ARC Review: Stepping Over the Line - A Stepbrother Novel by Laura Marie Altom

ARC Review for Netgalley/Give Me Books Promo Group.

Stepping Over the Line (Stepbrother #1) by Laura Marie Altom

Forbidden love, tortured souls with an unbreakable bond.

Garrett fell for Savannah the first time he laid eyes on her when he was seventeen and she was fifteen. Unfortunately for Garrett she was to become his new step-sister putting him in the role of big brother making Savannah untouchable. Living together as brother and sister was torture for him. When he finally left their little southern town he was able to put her out of his head. He jetted off the L.A. to become a hot shot lawyer and live a life of excess so he could purge her from his thoughts. It didn’t work. Even just the occasional family get together left Garrett sullen and grumpy as he denied himself the only woman he ever truly wanted.

Savannah wished that her sexy as sin step-brother would throw caution to the wind and make a move. She has loved him since the first time they met. One drunken night she takes matters into her own hands and they share a forbidden erotic experience of the best sex she ever had. It was wrong they both new it, it should never have happened. But things take an unexpected turn after their one night of passion and their lives will never be the same.

I really loved Garrett immediately, He was broody, sexy and sweet at heart. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for Savannah. He proves that by going to jail after accidentally killing her fiance when they catch him cheating on her at their engagement party. Garrett was so easy to love. I felt for him and his heartbreak throughout the book. He sacrificed his life for Savannah.

Savannah on the other hand I had a hard time connecting with her part of the story for a while. About 70% in I finally started to understand her and even like her. At times earlier in the book I felt she was a bit naive and made some really terrible uneducated decisions that I personally found a little unrealistic. Eventually she did win me over as she started to admit that Garrett was what she wanted and who cares what the town would think. I was happy I waited her out.

This was a different kind of step-sibling romance. The chemistry was great, the sex scenes were dirty and hot. What really got me about the story was the emotions and the angst of the characters and how they dealt with the curve balls that life threw at them.

The epilogue was fabulous I loved reading about the other couples from the previous series. I would definitely recommend this book—I look forward to more in the series.

RECEIVED AN ARC FROM NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.





View all my reviews

Blog Tour: Backfire - A Vigilantes Novel

Title: Backfire

Series: A Vigilantes Novel

Author: Keri Lake

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance - Standalone

Published: June 9, 2016
Cover Design: Hang Le
Image Credit: Eric Battershell Photography
Cover Model: Johnny Kane 

No matter how unbreakable he may seem, every man has a weakness.

A year ago, my home became a bloodstained crime scene. That night marked the beginning of my hell—the same night I was tortured by my enemies and tossed into an underground prison to die.

They failed. I survived.

Now that I’m free, only one motive burns in my soul: revenge.

Lucky for me, they think Jase Hawkins is dead. Maybe I am. I’ve got nothing but a cold, merciless rage, and Black Betty, the sharp steel blade that never leaves my side.

Then she drifts into my life.

Lucia wants answers—so much so, she’s willing to fall into the darkness where my enemies lie in wait, to kill her for what she knows.

Or to take her for the depraved fantasies her body alone can rouse in a man’s mind.

Me? I want her for the fire in her touch that feeds my addiction, forces me to feel what has become numb, but my appetite for bloodshed runs deeper than flesh.

For my own sanity, I’ve vowed to stay away from her. Because she’s my only weakness, an obsession that leaves me craving more—one that could make even the most steadfast plan backfire.

"Backfire is dark, gritty, and unapologetic. You'll be reading it with your heart in your throat and your stomach twisted up in knots. It's violent, a touch depraved, darkly erotic, action packed and absolutely, positively unputdownable." -Dirty Girl Romance Blog

"It's brilliant. It's rewarding and it is a mind screw done perfectly. You will hear your heart break for what Jase and Lucy go through. You will love, hate and shatter." -Kathy Coopmans, USA Today Bestselling Author

"So dark and disturbing you read with one eye open, unable to look away -riveted by what's playing out before your very eyes as Keri Lake takes you on a twisted rollercoaster flying in different directions at great speed." -Totally Booked Blog

"Once again Keri Lake has given us a wonderfully engaging story which sucks you into a whole other world, making you feel everything and revel in the brutal underworld that she has created. It's a book you experience,not just read, and if you're in the mood for this sort of story, it's going to blow you away with its dark intensity." -Escapist Book Blog

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Keri Lake is a married mother of two living in Michigan. By day, she tries to make use of the degrees she’s earned in science. By night, she writes dark contemporary and paranormal romance. Though novels tend to be her focus, she also writes short stories and flash fiction on the many occasions when distraction sucks her in to the Land of Shiny Things. 

She loves hearing from readers …

HOSTED BY:

Blog Tour: Sleepless Fate by Janae Keyes

Title: Sleepless Fate

Author: Janae Keyes

Genre: Adult Romance

Release Date: May 29, 2016

Should a person have to put their life on hold for another. Another, they planned to spend the rest of their life with? Another who has been in a coma for the past two years?

Brielle Elliot has spent the past two years at the side of her comatose fiancé Keaton. Life is moving on around Brielle, but she has been dedicated to Keaton until Patrick comes into her life. It seems as if Fate has brought these two together, but others have their own idea of how their story should end.

LEAVING THE RESTAURANT, I was surely inebriated after all of the very expensive wine we had over dinner. No matter how drunk I was, I could say that this was the best I’d felt in a long time. I strolled along with Patrick by my side. The two of us walked on a bridge that crossed the river. Patrick at once stopped walking and I turned to him.

“What’s up?” I asked as he walked to the railing and looked down at the water.

“It is all so amazing you know,” He continued to look at the water as he spoke. “It is so amazing how you can be so dedicated to a man who may never wake up,”

“He would do the same for me,” I insisted just hoping it would be true. Inside I felt like it could be. I felt as if the tables were turned that Keaton would wait for me.

“Are you absolutely certain of that fact?” Patrick questioned, finally no longer looking at the water, but looking at me directly in the eyes.

“Yes… no… I just know that he and I love each other. I have hope that he would wait for me,” I admitted my uncertainty out loud.

Patrick chuckled. “Has anyone ever told you that you are bat-shit crazy?”

“Plenty of times,” I answered with a straight face. I knew April told me at least once a week and she insisted that I try and move on with my life.

“Brielle…” he breathed my name out. “You are one of a kind and I’m trying here. I am trying to just be your friend, but damn it… I’m hooked on you. Tell me I’m crazy,”

“You are crazy,”

“I’m crazy about you. That is for sure,”

“Patrick, I..,”

“I need to know if this could be real. If the feelings, I am having are justified. Kiss me and tell me you don’t feel a thing. If you don’t I’ll leave you alone,” He was now giving me some sort of ultimatum.

“I’m not doing that,” I shook my head fiercely. “I’m not--,” I didn’t get a chance to finish as Patrick’s lips were pressed roughly against mine. I could honestly say I’d never felt anything like this kiss before. My heart was pounding and every nerve-ending in my body felt so alive and filled with raw electricity. I craved more of what he could give me. I threw my arms around his neck and his hands gripped tightly at my waist. His tongue slipped between my lips and I allowed it in. I needed all he could give me and I was going to take it all in.

Drip Drop, Drip, Drop… it started to rain. We ignored the drops of wetness that were falling faster and harder with each passing moment. We were too caught up in one another. He nibbled at my bottom lip, eliciting a moan from deep inside of my throat. No kiss had ever made me react this way. There was no doubt that my panties were wet and not from the rain. Patrick at once broke the kiss and took me by the hand. I loved the way his hand seemed to cradle mine.

“Come on,” He said giving me a smile.

We ran together through the rain, right back to the hotel. Though we were both soaking wet, we were on fire for one another. I watched Patrick fight to get the room key from his pocket. He unlocked the door and allowed me inside. He nearly kicked the door closed before he grabbed me by the hips and pulled me back to him.

We kissed fiercely as he worked to shimmy me from my soaking wet dress. I worked my fingers along the buttons of his shirt and undid them all before I grabbed at his belt fighting to get it unbuckled.

I stepped back from him for a moment and there I could finally see him. His abs were sculpted and toned up to his chest. My breath caught as I took in the sight before me. He grinned as he dropped his pants and stepped out of them. It took no time before he was pulling me towards him. His hands slipped along my curves, taking them all in.

I wondered if this night would be like any of my dreams. The dreams that had been haunting me, but also enticing me for weeks now. With every dream I had I wanted him more and now I finally had him.

The only things left covering my body were my bra and panties. Patrick lay me down on the couch and came over me. I wrapped a leg around him and felt his arousal pressing against me. He was craving me as much as I was craving him. His lips were on mine once again and a growl erupted from his throat. I smiled against his lips running my hands up his toned chest. I opened my eyes determined to look into his eyes, but a distinctive sparkle caught my attention and I froze.

The sparkle was from my ring, my engagement ring. The token of love and devotion given to me by Keaton, but here I was about to give myself to another man. Dread, disgust, and hate spread through my body as I pushed away from Patrick. I scurried off to my dress and picked it up off the floor.

“Brielle, babe. What’s happened?” Patrick asked with confusion written all over his face.

“I’m fucking engaged. That is what happened,” I asserted. I couldn’t believe that any of this had happened. I’d allowed it to happen and for that I was wrong.

Janae was born and raised in the California Bay Area. She grew up a very creative only child and has been writing for as long as she can remember. When Janae isn't chasing around her active toddler she is working on ideas and working to improve her craft. Janae is currently living in a suburb of Brussels, Belgium with her husband and daughter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HOSTED BY: