Weekly Winners

**Monthly Newsletter Giveaway Winners**

Patty
Swag Pack

Janie
Book from the RFTC Book Stash

Jessie
Jade Lee Book Pack

Maria
Kindle copy of Best Kind of Broken by Chelsea Fine

Kristina
Kindle copy of Fall With Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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: Ravenous by M.S. Force

Ravenous is actually the first book that I have read from M. S. Force (Marie Force). While it is the first I have read from her, Ravenous is the fifth book in her Quantum series. I really enjoyed this story, and I definitely want to read the rest of the series from her now. I will say that while this book does have elements of Erotica and BDSM, it is what I would call light BDSM. If you are a little nervous due to the cover or though of this being a BDSM story, I recommend giving it a shot as it definitely leans more towards contemporary with some erotic elements than what I would classify as traditional erotica. 

Ellie Godfrey is tired of waiting for the perfect man to come along and give her the life she desperately wants. After seeing her friends and family settle down and start their own families, she is ready to take her life in her own hands and make it happen. So while on a trip with friends and family to Mexico, she decides that it is time that she has a baby. When she mentions it to her close friend Jasper, he has no intention of letting her use a sperm donor. He intends to give her the baby she wants, but he wants it to be done the natural way. Jasper has wanted Ellie since he has known her, but she has always been off limits as the sister of his close friend and business partner Flynn. But now that he finally has the chance to be with her, he isn't about to pass it up. But Jasper also knows that he can't offer her the life he wishes he could, which is why they agree to make a baby together but remain friends with Ellie having sole custody of their child. The more time they spend together though, the more the lines start to blur and soon they both find themselves beginning to wonder what would happen if they tried to actually be together. 

I really loved these characters. Jasper was sweet and sexy, and I loved that he was so great with Ellie right from the start. He was protective and possessive, yet it was in a way that showed how much he cared for her and not in a way that made him come off as controlling or like he was a jerk. These two had always had feelings for one another, yet for many reasons they had never explored them. So it was great to see them finally give in to those and see how much more they could be together. Jasper was so charming and I couldn't get enough of him. Ellie was strong and sweet, and these two could not have been more perfect together. Their chemistry was off the charts, and I really thought that they worked so well on every level. 

Overall, this was a really good story and I didn't want to put it down. I loved these two together and their story was sweet and sexy from start to finish. As I mentioned before, this one does have elements of BDSM and erotica, as Jasper does have a dominant side and prefers control in the bedroom. While there are some things that some readers might not be comfortable with, this book is pretty light on the BDSM front and read to me more like a contemporary romance with a ton of steam. I really enjoyed it though, and highly recommend giving it a chance if you like your romance novels to be on the sexy side. I am looking forward to reading more from M.S. Force in the future, and can't wait to read the rest of the Quantum series.

**ARC Provided by Author**

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Feature and Giveaway: A Cowboy Christmas Miracle by Carolyn Brown

It will take a miracle bigger than the state of Texas for these two feuding families to survive the holidays!

Opposites might attract…

The Brennans and the Gallaghers put aside their one-hundred-year feud every Tuesday for their weekly poker game. This week, the stakes are sky-high. Goaded to recklessness, Declan Brennan bets one thousand dollars that he can woo the next woman to walk into the saloon. A minute later, fiery-haired Betsy Gallagher pushes through the doors. If Declan can tame this wild Gallagher, he’ll have earned every penny.

If they don’t kill each other first…

Betsy can outshoot anybody in Burnt Boot and loves ranching more than anything—until she falls for Declan. He’s fallen for her too. But when she discovers what sparked their courtship, Declan will need a Christmas miracle to save his hide—and his heart.

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ARC Review: A Scot in the Dark by Sarah MacLean

I love Sarah MacLean! What an amazing story, writer and experience. I’m not new to MacLean’s storytelling but every time I read one of her stories, whether I love or like it, it always sticks with me. I loved MacLean’s message in “A Scot in the Dark” and felt changed and inspired by her story. Although this is part of the “Scandal and Scoundrel” series, Miss Lillian Hargrov-the central character, is not one of the scandalous sisters that we meet in the first book in the series “The Rogue Not Taken.” The hero, Alec, The Duke of Warnick is a friend that appears in the first book and his presence plays an important but in the first book.

When the story begins, Lily is enticed into posing nude for a portrait done by an artist she believes to be in love with and whom she believes loves her. Lily assumes that marriage is near and that she has found the man of her dreams. Lily is a beautiful woman who often attracts lots of attention because of her beauty. When Lily soon learns that she is tricked the only way she thinks to survive is to flee once her portrait is exposed to all of London-and eventually the world.

Alec has the bad fortune to inherit a dukedom that kills off over 10 dukes which leaves him to be the next Duke in line. But impending death is not what Alec fears or loathes. Alec hates all things English and especially society. To add to his already disadvantages he realizes that Lily is a ward that is attached to this title. Neither Alec nor Lily are too happy with their current situation but Alec soon realizes that his and her problems can easily be solved-marry Lily off. Lily has plans of her own. She is due an inheritance at her next birthday and she wants to take her money and flee England. It isn’t long before Alec realizes that his plan will never work and that he can’t support Lily in her own plans to flee. Alec knows that Lily deserves better.

One of the many reasons I always jump for MacLean’s stories is that her characters are always so memorable. I just loved Lily and my heart broke for her. Lily is not a member of the ton. She is just the ward of a Duke. She has never fit in and has always felt lonely. Alec could not have been a better match for her. He too has his own wounds that he carries around with him but unlike Lily, he had a chance to run and knows that running is never the answer.

I loved both Lily and Alec as individual characters and as a couple. My heart broke for them and I was emotionally invested in their happiness. I loved the surprising twists that MacLean inserted towards the end. I also loved that the scandalous sisters do make an appearance and befriend Lily. My only disappointment is waiting for the next book in the series! This was a strong five stars for me! I just loved everything about it and can’t wait to see what MacLean has in store for us next!

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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Guest Post with Author Susanne Lord

Meet author Susanne Lord author of Discovery of Desire.

Susanne Lord is a writer of Victorian-era romance and author of the London Explorer series published by Sourcebooks. Originally from Okinawa, off-base and on, she now makes her home in Chicago where she is an active member of Chicago North RWA. When not writing, attending theater or reading, she enjoys hiking the English countryside and visiting historic homes and gardens.

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Guest Post with Author Katee Robert and Giveaway

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. She found romance novels at age twelve and it changed her life. When not writing sexy contemporary and speculative fiction romance novels, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her wee ones, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

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ARC Review: An Indecent Proposal by Katee Robert

I am a huge fan of this entire series. I've read every book and enjoyed each one for different reasons. The series follows the two major crime families in Boston via the lives of the O'Malley siblings. This book a standalone and you really don't need to read the others first to read this one but I suggest you do. This installment contains minor spoilers of the previous books in the series and you really need to get to know all the issues with the various O'Malley siblings to follow the context of the book.

This is the story of Cillian and Olivia. Cillian is one of the O'Malley siblings. His brother was killed in book one and the O'Malley children have been falling apart (and some rebuilding themselves) ever since that point. Cillian is still in falling apart mode when this book begins. He is struggling with the demons of his past and the control of his family. There is a really sad quality about Cillian. At first when he is not pursuing Olivia, he seems almost wistful.

As for Olivia, she is bad ass. Olivia has run from a New York crime family so that she can have a good life with her child. The very last thing Olivia needs is a problem like Cillian but she is totally unable to resist him. Olivia was one of my favorite characters because she is a perfect balance of strength and vulnerability. At one point Olivia puts a shotgun on her shoulder and protects someone in need of help. I love that in a character.

The chemistry between Olivia and Cillian is so well depicted. The two can't deny their attraction for each other, no matter how inconvenient it is. I loved seeing how Olivia helped Cillian to confront his present and how Cillian helped Olivia to confront her past. If you have read any of these books, you know that the sprinkle in suspense and action. The arcs of the story are what get me. The book builds and always ends in an explosion followed by a HEA. At the same time, we get to check in with the other O'Malley siblings and get an idea of where some of their stories might be headed in the future.

I still love the first book in the series the best but I love all the other books too. I strongly recommend you read all of the books in this series.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Wide Open Spaces by Aurora Rose Reynolds

Wide Open Spaces is the second book in the Shooting Stars Series by Aurora Rose Reynolds. While I have read and enjoyed books by Aurora Rose Reynolds before, I hadn't read the first book in this series before starting this book. I can't wait to go back and read it after reading this story though. 

After making the most difficult decision of her life, Shelby left her Alaskan hometown with no plans to return. She was left feeling empty and alone, but she found a way to go on with her life. Now fifteen years later, Shelby returns home with her ten year old son after losing her grandfather and a painful divorce. She knew she would run into her childhood love Zach Watters again with how small the town is, but she never expected that he would be single and not willing to let her go for a second time. 

I really liked these two. They had such a strong connection and chemistry that had never gone away despite all that had happened. Their love was never the problem for them, and it was so clear to see that what these two shared was unique and special. They had some really tough decisions that they had to make at a young age, and they both were left to deal with the fallout of those decisions. My heart broke for them, even though they had done what was best for them. I was so glad to see that they were able to reconnect though, and I really felt like Shelby and Zach belonged together. Everything that happened was for a reason, and while it was heartbreaking at times it really felt like these two needed to go through everything that they did to end up exactly where they should.

Overall, this was a really great story. I enjoyed it a lot and once I started it, I couldn't put it down. Zach and Shelby were great characters, and I felt so invested in their story from start to finish. I think that fans of Aurora Rose Reynolds will really enjoy this book, and those that have yet to read her books will love it as well. It is beautiful, emotional, and a captivating story that you can't help but lose yourself in. I highly recommend this one, especially if you love second chance romance stories.

**ARC Provided by TRSOR Promotions**

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Feature and Giveaway: Last Kiss of Summer by Marina Adair

He's one bad apple she just can't resist…

Kennedy Sinclair never dreamed she'd own a pie shop and an orchard in a small town like Destiny Bay. But nestled between the mountains and the Pacific Ocean, it's the perfect place to cross something off her "Life's short so eat the icing first" list and start her life over from scratch. Her shop, Sweetie Pies, is famous for its hot, flaky apple turnovers and sinfully delicious deep dish pie. For Kennedy though, nothing is more enticing than the tall, strapping slice of temptation who keeps coming back for more.

Luke Callahan is determined to make his hard cider business a success. With his beloved father's cider recipe and the opportunity of a lifetime in his grasp, he'll stop at nothing to get this deal done. There's just one catch: he needs Kennedy's apples. At first, he thinks it'll be as easy as pie to charm those apples right off her trees. But Kennedy isn't falling for his tender charms or his wicked ways. When the negotiations start heating up, so do the feelings they have for each other. And it takes just one kiss to seal the deal…

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ARC Review: For Better or Worse by Lauren Layne

I love Lauren Layne. Really. I have not read a bad book by her. Heather and Josh were like Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake in Friends with Benefits. They all say I don't want to fall in love, it's just sex. yadda yadda...Famous last words. Lauren Layne just keeps raising the bar when it comes to her books I swear they just keep getting better and better.

The Wedding Belles is doing better than ever and now they have the chance to nail a big celebrity client and she wants Heather. Alexis says that Heather finally gets her chance to get promoted to full Wedding Planner, no longer an assistant but first she has to plan the wedding for a social media princess who just gave her the kiss of death, she gave her carte blanche to plan the wedding. Getting free range isn’t as wonderful as it sounds, the bride will either hate it or love it and Heather is risking her career and the reputation of the Wedding Belles on this one gig. Heather knows something is up but she’s not willing to risk her chance at a promotion to call the bride on her BS. Luckily Heather has an inside track her new neighbor use to date her client.

Josh is living like he's dying, he survived cancer and now he gave up his high profile Wall Street job and is living life to the fullest. Well so he thought, but it's getting old. He plays in his band, writes music, works out and sleeps with a different woman every night is he wants to. His newest entertainment trying to seduce his new neighbor. From the first time she came over getting on to him about playing his music to loud he was hooked, she was just the challenge he was looking for. He likes hanging out with her and sex has never been so good but when it comes to his life he shuts her outs.

It was just supposed to be sex but the more they got to know each other the more their feelings came into play. Spending Thanksgiving with Josh's family and then New Years together. Heather finding reasons to spend time with Josh never even realizing the feelings she was feelings were love. Josh trying to keep Heather at a distance because the possibility that he might get sick again and not wanting her to be hurt.

Overall, this was a fun and sweet story, it also hints more at Alexis and Logan, fills you in on what’s happening with Brooke and Seth. Josh and Heather are such a fun couple with their teasing.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: All of the Lights by K. Ryan

I have to admit that what first drew me to this story was the beautiful cover. I have never read anything by K. Ryan before, but All of the Lights was one I was excited to take the chance on. Once I started, I was sucked in immediately and couldn't put it down. This was my first K. Ryan novel, but it won't be my last. 

All of the Lights is a modern day take on Romeo and Juliet. Rae and Jack come from different worlds. After an awful attack, Rae sends a man to prison. Trying to move on with her life years later, she takes a job working for her sister's shop and allows her friend to talk her into going out one night. She bumps into Jack, the brother of the man she sent to prison years before. Rae knows that she needs to right some wrongs, and her and Jack begin to work together. But as they begin to learn the truth, they quickly realize that not everything is as they thought and getting the facts could mean going against everything and everyone that they thought they knew. 

I couldn't get enough of these characters. They were complex and interesting, and you could feel the connection between them. They had such different circumstances, yet none of that mattered. What they had was undeniable and the attraction and chemistry between them was so strong. This one didn't have a ton of steam, yet their connection came through regardless. While I typically like my stories with more steam, I found that it didn't stop me from enjoying this one. Rae and Jack had my attention the whole way through, and there was enough going on that I didn't miss the heat. 

Overall, this was a great story. There was suspense, romance, emotion and angst. I will admit that this book was a bit of a roller coaster, yet I didn't want to stop reading. I really enjoyed it, and I think that fans of Romeo and Juliet will definitely love this one as well. If you are new to K. Ryan like I was, don't be afraid to take the chance on a new author. I definitely can't wait to see what else K. Ryan writes in the future, and I look forward to reading more from her.

**ARC Provided by IndieSage PR**

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Guest Post with Author Kira Archer and Giveaway

Meet Kira Archer author Pretending with the Greek Billionaire.

Kira Archer resides in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kiddos, and far too many animals in the house. She tends to laugh at inappropriate moments, break all the rules she gives her kids (but only when they aren’t looking), and would rather be reading a book than doing almost anything else. She has odd, eclectic tastes in just about everything and often lets her imagination run away with her. She loves her romances a little playful, a lot sexy, and always with a happily ever after.

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Feature and Giveaway: For Better or Worse by Lauren Layne

Will a budding wedding planner and her bad boy neighbor stop banging heads and start hearing wedding bells in the sexy second novel in USA TODAY bestselling author Lauren Layne’s irresistible new series that marries Sex and the City with The Wedding Planner?

When small-town girl Heather Fowler finally gets promoted from assistant to actual wedding planner, she’s determined to make it as one of Manhattan’s elite Wedding Belles. Unfortunately, her first client demands an opulent black-tie affair at the Plaza…in five months’ time. Heather’s days quickly become a flurry of cake tastings, dress-fittings, RSVP cards, and bridal tantrums. But what she’s really losing sleep over is the live music blaring from her playboy neighbor’s apartment all night.

Five years ago, Josh Tanner was an up-and-comer on Wall Street, complete with the penthouse and the migraines. But a grim cancer diagnosis made him realize there is more to life than the corner office. If only he could convince his pretty, workaholic neighbor to let loose, too. As Heather lets down her guard, Josh is surprised when he starts falling for the sweet, vulnerable woman hiding beneath those power suits. Soon, it’s Heather’s turn to convince Josh to take the biggest risk of all: love.

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ARC Review: Dirty Little Lies by Lora Leigh

I went back and checked, this is the 3rd book in this series. It is marketed as a standalone. Maybe it is but I couldn't tell. There were so many characters in this book and such a complex plot, that I really don't recommend you try to follow it without reading the first two books in the series. I didn't start the series at the beginning, I started with this book and I spent nearly the entire book trying to sort everything out. I couldn't even follow all the terminology being used because I was so busy trying to sort out who was trying to kill who and who was on whose side.

So here is what I can tell you: The couple in this book are Zack and Grace. Zack and Grace have known one another for years but both have hidden who they really are from each other. They have really been hiding their identities from every one around them to protect family secrets and alliances. Because of something her Mother did, Grace finds herself in grave danger. The only way Zack can protect her is to reveal who he really is. The problem is that who Zack really is turns out to be a grade A jerk.

Grace has gotten by and remained safe by pretending to be weak and innocent. In reality, Grace is well trained in self defense, is highly intelligent and is the inner circle of the government funded militia run by her family. Grace has had to deal with people assuming she is weak her entire life. She does not take too kindly at all to getting that treatment from Zack. Zack believes he needs to protect Grace. He is partially correct but he doesn't appreciate Grace's own abilities. The two wind up being enemies with an intense attraction to one another that is constantly boiling over.

I think there is a good story in here somewhere. But for me, I felt perpetually lost in all the intrigue and emerging plots. I'm actually going to try to read the series from the beginning, I suggest you do the same.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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