Thursday, April 16, 2015

Emerged (The Life of Anna #5) by Marissa Honeycutt

Emerged (The Life of Anna #5)Emerged by Marissa Honeycutt

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Anna is free, finally free from the evil clutches of Devin Andersen. Thanks to her friends and Willem she is able to begin life anew in New York City. She is dancing and dating, just living. However, dreams of her beloved husband Alex still haunt her. Can Anna move on with her life and let Alex go? Or is there bond too strong to deny? Will she be able to hide from Devin forever, or will he find her and surely make her suffer for her disobedience?

My Review:

It is with a heavy heart that I review this last installment of The Life of Anna. I finished it a bit ago, but have sort of avoided doing my review because it saddens me to say goodbye to this amazing series.

In this final book, Anna has escaped Devin and is living a new life in New York City. Confusion still plagues Anna; she does not know how to live a normal life. Is she a slave? Is she an Elder Mistress? Or is she just a woman? As Anna struggles to acclimate herself to life without Devin’s control, we learn so many new things about her. Anna turns out to be much stronger than we could ever have thought possible. I love when she shows her angry side and we see it quite a few times, god help the person who gets in her way when she’s angry.

Marissa still gives us a dark tale at times, but this last book also ties up Anna’s relationships with the other characters. Like Willem and Kurt, Kurt acts like a jerk to Anna for most of the book and it pained me as much as her when he did. He is not acting like the Kurt we have grown to love, it turned out in the end there was a reason for it all. In the epilogue, Kurt gets his own happy ending, which was nice. Anna and Aaron come to an understanding about their friendship that was heartwarming. Anna makes new friends like Hugo, whom she has a relationship with but he is not her soulmate. I loved Stefanie, she starts not liking Anna but in the end, she becomes one of Anna’s fierce protectors.

Throughout the series, there were very difficult times for Anna but she persevered and managed to find her way in a messed up world. I was ecstatic when my beloved Alex came back; I thought the way Marissa brought him back was perfect. He later explained why he was gone of course; we all knew Devin was behind it. Once Alex returns Anna, has so many mixed emotions and who could blame her she thought he was dead. The fact that this man once so confident in himself and his abilities is reduced to an insecure mess was so sad to read yet necessary. He needed Anna to choose him because she wanted him not because he forced her to as her master. He loved her too much. To me that was the beauty of this love story. He was willing to let her go as much as he loved her if it meant she would be happy. That is love! No matter how much darkness, violence and gruesome moments were in this series for me in the end it was a love story between Anna and Alex. Soulmates who could not be kept apart through all the separations and bad circumstances that happened to them in the end it was their love that prevailed.

Though this installment was not as dark as the other’s it still had its moments. Alex gets his revenge on Devin in a big way, that scene you just have to read to believe. So good.
This series is not for everyone, some of it is very graphic as stated in the warning that comes with each book. For me none of the violence was gratuitous all of it was storyline driven leading up to a great happily ever after though a difficult one to get to. But as promised we got it, great job Marissa.



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** Cover Reveal ** The Love Series Complete Box Set by Melissa Collins - Special Release Week Price .99cents





There was a group playing quarters on the island and another group lining up shots on the breakfast bar – so not my scene. I just shrugged my shoulders, opened the door, pulled out a bottle of water and, when I turned around to walk back outside, I face-planted into a wall of solid muscle.

“Hand me one?” His voice was smooth and... gruff at the same time. Red-faced, I turned back around and got him his water, glad for the cool respite that the opened refrigerator door offered.
“Here you go.” I could not peel my eyes away from his mouth as he moved the bottle to his lips. They were perfect - beautiful and full in a completely masculine way. I watched, completely fascinated, as his throat moved, downing the water in three or four large gulps. He wiped his mouth with his forearm and I couldn’t help but let my eyes travel up the rest of his arm to his biceps and shoulders – those were the same as his lips – perfect. Amazingly, gorgeously, utterly, divinely perfect. Muscled and tanned, his arms were mouthwatering.

My knees wobbled. My heart thudded. Thousands of butterflies spread their wings in my belly.
“Thanks…” he stared blankly at my face for a minute and I couldn't help but wondering if he liked what he saw. He cleared his throat and roused me from my little daydream where the gorgeous boy is mesmerized by the maybe-a-little-above-average looking girl. That’s when I realized he was asking for my name.
“Maddy. Sorry, my name’s Maddy." I nearly choked on my tongue to get my freaking name out.


***SPECIAL RELEASE WEEK PRICE OF 99 CENTS*** The entire series is together for a limited time. This box set includes the complete Love Series - Let Love In, Let Love Stay, Let Love Heal, Let Love Shine, Let Love Be, and Let Love Live. From New Adult to M/m Contemporary Romance, there's something in here for everyone. Laugh, cry, and fall in love with the couples of this bestselling series.



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Melissa Collins has always been a book worm. Studying Literature in college ensured that her nose was always stuck in a book. She followed her passion for reading to the most logical career choice: English teacher. Her hope was to share her passion for reading and the escapism of books to her students. Having spent more than a decade in front of a classroom, she can easily say that it’s been a dream. 
Her passion for writing didn’t start until more recently. When she was home on maternity leave in early 2012, she read her first romance novel and her head filled with the passion, angst and laughter of the characters who she read about it. It wasn’t long before characters of her own took shape in her mind. Their lives took over Melissa’s brain and The Love Series was born. 


Closer by Kaia Bennett - Book Tour - Excerpt and Book Play List

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Closer
Publication Date: March 31, 2015

Closer cover

Synopsis:

After a whirlwind week of hot sex and growing affection, Nicole and Gabriel were forced to part ways and to return to real life. For a while they danced around each other, meeting up when they could, the distance between them rivaled only by their desire to be together again.
Now these lovers are no longer star-crossed. They’re in the same city at the same time and can finally indulge their insatiable passion. At least until Gabriel’s increasingly popular band goes on tour.

But the ticking clock of his budding music career isn’t the only obstacle to contend with. A blast from Gabriel’s wild past, a guy that kept Nicole warm in Gabriel’s absence, and fear of what the future holds all converge just as they’ve begun to realize this might be love…

Author's Note: This book contains strong language and sexual content with dark elements, some of which readers may find uncomfortable.


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Other Books in the Loose Ends Series...

#1 Crush Cover

#1 Crush
Publication Date: December 1, 2014
Synopsis: Nicole Langley’s #1 Crush has always been Gabriel Roberts, but settling for being a friendly acquaintance has had to be enough.
Gabriel has always seen Nicole as his good friend’s very pretty, but extremely off limits baby sister.

Then a hot summer day and an even hotter discovery pushes them over the lines of friendship, over the lines of unrequited desire, and into each other's arms.

Will they indulge and move on? Or will this crush turn into something more, something deeper? Something that leaves loose ends begging to be tied…

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CLOSER by Kaia Bennett




“Wow,” Gabriel said, standing in Nicole’s doorway, feeling two-thirds dumbstruck and one-third pissed. “What… are you wearing?”

Nicole’s hip swayed to the side and she placed a hand on it, staring up at him with enough attitude to rival Jackie’s. “It’s called a dress, Gabriel. Girls usually wear them to parties like the one we’re going to.”

“I know what a dress is, little girl,” he practically growled, his eyes roving over her body lasciviously. “But where’s the rest of yours?”

She came closer to him, tilting her face up to place a teasing kiss on his lips.

“I’ll take that as a compliment. I think,” she said with a laugh.

“Oh, it was meant to be.” He chuckled and pulled her in for a longer kiss. She smacked him on the shoulder and pulled away, swiping at her smudged lipstick before turning to grab her coat.

Seeing the dress from the back literally made his jaw slacken and his mind roar, Oh, hell-fucking-no!

In truth, he may have been overreacting. Nicole looked great. Sexy as hell.

The dress was a champagne color with a slight shimmer to the material, the thin spaghetti straps caressing her creamy brown shoulders and bringing out the glow of her skin. It barely fell to mid-thigh, and those long, toned legs were even longer in the light gold heels she was wearing. The front of the dress could be considered modest despite the fact that it hugged her full breasts, the sharp indent of her waist, and the full curves of her hips.

It was the first time since seeing her dressed for work that he realized just how far from the sweet little college girl she’d come. She was womanly and sexy one minute, cute the next, and he figured she would always flit seamlessly back and forth between those opposite poles. These days he was seeing more and more of the sexy side, the self-assured, confident and relaxed woman she was becoming. Might have something to do with him finally being in one place long enough to witness more than just her orgasms. Might have something to do with him finally saying he wanted to be with only her. But he liked it, and he liked the parallels between how she navigated the world and how she submitted to him in bed. He liked watching her toy with her own sex appeal. She was his girl now and he would reap the benefits of her transformation. And if not for the fact there was a cab waiting for them downstairs she’d be working on the hard-on growing in his jeans.

He wasn’t the only one that appreciated her new look. All he needed to do was catch the glances of strangers on the street, and the look on Nuke’s face as they hopped into the cab to see he had more self-control than he realized.

Lucky for him he wasn’t some slouch in the looks department and it was clear they were a couple when he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. Seeing their reflection in the window of the cab made him realize they really were a good-looking couple. But she was definitely his better half, with her hair blow dried straight and falling past her shoulders, her pretty face sporting minimal make up, and her outrageous curves poured into that soft shimmering dress.

He’d opted to keep it dressy-casual and was wearing a black velvety suit jacket over a white shirt. He’d chosen his favorite pair of worn, light blue jeans, and black boots to complete the outfit. The front of his shirt was tucked into his jeans, leaving just the silver buckle of his belt visible. Jewelry was just the necklace he wore most of the time now, the black cord and silver pendant that sat in the hollow of his throat.

It wasn’t a long ride to get to the party and the other guys were already there waiting inside. The look on their faces when Nicole took off her jacket and gave them all hugs made him both proud and possessive. Much as he loved her new look, he really didn’t want to get into any fights tonight. He was going to have to stay close to her if his friends were trying this hard not to stare at his woman’s ass.

He laughed to himself. His woman. He was becoming such a caveman. Being in a relationship again after spending so long avoiding one took some getting used to.

The party was already jumping. There were strobe lights, DJs, hired dancers perched all around, silver and gold spiraling decorations lining the ceiling. The place was packed with other artists from the label, execs, and guests who were willing to pay to get in. Beside him Nicole laughed in awe and he couldn’t help but join her, thinking he couldn’t have picked a better time to be a musician on the rise. It was definitely more than he’d ever expected an indie label to spring for, and it only took a couple of minutes for the guys to come to a consensus that they were going to stay for a while and, as they put it, start prowling for “model bitches”. That made Nicole laugh and look up at Gabriel.

“Don’t feel like joining the hunt, babe?” she said with a half-smile.

“I don’t know what you mean, miss. I have a girlfriend.”

“Oh, really,” she said, tilting her head to the side. “What’s she look like? She cute?”

Gabriel smiled down at her, pulling her towards him so he could stroke the soft skin of her back. “She’s smoking hot. Perfect curves. Perfect brown skin.” He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “And the sweetest pussy I’ve tasted. She’s got me hard just thinking about her.” He laughed at the way she clutched his sleeve and her breath came out hot against his neck. Well, at least he wasn’t the only one suffering now.

“Careful, Gabe,” she whispered back. “Keep talking like that and you’re gonna get me all wet, and that could be awkward.” She nibbled on his earlobe, adding, “Especially since I didn’t wear panties tonight,” before turning on those spiked heels and walking away.

Gabriel tripped over someone’s shoe walking after her as she made her way to the bar. He was staring after Nicole’s ass as it swayed underneath that little champagne-colored dress. When she turned and looked over her shoulder at him, as if to say, “Are you coming, or what?” he wanted to make her pay for teasing him so mercilessly. The night had only just begun, and he was already counting the hours and trying to figure out if there was a place around here where two people could be alone. This was shaping up to be a painful, blue balls kind of affair.

He made a silent vow to wear her out later tonight and joined her at the bar.

They danced. They met other artists. They got tipsy. It should have made him more chill, since he was a pretty happy drunk. But watching her dance, feeling her smooth ass rub against his raging hard-on and knowing all the while she wasn’t wearing anything underneath her dress, drove him crazy.

His mood also wasn’t helped by his catching glimpses of Meredith Rowe in the crowd. She stayed away, but every so often he would look up and see those Husky-blue eyes trained on him and Nicole. He thought he saw a little smile cross her lips, and then she faded into the crowd.

Nicole was relieved and pissed when they finally left the Phantom Records party and headed over to Kiki’s. She’d seen Meredith once or twice in the crowd and noticed Gabe had been watching her. She also noticed the knowing smile on the cool blonde’s lips. Not that Gabe’s gaze had been the lustful kind. It was almost hostile and wary. But still, Meredith had caught his attention towards the end of the night and she hated how that made her feel. Vulnerable and out of the loop. Meredith was the constant reminder that Gabe had been just fine being free to roam and there was nothing to say he might not return to that life. So when they finally made it over to Kiki’s, Nicole was determined to show, in her slightly illogical and drunken way, that she wasn’t in the mood for this mysterious-musician-with-a-secret bullshit. She was the girl who should have all of his attention, finally.

She decided ignoring him and toying with his emotions for a change might be fun. Every time he tried to dance with her, she didn’t feel like it. Every time he went to go get a drink, he found her talking to some dude. He actually resembled the Terminator a few times, staring down guys until they retreated, but all she said when he asked her about what was up was, “What? Is something wrong?”

This was so unlike her. She knew she was being immature, but part of her was tired of being the go-along-to-get-along girl, the one who was content not to see. She was scared. Another year was fast approaching and for the first time ever she could look forward to spending it with him. Instead she was scared the past was already catching up. What if he decided girls like Meredith were what he wanted after all?

So she toyed with the new role she’d decided to play tonight. She became the seductress, the benevolent mistress that allowed Gabriel to be her own personal cabana boy. She became distant but playful. He got the drinks and looked pretty. It was strange for her to flex her power over him in such a trivial way, in a way that was sure to make him jealous. But she wanted to try. She wanted him to feel for a second what she felt every time she imagined his former life with women like Marta and Meredith.

He didn’t look pleased. A couple of times, she actually saw his eyes narrow and his jaw clench. That’s when she decided to stop. She’d talk with him about Meredith later. She just needed to figure out how to do it without coming off as clingy. Bit early in the game to start sabotaging such a good thing.

Midnight approached. Nicole was talking to Chase and Trish when Gabe came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. She immediately sank into his embrace, swaying with him and reveling in the feel of this showing of public affection.

“Hey, I’m just gonna borrow her for a second,” he said to Trish and Chase.

Before she could protest, she found herself being led through the crowded apartment. People were making out in the hallway, by the kitchen. He led her past all of them towards the bedroom at the end of the hall.

“What are we doing back here—”

She didn’t have time to finish the sentence before she was practically tossed into the bedroom where all the guests’ coats were kept. “What the fuck, Gabriel?! You trying to twist my ankle?”
Gabriel closed the door and locked it.

His expression was one she hadn’t seen before as he came toward her and demanded, “What’s wrong with you? Huh? What’s with all the attitude?”

She put her hands on her hips and gave him a cold stare. “Why don’t you ask Meredith Rowe what’s wrong with me?”

Gabriel’s brow furrowed, but he was silent.

“Nothing to say about her, huh? Why is that, exactly?” Nicole pushed.

Gabriel shrugged his shoulders. “Because there’s nothing to say about her.”

“Then why is it every time she’s in the room your eyes are glued to her? Why is she always staring back?”

“That’s not—”

“Did you fuck her?” Nicole asked. Her voice was quiet, but her gaze was steady. So much for playing it cool and broaching the subject later.

Gabe inhaled deeply. “Yeah, a while ago. But I don’t even see her that way anymore. It’s ancient history.”
She exhaled slowly, relieved if not entirely relaxed. “Then why couldn’t you just say that? Why did you feel like you needed to hide it if she doesn’t mean anything to you?”

Gabriel looked away and the unease settled over her again. What could be worse than admitting they’d had sex? What else could there be to say that would explain why he’d kept it from her? Honesty had always been their best policy, the glue that kept their strange arrangement intact before they’d committed to each other. His hesitation made her nervous.

He smirked and came closer still. “You remember your buddy, Travis? Remember how easy it was for you to tell me about him? Well, as awkward as that was for you, it was rough for me, too. How do you feel now that you know about Meredith?”

Like shit, she thought.

To him she said, “Trying to spare my feelings doesn’t change the fact she’s around. She’s going on tour with you. And if you really don’t want things to be rough for me, then don’t keep me in the dark. We’re supposed to be honest with each other—”

“Like you were being all night when you were ignoring me and playing stupid fucking games?” he countered, advancing quickly.

“Just giving you a taste of your own medicine,” she threw back. But her voice wasn’t exactly assertive, nor were her tentative steps backwards. Why was she so nervous? She wasn’t afraid of Gabriel. This was her Gabriel. Sweet, a little kinky. But he wouldn’t hurt a fly…

“You know what, sweetheart? You’re right.” He closed the distance between them in half a step and she found her ass pressed up against a dresser, her eyes darting over him as he slipped off his jacket. “Maybe you should let me return the favor,” he said with a little smile.

“What?” she murmured.

“You’ve been teasing the fuck out of me, little girl.” He calmly unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. “So, let’s see if you like it when I tease you back.”

Her legs began to tremble. She started to speak.

“Lift up your dress,” he ordered, unbuckling his belt.

“Do you know many people are out there?”

“Do I look like I give a fuck about anyone else but you right now?” Nicole’s jaw dropped. “You spent all night teasing me about not wearing anything under that dress. You were punishing me because you thought I had my eyes on someone else. Now you know better.”

Her thighs clenched and she felt the dampening inner lips of her pussy moving easily against each other. Fuck. She probably should have gotten a less hot boyfriend if she was going to go without panties. His eyes roved hungrily over her body. He was mad, and a little tipsy, but he was so turned on. He only had eyes for her and he was proving it.

“Lift the dress, Nicole.”

The dominance in his nature was familiar. But this sinister edge was something new. She reached down, her fingers shaking as they slid the hem of her dress up her thighs. She lifted it slowly, bringing it up so her bare pussy was visible, but cast in shadow.

“Higher,” he ordered.

He licked his lips, his eyes trained on what he said he’d been imagining all night. The hem came up to her belly button. Her thighs moved smooth and slick against each other, the need for friction and embarrassment mingling.

He motioned with his finger for her to lift the dress higher. She did as he commanded, finally revealing her body from her naked breasts on down. He ran his hands over bare skin, but just the tips of fingers, his strokes were so feather-light it was more torture than pleasure.


He leaned in and nipped her lower lip hard, harder than he ever had, before swiping his tongue across it. “You ready to get fucked?”

About Kaia Bennett

Kaia Bennett

Kaia Bennett is a native of New Jersey, a college graduate and U.S. Army veteran who loves music, movies, astrology, tattoos, martial arts, animals and, of course, the written word. She heard the siren call of the writer as a teenage girl, but took her sweet time answering it until she had lived and loved enough to share her work with the masses.

She is an erotic author who loves to write stories with diversity, depth, realism and viscerally hot encounters that flirt shamelessly with the taboo. A lover of all genres and a voracious reader, she aims to write stories that are transformative for her characters and readers alike.


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Check out the book Play List on Spotify I am a huge fan of playlists this is a great one.

PLAYLIST - CLOSER by Kaia Bennett


**Release Day Blitz** Fighting Envy by Jennifer Miller




Some people get a tattoo - a piece of art that
enhances or reveals something about them that they like. Other people, like me,
are branded by something - actions or words. "No one will ever love you,
Rowan, you're not worthy." Those are the words that created my blemish, my
scar, my mark upon my soul. They were words whispered by the woman who should
have loved me most. But in the darkest moment of my life, one where I stood
abandoned and alone, one man proved to me that she was wrong. 




When I desperately needed someone, MMA fighter
Jackson Stone crashed into my life. He wasn't the one who should have been
there, but he was exactly the person I needed He believed that only fools live
in the past. He showed me that a real relationship is full of dreams, faith,
trust and passion. He taught me that love is worth fighting for - even when
it's unexpected and more of a collision of hearts and souls. He proved that the
wrong man at the right moment can heal everything.









He hands me a paper and a
pen from his desk and surprises me when he takes Lily from me. “Hi sweet girl,
wanna play in your bouncer while I go through an order? Do you?” His baby talk
is adorable. “Are you sure you want to keep her in here? I can bring her and
her bouncer with me.” “She’s fine.” He kisses me on my cheek and walks to her
seat to buckle her in. He keeps smiling and talking to her the whole time and
my heart lurches. I love him. I am in love with this man. The thought hits me
like a freight train, but it makes complete sense. He has completely taken over
my heart and clearly that of my daughters given the way she’s taken to him. She
greets him with squeals when he comes over and reaches for him to hold her.
Standing there with the realization that I’m in love makes me immobile.




Author Jennifer Miller was born and raised in Chicago,
Illinois but now calls Arizona home.  Her
love of reading began when she was a small child, and only continued to grow as
she entered adulthood.  Ever since
winning a writing contest at the young age of nine, when she wrote a book about
a girl with a pet unicorn, she’s dreamed of writing a book of her own.  The important lesson she learned about dreams
is that they don’t just fall into your lap – you have to chase them
yourself.  Most importantly, she is a
wife and mother, and is very lucky to have a family that loves and supports her
in all things.  She also has an unhealthy
addiction to handbags and chocolate covered strawberries, neither of which she
cares to work on.  For more information
about Jennifer Miller, please visit www.jennifermillerwrites.com



Sign up for my newsletter – http://goo.gl/JNRarR
Amazon Author page - http://amzn.to/1DzbfUH















Other books by
Jennifer Miller

Pretty Little Lies

Pretty Little
Dreams

Pretty Little Vows – A Novella

Perfect Little Plan

Whispering Wishes









The Naughty List by M.C. Cerny - Blog Tour



Title: The Naughty List 
Author: M.C. CERNY
Genre :Romantic Comedy







Because everyone wants to be naughty, at least once…  

Carla Monroe, matchmaking momma and regular busy body is about to play cupid once again. This time she’s about to tackle her wild daughter with an unlikely match… The competition.

Priscilla Monroe is brash and impulsive… A freaking pain in the ass, if you ask her brother. She hasn’t found a man yet who can keep pace with her and has designed an impossible set of requirements for Mr. Right….

Rand Knights is pure alpha, with confidence and pheromones so strong, you might want to bottle that shit up for a lonely night. He thought Pris would be the perfect one night stand and dig at his competition until he got wrapped up in her killer legs. Now he’s more interested in getting to know the feisty, head strong and foul mouthed woman who makes his life impossibly perfect.
 










M.C. Cerny first fell in love with books after experiencing her first real ugly cry reading, Where The Red Fern Grows. Her debut romantic suspense novel, Flashpoint was written in a series of post-it-note ramblings that would likely make her idol Tom Clancy blush. She is a post graduate of NYU, working fulltime, and calls rural NJ home with her menagerie of human and feline fur-babies. When M.C. is not writing, you’ll find her lurking in Starbucks, running marathons, singing Disney show tunes, and searching out the perfect shade of pink nail polish.



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