Friday 31 August 2018

Review: THE DUKE WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (Victorian Rebels #6) by Kerrigan Byrne

Source: Netgalley
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Release Date: August 28, 2018
Number of Pages: 333 (Mass Market Paperback)

DESCRIPTION

The bravest of heroes. The brashest of rebels. The boldest of lovers. These are the men who risk their hearts and their souls—for the passionate women who dare to love them…

He is known only as The Rook. A man with no name, no past, no memories. He awakens in a mass grave, a magnificent dragon tattoo on his muscled forearm the sole clue to his mysterious origins. His only hope for survival—and salvation—lies in the deep, fiery eyes of the beautiful stranger who finds him. Who nurses him back to health. And who calms the restless demons in his soul…

A LEGENDARY LOVE

Lorelei will never forget the night she rescued the broken dark angel in the woods, a devilishly handsome man who haunts her dreams to this day. Crippled as a child, she devoted herself to healing the poor tortured man. And when he left, he took a piece of her heart with him. Now, after all these years, The Rook has returned. Like a phantom, he sweeps back into her life and avenges those who wronged her. But can she trust a man who’s been branded a rebel, a thief, and a killer? And can she trust herself to resist him when he takes her in his arms?

REVIEW

I'm a little bit conflicted over this one. I really enjoyed the romantic aspects of this story and loved seeing Lorelai and the Rook get to know each other. I loved that we got to see their relationship in stages too: having it start with when they met and when they reunited about 20 years later. Their chemistry was fantastic, and I enjoyed seeing their feelings evolve and seeing both of them learn to share their feelings with one another.

The thing that left me conflicted with this story was the level of violence and brutality though. I was surprised by how ruthless the Rook and the other characters in this story were. They were definitely anti-heroes, so if you're a fan of darker heroes, you'll probably like them. I enjoy a compelling bad boy as much as the next mega romance fan, but the heroes in this one were a bit too violent for my tastes. I still loved them in their softer moments, but the brutality kept me from fully loving this story.

Overall, I thought that this romance was sexy and intriguing, but the hero was a bit too brutal for my taste. I still really enjoyed it though, and I'm definitely interested in checking out the earlier books in the series because I'd love to see the backstories for the other characters. If you're a fan of historical romances with tough anti-heroes and the women who calm them down, then this is definitely a perfect book (and series) for you!



Does The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo sound like something you'd enjoy?
Are you a fan of historical romance?
 If you are, what types or tropes do you like?

Thursday 16 August 2018

[Cover Reveal] DIRTY HEADLINES by L. J. Shen


  "I laughed, I swooned, I sighed, I smiled and cheered for these two lonely souls. By far one of my favorite books of 2018!"- Kate Stewart, Amazon bestselling author
 
Dirty Headlines, an all-new sexy, enemies-to-lovers romance from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen is coming September 7th! 



Dirty Headlines by L.J. Shen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publishing Date: September 7th, 2018
Cover designer: Letitia Hasser, RBA Designs
Model: Lucas Loyola
Photographer: Leandro Franco

CĂ©lian Laurent.

Manhattan royalty.

Notorious playboy.

Heir to a media empire.

…And my new boss.

I could have impressed him, if not for last month’s unforgettable one-night stand.

I left it with more than orgasms and a pleasant memory—namely, his wallet.

Now he’s staring me down like I’m the dirt under his Italian loafers, and I’m supposed to take it.

But the thing about being Judith “Jude” Humphry is I have nothing to lose.

Brooklyn girl.

Infamously quirky.

Heir to a stack of medical bills and a tattered couch.

When he looks at me from across the room, I see the glint in his eyes, and that makes us rivals.

He knows it.

So do I.

Every day in the newsroom is a battle.

Every night in his bed, war.

But it’s my heart at stake, and I fear I’ll be raising the white flag.
Click to see the full jacket a bit bigger. ;)
Add to GoodReads: https://bit.ly/2GuCKIB
 

About LJ Shen:

L.J. Shen is an International #1 best-selling author of Contemporary Romance and New Adult novels. She lives in Northern California with her husband, young son and chubby cat.

Before she’d settled down, L.J. (who thinks referring to herself in the third person is really silly, by the way) traveled the world, and collected friends from all across the globe. Friends who’d be happy to report that she is a rubbish companion, always forgets people's’ birthdays and never sends Christmas cards.

She enjoys the simple things in life, like spending time with her family and friends, reading, HBO, Netflix and internet-stalking Stephen James. She reads between three to five books a week and firmly believes Crocs shoes and mullets should be outlawed.

Connect with L.J. Shen:
Stay up to date with L.J. Shen by signing up for her mailing list!


I'm ridiculously excited to read DIRTY HEADLINES and I'm so excited that the cover has finally been revealled! 

What do you think?
Do you like the cover?
Are you excited to read DIRTY HEADLINES too?

Wednesday 8 August 2018

[Spotlight Teaser] DIRTY HEADLINES by L. J. Shen

I've professed my love of all things L. J. Shen on this blog countless times...and you guys, I'm gearing up to rave about her some more. She has a new book called DIRTY HEADLINES coming in September...and I. AM. HERE. FOR. IT! 

It's an enemies-to-lovers romance and the leading dude is a playboy, he's ruthless...and he is HOT! 

I'll be sharing teasers leading up to the release of DIRTY HEADLINES...and ladies, here's the first one. ;) 


CĂ©lian Laurent.

Manhattan royalty.

Notorious playboy.

Heir to a media empire.

... And my new boss. 

Dirty Headlines, an all-new sexy, enemies-to-lovers romance from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen is coming September 7th and we have a sexy new teaser just for you! 

Add to GoodReads: https://bit.ly/2GuCKIB 

To be notified when DIRTY HEADLINES is live, sign up here: http://bit.ly/2ASd8mA



Anybody else fanning themselves yet? ;)
Who else can't wait to read DIRTY HEADLINES?

Tuesday 7 August 2018

[Release Day] BAD REPUTATION (Bad Bachelors #2) by Stefanie London

HAPPY RELEASE DAY TO STEFANIE LONDON—BAD REPUTATION IS OUT TODAY!

A few months ago, I read the first book in the Bad Bachelors series, Bad Bachelor, and I absolutely LOVED it! Because of that I was eagerly waiting for Bad Reputation...the second book in the series, and romance readers...today is our lucky day because today we can all get our hands on Wes Evans! And by hands I mean a copy of the book of course...geez, what did you think I meant. ;P

If you haven't heard about the Bad Bachelors series yet, it's centred around a group of three girlfriends (Darcy—from Bad Bachelor, Remi—from Bad Reputation, and Annie—who I can only presume will be the main character of the upcoming third book. ;) 

The stories themselves revolve around Bad Bachelors...an app where ladies can leave reviews...on the men that they've dated/encountered. Designed as a way for women to look out for each other, and feel more comfortable getting into the dating scene...Bad Bachelors causes countless problems for our leading dudes. In Bad Bachelor, Reed's reputation was destroyed by his negative reviews...but in Bad Reputation, Wes's reviews are all very flattering and very complimentary, but all that attention on his sex life starts to cause problems in his working life...read on to get a taste of the story, and let me know what you think in the comments!




Title: Bad Reputation
Author: Stefanie London
Series: Bad Bachelors, #2
Pub Date: August 7, 2018
ADD TO GOODREADS

It's true, Wes is well-endowed.
But everything else is a huge misunderstanding...

Wes Evans, son of Broadway royalty, just wants to achieve something without riding his family's coattails. Too bad the whole world is talking about his sex life after the notorious Bad Bachelors app dubs him "The Anaconda". But when he sees a talented ballet dancer, he knows she is exactly what he needs to make his show a success.

Remi Drysdale only had one thought when she fled Australia for New York—never mix business with pleasure again. Ever. Working with Wes is the perfect chance to reclaim her career. Remi promises herself not to tangle with the guy who holds her career in his hands...no matter how enticing his reviews are on the Bad Bachelors app.

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

A B O U T    T H E    A U T H O R

Stefanie London is the USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romances with humor, heat, and heart. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Stefanie now lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband. She loves to read, collect lipsticks, watch zombie movies and drink coffee. Her bestselling book, Pretend It's Love, was a 2016 Romantic Book of the Year finalist with the Romance Writers of Australia. You can visit her at www.stefanie-london.com

Find Stefanie Online:

And, get the latest dirt on Bad Bachelor #1 at the site badbachelors.weebly.com!  

  EXCERPT

  He leaned back in his chair, legs spread slightly apart. The pose was unabashedly male, and Remi shifted her gaze away from him, turning back to face the empty rows of seats representing the audience. The last thing she needed was the “Anaconda” staring back at her while she tried to nail these steps.

“Three, two, one.” She counted herself in and rose up into relevĂ©.

Her toes protested, but she gritted her teeth. She couldn’t let Wes see she was struggling. Not when he’d placed so much faith in her.

She stepped up onto the chair, her floaty, chiffon skirt swirling around her thighs. Swish, swish, kick. Her foot sailed over his lap, missing him easily and she tried not to be distracted by the blue eyes trained intently on her. Swish, swish, kick. She turned, stepping into an arabesque, facing him, her back leg extended away from the chairs. Her ankle wobbled, the chair uneven enough that if she didn’t rise up in exactly the right spot, she couldn’t get a flat surface to balance on.

She wobbled again and fell forward, her hand coming down on Wes’s shoulder.

“Whoa.” He grabbed her easily, steadying her so she could bring her other foot down to the chair.

Humiliation burned in her cheeks. The other dancers seemed so much more at ease, so much more professional. They weren’t scared by the strangeness of the moves or the challenge of working with these props.

“I wanted to practice alone tonight,” she bit out. She was annoyed at herself for feeling so far behind, rather than at him for turning up unannounced. After all, he had every right to be there. “I’ll get it, I promise.”

“I know you will.” He stood, his hands still on her.

Her chest rose and fell, the deep breaths threatening more emotion that she desperately tamped down. Wes moved in front of her, his other hand coming up to smooth over her hip. He settled it on the other side of the waist.

“I’m going to hold you,” he said. “Go back into arabesque.”

Swallowing, she rose onto pointe and stretched into the position. Her back leg extended behind her, pulling up to create a perfect, elongated shape. Her arms floated in front, one slightly higher than the other as she looked out over her fingertips, concentrating on the crack in the beige wall on the other side of the studio.

She held the position, feeling safe with his hands holding her steady. It’d been so long since she’d had a partner to give her a safety net. To make sure she didn’t fall.
Remi didn’t dare look down, fearing that staring into Wes’s eyes might bring the most painful memories rushing back. She’d fallen in love once before in this very predicament—frightened of a new challenge, but with a strong, charming man holding her steady.

His touch burned through the fabric, sending sparks showering over her. The frayed edges of her nerves left her open, susceptible. They made her an easy target, like a rabbit caught in the glare of headlights. Ready to be flattened. Her breath hitched in the back of her throat, her heart slamming against her rib cage.

This wasn’t the effects of a memory.

It was the very real chemistry she’d walked away from the night they’d met at the bar. The kind of chemistry that was often imitated, rarely experienced. She knew choreographed chemistry, orchestrated chemistry. But this…this would burn her alive if she let it.

“Did you prove your point?” Her voice wobbled. Traitorous thing.

“What do you think my point was?” he asked.

Gone was the easy, humorous crinkles that normally bracketed his blue eyes. Gone was the cheeky smirk that lifted his lips, the one that always made her tummy flutter. Instead, he stared at her intently. Studying. Assessing. Like he could see a hell of a lot more than she wanted him to.

“To show me I can conquer my fears and all that. Was it meant to be a teachable moment?” She hated herself for trying to tarnish the flickering connection between them by being a sarcastic bitch. But Remi didn’t do vulnerable. She didn’t do open. Not anymore.

“I’m here to help you,” he said, frustration giving his tone a sharp edge. “Call it a ‘teachable moment’ if you like. Call it whatever the hell you want. But the reason I’m here is because I want this show to be a resounding success, and in order for that to happen, I need to make sure you slay whatever demon is lurking in your head.”
Yeah, he saw way too much.

“No demons,” she lied. “Just a fear of props.”

“Bullshit. We both know there’s more to it than that.”

He was still touching her, and she was still letting him. His strong hands made her waist look fragile. Made her look fragile.

You don’t want to be bloody fragile. You want to be a strong, badass ballerina who doesn’t need a man to save her.

But she was failing miserably.

“Help me down?” she asked, forcing a smile. She needed to break this spell. ASAP.
“Only if you stop feeding me bullshit,” he replied. “I know you probably come from a place where keeping your mouth shut is the only way to get ahead. I’ve been there too. But I can’t help you if you’re acting like I’m the enemy.”

“What if you can’t help me at all?” she whispered.

He tightened his hands around her and helped her down from the chair, the change in angle casting shadows across his face. Remi wasn’t short by any means, but Wes towered over her. He leaned forward, his dark hair flopping across his forehead. Without thinking, she reached up and brushed it back.

“I will keep pushing, Remi. I will poke and shove and I will make you angry enough to get out of your own head.” He pinned her with his stare. “I won’t let this show fail.”

Disappointment stabbed at her chest. Of course it was all about the show—she was doing the same stupid thing that she’d done before. Misinterpreting signs. Reading too much into things. Hearing what she wanted to hear.

Wasn’t that what Alex had said to her? If you thought I loved you, it was because you wanted to think that. Not because I meant it.

“I won’t let you fail.” Wes’s voice had turned rough. Gritty.

Don’t fall for it. Don’t fall for him.


Thoughts?

Does BAD REPUTATION sound like something you'd like to read?
Has anyone else already started the Bad Bachelors Series?

Monday 6 August 2018

[Pre-Order Blitz] NOT SO NICE GUY by R.S. Grey - Only $0.99!


R.S. Grey's next romantic comedy, NOT SO NICE GUY, releases August 9th! 

Preorder your copy now for just $0.99 before the price goes up on release day!   



About NOT SO NICE GUY (available August 9th!)
:

“Oh my god. Who is that?” I get asked this question a lot.

“Oh him?” I reply. “That’s just Ian.”

Just Ian is the biggest understatement of the century. Just the Mona Lisa. Just the Taj Mahal. Just Ian, with his boring ol’ washboard abs and dime-a-dozen dimpled smile.

Just Ian is…just my best friend.

We’re extremely close, stuck so deep inside a Jim-and-Pam-style friendzone everyone at work assumes we’re a couple—that is until one day, word spreads through the teacher’s lounge that he’s single. Fair game. Suddenly, it’s open season on Ian.

He should be reveling in all the newfound attention, but to our mutual surprise, the only attention he seems to want is mine.

He’s turning our formerly innocent nightly chats into X-rated phone calls. Our playful banter sports a new, dangerous edge.

I want to assume he’s playing a prank on me, just pushing my buttons like always—but when Ian lifts me onto the desk in my classroom and slides his hands up my skirt, he doesn’t leave a lot of room for confusion.

I’m a little scared of things going south, of losing my best friend because I can’t keep my hands to myself. So, I’m just going to back away and not return this earth-shattering kiss—oh who am I kidding?!
Goodbye Ian, ol’ buddy, ol’ pal!
Helloooo mister not so nice guy.

Add NOT SO NICE GUY to your Goodreads list here!
NOT SO NICE GUY releases August 9th!
Pre-order your copy for $0.99 now: https://amzn.to/2MoemH  
*Just a head's up, the price will be going up to $2.99 on release day!*   



About R.S. Grey


R.S. Grey is the USA Today bestselling author of thirteen novels, including THE FOXE & THE HOUND. She lives in Texas with her husband and two dogs, and can be found reading, binge-watching reality TV, or practicing yoga!

Visit her at rsgrey.com

Connect with R.S. Grey:


I absolutely adore R.S. Grey! Her books are hilarious, and NOT SO NICE GUY has been on my TBR since I heard about it months ago now! I can't wait to read it! :)

What about you?
Does NOT SO NICE GUY sound like something you'd like?
Any other big R.S. Grey fans out there?

Friday 3 August 2018

[2018 ARC August] To Read List!

ARC August is a yearly challenge hosted by the bloggers of Read. Sleep. Repeat: Octavia, Shelly, and Angie!
Hey fellow bookworms! :D 

I've been a very lazy blogger lately, but I wanted to take part in this year's ARC August hosted and created by the lovely bloggers over at Read. Sleep. Repeat. It's the 6th Annual ARC August, but it's my first taking part and let me tell you...I'm sooo excited! :D

Here's my tentative to-read list for ARC August (in no specific order):
  1. Autoboyography by Christina Lauren
  2. I, Claudia by Mary McCoy
  3. Open Mic Night at the Westminster Cemetery by Mary Amato
  4. Jane Austen by Manuela Santoni (Graphic Novel)
  5. Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina lauren
  6. Legacy of Light (Effigies #3) by Sarah Raughley
  7. Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu
  8. Boy Toy (Man Hands #3) by Sarina Bowen & Tanya Eby
  9. Bad Reputation (Bad Bachelors #2) by Stefanie London
    • Finished August 2, 2018
  10. Not So Nice Guy by R. S. Grey
  11. Losing the Girl (Life on Earth #1) by MariNaomi (Graphic Novel)
    • Finished August 3, 2018
  12. Sheets by Brenna Thummler (Graphic Novel)
  13. Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich
  14. Burning Up (Flirting with Fire #1) by Jennifer Blackwood
  15. Hot Asset (21 Wall Street #1) by Lauren Layne
I made this list a couple of days before August started...and since I'm posting it three days into the month, I've actually finished two of these. ;) 

I'm going to make a note when I finish each book, and I'll add to the list if I add more ARCs to my TBR. ;)
My goal for ARC August is to finish at least 10 books on this list! 


As I mentioned, this will be my first time participating...and I'm super excited! I have wayyyy too many ARCs to read (both physical and digital), so it's the perfect reason for me to play some serious catch-up! ;)

Are you planning to participate in ARC August? 

If yes, what's on your TBR?
If no, what would you add to your list if you did participate?

[Cover Reveal] FLIRTING WITH FIRE ( Blue Collar Brothers #1) by Piper Rayne


Flirting With Fire
(Blue Collar Brothers #1)
By Piper Rayne
Release Day: Sept 13

DESCRIPTION

Everyone knows that if you play with fire you’ll end up getting burned…

What happens when you attend a first responder’s bachelor auction with your best friends? Well, if your name is Madison Kelly like me, your friends end up bidding on a date for you with your high school crush.

That’s right. Even back when I was ‘Fatty Maddie’ to all my classmates, I had eyes for the quarterback of our football team. Not like I was the only one.

Mauro Bianco may fight fires for a living, but he still sets my heart ablaze. One look at the rugged, muscular man he’s turned into and I want to slide down his pole.

One date. That’s all I’m committed to. A few hours and I can tuck him back into that tattered old shoebox in my closet.

As always, the universe has other plans. I never would’ve predicted that in a matter of days he’d turn from my dream guy into my enemy.
Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2mhVmz8


Add to Most Anticipated Romance for September 2018:
https://bit.ly/2LbKb5G


ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Piper Rayne, or Piper and Rayne, whichever you prefer because we’re not one author, we’re two. Yep, you get two USA Today Bestselling authors for the price of one. Our goal is to bring you romance stories that have "Heartwarming Humor With a Side of Sizzle" (okay...you caught us, that's our tagline). A little about us... 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.

Connect with Piper Rayne:


Join our newsletter and get 2 FREE BOOKS!
 - http://bit.ly/2tsNcpP 


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Woo hoo! I've been excited for this new series ever since I read Break the Ice (the third Bedroom Games book), where the Bianco brothers were introduced! And this cover...and that description totally have me sold! This looks (and sounds) like it's going to be an intense, "fire"-y read! 

What do you think?
Do you like the cover, and does FLIRTING WITH FIRE sound like something you'd want to read?