[Review] Broken by Lies by Rebecca Shea

Title: Broken by Lies
Author: Rebeccea Shea

Series: Bound and Broken, Book 1

Release Date: February 17, 2015

Format: eARC

I had no idea how much I would love Alex the day he walked into my life.
He changed everything.
The way I breathed.
The way I thought.
The way I loved.
He brought me back to life.
He gave me strength and a safe place to land.
 And then he broke me.
 Finding Emilia was a chance to do something good for once in my life.
I wanted to change.
She believed I was her savior.
I ached to be.
She found her way into my heart and claimed it as her safe place.
I should be telling her the truth about me…instead I break her with lies.
 This book is a New Adult Romance and contains mature subject matter. It is not intended for those under 17 years of age.

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Review

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**4.5 Stars**

"Mafia" type romances aren't usually my thing by oh man. Rebecca Shea HOOKED me hard when it comes to Alex and Emilia. Their story sucked me in and I can't wait to read more by Rebecca. It was the perfect way to discover a new author.

Emilia hasn't had it easy and knows how hard life can be. You feel for the girl and how hard she has had it. You can't help but tear up for her and how hard the situations are that she has had to go through.

Alex is this character who has this bad side who makes you think he is all hard and doesn't care, then he meets Emilia. Emilia brings out this side of him that makes you fall in love with him, just as much as you love her.

I can't wait to read book 2 and see how their story ends up!

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[Excerpt Reveal] The Bartender by Piper Rayne

Title: The Bartender

Series: Modern Love #1

Author: Piper Rayne

Genre: New Adult Romance

Release Date: February 1, 2017

Blurb

Who knew sleeping with the enemy could be this fun? 

Was the one night stand a good idea?

Well, no. Probably not in retrospect.

In my defense I had just moved back into my grandparent’s house, I’d lost my dream job, and a guy on Tinder had stood me up. It was like life had suddenly stamped ‘LOSER’ on my forehead.

So when the guy behind the bar started giving me THE look…you know, the one that promised I’d be screaming his name into the wee hours of the morning? When that guy also has the perfect amount of scruff on his chiseled chin, biceps bulging out of his t-shirt, and a cocky grin you knew he’d earned in the sack…when he gives you that look, you don’t bother to figure out what your six degrees of separation are. You jump on that horse and ride it!

Pun fully and completely intended. And accurate by the way.

I fully admit to feeling sorry for myself and acting impulsively, but by the time I’d figured out WHO the bartender was, I was already falling for him.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Excerpt

An hour and a half later and hot stuff has come around the bar to take the seat beside me and join me on my mission to get shit-faced. I have to admit, I’m enjoying his company, but it doesn’t exactly make him Employee of the Year given the fact that he’s supposed to be working. 

“Won’t your boss be mad that you’re drinking on the job?” I ask. 

That damn dimple makes another appearance again before he answers. “Nah, he’s cool. It’s dead in here tonight. If anyone comes in, I’ll be sure they get what they need.” His gaze rakes up and down my small frame, and I get the distinct impression that he’s picturing me naked. 

Jeez, I hope my nakedness looks amazing in his brain. Given the half-crooked smile on his face, I think it must. I wonder if his imagination is good enough to picture that dimple in my ass that doesn’t ever seem to want to disappear, regardless of how much I weigh. 

As if he’s tempted fate with his words, the bell over the door dings and an older gentleman walks in and seats himself at one of the bar tables across the room. 

“Be right back.” Cole pats my hand before he rises from his seat. 

It was an innocent gesture, but it makes me think dirty things. The heat from his hand seeps up my arm like a bee sting and settles somewhere in my chest. 

I watch him walk away and can’t help but notice the way his ass perfectly fills out his jeans. It bunches and flexes as his long strides take him across the bar. Maybe Lennon is right and it has been too long since I’ve been with a man. 

It’s then that I realize that Tinder dude still hasn’t shown up. The bar isn’t busy, probably since it’s the middle of the week, and I’ve been chatting—okay, flirting—with Cole and hadn’t realized how much time had passed. I grab my phone from my purse and open the app to see that I have a new message. Pussylickr69: Not coming. Sorry found someone else who wasn’t so much werk. Fury causes my face to heat as I type out a quick reply that might be, and by that I mean most definitely is, alcohol-fueled. Whiteebanter: Yeah, I can see how thirty minutes of conversation is too much foreplay for you. Fuck you and your lack of knowledge of the English language. You spell work with an ‘o,’ dipshit. There. That’ll show him. With a frown, I drop my phone back into my purse. 

“Everything okay?” Cole asks as he takes the seat beside me again. 

I sigh. “Yeah, I just found out that Pussylicker isn’t coming anymore.” 

Cole nearly spits out the sip of drink he’s just taken and has a coughing fit before he fully recovers. “Excuse me?” 

“I was waiting for a guy from Tinder to show up, but he just ditched me because apparently it was too much work to have a drink with me before taking me back to his place to bang me.” I spin my glass in place on the bar top. 

“You’re trolling for guys on Tinder?” Cole howls with laughter so hard he has to hold his stomach. I love the way the laugh looks on his face—the way it crinkles his eyes at the corners and how it showcases his perfect teeth. But all that aside, it’s irritating. 

“It’s not that funny.” This guy might be hot, but right now he’s working my nerves. 

“Actually, it is. Why the hell would a woman like you resort to finding someone to fuck on a dating site?” 

The way the word ‘fuck’ rolls off his tongue has all my womanly parts contracting and wishing that it was an invitation to do just that. But never mind that, because I’m annoyed at him, I just barely remember through my drunken haze. 

“What do you mean a woman like me?” I try to do air quotes around the last part, but my balance isn’t what it was three hours ago, and I almost topple off my stool, so I quickly grab on to the bar in front of me. 

“Beautiful. Intelligent. Likable. Smartass.” He ticks each word off on one hand while he speaks and he says it like he means it. I hold his stare for a minute before realization dawns. 

“Hey! I’m a B.I.L.F. You know, like a M.I.L.F. Only different.” I’m so impressed that I thought of that given my current state. 

Cole chuckles with an amused gleam in his eyes. “Only better,” he says. 

Our gazes lock for a beat and it’s at that moment I know that if I offer myself up to this guy, he’ll be more than willing to send me on the walk of shame tomorrow morning. Heat rushes into my cheeks and I look away. As much bravado as I had earlier about my Tinder escapade, I’m not sure I can do this. Be this girl so full of confidence that she bangs a stranger with no qualms about it. 

My elation has crash-landed on the ground as I realize I’m not able to pull the trigger and make an advance toward him. I also know I’ll probably regret it forever because this man is so far beyond good-looking that it’s a speck in the rear-view mirror. Not to mention the fact that he’s sexy as hell and seems to be a decent human being. Which is more impossible to find in the Bay area than someone who doesn’t think they’re allergic to gluten. 

I take a deep breath and finish the last couple of gulps of my drink and push the glass in Cole’s direction. 

“Another, please.” 

Cole tosses back the rest of his drink and I watch as his Adam’s apple bobs in his throat while the liquid slides down. 

Damn. That is sexy. 

Why is that sexy? 

“I’m going to join you for another as well.” He gets up off his bar stool and before walking away he comes to stand directly behind me. “Assuming you want me to stick around?” 

His breath washes across my neck and my ear and I close my eyes for a brief moment to enjoy the sensation. “I’d like that,” I say with all honesty. 

“Good. I know the first guy let you down, but don’t worry… I’ve been told I lick pussy like a boss.” 

And with that, he walks away while I struggle to keep my heart from pounding out of my chest. 

I’m out of my league with this guy. I know it and there’s a good chance that he knows it, too.

But ask yourself this, ladies… if you were called up to the big leagues from the minors, would you say no?

Author Bio

Piper Rayne, or Piper and Rayne, whichever you prefer because we’re not one author, we’re two. Yep, you get two established authors for the price of one. You might be wondering if you know us? Maybe you’ll read our books and figure it out. Maybe you won’t. Does it really matter?

We aren’t trying to stamp ourselves with a top-secret label. We wanted to write without apology. We wanted to not be pigeon holed into a specific outline. We wanted to give readers a story without them assuming how the story will flow. Everyone has their favorite authors, right? And when you pick up their books, you expect something from them. Whether it’s an alpha male, heavy angst, a happily ever after, there’s something you are absolutely certain the book will contain. Heck, we’re readers, too, we get it. 

What can we tell you about ourselves? We both have kindle’s full of one-clickable books. We're both married to husbands who drive us to drink. We're both chauffeurs to our kids. Most of all, we love hot heroes and quirky heroines that make us laugh, and we hope you do, too.

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[Review] Bedmates by Nicole Chase

Title: Bedmates
Author: Nichole Chase

Release Date: October 4, 2016

Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult and College
Series: American Royalty

Format: ARC

From the New York Times bestselling author of Suddenly Royal comes the first in a sparkling new series about America’s favorite royal—the First Daughter.
Everyone makes mistakes, especially in college. But when you’re the daughter of the President of the United States, any little slip up is a huge embarrassment. Maddie McGuire’s latest error in judgment lands her in police custody, giving the press a field day. Agreeing to do community service as penance and to restore her tattered reputation, Maddie never dreams incredibly good looking but extremely annoying vice president’s son, Jake Simmon, will be along for the ride.
Recently returning from Afghanistan with a life-altering injury, Jake is wrestling with his own demons. He doesn’t have the time or patience to deal with the likes of Maddie. They’re like oil and water and every time they’re together, it’s combustible. But there’s a thin line between love and hate, and it’s not long before their fiery arguments give way to infinitely sexier encounters.
When Jake receives devastating news about the last remaining member of his unit, the darkness he’s resisted for so long begins to overwhelm him. Scared to let anyone close, he pushes Maddie away. But she isn’t about to give up on Jake that easily. Maddie’s fallen for him, and she’ll do anything to keep him from the edge as they both discover that love is a battlefield and there are some fights you just can’t lose. 

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My Thoughts

Bedmates was my first novel by Nicole Chase and I loved it. It was a quick filled read with love. It had passion and soul. I usually don’t say soul too often but this book had it through the characters. It had me rooting for the two leading characters form the start. Bedmates had everything I look for in a book and I am glad I had the chance to read it. It gets me really excited for more books by Nicole Chase.

My favorite part was that this book was in both POVs so I was able to get into both of these characters heads. It gave me a lot of insight into what was troubling them and what their feelings were. I will start off with Jake because he was a troubled guy. I felt his fears and I felt him trying to hide them from the world. He didn’t handle situations and he just wouldn’t talk! That is what drove me crazy, but I totally understood it at the same time. Sometimes you need to talk but fear stops you. That is what happened to Jake. He is also a very public figure, being the Vice Presidents son, so he was scared that talking about his issues would be made public to the world. While all this was going on he was also falling for Maddie, the Presidents daughter. They’ve known each other for years but nothing had previously happened other than little fights between them.

I loved the quick banter at the beginning between Maddie and Jake. It was cute and it started the story off perfectly. While Jake was all about precision and plans, Maddie was free-spirited and I loved that about her. She really made me feel passionate about the animal rights she was fighting for. She was the perfect character.

As the story unfolded I was feeling more and more connected to the characters. The scenes were cute and some were really hot. It was the perfect combination. Nicole Chase created a story that I didn’t know I needed. While it had a tough subject matter it wasn’t too overwhelming. I really enjoyed it.

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[Review] Unsportsmanlike Conduct by Sophia Henry

Title: Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Authors: Sophia Henry

Genre: New Adult and College Romance, Sports Romance

Release Date: October 18, 2016

Format: eARC (NetGalley)

The author of Delayed Penalty returns with the story of a free spirit who believes she’s found forever with a playboy on a singles cruise. Discover why Kelly Jamieson calls the Pilots Hockey series “fun and flirty, warm and sweet.” Kristen Katsaros wants a life full of adventure and laughter. After a difficult childhood, her motto is to live each day like it’s her last—because it just might be. So when Kristen’s parents send her on a post-grad singles cruise in the Caribbean to meet a Greek husband, she promptly hooks up with the hottest guy she’s ever met. Pasha’s decidedly not Greek, but Kristen gives him a pass because he’s got fun written all over his rock-hard abs.

Pavel Gribov, the cocky playboy of the Detroit Pilots hockey team, can score any girl he wants. But when a teammate drags him on a singles cruise, he can’t resist the chance to help out a drop-dead gorgeous damsel in distress by pretending to be her boyfriend. Before long, the fake fling turns intimate,  fueled by something much deeper than lust.

Kristen and Pasha both agree to walk away once the cruise is over, but reality hits like a slap shot when Kristen finds out Pasha lied about everything. Just when she’s ready to start living again, the two stubborn survivors must decide if they can bear to lose the best thing that ever happened to either of them.

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Review

**4 stars**

Where do I start, this book had me laughing within the first 2% and it was amazing. That rarely happens. This is book 4 in the Pilots Hockey series by Sophia Henry. I haven't read the other ones, yet, but this can be read as a standalone. That being said, it's also my read book by Sophia Henry and I can't wait to go back and read the others.

Kristen is determined not to have a happily ever ending, because her life might be over sooner than she is ready for. For a college graduation present her parents sign up for a singles Bahamas cruise to find a Greek husband. What she finds on the cruise is more than she bargained for and an adventure of a lifetime, only problem? He isn't Greek.

Palvo, aka Pasha, isn't Greek. But, he is a Russian hockey player playing for a US team. When his friend and teammate needs a wingman for a Greek singles cruise he decides to tag along. He wasn't looking for a girlfriend, he can get a woman anytime he wants, or the adventure of a lifetime with Kristen. There is only minor hiccup, when she discovers who he really is, she may hate him for it.

Pasha and Kristen's story was absolutely cute. There is definite chemistry between them from their first meeting and watching them go through the journey and struggles of life made their story perfect for them. I can't wait for more in the series and to go back and read the first 3 books.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

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[Review] The Goal by Elle Kennedy

Title: The Goal

Authors: Elle Kennedy

Genre: New Adult and College Romance, Sports Romance

Release Date: September 26, 2016

Format: eARC

New York Times bestseller Elle Kennedy brings you a sexy new Off-Campus novel that can be read as a standalone…

She’s good at achieving her goals…
College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cutthroat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn’t include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she’s willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change.
But the game just got a whole lot more complicated
Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he’s fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn’t hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina’s heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he’ll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist.

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Review

**5 Stars**

I was dying to read this book after the teaser in The Score. Dean was replaced by Tucker as my Off-Campus man! Elle did an amazing job on Tucker and Sabrina' story and it not disappoint.

Tucker is amazing. Playing hockey at Briar is something he loves, but with all of his friends starting to get girlfriends, he is feeling something missing. Hitting up a bar after practice or game isn't something unusual for him or his buddies, but the love at first feeling with Sabrina he has while at Malone's is something he wasn't prepared. Tucker is my favorite Off-Campus man because of his caring and responsible side. He works hard for where he is and doesn't take things for granted.

Sabrina has no time for men. She works two jobs and is pre-law, getting accepted into Harvard Law is her dream. Meeting and falling for Tucker wasn't something she had on her radar or something she wanted to do. She fought and then she got pregnant. Sabrina's character is amazing. It shows how when you're determined enough you don't let little things stop you, especially when you have goals to better yourself.

Tucker loves fiercely, but he does it in a way that allowed Sabrina to love him back and to move at her own pace... even after they found out she was pregnant. Tucker and Sabrina's story is my favorite of the Off-Campus series. I love how it started and I love how it ended. They both deserve the HEA they received at the end and the life they created together.

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[Review] Draw Play by Tia Lewis

Title: Draw Play: A Sports Romance
Author: Tia Lewis
Genre: New Adult & College Romance
Release Date: September 1, 2016
Format: eBook (Amazon Purchase)

Jake:

I can’t believe my coach assigned me a tutor. I’m all that on the field and between the sheets — who cares about my stupid grades?

But Claire doesn’t treat me like I’m dumb. When we’re not busy fighting, she actually encourages me. And with those sexy curves of hers, I know just how to thank her.

Claire:

I hate football players, but I need the money. Jake is just as cocky and arrogant as the worst of them … but his touch sets me on fire.

I have to believe he’s different, that he won’t use me and break my heart. Because I can’t stop wanting him. I just hope I survive the ride. 

Amazon US

Review

**4 stars**

Draw Play is my first book my Tia Lewis, it also happens to be her debut novel, and I wasn’t disappointed. The story line is one we see often, of a jock needing a tutor, but I felt Lewis did a good job at making her story unique with the characters and their interests. The story is told in dual POV.

Claire is a prelaw student who depends on work study to help balance out the additional funds she needs to survive each semester.  After being assigned to help tutor Jake, a star of the football team, she is reluctant but she needs the money. Her only problem? She hates football players. Watching her relationship with Jake was one of my favorite aspects of the story. She helped him discover new ways to study and also helped him realize he was smart and not just a dumb jock. What she wasn’t prepared for was the attraction she had for him.

Jake is my favorite character out of this story. Being a jock, football is his life. It’s his chance of giving himself a better future, but this won’t happen if he can’t keep his grades up. Barely getting by last semester, his coach hires a tutor to help make sure he keeps his grades up. What he wasn’t prepared for was Claire and her ability to make him realize how much he enjoyed studying and more importantly how attracted he was to her.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and the characters. Watching Jake and Claire get over their issues and stereotypes made the story unique in the sense they didn’t just automatically fall in love with each other. They had to work for it and get over issues in their current and past situations. 

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[Review] Dare to Dance by SB Alexander

Title: Dare To Dance

Author: S.B. Alexander

Release Date: September 13, 2016

Genre: Sports Romance

Format: eARC

This story will grab your heart and never let go! Based on true events.

Hoping to sign with one of the biggest boxing promoters in the country, Kross Maxwell has to maintain a near perfect record. He can’t afford to lose any more bouts. But his head isn’t in the ring. Instead, he can’t seem to shake his past that’s been beating on his mind. To get back in the game, he goes in search of the girl he walked away from--the one girl who's always owned his heart.

Twenty-year-old, Ruby Lewis, is angry and frustrated with the way her life turned out. She dreamed of becoming a ballerina, but instead of performing for the rich and famous, she’s swinging her fists at girls twice her size in filthy, underground fights. She’d give anything to sleep in a bed, rather than the cold dark streets of Boston. Begging for her next meal, she often thinks of the friends she once had, the nice home she lived in, and the only boy to ever steal her heart. But Kross Maxwell wouldn’t want her now--not with dirty fingernails, ragged clothes and oily hair. But when she runs into him, the concrete wall she’s erected around herself threatens to crumble, and she can’t let that happen--if she wants to survive and get back the only thing that's ever mattered to her.

Dare to Dance is the 4th book in the Maxwell Series and can be read as a stand-alone. The book is intended for audiences 18+

Goodreads | Amazon

Review

**5 stars**

I love SB Alexander's work and this series, I was so incredibly excited for Kross's book that I wasn't even prepared for how amazing it was going to be. Out of the 4 books in the series so far, Dare to Dance takes the cherry on top for being my favorite. I wasn't prepared for how much I would love Kross after Kade and Kelton, but Kross is my new favorite Maxwell.

Kross, how do I even describe him? He's a boxer and he let go one of one the best things in his life because he wasn't ready, but he never forgot her. He wasn't prepared for how he would find her again either or the circumstances that would be revealed once he found her and she told the full story...

Ruby- sweet, amazing- Ruby... She is my favorite leading Maxwell lady. There were so many times I wanted to crawl into my kindle just to love her. She hasn't had it easy and letting the one person back into her life who broke her heart isn't going to easy, especially with that secrets she has.

I was in a puddle of tears with many parts of this book. It tugs at your heart strings and makes you want to hug Kross and Ruby. I wish I could say more, but I don't want to spoil it for others. Know this, Kross Maxwell loves fiercely and that family always comes first.

Connect with S.B. Alexander

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