Review & Giveaway:Hard to Come By by Laura Kaye

Hard to Come By (Hard Ink #3)

 by Laura Kaye

Published by Avon Romance

November 25, 2014

About HARD TO COME BY:

Caught between desire and loyalty…

Derek DiMarzio would do anything for the members of his disgraced Special Forces team—sacrifice his body, help a former teammate with a covert operation to restore their honor, and even go behind enemy lines. He just never expected to want the beautiful woman he found there.

When a sexy stranger asks questions about her brother, Emilie Garza is torn between loyalty to the brother she once idolized and fear of the war-changed man he's become. Derek’s easy smile and quiet strength tempt Emilie to open up, igniting the desire between them and leading Derek to crave a woman he shouldn’t trust.

As the team’s investigation reveals how powerful their enemies are, Derek and Emilie must prove where their loyalties lie before hearts are broken and lives are lost. Because love is too hard to come by to let slip away…

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Pre-order or purchase before December 2, and get awesome bonus content!

And don’t miss the other Hard Ink books, now available:

Hard As It Gets

Hard As You Can

Hard to Hold On To

Praise for Hard to Come By:

"Rough sex and explosive fights power Kaye's third Hard Ink novel, a thrilling adventure that feels more like an action movie with a romantic subplot than a typical contemporary romance. New readers will head straight for Kaye's backlist after powering through this installment." ~Publishers Weekly Starred Review

"TOP PICK! If you're looking for danger, gritty action, and sizzling passion, then Kaye has just the book and the series for you." ~RT Book Reviews Magazine

What I thought about Hard to Come By

Since this is a pre-release review, I'm going to try not to give out any spoilers. I'm relatively new to this series, having only read the previous novella, but I'm definitely a fan. It's got a ton of action, a plot with plenty of twists and turns, and real men with honor and vulnerabilities that make them ever so interesting.
 
Hard to Come By focuses on Derek DiMarzio's story. More details come to light in their investigation, leading Marz to Emilie Garza. They fall for each other, and I just loved Emilie's reaction to him. There's great chemistry between these two, and when Marz uses his expert level dirty talk on her, well, you just might need to fan yourself! Hot, hot, hot!

And there's more to love in Hard to Come By, such as the nicely crafted story revolving around this group of Special Forces veterans trying to clear their names. I love the comaraderie and downright love between the men of Hard Ink, and their willingness to accept Marz's feelings for Emilie was a great part of the story.

Hard to Come By ends with new revelations about the investigation, and I can't wait to see how this is all going to turn out.

I have not read the first two books in this series, but it didn't keep me from understanding what was happening in Hard to Come By. While I would recommend that you start from the beginning, you could read this one as a standalone.

If you like your alpha's with some vulnerability, intelligence and an incredible sense of honor, this series might be for you. The romance is hot, the action is reads like a movie and there's a meaty story. Recommended.

ARC provided for review.

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About Laura Kaye

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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Review & Givewaway: A Very Grey Christmas

A VERY GREY CHRISTMAS
by T.A. Foster

November 2014

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23436581-a-very-grey-christmas
 

BOOK SUMMARY:

I was getting ready to spend the single most important holiday of the year alone. Completely and utterly alone.

That meant he wouldn't be there Christmas Eve. No making Christmas cookies, or listening to my dad sing off-key while my mom bustled around wrapping last-minute gifts. No decorating the tree. No midnight Christmas kiss. No waking up in Grey's arms. We were actually going to spend our very first Christmas in different states.

That was until Grey gave me the most unexpected gift of my life.  

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What I thought about A Very Grey Christmas

 

I'm a big fan of this series and I was very excited to read this Christmas novella.  Eden returns home to North Carolina to spend the holidays with her parents. Unable to convince him to come with her, Grey stays behind in Texas, leaving Eden upset and sad. 

But with a little help from the holiday spirit and some help from her parents, Eden gets a Christmas present that doesn't disappoint. I really liked how T.A. Foster reveals this -- with the reader seeing it coming before Eden figures it out. It made that moment all the more romantic to me. Grey definitely won my heart for good with that move.

And there's more surprises to come by the end of the novella, too! 

Although Eden whines a lot at the beginning of this and it got on my nerves a bit, I really enjoyed this holiday story.  Eden's parents were great, and I loved how they handled having their adult daughter home for the holiday. 

Fans of this series should not miss this, and if you haven't read this series, it's a sweet love story between these two, so start at the beginning and read all three.

ARC provided for review.

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Author Information

She grew up catching rays and chasing waves along the North Carolina Outer Banks and now resides in the state with her adventurous pilot husband, two children, and two canine kiddos.

T.A. has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. When she’s not chasing her two-legged and four-legged children or trying to escape for date night, you can find her reading, writing, or planning her next beach trip. 

Author Links:

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Author Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7164289.T_A_Foster

Release Day Launch Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Hazards of Mistletoe by Alyssa Rose Ivy

We are feeling the holiday spirit with the release day launch of Alyssa Rose Ivy's THE HAZARDS OF MISTLETOE! 

THE HAZARDS OF MISTLETOE is a contemporary romance novella and is a part of Alyssa Rose Ivy’s Hazards Series. 

It's available everywhere now!

 

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About THE HAZARDS OF MISTLETOE: 

One snowy Christmas Eve, one mistletoe kiss, one friendship changed forever.

Don’t underestimate the power of mistletoe. It looks innocent enough, but a single branch has the potential to change your life. One mistletoe kiss led to the most embarrassing night of my life, but thankfully by the next Christmas I ended up exactly where I was supposed to be.    

Excerpt:

 
“Ice skating and hot cocoa? What are you buttering me up for?” I sat down on the bench and unlaced my skates. The snow was falling a little bit heavier, but the flakes were still light and more pleasant than a nuisance.
“I’m just enjoying an evening with a beautiful woman. I do have a romantic side you know.”
“Romantic?” What was Glen playing at? I’d had a crush on him for years, but things had stayed completely platonic. We were good friends who saw each other once a year, and teased each other through text messages and late night phone calls. That was it.
He didn’t hear me. He was already in line to return our skates. I waited for him to return with my boots, and not for the first time I was glad I’d worn wool socks. It was cold during the day, but the nights were absolutely freezing.
“Here you go, my lady.” He bent down and proceeded to put my foot into my boot.
I pulled away from him. “Knock it off. What’s gotten into you tonight?” As charming as Glen was being something seemed off with him. I wondered if maybe I wasn’t the only one who was upset.
He proceeded to move on to my next boot. “It’s Christmas Eve. Aren’t you Miss Holiday Spirit?”
“Usually.”
“Exactly.” He put on his shoes and tugged on my hand to pull me to standing. “Let’s get those hot chocolates.”
The line at the café on the other side of the rink was nearly out the door, but I was enjoying Glen’s company so much I didn’t mind.
He insisted on buying my hot cocoa for me, and considering he’d already paid for my skate rental, I was starting to feel uncomfortable. Glen had all the money he could ever need, but I wasn’t used to guys buying me anything. My dating experience wasn’t extensive, and it involved boys who were all about going dutch. “I really don’t mind paying.”
“Yeah, but I want to pay. Stop arguing and enjoy yourself.” He lightly bumped his shoulder into mine.
“Well, thanks.”
We walked around the village sipping our hot chocolate and not saying much. After a while we took a seat on a bench. It was underneath a tree, and the pine needles blocked some of the falling snow. I closed my eyes and listened to the chatter of people walking by mixed with the low hum of holiday music.
“You guys need to kiss.”
I opened my eyes and saw a girl staring at us. “You’re sitting under mistletoe. That’s the rules. You’re under mistletoe, you kiss.”
I looked up. Sure enough there was mistletoe hanging over us from the tree. It wasn’t real, it was just the decorative stuff they used, but it had the same unmistakable appearance.
Glen put an arm around me. “I think she’s right, Savy.”
I turned to glare at him. “Don’t even start.”
“Why not? Scared to kiss me?” he teased.
Yes. I was scared. Terrified. This was Glen. Kissing him wasn’t something I was prepared to do casually while sitting on a bench in the snow with a bunch of onlookers. Of course I couldn’t tell him that though. “Why would I be scared?” 
“I don’t know. Just checking.” He got a twinkle in his eye. That twinkle should have given me all the warning I needed, but it didn’t. I was wholly unprepared when his lips made contact with mine. They were warm and soft, and they moved perfectly against mine. I kissed him back, desperately wanting to know what his mouth tasted like, and if his tongue felt half as good as his lips.

What I thought about The Hazards of Mistletoe

I'm always happy to see a new book in the Hazards series by Alyssa Rose Ivy. I haven't been disappointed yet. 

Savannah is on her way to visit relatives for the holiday but she's not exactly happy. A year ago she offered herself to her best friend Glen, wanting to take their platonic relationship to a new level. Glen's humiliating rejection has Savannah apprehensive about seeing him again because in spite of the humiliation, she still cares about him.

Even so, she's upset over what happened, and Glen must find someway to get  her to listen to his explanation,accept his apology and give him another chance.  And he just might pull it off with a little help from his friends and Savannah's family and soon-to-be step-siblings.

The Hazards of Mistletoe is a lovely second chance friends-to-lovers story.  It can be read as a standalone. It's a quick read with likable characters and sweet romance with just the right amount of conflict to make it interesting. There's plenty of holiday spirit too, and of course, the magic of mistletoe!  

ARC provided for review.

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Alyssa Rose Ivy Bio: Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

    

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Cover Reveal: Dirty Ties by Pam Godwin

Revenge.

I race to finance it.

I evade to protect it.

I kill to attain it.

I planned everything.

Except her.

The alluring, curvaceous blonde at the finish line.

With sapphire eyes that cheat and lie.

Whose powerful family murdered mine.

I hate her.

I want her.

I know she’s hiding something.

But so am I.

Expected Release Date : January 12th, 2015

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New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Pam Godwin, lives in the Midwest with her husband, their two children, and a foulmouthed parrot. When she ran away, she traveled fourteen countries across five continents, attended three universities, and married the vocalist of her favorite rock band.

Java, tobacco, and dark romance novels are her favorite indulgences, and might be considered more unhealthy than her aversion to sleeping, eating meat, and dolls with blinking eyes.

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Take the Heat | Deliver | Vanquish

Release Day Excerpt & Giveaway:Ella and Micha Infinitely and Always by Jessica Sorensen

Today we're excited to celebrate the release of
Ella and Micha: Infinitely and Always by Jessica Sorensen. 

Enjoy a sneak peek into the book below and enter the giveaway! Good luck!

**A Secret Series Novella**

After five years of marriage, Ella couldn’t be happier. Her job is great. Her marriage is amazing. But when she receives some surprising news, her world is turned upside down. Micha loves being a musician, but being on the road, and away from Ella, is difficult. When the industry begins to put pressure on him to change his image, he makes a choice; one he fears is going to drastically change Ella’s and his future forever. That is until he learns Ella has a secret, one that makes his career choice seem hugely insignificant. 


Buy Links: 

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A slow breath eases from his lips as his gaze collides with mine. “Sorry. I’m being a downer, aren’t I?” He leans toward me, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “That isn’t fair to you after you flew across the country to see me.”

“Micha, you should know by now”—I press my lips together, trying not to laugh as I prepare to quote a line from one of his songs—“that I would travel to hell and back just to be with you.”

“Ha, ha,” he says playfully, sticking out his tongue. “You wound my heart, Ella May. I wrote those lyrics for you and you mock me with them.”

“I’m not mocking, just having fun—”

He cuts me off as he nips at my bottom lip, eliciting a soul-bearing groan from me. He slowly starts unbuttoning my shirt, picking up the pace the farther down he gets until he finally becomes so impatient he rips the fabric off.

“I miss your kisses the most.” I willingly lean against the piano as he unfastens my bra and urges me back.

He quickly stands up to tug his shirt over his head and then places an arm on each side of me as his body hovers over mine. “I miss everything the most,” he says before he kisses me. “All the fucking time. I swear to God, I need to see you more.”

My legs fasten around his waist as the ivory keys dig into my flesh. My fingers trace the outlines of his muscular stomach, the inscription of his tattoos, feeling his heart slamming erratically against his chest.

Excitement bursts to the surface when he pushes back to undo the button on my jeans.

“Micha, wait.” I pant. “Are we really going to do this?”

“Do what?” He teases me with a cock of his brow as he gradually unzips my jeans.

I kick off my shoes while I gasp for air. “Have sex on a piano.”

He pulls my jeans and panties off, his passionate gaze skimming every inch of my flesh, stifling my eager body with overpowering heat.

“You sound so excited about the idea,” he says as I reach for the top of his pants and unflick the button.

“I’ll take it wherever I can get it.” I sit up and yank his jeans down.“Besides, we can add it to our growing list of strange places we’ve had sex.I think this one might earn the number three spot, right below backstage at a concert, wrapped in the curtain.”

Instead of smiling, his happiness falters. “I promise I’m going to find a way to change all this, pretty girl. You deserve so much better than this.”

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jessica Sorensen, lives in the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she's not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family. 

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♥READ THE BOOKS♥

Book .5 - The Prelude of Ella and Micha

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Book 1 - The Secret of Ella and Micha

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Book 2 - The Forever of Ella and Micha

Amazon | Barnes & Noble  | Kobo   | iTunes  

Book 3 - The Temptation of Lila and Ethan

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Book 4 - The Ever After of Ella and Micha

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Book 4.5 - Lila and Ethan: Forever and Always

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Book 4.6 - Ella and Micha: Infinitely and Always

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Giveaway & Review: Wild & Wild for Him by Jill Sorenson

We've updated the blog's look and added new ways to follow our reviews of new releases in New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Paranormal and Urban fantasy titles. To celebrate, we're having a giveaway of 3 copies of Wild and Wild for Him, the latest releases from the Aftershock series by Jill Sorenson. 

About a year ago, I was browsing galley titles and came across Freefall by Jill Sorenson. Read it, loved it, and I was hooked on this series, it's locations and it's characters.

Wild & Wild for Him are new titles in this series.  Check out the reviews below and read on for the giveaway widget!

Wild

 Zookeeper Helena Fjord has a dangerous job at San Diego’s Wildlife Park. She’s got no time for nonsense, and no interest in handsome, laid-back security officer Josh Garrison. She steers clear of his silly pranks and sexy smile–until disaster strikes.

Josh has been coasting ever since his Navy SEAL dreams went up in smoke. He’s always had the hots for Helena, but the lady is off-limits. When a devastating earthquake hits, the unlikely pair must work together to secure the park’s borders. With wild animals on the loose, aftershocks imminent, and fires blazing across the city, they face serious peril—and a powerful attraction. Josh vows to protect Helena at all costs. But who will safeguard her heart?

   

AMAZON • AMAZON UK• AMAZON AU• AMAZON CA• 

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Wild for Him

Mitch Stone is a man with a plan. Drive to San Diego, rescue his lady from the earthquake rubble and salvage their long-distance relationship. But instead of playing hero, he gets stuck volunteering at an evacuation center with his girlfriend’s quirky best friend.

Gwen Tagaloa is a woman on the edge. She’s a tattoo artist do-gooder who would never cross the line with her best friend’s man. Especially not an iceberg of a man like Mitch Stone. She appreciates his help and doesn’t even notice his rock-hard muscles. Much.
After Mitch gets his heart broken, Gwen discovers that love—like an earthquake—can strike when you least expect it.

AMAZON • KOBO• ITUNES

What I thought about Wild & Wild for Him

Wild and the novella Wild for Him are both great additions to the Aftershock series.  The setting for these two titles takes the reader back to the actual earthquake that is also the subject for the first book in the series.  (Other books in the series contain characters that have survived the earthquake, but the books do not all take place during the earthquake.)

In Wild, a major earthquake has hit San Diego and that includes the wildlife park. Zookeeper Helena Fjord must work with guard Josh Garrison to secure the zoo after some of the exhibits are severely damaged by the quake. Lions, and  Komodo dragons and snakes, oh my!  There's lots of good tension between the career-focused Helena and the easy-going Josh as they work together to deal with loose predators while their attraction for each other grows.  Josh is an appealing hero, at ease with himself and able to embrace life in a way that Helena doesn't, but wishes she could.  I liked the dynamic between these two opposites.

Running parallel to this story, Josh's sister Chloe and her young daughter Emma are on their way to meet Josh when the quake hits.  They are rescued from a dangerous situation by Mateo, a South American soccer player with only a basic understanding of the language, making for an interesting journey as Mateo, Chloe and Emma try to make it across the city to the zoo.  When their arrival coincides with a tense situation with a female lion on the loose, the stakes are raised for everyone involved.

I really loved both of these story lines. They kept things moving along nicely and kept me turning the pages. Helena is a tough zookeeper and isn't quite ready to give into her attraction to Josh, and I liked that about her.  And Mateo, Chloe and Emma had some great chemistry together.  I loved Mateo's gentleness with them throughout and it was natural that they would develop feelings for each other. 

I was also impressed with the amount of detail regarding the operations of the zoo and the job responsibilities of the zoo keepers. These details were well researched and they gave a strong sense of realism to the story.

Wild for Him is a companion novella, telling the tale of Helena's best friend Gwen in the days after the earthquake.  She's working at the shelter, and when a out-of-state visitor arrives, Gwen's the one that gets the surprise as they develop feelings for each other.  I don't want to reveal the little surprise that is hinted at the end of Wild and continues in Wild for Him, but it was a very nice way to wrap up the stories of these characters in the series. 

Overall, a solid 4 star rating for both of these books in the series.  If you like disaster or action movies, I think you will like this series and these two books.  They are both a fun, action filled, romantic ride. 

ARC provided for review.


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Author bio:

Jill Sorenson is the RITA-nominated author of more than a dozen romantic suspense novels, including the Aftershock series by HQN. She lives in the San Diego area with her family. She’s a soccer mom who loves nature, coffee, reading, twitter and reality TV. Jogging keeps her sane. Riding Dirty is her first erotic suspense novel.

Easy links to find Jill: 
 
Website: http://jillsorenson.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JillSorenson 

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jill-Sorenson/166660960064023

Review: Beyond Possession by Kit Rocha

Tatiana Stone has worked hard to establish herself as one of Sector Four's most skilled crafters. All she wants is peace--but the sins of her father haunt her. He ruled the sector as a petty tyrant before the O'Kane takeover, and plenty of people harbor bitter memories of his cruelty. Especially now that Tatiana's beloved baby sister has fallen in with a man who wants to start a revolution.

Zan failed his boss once, and it won't happen again. So when Dallas O'Kane asks him to defuse the rebellion brewing in the sector, he'll do whatever it takes to get the job done--including seduce Tatiana. It's the perfect opportunity to get closer to the pretty crafter and complete his mission. But what he discovers is a fiery, passionate woman--and an affair that could destroy them both.

What I thought about Beyond Possession

Tatiana Stone walks a fine line.  Supporting the O'Kanes ticks off her father's former supporters and going against them, well, that's not an option either for obvious reasons. And then there's Zan.  He wants Tatiana, but he knows enough about her to know he needs to go slow and easy or Tatiana will reject him.  Tatiana isn't all that different than the other women in Sector Four -- she values her independence.

When Tatiana's sister Catalina gets involved with Wallace, the man wanting to unseat Dallas O'Kane as leader of Sector Four, Tatiana knows it won't end well.  She's got to do whatever she can to protect her sister, even if that means openly supporting the O'Kanes. 

I liked Zan and Tatiana together. I loved how Zan tried to understand Tatiana and held back even when he didn't really want to. His feelings were there in a significant way.  I liked Tatiana too and understood her dilemma, but I'm starting to feel that the ladies of Sector Four are becoming a bit one-note for me. I know times are tough in the sectors, but it would be nice to see one of the ladies pursue the alpha for a bit of variety.

What I loved most about this novella was the political aspects and how everyone came together under Dallas and Lex's leadership. There was lots of exciting action at the end, too, and the women really kicked some serious ass, not only with their courage but with their strategies when everything started going to hell.  Loved, loved, loved that part of the story.  

Overall, I still love this series, the characters, the setting and the intricate plots. There are times when the internal narration is a bit unclear, but I can move past that to the good stuff -- the politics and the relationships of a new world.

Recommended.

ARC provided for review.

About the Author


From  http://kitrocha.com/about-the-author/

Kit Rocha is the pseudonym for co-writing team Donna Herren and Bree Bridges. After penning dozens of paranormal novels, novellas and stories as Moira Rogers, they branched out into gritty, sexy dystopian romance. 

The series has appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists, and was honored with a 2013 RT Reviewer’s Choice award. Find out more at kitrocha.com, or sign up to be notified of their next release at bit.ly/kit-rocha-updates

Website (Kit Rocha): http://www.kitrocha.com
Website (Moira Rogers): http://www.moirarogers.com
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