Blog Tour + Review & Giveaway: Raw Redemption by Tessa Bailey

Raw Redemption Tour
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Welcome to today’s stop on the blog tour for Raw Redemption by Tessa Bailey!

Raw Redemption by Tessa Bailey
Series: Crossing the Line #4 (full reading order below)
Release Date: June 13th 2016
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Loving her might cost him everything…

Disgraced cop Henrik Vance is having a shit year. Banished to a derelict undercover squad, he’s been tasked with hunting down the daughter of Chicago’s most dangerous criminal. His obsession with saving the beautiful girl destroyed his career. And this time, it might cost his life.

Ailish O’Kelly doesn’t need a hero. She’ll save herself from her father’s violent criminal dynasty, thank you very much. Unfortunately, the sexy as sin cop who crashes her hideout isn’t hearing reason—especially not after the kiss that becomes much more.

His boss wants her as an informant. Ailish wants Henrik to keep whispering filthy things against her skin. But she knows too well the evil they’re up against, and when it comes down to protecting the man who owns her body and soul, she only has one choice…

Buy Links:
Amazon • Amazon UK • B&N • Kobo • iBooks

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Calling all Tessa Bailey fans!! Henrik Vance is going to be your new upcoming favorite dirty-talking alpha hero! Gah, I totally adored him. I don’t know how the author does it, but with every book, she’s able to write such a fabulous romance with the HOTTEST dirty talk and steamy scenes ever! I loved Raw Redemption, but I am sad that the Crossing the Line series is now over. I’ve loved this series since Bowen was first introduced in Risking It All, and I’ve fallen in love more and more with every misfit character introduced. Thankfully, Tessa Bailey ends the series with a bang – Raw Redemption is a romantic, suspenseful, enchanting read I couldn’t put down. It’s a fantastic romance between a fallen-from-grace cop and and a mafia boss’s daughter – what could be better than that!?

We were first introduced to Henrik in Boiling Point, and I’d honestly never been so excited for a character to get his story! Love at first sight has nothing on Henrik Vance. If you’re not a fan of instalove, this probably won’t be for you, but if you have no problem with it, Henrik is your man. Here, we have a disgraced cop who ruined his career on purpose by getting rid of evidence that would put his woman in jail. Nothing and nobody touches Ailish O’Kelly… except for Henrik, of course. 😉 Now, an ex-cop, he’s forced to join an undercover unit of criminals who use their skills for good. A new case pops up that involves Ailish – and now nothing’s going to stop him from going after her, protecting her, and claiming her.

The landscape of his insides shifted, like two fault lines parting and relocating after an earthquake. This girl. She was either going to be his reason for living or the reason he died. It was all right there, shining in front of him like a spotlight.

Ailish may be the daughter of a criminal, but she wants nothing to do with the underworld of crime. Her father kept her in a metaphorical prison, never allowing her to do anything she wanted. She’s now escaped from that life, and she’ll do whatever it takes to survive even as her father is looking for her. What she doesn’t expect is a gorgeous, alpha, protective man to show up at her doorstep, get under her skin, and into her heart.

“I passed need weeks ago. Need is just a word. I am my starvation for you, Ailish. It rules me.”

Raw Redemption is instalove at its finest. I totally LOVE when alpha heroes go head-over-heels for their woman, and you don’t get any better than Tessa Bailey’s heroes. Henrik is absolutely heart-melting, and Ailish is perfect for him. I adored them together, and the chemistry between them? Over-the-roof hot. The suspense plot of the story wasn’t quite as good as the romance or as memorable, but I really had no problem with that, because I loved Henrik and Ailish too much. Raw Redemption is an incredible conclusion to this unique, sexy series. I’m sad to see it end, but also glad I got to experience it. If you haven’t read the Crossing the Line series, you are missing out! It’s one of Tessa Bailey’s best series, and if you love sexy, dirty reads with some suspense mixed it, you definitely need to start it!

4.5 hearts
lacey

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

Reading Order: Crossing the Line series

Riskier Business by Tessa Bailey Risking it All by Tessa Bailey
Up in Smoke by Tessa Bailey Boiling Point by Tessa Bailey

#0.5 ~ Riskier Business: Ebook • Goodreads
#1 ~ Risking it All: EbookPaperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Up in Smoke: My Review • EbookPaperbackGoodreads
#3 ~ Boiling Point: My Review • EbookPaperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Raw Redemption: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

about the author button

Tessa BaileyTessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans and laptop, driving cross-country to New York City in under four days.

Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention.

She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband of eight years and four-year-old daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads • Newsletter

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ARC Review: Last Kiss by Laurelin Paige

Last Kiss by Laurelin Paige

Last Kiss by Laurelin Paige
Series: First and Last #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: June 14th 2016
Links: EbookPaperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

A GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE FILLED WITH DARK DESIRES AND DANGEROUS SECRETS…

Emily Wayborn has made a decision.

She might not fully trust handsome and deadly Reeve Sallis, but he is the one person that gives her what she needs. With Reeve she can finally be herself. Submitting to him is the only thing keeping her grounded as the rest of her life falls apart. But the hotelier is a master at keeping secrets and as she continues her quest for answers someone is making sure she doesn’t find them.

Time is running out and she is questioning everything she thought she knew about friendship and love. She must now make an impossible choice that will determine if she will survive with her heart…or her life.

WOW!!! What a fantastic ending to the First and Last series. I’d been DYING to read Last Kiss after that awful cliffhanger in First Touch (it seriously made me scream), and Laurelin Paige certainly didn’t disappoint with this follow-up. This book was such an intense conclusion to Emily and Reeve’s story – and I never thought I’d say this, but I actually LOVE Reeve now! He terrified me in First Touch, but his romantic, redeeming qualities finally shine here in this sequel, and I’m now firmly a fan of his. If you loved First Touch, get ready to be taken on a wild, suspenseful ride once again in Last Kiss.

“You feel me,” he said while my cunt clenched around him like a vice-grip. “Right now you feel me, Emily. That’s where I am—inside you. All the time, I’m there. No matter whose bed you sleep in.”

Last Kiss continues right where First Touch left off. I don’t want to say anything about the cliffhanger, in case you read this review without having read the first book and accidentally spoil yourself. And if you haven’t read First Touch yet, I highly recommend it if you want to read something unique and gritty. That book messed me up – so to say I had high expectations for its sequel would be an understatement. Sometimes, the sequels unfortunately don’t live up to the first book, but this isn’t the case for this duology. Laurelin Paige swept me off my feet once again, making my heart pound and leaving me breathless with suspense. I honestly couldn’t stop reading – I needed to know what would happen next, what the characters would do, what new twist the author would reveal. It’s an unpredictable book, and for that, I applaud the author for her talent at writing.

“I can’t control myself when I’m inside you.” His voice was ragged and threadbare. “I want to tear you apart. I want to rip you to shreds.” He moved both of his hands to grasp my thighs, tilting my pelvis so that his thrusts hit even deeper. “I want to destroy you. Want to fuck you to pieces. Want to shatter you. Want to break you.”

Reeve and Emily are just as intense, raw, and tumultuous as ever. The passion between them is so fierce and volatile – it’s just so addicting to read!! Their chemistry is flawless and so damn hot. The frustration of Emily trying to stay away and Reeve trying to pull her back to him made for an emotional read. And AH! Reeve… he stole my heart in this book. He’s an alpha unlike any other – he’s the first hero to ever make me a little scared of him, but the softer, more tender side he reveals in Last Kiss balanced out that intense dominance of his and made him perfect. Laurelin Paige has written two brilliant, multi-faceted characters that are unforgettable!

“I love you,” he said again, like a creed. “I love you so thoroughly it feels like you’re in my DNA. Like you must be part of my genetic code because there’s no part of me that isn’t linked to you. My love for you is so consuming on the inside that there’s barely room.”

If you love suspenseful reads, the First and Last series needs to be on your radar. You won’t be able to predict ANYTHING, and each new revelation will throw you off but make you even more invested in the story. And the steaminess is off the charts, too! Laurelin Paige knows how to write her erotica, and I’m definitely going to need to read more of her books if they’re as intense and sexy as this duology. It was a wild, amazing ride reading Emily and Reeve’s story – I won’t be forgetting it anytime soon!

4 hearts
lacey

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


Reading Order: First and Last series

First Touch by Laurelin Paige Last Kiss by Laurelin Paige

#1 ~ First Touch: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Last Kiss: EbookPaperback • Audible • Goodreads


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Blog Tour + Early Review & Giveaway: Smolder by Karen Erickson

Blog Tour Smolder

Welcome to today’s stop on the blog tour for Smolder by Karen Erickson!

Smolder by Karen Erickson
Series: Wildwood #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: June 21st 2016
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Lane Gallagher wants Delilah Moore—bad.

He’s imagined the sexy brunette in his bed more times than he can count.

She’s everything he’s ever wanted, but the only problem is . . .

She’s his brother’s ex.

For years, the stoic sheriff’s deputy has fantasized about the sweet, bubbly dance teacher who stirs his deepest desires. But Lane’s too loyal to ever move in on forbidden territory and he knows that while he can look, he definitely can’t touch. Fighting his attraction to Delilah is nearly impossible, but the infuriating—and incredibly sexy—woman seems determined to drive him crazy.

And she’s bringing him to his knees. One smoldering kiss at a time.

Buy Links:
Amazon • Avon • Barnes & NobleiTunes • Google Play

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After reading Ignite, I’d been so excited for Lane and Delilah’s story. It was set up perfectly in the first book – Lane is Delilah’s best friend’s older brother, and the two of them have a huge crush on each other, but they can’t act on it. I had high hopes for Smolder… but it didn’t quite meet my expectations. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a quick, enjoyable read, but I didn’t love it like I wanted. It just had so much more potential to be better. But if you’re a fan of the first book, you’ll definitely want to know how Lane and Delilah end up together!

What was wrong with a little kiss? He just wanted a taste. One taste of sweet, sexy Delilah, something he’d never experienced before. The girl who haunted his dreams. The girl who was too good for him. The girl who’d bee with one Gallagher man and didn’t need another one to come into her life and fuck it up, as Gallagher men were known to do.

I love my men in uniform, but add in a sexy broodiness and I’m hooked. Lane is the perfect example of this, and again, he had so much potential… but when he’s so determined NOT to be with Delilah, my love for him fizzled out. I want my alpha heroes to be possessive, to be head over heels for his woman and not let anything get in the way of that, but Lane was sadly the total opposite. I grew frustrated with him – despite how much he wanted Delilah, he kept pushing her away because he didn’t think he was good enough for her.

Delilah, thankfully, is a much more likable character. I loved her spunk and fire, especially her determination to win over the man she’s in love with. I admired how she never gave up on Lane, even when it seemed like she totally should’ve. The chemistry was also a plus in this book – Delilah and Lane are absolutely smokin’ together! All that build-up of the long-term tension and longing exploded in the hottest way. Karen Erickson knows how to write steam, which is fitting given the title of the book 😉

Overall, I liked this book, but I did have my frustrations with it. Smolder was engaging and entertaining, and I do love the small town the author has created in Wildwood. Other than Lane, I really enjoyed reading about everything else, and I’m even more excited to read the next book! The author certainly knows how to hook a reader in by setting up the next couple’s book. I can’t wait to read about Wren and Tate!

“I’m a grumpy asshole no one wants to be around if I don’t have you. I’ve denied my feelings for far too long and I’m done. I need you, Dee. I need you in my life. I don’t want to lose you.”

3.5 hearts
lacey

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

Reading Order: Wildwood series

  

#1 ~ Ignite: My Review • Ebook • PaperbackGoodreads
#2 ~ Smolder: EbookPaperback • Goodreads (June 21, 2016)
#3 ~ Torch: EbookGoodreads (Aug. 16, 2016)

about the author button

USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson writes what she loves to read – sexy contemporary romance. Published since 2006, she’s a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband and three children.

She also writes new adult romance as NYT & USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy.

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads • Newsletter

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$25 ebook retailer of winner’s choice

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Audiobook Review: Chasing Spring by R.S. Grey

Chasing Spring by R.S. Grey

Chasing Spring by R.S. Grey
Series: Standalone
Audiobook Publication Date: June 7th 2016
Length: 6 hours and 16 minutes
Narrated by: Alia Tavakolian, Ricco Fajardo, Jeannie Tirado
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

I thought I’d left Blackwater, Texas behind for good. I didn’t belong in the small town, but my dad wouldn’t listen. He dragged me back home in his beat-up truck and dropped a bomb along the way: Chase Matthews was moving in with us. He was the golden boy of my high school, my former best friend, and the last person I wanted sleeping across the hall. His presence was too great a reminder of the ghosts I was trying to forget.

I didn’t ask for a hero. I don’t want to be saved.

To me, Lilah Calloway meant late nights sneakin’ out, moonlit hair, and sparklers in July. She was my best friend until the day she left and I’d assumed Blackwater had seen the last of her. Then, like a tempest, she rolled back into town for the final half of senior year. The chopped hair and dark devil-may-care attitude warned most people away, but I knew if I fought hard enough, I could find the lost girl.

I didn’t want to be her hero. Some girls don’t need to be saved.

I’m a big fan of R.S. Grey’s rom-coms, but I knew going into Chasing Spring it would be a little different from what the author normally writes. It’s a YA book, not new adult, and it’s much more serious that her usual fun and flirty books. I wish I could say I loved Chasing Spring as much as I loved her previous books, but the execution of the story just wasn’t up to par. I really enjoyed listening to the three narrators, but the story wasn’t cohesive enough for me to truly appreciate the narration. I do applaud the author for venturing out of her normal genre, and wouldn’t mind giving a try at another of her YAs.

Lilah Calloway and Chase Matthews used to be childhood best friends before tragedy tore them apart. They haven’t seen each other for years, but Lilah has finally come home for their senior year of high school, but she’s not the same girl she used to be. She’s dyed her hair black, turned a little emo and grunge… she’s a bit of a mess and not at all happy. Chase is his usual shining, star athlete self… except looks can be deceiving. Chase’s mother is dead and his father is an alcoholic – but Lilah’s father offers him a place to stay in his home. Once again, Chase and Lilah will be together again, but not as close friends anymore.

Here we have coming-of-age YA, as Lilah struggles to deal with her problems and Chase trying to help her while saving himself. The romance between them kind of went on the backburner, which is a shame because if the author had fleshed out the love between Lilah and Chase more, it would’ve been so sweet and heartwarming. But the main focus was on Lilah’s problems, especially with drug and alcohol abuse. It was a little tiring and boring as I listened to Lilah NOT deal with her problems even though she wanted to, and Chase trying and failing to help her because she didn’t want his help. I lacked a connection with the characters and story, which impacted how I felt as I listened to the audiobook.

Luckily, the narrators did a great job at voicing the main characters. I was a little confused at why there were three narrators instead of just two, but I eventually found out that besides Lilah and Chase, there is a third POV, Lilah’s mother Elaine, who is also central to the story. I found her story to be the most intriguing and I really wish we’d gotten more of her POV than we did.

Chasing Spring had potential, but the story just wasn’t executed very well. I loved the narration, but it wasn’t enough for me to enjoy the story like a wanted. I still love R.S. Grey and will read more of her NAs, but this one is not one of my favorites of hers!

CHASING SPRING is now available on Audible: http://amzn.to/1Yt0g99

3 hearts
lacey


Also by R.S. Grey

Scoring Wilder by R.S. Grey  
The Allure of Julian Lefray by R.S. Grey The Allure of Dean Harper by R.S. Grey  

Scoring Wilder: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
Settling the Score: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
With This Heart: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
The Allure of Julian Lefray: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
The Allure of Dean Harper: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
The Duet: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
The Design: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads


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Review: The Bookworm Box (April 2016)

I’m finally back from school!! And who doesn’t love coming home to books, right? Well, I received a box from The Bookworm Box for review – you have no idea how much I squeed over this cute purple box! Inside, I found two surprise paperbacks and some lovely swag (check out the picks below)!


(I love Mia Sheridan!!!)

 

A little about The Bookworm Box: it was founded by author Colleen Hoover (one of the best authors and humans ever), and if you sign up for its monthly subscription, you get two signed books, a Bookworm item, and some book swag. The amazing thing about The Bookworm Box is that all profits go to charity (with over $40,000 donated since March 2015)! You can check out the charities they’ve donated to here.

Honestly, there are nothing but great things to say about The Bookworm Box! It’s the perfect way of combining books and charity. Boxes are currently open for purchase now! Thanks so much to Colleen Hoover for the box to review – I’ve been wanting one for a while now, and I’m definitely looking forward to buying one of my own!

lacey


The Bookworm Box: April 2016

Signed Midnight Lily by Mia Sheridan
Signed Honesty by Seth King
Bookworm Box items (sticker, pen, USB car charger adapter)
Skye Warren button
C.M. Foss magnet
Jennifer McMahon and B. Brumley bookmarks


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