Ivy Chronicles: Wild

Sophie Jordan is an incredibly talented author who pens the Ivy Chronicles, among other titles. Wild is the final installment of her series, and let me tell you - she goes out with a bang!!! 

***

Wild releases November 18th, 2014.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

A good girl goes fabulously bad in the final book in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s sexy New Adult romance series, in which three Ivy League suite-mates seek higher knowledge of just how far they can go.

Months after her boyfriend dumped her, Georgia can still hear the insults he hurled at her. Boring. Predictable. Tame. Tired of feeling bad, she’s ready to change her image, and go a little wild. What better way to prove her ex wrong than a hot night of sexual adventure at the secret campus kink club?

In the shadowy den of the kink club, she unexpectedly runs into Logan Mulvaney, her friend’s little brother. A player extraordinaire too hot for his own good, he may be younger, but the guy is light years ahead when it comes to sexual experience. Now he’s telling her to go home—“good girls” don’t belong here!

Georgia is tired of having others define her. She’s going to teach Logan a lesson he won’t forget—one white hot, mind-wrecking kiss . . . that leads to another . . . and another . . . and. . . . Realizing she’s way in over her head, Georgia runs.

Only Logan won’t let her go. Everywhere she goes he’s there, making her want every inch of him. Making her forget who she is. Who he is. And just how wrong they are for each other.

***

Oh Sophie! This book was AMAZING. I loved the first two books in this series, but this one... this one was perfection. I am so glad I didn't have to wait til November to read this, but I cannot wait for a print copy to sit on my shelf. It was that beautiful. I loved that Georgia was the final book. We learned to love Georgia in the last 2 books, but so much was revealed in this final installment. And when Logan sets his sights on Pearls (his nickname for Georgia) she is in for a WILD ride.

"I want to do things to you... things a clean, vanilla girl like you never dreamed of. Things that tool boyfriend of yours never came close to doing to you."

Logan is Reece's promiscuous little brother who has made his way through half the undergrad's at Dartford while working on his high school diploma. Yes! You read that right, this playboy is a Senior who pitches on his school's baseball team. Georgia would never see him as anything more than Reece's kid brother. (Manwhore was a nickname used often when referring to Logan) Logan on the other hand was intrigued by Georgia when he first met her.

"...'Character is what you do when no one's looking.' Well, I was looking, Georgia. And I've been looking ever since..."

Georgia is adjusting to life without her ex-boyfriend of 4+ years. This path takes her to the Kink club with Annie, and she finds herself incredibly turned on watching this guy who was kissing a girl with such passion she couldn't help but stare. The way he kissed - like his whole being was focused on it. The way the bottom of his spine dipped was sexy as hell. Mortified suddenly replaced her arousal when she realized the cause of these hot feelings was Logan Mulvaney.

"I'm a big girl, thank you very much. I don't need permission to be here."

He looked me up and down, his gaze lingering at my throat. "Sure you do, Pearls. You fit in here about as much as a bull in a china shop."

Georgia decides to forgo spending the summer in an internship in her home state of Alabama to spend the summer working for a professor. She gets to spend the summer in Reece's old apartment above Mulvaney's since she doesn't have the luxury of a dorm during summer break. Late nights spent with Logan, who is too tired to drive home and accustomed to crashing on his older brother's couch after closing shifts at the bar, Georgia and Logan's friendship blooms into something incredibly beautiful. Of course, Georgia isn't willing to see where this could go, so she continues to push Logan away. She even brings a date to Pepper's birthday know the odds that Logan will be in attendance. I cannot tell you what happens next, but staying in theme of this series I will Tease you with what happens with a few lines from (chapter 13) the party: 

Oh. My. God. 

I turned my head sideways and caught sight of us in the mirror. 

My chest squeezed tight and I remembered his promise to say dirty things to me. He'd meant it. 

The tension between them, and her need to get out on a Saturday night had her at Mulvaney's with Annie. Did she not learn? Annie was trouble. And Logan was a jealous man who knew what he wanted even if she couldn't admit to it. 

"Why don't you head back to your little bar groupies?"

"Jealous?" His hand clamped on my arm, forcing me around. 

"Ha. As if. I don't care who paws you, Logan. We're not even friends."

"No... we're more than friends. And you know it."

Previously I gave Foreplay and Tease a FIVE star rating, but now I am at a loss. I loved those two books, but if those were FIVE's on a FIVE star scale, Wild is easily a SEVEN. Logan & Georgia are my favorite NA couple to date, and this book is filled with everything you need, including but not limited to: 

• Another trip to the Kink Club
• Handcuffs - with a police officer NOT with Kink like Rachael, Logan's BFF likes. 
• Overbearing Moms
• Muskogee, Alabama
• Another pair of handcuffs, Still NOT kinky

Logan and Georgia grew so much individually and together in this final installment that I seriously wanted to read it again RIGHT when I finished to see if I missed anything. I highlighted SOOO many parts of this book, the pages might as well have been yellow. Before I leave you begging me to tell you all the juicy details, I want to share a few more of my favorite lines from this book. 

I wasn't delusional enough to think anyone was actually perfect. But he was my perfect. The thing I had been wanting...hoping that I might find someday...

"People wait their whole lives for this. Sometimes half their lives pass before they find it. Sometimes they never do. They settle for something else. Or nothing at all. But we found each other now, Georgia. Do you know how lucky that makes us?" (<---swoon-worthy i="" right="" speech="">

And before I leave you to show the AWESOMELY AWESOME Sophie Jordan some love, I want to share the Epigraph. (a short quotation or saying at the beginning of a book or chapter, intended to suggest its theme) I fell so much in love with it, I put it on my fridge and on my bathroom mirror. 

If you are falling, dive...

-Joseph Campbell

Show this lady some LOVE...

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The Ivy Chronicles: Foreplay & Tease

Sophie Jordan was a recommendation by a favorite author of mine, Codi Gary. When I received the upcoming 3rd (and final) in the series in my first Avon Addicts E-Book bundle, I knew it was time. I settled down with my Kindle and opened up the first book, Foreplay.

Pepper has been hopelessly in love with her best friend’s brother, Hunter, for like ever. He’s the key to everything she’s always craved: security, stability, family. But she needs Hunter to notice her as more than just a friend. Even though she’s kissed exactly one guy, she has just the plan to go from novice to rock star in the bedroom—take a few pointers from someone who knows what he’s doing.

Her college roommates have the perfect teacher in mind. But bartender Reece is nothing like the player Pepper expects. Yes, he’s beyond gorgeous, but he’s also dangerous, deep—with a troubled past. Soon what started as lessons in attraction are turning both their worlds around, and showing just what can happen when you go past foreplay and get to what’s real…

***

Foreplay welcomes you to the life of 20 year old friends: Emerson, Pepper and Georgia. Georgia is the friend who has been in a steady relationship with the same (BORING) guy since she was 16. Emerson is the wild and crazy friend, and Pepper has been in love with her friend's older brother for as long as she could remember. Hunter has always seen her as a little sister. Foreplay is Pepper's story to tell.

News breaks that Hunter is newly single, and Pepper decides she needs to gain some worldly experience in order to make Hunter look at her in a different light. Where better to find someone to teach her the ways then the bartender that everyone is talking about over at Mulvaney's? The girls head out and Pepper is open and willing to take all advice that Emerson can dish out, under one circumstance.

"I want the bartender."

Emerson smiled slowly, nodding in approval. "All right then. The bartender it is."

This story is full of amazingly strong friendships between these three women. I loved that the most. (Well, 2nd to Reece - the bartender!) It is reassuring to see positive female relationships I found myself wishing I could be the fourth in their group. Friendships like this aren't a dime a dozen. 

Pepper and Reece's interactions are explosive. The physical attraction is clearly there from their first encounter before the bar. Something about Pepper causes Reece to crave her closeness every chance he can. Her friends see the relationship change from a means to an end (Her end being Hunter) to a real thing before she can see it, or admit it. 

"But sometimes the thing you want isn't what you really need."

...

"Why does it have to be Hunter?" 

Pepper cannot wrap her mind around her future NOT being Hunter. It has always been the goal. She has always wanted to be a part of that family. Hunter was safe. Reece was passion. Reece was risk. And that scared Pepper beyond belief. Scared her because of how Reece was becoming so important to her. Even sick, he was seducing me. He probably didn't realize it. It's just what he did. Who he was. How he affected me. 

Hunter finally notices Pepper, and she couldn't be happier. Or could she? Why does Reece keep entering her mind? Doubt starts to fill her when it comes to her HEA with Hunter. Then tragedy hits and she lets the words that have filled her heart leave her lips when Reece comes to her rescue. "Love. You."

I am a grand gesture kind of girl, and Reece pulls out all the stops. He is so forward with his feelings for her, how could you not swoon? I did. Often. And then, Disney World? That was just so incredibly sweet. A wonderful, well-rounded, super hot NA book. 

***

What happens when a girl who always calls the shots meets a guy who's too wild for even her?

A born flirt and good-time party girl, Emerson has never had a problem finding a willing guy. She's always chosen her hookups carefully, and she's never broken her three cardinal rules:

Never let them see the real you.

Never fall in love.

Always leave them begging for more.

***

Emerson knows the deal. Guys are fun to have around, but you don't fall in love. 

Love was losing control. And I never lost control. I just made it look like I did - hooking up with different guys every week - but I was always fully cognizant of my actions. In charge every moment along the way. 

Emerson finds herself hanging out with Annie since both of her best friends were preoccupied with their boyfriends. Annie While hanging with her single friend seemed like a good idea at the time, when they showed up to a biker bar and said friend left her stranded after she had drank a few too many drinks, she finds herself relying on the kind offer of a hotter than sin biker she meets in the bar. Shaw, while taking a verbal lashing from Emerson takes care of her and gets her home safely, but not before she wakes up partially naked in his bed. (Not telling you any more about HOW she got there!) 

Content to never see this man again, she joins her friends for a party. While chatting with Pepper and Logan (Reece's hottie of a younger brother) she spots him. Such a small world this is. It turns out Shaw a cousin of Beth, whose party they are at. Shaw, a former Marine, is loyal to the core. He rescues Emerson, even when she doesn't think she needs it. Emerson isn't in the game for a fairy tale ending, she doesn't think she needs or deserves it. Shaw, on the other hand, knows that is what she deserves which is why he is in constant need to rescuing her. 

Emerson may not want the same things that Shaw wants, but he makes it happen. She thinks she succeeded in paying her way at dinner, only to find that he slipped the money back into her pocket without her noticing. 

The artist with Emerson couldn't hide the feelings she developed for Shaw. It showed in her painting. She didn't need anyone to see this piece, and yet her teacher insisted on it - and her grade depended on it. When she spotted him across the room seeing her picture, she knew she was gone. When her secret was revealed, he couldn't understand WHY she allowed people to think what they thought of her. My heart melted when she finally let him in. 

"Don't leave me."

"Oh, Emerson, I couldn't if I wanted to."

Intense Shaw was laying out his feelings for Emerson to see, and she just couldn't. With never feeling loved or accepted, she just couldn't give herself to Shaw. It broke all her rules. After a Teen Wolf marathon with a newly single Georgia and Pepper - she texts Shaw with what is my favorite line in the entire book. (And there are some great ones - I tell you the banter between these two is epic!) 

You don't have to chase me anymore. 

Emerson and Shaw's story had more pain in the back story. I felt for both of them, and I melted when they protected each other. I loved that he didn't give up, even when he tried to give up. His heart was in it 110%. 

Loving someone is scary. That was part of it. Always. Knowing, that at any moment for any reason it could be lost. But I wanted that. I wanted love. Even if I couldn't control it. I wanted it. I wanted him. 

***

 Overall, I must say that the first two books in the Ivy Chronicles were amazing. Sophie creates a world filled with strong emotions and relationships. Personally, I think it is very hit or miss within the New Adult genre. In my experience NA tends to lean more towards YA or Adult. Not this series. Sophie perfectly crafts what I believe this genre is trying to achieve. Her ability to maintain strong friendships throughout the books while romance blossoms is very important to me. A strong FIVE 'New Adult' Stars for the first two books in this series! 

Now let's show Sophie Jordan some LOVE! 

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Hell on Heels

Where does a Demon go when she gets deported from Hell?

Kentucky. Eden, Kentucky to be more specific—where nothing is exactly as it seems. 

My name is Dixie. I’m a Demon—a lousy Demon. I’m a twenty-one year old virgin and I have a battery operated boyfriend. My magic is iffy at best and downright dangerous at worst. Leaving Hell to represent my race is not high on my list of things to do.

Hell was exact. Hell was simple. All I want to do is get to home base with the hotter than Hades Demon of my dreams and work on my dark side so Satan, my dad, will get off my ass.

Instead I end up in Kentucky looking for the Balance of Chaos, avoiding pole dancing classes with Mother Nature and finding out my invisible friend is a silver skinned destructive weather pattern.

And if that isn’t craptastic enough, the damn Sword of Death is missing again and who ever has it wants the King of the Underworld dead. Seriously.

With new powers emerging daily, keeping my Demon side, horniness and general disgust under wraps doesn’t make it any easier to fit in with the humans. Thankfully my priorities are in line; get laid…save world…try not to blow up kitchen appliances…and get laid again. I was ready to rumble.
All I want to do is go back to Hell, but with the balance of good and evil in my hands, I’m stuck in the garden of Eden. Oh well, what the Hell. Someone has to save the world before there’s no world left to save. Might as well be me.

***

Let me start with a list, since you know I love lists! 

1. OMG! I love Robyn's twisted mind. 
   
2. I don't do spoilers, so I am going to be honest - this review MIGHT now make sense. Haha
3. Hell has never been this HOT! 
4. Robyn is writing a hilarious computer manual with her super HOT hubby, Steve Zahn (you might know him from Daddy Daycare - that is what he is famous for in my house. The kids watch that movie on repeat!) But she needs to make a calendar with her new curse words she creates! 

***

This is Dixie's book. You met Dixie in the previous Hot Damned books. What you will remember is she is the goody two-shows favorite VIRGIN daughter of the outrageously hot, Satan. (If you haven't read the first two, I must ask: Have you been living under a rock?) Dixie knows her time on Earth is coming, but she is not ready. Especially after she seems to have caught the attention of the Demon of her Dreams. (This D.O.D. she is hoping will replace her B.O.B - battery operated boyfriend!) 

I pried open one eye, and much to my great horror and delight stood the object of my desire in the flesh. The most beautiful man I'd ever seen - Hayden Black. 

In this installment, you get to catch up on your favorites. We welcome back Gigi (Dixie's Grandmother, Mother Nature!), who is enough to have Satan himself hiding behind a rock. 

"Your grandmother is the definition of unstable insanity, and if I knew why she summoned us we wouldn't be hiding behind a rock," he answered logically. 

"Dad, you're my rock and this is making me very nervous."

It wouldn't be Hell without Satan's 7 other daughters, better know as the Seven Deadly Sins. They love their sister, Dixie even with all her loving and good-natured flaws. When it comes to her falling in love with D.O.D, Hayden - they are chalk full of reasons NOT to. 

Do not under any circumstances find a soul mate. It completely ruins the fun of orgies. 

We are welcomed back by a STILL pregnant, Astrid and her hunky man, Ethan. Astrid is dying to have her 6-10 headed baby, and be able to see her feet again. Ethan wants his wife back. I bet all fathers can relate to what he is feeling, except he has no answers. Astrid loves her cousin, Dixie. Even more now that the F-bomb has entered into her vocabulary. 

I cannot really tell you much more about the story without giving too much away. Dixie is given the task of controlling the balance between good and evil on Earth. There are rogue demons that are out to rid the world of Satan and his brother, God. While in Eden, she needs to find the missing sword, attend community college with her misfit family of demons, and watch out for Angels who want to kill her and Eden's version of the Mean Girls aka the Vultures. When arriving in Eden, she quickly finds out her dear old Dad has cut off all communication with Hell for a month. WHAT? No, Hayden Black? Let's talk about Hayden Black. He makes me want to be 21 again. (Sidenote, Dixie's BFF, Stella is a damn riot!) 

"Well, it just so happens I'm going to the library too" He winked conspiratorially at Stella. " Can I walk with you?"

He turned his green gaze on me and waited for my answer. The speech part of my brain ceased to function. All I could do was stare at him like an idiot. 

"Yes," Stella chimed in and gave me a push. "She'd love to walk with you and maybe even sit at the same table, regain her power of speech and exchange a few words."

Her lack of speech ability is how I feel around Hayden. Silly, right? He is on paper. I can just turn the page on him! But, nope. I re-read what he says. *swoon*

"Dixie," he said softly. "Look at me."

"I can't." I continue my love affair with my fingernails. " I get stupid when I look at you."

"I find that extremely flattering and very sexy," he said. 

There were so many damn swoon-worthy moments in this book. How Dixie maintained her composure around this man, I will never understand. Oh wait, she didn't. 

"Dixie," he moaned. "We have to stop."

"Why?" I touched my forehead to his. 

"Because I want you to fall for my intellect and charm before I let you ravish my body."

I giggled and brushed my fingertips along his cheekbones and jaw. "What if I only want you for your hot bod?"

He chuckled, "I won't be used that way. Well... maybe once or twice." He grinned. "I'm looking for something lasting. I plan to make you fall head over heels, no turning back in love with me."

Back to my listy lists! This is what else you will find in this laugh out loud, pee your pants hilarious and sex in the science lab closet sexy book: 

1. Wings.
2. A traitorous brother who kisses his brother's lady friend. 
3. A "Heaven & Hell" themed collage dance. 
4. Baby demons who love the bum bums! 
5. And the MOST creative curse words EVER. 

To end my review, I need you to know I am a faithful fan of the beautiful and wickedly funny Robyn Peterman - and this is her BEST book so far. I didn't think she could top her Handcuffs & Happily Ever Afters series. But, I friggin' LOVED this! 

Now, let's give this lady some Hell-worthy LOVE! 

Robyn's Facebook Page

Robyn's Goodreads Author Page (Fan Her!)

STALK her... I mean Follow Robyn on Twitter

Robyn's BEAUTIFUL website

The TBR Tag a la Catherine

Meghan over at Sweet Tea & Sassy Reads nominated me (and my book sidekick, Kristyn) for this the other day. This tag was created by  Rachel @ A Perfection Called Books and Dana from Dana Square. I'm sure this is going to be super embarrassing and shameful, but I'm doing it. Let's talk about how out of control my TBR is.

How Do I Manage My TBR?

Honestly? I don't. I try. Being an Avon Addict, I try to read those first since they were kind

enough to send them to me. Also any ARCS I read as soon as I can once I receive them. I have my running list on Goodreads, and then the few ONE-CLICKS I have on my Kindle. 

323

Not sure WHICH # they were referring to, so I listed the number under my TO-READ column on GOODREADS. 

Is My TBR Mostly print or ebooks?

Print. Print is my preference. And honestly, between my Kindle and my bookshelf - my Bookshelf holds more of my TBR shelf. 

94

Ashamed? Nope. This is my actual OWNED books in my TBR pile. 74 are physical and 20 on my Kindle. I am proud of it. I don't go ONE-CLICK crazy because I set a limit on how my I can spend each month. And I read like a maniac. Like I previously stated, if it is available in Print - I've got it in print. 

How do I determine which book from my tbr to read next?

A LOT goes into that decision. Some determining factors? Is the next coming out soon? Did I receive it as a ARC, or as a recommendation from a friend? Is it for Book Club? Are wee planning on Dual-Reviewing it? And then comes my mood. I get on kicks by genre. 

A book that’s been on my tbr the longest

The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop:A Memoir, A HistoryAdd it to YOUR TBR shelfThis book was added shortly after Borders closed it is about a former Booksellers experience of the bookstore. I need to buy it, it's been there since October 2011.

A book I recently added to my tbr

Most recently, I added the upcoming Sweet, Texas book by Candis Terry:
Sweet Surprise. 

Add it to YOUR TBR on GoodreadsI just adore Candis Terry, and cannot wait for Fiona's story. You get to know her so well through the Wilder boy's paths to HEA, and while HEA with a Wilder didn't work out, she is still a part of the family. And she deserves some meddling from Momma Wilder.
A book on my tbr strictly because of its beautiful cover
I will be honest with you, I am not often a cover reader. I have been sadly disappointed by cover hype. This particular one caught my eye, and I added it to my TBR shelf. Then I bought it from Amazon because I needed it's pretty cover on my shelf. I am going to read it, and Kristyn says it is AMAZING!
Don't Look Back Jennifer Armentrout
Add it to YOUR TBR Shelf

A book on my tbr that I never plan on actually reading

Oddly, I went through my entire list and I don't see one that I don't plan on actually reading at SOME point. There are kids books that I wouldn't read on my own, but I co-read with my kids so I know they are comprehending what they are reading and it is a great bonding activity for us.
An unpublished book on my tbr that I’m excited for

OMG. This is easy. I have a TON listed that aren't out yet. But this book is probably my most anticipated book on my TBR list. Sidenote: If you haven't read this series, where have to been? We plan on doing a re-read through the series in December to prepare for this books release in January.
Burned (Fever #7)Karen Marie Moning
Add this book to YOUR TBR shelf on Goodreads

A book on my tbr that basically everyone has read except me

The Casual VacanyJ.K. Rowling
Add to YOUR TBR Shelf on GoodreadsA huge Harry Potter fan here. I have had this book on my TBR shelf since it came out, but I just don't have it in me to read yet. Maybe after a little more time has passed. I understand why she published it under a different name. Could you imagine trying to live up to Hogwarts? It isn't even in the same ballpark, and yet people compared and compared. I will read it in time. I think she is a genuinely talented author, it is just still TOO soon for me. 

A book on my tbr that everyone recommends to me

The Dark LoverJ.R. Ward
If you are like me & haven't read it, Add it TODAY!At first, when people began recommending it to me, I didn't read sexy scenes, and that was my hesitation with this series. Well, now SMUT is my book of choice. I guess, I haven't read it since it is so far down on my  TBR list, and it is a large commitment. This series is time consuming, and I am not ready yet.
One day soon.
I promise EVERYONE. 

The number of books on my tbr shelf

While doing this FUN blog post, I have added some books to my TBR. Even ONE-CLICKED 2 books. (shhh, my Husband thinks I am NUTS!) But this is my TOTAL # of TBR both physical and e-book.
427

 I thought it would be higher. Haha
This was a BLAST! I would tag Kristyn, but Meghan already tagged her. I am excited to see her answers. I bet her TBR shelf puts us all to shame. I challenge Rachel Boston from Flying High On Romance and Codi Gary. (You can visit her blog Right Here!) But, I welcome and encourage EVERYONE to do this - it was a fun post, and it reminded me of how many AWESOME books I have left on my TBR shelf! 

Sex in the City Box Set Release!!!

9 Glamorous, Globe-trotting Contemporary Romances only $0.99 for a limited time.

10-glamorous-globe-trotting-contemporary-romances

Buy it HERE from B&N

Buy it HERE from Amazon

Bundle Blurb

New York to Paris, London to Los Angeles, these cosmopolitan tales of romance will 

challenge and inspire your most worldly fantasies:

Singapore Fling by Alexia Adams: A CEO-in-training is tempted by her a handsome 

hotshot marketing director as they tour the company’s Asian offices. But will eight 

countries in three weeks lead to whirlwind romance or lasting love?

A Place to Rest My Heart by Galen Rose: This poignant story of family, romance, and 

discovering where you truly belong will enchant everyone who’s ever left their heart in 

San Francisco.

Kirby by Samantha Molina: The competitive nature of New York’s publishing scene 

forces Rachel Sirianni to adopt an alter ego—but can she keep her hot boyfriend from 

discovering the duplicity?

The Very Thought of You by Carolann Camillo: When real estate developer Nick 

Mancini tries to buy out the tenants in his San Francisco apartment building, sparks fly 

with stubborn Molly Hewitt.

Masquerade by Nicole Flockton: A medical romance set down under in Perth provides 

just the right emergency to reunite Sophie and Alex after their steamy one-night stand.

Looking for Prince Charming by Iris Leach: Glory agrees to pose as her boss’s girlfriend 

while he campaigns for Lord Mayor of Melbourne—which might not be the best idea 

since she’s already in love with him!

Urgent: One Nanny Required by Olivia Logan: Rania George is offered a sweet gig 

babysitting a boy she adores. Only catch? She has to fly to Hollywood—a place she 

loathes—and spend three weeks with his devastatingly handsome and arrogant father.

Special Angel by Nancy Loyan: A diva with no record of her past, classical singer 

Angelique must search the globe to find her true identity, and sexy investigative reporter 

Brian Andrews is hot on her heels.

Perfect Partners by Stephanie Cage: London’s latest hit dance competition television 

show throws two former lovers into each other’s arms—but can they stay in step?

Available Now.

Excerpts

Bound By His Desire

Nick Rhodes has been burned before, so when he hires a new assistant, he has one rule: no emotional attachments. On either side. Pamela Bishop is everything he needs in a professional colleague, and comes with an ironclad guarantee – she absolutely will not fall in love with him.

Pamela Bishop has only one goal in her new job: getting on top of the mountain of debts incurred through her mother’s medical expenses. Jeopardising this chance by falling in love with her arrogant, if handsome, employer is the last thing she would ever do.

But as the lure and romance of New York City surrounds them, and Pamela and Nick find themselves spending more and more time together, they can no longer ignore the attraction flaring between them.

Nick has always lived by his own rules – can he learn to break them in time to grab this one chance at happiness?

Anticipated Release Date: October 22nd, 2014

Add to your TBR Shelf on Goodreads

***Received this title in exchange for an honest review***

Nicole continues the Bound series by welcoming you to the wedding of Jasmine and Luciano. Nick is performing his best man duties by checking out the bridesmaid who he didn't recall meeting at last night's rehearsal dinner. This bridesmaid turns out to be none other than Jasmine's current assistant. Luciano is trying to get Nick to give her a chance as his assistant since she is wanting to leave her current position with the departure of Jasmine. A good assistant is hard to come by, and Pamela is just that. 

One problem. Nick has encountered several assistants who used their womanly ways to sell him out or attempt to make him 'marriage material' and after the kiss he shared with her at the wedding this could be a problem. Apparently, he underestimated his attraction towards her, and continued to offer her the position. 

As he turned and walked away, Pamela wondered if he would look back and if he did, would it mean something, like everyone talked about in the movies. How if a guy looked back as he walked away, it meant he wanted her?

Her breath caught when Nick looked back over his shoulder and winked. 

The attraction between the two was instant, but both Nick and Pam are so focused on the task at hand (for incredibly different reasons, which will be revealed as the layers of their hidden pasts are revealed) - it becomes humorous to watch each fight the attraction. When Nick is fighting the attraction, but hears that Pam is out at a NY dance club, his protective side comes raging out. 

"I've come to get you."

...

"You always spoil my fun," she shouted at him. "Why are you here?"

He smiled; feisty Pam was in the house. As he stared down into her face he lost himself in the green pools of her eyes. The sounds of the music thumping through the club faded out of his conscious hearing. He reached one hand out and gently cupped her cheek. 

"I told you, 'I've come for you.'"

Or when Ethan shows interest in Pam, inviting her to go on a tour of New York City - Suddenly, Nick has a prior engagement that requires Pam's attendance. 

"Enough, Pamela. You have a job to do and arguing with me is not part of it, even though you seem to enjoy that pastime. Trust me, everything will work out."

"Fine," she huffed. "But it the dress is hideous I'm not going."

When the feisty Pamela decides to allow her heart to open up to this man who does things to her that can only mean LOVE, he suddenly is all business. She sees his pain, even when he thinks he has done a great job at masking it. 

"Because we both need this. We both need to forget."

"It will only be a bandaid. The problems will still be there tomorrow."

"I know, but I know we both need this. I don't know what's going to come tomorrow or the day after or the day after that. But what I do know is that I want to explore whatever is happening between us. Because there is something, Nick, and I know you feel it too."

The storylines underneath the HEA you are hoping for between Nick and Pam are full of friendship. You have Nick as Luc's Best Man. And when Jeff is thrown into the mix, you know him from Jasmine and Luc's story, but you learn that all three men went to school together and the friendship stands strong throughout the test of time. Jeff sees the pain in Nick's eyes and calls him out. Offers a hilarious offer: "Do you want to go all girlie and talk about it?" This is what Nick needed. A swift kick to get him mind on straight. It was one thing to have Pam tell him he deserves love, or Luc & Jasmine who have found their happiness. When his seemingly lonely friend, Jeff unleashes this wisdom on him, he knows what he needs to do. 

"Love makes you mess up." Jeff looked pointedly at him. "It makes you say and do things you wouldn't normally do if you were thinking unemotionally. Love also makes you able to acknowledge the fuck ups and fix them."

Finally, I love that Nicole went the route she did with this love story. Did Nick ultimately fix all of Pamela's problems? No. While she learned from him to ask for help, she relied on the help of her friends. Did Pamela fix the issues that Nick was dealing with? No. She offered her love and cared for him deeply, but he (also with the help of his friends) learned he could love, and it didn't have to be painful or tainted. 

A few things I left with after finishing Bound By His Desire:

1. A strong desire to explore some of these places when I go to RWA in 2015 since it is in NYC! Maybe do a 'Bound By His Desire' mini-tour... wearing a Ninja shirt. ***IDEA***
2. I want to keep a journal of all the cool words I learn when reading. In this particular book, I picked up takeaway, trawling, and gauche. 

Before I bid you adieu, let's give this LOVELY lady some LOVE!!!

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Sinful Rewards #3

Bee Carter's carefully constructed world is tumbling down around her designer knockoff heels. Pleasing others isn't working for this small-town fashionista. Bee decides to throw caution to the Chicago wind for one night and release her inner bad girl, accepting a sexy challenge from an unknown texter, exploring the backseat of a limousine with gorgeous billionaire Nicolas, and entering a rough, tough biker bar with the mysterious Hawke.

Two hot men, one wicked night. When this good girl goes wild, who will make her erotic dreams come true—the enigmatic billionaire or the tattooed bad boy?

Add Volume 3 to your TBR shelf on Goodreads

Cynthia Sax tosses you right back into Bee's unknown world in Chicago. Will see get the job? Who is Friendly? When will she loose her BFF, Cyndi? Now don't expect Cynthia to answer all your questions in the latest installment. After all, we still have NINE more to go. 

Cynthia's dueling love interests compliment each other so well, you genuinely cannot decide from one page to the next. Hawke offers this overwhelmingly protectiveness when he sees Bee hurting. "He's a dead man," an achingly familiar voice rumbles. His ability to read her like he has known her all his life throws her off balance. He tastes of strong black coffee, flavored with a hint of forever, and I inhale, drawing him deep into me. This line stayed with me in such a strong way for a few reasons: 

1. What would "a hint of forever" taste like? The barista in me played with this idea for FAR too long,
   
   and contemplated going into my local Starbucks and ordering a tall coffee with "a hint of forever" and seeing what they thought. (I then thought ig nstead of Catherine, they might write Crazy on my cup!)
2. 'Forever' was such a unique description for Hawke. Hawke is the one who doesn't offer Bee the potential of a stable man who will stick around. 

Then you have Nicolas Rainer. My handsome, generous, hardworking billionaire is my forever. With Nicolas he is trying with her. As awkward as it comes off, it is endearing. The small gestures Bee notices, like the way he answers his phone now is intentional and shows how much her cares. He turns Bee on just as much as Hawke does, in my opinion, just in an entirely different way. Nicolas dips his head and skims his lips over mine, slowly, gently, a brief teasing caress. His breath brushes across my cheeks, his warmth coaxing the fire inside me higher. The scent of mint and expensive cologne tickles my nostrils, filling my senses with him. 

Cynthia's writing is flawless. Not a single scene is nonessential. Every tidbit of information is vital to the story at hand. Before I knew it, I was reading the page that said, Want to know what happens next for Bee, Nicolas and Hawke? Sinful Rewards 4 is available October 14 from Avon Red Impulse. Just when I was relaxing back into Bee's little Chicago world. Like my previous reviews of Sinful Rewards 1(My Review for Part 1) and Sinful Rewards 2 (My Review for Part 2), I don't do spoilers, but I will leave you with some of my favorite parts of the book that will leave you wanting more:

• A piece of paper is set flat on the surface, beside a silver spoon and an ice bucket. I slide close and read the jagged script. 'Call me if you need more. Your Friend, N.' I peer into the ice bucket. Nestled amidst the perfect cubes of ice is a single-serve tub of decadent chocolate ice cream. My chest warms, Nicolas's thoughtfulness delighting me. 
• "His kiss was nice, my double D's." Cyndi slaps my shoulder, the impact shaking my body. "That tongue tussle gave me a lady boner. The man lifted you off the ground. I got hot watching it."

I have my theories about who Friendly is, about how Nicolas and Hawke are tied, about who the envelope is from, BUT this isn't my story to tell. And I know well enough to leave it to the professional. And Cynthia is just that! A professional teller of these amazingly HOT HOT stories, and she is a wonderful friend. 

Sinful Rewards 4 releases October 14th
Add Sinful Rewards 4 to your TBR on Goodreads

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