romancebookworm

Reflected in You: A Crossfire Novel by Sylvia Day (@SylDay)

January 13, 2013November 17, 2015 romancebookwormLeave a comment

Excerpt from Amazon:

Gideon Cross. As beautiful and flawless on the outside as he was damaged and tormented on the inside. He was a bright, scorching flame that singed me with the darkest of pleasures. I couldn’t stay away. I didn’t want to. He was my addiction… my every desire… mine.

My past was as violent as his, and I was just as broken. We’d never work. It was too hard, too painful… except when it was perfect. Those moments when the driving hunger and desperate love were the most exquisite insanity.

We were bound by our need. And our passion would take us beyond our limits to the sweetest, sharpest edge of obsession…

I don’t even know how to begin with this review. I have just finished this book and I am sitting here with tears in my eyes, brought to an ending that I never saw coming. What would you be willing to do for your obsession? At what point do you realize that your obsession is slowly destroying who and what you are? Eva knows that the path that she and Gideon are traveling is a dangerous one and doesn’t know what to do about it. She needs him like the air she breaths.

The past never stays buried. It has a way of crawling out of the gutters and slithering across all that you have managed to achieve since burying it. Gideon and Eva have such pasts and the way they both try to handle them is heartbreaking and shattering.

Eva can’t trust what she doesn’t understand and feels the need to punish Gideon for the pain that she feels at times. Gideon can’t seem to open up to Eva and that is devastating to her.

At what point do you take matters into your own hands to save what has become the only thing in the world that means anything at all to you? I can not wait to read the next in this poignant and painfully beautiful series.

This book was purchased by the reviewer.

Rated 4.5 Bookworms

Bared to You (A Crossfire Novel) by Sylvia Day (@SylDay)

January 12, 2013November 17, 2015 romancebookwormLeave a comment

Excerpt from Amazon:

Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness…

He was beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I’d never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily…

Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other’s most private worlds…and desires.

The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn’t tear us apart…

Scorching, red hot and surpasses all my expectations. I have no problems reading what a lot of my readers call “mommy porn”. Most of it is what I call romance with a little spice. When I want harder and edgier, I read things like 10 Nights by Michelle Hughes and Karl Jones. I honestly thought that was what I was getting when I delved into the world of Gideon Cross. Boy, was I wrong…

Eva knew from the moment that she sprawled on her ass in front of Gideon Cross that there was something dangerous about him. Passion and intensity were etched into him like part of his DNA. It sang and called to her on an intimate level that was hotter then anything she had ever known.

Self-preservation tells her to stay far away from him because she knows that she is asking for trouble. Gideon knows what he wants and as a very successful billionaire, he has no trouble getting it. As a very controlling man, he finds it nearly impossible to give up control but for her he is willing to try.

This is so different from the other stories about virgins jumping into domination games with rich men. This story shows two very flawed souls struggling to come together against all odds. Eva has been devestated and brutalized and needs the control that Gideon can give her but she is scared to let him close. Gideon needs the soothing balm that Eva can provide but can’t release the iron grip he has on his emotions. These two don’t have a smooth ride and I am glad to see a story that has some real edge to it and issues that people face on a normal day in relationships.

Ms. Day has managed to create a story that reaches in and rips out all your predetermined ideas and piece them back together into a raw love story that will leave you craving more.

This book was purchased by the reviewer.

Rated 4.5 Bookworms

Worth the Challenge (Worth it, Book 3) By Karen Erickson @karenerickson

January 9, 2013November 17, 2015 romancebookwormLeave a comment

Excerpt from Amazon:

Together, they’re magic. Now to capture it in a bottle…

Worth It, Book 3

For once in his errant life, Rhett Worth is ready to prove to his older brothers he’s more than good looks and a woman-melting smile. Except he’s screwed up. And it’s about to hit the fan as he prepares to tell them he’s failed to deliver the master perfumer, Michel Durand, to create Worth Luxury’s signature scent.

Then salvation walks through the boardroom door, all wrapped up in a petite, seductive package.

Gabriella Durand is prepared to beg the Worths to give her capricious father another chance. Instead, she finds the devastatingly handsome Rhett Worth offering it to her as if he’d planned it all along. And Gabriella, hungry to emerge from her father’s shadow, jumps at it.

Soon they’re in Maui to hunt for the perfect scent…and find it in the tropical breeze that washes across their entwined bodies. Now the pressure is on to capture that passion in a bottle—before they let love complicate the delicate mix. Before a whiff of betrayal threatens to destroy everything.

Warning: The last of the Worth brothers, he’s the wildest one of all. Expect lots of challenges, much yearning, plenty of vulnerabilities revealed—and lots of macho Alpha behavior on the hero’s part. Don’t worry, though. He’ll be begging for the heroine’s love before the end, we guarantee it.

I have a soft spot for bad boys and rebel children. Rhett fits both those descriptions very well. He is the rapscallion brother that seems to get away with just doing little to nothing. Alex finally gives him a chance to have some responsibility in the form of developing a new perfume line. Two months in to the development and he has nothing to show for it. The man he had chosen as the designer for the perfume has failed to commit and he doesn’t know what to do.

Gabriella Durand is hoping that Rhett will allow her to have the contract in place of her flaky father. This is her chance to make her own name in the perfume world. Rhett sees her as a blessing when she walks in on the day that his brothers are demanding results.

These two come together because they both have something to prove. I like that. I know what it is like to feel like you always have to prove yourself and no one believes that you have actually changed. I would love to be able to actually smell Ella’s fragrance, though!

I have to admit that the curve ball thrown at the end of the story actually left me wanting to read the next phase in this story. Can’t wait to see where Ms. Erickson takes this trio of brothers.

Rated 3 Bookworms

Worth the Risk: Worth It by Karen Erickson @karenerickson

January 8, 2013November 17, 2015 romancebookwormLeave a comment

Excerpt from Amazon:

How to make a strong man fall hard? Refuse him.

Hunter Worth lives life to the absolute fullest. As vice president and head of brand marketing for Worth Luxury Goods, he’s brought his family’s business firmly into the twenty-first century. Ruthless yet charming, he’s now set his sights on the sexiest member of the marketing team. First thing on his agenda? Seduction.

Gracie Hayes needs her job at Worth—and she’s not about to let the gorgeous owner and her direct boss distract her—again. Orphaned, and with a rough childhood behind her, she’s worked too hard to compromise everything for a fling, no matter how tempting. Independent, strong and resourceful, she will fight off Hunter. She has to.

Flirting, stolen kisses, a few nights of scorching hot sex…Hunter has all that in mind and more with the delicious Gracie. He never figures he’d fall in love or that she’d deny him. How will Hunter convince Gracie he’s the one for her?

Warning: Contains yet another one of those sexy, bossy Worth brothers, though this one is too full of charm for his own good. Watch as he falls hard—and watch as she tries her hardest to dodge his every attempt at seduction.

I liked this book. It was a better read for me then the first Worth book. Hunter is an ass. He doesn’t seem to see women as anything other then a distraction. Gracie is attracted to Hunter but knows his game and has no intention of losing her job, or her heart to someone she believes will not stay around. Having been abandoned all her life, she doesn’t allow anyone to get close to her.

I think that Gracie needs some serious counseling but I can understand her reluctance with Hunter. She seemed willing to be co-workers with benefits but anytime Hunter tried to get serious she (literally) ran away. Hunter was supposed to be smooth with the ladies but he couldn’t seem to make any sense with Gracie. It was nice to see him screw up time and time again.

I would like to know why these girls keep getting pregnant. It seems a little redundant that Gracie gets pregnant, especially since she is supposed to be a little more street smart. All in all, a good book and I would recommend it to anyone that likes a good series read involving brothers.

Rated 3 Bookworms

Release Me by J. Kenner (@juliekenner)

January 8, 2013November 17, 2015 romancebookwormLeave a comment

This is was an ARC that I received for review. This review was previously posted last year and has been updated.

Excerpt from Amazon:

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.

It is not often when a book is so amazingly well-written that I find it hard to even begin to accurately describe it. Nikki is a former beauty queen who never really enjoyed the scene. She has worked hard to put her self through school and has recently moved to California to escape the clutches of her controlling mother. With degrees in engineering and computer science she is interested in learning the tech business from the ground up. Taking a job with an up and rising tech guru she hopes to learn all that she can. She doesn’t count on her boss wanting to use her looks to attract the attention of an investor. Enter Damien Stark, former tennis star and now successful billionaire businessman. He had met Nikki years ago at a beauty pageant that he was judging and was intrigued by the young beauty.

When he sees her again he is ready to claim her for his own. Nikki has no desire to submit to someone has controlling as Damien Stark but the passion cannot be denied. Facing her own demons she embraces the passion that she sees in Damien and the man she sees behind the mask.

This is well-written story that shows the real life side to the characters that are being developed. It was nice to see characters that were flawed both emotionally and physically. Discovering that not all men are interested in perfection, Nikki discovers her strength and the man who can cultivate it. It may seem like the characters move into a relationship quickly but sometimes, even in real life, passion will not be denied.

I recommend this book to everyone who is interested in a passionate love story. Story does contain some mild BDSM scenes but they are tastefully well-written. Can not wait to read the next story!

Rated 4.5 Bookworms

Worth the Scandal: Worth it By Karen Erickson @karenerickson

January 7, 2013November 17, 2015 romancebookwormLeave a comment

Excerpt from Amazon:

Strictly business? Try telling that to her heart…

Worth It, Book 1

Alexander Worth, President and CEO of Worth Luxury Goods, is a man never to be crossed. His unwavering sense of responsibility to the family business requires him to always be in complete and utter control. Until it comes to Tessa Crawford.

She’s quietly professional, shy, voluptuous…and she works for him. Which means she is the one woman he must never touch, no matter how hard his gut twists with need for her.

After rising above her disadvantaged childhood, Tessa knows the last thing she should do is risk throwing it all away by falling into bed with her sexy boss. But on an extended European business trip, all self-imposed barriers burn away in the heat of their sizzling chemistry.

Once back home, though, whispers of corporate espionage turn into full-blown scandal—and Tessa finds out the hard way where Alex’s loyalties lie. Determined to soldier on, she picks herself up and carries on with a secret, yet welcomed burden. Never guessing that Alex will make a reappearance in her life, ready to show her once and for all that family does, indeed, come first.

Warning: Contains a sweet-yet-strong woman, and a bossy alpha male brought to his knees by the woman he desperately loves. Involves enough begging and groveling that the reader may be tempted to “accidentally” leave it for her significant other to “find”. For instructional purposes only, of course!

This was a decent read but not something that set my kindle on fire. It is your typical girl works for boss and finds him attractive. They end up hooking up and falling in love. Tessa seemed flat to me though. I was kind of hoping that she would turn into this badass heroine that told him where he could take himself. Alex just seems to be the typical rich boss, who seems to think that he is entitled or something.

I was kind of surprised that Hunter (Alex’s brother) was determined to convince Alex that Tessa was a corporate spy. It seemed like he didn’t want Alex to find love or be happy. After Tessa left, Hunter seemed to be pissed off that his brother wanted to find her. I was disappointed that he wasn’t more supportive. When Alex finds Tessa, I was pissed that she caved into him as quickly as she did and I was not happy that he blamed her for everything. I think Tessa should’ve had more backbone and I would have probably liked her more.

All in all, I liked the book. I would have liked to seen more depth to the main characters but that is a personal preference.

Rated 3 Bookworms

Jabril by D.B. Reynolds (Vampires in America) @DBReynoldsWrite

January 6, 2013November 17, 2015 romancebookwormLeave a comment

Excerpt from Amazon:

Houston, Texas—Cowboy boots, baseball and journeys to the stars . . . right? Wrong. Because Houston is also home to Jabril Karim, one of the eight powerful Vampire Lords who control all of North America. And as Private Investigator Cynthia Leighton will soon discover, not all Vampire Lords are created equal. For Jabril is the face of evil in the new world, a vampire who values no life but his own, who enslaves those he desires, steals whatever he covets and destroys anyone who stands in his way. Running from L.A. and its seductive Vampire Lord, Raphael, Cyn sees the Houston job as a welcome refuge, a place to get away and heal her broken heart. But Texas will be no vacation. For in Jabril Karim, Cyn will confront a true enemy, one who will go to any lengths to satisfy his lusts, enrich his coffers and expand his power. Fighting for the lives of two young sisters, Cyn’s journey will take her through the streets of Houston and back to L.A., where the human police are determined to bring Raphael down for the murder of one of their own. But the danger doesn’t end there. For Jabril has set his sights on Cyn, and he will stop at nothing to have her.

The second book in the Vampires in America series picks up a month after Raphael ends. Raphael has left Malibu and Cyn for parts unknown. Cyn is desperate to return to some sense of normalcy but the sensual dreams she has won’t allow that to happen. Cyn has been contacted by a vampire lord to help find a missing girl in Texas. When she arrives she discovers that he has hired a man to do the job and really only wanted to upset Raphael. That doesn’t stop Cyn from doing her job though.

Mirabelle and Elizabeth were the daughters of wealthy parents and after their tragic deaths, the courts allowed Jabril to have custody of them. On Mirabelle’s 18th birthday she was turned so that Jabril would always have their fortune. Now with Elizabeth’s 18th birthday on the horizon, she has runaway in order to stay human. Once Cyn realizes what is really going on, she makes it her mission to not only find Elizabeth but to rescue Mirabelle as well.

When Cyn discovers that Liz has runaway to L.A., she enlists the help of her friend who runs a shelter to assist her. In return, Cyn agrees to look into murders of young girls that just happen to look like vampire kills. This story keeps you coming back for more. D.B Reynolds has captivated me with her vampires and I love it!

Rated 4 Bookworms

RECALLED Cover Reveal!

January 4, 2013January 8, 2019 romancebookwormLeave a comment

I am so excited to be taking part in Cambria Hebert’s cover reveal for her new book RECALLED!!! This is a brand new series that incorporates romance, thriller, paranormal and fantasy. This fabulous new book comes out on February 15, 2013 and will be available in print and Ebook!

Check out the Youtube trailer here!

Blurb:

Love or Death? A simple question really. The choice seems obvious. But. What if you never knew love, what if your life was spent just trying to survive? What if you knew your fate before you were fully grown?
And then you died.
And you were given another chance. A better chance.
This new life depended upon one thing: your job. And so you agreed. You thought it would be simple. You thought it would be cut and dry.
It never is.
And now you are left holding the fate of someone else in the palm of your hand and you have to make the ultimate choice.
Love or Death?

Cambria Hebert is the author of the young adult paranormal Heven and Hell series and the upcoming Death Escorts series. She loves a caramel latte, hates math and is afraid of chickens (yes, chickens). She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. She currently lives in Pennsylvania where she is plotting her next book. You can find out more about Cambria and her work by visiting http://www.cambriahebert.com

“Like” her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JournalJabber#!/pages/Cambria-Hebert/128278117253138

Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cambriahebert

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/cambriahebert/pins/

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5298677.Cambria_Hebert

Cambria website: http://www.cambriahebert.com

BLOG TOUR STOP! Beyond 10 Nights by Michelle Hughes and Karl Jones (@MichelleHughes_ , @kast1j)

January 3, 2013January 8, 2019 romancebookworm1 Comment

Wow! Do you ever put down a book and just sit there for a moment and wonder how in the world you were going to make it till the release of the next story? That is how I felt when I finished reading 10 Nights. (Click here for my review of 10 Nights!) Let me tell you that Beyond 10 Nights was everything I expected and then some!

Leah is in love with Rhett and has accepted his proposal of marriage. Even though Janie and David don’t understand the relationship that she has with Rhett, Leah is hopeful that she will be able to fix things with her friends. She is devastated when she realizes that Janie has no desire to support her relationship with Rhett and explodes on her. Furious and in tears, Leah returns to Rhett’s house where he makes it clear that he wants her to stay with him anyway and that he wants to take care of her. The submissive side of her wants to take him up on that offer but she knows that she still needs to find a job to take care of herself.

Leah is very nervous when Rhett tells her that he is opening the dungeon back up and she will be doing a scene that night. She is not sure how she will react but wants to please her Master. Later that night, while folks are arriving a surprise guest arrives. A lifelong friend of Rhett’s who also is a Master and lives the lifestyle, Alex. I have to stop here and say that there is not a single thing about Alex that I don’t find sexy as hell. The man is yummy with a capital Y and it makes me want to find the nearest dungeon and convince him to join me! That being said, back to the story. Alex is intrigued when he meets Leah for the first time and can’t seem to figure out what has happened to his friend. He has never treated a sub like he does Leah and Alex decides to take Rhett up on his offer to stay at the house so they can catch up. Running into Leah in the kitchen the next morning, Alex joins her for breakfast and after talking to her for a bit, he begins to understand Rhett’s obsession. When he realizes that she is job hunting he offers to give her a shot at his advertising agency and convinces her to go with him to check it out.

When Rhett finds that Leah has spent the day with Alex, he explodes with pent up rage and emotion. Leah doesn’t feel like she should have to deal with that so she leaves with Alex to take a break. I have to tell you that I don’t think I would have been able to handle myself around Alex, cause when sex walks like sin, you have to take advantage. Leah and Alex develop a wonderful friendship and it eventually leads to more. I love where this story goes and the intricate relationships. Go Beyond 10 Nights and into a world of desire.

I don’t want to ruin the story for anyone so I will stop there. If you haven’t read the first book in the series, 10 Nights, then you need to hop over to Amazon or click the link below to get started. This book picks up where it leaves off so you might be a little lost! 🙂 I was invited to be a stop on this blog tour and excited doesn’t even begin to describe it! The genius behind this fabulous tour decided we should do a little This or That with our two amazing authors. I have to admit that I was a little curious about their answers to my questions.

This or That with our Authors!
I was curious about what our authors’ choices would be and I was surprised at a few!

Michelle Hughes Karl Jones

Satin or Silk? Silk                                                                                 Satin or Silk? Silk
Whips or Feathers? Feathers                                                         Whips or Feathers? Feathers
Dom or Sub? Sub                                                                                 Dom or Sub? Dom
Kittens or Puppies? Puppies                                                           Kittens or Puppies? Kittens
Piercings or Tattoos? Piercings                                                    Piercings or Tattoos? Tattoos
Beer or Liquor? Liquor                                                                     Beer or Liquor? Liquor
Santa Claus or Easter Bunny? Santa Claus                               Santa/Easter Bunny? Santa Claus
Open Scene or Private Show? Private Show                           Open/Private Show? Private Show
Print or E-book? Ebook                                                                    Print or Ebook? Ebook
Cross or Bench? Cross                                                                       Cross or Bench? Bench

10 Nights (Forbidden Desires Series)

I would also recommend checking out Michelle and Karl’s other books while you are visiting Amazon. They are all worth the read! These are a couple of my favorites!

Click here for my review of Tears of Crimson!

Click here for my review of Eternal Crimson!

Click Here for my review of Shattered!

Michelle Hughes Bio

Michelle Hughes is the international bestselling author of the book 10 Nights. She currently resides in Alabama with her husband and her five children. Hughes began her career in entertainment as a singer and host for a nationally televised satellite talent program and continued to perform across the United States until she decided to move home and start her family.
Hughes and her co-author, Karl Jones, own Tears of Crimson. The website began as role-play and fan fiction base and has since become the home of Tears of Crimson Books and promotions. Hughes states her love of writing comes from her muse Rafe, who has given her dreams of fantasy worlds since she was a young girl.
Hughes started reading Harlequin romance books at eight years old, sneaking them from her grandmother. It instilled in her a love of romance that is still with her today. Her grandmother was raised on a cotton farm and only completed a sixth grade education, it was through watching her struggles with reading that Hughes states gave her the love of the written word.
Amazon/Michelle Hughes http://www.amazon.com/Michelle-Hughes/e/B00605O89I/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1354383782&sr=1-2-ent
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/groups/448502065202528/?fref=ts
Blog/website http://www.tearsofcrimson.com/

Karl Jones Bio

Author Bio, Karl Jones:

In the dark of the night and the still of the evening you’ll find Karl Jones writing furiously to exercise his dark muse to the delight of his fans.

Specializing in Crime and Horror thrillers, he refers to himself as a loner, haunted by the stories he pens and driven to push the boundaries until all lovers of the genres have no choice but to sleep with one eye open.

Karl explores the dark side of humanity and turns the stories of some of the most depraved into literature you’ll have no choice but to read with one eye on the door and every light in the house on.

Grab a sample if you dare…

Amazon/Karl Jones http://www.amazon.com/Karl-Jones/e/B006ZJKS1G/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1354383853&sr=1-2-ent

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/AuthorKarlJones?fref=ts

Blog/website http://booksboozeandbanter.blogspot.com/

**I was given a copy of B10N in return for my honest review.**

Rated 5 Bookworms

Follow the rest of the tour!

January 1^st – The O’Raven Chronicles -Loush O’Raven

January 2^nd – Tam’s Two Cents-Tammy Middleton

January 3^rd – Kindle Hooked -Kim Box Pearson

January 4^th – Into the Night book reviews -Heather Gunter

January 4^th – Romancebookworm’s Reviews-Brandy Dorsch

January 5^th – Mad Sheep reading-Jenny Needham

January 6^th – Don’t Feed the Mimsey – Jay Mims

January 7^th – The Indie Shop -Tamara Beard

January 8^th – The Page Turners -Keelie Bennett Howard

January 9^th –Author Belinda Boring aka The Bookish Snob

January 10^th – BookEnd 2 BookEnd -Jessica Johnson

Haunted on Bourbon Street (A Jade Calhoun Novel: Book 1) by Deanna Chase (@writerdeanna)

January 2, 2013November 17, 2015 romancebookworm1 Comment

Excerpt from Amazon

Jade loves her new apartment–until a ghost joins her in the shower.

When empath Jade Calhoun moves into an apartment above a strip bar on Bourbon Street, she expects life to get interesting. What she doesn’t count on is making friends with an exotic dancer, attracting a powerful spirit, and developing feelings for Kane, her sexy landlord.

Being an empath has never been easy on Jade’s relationships. It’s no wonder she keeps her gift a secret. But when the ghost moves from spooking Jade to terrorizing Pyper, the dancer, it’s up to Jade to use her unique ability to save her. Except she’ll need Kane’s help–and he’s betrayed her with a secret of his own–to do it. Can she find a way to trust him and herself before Pyper is lost?

This is the first book in the Jade Calhoun series and I really enjoyed it. I was not familiar with this author before this book so I love finding someone new to read!

Jade Calhoun is an empath that has moved to New Orleans and into an apartment above a strip club. While that in itself may bother some folks she is fine with it until she discovers her apartment is haunted. She does not share her empath abilities with anyone since her last relationship was destroyed because of them. I love the fact that she is creative and is into beadmaking. I thought that was a great niche that the author created. When an evil spirit attaches itself to her friend, Jade will use all the skills and people at her disposal to save her.

This story is full of wonderful characters that include a stripper friend that runs a coffee shop, a sexy landlord with secrets of his own, an ex-boyfriend that used to be a best friend, and a whole cast of ghosts, witches and friends that make this story a must have on your TBR list.

Rated 4 Bookworms