good mentor after his last two therapists quit. But when Donovan gives her a list of tasks and research to help her get familiar with sex and the kind of things her clients will be coming to her for, things begin to heat up between them all over again. So when he offers to help her hands-on and off the clock, can they keep things between them so that neither of them get fired or attached? 

I really liked these two. The chemistry between them was off the charts from their very first encounter and I couldn't get enough of them! Donovan and Marin were super sexy together and I loved their banter. Their relationship had a natural ease to it right away, and it was clear that they were able to talk to one another about pretty much anything. Both Donovan and Marin had some really rough times that they had dealt with, and they were able to relate to one another in a way that others didn't understand. I loved seeing them talk with one another and share their stories as well as help each other move forward. Donovan wasn't looking for a relationship and he thought that he was incapable of being someone that deserved Marin. But Marin was great with him and showed him that there was more to him than that, and I thought that she was exactly what he needed. He was great for her as well, and he really helped her to open her eyes to sex and becoming more comfortable with herself and the subjects she would be facing with her clients. 

Overall, another great book from Roni Loren and I honestly cannot wait for more from her. Roni Loren writes such great stories, with each being filled with enough steam and sexy moments to keep you reading, but also enough emotional times to keep you invested in the characters and their relationship. If you are new to Roni's books, this is a great place to start, though I definitely recommend her Loving on the Edge series as well. If you are already a fan of hers though, Off the Clock is a must read and a great way to kick-off her new series.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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Feature and Giveaway: The Earl's Complete Surrender by Sophie Barnes

An unexpected passion ignites as secrets are exposed in Sophie Barnes's captivating Regency-set romance...

Despite the diversions offered at Thorncliff Manor, former spy James, the Earl of Woodford, has one purpose in staying there. He must find an encoded book that exposes a conspiracy within the British aristocracy. And he must do so without revealing his purpose to the clever, tempting Chloe Heartly. The lady has a knack for appearing wherever it is least convenient. In the library. In the salon. And, especially, in his arms...

Somewhere within Thorncliff's labyrinth of rooms lies the journal Chloe desperately seeks. When she realizes the brooding, handsome earl is hunting the same quarry, Chloe enters into an uneasy partnership. But in the face of public danger and enemies hiding in plain sight, both must decide how much they're willing to risk to solve the mysteries of the heart.

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Feature and Giveaway: Off the Clock by Roni Loren

FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE LOVING ON THE EDGE NOVELS, THE FIRST IN A SENSUAL NEW SERIES

Overtime has never felt so good…

Marin Rush loves studying sex. Doing it? That’s another story. In the research lab, Marin’s lack of practical knowledge didn’t matter, but now that she’s landed a job at The Grove, a high-end, experimental sex therapy institute, she can’t ignore the fact that the person most in need of sexual healing may be her.

Dr. Donovan West, her new hotshot colleague, couldn’t agree more. Donovan knows that Marin’s clients are going to eat her alive unless she gets some hands-on experience. And if she fails at the job, he can say goodbye to a promotion, so he assigns her a list of R-rated tasks to prepare her for the wild clientele of The Grove’s X-wing.

But some of those tasks are built for two, and when he finds Marin searching for a candidate to help her check off her list, Donovan decides there’s only one man for the job—him. As long as they keep their erotic, off-the-clock activities strictly confidential and without strings, no one will get fired—or worse, get attached…

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ARC Review: Boys of Fall by K.D. Wood

Boys of Fall is the first story in the Seasons Erotic Novellas series from K.D. Wood. It is a standalone and the first book I have read from K.D. Wood. While I expected this to be novella length, I didn't expect for it to be so short. At just 60 pages, there isn't a lot of story here. I really enjoyed what there was, but I wanted more. 

Autumn Landry and Jerry Mathews have both wanted each other for as long as they can remember. But due to Autumn having been in a relationship, they remained just friends. But when Jerry sees Autumn pleasuring herself and secretly watches, he knows that he needs to say something to her. Autumn and Jerry both plan to attend the annual bonfire to celebrate their school's upcoming game against their rival, and both of them decide that they can't wait any longer to let the other know how they feel and see where things go. 

I liked both Autumn and Jerry. They had great chemistry and a believable connection. I think it helped that these two knew each other previously, so it felt real and natural. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of them together, but there just weren't enough pages here. These two were smoking hot together though, and I absolutely loved how right they were for one another.

If you are looking for something with a lot of depth or development, this definitely isn't the story for you. It is so short that there isn't a lot to each of these characters or to the story itself. But if you are looking for something super sexy that can be read quickly, this is one you really should check out. I think that had this one been a little bit longer it would have been even better. I was on the fence between 3 and 4 stars, but with the length it just wasn't able to quite get there for me. I will read more from K.D. Wood though, and I can't wait to see what she has in store for the next Season Erotic Novellas book.

**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**

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Feature and Giveaway: Dukes Prefer Blondes by Loretta Chase

Lady Clara, the fan-favorite character from Loretta Chase’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling Dressmakers series, finally gets her own happily ever after!

Convenient marriages are rarely so…exciting. Can society’s most adored heiress and London’s most difficult bachelor fall victim to their own unruly desires?

Biweekly marriage proposals from men who can’t see beyond her (admittedly breathtaking) looks are starting to get on Lady Clara Fairfax’s nerves. Desperate to be something more than ornamental, she escapes to her favorite charity. When a child goes missing, she turns to Oliver Radford—a handsome, brilliant, excessively conceited barrister.

Having unexpectedly found himself in line to inherit a dukedom, Radford needs a bride who can navigate the Society he’s never been part of. If he can find one without having to set foot in a ballroom, so much the better. Clara—blonde, blue-eyed, and he must admit, not entirely bereft of brains—will do. As long as he can woo her, wed her—and not, like every other sapskull in London, lose his head over her…

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Check out The Dressmakers series:

  

“My lady?”

Clara looked up. Her lady’s maid, Davis, had been standing in the corridor by the door during the marriage proposal. Though the door stood open, though any number of large footmen lurked in Warford House’s corridors, and though none of Clara’s infatuated swains would dream of uttering a cross word to her, let alone attempt to harm her, Davis remained ever vigilant. People said Davis looked like a bulldog, but looks, Clara very well knew, weren’t everything. Not many years older than her charge, Davis had been hired immediately after one of

Clara’s many childhood contretemps, this time at Vauxhall. She protected Clara from fractures, concussions, drowning, and—most important to Mama—Clara’s becoming A Complete Hoyden.

“Where is Mama?”

Her mother usually entered close on the heels of rejected swains to wonder Where She’d Gone Wrong with her eldest daughter.

“Her ladyship is in bed with a sick headache,” Davis said.

This was probably because she’d had a visit earlier from her poisonous friend Lady Bartham.

“Let’s go out,” Clara said.

“Yes, my lady.”

“To the girls,” Clara said. A visit to the Milliners’ Society for the Education of Indigent Females would give her a chance to do some good instead of brooding about men. “Please order my cabriolet.”

Clara drove herself whenever possible, partly to reduce servants’ spying and tattling, but mainly to feel she was in command of something, even if it was one horse pulling a small, two-wheeled vehicle. At least it was a dashing vehicle. Her eldest brother, Harry, the Earl of Longmore, had bought it for her.

“We’ll stop on the way and buy some trinkets for the girls.” She glanced down at herself. “But I can’t go in this. They must see me in my finest finery.”

When a proposal could not be avoided, she dressed as unflatteringly as she dared, to make her rejection sting less.

The girls were another matter. The Milliners’ Society’s founders were London’s premier modistes, the proprietresses of Maison Noirot. They made Lady Clara’s clothes, and they had taught her that dress was a form of art and a form of manipulation and a language in itself.

Twice they had saved her from what would have been catastrophic marriages.

And so, for their girls, she dressed to inspire.

Loretta Chase has worked in academe, retail, and the visual arts, as well as on the streets-as a meter maid-and in video, as a scriptwriter. She might have developed an excitingly checkered career had her spouse not nagged her into writing fiction. Her bestselling historical romances, set in the Regency and Romantic eras of the early 19th century, have won a number of awards, including the Romance Writers of America’s Rita. For more about her past, her books, and what she does and doesn’t do on social media, please visit her website www.LorettaChase.com.

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ARC Review: Between a Vamp and a Hard Place by Jessica Sims

We begin with two struggling women: Lindsey and Gemma. They are both lovers of antiques and are invested in the business of estate sales. Lindsey is the heroine, and Gemma is her best friend, and partner. However, when Gemma attempts to take the reins and invests in an estate in Venice, Italy (very far from their hometown in Nebraska), she finds herself in a bind. Not only were the two of them scraping by, trying to find the right estate at the right time to find hidden treasure, but now their savings is gone too. However, what Lindsey doesn’t count on, is that Gemma actually found a hidden gem, in more ways than she expected. Enter: Rand Fitzwulf, the 600 year old vampire.

Now, honestly, the characters were the best part of this book, the plot was interesting, and different, but the characters were the best part. Rand was hilarious. The author did a fantastic job at making him seem larger than life, yet clueless to his surroundings. Understandable of course, I mean, who wouldn’t be thrown off kilter if they came back to life 600 years in the future? I’d be afraid personally, but Rand takes every change in stride. Lindsey is funny, mousy, and unusual. She starts out weak, but becomes fierce, and I loved Gemma for the firecracker she is. There were no other characters that we developed a rapport with other than these three, even the villain. Though this may have caused the novel as a whole to fall a little flat at times, the finale was still worth the wait.

Though I thought the plot twist involving who the ultimate bad guy was good (I liked his decoy idea, and Rand’s old friend being the pawn with the enemy), I have seen so many versions of Vlad in books that there have only been a few that I really enjoyed. This wasn’t one of them. The ending was not surprising to me at all, I saw it coming, but I was happy that my suspicions were correct: there is a happy ending for our hero and heroine. For me, the romance of the novel was great and the diction between each character was flawless. Though there were a few unique qualities to the romance that kind of threw me off, I still enjoyed the sexy moments, and I rooted for the couple.

The villain, as mentioned previously, is Vlad, or as we initially come to know him: the Dragon. He is seeking Rand’s life for not being a good little soldier and doing what was expected of him in the past, and now present. He’s cruel and he’ll stop at nothing to achieve Rand’s death. What he isn’t expecting is that Rand has much more courage and steel in his blood than he thought possible, and with Lindsey by his side, he hasn’t a chance. There is adventure, unexpected twists, and wit to be had in this story. Ultimately, I would read another of Jessica Sims’ books if given the chance.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Loud is How I Love You by Mercy Brown

I love romance books, and I especially love the NA genre. That being said, I have a special love for rockstar books! There is just something sexy about a rocker! So I was really excited about reading Loud is How I Love You, especially seeing some of the early reviews raving about it! I have to say that it appears that we did not read the same book however, because everything that they loved was not what I found in this book at all. This is Mercy Brown's debut novel as well as the first in this Hub City series, and I am sad to say that this is not one that I will be continuing. 

I got to about 55-60% of the way through this book before throwing in the towel, and that wasn't a decision I made lightly. I hate not finishing a book, so much so that I went ahead and skimmed to the ending just to see what happened. I wanted to know, and yet I had no desire to actually read the rest of the book.

Loud is How I Love You ( I will refer to it as LIHILY from here, because the title is seriously a mouthful!) is about Emmy. She is in college but is devoted to making her band a success. Though she and her bandmate Travis have always been attracted to each other, they are just best friends until they sleep together one night. Of course having sex changes everything and Emmy is worried that it will destroy the band, so she decides that it can't happen again. Travis wants more however and is determined to show her how good they can be together. 

I really liked Travis. He was the highlight of the part I read, and one of the only things I actually liked here. He was sweet and patient, and deserved far better than how Emmy treated him. This guy was seriously great, and it made me sad that the rest of the story couldn't touch how fantastic he was. I liked the other guys in the band as well, though we barely saw them. Emmy however was one of my biggest issues here though. She was whiny and annoying, and constantly prone to panic attacks about how her and Travis being together would change everything. She was so dramatic and irritating. I didn't like her to begin with and the more I read the worse it got. Immature and irrational, it felt like I was reading a YA novel with a childish heroine. She admits to being in love with Travis, and yet she continues to act crazy. She ran so hot and cold, and I hated how it was Travis that suffered because of her stupidity. I seriously wanted him to just move on and forget all about her. 

The biggest problem that I had though was the author's writing style. Unfortunately Mercy Brown tells more than she shows. LIHILY read more like a teenager's diary than a romance novel. I just couldn't get into it or feel invested in the story because of that and the heroine. I actually think that I would have liked it better had it been laid out like it was Emmy writing in a journal or diary, since the writing style would have made sense then. But I so badly wanted to see inside Travis's head and why he kept putting up with Emmy as well as what he was thinking. I got that he loved her, but after awhile I just didn't understand it and unfortunately all we had was Emmy's POV. I also didn't care for how detailed things were at times, and it got to be very boring. There wasn't a ton of dialogue and the story just felt bogged down and slow. This one was just a miss for me and I didn't have enough interest to finish. If LIHILY sounds like something you might like though, it might be worth giving a shot as I saw plenty of other reviews from people who loved it.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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Guest Post with Author Jayne Fresina and Giveaway

Meet Jayne Fresina author of How to Rescue a Rake.

Jayne Fresina sprouted up in England, the youngest in a family of four daughters. Entertained by her father's colorful tales of growing up in the countryside, and surrounded by opinionated sisters - all with far more exciting lives than hers - she's always had inspiration for her beleaguered heroes and unstoppable heroines.

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Guest Post with Author Mercy Brown

Meet Mercy Brown author of Loud is How I Love You.

Mercy Brown is a retired indie rock front girl turned author and LOUD IS HOW I LOVE YOU is her first book. LOUD is a New Adult novel and will be published by Intermix (Berkley-Penguin) in January 2016. LOUD is based, very, very loosely on Mercy's experiences fronting bands in the 90s. A follow-up will be published in June 2016.

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ARC Review: The Mistake by Elle Kennedy

The Mistake is the second book in the Off-Campus series from Elle Kennedy, and while the characters are interconnected each book is a standalone story. I absolutely loved the first book in the series, The Deal, so I couldn't wait to read the next book in this series. While I was a bit worried that it wouldn't be able to live up to how great the first book was, I knew it would be good. I shouldn't have worried at all though, as this book was every bit as fantastic as the first one was. I honestly love Elle's writing, and I would be completely happy if this series would never end! 

John Logan might appear to have it all, but he knows that time is running out. While he might be a successful hockey player for his college team with the ability to get any girl he wants, he knows that his options end with his graduation. But when he meets Grace Ivers, things begin to change for him. But one mistake ruins everything, and Grace ends things. Logan isn't willing to give up on her or the connection he felt, and he is determined to show her that he is worth giving another chance. Grace is no longer a freshman though, and she isn't the same girl that Logan was getting to know. If Logan wants a chance to be with Grace again, he will have to prove to her that he deserves it. 

I loved these two! I had loved Logan in The Deal, but I couldn't wait to get to know him better here. He had so much more to his background than I had ever expected, and I felt really bad for him and all that he was dealing with. He was so resigned to his fate, and I hated how things were looking for him. Grace was exactly what he needed, and I really enjoyed them together right from the start. Grace was really easy to like, and I thought that she was perfect for Logan. I was glad that she made him work for it after how he had made her feel, but if I am honest I did think that she overreacted when it came to the whole thing. He knew that he had messed up, and I was glad that she ultimately gave him another chance and was able to move past it. These two were not only adorable together, but they had so much heat and chemistry between them. I couldn't get enough of them and I didn't want to put this book down! 

Overall, I am loving this series and this is one of those that I recommend to everyone who loves romance. It has everything you could ask for, and there is something that everyone can relate to with each story. Elle does a great job of bringing the steam, humor, and plenty of emotion and I am becoming such a huge fan of hers. If you haven't checked this series out yet, you are missing out! I can't wait for the next book and I am looking forward to reading whatever else Elle Kennedy writes in the future.

**ARC Provided by Bocci PR**

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