Weekly Winners

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

Nora-Adrienne

The Crowns of Croswolds by D.E. Night

Joanne

SEAL Wolf Undercover by Terry Spear

Nancy

Knight on the Texas Plains by Linda Broday

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: In the Crease by Toni Aleo

I will admit that I haven't read all of the Assassins series by Toni Aleo, but after reading the blurb for In the Crease I knew I wanted to read it. I guess technically it is a standalone story, though I don't know that I would recommend reading it out of order as I did. While I was able to understand this book, there were a lot of characters and things referenced that just didn't mean anything to me since I hadn't read the previous books, and that had me feeling a bit left out at times...like I was missing something. 

Wren doesn't do commitment and doesn't believe in love. So when she finds herself unexpectedly pregnant and in need of a husband and daddy for her baby, she doesn't know where to turn first. Her brother's best friend Jensen is a great guy though and she knows that he would be perfect. She only needs him to agree to be her husband for a short while until she receives her inheritance and after that he can go his own way with a decent amount of money from Wren. But Jensen has always wanted Wren, even though she was off limits, and he will do whatever it takes to show her that they should be together for real. But can he get Wren to take a chance on a future together when she is scared to have her heart broken by finally letting someone in? 

Jensen was a great guy. I liked him a lot, but he was almost too perfect if that makes any sense. I felt bad for him and really wanted better for him at times. Wren drove me a bit nuts. It was nice to see a heroine that was comfortable with her sexuality and had no problem sleeping with men without having a series relationship. That being said though, she was so insecure and after the first thousand times of Jensen reassuring her it got real old real quick. I was so tired of hearing her worry about being fat or being a whore. Seriously how many more ways could Jensen and her family have said it before she started to actually believe it? For her being a therapist, it just didn't make sense to me. She was really immature at times and it just didn't strike me as being entirely believable. 

Besides my issues with the characters themselves, my biggest problem with this story was that it was just so repetitive. It felt like we were constantly going through the same things over and over and I just got tired of it. Same conversation and self-doubt, followed by reassurance, followed again by Wren once again questioning everything and lacking confidence. I was just over it by the time that it seemed like we got to the end. The story just seemed to move so slowly because of it and at times that drag just really had me wanting to put this one down and move on. Overall, this one just wasn't what I had been hoping for or expecting and sadly was hard for me to get into. I did finish, but there were several times I wanted to give up. If you are a fan of the series, you might enjoy this one more than I did. But if you haven't read the previous books, you might want to read those first before deciding to read this one.

**ARC Provided by Ardent PRose**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iTunes | 

Feature and Giveaway: Can't Hardly Breathe by Gena Showalter

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with an irresistible Original Heartbreakers story about a woman who’s never felt desired and the man who wants her more than air to breathe…

Bullied in high school, Dorothea Mathis’s past is full of memories she’d rather forget. But there’s one she can’t seem to shake—her longstanding crush on former Army Ranger Daniel Porter.  Now that the sexy bad boy has started using her inn as his personal playground, she should kick him out...but his every heated glance makes her want to join him instead.

Daniel returned to Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma to care for his ailing father and burn off a little steam with no strings attached. Though he craves the curvy Dorothea night and day, he’s as marred by his past as she is by hers. The more he desires her, the more he fears losing her.

But every sizzling encounter leaves him desperate for more, and soon Daniel must make a choice: take a chance on love or walk away forever.

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Feature and Giveaway: So In Love by Darcy Burke

After a hot hook-up on New Year’s Eve, Crystal Donovan plans to avoid Jamie Westcott, which could be difficult, given the size of Ribbon Ridge. But she’s only there a few days doing research on the town’s history then it’s back to her glam life in LA. When his family holds the key to unraveling a century-old mystery she has to seek him out—and the sparks are still flying.

Jamie Westcott works his ass off to repay his college loans, which doesn’t leave much time for other commitments. Crystal’s a perfect fling: she’s fun and sexy and, best of all, they have little in common and she lives somewhere else. Only, the more time they spend together the closer they get, despite their intent to keep things casual.

When everyone learns Crystal sold a screenplay exposing the dark secrets of Ribbon Ridge—and Jamie’s family—she becomes the town pariah. Jamie won’t leave and Crystal can’t stay—can love show them another way?

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo |

ARC Review: The Beauty of US by Kristen Proby

I have loved this series since the very beginning and with each new book that is released, Kristen Proby just makes me fall in love with her writing all over again. The Fusion series is definitely at the top of my favorites list, and I swear each book is as good as the last if not better. The Beauty of Us was no exception, and I cannot recommend these books enough. 

Riley knows that having the restaurant she co-owns with her best friends on a TV show could be great for business, but also disruptive to their lives. While she has mixed feelings, the girls of Seduction ultimately agree to go ahead with the show. But when the show's producer Trevor shows up, she never expects the intense attraction between them. The more time they spend together, the stronger their connection grows. But what happens when filming is over, and it is time for Trevor to leave? 

I loved these two. The chemistry between them was there right from the start. It was so real and I felt like these two were just perfect for one another. The more they got to know one another though, the more the just fit. Trevor was super sweet, and I loved how into Riley he was. He was romantic and had me swooning right along with Riley. Riley was just as easy to like, being strong and smart and the kind of girl you would want to hang out with in real life. 

Overall, this book was another fantastic addition to the Fusion series. I can't get enough of this world and the characters that Kristen Proby has created! The ladies of Seduction and their men are such a great group and the camaraderie between them is special and engages the reader each and every time. I love how tight this group of characters are and that they truly have each other's backs and do everything together. If you are looking for a great romance series with characters that are fun and lovable, this series is a must read!

**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**

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Feature: A Pinch of Salt by Bethany Lopez

For the past year, talented chef Millie has been consumed with running her new catering business with her sisters, Dru and Tasha. It isn't until Jackson walks through their door that she realizes something may be missing in the recipe of her life.

For the past year, Jackson has been dealing with the fallout of his wife's abandonment. He's had to learn how to be a single father to their eight-year-old daughter, and will do anything to fill the void her mother left. It isn't until he commissions Millie for his daughter's birthday party that he realizes he's forgotten that he's not only a father, but a man.

They both think they're content in their lives, but sometimes the right amount of spice can turn an okay dish into a magnificent one. A Pinch of Salt may be all that's needed to bring Millie and Jackson the flavor they've been missing.

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Guest Post with Author Hayson Manning and Giveaway

I love Princess Bride, Young and the Restless, Days of our Lives – the drama is deliciously addictive. Big Bang Theory but will take Wolowitz over Cooper. Star Trek not Star Wars. Undercover Boss, Secret Millionaire – any story that shows the little guy making it. I follow the Buffalo Bills like a religion. I am spellbound by showjumping and equestrian eventing. I love curling up and reading all books – no genre is off-topic. I like ironing, I hate peas, love donkeys, I play a killer game of Scrabble. I will often be heading towards the fridge for another Diet Coke. I eat nothing with legs and believe wine goes with everything, oh and I’m an expert at finding new and inventive ways to avoid exercise.

I live in the sparkly beachside suburb of Redondo Beach in California with my infuriating shoe-dropping husband and my two boys who speak in mystifying grunts.

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ARC Review: After the Game by Abbi Glines

I have to admit that I had no idea what to expect with After the Game when I started this book. I have read and loved books by Abbi Glines, but I have also read and really disliked books by her as well. The Field Party series is one that I have both loved and disliked, so I just wasn't sure what I would get here. While this book still doesn't compare to the first in the series for me, I did like it better than the second book. Technically After the Game can be read as a standalone story, but I really wouldn't recommend it as I think you will lose some of the experience if you just jump in here. The backstory is mostly explained, but these characters are set up from the very beginning and I think the reader gets a better idea of where they have been and where they are going if you have read the first two books in the series before starting here. 

Riley fled Lawton after accusing the town's golden boy of rape when no one believed her. But now that Rhett is off at college and her grandmother needs help, her family makes the decision to return for Riley's senior year. The town still hasn't forgotten all that she accused Rhett of though, and the reception she receives is less than friendly. But the town's current golden boy and quarterback of the football team Brady offers Riley some kindness when he finds her and her daughter in need of some help. Soon he begins to question everything he thought he knew as he gets to know Riley and her little girl. 

After the last book, Brady had a lot of redeeming to do and I really felt like he did. There were still times that I struggled with his character, but I did see growth and change and that made a difference. I also liked Riley a lot. She was strong and great with her daughter, and I loved her for it. She definitely had a good head on her shoulders, especially with everything that had happened. I felt like these two worked well together, and I liked them for one another. I wasn't entirely captivated by them the way I was with Maggie and West, but I did like them. 

I will say though that there were a few things that didn't work for me here. They might be minor spoilers, so please stop reading if that is something you would like to avoid. The first thing is the fact that Rhett got off with no consequences for what he had done. I understand forgiveness was a big deal, but I just wasn't okay with nothing happening to him. The second thing was how abrupt this one ended, and the fact that there was no epilogue to give us any kind of glance into the future. With them leaving school soon and heading off to the real world, it really felt like things between them were tentative at best and that they could be heading in different directions. I really wanted more and I felt like the reader was left hanging a bit. It wasn't a cliffhanger really, but it definitely felt unresolved. Overall, this was better than the last book but still nothing like the first. I am hoping that maybe Abbi will write more in this series and we can see how things are a bit down the line for these characters.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Traitor in Her Arms by Shana Galen

Traitor in Her Arms by Shana Galen was full of anticipation, danger, and action. Then she threw in a love story that was pretty remarkable. I enjoyed reading this book very much.

Lady Gabrielle is a widow who's husband left her with a mountain of gambling debt. She finds herself being threatened to pay back the creditors, and she fears being taken into prostitution by them. So she takes matters into her own hands and begins a life of thievery. It's working out decently well for her, too, until she is interrupted during a job by a friend of her late husband, the Earl of Sedgwick.

The Earl, Ramsey Barnes, is being blackmailed. He has secrets that he does not want out in the open, and so he must steal priceless items for his blackmailer. In doing so, he interrupts Gabrielle in her attempt at stealing jewelry at a party, because he has already snatched the item himself. Seeing her again spices up old feelings, and the intensity of the situation also turns up the heat.

The two almost have a bit of a rivalry passion that they cannot control. Then, the two are brought together again. This time, Gabrielle is given an assignment by the Scarlet Pimpernel to save a french lady and her daughter before they are executed in the revolutionized France. Ramsey is tasked with discovering who the Scarlet Pimpernel is for his blackmailer. They create an untrustworthy team in France, trying to accomplish their goals while staying alive. The high stakes atmosphere creates quite a steamy ambiance.

I enjoyed the intensity of this book a lot. I was biting my nails with worry over the character's outcomes. The bad times made the good times so much better. Shana Galen is wonderful at creating these chemistries. I haven't liked one of her books this much since I read The Making of a Duchess. I look forward to reading the rest of the Scarlet Pimpernel series. 

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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Feature: Love Another Day by Lexi Blake

A man born to protect

After a major loss, Brody Carter found a home with the London office of McKay-Taggart. A former soldier, he believes his job is to take the bullets and follow orders. He’s happy to take on the job of protecting Dr. Stephanie Gibson while the team uses her clinic in Sierra Leone to bring down an international criminal. What he never expected was that the young doctor would prove to be the woman of his dreams. She’s beautiful, smart, and reckless. Over and over he watches her risk her life to save others. One night of pure passion leads him to realize that he can’t risk his heart again. When the mission ends, Brody walks away, unwilling to lose another person he loves.

A woman driven to heal

Stephanie’s tragic past taught her to live for today. Everything she’s done in the last fifteen years has been to make up for her mistakes. Offering medical care in war-torn regions gives her the purpose she needs to carry on. When she meets her gorgeous Aussie protector, she knows she’s in too deep, but nothing can stop her from falling head over heels in love. But after one amazing night together, Brody walks away and never looks back. Stephanie is left behind…but not alone.

A secret that will change both their lives

A year later, Stephanie runs afoul of an evil mercenary who vows to kill her for failing to save his son. She runs to the only people she trusts, Liam and Avery O’Donnell. She hasn’t come alone and her secret will bring her former lover across the world to protect her. From Liberia to Dallas to Australia’s outback, Brody will do whatever it takes to protect Stephanie from the man who wants to kill her, but it might be her own personal demons that could destroy them both.

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N | iTunes |

Review: The Coppersmith Farmhouse by Devney Perry

The Coppersmith Farmhouse is the first book in the Jamison Valley series by Devney Perry. It is also her debut novel and I really loved it. I actually started this series by reading the second book first, but after reading The Clover Chapel I knew I had to go back and read the first to see where it all started. Each book is a standalone story and you don't need to read them in order, but I would definitely suggest it as some major parts of the first book will be spoiled if you read them out of order.

After the loss of a dear friend, Gigi leaves her old life behind to head to small-town Montana with her young daughter when she is gifted a farmhouse. Still coping with the loss and the transition to their new life, the last thing she needs is the attitude coming from the town's sheriff. Though he is beyond sexy, he seems determined to be a jerk for no apparent reason. Jess thinks he knows exactly the type of woman that Gigi is, and he is bitter after the farmhouse that should have been his goes to Gigi instead. Yet as much as he wants to dislike her and he tries to push her away, he can't fight what he feels for her and the attraction between them. But when he starts to get to know the real her, he quickly finds out he was wrong and knows he will have his work cut out for him if he is to make up for his terrible behavior. Can he earn her trust and show her that there is more between them than either of them could have ever expected? 

I really liked Gigi and Jess in the second book, so I couldn't wait to get to know them more here. I loved them even more in this story, and I genuinely enjoyed seeing their connection form. These two had off the charts chemistry and that was a great start to their relationship. Their connection was slower to build, but as they started to get to know one another it was obvious that they belonged together. Gigi's daughter Rowen stole the show here, and I loved her with Jess. She was fantastic and these three were so special.

Overall, this was a great story and I think that readers will really enjoy it. There were a few times that the pacing felt a bit slow, but honestly the story is so good that I was never tempted to put it down. I have seen other readers compare Devney Perry's writing/books to those of Kristen Ashley and I can definitely see why they think that. I think that if you enjoy KA's books that Devney Perry is definitely an author worth checking out. Her alpha heroes and strong characters are ones that I feel instantly invested in and she has yet to disappoint me. Devney Perry is definitely an author to watch and I am already looking forward to the third book in this series after reading The Coppersmith Farmhouse and The Clover Chapel.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iTunes |

Feature and Giveaway: Sunsets at Seaside by Addison Cole

Jessica Ayers has lived a sheltered life with little more than cello lessons and practices taking up her day. Now a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, she escapes the prim and proper symphony to vacation in the Seaside community in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, to determine if she is living life to the fullest or missing it altogether.

For the first time since developing the second largest search engine in the world, billionaire Jamie Reed is taking the summer off. He plans to work from the Cape and spend time with his elderly grandmother—and falling in love is not in his plans.

From the moment Jamie and Jessica meet, the attraction is white-hot. Once-overly-focused Jamie can think of little else than sweet, smart, and alluring Jessica, and Jessica discovers a side of herself she never knew existed. But when Jamie’s business encounters trouble and his attorney and best friend intervenes, he proves that the brown-haired beauty is too distracting for Jamie. To make matters worse, it appears that Jessica might not be who she says she is, turning Jamie’s life—and his heart—upside down. In a world where personal information is always one click away, Jamie must decide if he should trust his heart or watch the woman he loves walk away.

Sunsets at Seaside is the sweet edition of the steamy romance novel Seaside Sunsets by Melissa Foster

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ARC Review: Drunk Dial by Penelope Ward

I couldn't wait to get my hands on Drunk Dial by Penelope Ward! She is one of my favorite authors, and with each new book of hers I read I just love her more. I loved the premise of this one though, and the fact that it was a second chance romance was what made it torture waiting for it! Once I got my hands on Landon and Rana's book, I couldn't put it down. 

Landon and Rana were friends as children, but when her parents moved suddenly they lost touch. Rana was never able to forget Landon though, and one night after too much to drink she calls him after finding his phone number. Soon she is letting out years of pent-up emotions on him, but she never expects that he will call her back after she hangs up. Landon and Rana continue to talk and they both realize that the connection they once shared has never gone away. Both have secrets though and they know they could change everything if they were revealed. But what happens when Rana books a ticket to fly and see Landon after years apart and nothing but a few phone conversations in the present? 

I really liked these two. Landon was probably my favorite hero from Penelope Ward to date! I absolutely adored him! Sweet and sexy and impossible not to fall for, he had me swooning from the start. I really liked Rana though too, and together they were perfection. Their connection was undeniable, and I loved that they had never been able to forget one another. They each had things that they had gone through that they were afraid to tell one another and I loved seeing the trust build between them as they got to know one another again. I also really loved how straight forward and honest Landon was. I loved that he revealed everything to Rana, even knowing it could cost him everything. I really admired that and it was just another reason I loved him. 

Overall, this was another great read from Penelope. I will say that the reason this wasn't a five star book for me was that while I loved the story, there were a few common threads here from her other books. While the story itself was different, she has a few habits that she tends to stick with and you can almost check them off a list at times. While the circumstances are always different, I was able to predict Rana's big secret with ease due to Penelope's past books and I would have liked to have not known and been surprised. The story was still really good and one I definitely recommend, I just wish that I hadn't been able to figure it out ahead of time. But trust me when I say that this book is worth the read for Landon alone. I love Penelope Ward's books, and this was another great one.

**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iTunes | 

 

ARC Review: Falling Into the Black by Lauren Runow

Once I started Falling Into the Black by Lauren Runow, I didn't want to put it down! I was originally drawn in by the blurb, as it sounded like it would be sexy and full of angst. It was everything I was expecting and I was captivated from start to finish. I really enjoyed the characters and the story and I wasn't ready for it to be over when I reached the end! I really hope that Lauren writes the story of the guy that didn't get his HEA here. 

Evangeline left her small hometown behind and changed her name with the hopes of moving forward and past the pain. But ten years later, she still finds herself unable to forget everything that she left behind. She is working at a law firm and going to night classes to become a lawyer and when her friend asks her for help at the exclusive sex club her husband owns, Evangeline jumps at the chance thinking it can do nothing but help. But when she meets two masked men that love to share their women, she finds herself drawn to each of them for different reasons. As they all begin to get to know one another, things quickly get complicated as identities are revealed and they must all come to terms with what that means for them. 

I really liked these characters. They had moments where each of them showed some immaturity and I wanted to shake them a bit. But it was nice to see that they were human and that what they were all feeling was real. Evangeline had a past with one of them men, and the more that was revealed, the more my heart broke for them. I was rooting for them from the start. That being said though, I was just as drawn to the other man as Evangeline was. There is no denying that there was a connection there as well. It was sweet and sexy, and I was rooting for him as well. Honestly, I was so torn here because I felt like there really was no wrong choice for her, and that in any other life she could have been happy with either of them. While I do think that she ended up where she belonged, I think that she would have been just as happy with the other option. I was really starting to hope that this wouldn't be a love triangle and that in the end they would all stay together. 

Overall, this was a really great story and it drew me in right away. I am pretty new to Lauren Runow's books, but this defiitely won't be the last I read from her. I enjoyed this one, and I felt connected to the story and the characters. It was sweet and emotional, while also being sexy and full of steam. This story had it all, and I definitely recommend it to those that are looking for something on the erotic side. As I mentioned above, I am really hoping that we get the other man's story that didn't get his HEA here as I really loved him and think he deserves everything he didn't get here. I wasn't ready to let him go at the end of Falling Into the Black and I think readers will love him like I did and feel the same way.

**ARC Provided by Author**

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