Worth the Risk ( The Mckinney Brothers #2) by Claudia Connor

Worth the Risk by Claudia Connor

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Hannah Walker has a horrific past, a childhood trauma ruined any chance she thought she could have at a normal life. Raised by her very overprotective brothers, she wanted nothing more than to be her own independent person. But her trusting naïve nature cost her in the end. So now she lives a pretty quiet, reclusive life using horseback riding to help children with disabilities. No real social life to speak of except time spent with her brothers. She longs to be able to live a normal life of a twenty-something young woman but wouldn’t know where to start. Until one day a fateful meeting in a grocery store changes everything making her wonder if she can learn to take a risk.

"He hadn’t planned this, her. Hadn’t prepared. It was a risk. He was a risk. But she gripped his heart as sure as she gripped his body."

Stephen Mckinney is the ultimate millionaire playboy, after a horrible tragedy derailed his life he hit rock bottom. Jumping from woman to woman, never staying long enough to let them get attached. He was drinking to excess as he tried to drown his demons in sex and alcohol. He finally gets his life a bit on track, pouring himself into his business making million dollar real estate deals to mask his pain from the past. One day he runs into Hannah in a grocery store and he wants her. To his shock, she turns him down, this only intrigues him more. He becomes obsessed with earning her trust, but to what end he wonders? He’s not into relationships has no intention of falling in love again. Then why does he feel like if he loses her he won’t be able to go on? Can he risk his heart again or is it too much of a risk to take?

"All the strength and power of a savage fighter wrapped in a sophisticated package. That was Stephen."

This is book two in the McKinney Brothers’ series, but you don’t have to read book one to follow this story. This one was so good though that I had to read book one so I went and purchased it before I finished this book. I have to read Matt and Abby’s story. Stephen and Hannah were just wonderful. What a great couple, the romance was so sweet. The chemistry between these two characters just jumps off the page. He chases her and its magical once he catches her. They both come from big families so the family influence in their lives comes through right away. Hannah’s older brother Nick was especially interesting, jumping in to discourage Hannah of seeing Stephen. But our hot alpha male hero Stephen will have none of that, he wants to get to know Hannah and no one gets in the way of something he wants. Though frustrating for the characters at times I loved the closeness Hannah and Stephen share with their siblings.

Both of these people have had a terrible tragedy that threatened to break them each trying to survive in their own way. Little do they know they are destined to heal each others wounds. Hannah and Stephen are given a second chance. Both are afraid to let anyone close to trust anyone, risk their hearts to another. I really enjoyed this book I can’t say enough about it. My first book of Claudia Connor and certainly not my last. The whole story flowed nicely, following this couple as they bring light into each others darkness the more time they spend together. I was also fascinated by Hannah’s brothers and look forward to the author giving us their stories as well. Nick was so intense, his story will be a good one I am sure.

The whole book gave me a warm and fuzzy feel, really had me rooting for the characters to come together. The ending was perfect. I laughed, I cried, I would totally recommend this book for anyone who loves a great romance.

Received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.




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throb by Vi Keeland Blog Tour and Review and Giveaway! Yay!!!

Throb by Vi Keeland is LIVE!

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Excerpt

Every girl needs three things

 1.  A flutter in her belly when she meets him for the first time.

 Meet Cooper

 My lips brush the top of her hand lightly, my tongue sneaking out to fleetingly touch her skin.  The brief contact stirs an ache inside me.  This woman tugs at something—more than arousal—something that makes me want to slow down time just to spend a few more minutes standing here.

“Did you just…” she stammers a bit.

“Did I just what?”

She squints at me.  “You know.”

“Do I?”

“I felt your tongue on my hand.  You…you licked me.”

I’d been dying to run my tongue along her neck all evening, although I hadn’t really meant to be so crude about it.  It just sort of …happened.  “I wouldn’t say licked, maybe just a little taste.”

“So you tasted me?”

My entire body suddenly has interest in this conversation.  “I suppose I did.  But it wasn’t nearly enough.  That brings us back to my invitation for dinner.  Tomorrow night?”

“I can’t.”

“The day after then?”

She laughs and shakes her head.  The sound makes me smile.

“Good night, Cooper.”  She pulls the driver’s side door shut and leaves me standing there…for a full five minutes after she’s gone.

2.  A best friend to talk about him to.

 Meet Sadie

“And?”

“And I kissed him when we were in his office.”

“How was his office?”

“Really?  That’s what you want to know.  Not how was the kiss or aren’t you in breach of your contract?  How was his office?”

“You can tell a lot about a man by his office.”

I gulp another unladylike sip from my wine glass.  “His office was beautiful.  Sleek, overlooking the city.  It oozed power.”

“Nice.  Bet he fucks like he owns you.”

The thought of what he’s like in bed is enough to make me lose my train of thought.

“Go on,” Sadie prods.

I don’t continue immediately.

“You forgot what you were up to because you were thinking of him fucking you like he owns you, didn’t you?”  My best friend smirks knowingly.

“Shut up.”  I pause.  “Anyway, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“Well, him.  Obviously.”

“I wish it were that easy.”

3.  A gentleman that turns into a bossy dirty talker in the bedroom.

Cooper – behind closed doors.

 “You haven’t even begun to see bossy yet.  Tonight I’m going to tell you to do things, and you’re going to do them.  When I tell you to open wider, or take my cock deeper, you’re going to listen.  You know why?  Because since the moment we met, all I’ve wanted to do is make you feel good.  Hell, I don’t even need to get off physically.  Because I’m going to get off watching you every minute.  So, yeah, I’m going to be bossy.  Now let’s put the rest of this behind us.  Do you want to be with me tonight?”

After that prelude, I nod my head fast.  I’m no fool.  Who wouldn’t?

My Review: 5 stars 

Cooper is a no strings attached kind of guy, he’s all business and has no time for long term attachment’s. Until he sets his eyes on Kate, he immediately has a reaction to her that he never could have expected. 
Kate has priorities; she has responsibilities that no one can understand but her. She made a decision to go on a reality dating show and do her best to win the grand prize. Not for the love of a lifetime but for the love of her family, her mother and brother need her help the show is her only hope. She never planned to meet Mr. Right in the midst of being in the game. However, she did and now she has a choice to make can she push through and win the game while still keeping the man who has managed to steal her heart. Or will she lose it all. 
“If you love someone set them free” For me that was the theme of this book from the beginning. Cooper finds himself inexplicably falling for the beautiful Kate. She breaks all his rules; he wants her to stay in his bed in his arms every day and night. This is not his usual reaction to a woman. However, Kate is different and he senses that from their first witty banter during a friendly game of cards one night. Cooper starts out as a conceded, arrogant Alpha male type, being all bossy all the time. He takes what he wants, he doesn’t allow for fate or lucky. Kate on the other hand is the opposite, she believes in the luck of the draw. Kate manages to bring him to his knees makes him look at himself and his life in a completely new way. I loved their banter and their chemistry was great. The sex scenes were steamy, totally off the charts sexy. 

Flynn the rock star bachelor of the reality show threatens to come between Cooper and Kate but their love is too strong. Sadie, Katie’s best friend was the comic relief, she was a hoot for sure, and every girl needs a Sadie in her life. Miles, Cooper’s brother is a real jerk. I still found myself interested in his story, maybe another book. This is a great tale of love found, love lost and love found again, it flowed nicely and the characters were fun, real and likeable. Next up is a book for Flynn the heartbroken rocker I look forward to his story. This was the first book of Vi Keeland’s for me I have others I purchased in my e-reader I plan to read those soon. Definitely recommend this read you will truly enjoy it. 

Received and ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

About the Author:

Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn't change for the world. She is a bookworm and has been known to read her kindle at stop lights, while styling her hair, cleaning, walking, during sporting events, and frequently while pretending to work.  She is a boring attorney by day, and an exciting smut author by night!

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Rebel (Dead Man's Ink) by Callie Hart - Excerpt Reveal

Excerpt #2 

          “It’s time for you to tell me your name.” She arches an eyebrow at me. I can just imagine her getting them waxed in some fancy fucking boutique beauty parlor in Seattle, run by Asian hipsters with shaved undercuts and thick glasses. She seems like the type. “Why do you want to know?” she asks, cockiness filling her voice.

“I’m asking because I need something to call you. And if you don’t tell me your name, I’m going to be forced to call you One Eighty-One. And I’m guessing you won’t like being called One Eighty-One.”

“Why would you call me that?”

“Because that’s the reference Hector Ramirez gave you when you uploaded your picture onto his skin site. Hector tags his girls chronologically. The first girl he sold was number one. The fifty-third girl he sold was tagged fifty-three. Using that logic, guess how many girls he sold before he tagged you one eight one?”

“So a hundred and eighty other women came before me?” She looks like she’s going to throw up.

“Exactly. And he hasn’t been caught. The police haven’t raided his place out there in the desert. No one has reported his website. No one came to rescue the one hundred and eighty other girls who came before you, and no one is coming for you, either. So if you want reminding of that every single time I call you one eight—“

 “Sophia!” She screws her eyes shut, clenching her jaw. “My name is fucking Sophia, motherfucker.” She spits out the words like they’re poison. When she looks at me again, I can see the fury burning in the dark depths of her dark brown eyes. She comes alive when she’s angry. A thrill of adrenalin stabs through me, sending mixed signals to my cock; provoking such a violent reaction from her is provoking an entirely different reaction from me. For the first time, I see her. Fucking Sophia. I don’t see her as a means to an end—a potential way to take down the bastard who killed my uncle. I see her. I see her as a woman, and she is beautiful.

“Alright, Sophia. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

COMING SOON

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1K9L8Fm

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RELEASE DATE: February 9th

Rebel and Sophia's story.

The first of a three part series. This novel contains a small snippet which has already been released in the Owned: An Alpha Anthology, however it is followed by a full story installment.

Sophia

Sometimes, you don't mean to become another person. Sometimes the choice is made for you, and pretending is the only thing that keeps you going. When Alexis Romera is taken and her kidnappers find her fake ID in her purse, she must become Sophia in order to keep her family safe. Revealing her real identity to the man she's sold to would be easy enough, but can she trust him? Hell bent on revenging the murder of his uncle, Rebel doesn't seem all that interested in playing things safe.

In fact, nothing about the secretive, dark and brooding MC president seems safe at all.

Rebel

What do you do when the man who raised you is murdered, and the only witness is kidnapped girl who's being sold as a sex slave? You buy her, of course. As president to the most powerful motorcycle club in America, Rebel isn't lacking in power. There are strings the man can pull, and entire criminal organisations and corporate businesses alike would fall to their knees. However, along with such power comes intense interest. The DEA have their eye fixed solely on the MC...and they're just waiting for Rebel to trip up.

Getting Sophia to testify is the only way to bring the Los Oscuros cartel down. The beautiful, dark haired, dark eyed woman is belligerent and uncooperative and unlikely to bend to his will, but Rebel has a few tricks up his sleeve to make her compliant--he'll charm her until she's bending over backwards to please him.

Of course, falling for her might cause a few hiccups along the way...

About the Author:

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.

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