Release Day Blitz: Last Call by Staci Hart

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Happy Release Day to Staci Hart – Last Call is live! Check out my review of it here.

Last Call by Staci Hart

Last Call by Staci Hart
Series: Bad Habits #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: February 15th 2016
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Once Rose Fisher makes a decision, that’s it. End of story.

Like when her ex, Patrick, dumped her out of the blue, then showed up with a super hot, tatted up sex kitten on his arm. Then it was over for good. The end. Poof. Dead to her. Except he was everywhere — down the hall, at the bar with their friends, worming his way into her dreams.

But with their friends paired off, they’re left alone more and more. Rose is determined to keep him friendzoned — doesn’t matter that he stares at her with a smolder that drops all panties in a ten foot radius. She’s over him, and she’ll prove it by getting back into the dating game, Patrick be damned.

Patrick Evans is no stranger to consequences. When your mother walks out, your dad drifts away. When you leave home, you’re on your own. And when you run away from the girl you love, you lose her. He finally has an opportunity to rebuild the bridge he burned, and it’s not one he’ll take for granted. But he’ll have to fight for her, even if it hurts. Even if it means he’ll walk away brokenhearted. Because deep down, he knows that she’s it for him.

The trick will be to get her to admit she feels it too.

Buy Links:
Amazon USAmazon UK • Amazon CA • Amazon AU

Reading Order: Bad Habits series

With a Twist by Staci Hart Chaser by Staci Hart Last Call by Staci Hart

#1 ~ With a Twist: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Chaser: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Last Call: My Review • EbookGoodreads

about the author button

Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life — a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can’t forget that. She’s also been a mom; she has three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She’s been a wife; even though she’s certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She’s also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she’s been drinking whiskey. Her favorite word starts with f and ends with k.

From roots in Houston, to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she’s not writing, she’s sleeping, gaming, or designing graphics.

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads


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Early Review: Last Call by Staci Hart

Last Call by Staci Hart

Last Call by Staci Hart
Series: Bad Habits #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: February 15th 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

Once Rose Fisher makes a decision, that’s it. End of story.

Like when her ex, Patrick, dumped her out of the blue, then showed up with a super hot, tatted up sex kitten on his arm. Then it was over for good. The end. Poof. Dead to her. Except he was everywhere — down the hall, at the bar with their friends, worming his way into her dreams.

But with their friends paired off, they’re left alone more and more. Rose is determined to keep him friendzoned — doesn’t matter that he stares at her with a smolder that drops all panties in a ten foot radius. She’s over him, and she’ll prove it by getting back into the dating game, Patrick be damned.

Patrick Evans is no stranger to consequences. When your mother walks out, your dad drifts away. When you leave home, you’re on your own. And when you run away from the girl you love, you lose her. He finally has an opportunity to rebuild the bridge he burned, and it’s not one he’ll take for granted. But he’ll have to fight for her, even if it hurts. Even if it means he’ll walk away brokenhearted. Because deep down, he knows that she’s it for him.

The trick will be to get her to admit she feels it too.

Rose and Patrick’s story has been a highly anticipated read of mine ever since they first appeared in With a Twist. Second chance romances are one of my top favorite tropes to read, so Last Call seemed like it would be PERFECT for me. While I enjoyed this book, I can’t say that I loved it like the previous two books in the series. Maybe I had too high expectations, maybe I hyped myself too much about Rose and Tricky, but Last Call didn’t go the way I expected it to. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but throughout the book, I kept having the feeling of wanting and expecting more. Still, I adored the ending of this book, seeing how everyone ended up, and the second chance romance was more sweet than anything.

Sometimes, you have the whole world in your hands, and you don’t realize it until it’s shattered, left crumbled and sparkling in your palms. That you don’t know you’ve lived your best days, not until they’re gone. Not until you look back. That day – the day I walked away – was one of my greatest mistakes, and I’ve made more than my share. It’s the only one I counted as a regret.

The main thing I was expecting in Last Call was ANGST. Angst is why I love second chance romances. But sadly, for my angst-loving heart, there was very little of it in this book. You’ll probably love Last Call much more if you’re not a fan of angst, but I was just really hoping for some of that pain in my heart while reading about Rose and Tricky’s fallout and how Tricky tried – and still continues to try – to win Rose back (usually with his sexy-as-hell smolder). The flashbacks of their first relationship aren’t that detailed, focusing the story more on their present relationship… which is pretty non-existent. At the very most, Rose and Tricky are cautious friends – she’s determined never to hand over her heart and trust to him again after he broke them, and he’s giving her space so she doesn’t completely kick him out of her life. And yet these two are still as head-over-heels in love with each other as they were seven months ago. Can they ever move past their hurts and mistakes and actually work on having a relationship again?

“Being with her was like …” I looked away at nothing in particular. “It was like seeing in color for the first time after a lifetime of black and white.”

When Rose finds out Patrick has been secretly sleeping over in her roommate Lily’s room, now that Lily has been sleeping over with her boyfriend West (who is also Patrick’s roommate), Rose gets pissed. Mainly because she’ll be in close proximity to his gorgeous self and her body is weak when it comes to him. But her mind is made up and won’t fall for Tricky again, no matter how much he looks at her with want and longing.

For the majority of the book, there’s not much going on between these two besides lust-filled looks and the occasional glare. Oh, and Rose is trying to date (and hilariously failing). She and Tricky have called a truce for the time being while they’re roommates, but really, nothing develops in their relationship. I could feel their regrets, their heartbreak, how much they still love each other, how much they want to try again, but they don’t DO anything about it until the second half of the book. Then they try building a relationship again, but the thing that caused them to break up the first time gets in the way of their second try: the fact that they don’t communicate.

“I just can’t fuck it up this time.”
“No, you can’t. I suspect if there is a chance for you here, it’s the last one. Last call.”
“Last call,” I echoed, knowing it was the truth. I had to step up and order or walk out. And I wasn’t ready to leave.

It sucks to say that while I did like most of the book, especially all the sweet, tender parts between Tricky and Rose, the parts I didn’t like were the slow ones that bored me. I wanted a little more angst, a little more drama, and definitely some more communication so that the pace would pick up. Still, I was honestly rooting for these two the whole time because really, Rose and Patrick are perfect together and for each other. Tricky is sexy as all get out with his gorgeous tattooed bod, and Rose is a badass bartender who takes her life day by day. I loved their characters but I really wish the pace of their romance moved quicker.

I adored the ending in Last Call – it was the perfect way to end the series. Even though I didn’t love this book, I was still left with a bittersweet feeling at the end because I loved this series as a whole. I loved getting to know Rose and Tricky, Maggie and Cooper, and Lily and West. This group of six almost feels like old friends to me, so it’s sad to say goodbye to them. I’m excited to see what else Staci Hart will be writing, because I’m definitely looking forward to it!

3.5 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.


Reading Order: Bad Habits series

With a Twist by Staci Hart Chaser by Staci Hart Last Call by Staci Hart

#1 ~ With a Twist: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Chaser: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Last Call: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads


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Release Day Review: Last Call by Alice Clayton

Last Call by Alice Clayton

Last Call by Alice Clayton
Series: Cocktail #4.5 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: January 6th 2015
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher (Gallery Books) in exchange for an honest review

From New York Times & USA TODAY bestselling author Alice Clayton, known for her “deliciously addictive” (The Book Vixen) novels, this Cocktail series novella reunites readers with Caroline and Simon from the wildly successful Wallbanger.

Simon and Caroline are back for another round of baking, banging, and big life changes. Settling in, but never settling down, Caroline has finally struck a balance between the professional and the personal. As one of the top interior designers in San Francisco, she travels all over Northern California between nook time with Simon.

Perpetual globetrotter Simon has cut his frequent flyer miles in half over the last year, preferring to balance his professional and personal life, as well.

The next step in their lives seems preordained—toasts, veils, and the aisle of rose petals. But when an accident on a photo shoot in Southeast Asia brings Caroline the most terrifying phone call she could ever imagine, she has to ask whether “till death do us part” is a more realistic prospect than faces most couples.

It’s been a grand adventure, and Caroline and Simon wouldn’t go out without the best surprise ending ever. One part sexy, one part laughter, a dash of exotic locales, and one pink nightie, mixed with passion, and you’ve got Last Call. Served with a side of Clive.

A starry night.
A lady in white.
A shoe full of fright.
This is the beginning of the end of this love story.

I adooore Simon and Caroline. Ever since reading and falling in love with Wallbanger, I couldn’t get enough of them – they have become two of my all-time favorite characters! So it’s a bittersweet ending with Last Call. I’m incredibly sad to say goodbye to Caroline and Simon, but I finished this book with a huge smile on my face. Last Call is such a satisfying, heartwarming ending for Caroline and Simon – I’m so happy with how things ended for them!

Simon and Caroline’s friends are moving on to new phases in their lives – weddings, babies, etc. But Caroline seems a bit daunted by it all. She knows she and Simon are IT for each other, but she doesn’t want to force anything just because her friends are getting hitched or having children. Caroline and Simon are happy the way they are, and when the time is right, marriage, children, and the works will happen for them. All in good time…

“You realize you own me, don’t you, Nightie Girl?”

Oh how I’ve missed Simon and his hot and sexy self! I love Simon, and I fell in love all over again with him in Last Call. He continuously shows his love for Caroline – he and his words just melt my heart. The way Simon and Caroline are together never ceases to amaze me. They are equal parts fun and sexy and they are simply adorable together!

Some scary, unfortunate things do happen, but never fear, Caroline and Simon are the kind of couple that can get through anything as long as they have each other. I loved reading about these two again, as well as getting glimpses of Vivian and Clark and Chloe and Lucas! All the characters are together and funnier than ever.

Last Call is a novella, so I devoured this book so quickly everything was nearly a blur. I do wish the book was fleshed out a bit more and hadn’t tied up so quickly. Nonetheless, Alice Clayton did such a wonderful job bringing Caroline and Simon back to life and ending their story on a heartwarming note.

“You’re really going to want to hold on for this one, Nightie Girl.”

4 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: Cocktail series

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton Rusty Nailed by Alice Clayton
Screwdrivered by Alice Clayton Mai Tai'd Up by Alice Clayton Last Call by Alice Clayton

#1 ~ Wallbanger: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Rusty Nailed: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Screwdrivered: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Mai Tai’d Up: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4.5 ~ Last Call: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

Cover Reveal + Excerpt: Last Call by Alice Clayton

I’m sooooo excited to share the cover of Last Call by Alice Clayton!! This is going to be Simon and Caroline’s novella and I can’t WAIT for it to release! Simon and Caroline are the. best!

Last Call by Alice Clayton

Last Call by Alice Clayton
Series: Cocktail #2.5 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: January 6th 2015
Add to Goodreads

From New York Times & USA TODAY bestselling author Alice Clayton, known for her “deliciously addictive” (The Book Vixen) novels, this Cocktail series novella reunites readers with Caroline and Simon from the wildly successful Wallbanger.

Simon and Caroline are back for another round of baking, banging, and big life changes. Settling in, but never settling down, Caroline has finally struck a balance between the professional and the personal. As one of the top interior designers in San Francisco, she travels all over Northern California between nook time with Simon.

Perpetual globetrotter Simon has cut his frequent flyer miles in half over the last year, preferring to balance his professional and personal life, as well.

The next step in their lives seems preordained—toasts, veils, and the aisle of rose petals. But when an accident on a photo shoot in Southeast Asia brings Caroline the most terrifying phone call she could ever imagine, she has to ask whether “till death do us part” is a more realistic prospect than faces most couples.

It’s been a grand adventure, and Caroline and Simon wouldn’t go out without the best surprise ending ever. One part sexy, one part laughter, a dash of exotic locales, and one pink nightie, mixed with passion, and you’ve got Last Call. Served with a side of Clive.

Preorder:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • BAM • iTunes

Now here’s an excerpt from Last Call! ❤

excerpt

“Sexy.” Kiss. “Impossibly sexy.” Kiss. Kiss. “Ludicrously sexy.” Kiss. Grope. Grope.

“Ludicrously sexy?” I asked, my eyes fluttering shut as his fingertips danced inside the edge of my bra.

“It’s a word.”

“So is howfastcanyoubenotsodressed?”

“That’s . . . let’s see . . . one, two, three—”

“You’re counting?”

“—four, five—”

“Simon?”

“Hmm?”

“You should stop the counting and go back to touching.”

“Oh. Babe. I’m getting back to it.”

And he really just was. His hands were sure, specific, practiced on my body. We’d been together long enough to know what each other liked, and what each other loved. The night before was full of love and passion. Tonight? Would be full of frantic, frenzied, crazy stupid, straight-up fucking.

Reading Order: Cocktail series

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton Rusty Nailed by Alice Clayton Last Call by Alice Clayton
Screwdrivered by Alice Clayton Mai Tai'd Up by Alice Clayton

#1 ~ Wallbanger: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Rusty Nailed: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2.5 ~ Last Call: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (Jan. 6, 2015)
#3 ~ Screwdrivered: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Mai Tai’d Up: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (Dec. 2, 2014)

Release Event + Excerpt: Sugar on the Edge by Sawyer Bennett

SUGAR ON THE EDGE
BY USA Today Best-selling Author Sawyer Bennett

Sugar on the Edge by Sawyer Bennett

Last Call #3 (full reading order below)
Adult Contemporary Romance
Released July 28, 2014
Add to Goodreads

He’s utterly alone…

Tortured and existing in a dark spiral of despair, bestselling British author, Gavin Cooke, has come to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to escape the seedy lifestyle he had been living in London and in a desperate attempt to regain his writing focus. He’s twisted, bitter and angry at the world. He’s a loner… needing not a single thing other than his Scotch and a laptop upon which he can bang out his next erotic, dark thriller.

She’s running in place and getting nowhere…

Savannah Shepherd’s life is falling apart. Her dream of being a wildlife photographer seems a distant memory and she’s barely able to make ends meet. Driving herself forward with no clear goals apparent, she’s about ready to pack up her bags and head home with her tail between her legs.

Two unlikely lovers…

He’s raw, forceful and a dirty talker. She’s a flowers and romance type of girl. Yet within each other, they find a mutual craving that can only be satisfied by giving in to their desires for one another.

Lust turns into something more… something they were not looking for but tentatively accept. Will it be enough to push them past the obstacles of Gavin’s bitter past?

*SUGAR ON THE EDGE can be read as a stand-alone*

Buy Links:
Amazon • B&N • iTunes

excerpt

Without a second thought, I sit down on the edge of the couch, in a small area available to me by her left hip. Taking my finger, I stroke it over the skin of her stomach and say, “Sweet… it’s time to wake up?”

She gives a soft moan in her sleep and arches her back off the cushions again.

And fuck, that’s sexy.

And yeah, I definitely want to fuck her.

“Savannah,” I call out to her softly and bring my hand up to her face, grazing my fingers over her temple. “You need to wake up.”

Her eyes flutter open, immediately making contact with mine, and I let my hand drop away.

“She’s alive,” I murmur as she stares at me with dark eyes.

“What time is it?” she rasps out, turning her head to the left to look out the back glass door.

“Just after nine PM,” I tell her. “You slept like a rock. I could have had my way with you, and you would have never known.”

“Oh, yeah?” she asks skeptically, and with sleep still heavy in her voice. “Like what?”

Oh, little girl, the things I could have done to you.

I go for the shock factor to see what she does. Reaching my left arm behind me, I place my fingers on her calf. Her skin is warm and silky, and her breath hitches at the slight touch. “I could have skimmed my fingers up your leg, right past your knee… up your thigh,” I tell her, moving my fingers up that same path I’m describing. When I get to the edge of her shorts, I halt my progress. “I could have inched my way right under these short little shorts… found the edge of your damp panties just to prove that you were having a sexy little dream while you were sleeping.”

A tiny moan comes out of her mouth, and her eyes glitter back at me from the ambient light of the lamp reflecting in them. “You didn’t do that,” she says without any type of conviction at all… and is that a bit of longing I hear?

I finger the edge of her shorts. “I’ve done all kinds of dark and dirty things that your limited imagination could never fully appreciate. It would have been nothing for me to do that to you.”

“Maybe so,” she breathes out in a rush, “but you wouldn’t have done that without my consent.”

“Hmmm,” I say thoughtfully, releasing the denim material and placing my fingers on her hot skin, feeling her muscles jump underneath my touch. “I’m wondering… would you give me your consent right now? Would you let me tunnel my fingers inside just a bit, let me see if your panties are damp because what I’m saying to you now is turning you on?”

She doesn’t move a muscle… holds her breath and watches to see what I’ll do. But that doesn’t work for me, because she’s going to need to be a little more forceful if she wants what I’m offering. I can see what she wants in her eyes, but yes… I want more.

“Tell me, Sweet,” I taunt her as my fingers stroke back and forth underneath the hem of her shorts, just a mere inch from the edge of her panties. “Do you have it in you to ask for my fingers, or would you rather leap off this couch and flee away?”

Savannah inhales sharply, and I tense as I wait for her to choose the latter option. I’m so fucking turned on right now by trying to dare her into letting me seduce her, that I’d probably hold her down and not let her up. She pulls her lower lip in between her teeth and chews on it thoughtfully while she weighs her options.

“Come on, Sweet,” I encourage her, my voice rough with need. “Show me what you got inside of you… deep down inside. Take a walk on the wild side… you know you want to.”

Reading Order: Last Call series

On the Rocks by Sawyer Bennett Make It A Double by Sawyer Bennett Sugar on the Edge by Sawyer Bennett

#1 ~ On the Rocks: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Make It a Double: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Sugar on the Edge: Ebook • Goodreads

about the author

Sawyer BennettUSA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

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