COVER REVEAL Off Limits by Sawyer Bennett

Two years ago, Emily Burnham, had an epiphany about the shallowness of her life. And she made it her mission to become a different person…a better woman. Out from under the controlling thumb of her mother, Emily is tasting the real world for the first time. And she likes it.

Nixon Caldwell has served his time in the Marine Corps, surviving two brutal tours in Afghanistan. He is back home, surrounded by what he likes best…isolation. It's certainly the easiest way to avoid confrontation of the consuming guilt that is weighing him down.

When an accident brings Emily and Nix together, he soon learns he is not the master of his own fate. Struggling with his own pain, Nix tries to guard himself against Emily’s charms. He wants her in his bed, but he doesn’t want her in his heart.

Having grabbed life by the horns, Emily wants it all. But is she willing to accept just the small part of himself that Nix is offering? Or can she reach the part of his soul that he has deemed to be Off Limits?

Release date: 4/16/13 on Amazon

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Fever (Breathless #2) by Maya Banks

Fever (Breathless #2)

by Maya Banks 

Jace Crestwell. This name should now be as synonymous as Gideon Cross, Ethan Blackstone, Gabriel Emerson. Oh good Lord, the ALPHA MALE!

Jace is HOT. He's sexy as hell, and his compassion is a mile wide. As soon as Jace saw Bethany across the ballroom, he knew, just knew, that she was his. For someone who has major kink, and had only threesomes with his best buddy, Ash, experiencing jealousy and possession is a knew one for Jace. After an awkward night in a hotel room, Bethany disappears. Jace does whatever he needs to do to track her down. And when he finds her? He's shocked, terrified, and wants nothing more than to make certain Bethany never has to want for anything again. 

Bethany has never had the "good life".  Tossed from foster family to foster family for years, she's now on the streets. She never knows where she's going to lay her head, never knows where her next meal is coming from, and certainly trusts no one outside of her foster brother Jack. Bethany is weary of Jace, always wondering when Jace is going to toss her away. 

Bethany and Jace are amazing characters. From the opposite sides of the tracks, they come together and create magic. I loved seeing a new twist on the trials that our MCs face. It's not often I come across a book where characters are homeless, former drug addicts who attract the attention and love of a millionaire Dom. Full control, that's what Jace wants from Bethany. Due to her past, and her skittish nature, he holds himself back. Not knowing that this is what Bethany wants! Someone who can take care of everything, she's tired of having to worry about every single little thing. 

Once these 2 get over their lack of thorough communication, things come together more perfectly than they imagine. 

I love that Jace seems to know exactly what Bethany needs. Its wonderful seeing Bethany get settled into her independence and we start to see pieces of her true personality. 

Maya Banks has done an amazing job with this series, as she usually does. She has a way of drawing her readers in and allowing them to experience every emotion that the characters do. Every bit of fear, love, trust, mistrust. What a insane web she weaves. She has a fan for life here.  I can't wait to see what she has in store for her readers with Ash. I just know that's it's going to blow me away. Again, another series that will put my kindle to good use.  

Catch Fever @ Amazon HERE

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Rush (Breathless #1) by Maya Banks

Rush (Breathless #1)

by Maya Banks 

Gabe has been attracted to Mia for years. He has always denied his attraction because Mia is the younger sister of one of his best friends. 

Mia has no clue what she's in for from the man she has loved for so many years. She's always known Gabe would never see her as anything other than Jace's little sister. She's tried for years to get his attention, to no avail! 

Little does Mia know that in or to get into Gabe's bed, a contract would need to be signed. 

"There is no negotiation," he said softly. "Remember that, Mia. You read the contract. You either sign or don't sign. But if you do, you'll adhere to those terms"

Mia isn't a virgin, but she is clueless.  As she researches the contract and the lifestyle, Mia comes up with a few demands of her own. 

Seriously, one of my favorite lines... "If that contract says I'm yours, then by God it's going to say you belong to me."

I love a hunky, alpha male like Gabe. Strong. Sexy. Knows exactly what he wants. And will do anything to get it, including lie to one of his best friends. 

Throughout the book, Mia finds her place by Gabe's side. Gabe finds himself longing for more, thanks to being burned in the past, he's hesitant (aren't they always??). Gabe is like every other emotionally closed off man we know. Suddenly, it dawns on him. I'm not good enough for her. She can do better than someone fucked up like me. I don't want you anymore, blah blah blah. They will say or do anything to not have to address their real emotions. 

I really loved this book. Gabe, Jace, Ash, Mia... there are amazing characters who are very well developed. I love seeing the growth in Mia as she goes from being a naive, young woman, into an amazing woman who is proud to "stand by her man". She puts the balls to wall on Jace and Ash and it was great to see. 

Truly a great read that I will read time and time again. 

Catch Rush @ Amazon HERE

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Claim Me by J. Kenner

I had originally stated that I would soon post a review for the upcoming book Claim Me by J. Kenner. While, yes, I have completed a story, I'm stuck. I did submit my review to the publishers via netgalley, I feel it's more pertinent promote the book itself until the release date. Therefore, I will not post my review YET.

I will definitely say that the book is amazing, and J. Kenner did an awesome job of tying this 2nd book into the first. If you loved Release Me, your going to pour yourself into Claim Me.

I feel the need to state that I HATE when an awesome, amazing novel is compared to Fifty Shades of Gray. I read Fifty, devoured it really, but I have YET to come across another Christian Gray.

Christian Gray is dark, brooding, closed-off, millionaire Sadist. He gets great pleasure from pushing the pain/pleasure threshold onto his woman.

Damien Stark is a serious, closed-off, millionaire who is NOT a sadist. He enjoys his control, knowing he is the one who causes his lover to lose control. He may like to get a little rough here and there, but he is definitely not a sadist.

The comparison ends after closed-off, millionaire.  Do your best not to compare every controlling man to Fifty. And there's a lot of times when controlling isn't necessarily a bad thing....

If you haven't read Release Me by J. Kenner, definitely check it out. It's an amazing story.

Link to Release Me on Amazon

Claim Me releases on April 23rd

Link to Claim Me on Amazon

****I received Claim Me as an ARC from Random House Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review****

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Release Me by J. Kenner

Release Me 

by J. Kenner

Synopsis:

He was the one man I couldn’t avoid. And the one man I couldn’t resist. 

 
Damien Stark could have his way with any woman. He was sexy, confident, and commanding: Anything he wanted, he got. And what he wanted was me.
 
Our attraction was unmistakable, almost beyond control, but as much as I ached to be his, I feared the pressures of his demands. Submitting to Damien meant I had to bare the darkest truth about my past—and risk breaking us apart.
 
But Damien was haunted, too. And as our passion came to obsess us both, his secrets threatened to destroy him—and us—forever.

Amy's Thoughts: 

I love a good strong female MC. That's what we get here. Nikki Fairchild has been bulldozed in her life. She's been run over by her controlling mother, a crazy ex-boyfriend. She knows the signs. And then she meets him. Damien Stark. Damien. Stark. 

"He is Jason and Hercules and Perseus-a figure so strong and beautiful and heroic that the blood of the gods must flow through him, because how else could a being so fine exist in this world?"

Nikki knows he's going to be dangerous to her, he will have her, and he will expose all of her secrets she's been so careful to hide. 

Damien is a force to be reckoned with. We know from the get go that when that man walks into a room, he commands the room. He is a confident, successful, business man who knows exactly what he's doing, where he's going, and what he wants. And he wants Nikki. 

We see a beautiful coming together of these strong MCs. Their back and forth banter draw you in until you can't stop reading. A classic "one more chapter..." kind of read. I love how we see Nikki realize the power that she has over Damien, when it dawns on her that she causes this reaction in him. There's always a secret tho. There's something going on that we can't see there. Who's secrets are they? What's going to happen to Nikki and Damien? Are they going to make it?? 

http://amzn.com/B008WOTQGU

New release coming soon.... Claim Me by J. Kenner. This is the follow up to Release Me. 

http://amzn.com/B00AXIZ5MC

Note: This is book 1 in my set of romance-bdsm/Ds reviews. 

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Coming soon...

Coming Soon..... ;-)

Ok, so I was going to post a review or 2 this evening. Here's the problem, my mind is so warped from Lover at Last by J.R. Ward, that I seriously can not concentrate on another book at the moment! I've tried all day today to read one that I wanted to review and it just isn't happening today!

In addition, today I was given an ARC of J. Kenner's Claim Me, so now, I'm all over that!! I'm completely in shock and haven't even gotten started on it. 

We've also got the release of Fever by Maya Banks coming up on Tuesday!! I'm so pumped for this one, Rush, was just amazing. http://amzn.com/B009NY44LK LINK FOR FEVER!!!! 

http://amzn.com/B00AXIZ5MC LINK TO PRE-ORDER CLAIM ME!!!

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Seduction & Snacks by Tara Sivec

Seduction & Snacks

Chocolate Lovers #1

by: Tara Sivec 

Synopsis: Claire is a twenty-something, single mom that grudgingly helps her best friend sell sex toys while she attempts to make enough money to start her own business to give her foul-mouthed, but extremely loveable (when he's asleep) toddler a better life. 

When Carter, the one-night-stand from her past that changed her life forever, shows up in her hometown bar without any recollection of her besides her unique chocolate scent, Claire will make it a point that he remembers her this time. 

With Carter's undisguised shock at suddenly finding out he has a four-year-old son and Claire's panic that her stretch marks and slim to none bedroom experience will send the man of her dreams heading for the hills, the pair will do whatever they can to get their happily ever after.

Amy's Thougths: 

I knew when I picked this book and read the first chapter that I was going to be seriously entertained & I wasn't disappointed.

Claire is a girl who tells it straight. She has absolutely no filter at all, and it rubs off on her kiddo. 

She's a brilliantly developed MC who had me laughing from the first chapter. The girls at work, were looking at me like I was crazy, and seriously, my daughter was yelling at me to quit laughing and interrupting her cartoons. 

Gavin, oh dear sweet Gavin. He's amazing. And truly, I think the author has a 4 year old of her own to have gotten this 

character so perfect!

"Naps can suck it" - Gavin 

"Mommy don't feel good today and I have a big wiener!" - Gavin (seriously.. 4 yr olds say stuff like that!! HAHA)

Carter is awesome. He knows he screwed up with the one night stand, he's been looking for her and has never been able to find her. Carter is so well done, he's got a great head on his shoulders, and does what he needs to do. 

It was so refreshing to read a book that didn't have a bunch of seriously dark issues. Just a great classic comedic romance with a set of REAL MCs - they could have been anyone of us- with a set of real life problems, and a mouthy 4 year old. 

I truly enjoyed this book. Tara Sivec, you have a fan for life. 

Can't wait to read what you put out next.

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Healed by: J.S. Cooper

Healed 

by: J.S. Cooper

Synopsis:

Lexi Lord has dreamed of dating Bryce Evans for years. And now that her dream has become a reality, she is no longer sure that he is the man for her. When tragedy strikes in their lives, they take a good hard look at their relationship and their very existences.

There are some ties that can never be broken, but Lexi and Bryce have to decide what love can heal them from their scarred pasts and what love they have to let of of. Sometimes letting go is the greatest gift of all.

Amy's Thoughts:

I actually enjoyed this book more than the first one. I felt we got to see a lot more dialogue between the characters.  This book to me felt more like the MCs were the age they claimed to be in the book. Compared to the first, this one is more "grown up".  We get to see Lexi come to the realization that she's no longer a child, and while she sees the world through rose-colored glasses, she's coming into her own and seeing that the world is not all that she thought it would be. As far as Anna is concerned, I still do not like her, I do not like her methods of voicing her issues with their friendship. Frankly, if she was my "friend" I wouldn't ever be able to forgive her. I love Luke, that's about all I can say about Luke. I love him and I'm not going to spoil the book for everyone else. 

Definitely, worth reading the first book to get to this one. I enjoyed it immensely, and would love to read more about Lexi, Luke, Bryce, & Anna moving forward with their lives. 

Props to J.S. Cooper!!

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Scarred by J.S. Cooper

Scarred by J. S. Cooper

http://amzn.com/B00BR2U3C0

Synopsis:
Everyone in Jonesville thought that Bryce Evans had the perfect life in High School: he was the Mayor's son, the quarterback for the football team, the boyfriend of the head cheerleader and had a 4.1 GPA. His acceptance to Notre Dame came as a surprise to no-one. However when he chose to enlist in the marines instead everyone was shocked. 


Lexi Lord was the quiet girl in school and kept to her small group of eccentric friends. She had no connection to any of the popular kids except for one incident on Prom Night when her path crossed with Bryce's. When Bryce enlisted, Lexi was the only one that wasn't disappointed and decided to send him anonymous letters as a way to feel connected to him. She stopped after a year because she felt there was nowhere for their relationship to go. 


Fast-forward four years and Bryce is back in Jonesville and once again he and Lexi cross paths. Only he's no longer the seemingly perfect man and Lexi's no longer the quiet girl. This time their relationship is quite different but both of them have secrets from the past and friends that threaten to ruin their chance at happiness together.

Amy's Thoughts: 
I think this story has so much potential. It was definitely a good read, I don't regret what I paid for it, but I have to say that it needs work. I think that the MCs could have been so much better developed. I found that it was difficult to grab onto a connection to Lexi & Bryce. 

I felt that it was kind of rushed. And there was a ton of monologue, almost too much monologue, & not enough dialogue. 

Lexi's relationship with her 2 best friends, is odd to say the least. While I felt a definite connection to Luke, it always seemed like Anna was on the outside looking in. The third-wheel. If this was the author's intent, she accomplished that perfectly. 

Follow up book is Healed - review to come! 
I would definitely read this book again when I want a short read. 

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