Review: Blind Attraction by Eden Summers

Title: Blind Attraction (Reckless Beat #1)
Author: Eden Summers
Age Group:  Romance
Release Date: 25th May 2013
Publishers: Self-published
Available from: Amazon
Source: Own purchase
He can seduce with a single glance. 

Peering down at a sea of fans, rock star, Mitchell Davies can’t deny the innocent beauty of a woman in the front row. He’ll stop at nothing to get to know her. When a public altercation leaves her weak and defenseless, he takes the opportunity to be her savior.

She’s been sheltered from the world. 

Alana Shelton wants to spread her wings and experience life away from her restrictive upbringing. But she isn’t prepared for a gorgeous stranger to sweep her off her feet while at her most vulnerable. 

Attraction will bring them together, but their pasts will try to tear them apart. 

He wants to teach her how to trust, but she’ll show him how to love. In a glamorous world of rock-and-roll, only time will tell if they’re up for the challenge.

************

Do you like "Bad Boys" with hidden hearts of gold?

Do you like Rockers with bodies that look like Sin?

Do you like music that makes your body quiver?

Would you like to combine all three of the above and have it all wrapped around the outside AND inside of you?

The answer ~ Oh, yes, yes.... YES!

Then, WELCOME to the world of *drum roll please*

~ RECKLESS BEAT ~

The first book in this (soon to be cult) series is "Blind Attraction". Leading male is Mitchell Davies on lead guitar. He can seduce with a single glance. Leading female is Alana Shelton who's led a sheltered life. How they end up together, I'm not going to tell you! I'm going to let Eden take you on this sexy and wild ride through the character's daily work and personal lives where they have their ups and downs (no pun intended) along with their physical and emotional adventures.

This is a very well written story with characters that you'll grow to lust after and/or love like a best friend. This is an easy and smooth story to read that brings a "movie into your mind" with every sentence. There's no wasteful words, no "waffling on" before getting to the point and a few hints to let you know what will be coming up in future stories. Book 2 in the Reckless Beat series will be staring Blake Kennedy. *fans self* If the rest of the books in this series are written with the same care, skill, love and respect to the characters as we see in "Blind Attraction" then this will definitely become a delicious series to enjoy over and over again. (Pun intended)

One thing that Eden has done correctly, was to print the book with an easy to see and read sized font. Let’s be honest here, once you hit a "certain age" that pale tiny font is difficult to read and very annoying when it's an excellent story that you just can't put down. This book is one that you won't want to put down.

If you know a Producer whom can bring these stories to life as a TV series, run out and drag them over to Eden's home now, because when all these stories have been written, bringing them to life would be absolutely....... Geez, I just have to use the word delicious again. Now about auditioning the members to play the characters of "Reckless Beat". Hands up all those who want this job? Well, get in line!

Leone

Review: Countering His Claim by Rachel Bailey

Title: Countering His Claim
Author: Rachel Bailey
Age Group:  Romance
Release Date: 1st October 2013
Publishers: Harlequin
Available from: Amazon
Source: Author
Never be distracted by a woman is hotel magnate Luke Marlow's golden rule, especially when the woman just inherited half his late uncle's luxury cruise liner. But ship's doctor Della Walsh is the exception. Her dignified beauty ignites Luke's desire despite his suspicions. Even so, he will gain full control of the ship at all costs.

For Della, the ship has been a sanctuary. Now she has just three weeks to change Luke's mind and save the ship; until passion comes along and steers them off course.

_____________

We all know with a 187 page Romance novel that it'll end up "Happily Ever After", however, how the story ends up there is what makes this book a "Must Have" on your bookshelf.

Take one emotionally dead, suspicious, rich workaholic leading male who has so many "issues" that any female in her right mind would run very fast in the other direction from this landlubber. Take one highly educated leading female who's been traumatised, has physical scars, is shielding herself from the unknown and has created a safe haven for herself at sea. Toss in a few other things and you’ve got a massive mess to untangle!

The way that Rachel Bailey tells this story to untangle this knotted mess has taken care, thoughtfulness, talent and a lot of skill. Rachel's use of words makes every sentence powerful with concise descriptions without the need to "waffle on" just to make a specific point. The story flows smoothly, gently leading the reader to understand that both leading characters will slowly understand how to heal themselves and logically understand their place in the world and eventually with each other. None of the characters are weak, whiny, bitchy, need rescuing or are co-dependent. This makes a refreshing change.

Besides this being a beautiful story and would make a lovely movie of the week, where you'd be very happy to watch every time you saw it on the TV schedule. This would also make an excellent book for any Book Club to discuss the psychology of self-healing, letting go of the past and moving onto something wonderful that's full of hope and promise and of course to Love.

Leone

When Light Fades blog tour stop

When Light Fades

From the Authors: A.J. Stewart, Cindy Franks White, Zoey Sweete, Jennifer Oneal Gunn, Ronald Edward Griffin, S.L. Dearing, M.K. Hensley and Jewels Moss

Blurb:

Dive into a dark paranormal collection of short stories and poetry with a twist of horror. When Light Fades will play on your inner fears, and bring to life the things that go bump in the night. This collection of writing is filled with revenge, disaster at its best, and a hint of sick madness. Be prepared to enter the world of the wicked, where the darkest creatures tell their stories and the insane rule and sanity has been lost forever.

Where can you get it?

Connect with the authors:

 A.J. Stewart      Cindy Franks White      Zoey Sweete      

Jennifer Oneal Gunn      Ronald Edward Griffin      S.L. Dearing

 M.K. Hensley      Jewels Moss

 

Cover Reveal & Excerpt with Giveaway: Tainted by Christina Phillips

Title: Tainted

Author: Christina Phillips

Genre: Historical Erotic Romance

Release date: August 28th 2013

A dangerous love that Rome will never allow…

Driven by the knowledge he failed to protect his king and embittered at losing the woman he loves, Celtic warrior Gawain despises the lust he feels for the beautiful Roman patrician, Antonia. She is everything he’s never wanted in a woman, yet she ignites his passion like no other. Despite the danger of discovery he embarks on an illicit liaison with her, determined to uncover the reason for the infinite sorrow that haunts her eyes.

Newly arrived in Britannia from Rome, Antonia is inexplicably drawn to the cold, tough Celt whose touch stirs a desire she long thought died at the hands of her brutal former husband. With Gawain she learns the pleasure of sex and his unexpected tenderness thaws her frozen heart. But she hides a deadly secret that could be her undoing, and knows her growing feelings for him can lead nowhere. Yet when a shadow from her past threatens her future Antonia is torn between the Empire of her birth and betraying Gawain, the man she’s grown to love.

Inside Scoop: This medieval romance dabbles a wee bit in the paranormal.

Excerpt:

A door opened to her left and she turned to see Gawain stroll in from the bathhouse. Her heart thudded against her chest, making it hard to draw breath, and the pit of her stomach trembled with strange, liquid heat.

He looked utterly foreign, a savage warrior, and sunlight glinted on the barbaric jewelry around his throat and at his ear. He smiled, a slow, seductive smile that sent tremors through her blood and did nothing to ease the constriction in her breast.

Except for Elpis, she was alone with a strange man, a man she had virtually propositioned in the street. A native of a conquered land who made no secret of the fact he despised her people. And yet it wasn’t derision that glowed in his eyes. It was lust.

For her.

“Lady Antonia.” His smoky voice wrapped around her senses, as potent as though he had wrapped his arms around her naked body. “You kept your word.”

“Did you doubt I would?” She scarcely recognized her voice. She sounded like a sultry seductress. Perhaps, after all, Gawain would never guess what a novice she was when it came to playing such dangerous games.

He stopped in front of her, so close that the amber flecks in his dark eyes mesmerized her. “No.” The word sank into her blood, igniting sparks of pleasure that skittered across her exposed flesh. “You want this as much as I do.”

It was true. Why should she deny it? “Yes.”

__________________

Christina loves writing dark tales of tough, sexy warriors who are brought to their knees by their heroines. A mystical touch of fantasy or paranormal usually weaves its way through her stories, although strangely enough this wasn’t her intention when she first starting writing her Roman/Druid romances. But when ancient gods and goddesses get involved, it’s best just to go with the flow J

She is published by Ellora’s Cave and Berkley Heat and has dipped her toe in the indie pub waters. She is a member of the Romance Writers of Australia, Romance Writers of America, the DarkSide Down Under Group Blog and Historical Hearts Group Blog.

Christina is an ex-pat Brit who now lives in sunny Western Australia with her family. She is also owned by three gorgeous cats who are convinced the universe revolves around their needs. They are not wrong.

Website    Facebook    Twitter    Goodreads    Blog   

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Review: Flesh by Kylie Scott

Title: Flesh (Flesh book 1) 
Author: Kylie Scott
Age Group: Erotic post-apocalyptic Romace
Release Date: 1st October 2012
Publishers: Momentum Books
Available from: Amazon
Source: Momentum Books

Ali has been hiding in an attic since civilisation collapsed eight weeks ago.

When the plague hit, her neighbours turned into mindless, hungry, homicidal maniacs.

Daniel has been a loner his entire life. Then the world empties and he realises that being alone isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Finn is a former cop who is desperate for companionship, and willing to do anything it takes to protect the survivors around him.

When the three cross paths they band together; sparks fly, romance blooms in the wasteland and Ali, Daniel and Finn bend to their very human needs in the ruins of civilisation.

Lust, love and trust all come under fire in Flesh as the three battle to survive, hunted through the suburban wastelands.

_____________________

Flesh is book one in Kylie Scott’s Flesh series about a world that has been destroyed by a plague that turns its victims into zombies. I’m a big zombie fan, so when I heard Flesh was about a zombie apocalypse, and two seriously hot dudes vying for Ali’s heart I knew I was sold. 

Ali has been hiding out in her neighbour’s attic, trying to keep her rabbity heart calm so she doesn’t get eaten. On a supply run she meets Daniel, all and built with gorgeous blue eyes. He thinks all his dreams have come true when he finds Ali. Immediately his inner alpha is out and wanting to protect the beautiful girl with grey eyes.  Of course Ali’s not too keen on this interloper, a man who is physically imposing but who helps her realise staying in one spot is not the brightest of ideas. They set off together hoping to find their own piece of safety. Daniel falls for Ali pretty quickly, but she takes a bit of convincing. Their relationship progresses pretty quickly, and some people may not think it’s convincing, but I enjoyed how Kylie makes their relationship evolve. Together they steam up the pages.

Ali’s a lucky chick to have such a hot guy watching out for her, but then along comes Finn; a blonde haired, green eyed, buff ex-cop. He doesn’t thing Daniel is the right man to look out for Ali, he’s got the skills to keep her safe, but realises her and Daniel have formed a solid relationship. He joins their party, and between the two of them they are more than capable to keep Ali safe. That’s when things get interesting. Daniel comes to the realisation that he isn’t the best man to keep his love safe, so he tries to convince Ali she needs Finn, in more ways than she thinks. She’s not too receptive at first but she begins to realise she also has feelings for Finn. What’s a girl to do? Have them both, that’s what. It might seem ridiculous but Kylie makes it work. No-one knows how they’d act in an apocalypse and I like how this new world is explored. Finn is more controlling and a take action type, where Daniel is laid back and the voice of reason in their trio. If you thought it was steamy before, wait until the three of them are together! It’s enough to curl your toes and set the pages alight! The worst thing about this book was trying to decide if I liked Finn or Daniel more!

The zombies are never far from the story, which I enjoyed. Ali describes how they moan in the night, making sure our heroine and heroes never forget their presence. She also describes their decaying bodies with such effect it brings to mind the zombies on the Walking Dead. They are sufficiently gory. Sometimes the story can be pushed back so the romance and sex scenes can take over, now I’m not saying I don’t like those things, but I need a story too. I loved all the action and tale of survival in a world that’s gone to shit.

Flesh is an erotic, post-apocalyptic, addictive page turner. I devoured this book, I just couldn’t get enough of the world Kylie has created or the characters that inhabit the ruins. I was hiding out in the toilet at work just so I could squeeze in another page! Kylie Scott is my new favourite author.

5/5

Introducing Australia and New Zealand Indie Authors - Willsin Rowe

The entire "Consummate Therapy" series in omnibus format. If you haven't caught up with the trials and tribulations of Natasha Blakely, billionaire CEO, then now is the perfect time to get your feet wet.

Title: Consummate Therapy

Author: Katie Salidas & Willsin Rowe

Genre: Erotica

Release Date: December 20th 2012

Purchase Links: Amazon

Amazon UK

WARNING: This title contains graphic language, sexual situations, bondage, discipline, toys, and plenty of billionaire shenanigans.

Submission Therapy

Billionaire CEO of Blakely Incorporated, Natasha runs her empire with an eagle eye for every detail. She's an obsessive, compulsive, micromanaging hard-ass, consumed by the need to control every aspect of her life and her business.

But underneath that seemingly strong façade, Natasha is a swirling mess of anger, anxiety and sexual addiction. Only her therapist, Dr. Benson, knows how close she is to burning out...or exploding. He insists on a radical form of treatment - Submission Therapy - knowing that it's her only hope.

Skeptical but intrigued, Natasha agrees to attend the first session. What she finds there is an erotically-charged environment that will forgive none of her habitual bad behavior. And a steely-eyed man who seems to read her every desire - even the ones she won't admit to herself.

Will Natasha learn what it means to submit? Or will she allow her brittle pride to rob her of what she truly needs?

Occupational Therapy

Natasha's experience at the hands of Master Sweet has left her both drained and enlightened. Wanting nothing more than to curl up against him for as long as she can, she is dismayed when he sends her home to dwell on all she's learned.

But being a creature of habit, Natasha's stubborn and rebellious nature leads her back into her old patterns, threatening to undo all her progress. When her symptoms return in full force, she begins to doubt not only the effectiveness of Submission Therapy, but also the motivations of her Master.

Learning of her disobedience, Master Sweet brings forward Natasha's next session. But recognizing her behavior for what it is - a cry for attention - leads Him to change His approach dramatically. If Natasha thought her first lesson was hard...she's in for a real eye-opener.

Does the embattled billionaire have the internal strength to earn back her Master's trust? And how will she handle it when his intentions suddenly become even more serious?

Immersion Therapy

Accepting Master Sweet's collar is a frightening commitment for pathological maneater, Natasha. Until recently everything in her life, including sex, had been strictly business; a safe zone that Natasha was quite comfortable with.

Submission Therapy ruined all of that. Her recently uncovered desires have left her feeling raw and needy, unable to trust her own judgment. The order and consistency in her life has been shattered by these terrifying newfound feelings and desires. When even her employees find true love, Natasha's world feels somehow unreal. Could this thing called 'love' be real? And could Master truly feel the same for her? 

Now she faces the biggest emotional decision of her life. Will she accept her Master's collar, and the commitment that it entails? Or should she say goodbye to her Master and forever abandon the hope of a loving relationship with the one man who truly knows her?

Submission Therapy

EXCERPT:

© November 2012 by Willsin Rowe and Katie Salidas

FREE ON AMAZON

“If your spirit is the equal of your body...” He ran his fingers across my shoulders and down the gully of my spine. “...then it will be a rare pleasure breaking you in.”

Despite my initial apprehension, his words and his touch sent a thrill through me.

He moved from behind me and my back suddenly felt cold. I watched his muscular form as he prowled to the chair, and admired his grace as he mounted it.

“Bind her. Bring her to me.”

Chloe appeared beside me with a length of smooth rope in her hands. My instincts cried out to run, to fight, but I bit down on them. I could see where this was heading and…and I wasn’t sure I hated it.

With practiced efficiency, Chloe had my wrists secured in under a minute. She led me over to Master Sweet and handed him the loose end of rope.

“Slave, lay across my lap.”

I couldn’t help it. I hesitated. This was so new to me. He curled the rope around his wrist and pulled steadily, with a strength I couldn’t resist. With Chloe’s help he had me prone across his lap, my bare ass angled out and vulnerable. My heartbeat sped with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. Even though there was something so degrading about being put over someone’s lap, there was a part of me that found it...invigorating. I wasn’t about to let him know I felt that way, though. I held my tongue and watched blankly as Chloe worked, binding me in place.

She took the rope and fed it through the eyelet at the base of the chair, leading it underneath and through a matching eyelet on the other side. She walked around and crouched behind me. From my angle I could only see her hands taking the rope, but I could sense her body heat on the backs of my thighs, feel her breath tickling across my ass…and everywhere else. I wondered if she was there to do more than just tie knots.

The rope’s firm grip around my right knee took me out of that reverie. I watched as Chloe fed the rope back through the loop and then around my left knee. I understood the chair’s construction much better now. Looped around it, with Master Sweet’s strong legs as a cushion, I had nowhere to go. Intriguingly, there was still enough slack in the rope that I could spread my knees apart.

“Look in the mirror.”

I raised my head and stared. I barely recognized myself. In the low light, my black hair almost blended with the room. I could see enough to know it was a mess, though.

He slipped his hand onto my ass and rested it there, soft, unmoving. The deceptively light touch sent chills rippling across my body.

“You’ve earned a spanking for your disobedience. You will watch as your punishment is delivered, and you will count the strokes.”

My breath hitched in my chest. Spanking. I hadn’t had one of those since I was a little girl. So demeaning, and yet the thought of it sent heat rushing between my thighs. There was a part of me that longed for it. In a world where I constantly had to think at least six to twelve months ahead, a consequence that was both immediate and tangible somehow felt like a luxury.

He raised his hand, cocked it like a gun. I followed the movement instinctively, admiring the pure power of it, knowing full well that its force was about to come crashing down on me.

“No. Look into your own eyes.”

I did as instructed. My mouth hung open as I tried to catch my breath, which had begun racing. I clenched my muscles and squeezed my thighs together, waiting for what came next.

The blow, when it landed, cracked like a pistol shot. For the slightest instant all I felt was the jolt through my body. My vision blurred with the impact. Then the sting bloomed on my ass and began to tingle. I watched my own mouth stretch, listened as my breath hissed in. I would not cry out.

“Count it!” he demanded.

Willsin Rowe falls in love with a scent, a playful expression or an act of casual intimacy more easily than with physical beauty. When confronted by any combination of those elements he is a lost cause. He has done many things over and over, done even more things only once, and half-done more things than he cares to admit. He loves to sing and doesn’t let his voice get in the way. He is intelligent but not sensible. He is passionate but fearful. He is not scruffy enough or stylish enough to be cool.

Blog: http://willsinrowe.blogspot.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/willsin.rowe

Introducing Australia & New Zealand Indie Authors - Karin Cox

Title: Cruxim

Author: Karin Cox

Genre: PNR

Publisher: Indelible Ink Press

Release date: 5 January 2013

Purchase links: Amazon

Apple

____________

Amedeo is Cruxim, a mysterious, immortal fallen angel. Destined to seek redemption as a vampire hunter, he nourishes his insatiable thirst on their blood. But when the object of his passion, the novice nun Joslyn, is turned and enters a vampire coven, Amedeo's worlds collide. Shattered by the loss of his beloved, he vows to rid the world of vampires once and for all, even if it means destroying Josyln in the process.

Joining Amedeo on his quest to rid the world of the undead is Sabine. Half-woman, half-lioness, she is a Sphinx, a Guardian who has protected humans from vampires since the dawn of time. Yet Sabine comes to this fight pursued by her own enemies.  Dr. Claus Gandler knows the secret of Sabine's mythological past and has vowed to torment her for eternity or destroy her forever. Captured by the evil doctor, Amedeo and Sabine are paraded as sideshow freaks in the Circus of Curiosities. Only vampire Joslyn has the power to intercede. Will she prove Amedeo's redemption, or his destruction? This gothic paranormal novel explores the beast within amid a setting of mythology and forbidden love. 

_____________

Author Bio: 

Karin Cox edits and writes in her "spare time" while being a fulltime mum to a toddler and to a black cat with the improbable name of "Ping Pong."

She is the author of more than 30 trade-published natural history books, biographies, Australian social history books, children's picture storybooks, and travel guides, several of which have won awards. Karin has had poems and short stories published in anthologies worldwide and her ebooks CRUXIM, GROWTH, CAGE LIFE, HEY LITTLE SISTER and PANCAKES ON SUNDAY are available on Amazon.

Thankfully, the busier she gets, the more creative she is (and the more likely to afford to hire a housekeeper). Karin and her partner live in sunny Queensland, Australia, where she writes from her back deck overlooking the pool, her study (overlooking her messy desk) or her couch (overlooking Dr Phil). You can follow her on twitter @Authorandeditor or visit her fanpage on Facebook www.facebook.com/KarinCox.Author or sign up for her mailing list http://eepurl.com/vk_bP  Also, feel free to email her at cruxim@hotmail.com.