February 25, 2015 by Tina Williams

PRE-RELEASE BLITZ ~ Hell’s Kitchen (book #1), by Hart Saint Germain (includes excerpt)

PREMA Romance

Presents

Pre-Release Blitz: Hell’s Kitchen (book #1)

By Hart Saint Germain

Release Date: March 3, 2015

Pre-Order Links

Exclusive iBooks Pre-Order – http://bit.ly/1DqsA1t
Goodreads – http://bit.ly/1MkUqQV

**The Hell’s Kitchen series will be available on Amazon on release day. No pre-order option.

Blurb

Hell’s Kitchen (Hell’s Kitchen #1)

*From International Bestselling authors Callie Hart and Lili St. Germain comes a tale of two families co-existing in a melting pot of violence, murder and drugs in the seedy underbelly of New York City*

Hell’s Kitchen

Theo and Sal Barbieri are brothers, tasked by their Mafioso father Roberto with a very clear purpose: kidnap Kaitlin McLaughlin. The beautiful daughter of Roberto’s Irish enemy. It’s high time Kaitlin was punished for her father’s sins—not to mention, her own.

And Operation: Kidnap Kaitlin is a roaring success… until it isn’t. When Kaitlin escapes into the busy streets of New York City, it’s a race against the clock to find her before Sal and Theo become the hunted.

Zeth Mayfair has traded his life as a hitman for a quieter existence, but it isn’t long before the past catches up with him in the form of Roberto Barbieri. Will he succumb to the lure of power that Roberto is offering? Or will he retaliate by killing every last Barbieri in New York to get them off his back?

Jason Ross is running. Woken in the night by a tip that the Gypsy Brothers are coming for him, he packs a bag and gets his girlfriend the hell out of dodge. Arriving in New York City in the midst of a heatwave is one thing, but being tailed by an entire drug cartel is another.

Worlds collide in Hell’s Kitchen as secrets come to light and sins are punished. Because we might be different in the light of day, but in the darkness, we’re all connected somehow.

Hell’s Kitchen is a serial comprising three volumes: Hell’s Kitchen, Tribeca and Bleecker Street. Volume One releases on March 3rd with a limited-time sale price of 99 cents

Teasers- Meet some of the players…

Excerpt

“What time they due to land?” Sal asks. He loops a tie, pre-knotted and ready to go, over his head.
“Twenty minutes.” With traffic the way it is, we’ll be there in ten.

Sal tightens the tie around his neck, placing the ridiculous fucking chauffeur’s hat on his head. He tucks his hair back behind his ears. He needs to cut it, but will the bastard listen? Hell, no. He never listens to a word I say. “Are you ready?” he asks.

I take my eyes off the road, arching an eyebrow at him. Who the hell does he think he’s talking to? I’ve been doing this job longer than him, after all. I’ve never blinked. Never not been ready. He gets the point pretty damn quickly.

“All right, man, I’m sorry.”

When we arrive at the airfield, we’re directed to hangar twelve, no questions asked. Paddy McLaughlin’s own men would have arrived around now—if we hadn’t already beaten the shit out of them and handcuffed them to a pillar inside an old cardboard factory down on the wharf—so we’re expected. Kaitlin McLaughlin’s plane is delayed. I’m already bored and itching to go by the time the private jet touches down. Sal climbs out of the car and leans against the front passenger door, waiting for the prissy Irish princess and her entourage to exit the plane. When she does, we’re in luck.

Normally, Paddy doesn’t send his little girl anywhere without two personal bodyguards. Today, she’s only accompanied by one. Sal taps the hood of the car as he goes out to take her bags. I have the engine purring in anticipation as he opens the back passenger side door for her and she climbs inside.

Huge sunglasses cover her eyes. That full mouth of hers is perfectly visible in the rearview, though. “Where the fuck is Ray?” she asks. Her father may be first generation Irish, but Kaitlin was born and raised in the States—she sounds like a spoiled little Yank bitch.

“Mr. McLaughlin needed him for something else. He sent us instead.”
She slides the sunglasses down the bridge of her nose, peering at me over the car’s half-raised privacy screen. “And who are you?”
I give her a tight-lipped smile, doing my best to keep my tongue in my head. We need the bodyguard to get in the car, and then we’re golden. Until then, I’m Jerry, the friendly town car driver. “Jerry. My buddy there, that’s Gareth. We’re new.”

“I can see that.” She makes a low, humming sound at the back of her throat. She sounds like she approves. Sorry, sweetheart. I don’t touch crazy pussy. But I will introduce you to my old man, all the same. He just can’t wait to fucking meet you.

The door behind me opens and I feel the car dip as someone gets in—I didn’t notice before, but the lone bodyguard with Kaitlin is a woman. Must be the chick Roberto was talking about. I get a good look at her in the rearview and find myself taking a second one for good measure. She’s blisteringly hot. Maybe in her mid-twenties? Long dark hair, tied back into a braid. High cheekbones. A mouth to rival Kaitlin’s. Her tits strain against her tight black shirt as she twists to put on her seatbelt. You can tell she works out; her clothes fit her far too well for her not to know she looks good in them, too.

Just like Kaitlin, she asks, “Where’s Ray?”

“Busy doing something for Daddy,” Kaitlin informs her, which saves me from spinning the lie again.
“Okay. Straight to the bar, then.” The body guard’s head doesn’t even lift, but she’s a professional. She assesses me in the mirror just as I’ve assessed her. I pretend not to notice as Sal folds himself into the passenger seat.

“Of course.” I press the button for the privacy screen, raising it the rest of the way, blocking out all sound from the back of the car. Sal turns and gives me one of his wicked, crazy-ass grins. He’s enjoying this already. “All right, then, big brother. Let’s do this.” He leans forward and hits a button on the dash—and every single door on the town car automatically locks. “No backing out now.”

I burn out of the hangar to the sounds of muffled thuds from the back of the car. The bodyguard’s not stupid. She’s heard the doors locking and knows something isn’t right. “Motherfucker! Open this up right now!”

Normally there’s an intercom in these cars, but this one’s different. Sal and I smashed the shit out of this car’s intercom with two lump hammers and ripped out the wiring. We also lined the roof with lead. The girls in the back aren’t striking up a conversation with us any time soon. And they aren’t making any phone calls to dear old Papa McLaughlin, either.

As I head back toward the city, the shouting from the back gets louder. It’s accompanied by the dull thudding of feet trying to smash out the privacy screen. Sal raps his knuckles against the glass, grinning again. “Bitch sounds crazy back there. I don’t think she likes the modifications we’ve made.”

I allow myself a small smile as we hit the George Washington Bridge, heading back toward North Manhattan. So far Operation: Kidnap Kaitlin has been a roaring success. Sal pulls out his cell and starts tapping into it with quick fingers. “Telling the old man we’re on our way?”

He nods. “Bastard better give us credit where credit’s due. He’s probably still organising his own fucking birthday party. Meanwhile, we have just successfully taken our mark hostage. We’re on the homeward stretch.”

The fucking homeward stretch.

The thing about saying you’re on the homeward stretch is that often it’s like waving a red flag at a bull. Fate must hear that phrase and decide to fuck over the poor schmuck who was dumb enough to utter it every single fucking time. It’s only seconds after Sal’s parted with those words that the electric window behind me—the bodyguard’s side window—shatters. We knew the bodyguard would be armed, but we didn’t expect anyone to be shooting out the damn side windows. An eruption of fragmented diamonds explodes sideways, spraying a bright yellow smart car with a million shards of glass. The sound of the firing gun is almost deafening.

“What the fuck?”

The smart car veers sideways, smashing into us; I press my foot to the floor, grinding my teeth at the sound of screeching metal and more hammering from the back as I swerve through the traffic. Sal twists in his seat, pulling his gun and pressing it to the glass of the privacy screen. His finger’s on the trigger. “She’s going fucking crazy. I’m gonna shoot the bitch.”

About the Authors

Callie Hart

Callie has experienced many changes throughout her life, and gone through many ups and downs that have all worked towards shaping and molding her into the person she is today: fun loving, active, social, and hard working. The only thing that has remained a constant throughout her life is writing. Creating characters who will tear your conscience in two is a favorite pastime of Callie’s. There are few real saints and sinners in her books; more often, the denizens of her stories are all very human. Broken, flawed, and always with the potential for redemption.

Despite the subject matter being markedly hot and heavy in comparison to the stories she wrote in elementary school, there will always be an element of fairytale to her work.

Stalk Her: Website –Facebook – Twitter – Goodreads –Join Callie’s Newsletter

Lili Saint Germain

Lili writes dark romance, suspense and paranormal stories. Her serial novel, Seven Sons, was released in early 2014, with the following books in the series to be released in quick succession. Lili quit corporate life to focus on writing and so far is loving every minute of it. Her other loves in life include her gorgeous husband and beautiful daughter, good coffee, Tarantino movies and spending hours on Pinterest.

She loves to read almost as much as she loves to write.

Website |Facebook |Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

Leather & Lace – Las Vegas

BUY TICKETS HERE:http://bit.ly/LLLasVegas

Callie Hart & Lili St. Germain are coming back to the US! Just in time for the release of their joint projectHell’s Kitchen. Join Callie and Lili, Saturday March 14th, at the super cool Inspire News Cafe from 5-7 for a special printing and signing of their newest book and a Q& A session.

Then, come upstairs to the Wayfarer Bar, from 7-9 for cocktails (cash bar) and laughs. It’ll be a fun evening with Hell’s Kitchen chatter, some themed cocktails, light bites and a chance to spend some more time talking about all things Hart St Germain.

**Books that are printed will be available for purchase for around $10. Exact price to be confirmed closer to event date. This is pretty awesome! The machine that prints books while you watch is one of only 30 in the world! You’ll be able to take away your unique, limited edition of Hell’s Kitchen, signed by both authors – There will never be others that look like the ones printed in Vegas.

**Snack foods will be provided.
**All drinks are your responsibility

The Venues

Inspire News Cafe (downstairs) and Wayfarer Bar (upstairs) are both gorgeous, hip venues with kick ass atmosphere! The Wayfarer bar is where we’ll finish the night and is a gorgeous, mad-men inspired bar that will be closed just for attendees!

BUY TICKETS HERE:http://bit.ly/LLLasVegas

February 23, 2015 by Tina Williams

BLOG TOUR ~ Fate: Adam and Evette, by Maya James

SYNOPSIS:

Fate is a fast paced novella about two people from opposite ends of the country trying to support each other as friends while denying their instant attraction for one another.

Adam and Evette have both recently ended relationships that were never meant to last. Each of them is longing for something more intense and meaningful, and fate brings them together online in a support system for rebounding daters. The only problem—they’re perfect for each other but too far away to do anything about it.

Will they help each other find love with someone else, or will Fate completely take over their destiny?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23617441-fate

Purchase links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Fate-Adam-Evette-Maya-James-ebook/dp/B00QNZSUGC

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940150280717

AUTHOR BIO:

Indie Author of contemporary romance and suspense novels such as the Charity Series (Charity’s Warrior, Charity’s Secrets, and Charity’s Passion) and a novella titled Fate: Adam & Evette. East coast born and raised, I’m married, extremely happily, with 4 kids, 3 of which are now young adults (not sure when that happened). I’m a COO in my technology-based “day job,” which requires a mix of technical and creative writing for both internal and client-facing materials, but it was not satisfying my artistic spirit. Writing the “Charity” series has been absolutely fulfilling and exciting. My favorite writing takes place on my phone while lying on the Southernmost Beach in Key West, where I try to go at least twice a year.

AUTHOR MEDIA LINKS:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authormayajames

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authormayajames

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Maya-James/e/B00E22C76W

February 22, 2015 by Caroline Barker

REVIEW Cautious Surrender (Unearthly World book IV) by C.L. Scholey

Author: C.L. Scholey

Title: Cautious Surrender (Unearthly World book IV)

Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance, Erotic

Date Released: January 5th, 2015

Published by: Whiskey Creek Press LLC

Length: 139 pages

Blurb: Adan went from a living hell on Earth, only to be thrown into a new purgatory. The Zargonnii vessel she’d thought was her savior is blown to bits in an alien war attack. A wormhole sends Adan and her warrior protector to an unknown world. Her only hope of surviving the ungodly planet is in the hands of Blu, whom she loves. Unfortunately, Blu has another agenda.

Blu’s body burns for the little human female, but his entire adult life has one purpose, to father a son and create a family. If he mates with Adan and makes it back home, he’ll need to keep her close to his side, protecting her from his dangerous life. Human females only produce female offspring in Blu’s world. If they survive this planet, Blu has to decide if he’s willing to give up one dream for another.

REVIEW

Cautious Surrender is another fantastic read from author, C.L. Scholey. As well as the sci-fi, romance and erotic scenes, we have a brilliant fast-paced fantasy adventure, with some moments of humour too, making for a super fun read!

Book 4 of the Unearthly World series carries on from Bethany’s Heart (Book 3), but can be read as a stand-alone as it focuses on different love interests in Adan and Blu. But it is still nice to hear the odd mention of the previous characters. After being saved from planet Earth, Adan and her friends found themselves being cared for by the Zargonii. Only, just as she is trying to learn of the new planet she is now living on they are attacked by an enemy, forcing Blu to escape with Adan on a smaller vessel, where they then end up travelling through a wormhole and landing on the planet Brax!

Without Zargonii warrior, Blu, to protect her Adan wouldn’t last a minute on Brax. The inhabitants of Brax are all alien creatures, most of which are exiled assassins and extremely deadly! The Braxians themselves are the assassins overseers, but many assassins do as they wish – and killing is their favourite pastime. Not only does she have to worry about these, but there is also the deadly green gasses of the atmosphere during the night that she needs safety from. With many dangers to overcome, and only a small hope that the Zargonii will come to their rescue, Adan is left in fear of her life, but with Blu at her side she knows he will do all he can to save her.

Adan is in love with Blu, and has been since the moment she met him. It is his strength and over-protectiveness of her that attracts her. Blu is attracted to Adan too, but his conflict lies with him wanting a son. If he mates with Adan he will be mated for life, but a human female cannot bear him a male offspring. He also knows that he can’t expect Adan to wait for him while he Holidays (mates) with a female of his own kind in the hope for a son (which may not happen), only to mate for life with her after. This would be disrespectful and selfish of him.

At the same time, his desire burns for her whenever she is near and this is another conflict he has to fight if he wants a son when he returns to his home planet. For now his honour is in keeping Adan safe, and so whilst they are on this godforsaken planet he can’t let her out of his sight!

“… He would need to keep her as close as possible. There was only one problem with his plan – she drove his body into a sexual nightmare when she was nearby.The attraction she emitted in her pheromones was almost too much for him to resist…”

However, being brought together during some intense moments of danger, and with his honour to care for her and ensure her safety, situations do become much more intimate between the two of them – both emotionally and physically. Will Blu decide to give in to his need and desire for Adan, or will he stay true to his dream of wanting a son?

Another aspect of the story that I loved was the humour. There is the sarcasm that Adan uses on Blu, and the one-liners from Blu every once in a while.

“… I have a hard on so bad I could beat an assassin in the head to death with it.”

These moments create a relief during times of high tension and fear, enlightening the mood and bringing the characters closer. It certainly made me smile at times.

One of my favourite characters was an assassin called Veikko. He is equally deadly and fearsome but there are moments when he shows compassion for Blu, and Adan in particular. This feeling is something the other assassins do not have. And yet, there are times when the reader will question his motives. Is he really helping them? Does he want Adan for himself? Is he tricking them?

“… The assassins she had met so far excluding Veikko were disgusting and brutal. Veikko was creepy enough but possessed compassion…”

I found Cautious Surrender to be a thrilling, exciting read with plenty of tension and fear, as well as romance and fun in between. There is a tremendous amount of adventure packed into the 139 pages, making it fast-paced, thus a quick read, that will leave you on a high and looking forward to the next C.L. Scholey read!

Cautious Surrender (Unearthly World book IV) was provided by Torrid Press (part of Whiskey Creek Press) in return for an honest and fair review.

Cautious Surrender is available at Torrid Press, Amazon US and Amazon UK.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

February 21, 2015 by Tina Williams

RELEASE BLITZ ~ Bound By Grace, by Mia Natal

Contemporary Romance

Blurb

Brock Waters had his life planned out. Marry his childhood sweetheart and raise a family, but when tragedy hit home he loses the one girl he thought he would love forever. Heartbroken and scorned he joined the United States Marine Corp. While serving his country he hardened his heart vowing never to allow his heart to get emotionally involved until fate steps in.

Grace Steele has spent her whole life running. She ran from her family. Tired of being overlooked by her older brothers, she set out to find herself. What she encountered was her worst nightmare. She found herself in an abusive relationship that led her down a path of drugs and alcohol. Fearing for her life she ran to the one place she knew she would be safe. Home. She vowed never to fall in love again until she meets Brock.

Can Grace fight the strong attraction she feels for Brock? Will Brock be able to break thru her walls and help her find her way back to love? Brock will move heaven and Earth to prove that he is eternally bound by Grace.

Goodreads

Buy Links

Amazon US

Author Bio

Mia Natal was born in Bronx, NY, USA and grew up in a very dysfunctional family, but she loved every second of it. She met her once in a lifetime love, Edgar in college. Edgar loved sticking his head out of every open window to shout, “Mia, I love you, Baby!” He still does that to this day.

Mia has a Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Health Science and has been married for twenty-four years. She has two sons and a Lhasa Apso, named Dallas.

Mia’s hobbies include reading, writing, 80’s music and Marvel comic books. She loves spending time with her family even though they drive her bat shit crazy.

Mia continues to write and hopes to be a best seller one day.

https://www.facebook.com/mia698

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6627422.Mia_Natal

Release Party

https://www.facebook.com/events/374091522773179/

February 20, 2015 by Tina Williams

SUPER SALE! The Photographer Trilogy Boxed Set, by Sarah Robinson

ღ THE PHOTOGRAPHER TRILOGY BOX SET ღ

FIRST TIME ON SALE EVER- Only $0.99! ONE WEEK ONLY!
The boxset contains the never-before-read bonus scene!

BUT THAT’S NOT ALL…

Tainted Bodies (Book 1) is FREE for one week only exclusively through Ever After Romance! Go grab your free copy of the first book now! This is the ONLY time this book has ever been (and probably will ever be) completely FREE!

WHAT! Did I hear that right???

YES! The first book is FREE on Ever After Romance for anyone and the boxset is only $0.99 EVERYWHERE!

Check out the synopsis for the series below:

He takes a picture of every woman he kills.

She takes nothing from anyone.

Kate Jackson is a woman haunted by her past with no direction in life, and surviving only on her close relationship with her sister, Annie. Until she meets charming lawyer, Derrick Kane.

Just when she thinks she might have found the key to learning how to live again, maybe even how to love, The Photographer rips it all away from her with one click of his camera.

Somehow she survived, determined to rise above the trauma life has dealt her. Yet, she doesn’t get away that easy, The Photographer isn’t done with her yet.

The infamous serial killer begins dropping menacing hints at every turn.

Reminding Kate that he owns her. That he broke her body.

The small, quiet life that Kate Jackson had built for herself is over. Pulverized by the twisted workings of the notorious serial killer and the agony of being betrayed by the one man she had trusted her heart to. Trust had never come easily to her, yet she had given it to Derrick. And he destroyed her with it.

Kate is a fighter and refusing to allow a sadistic killer to take everything from her yet again, she delves into the police investigation targeting The Photographer and finally revealing his true identity. Kate is fighting for justice while fighting to reclaim the man she loves, and somehow learn to trust him again.

But when an innocent life is on the line, the cost of justice could be more than love can afford. Kate quickly learns that finding the face behind the mask, doesn’t make you safe.

Monsters are only uglier in the light of day.

**Please note that there is no cliffhanger at the end of this series and everything is fully wrapped up. This box set also includes a never before read, deleted scene about The Photographer’s childhood! DISCLAIMER: Due to violent and dark subject matter, this story is intended for readers over the age of 18 years old.

Click on any of the retailers below to purchase the ebook boxset for only $0.99!

To get the first book, Tainted Bodies, FREE, click on the Ever After Romance button below or here! For Android users, click here! For iPhone users, click here!

Paperbacks: Tainted Bodies (Book 1) | Tainted Pictures (Book 2) | Untainted (Book 3)
*The final paperback does also include the bonus scene from the boxset. Paperbacks are not discounted. The $0.99 is for ebooks only.

Click any site below to follow Sarah Robinson on social media!

Join Sarah Robinson’s Fan Club on Goodreads or Facebook… or both!

Do you like The Photographer Trilogy? Check out the other books by Sarah Robinson currently available or coming out soon!

♬ Sand & Clay Rocker Series ♬
Contemporary romance surrounding the life of Logan Clay, famous rockstar!
Purchase now at one of the retailers below!

♬ Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks ♬

Coming soon–
Kavanagh Legends, from Random House Penguin’s Loveswept!
Add to your TBR on Goodreads now!

Breaking a Legend | Saving a Legend | Becoming a Legend

Sarah Robinson is the Amazon Bestselling Author of the contemporary Rockstar romance series Sand & Clay, as well as the very popular romantic suspense thriller series, The Photographer Trilogy. All of her novels have reached Amazon’s Bestseller Rank in Crime, Crime, Thriller, Contemporary Romance, and/or Romantic Suspense.

In regards to future publications, she is with the Seymour Literary Agency and has recently been contracted by Loveswept, a Random House Penguin imprint, to begin a new contemporary romance series in late 2015.

Sarah Robinson is a native of the Washington, DC area and has both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in criminal psychology. She is newly married to a local police officer, Justin, who is just as much of an animal rescue enthusiasts as she is. Together, they own a zoo of rescues, as well as volunteering and fostering for multiple animal shelters.

February 20, 2015 by Tina Williams

BLOG TOUR WITH REVIEW ~ Kissed At Midnight by Samantha Holt (includes excerpt and giveaway)

Sensual Victorian Romance

BOOK INFORMATION

TITLE – Kissed at Midnight
AUTHOR – Samantha Holt
GENRE – Historical Romance
PUBLICATION DATE – 18th February
LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 60,000

BOOK SYNOPSIS

August Avery, a renowned civil engineer, has found himself the sole custodian of his cousin’s six month old daughter and he needs assistance—fast. He understands how to build railways, to construct bridges and to save the railway tycoons thousands of pounds. He doesn’t understand, however, how to care for a child.

When Ivy Davis turns up at his door looking for work, he believes his prayers are answered. If only the exotic, exuberant young woman did not prove to be such a distraction from his busy workload.

Unsure if she is even up to the task of looking after a baby, Ivy finds herself swayed by the handsome and slightly desperate August into working for him. With her singing career failing before it even started and no other talents, she decides looking after a young child cannot be so hard, surely?

But the child may turn out to be the least of her worries. Her handsome, brooding master seems to keep her awake more than the baby. Add to that her desire to achieve her dreams of singing on stage and the machinations of the indomitable Mrs. Pepperwhite who sees her as competition for August’s hand, Ivy finds this simple job growing harder by the day—as does her desire for her master…

BUY & TBR LINKS

AMAZON KINDLE US – AMAZON CA – AMAZON UK

EXCERPT

Ivy darted a look at the door as she eased herself down onto the bed beside her master. The housekeeper could have no reason to come upstairs but if she caught her in the master’s room—on his bed no less—she could be in quite a pickle.“Mr.—” A snore escaped his mouth and she shook her head.

“Oh dear, Mr. Avery. You are the one who is in a pickle I think. Or more likely utterly foxed.”Leaning over, she went to grasp his hand to study the damage and froze when he grunted and rolled towards her. His arm landed near her backside on the bed and his head was almost on her lap. Ivy attempted to take his hurt hand from behind her but he twined it out of her grasp and released a low mumble.

She gasped when his hand curved around her backside. She wore only her chemise and her drawers. Mr. Avery’s warm hand fairly burned through the cotton, feeling as though she would wake up with a handprint on her bottom. She twisted to yank his hand away, only to end up with his head pressed against the side of her breast. Mr Avery nuzzled his face against her breast and she stilled. She should draw away, press him back, but for some reasonher body refused to cooperate. Hands to his head, she found his hair to be soft and thick.

Oh dear. One part of her body seemed to be working—her fingers. They twined into the softness, so at odds with the rest of him, from his stern features to what she suspected was a body that rivalled the statues of London. He released a muffled groan against her and she heard him inhale deeply.

“Smell so good,” he murmured.Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. She was going to lose her job not two days into it if she was not careful. Her nipples were tight and hard. Lush heat rolled throughher as he burrowed closer and his hand splayed across her back to hold her to him.

A creak from somewhere else in the house startled her into action. She jerked back and clasped his wrist to force his hand back. At least in his foxed state he wasn’t particularly strong. She had no doubt if he really wanted to keep hold of her, he could, but had he been sober, she was positive he’d want nothing to do with the governess. A man like Mr Avery likely enjoyed the company of women less… interesting-looking than her. Blonde ones with soft features and a delicate manner.

He rolled onto his back, a grin cracking his face. His eyes were at half-mast and she wasn’t sure what amused him. Recalling her original reason for being on the bed, she grasped his hand and inspected the cut. It had already stopped bleeding so couldn’t be deep. Ivy rolled her eyes to herself. All this for a tiny scratch. At least he was so foxed he would never recall any of it.

AUTHOR BIO

Samantha lives in a small village in England with her gorgeous twin girls. She enjoys writing historical romance involving chivalrous knights, hot highlanders and cravatted men, but sometimes gets lured away by bad boy bikers, soldiers and other heroic modern men.

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE – WEBSITE / BLOG
FACEBOOK – JOIN HER STREET TEAM

GIVEAWAY PRIZES

Signed picture of Colin Firth as Mr Darcy
2 x Kindle copies of Once Upon a Rake
Set of signed swag

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Review

Upstairs meets Downstairs in this sensual Victorian romance *****

I loved Kissed At Midnight, where the usual walls between master and servant crumble and passion ignites. The read is sensual, romantic and fun as the two protagonists, Ivy and August, who may well be my favourite Samantha Holt couple to date, circle each other, trying in vain to deny their growing mutual attraction.

August is in a real pickle since he assumed the responsibility for caring for his cousin’s baby Elsie, and in an uncharacteristic show of impetuosity he hires Ivy as her nursemaid, despite her lack of experience in such a role. Both know that the situation is only transitory as Ivy’s real goal is to forge a career as a singer.

The author’s voice in this novel is decidedly playful, driven in part no doubt by the character of the heroine, Ivy, whose actions compel the evolving romance with her knack of plain speaking and spontaneous nature. By contrast the engineer August is methodical, cautious and conservative in outlook. Ivy is the perfect yin to his yang, free spirited and adventurous. I just adored how the tale shows us how August’s well-ordered life is soon compromised by Ivy’s presence in his household.

I loved how the author showed this handsome man grappling with his conscience regarding how to treat Ivy, a woman in his employ who he is honour bound to protect, yet at the same time the very woman who he is developing an irrepressible attraction for. He also strives to avoid the unwelcome attentions of the widow Mrs Pepperwhite, who does not care for Ivy’s appearance on the scene.

Ivy is quite a heroine! I loved her back story and her character which goes against everything that is expected of a Victorian lady. She certainly upsets August’s routine and in a household as small as his, the usual rules between master and servant are soon compromised. Their romance is a real page- turner as neither August or Ivy know how to cope with their growing feelings for each other and there are a number of barriers to their HEA: Ivy’s ambition to become a famous singer; August’s desire to maintain his distance from the hired help and Mrs Pepperwhite’s interest in August.

Their love-making scenes between the couple are hugely romantic and sensual and although August is a true gentleman, he is very much flesh and blood and as I read I could sense the growing desire between him and Ivy which demands to be sated…..

All in all a super sensual romance and I feel one of the author’s best to date. Recommended for readers of historical romance.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

A copy of this novel was made available for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

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February 19, 2015 by Caroline Barker

Promo w/excerpt A Veil of Glass and Rain: Special Edition by Petra March

Title: A Veil of Glass and Rain: Special Edition

Author: Petra March

Genre: Contemporary romance, New Adult, erotic romance

Release date: January 12th, 2015

Length: 196 pages

Blurb: “Delicate and resilient. Like you.”

Brina and Eagan meet for the first time when she’s nine and he’s fourteen. They like each other from the very beginning, though their bond isn’t immediate, but it grows over the years. What links them is the fact that their parents are photographers and are extremely devoted to their work and to each other; so much so that both Brina and Eagan have to learn how to take care of themselves from a very young age. Despite their differences, age, gender, nationality – Brina is Italian and Eagan is American – they find comfort in their growing friendship.
Then Brina becomes a teenager, and her feelings for her friend start changing and deepening. New desires stir within her. As soon as Brina realizes how those feelings complicate her friendship with Eagan, she runs away from him.
A few years later, Brina is twenty and Eagan is twenty-five, they find one another once again.

(Recommended for ages 18+, due to sexual content and language).

About Petra March:

Petra March (aka Petra F. Bagnardi) studied Screenwriting and History of American Cinema at UCLA and NYU. Presently, Petra keeps traveling and dreaming through her novels. Her characters are deeply in love with Europe and the USA, just like Petra is.

authorpetramarch.weebly.com

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23777138-a-veil-of-glass-and-rain

www.facebook.com/AuthorPetraMarch

www.goodreads.com/author/show/8509799.Petra_March

Retailers’ Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Veil-Glass-Rain-Special-Cinnamon/dp/1507500556/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1421211260&sr=1-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-veil-of-glass-and-rain-petra-march/1121004831?ean=2940046490633

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/veil-glass-rain-special-edition/id955516701?mt=11

EXCERPT A Veil of Glass and Rain:Special Edition, by Petra March

A stolen kiss…

[…]I was wearing a yellow sundress and clutching the handle of my guitar case. Eagan offered to carry it for me, but I shook my head, for he was already bearing the weight of his huge backpack.

A part of me was glad he hadn’t been able to hear me play. The piece I had chosen was an acoustic cover of one of my favorite rock songs. The acoustic version was utterly sentimental; it expressed perfectly the way I felt about Eagan. After my performance, all my professors and fellow students admitted that they’d never heard me play with so much feeling. I wasn’t certain I wanted Eagan to discover that part of my soul yet.

We embraced awkwardly. I noticed that his eyes were red and tired. I also remarked that he was tanned and that he smelled good, as always. Of course, I didn’t reveal my sentiments.

It was a bright summer day. We went to a park, we sat, we didn’t talk much. After a while, Eagan lay back and fell asleep.

I watched him rest for a few moments, then I reclined alongside him. I placed my body very close to his, so that I could feel his heat through the thin cotton of my dress. His handsome face was turned toward me and his lips were slightly parted. Flecks of gold dotted his beard stubble and his dark blond hair.

I braced one of my hands on his arm and the other one on his muscled chest, then I leaned toward his face, keeping my eyes open. I let my mouth linger over his and breathed his breath then, finally, I whispered a kiss across the side of his mouth, then I licked his upper lip. I waited. He didn’t stir. So I closed my eyes and brushed his lips with mine once more. I became greedy. My tongue pressed between his parted lips and stroked his tongue once, twice and then again until I moaned and an unbearable ache surged between my legs.

My fingers gripped his sweaty T-shirt. I kept kissing Eagan until he groaned softly in his sleep.

“I love you,” I murmured against his lips.

I moved away from him. I forced myself to stand, I grabbed my guitar case and I left.

On the bus, I kept licking my lips; I tasted him, the salt of his sweat, and a hint of cinnamon.

(A Veil of Glass and Rain: Special Edition, by Petra March)

February 19, 2015 by Caroline Barker

REVIEW Love Bites: A Collection of Short Stories by Valeria Kogan

Title: Love Bites: A Collection of Short Stories

Author: Valeria Kogan

Genre: Contemporary dark romance, women’s fiction, dark read

Release date: March 1st, 2013

Released by: Wattle Publishing

Length: 133 pages

Blurb: Love Bites is the provocative debut collection of short stories by Valeria Kogan. From heartbreak to redemption, Love Bites provides a spellbinding interpretation of love and friendship, glamour and guilt, secrets and deceit.

Each story provides a captivating insight into the world of love; its profound impact and effect; and how women relate to their partners.

This cleverly constructed collection of short stories will leave you tantalized and yearning for more. Love Bites is a must-read for every modern woman, reader of romance and romantic enthusiast.

REVIEW

Love Bites is an assortment of eleven short, dramatic stories. Most are told from the female perspective, whilst some are told from the male point of view. In this book, love certainly does bite as each story shows the effect love can have on us as an individual. It explores the state of the mind during grieving and hard times, or even as new love sprouts without us realising until it falls upon us in an instant.

Valeria Kogan explains in the preface that she is providing the reader a taste of how far she can take her characters, or rather how far they take her. This makes for a more natural process of where she feels the characters are going, rather than always having an intended ending in mind. Thus, making it an unpredictable read.

There are some real eye-opening moments as we read about each individual’s state of mind and follow the way that they are thinking. Some of the stories are very touching, especially the last story, ‘End of a Story’ as we realise the true depth that a man can love a woman. This story in particular reached me as it was so beautifully written and packed with so much emotion – it will bring tears to your eyes!

There are some characters with psychological issues, whilst philosophical musings are also present in others. For instance, in ‘Tonight’ we follow a woman, a prostitute, who has always been used to her way of working, and working for big bucks! After promising her boyfriend she’d stop, she begins to think deeper about her situation. Should she begin a 9 to 5 job with little money, or stay working fairly flexibly for a few hours a week for more money?

There are many questions to be asked of the characters, but I love how the author has written it in such a way that the reader, too, will ask themselves these questions about the story. Some of the stories left me wondering, what next? The author hints at certain endings, but I like the idea that the reader can decide, or elaborate the story in their own mind.

The characters are stretched in their emotions and are overwhelmed with their experiences in many of the stories. There were moments when I felt that there were some realistic aspects as the characters are flawed, just as we all are, and at other times I felt disconnected to the story. This left me a little torn with some of the stories.

Love Bites is not a typical, refreshing and heart-warming romance read. However, it is powerfully dark, emotional and gritty, leaving the reader a great deal to ponder over. I was left feeling that – love may be the most powerful and emotional feeling of all, which is why it brings us so much bliss and yet so much pain!

Love Bites was provided by Wattle Publishing for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Love Bites: A Collection of Short Stories by Valeria Kogan is available at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

February 17, 2015 by Tina Williams

ARC REVIEW ~ Willow (Secret Confessions: Sydney Housewives #9), by Christina Phillips

Erotica/Erotic Romance

Adult/18+ Read – Release Day 19th February 2015

Secret Confessions: Sydney Housewives, a series of short reads. Each scorching instalment gives the reader a snapshot of the adventures of a different member of a group of women from the City’s elite and each story is HOT stuff! The series is penned by some of Australia’s finest writers of erotic romance and erotica and each tale delves into the psyche of each female character, giving a no-holds-barred account of their sexual predilections and fantasies. Each scorching instalment can be read as a stand alone, but we also get a chance to meet the other characters throughout. I had the pleasure of receiving the first three reads in the series to review: Virginia, Lana and Nella. Read on for my thoughts on Christina Phillips’ contribution to the series, Willow. The pre-order links are included below. Tina ❤

Book Blurb

Meet the Housewives of Sydney. They are wealthy, elegant, poised, and constantly in the public eye. But what goes on behind closed doors, in the private homes and parties where the cameras and paparazzi aren’t welcome? Delve into the most personal details of their relationships, their friendships and their lives. The only question is: can you handle the heat?

Willow has loved Seb for as long as she can remember, but he has a past that she can’t handle, so she’s never done anything about it. But to not have him in her life is unthinkable, so she holds on to him the only way she can – through friendship. Now his writing career is taking off, and Willow finds herself increasingly jealous of his groupies and increasingly unable to keep her feelings to herself.

An unexpected visit leads to an unanticipated kiss – and Seb and Willow end up in her bed. It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to Willow, but can she trust that Seb wants more than a bit of afternoon delight – and can she trust herself to let go of the past in order to gain a future?

My Review *****

Male Hotness Alert in this Friends to Lovers Erotic Romance!

Willow by Christina Phillips, #9 in the Secret Confessions: Sydney Housewives series is a short, sizzling and satisfying read, where Seb, a very determined male, orchestrates a carefully choreographed seduction designed to destroy the heroine Willow’s resolve to resist him! Yet is he playing for keeps and if so can Willow overcome her fears?

I have read the first three instalments of this series, Virginia, Lana and Nella (click on the titles for my review) and although Willow is just as hot, as the story between Seb and Willow unfolded, I also found their romance to be incredibly poignant, sweet and at times humorous.

The couple have been friends for years and there is an undeniable attraction between them. I love how Seb, realising that his subtle hints to Willow about how he feels have gone unheeded, decides to go all out on a last ditch attempt to seduce the pants (and all other items of clothing) off her! Cue some of Christina Phillips’ erotic seduction scenes, which totally rock the world of the reader and the couples she writes about. I can assure you that the lovemaking scenes in Willow are no exception! Seb is one hell of a determined and sexy alpha male, yet although Willow succumbs willingly to his physical charms do the couple have a future together or will the past always come between them? Whilst we are left in no doubt as to Seb’s determination to succeed in his quest to make Willow his, we also come to understand her very real trepidation and I really wanted their relationship to go to the next level.

As with the other stories in the series, we also catch up with the other ‘housewives’ of Sydney at one of their get-togethers, this time hosted by Willow.

I recommend Willow to lovers of romance who fancy a sizzling take on the friends to lovers theme.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

A copy of Willow was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase Links

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February 17, 2015 by Tina Williams

Pre-Order Blitz Interviewing Wade by K D Grace, writing as Grace Marshall

Pre-Order Now:

Interviewing Wade by K D Grace, writing as Grace Marshall (@kd_grace)

Coming 21^st March!

Blurb:

The Executive Decisions Trilogy may be over, but the story continues. Intrepid reporter, Carla Flannery, wants to interview Wade Crittenden, the secretive creative genius behind Pneuma Inc. But when, against all odds, Wade actually agrees to the interview, Carla suspects ulterior motives.

Carla has made a lot of enemies in her work and when Wade discovers she’s being stalked, he agrees to the interview to keep her close and safe. As the situation turns deadly, lives and hearts are on the line, and the interview reveals far more about both than either ever expected.

Excerpt:

Carla nodded to the chair opposite her and Wade sat down cautiously. She offered a dry smile and spoke around a mouthful of toast. ‘Chair’s not booby-trapped, food’s not poisoned. My security system’s not that good.’

When he made no reply but savoured a forkful of eggs, she joined him in devouring the feast, satisfied that after the first bite, he shovelled it in with as much relish and lack of delicate table manners as she did. With her, eating was always done in a hurry to get on with what was always way more work than she had time for, unless she was settling in for a meal with her father. She suspected he cooked for her especially for that reason. And as she watched Wade stuff half a slice of toast into his mouth in one go, she figured he was probably the same, with no one to make sure he got a good meal from time to time. Though possibly Ellis invited him over occasionally, or maybe Harris Walker and his new wife, Stacie Emerson. Apparently her culinary skills were spoken about in hush tones. Strange, but it felt good to be able to offer something to Wade, even if the idiot did show up at three in the morning.

‘Good,’ he said, at last, covering his full mouth with the paper towel she’d given him in lieu of the napkins she didn’t have.

‘Thanks. You think this is good, you should see me make Pop Tarts.

‘I like Pop Tarts,’ he said.

‘The secret is,’ she leaned across the table, ‘you’ve got to get the toaster set just right. And then afterwards,’ he leaned closer with wrapped attention, ‘afterwards I put butter on ‘em and stick ‘em in the microwave until it melts.’

Wade’s eyes were huge and very green in the kitchen lighting. He looked dead serious, as though she had just given him her secret for cold fusion. ‘I never thought about melting the butter on them in the microwave,’ he said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. ‘But I find that I do like mine so that the little pastry edges are just beginning to get almost too brown.’

Christ! Were they actually talking about Pop Tarts? She laughed. ‘I like ‘em almost burnt, but I know that’s a matter of personal taste. My Dad likes his just barely warm.’

He lowered his head and went back to shovelling eggs.

She popped the last of her bacon into her mouth and spoke around it. ‘So tell me, is Fort Flannery as unassailable as my father assured me, or are we in need of an upgrade?’

He drained his glass of orange juice and pushed back from the table. ‘Your father did a good job. I didn’t have to do hardly anything.’

‘He’ll be glad to hear that,’ she said. ‘Sorry you had to waste your valuable time in the wee hours. I know how busy you are.’

‘Yes, well, it was on my mind. If you’ll let me see your Android, I’ll give it a little upgrade too.’

‘Will I be able to watch Russian porn on it?’ she asked.

‘Japanese and Chinese porn as well, if you like.’ There was that quirk of a smile that she really would love to eat right off his face.

‘And I’ll assume you’ve given it a test-drive.’

To her delight, the smile didn’t disappear, even though the blush was hot on those chiselled cheeks. ‘I’m my own best guinea pig.’

‘Wade Crittenden, that borders on too much information, but in the interest of consumer protection and all, I thank you.’ The blush grew, but the smile stayed put as she offered him a salute and went into her bedroom to get the device.

She returned to find that he’d shed his hoodie and was filling the sink with soapy water, his broad back mantling the counter like a giant bird of prey. For a second her stomach bottomed at the sight of Wade Crittenden doing dishes at her sink. She stood, Android crushed to her chest, feeling flushed and slightly off-balance. His t-shirt was a loose fit, misshapen and short in the back from too many washings for something that should have migrated to the rag drawer some time ago, and when he reached across the sink to add still more soap, the shirt rode up to reveal the slim line of his back and the muscles where his hips joined his torso just above the swell of his buttocks. The baggy jeans gave enough of an intimation of that swelling to leave Carla breathless and hot enough to want to throw off her own hoodie and splash herself with the soapy water in which he was nearly elbow-deep.

As though he sensed her watching, he turned, slopped water down the front of his shirt and onto his jeans and uttered a surprised curse.

Without thinking she rushed to his side, dropping the device on the table. ‘You don’t have to do that,’ she managed, in a breathless gasp. ‘Sometimes I go for weeks without ever washing so much as a coffee cup.’ She stretched around him, grabbed for a dish towel and offered it to him instead of patting him dry herself, which was what she really wanted to do.

He reached for the towel, holding her gaze. ‘You cook for me, I do the clean-up for you. Fair’s fair.’ His hand slid into the cloth and around her fingers as he drew it to his chest. His breath caught, his lips parted as though to speak, and God help her, she couldn’t resist, she leaned into him on tippy-toe and planted a kiss firmly on his mouth. She only meant for it to be a friendly peck, a way of saying thanks for checking up on her and for doing the dishes, but his other hand, covered with soapy water, swooped in and grabbed the front of her hoodie reeling her to him. Then he curled his fingers in the tangle of her wild hair and cradled the back of her head, pulling her still further up on her toes. ‘Oh God,’ he whispered, his tongue darting deep, his lips, soft and hard and bruising all at the same time, meeting hers in a clash of wills and a heroic effort to get closer and deeper. ‘Oh God, Carla, why did you do that,’ he gasped against her mouth.

‘Just being friendly,’ she managed, before the tongue sparring got serious. He gave the towel a toss and yanked down the zipper of her hoodie, shoving it off onto the floor, his hands skimming her breasts in his efforts, thumbs lingering to rake her nipples that were already painful in their peaking. His jeans might have been loose, but they were not loose enough to disguise his erection, and he didn’t seem to care. Both hands slid to cup her bottom and he lifted her, settling her onto the kitchen table, pushing her legs apart with his knees and moving in between her thighs as she went to work on his fly.

‘I have lots of friends,’ he breathed. ‘None of them do that to me.’

‘How about this,’ she said biting his lower lip and sliding her hand down inside his boxers. ‘Do they do this?’

‘No,’ he returned the nip. ‘Never, none of them.’ For a second he faltered. ‘Carla, I –’

‘Shut up, Wade. I don’t wanna hear it.’ This time she bit his tongue before she took his hand and guided it down into her baggy sweat bottoms and into her own boxers.

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1xfr2kZ

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1xfr7Fs

Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1xfsDY2

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1xfsCDp

Author Bio:

Voted ETO Best Erotic Author of 2014, and a proud member of The Brit Babes, K D Grace believes Freud was right. In the end, it really IS all about sex, well sex and love. And nobody’s happier about that than she is, otherwise, what would she write about?

When she’s not writing, K D is veg gardening. When she’s not gardening, she’s walking. She walks her stories, and she’s serious about it. She and her husband have walked Coast to Coast across England, along with several other long-distance routes. For her, inspiration is directly proportionate to how quickly she wears out a pair of walking boots. She also enjoys martial arts, reading, watching the birds and anything that gets her outdoors.

KD has erotica published with SourceBooks, Xcite Books, Harper Collins Mischief Books, Mammoth, Cleis Press, Black Lace, Erotic Review, Ravenous Romance, Sweetmeats Press and others.

K D’s critically acclaimed erotic romance novels include The Initiation of Ms Holly, Fulfilling the Contract, The Pet Shop and To Rome with Lust. Her paranormal erotic novel, Body Temperature and Rising, the first book of her Lakeland Witches trilogy, was listed as honorable mention onViolet Blue’s Top 12 Sex Books for 2011. Books two and three, Riding the Ether, and Elemental Fire, are now also available.

K D Grace also writes hot romance as Grace Marshall. An Executive Decision, Identity Crisis and The Exhibition are all available. Interviewing Wade, a follow up novel to the trilogy, is coming soon.