ARC Review: Lie to You (Forbidden Trilogy #2) by J.C. Valentine

Lie to You by J.C. Valentine

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Josephine makes a choice, but was it the right one?

When last we left Josephine, she just found out, she had been sleeping with twin brothers. Alike in looks, but very different in personality. Which is why she didn’t notice it wasn’t the same man she was with, really come one who would.

Josephine battled in the first book in her mind trying to rationalize her mystery man’s mood swings. Boy did she find out the answers to those questions in a major way. Ransom and Rebel do not have a bond, as you would expect most twins to have. These brothers seem to compete for everything.

Ransom seems the more gentleman type, romantic and loving. While Rebel is the hardcore I take what I want type of guy, rough around the edges. Josephine had a tough choice ahead of her and I have to say that in the beginning of this book I wasn’t sure I was happy with the direction J.C. Valentine was going in so I took a break from it. I jumped back in over this weekend feet first and I am so glad I did. I found out something about myself when I have a lot of stress going on in life don’t read a book because my mind was not into it.

The first book surprised me at every turn this second book was no exception. I love the character of Josephine at times she does make me want to smack her upside the head. However, as I have said before when a character has me reacting in such an emotional way it’s because the character is so well written. My heart broke for Josephine when her friendship with her best friend Annie started to unravel. I do not envy this girl's life at all.

Rebel is your typical hot alpha male bad boy. He exudes confidence and arrogance telling Josephine what he wants her to do rather than asking. Always taking what he wants without remorse, like Josephine I found myself both hating and loving Rebel. When he begins to let Josephine in their relationship seemed so easy and fun. Their sex scenes were scorching.

Ransom I am not so sure about, he seems like a stand up guy you think he has the best of intentions when it comes to Josephine but I don’t know I feel like there is something about him that isn’t right. He seems too perfect.

We will see in the conclusion, what the author has planned for these great characters. Falling for Him the third book in the trilogy will be out in August and I am so looking forward to reading it. The cliffhanger in this one had me screaming “No he didn’t!!” and No she didn’t!!”

RECEIVED AN ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW




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Release Blitz: BRAVE ONI FIGHTERS BOOK ONE by NATALIE GAYLE

Title: Brave

Series: Oni Fighters #1

Author: Natalie Gayle

 Release Date: July 10, 2015

Praise for Brave

"If I could give Brave more than five stars I would. It deserves so many more than that. It has become my number one book of 2015 and one that will stay with me for a very long time to come."
  Angela—Books and Friendz Blog

“This book has a lot of heart and so many emotional moments!! I totally fell for Xander, I mean how can you not?? Great
great book, you’d be crazy not to one click this!!!”  Melissa—Apha Book Club

“This book contains it all! There are swoon-worthy moments, witty moments, steamy moments, and tearful moments that all come together to make this one fabulous read." Paige Smith—Hooked on
Books Blog

 

Blurb

A moment in time, that’s all it took. Beauty, pain and tragedy.

Xander “Pretty Boy” Todd was a demon in the ring. A professional MMA fighter with a career that had the world a buzz—but now it’s gone. Or is it?

Eden Sommers had her dreams of an international modelling career within her grasp—and lost it. Gone within a few seconds, leaving nothing but pain.

How do you go on, when the one thing that defines you is suddenly ripped away—only to leave scars and a hollow shell in its place? Has the beauty gone forever? Or has it just retreated—to now be hidden, and dormant; guarded by the inner demons?

Can these two wounded souls find the inner strength to fight back the demons together and find the beauty in their lives once again?

To do this, they must first accept—The hardest demons to defeat are the ones inside. They’ll have to be BRAVE.

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Excerpt

Fear struck through me. I hated the conversation directed to me, particularly when there were strangers involved. I could have cursed Tori. She knew better than to put me on the spot like this. I could just see her smirking face across the table from underneath my lashes as my throat started to constrict.

“You’re more than welcome to come along and watch. I encourage people to come along and see for themselves what it’s all about.” Oh, there was that voice again.

I was torn. I didn’t want to look up. I didn’t want to see the embarrassment and the man with the beautiful voice looking uncomfortable when he realised what my face looked like.

Surely there was a limit to the torture?

Manners, fear, self-consciousness all warred within me.

The silence around me was deafening. I could tell they were all waiting. I could feel three sets of eyes on me watching and wondering if I was actually going to respond. Finally I took a deep breath. What did it matter if he rejected me? It had happened before, and it would happen again. I could do this. It would hurt, but I was no stranger to pain, both physical and emotional.

Very slowly I raised my chin and turned just slightly towards him. I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t because my throat was closed in fear and uncertainty.

The first thing I noticed was the dark jeans that hung on narrow hips, then a white T-shirt that emphasised his flat belly and defined pecs. Bravely, I raised my eyes a little higher and the pecs ran into a set of wide shoulders. There was a hint of a tattoo peeking out from under one of his short sleeves. It only made his bicep look more delicious and enticing.

I took one final harsh intake of air and allowed my eyes to complete their journey. They travelled up and up the column of his corded neck to his wide angular jaw.

His full lips were slightly turned up in what looked like a half smile or was it amusement? I could only image how it would look once the shock registered when he saw my face.

Above those lips, that looked far too sensual for any man, was a long straight nose with a hint of a flare to the nostrils. The knot in my stomach tightened even further as I finally tilted my head back far enough so my eyes could meet his.

Every muscle in my body was tensed waiting for the shock, horror and embarrassment I was about to see, once my scars registered with his brain. It was an involuntary reaction I realised. Nobody could hide it, no matter how hard they tried. It was just the shock and surprise. I don’t blame them for their reactions, it just hurt that was all.

I raised my eyelids that final few millimetres and forced my eyes to focus on his. Right then and there the world stopped spinning for me. Time halted. My sisters faded into the background and I looked into the eyes of one of the most compelling people I had ever seen. Oh, he was handsome, but he was so much more.

But that was not what had me struck dumb—nope that wasn’t it.

It was his eyes—those bottomless pools of default onyx. I did a mental double take. For eyes so dark they should have appeared cold and icy.

But they didn’t—they weren’t cold at all. They were warm and rich. Right then was the first time I could recall in the last five years, a stranger looking at me with warmth in their eyes. Not shock, not pity, not embarrassment. It was warmth.

The shock paralysed me. I didn’t know what to do or how to act. My brain was shorting out. Nothing made sense. Somewhere in the back of my mind I registered my leg being kicked under the table, but even that didn’t break through my connection with those eyes. I wanted to swim in them, wrap myself in their warmth and burrow down tight.

I have no idea how much time passed.

Finally, he thrust his hand forward to me and without conscious thought, I placed my hand in his to shake. What happened next shocked me even more.

He lent across the table and pulled me into a loose hug and brushed his lips against my left cheek.

My brain was fried and my nerves were all misfiring. Nothing made sense. I was so far out of my comfort zone.

He pulled back slowly and gave me a smile that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

Then he spoke and his words seemed to swirl around me in a caress.

“Hi Eden. I’m Xander Todd.” Suddenly, I realised I had no box to categorise him into.

Author Bio

A confessed readaholic and romantic junkie, Natalie spends her time juggling a busy career as an IT professional and author. In between staring at a computer screen (she spends lot time doing that!) Natalie, enjoys living the Gold Coast life with her very tolerant husband and two school aged children.

She loves spending time with family and friends, hitting the beach, cooking, working out and curling up with a good book. Her pet hates are cleaning and anything else that can be considered “domestic dullness”. If she could have one wish it would be to be able to fit 48 hours into 24.

Natalie is the author of the Centre Games Series. A fast paced, romantic suspense series set on the Gold Coast, Australia. The series tells the stories of the Centre, a quasi government agency established to fight environmental, biological and agricultural threats. The Centre Games books are filled with hot alpha males and the feisty independent females strong enough to capture their hearts. Natalie’s books pack lots of action, hot romance and surprises.

Natalie is currently working on her fifth instalment for the Centre Games Series and a brand new series for 2015. Look out for her new release BRAVE, coming very soon and a couple of surprise projects.

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Book Tour: Fighting Shadows by Aly Martinez

Flint’s highly anticipated emotional story  is FINALLY here!  

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**Each book in the series can be read as a standalone**

Blurb

I come from a family of fighters. I always thought I’d follow in their shadows, becoming unstoppable in the ring. That changed the day I saved the life of a woman I loved, but could never have.

 My brother hailed me as a hero, and my reward was a wheelchair.

 Paralyzed, my life became an inescapable nightmare.

 Until I met her.

 Ash Mabie had a heart-stopping smile and a laugh that numbed the rage and resentment brewing inside of me. She showed me that even the darkest night still had stars, and it didn’t matter one bit that you had to lie in the weeds to see them.

 I was a jaded asshole who fell for a girl with a knack for running away. I couldn’t even walk but I would have spent a lifetime chasing her.

 Now, I’m on the ropes during the toughest battles of my life.

Fighting the shadows of our past.

Fighting to reclaim my future.

Fighting for her. 

Flint and Ash Excerpt

     “Hey, Flint? What time is it?” Quarry asked.

     Ash’s smile actually slipped completely. For the briefest of seconds, she appeared almost ashamed.

     I dragged my eyes away from her in order to answer his question, but as I looked at my wrist, I had no answer at all.

     “Here,” she said as she pulled my watch from her pocket. 

     What. The. Fuck?

     Quarry howled with laughter, and Ash chewed on her bottom lip.

     “Explain,” I demanded, wrapping my watch back around my wrist and shoving my wallet in the front pocket of my hoodie.

     Quarry filled in the blank. “She’s a pickpocket, dude. You should have seen her when she fell on your lap. It was so fucking fast. She straight-up stole that shit from you, and you had no fucking clue.”

     “I didn’t steal it! I was gonna give it back,” she amended uncomfortably. “It was just a joke.”

     A joke.

     A. Fucking. Joke.

  And just like that, I remembered why I didn’t laugh anymore.

     “Was it funny? Stealing from the cripple? You get a good laugh out of that?” I snapped, spinning and rolling myself away. “You know, maybe my judgment of you wasn’t all that off to begin with. Like father, like daughter, I guess.” It was a low blow, but I felt completely betrayed by a woman I didn’t even know.

     “Flint, wait. I wasn’t picking on the cripple!”

     I fully realized that I had just used the term, but it enraged me that she’d had the audacity to repeat it back to me. Who the hell was this chick? I pushed a hand into my pocket, searching for my keys. Fuck the food. I’d leave her ass there. Hell, Quarry too, if he didn’t get his ass to the car.

     “Get in the car, Q!” I yelled, only to close my eyes and drop my chin to my chest when my hand never made contact on the keys. “Son of a bitch,” I said as I spun back around.

     Quarry was laughing next to her, but Ash’s cheeks were bright red.

     “Keys.” I snapped my fingers and opened my hand, palm up.

     “Stop being a dick,” Quarry said, casually tossing an arm around Ash’s shoulders.

     She didn’t budge as she held my glare.

     “Keys,” I repeated, but she remained still.

     “It was a joke.” Her chin began to quiver.

     For fuck’s sake, I wasn’t in any kind of mood to deal with bullshit from some girl I didn’t even know and was quickly discovering I didn’t care to know, either.

     Quarry’s eyes grew wide as she turned to him and buried her cries in his chest.

     What the fuck, asshole! Q signed before rubbing his hands over her back.

Her shoulders shook as she let out a loud sob that shocked us both.

     “Come on. Let’s sit down.” Q tried to guide her over to an empty table.

     Ash refused to look up and tripped over one of the chairs.

     “Shit,” Q said, catching her around the waist.

     I was just about to roll my eyes when she glanced my way. He was still trying to get her back on her feet and over to a table when her tear-free, bright-blue eyes pointedly glanced in my direction. My head snapped back in surprise, but a smile grew on her face.

     Ash was about to put on a show, and with that one look, she had invited me to have a front-row seat.

     As she floundered all over Quarry, her hands slid between his pockets and her own. Every noise she made and each time she flailed covered up a jarring movement. She was keeping his mind too busy for it to process all the places she was touching him. Hell, I was only watching her and I could barely keep up. 

     There was no denying that it was entertaining, but I wasn’t willing to show her that. However, as she accidentally lifted her knee, catching Q in the balls, a laugh erupted from my throat. He cupped his crotch while she apologized profusely and pushed him toward the same chair he’d been dragging her to only seconds before. Just before he sat, Ash swung her arm out, unwinding Q’s belt from around his body before tossing it at me.

     “Oh God. I’m so sorry!” she said as Quarry held a finger up to ask for a second to recover. She didn’t wait at all though. Instead, she walked over in my direction; her prideful smile grew with every step.

     She pulled my keys out of her pocket and dropped them into my lap. They were quickly followed by Quarry’s phone, wallet, and house keys. Then she snagged his belt off the floor and tossed it over her shoulder.

“     It had absolutely nothing to do with you being in a wheelchair. It was a joke and it wasn’t supposed to piss you off.”

     “Hey!” Quarry yelled. “That was messed up. You did not have to knee me in the balls to prove a point to him.”

     “Oh, that wasn’t to prove a point. That was for bullshitting me. You knew good and damn well that he wouldn’t find it funny,” she said without ever tearing her gaze from mine. “Look, I’m sorry. I don’t have a lot of friends. And I’ve mentally noted that pickpocketing might not be the best way to make new ones.” She shrugged. “Consider it a lesson learned.”

     “Three burgers all the way, onion rings, and a shake?” the guy at the counter called out.

     Ash arched an eyebrow. “You want it to go, or are we good?”

     I didn’t have to drop my attitude. Sure, she’d apologized, but while I might have had a short fuse, I also had a hell of a long burn. However, as she stood in front of me with her arms crossed over her chest and her blue eyes pleading for forgiveness, it magically fell away.

     I swallowed hard. “No. We’re good.”

     “You sure?” She leaned in, eyeing me warily, but her smile began to grow.

I swear to God it pulled at my lips as well. I fought it. But the harder I tried to keep it restrained, the bigger Ash’s grew. She was stealing my smile. The chick was good! Finally, with an eye roll, I let out a quiet chuckle, which seemed to appease her.

     “Good. Now, help your brother get redressed and I’ll make the fancy sauce.” She waggled her eyebrows.

Haven’t read this series yet?  Meet Flint Quarry, Till & Eliza 

in Fighting Silence

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1CF0YEq

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About the Author:

Aly Martinez

     Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five, including a set of twins. Currently living in South Carolina, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.

     After some encouragement from her friends, Aly decided to add “Author” to her ever-growing list of job titles. Five books later, she shows no signs of slowing. So grab a glass of Chardonnay, or a bottle if you’re hanging out with Aly, and join her aboard the crazy train she calls life.

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Release Day Blitz: Sofia - Bittersweet Familia #4 by Melissa Jane

Title: Sofia

Series: Bittersweet Familia #4

Author: Melissa Jane

Genre: Dark/Romance/Suspense

 Release Date: July 11, 2015

Blurb

Everyone has a story.

For Marcela Ortiz, hers is not one she wants to remember.

Deceived by those closest to her, Marcela is thrown deep into a world of violence, corruption and trafficking. The dark, sinister world belonging to one Hector Florez, Mexico’s leading cartel boss.

What he wants is control.

What she craves is her freedom.

To survive, Marcela must overcome the demons who promise to destroy her and challenge fate to a story she has only dreamed of.

SOFIA, the final instalment of the Bittersweet series is built on heartache, revenge and redemption.

One unlikely group of people.

One common enemy. Many stories.

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Excerpt

“I was a fool tonight,” Xavier began, causing me to frown at him in confusion.

“How so?”

“I should have kissed you on the dance floor. That way I would’ve had a whole night of tasting you.”

I didn’t know what to say, the breath had been sucked clean from me. His delicious lips hovered next to mine, a magnetic pull between us becoming too hard to bear.

“I can’t wait any longer,” he whispered.

“I don’t want you to wait.” A tingling sensation roared through my body and I knew I wanted this more than anything. He answered my silent pleas by pulling me against his hard body and lowering his lips to graze mine. It was a tease. A small taster of things to come. But I was already weak at the knees. I wanted him to possess me. His hands formed tighter fists in my hair, his hooded eyes telling me he could wait no longer. Xavier’s lips came crashing onto mine, claiming the last of my strength. I melted into him, responding to his tongue while failing to disguise the gentle moan passing between us. It was everything I had fantasized it to be. It was everything I had craved. He tasted sweet from sugary mojito’s, his passion a fury that couldn’t be tamed.

Author Bio

A recent bloomer in the writing world, Melissa Jane has delved into a complex world where light and dark clash in unforgivable ways. Romanticism takes on darker influences while malevolence attempts to interfere with courage. Jane knows no boundaries when it comes to discovering the endless personalities that exist within our world. No one is exempt from love, not even those condemned to a life of pain and betrayal where revenge is the only safe passage to true freedom.

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Sale Blitz: Holding You by Jewel. E. Ann - Box Set

Get your copy of this sexy and emotional love story in one box set for ONLY $0.99!  

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Blurb

HOLDING YOU

Deep breath … I am peaceful, I am strong.

Free-spirited Addy Brecken is Milwaukee’s most talented vegan chef and co-owner of Sage Leaf Café. She has a genius IQ, a padded savings account, an amazing view of Lake Michigan, and a heart that won’t stop beating.

Deep breath … I am peaceful, I am strong.

An early April morning finds her drowning in the seductive fragrance of lilacs and the warmth of the morning sun when she’s nearly hit by a car in front of her café. The peaceful existence she’s desperately tried to maintain after the horrific loss of her family is suddenly shaken by the Range Rover driving, arrogant, sex-on-legs Quinn Cohen.

Deep breath … I am peaceful, I am strong.

A successful, Latino businessman from New York, Quinn has a taste for the finer things in life. A typical playboy, he has the money, the houses, the cars, and the women. Quinn is everything Addy avoids. Where she lives simply and prefers to help the less fortunate, he has no problem spending an obscene amount of money on a briefcase. Their opposite personalities lend to several heated encounters, and Addy finds herself propositioning Quinn for the one thing she never imagined needing … sex.

Offering only her body, Addy tries to keep Quinn at a safe distance from her heart and a world away from her past. Their passion-filled connection makes Addy feel something unfamiliar, alive. But with passion comes more feelings: anger, jealousy, love. When Addy surrenders to the unimaginable and lets go of her past, she’s faced with the impossible … holding on to her future.

Deep breath … I am peaceful, I am strong.

Holding You Excerpt

“Fine! I’ll call him. But he may have already left for New York.” I requested my phone call, but part of me was hoping he didn’t answer. There was a good chance he wouldn’t recognize the number and therefore choose not to answer.

“Quinten Cohen,” he formally answered.

“Hey,” was all I got out.

“Addy? Where are you calling from?” His voice was neutral.

Thankfully he didn’t sound angry, but I couldn’t detect any pleasure in his voice either.

“Um, well, actually… funny thing happened this afternoon. Mac and I sort of got… arrested.”

There was silence on the other end.

“Hello?” I thought maybe we’d been disconnected.

“I’m still here. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Where are—” I started to ask him where he was. I didn’t want him flying back to Chicago if he was already back in New York, but he ended our call before I had a chance to finish. Then I was escorted back to my cell.

“So, what’d he say?”

“He’s on his way.”

“When will he be here?”

I shrugged. “Twenty minutes, an hour, two days… He didn’t say before he hung up on me.”

“An hour later we were released and told all charges had been dropped. Quinn was waiting for us in front of the police station. I gave him a sheepish smile. “Hi.”

“Hi.” He shook his head in disbelief.

Mac reached Evan and was talking on her cell phone.

“So how was your afternoon?” I went with small talk because I honestly didn’t know what to say.

He squinted his eyes at me. “Busy, yours?”

“Oh, same old, same old. Fed some homeless people, had lunch with my friend, attended a peaceful demonstration, got thrown in jail, nothing too exciting.”

He nodded in thought. “So this is pretty much a normal day for you?”

I hitched my purse back over my shoulder then shoved my hands down into my front pockets while I looked down at my feet. “We don’t always go out to lunch, but other than that, it’s pretty typical.”

RELEASING ME Blurb

A tragic accident. A hidden past. An unbreakable love.

Never goodbye …

I thought Addy stole my soul.

Her beauty blinded me.

Her heart called to me.

Her touch healed me.

She gave everything and asked for nothing. Then I broke her. The depths of her pain were veiled by the reflection of my own. I didn’t deserve her, but I wanted her––I needed her. In my darkest hell, I heard her voice. That’s when I knew …

Addy was my soul.

Deep breath … I am peaceful, I am strong.

Quinn was worth the risk.

He took away the numbness and gave me unfathomable pleasure. Every emotion felt magnified, every moment felt like the last.

My heart found purpose.

My body came to life.

My soul returned.

His weakness gave me strength, and his past held my future. He saved me by … releasing me.

Releasing Me Excerpt

Quinn

I kept my back to her as I buttoned my shirt. The sound of her broken voice saying my name fucking killed me. I needed a drink, and I needed to get the hell out of there. She wormed her way under my skin, but I didn't want her there. My mind was such a fucked up mess, I felt bewitched by everything about her: those ocean blue eyes, her cherry lips, the way her long golden hair flowed down her back and over her fucking perfect breasts. Her smell, her touch, her voice … it was too much. I had only one choice––to let her go. I had to get out from under her spell. She made me feel things I didn't want to feel. The truth was I didn't want to feel anything.

"Quinn?"

"Just … stop, Addy!" I yelled in frustration as I shoved my feet into my shoes. Every nerve in my body was on edge. I've got to get the hell out of here.

"Quinn, look at me—"

"Goddammit! Just … shut up. You won, okay? You brought me to my fucking knees, stripped me of my resolve, and left me with nothing. We're done."

All I needed was a drink. I slammed the door and dialed up Chase.

"You apologize?" his smug voice answered.

"Just get your ass over here," I demanded.

"Did you apologize?" His stubbornness grated at my very last nerve.

"Fucking hell, Chase! Yes, she's completely satisfied. Now get your ass in the car and come get me!”

About the Author:

Jewel E Ann

Jewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.

With 10 years of flossing lectures under her belt, she took early retirement from her dental hygiene career to stay home with her three awesome boys and manage the family business.

After her best friend of nearly 30 years suggested a few books from the Contemporary Romance genre, Jewel was hooked. Devouring two and three books a week but still craving more, she decided to practice sustainable reading, AKA writing.

When she’s not donning her cape and saving the planet one tree at a time, she enjoys yoga with friends, good food with family, rock climbing with her kids, watching How I Met Your Mother reruns, and of course…heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, panty-scorching novels.

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