#Review: Pretty When You Cry @skye_warren #darkromance #erotic

BLURB:

I came from a place of dirt floors and holy scriptures. They told me the world outside is full of sin, and the first night I escape, I know it’s true. Ivan saves me, but he does more than that. He takes me. He makes me his own girl.

My conditioning runs too deep. Ivan sees what I am.

That’s the thing about showing a mouse to a cat. He wants to play. And it’s terrifying, even for me. Because the only thing darker than my past is his.

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Excerpt:

So far a city looks exactly how I thought it would—gutted buildings and dark alleys.

A den of wickedness.

This morning I woke up on my floor mat in Harmony Hills. Sunlight streamed through the window while dust rose up to meet it. The white walls somehow kept their color despite rough dirt floors.

A desperate trek through the woods and a series of bus rides later, I made it to a city. This city. Tanglewood. It could have been anywhere. They’re all the same, all sinful, all scary—and the only thing that makes this one special is that I ran out of money for bus tickets.

My shoes are made of white canvas, already fraying and black from the grime of the streets. I made these shoes by hand when I turned twelve, and the heel on the left side has never fit quite right. But the bamboo soles lasted four years in the hills. Now they’re cracking against concrete. I can feel every lump in the pavement, every loose rock, every rounded hump as the sidewalk turns to cobblestone and then back again.

That’s not the worst part.

There’s someone following me. Maybe more than one person. I try to listen for the footsteps, but it’s hard to hear over the pounding in my ears, the thud of my heart against my chest. Panic is a tangible force in my head, a gritty quicksand that threatens to pull me down.

I could end up on my knees before this night is over.

But I don’t think I’ll be saying my evening prayers.

Men are standing outside a gate that hangs open on its hinges. They fall silent as I walk close. I tighten my arms where they are folded over my chest and look down. If I can’t see them, they can’t see me. It wasn’t true when I was little, and it’s not true now.

One of them steps in front of me.

My breath catches, and I stop walking. My whole body is trembling by the time I meet his eyes, bloodshot red in a shadowed face. “What’s your name?” he asks in a gravelly voice.

I jerk my head. No.

“Now that’s not very polite, is it?” Another one steps closer, and then I smell him. They couldn’t have showered in the past day or even week.

Cleanliness is a virtue.

Being quiet and obedient and small is a virtue too. “I’m sorry. I just want to—”

I don’t know what comes next. I want to run. I want to hide. I want to pretend the past fifteen years as a disciple of the Harmony Hills never happened. None of that is possible when I’m surrounded by men. I take a step back and bump into another man. Hands close around my arms.

A sound escapes me—fear and protest. It’s more than I would have done this morning, that sound.

I’m turned to face the man behind me. He smiles a broken-toothed smile. “Doesn’t matter what you want, darling.”

My mouth opens, but I can’t scream. I can’t scream because I’ve been taught not to. Because I know no one will come. Because the consequences of crying are worse than what will happen next.

Then the man’s eyes widen in something like fear. It’s a foreign expression on his face. It doesn’t belong. I wouldn’t even believe it except he takes a step back.

My chest squeezes tight. What’s behind me? Who is behind me that could have inspired that kind of fear? The men surrounding me are monsters, but they’re backing off now, stepping away, hands up in surrender. No harm done, that’s what they’re saying without words.

I whirl and almost slip on a loose cobblestone.

The man standing in front of me is completely still. That’s the first thing I notice about him—before I see the fine cut of his black suit or the glint of a silver watch under his cuff. Before I see the expression on his face, devoid of compassion or emotion. Devoid of humanity.

“We didn’t know she worked for you,” one of the men mumbles.

They’re still backing up, forming a circle around us, growing wider. I’m in the middle. I’m the drop, and the men around me form a ripple. Then they fade into the blackness and are gone.

It’s just me and the man in the suit.

He hasn’t spoken. I’m not sure he’s going to. I half expect him to pull out a gun from somewhere underneath that smooth black fabric and shoot me. That’s what happens in the city, isn’t it? That’s what everyone told me about the outside world, how dangerous it is. And even while some part of me had nodded along, had believed them, another part of me had refused.

There had to be beauty outside the white stucco walls. Beauty that wasn’t contained and controlled. Beauty with color. Only apparently I was wrong. I haven’t seen anything beautiful—except him.

He’s beautiful in a strange and sinful way, one that makes me more afraid. Not colorful exactly. His eyes are a gray color I’ve never seen before, both deep and opaque at the same time.

He steps closer, the light from a marquee sign illuminating his face, making him look even more sinister. “What’s your name?”

I couldn’t answer those other men, but I find something inside for him. I find truth. “I’m not allowed to say my name to someone else.”

He studies me for a long moment, taking in my tangled hair and my white dress. “Why not?”

Because God will punish me. “Because I’m running away.”

He nods like this is what he expected. “Do you have money?”

I have fifteen dollars left after bus fare. “Some.”

His lips twist, and I wonder if that’s what a smile looks like on him. It’s terrifying. “No, you don’t,” he says. “The question is, what would you do to earn some?”

Anything.

My voice is just a whisper. “I’m a good girl.”

He laughs, and I see that I was wrong before. That wasn’t a smile. It was a taunt. A challenge. This is a real smile, one with teeth. The sound rolls through me like a coming storm, deep and foreboding.

“I know,” he says gently. “What’s your name?”

“Candace.”

He studies me. “Pretty name.”

His voice is deep with promise and something else I can’t decipher. All I know is he isn’t really talking about my name. And I know it isn’t really a compliment. “Thank you.”

“Now come inside, Candace.”

He turns and walks away before I can answer. I can feel the night closing in on me, the sharks in the water waiting to strike. It’s not really a choice. I think the man knows that. He’s counting on it. Whatever is going to happen inside will be bad, and the only thing worse is what would have happened outside.

I hurry to catch up with him, almost running across the crumbled driveway, under the marquee sign for the Grand, desperate for the dubious safety of the man who could hold the darkness at bay. It’s the same thing that kept me in Harmony Hills for so long—fear and twisted gratitude.

***Nona's Review for Pretty When You Cry by Skye Warren***

Candace runs away from a strict, strange religious cult and finds herself alone in the big city like a babe in the woods. Just as danger closes in, Ivan, a hard, mysterious man in an expensive suit rescues her. But Candace's relief is short-lived. Ivan, suspecting the innocent girl will only bring trouble, wants to return her to the flock. She begs him to let her stay and in return offers herself.

Ivan protects her, cherishes her and treats her like a princess in a tower. As time passes, Candace realizes her feelings for Ivan are those of a woman. She wants him, but he keeps himself at a distance. He will only lower his guard briefly, when he plays "Daddy" to his "little girl," rewarding her when she's good and punishing her when she's bad.

Pretty When You Cry is an erotic dark romance with a good amount of kink. There are some really hot scenes of spanking and sex. While Candace enjoys her "little girl" persona with Ivan, she also wants him to love her like a woman. He's a bad man, though, and afraid to let her too close. When outside danger threatens, he holds her even tighter to keep her safe.

As much as I enjoyed the sexy parts of the story, I liked Candace's struggle to find herself. She's always been under a man's control--first the cult leader, and then Ivan. One wants to use her, the other to protect her. But she must stand on her own two feet to discover who she truly is. I was glad the author made sure she finally got the chance.  Ivan grows as well, when he realizes he must give Candace freedom if he truly cares for her. I don't want to reveal too much, but the scene toward the end when they meet again after time apart was heart-wrenching.

I also enjoyed meeting some of the other characters, whose stories I look forward to reading in the rest of the series. I recommend Pretty When You Cry as a gritty, sexy, satisfying dark romance. 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

  

Skye Warren is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of dark romance. Her books are raw, sexual and perversely romantic.

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#Review: Moonbeams of Unintended Consequences @SexyMuffyWilson #multicultural #erotic

THAT night…

SHE wore a flowing, form fitted white spaghetti strapped gown that cascaded in tumbled silken folds to her abdomen and revealed her breath in the soft rise of her alabaster breasts. Her eyes reflected an emerald depth with gold flecks that edged to hazel and were framed by neat, arched brows that narrowed to her temples where her heartbeat announced the rhythm of her life. Her only adornment was a starkly white gardenia nestled in the curves of her auburn. The heavy floral fragrance of the corsage announced her arrival as she glided elegantly to her aisle and settled, like a dove, into her center seat. She was alone…but not for long.

Would she regret her indulgence?

HE was a towering, self-assured giant of a black man, chest broad and arms outstretched in opulent black leather. His intense black eyes locked irresistibly onto her and declared his hunger. The opera house erupted with his full bass-baritone harmony. His musical seduction began, and his hypnotic gaze was met by her eager response as she answered his desire with a blush.

But, was his desire enough?

THEY spent an insatiable night together in Room 457 of the Historic Whitcomb Hotel locked in a magnetic embrace riding moonbeams of passion and ribbons of desire that wove them irretrievably together in ways that only the future would disclose—a future neither of them ever anticipated. Would the secrets of the past, of that one night, prove too much to bear as the future unfolds the truth and the depths of her desperate need?

Would the life and death struggle she faced overshadow the seeds of love planted a decade earlier?

****Nona's Review****

This story is a very interesting mix of erotic romance and sweet family story. It begins when young woman Jordan attends a concert featuring opera star Mason. He notices her in the audience and seems to sing especially for her. She responds to his overwhelming presence and the two to them spend a passionate night together.

Years later, we discover that Jordan has given birth to Mason's daughter. She never told him of Lily's existence, because though he was separated at the time of his interlude with Jordan, he and his wife later reconciled. Jordan never wanted to interfere with his life or marriage, but now things have changed. Lily is deathly ill, in need of a liver transplant, and Mason is her last hope.

This is a very touching, emotional and, in spite of the tragic theme, enjoyable story. The sexy parts occur at the beginning and end of the story. In between we have an emotional tale about dealing with the loss of a spouse, the possible loss of a child, and the upheaval in family life that changed circumstances bring. Jordan and Mason were characters I liked and admired very much. They put their responsibilities to their children (Mason has three with his late wife, in addition to Lily) before their own concerns. Even so, their old connection stirs memories and they realize their love has never died.

I really enjoyed the supporting characters as well. Miss Maddie, the housekeeper, is a gem, wanting to protect Mason and his children while developing a soft spot for Lily and Jordan. The kids were adorable, though maybe a bit too sweet at times--there was no sibling rivalry or tussling, none of the brattiness that might be expected from even the best behaved children. This is an interracial romance, Jordan being white and Mason black.  I thought Mason's race was referred to perhaps too often in the opening chapter, though it isn't much of an issue as the story continues.  There's really not much to complain about in this story. It was a very heartfelt read.

That said, I was a bit surprised that the book concluded before all the story threads were tied up! That means a second book is in the works. I hope Ms. Wilson publishes it soon--I need to find out what happens to Lily, Jordan, Mason and everyone else! I highly recommend Moonbeams of Unintended Consequences.

Purchase the book at Amazon

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#BlogTour & #Review: Something for the Pain #SFTP #VictoriaAshleyAuthor

Cover Model’s Page (Robert Simmons)

Photographer’s Page (Eric David Battershell/FI Tography)

Cover Designer’s Page (Cover It Designs)

Tempting, inked and highly addictive. Alex is all that and more… 
      I’ve made a lot of mistakes – ones I’m not proud of, and definitely ones that have left their marks both mentally and physically. 
     Things got lonely; I got lost in my own fucked up mind and in the end it left me fucked out of my mind and unable to fight – or at least win. That life’s over for me and I’ve moved on. 
     Six months into tattooing at Blue’s and already I’m the most wanted and sought out tattooist. My biggest clientele consists of women. They come into the shop, end up in my bed and we both come out happy. It’s been my release since I’ve stopped fighting. It’s become part of the “new” me. 
     But when Tripp reappears in my life, I can’t deny the fact that I would do anything for that girl. 
     So when she asks me to move in with her and her ‘boyfriend’ – our other childhood friend – I never expected for things to get so fucked up and twisted that I would find myself only more attracted to her by each passing second or wanting to protect her from everything that isn’t me.
     I have worked so hard over the years to suppress my feelings for her but when I find out that her and Lucas have been having an open relationship, I have the strong urge to rip his heart straight from his chest – to destroy the very thing that keeps him breathing. 
     What I didn’t expect was for Lucas to ask what he did. For him to ask me to do the one thing I have secretly longed for since I was old enough to know what the need was. The second thing I never expected was the look of need that I saw in Tripp’s eyes when he asked. 

One night of free passion could change our lives forever. I never said that was a good  thing either… I hear my door push open, but I’m too tired to acknowledge it. It can’t be any later than seven thirty in the morning, so I just stay lying on my stomach.
      I hear something get set down on my computer desk before I feel the bed dip down next to me. It must be Lucas saying goodbye before he has to get ready for work.
      Groaning, I reach out and grip his upper thigh, surprised at how hard and thick it feels in my hand. I guess I never really paid his legs much attention before. “Ughhhh… my head. Why did you give me all those shots last night? I feel like hell.” I run my hand up higher, stopping just below his package. Why does he feel so good right now?
     “You look like hell too,” Alex says playfully.
     Shocked, I let go of his thigh and grip onto the sheet to cover my bare breasts, while maneuvering my way to my knees. I almost forgot that Alex finally moved his stuff in last night. Man, I really must’ve had a few too many shots.
     “Crap, Alex. I thought you were Lucas.” I reach up with one hand to cover my face as my head starts pounding. “I guess I drank a little too much last night.” I pull my hand away and squint from the light shining in my room. “I almost grabbed your dick, Alex. You weren’t even going to say anything?”
      Grinning, Alex stands up, and I can’t help but to notice how sexy he looks, wearing only a tight pair of boxer briefs. Not only do I get him as a roommate, but now I’ll also have to see him running around in his underwear. Talk about a distraction.
      “Just a few too many.” He runs his hand through his wet hair. “And I’m not going to stop something that feels good. I’m sure your hand was enjoying it too much. Now sit up straight.”
I watch as Alex walks over to my desk and grabs a plate and a glass of something. My head hurts too much to even pay attention to his words. “What’s this?” I ask as he sets the plate on my lap. “You made me breakfast?”
      He sets the glass down on the nightstand beside me and I peek over to see that it’s orange juice. “Yeah.” Without another word, he walks into the bathroom. I almost think he’s going back to his room, until he emerges a few seconds later, holding something in his hand. He places two pills into my hand and crosses his arms over his chest. “Ibuprofen. Take those and eat your food.”
      Not questioning him, I do as told. The first bite of food causes me to smile at its deliciousness. “Oh my goodness, Alex.” I point down at the toast before taking another bite and quickly chewing it. “This is absolutely delicious. Wow.”
      He smiles. “Tell me something I don’t know.” I toss a piece of egg at his head. “Cocky much?” I laugh as he grabs my hand and takes a bite of the eggs that I was just about to eat. “Very much so.” He chews the eggs and rubs a hand over his stiff abs. “What you doing before work?”
     “I was going to stop by and visit Tara. You want to come with?”
     He nods his head and starts backing away to the bathroom. “Yeah. I’m sure she misses the shit out of me.”
      I laugh, accidentally spitting the mouthful of toast out. “Seriously?” I cover my mouth and smile. “It’s only been like a week. Trust me, she does not miss you.”
      He flashes me his dimples. “We’ll see about that.” He gets ready to walk out of my room, but stops and grabs onto the frame. “Oh and Lucas left for work already. He said he’ll see you around one.”
      Figures he wouldn’t say bye. “Alright… thanks.” I take a sip of my orange juice. “I’ll shower after I eat and then we can go. Sound good?”
      “Everything out of your mouth sounds good.” He attempts to catch the egg in his mouth as I throw it at him. “You have a horrible aim. I’m going to go downstairs and work out for about twenty minutes and then take a quick shower. I’ll shower downstairs so I don’t slow you down.”
       Eyeing his body up and down, I swallow, remembering the dirty sounds coming from the downstairs shower last night. I tried so hard to block them out, but it was pretty hard to miss. I have to admit that hearing Alex fuck, both turned me on and bothered me at the same time. A part of me wanted to imagine myself taking her place, while the other part wanted to pretend that I wasn’t imagining it at all.
      Then Lucas came up here saying dirty things to me about Alex… once again, turning me on so bad that I practically knocked him down and jumped on his dick. We had wild, meaningless sex, and then I sent him down to his room. Sleeping in the same bed as Lucas is something that I haven’t done yet. I’ve only slept next to Alex, and for some reason… I want to keep it that way for now. 
      “Sounds good. We can take your truck.” I smile while taking another bite of food.
      “You just can’t get enough of my awesome driving, can you? You like it fast and wild.” He winks. “I like that.”
       I point my fork at him. “Just hurry up so we can get going.”
      “Sure thing, babe.” He dodges out of my room, leaving me grinning from ear to ear. He always has a way of making me smile. I honestly don’t know what I would do without him.

***Nona's review of Something for the Pain by Victoria Ashley***

     Something for the Pain is the very intense, erotic story of Alex, a tattoo artist, and his best friend Tripp, who serves drinks at a bar. They have been best friends since childhood, bonded by lives of abuse and abandonment. Through all their trials and tribulations, they've been there for each other. They are so close, in fact, that they don't realize they are in love. Or rather, they fight their feelings, never acknowledging their romantic love for each other. They're terrified taking that step would destroy their friendship, which means the world to them.

     So Alex plays around with any number of women and feels nothing for them while Tripp moves in with Lucas, her supposed boyfriend. But she won't be happy until she convinces Alex to move into their house with them. As you can imagine, lots of complications ensue. Things get really heated when Lucas wants to indulge a kinky fantasy and watch the two of them get it on. This gives Alex and Tripp the perfect excuse to tear up the sheets, which is what they've wanted all along. Of course, once is not going to be enough.

    The author does a good job of showing how devoted Tripp and Alex are to each other. She also does well showing how their relationship grew from their past hurts. I did feel the reason for them staying apart was a bit weak, especially since they spend so much time flirting with each other and exchanging sexy banter. She's "Firecracker" and he's "Stud." There's no hiding how they feel, and it was a little frustrating that they took so long to face up to it.

     The way Alex used other women to get his mind off of Tripp made him rather unsympathetic to me at times. Tripp was using Lucas pretty much the same way, although it was hard to muster any sympathy for Lucas. He basically got what he deserved. Once Alex and Tripp got together, it was pretty clear Lucas would be on his way out.

     The characters are young, hungry for each other and can't keep a lid on their feelings. The sex scenes are off the charts. Readers who thrill to angsty stories of lovers who can't be together yet can't stay away will be hooked.

  

Victoria Ashley grew up in Rockford, IL and has had a passion for reading for as long as she can remember. After finding a reading app where it allowed readers to upload their own stories, she gave it a shot and writing became her passion. 
      She lives for a good romance book with tattooed bad boys that are just highly misunderstood and is not afraid to be caught crying during a good read. When she’s not reading or writing about bad boys, you can find her watching her favorites shows such as Sons Of Anarchy, Dexter and True Blood. 
      She is the author of Wake Up Call, This Regret, Slade, Hemy, Cade, Thrust, and Get Off on the Pain. Victoria is currently working on more releases for 2015.

Victoria’s Facebook Page

#Guest post & #Review WINNING STREAK by @KatieKenyhercz

Hello Divettes!

I'm back again with a guest post and review of Winning Streak by the wonderful and talented Katie Kenyhercz!

As the new head of public relations for the Las Vegas Sinners hockey team, Saralynn Reese wants to leave behind the frivolity of her popular girl image. Unfortunately, her first big assignment is to clean up the media messes of the team's assistant general manager, Madden Vaughn. He's flirty, impulsive, and self-centered; he also happens to be drop-dead gorgeous. Could there be more to Madden under the Ralph Lauren surface?

Having struggled with a gambling addiction since his early twenties, Madden's finally moved past it and into a secure, corporate job working for his sister, the one person who means the world to him. When rumors fly and the team and his family both doubt his word, an unlikely ally pulls him out of his funk with a manicured hand: Saralynn.

He's tired of chasing the same type of unattainable girl, and this up-and-coming publicity dynamo fits that mold perfectly. But she also challenges him and believes in him like no one else. Can they help each other keep their feet on solid ground . . . or will these twin hearts find themselves skating on thin ice?

Rach's Review: 5 out of 5 Divas

Heat level: 3.5/5 

I've got to say, I really loved this book. Now, I admit I might be a tiny bit biased, as I was one of Katie's critique partners way back when on the first book in this series, On the Fly, and I had a good long while to fall in love with Madden in that book! So when Katie told me he was getting his own book, I was ecstatic! And Winning Streak definitely does not disappoint! I loved this book start to finish. Madden and Saralynn both have some serious issues, and the obstacles to their relationship are many and intense. These were both stellarly believable characters and their time together on the page sizzles. This story really touched my heart and gave me some warm fuzzies, in addition to some serious sexual tension that threatened to burn up the pages! Can't recommend this book highly enough. Or the series for that matter. I've always been a bit of a hockey fan, but not hugely into the sport, so don't let the hockey scare you off. This is a wonderful series, and I can't wait to see what's in store next for the Las Vegas Sinners.



From the author:

Winning Streak is an anomaly in the Las Vegas Sinners series because I never intended to write it. I'd planned to have a hockey hero in every book. However, when On the Fly came out, I got a lot of reader feedback asking for Madden's book. They fell in love with Jacey's sweet but hapless brother and wanted more for him. I'd already planned Full Strength, the goalie's story, for book 2, but when it came time for book 3, I put a poll out to my readers. Who did they want first, Madden or Dylan Cole, the rookie turned young captain? Madden was the resounding winner.

I started writing Winning Streak and hit wall after wall. I knew I had to deal with Madden's gambling addiction, but beyond that, I wasn't sure what to do with a non-hockey playing hero. Enter young professional and relationship train wreck, Saralynn Reese, the goalie's younger sister from Full Strength. Saralynn is a former mean girl looking to better herself, and that made her both a challenge and a joy to write. I had to keep her sympathetic and show her depth but still hold onto the snark and a bit of the high maintenance that makes her funny. I had the best time writing her because she is almost nothing like me, which was different from writing Jacey and Allie, my two previous heroines. 

The fun of Winning Streak is that you have two people who are broken in the same amusing way. They were beautiful and shallow for most of their lives (at least that's what most people saw) and now both want to improve. Throwing them together is like the blind leading the blind, but they do learn about themselves through each other, and I love that. Madden's struggling to gain his sister's trust and respect after a gambling relapse years back, and Saralynn's trying to get people to take her seriously by taking charge of the Sinners PR department. Her first assignment is to clean up one of Madden's media messes.

I love the way these two play off of each other, and they both go through some rough growing pains but struggle to do their best.

The 4th Sinners book, Home Ice, is already out, and naturally focuses on young NHL phenom, Dylan Cole, who hits his first ever slump and can't seem to deal. He falls for America's figure skating sweetheart, Lorelai Kelly, who broke her ankle in the last Olympic Games and is struggling to get back on her blades and stay in the spotlight while she moonlights as the star of Sin City on Ice.

The 5th and final book in the Sinners series is Fair Trade, and it will release this December. It follows Grayson Gunn, a player in his early 40s who's looking to retire at the end of the season. He'd played his whole career for his home team out of loyalty but they never made the playoffs, and they mercy trade him to the Sinners for one last chance at the Cup before he hangs up his skates. He's intrigued by the new team assistant physician, Olivia Parker, who had worked for an AHL team before getting the Sinners' offer. They're both recovering from painful divorces and trying to get their bearings in Las Vegas when an unexpected chemistry pulls them together even as they try to stay away.

I still plan to write a collection of short stories catching up with each couple from the series and entitle it What Happens in Vegas because I've had several readers say they wanted to know what happened to everybody. Happy to oblige!

I will be very sad to see this series end :-( But I am so excited that Home Ice is Dylan Cole's story and I can't wait to read it!

Grab your copy of Winning Streak here:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1hvuerP 
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1TpgSco 

Thanks for stopping by today, Katie! It was great to have you.

~ Rach

#Review & #Giveaway: Circling Back @_Amanda_Young #erotic #menage #secretbaby

Title: Circling Back

Author: Amanda Young

Genre: Erotic MMF Romance

Release: August 10, 2015

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25915837-circling-back

Blurb:

A second chance is only the beginning...

Stella fled home at seventeen with a broken heart, an unplanned pregnancy, and a vow never to look back. Twenty years later, she has a career she enjoys and a solid relationship with the child she placed for open adoption. When that child goes in search of her birth father and calls for assistance, Stella is forced to return to her hometown and face the men who broke her heart, one of whom fathered her child.

Gavin and Holden raised a lot of hell as teenagers. They broke the law, broke their mother's hearts, and almost broke each other before they finally got their act together. Through all the ups and downs, they stuck by each other and managed to build a happy life together. The one thing they couldn’t do was forget the woman they’d loved and lost.

Forced to face the past and each other after so many years is no small feat. The trio does their best to make amends and put the past behind them while forging new bonds. Old feelings are rekindled and new emotions emerge from the ashes of their youthful indiscretions. Something remarkable could be on the horizon if they’re strong enough to navigate the pitfalls of a triad relationship and stand strong against the outside forces conspiring to bring them to their knees.

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://goo.gl/9oZhEL

Amazon CA: http://goo.gl/qkMF5b

Amazon UK: http://goo.gl/Y4AolO

Amazon AU: http://goo.gl/vPn6sq

Kobo: http://goo.gl/nxp9gE

Barnes & Noble: http://goo.gl/HWEhMP

Excerpt:

She glanced at Gavin and found his gaze headed south of her lower back. “See something you like?”

“I see something I love.” Gavin moved in close behind her and ran the outside of his thumb down her bare arm. “I love every inch of your beautiful body, from your beautiful, long hair all the way to your cute little toes.”

Stella basked in Gavin’s admiration. “That’s good to know.”

“You could make yourself more comfortable and let me express my regards for your many, many charms.” Gavin nuzzled the curve of her throat and pressed his warm lips against the sensitive skin beneath her ear.

The sensual touch sent a shiver down Stella’s spine and made her nipples tighten in anticipation of taking Gavin up on his offer. “I really wish you could.”

“We can.” Gavin pulled her ear lobe into his mouth, nibbled, and released it.

“We really can’t. Holden and Mae will both here soon.”

Gavin slid an arm around her waist and pulled her back tight against him. “We could be quick.”

Stella could feel the long, stiff length of him pressed against her bottom. She closed her eyes and prayed for the strength to resist. “You’ll just have to be patient and wait until tonight.”

Gavin groaned. “You’re so mean to me.”

Stella couldn’t help but laugh. She turned and wrapped her arms around Gavin’s neck. “You pitiful, pitiful man. Would a kiss make you feel better?”

“That might tide me over until later as long as it’s a good one.”

“I think I can meet your needs.” Stella brushed her fingers through the soft hair at Gavin’s nape and pulled him down to meet her as she lifted up and glided her lips over his. She kept the caresses soft for the first few passes and then pressed up a little harder and licked across Gavin’s lower lip. The tip of Gavin’s tongue met her own and flicked back and forth, taunting her into giving chase and deepening the kiss. Gavin’s mouth tasted sweet and minty, like he’d ate a piece of candy right before she’d arrived. Delicious.

Something banged in another room and then Holden’s voice called out. “Honey, I’m home.”

Gavin retreated and opened his eyes. He smiled at Stella. “Looks like we’ll have to pick this up later.”

Stella blinked up at Gavin. “Yeah. Later.” Definitely later. She could hardly wait. All she’d had was a little taste of what being with them was like. She couldn’t wait to discover what else they had in store for her.

With that thought in mind, she trailed back down the hall behind Gavin. He rounded the corner ahead of her and she heard his breath catch a second before her gaze landed on Holden and the spectacular bruise blossoming across his right cheekbone.

“Jesus fuck,” Gavin exclaimed. “What happened to your face?”

“Are you okay?” Stella asked, walking forward. “Did someone hit you?”

“Tell us what happened.” Gavin cupped Holden’s jaw in both hands.

“I got to meet Joanna’s ex. It was a real pleasure, let me tell you.”

“And he punched you?” Gavin asked.

It took Stella a moment to place the name as the guy’s old shop steward. “Why would her ex assault you?”

Holden shook his head. “He thinks I’m hiding Joanna from him or some shit.”

Gavin pushed Holden’s chin up and to the side, inspecting him. “Is this the worst of it or is there more hiding under your clothes?”

Holden caught Gavin’s hands and held them trapped within his own. “I’m fine. He caught me by surprise when I was leaving, shoved me into the building, and got off one sucker punch. Believe me, he looks worse than I do.”

“That’s better than nothing, I guess.” Gavin looked down at their clasped hands. “Your knuckles are a mess. Go wash up and I’ll come in and put some antiseptic on them.”

“Yes, Mom.” Holden brought Gavin’s hands up to his mouth, kissed, and released them. He stopped next to Stella and smiled at her. “Hey, pretty lady. I’m glad you’re here. Just let me scrub off the day and I’ll greet you properly.”

“Go look after yourself. I’ll be here when you’re finished.” Stella patted him on the butt.

“Hey now,” Holden said. “No getting fresh until I can do something about it.”

Stella grinned at him. “Don’t worry. There’s a lot more where that came from.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Holden said over his shoulder as he walked out of the room.

****Nona's review of Circling Back****

Last week I featured the cover reveal of Circling Back and was so intrigued by the blurb I asked the author, Amanda Young, if I could sign up to review the book. Besides featuring same-sex love and menage shenanigans, it also includes the secret baby trope and a BBW as the heroine, both of which I love. I'm so glad I had a chance to read an advance copy of Circling Back!

Back in high school, Stella realized she loved Holden and Gavin, but didn't know that they were a couple as well. When she discovered them in an intimate situation, she ran away, convinced they'd only used her as a beard to hide their own activity. After she found herself pregnant, she surrendered the baby in an open adoption and moved on with her life.

Years later, her daughter is an adult who wants to meet her father, who may be either man. This forces Stella to confront her past and reunite with the two men, who had no idea of Stella's pregnancy. Holden and Gavin are still together after all this time, and once they get over the hurt of Stella keeping her pregnancy secret, they realize they still want her. And she wants them, too.

I thought the story might involve more drama surrounding their birth daughter, but instead Circling Back focuses on the threesome and how they get to know each other again. There are a lot of sexy scenes between Stella, Gavin and Holden, one on one and all together. Lovers of menage will not be disappointed, nor will those who enjoy same sex romance. Holden and Gavin's relationship is firm, but they are eager to open up to accept the woman they both love. It's nice to see Stella, whose sexual and romantic life has been in a holding pattern, getting her groove on. I enjoyed the sexiness of the story and also appreciated the way the characters struggled with day to day problems of job stress and being in a long distance relationship. There's also some suspense as the men try to help a friend who's been pursued by an abusive ex.

Gavin and Holden were awesome heroes in every way—sexy, strong and caring. I liked how Stella started out a bit hesitant, then made up her mind to "go for it" when the guys showed their interest. We should all be so brave in going after what we want! I highly recommend Circling Back to everyone who enjoys MMF menage romance.

About the author:

Amanda Young lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and two pampered pooches. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found chasing after a mischievous toddler or daydreaming about the characters in her next book. She loves to hear from her readers, and can be found on Facebook and Twitter. Her website, www.amandayoung.org, is where you can find up-to-date information on all of Amanda’s current and upcoming releases.

Find Amanda online:

Website: http://www.amandayoung.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmandaYoungFanPage

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/531738.Amanda_Young

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_Amanda_Young

Email: authoramandayoung@gmail.com

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Young/e/B002BLWA18

Newsletter:  http://eepurl.com/bsoF6n

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#Review & #Giveaway: Beauty Submits to Her Beast @Sydneystclaire #erotic #BDSM

Sydney St. Claire will be awarding a randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter a $20 Amazon/BN gift card, so please make sure to enter!

BLURB:

Rancher Caitlin Olsen is in complete control of her life. After years of taking care of others, she’s on her own and loving every minute. She has her horses and her ranch. What more does she need? Yet deep inside, she yearns to give up all her responsibilities and simply experience life. When a friend suggests she try a bit of BDSM role-play, she does her research and accepts an invitation to Pleasure Manor for a fairy tale event.

War hero and Dominant, Damon Steele is a loner. His failure to keep his men alive destroyed too many hopes and dreams. He won’t be responsible for anyone else's life or happiness ever again. There’s no room in his life—or his heart—for romance. Instead, he satisfies his needs at BDSM clubs and never with the same sub. Taking part in the fairy tale event at Pleasure Manor is difficult enough, but when Beauty challenges him both in the bedroom and out, he’s not sure he can control his inner beast.

EXCERPT

She licked her lips, suddenly nervous again. How did a person begin a cold turkey sexual fling? She didn’t engage in one-night stands, always dated and got to know her past lovers first. “I’m Caitlin. I’ve never been here before. What now?”

He inclined his head. “I’m Damon. I’ll be your Dom for the weekend. Find the X on the floor and stand on it.”

Damon. To tame. Oh, yes, she wanted to tame her beast. Like a flame set to gas-soaked briquettes, his gaze on her breast, along with his sexy, deep baritone voice, ignited the ball of lust swirling in her center.

Whew, this won’t be so bad. In fact, if she hadn’t been cuffed, she might have jumped him, tumbled them both onto the couch.

He snapped his fingers, bringing her back to the here and now. “First rule. I don't give instructions more than once. Do as I ordered.”

The lust in her veins cooled and once again, indignation threaded with anger took hold. “Excuse me?” No one had ordered her around since she was thirteen and assumed the role of parent to her younger siblings and caregiver to her mother.

“Your choice is to obey or leave. If you want to leave, I’ll remove the cuffs and let Hastings arrange for you to be taken home.”

Go before she sampled this hunk? Nope. No matter how much she hated being told what to do. Her curiosity was piqued, and her body ached to have this man kiss her. And fuck her like a stallion claiming his mare. This Belle wanted her Beast.

Purchase Links:

Amazon  

Barnes&Noble

The Wild Rose Press 

***Nona's Review of Beauty Submits to Her Beast***

This is the fourth installment in the author's Once Upon a Dom series. Each story in the series features couples donning fairy tale characters' disguise to enact kinky sex games and find true love in the bargain. In Beauty Submits to Her Beast, Caitlin spends her life rescuing horses and running her ranch. She's used to being in charge. But her love life is decidedly lackluster, so she jumps at the chance to spend a weekend at a BDSM getaway. This will be her opportunity to experience the awesome sex she dreams of.

    

At the getaway Caitlin finds her disguise is that of Belle and her Dom aka "Beast" is Damon. Though Caitlin finds it hard to hand over control, Damon more than delivers on his promise of sexual adventure. While he introduces her to all kinds of delights, their relationship deepens as they get to know each other. Caitlin discovers Damon, a former SEAL, is tortured by memories of his lost comrades and consumed by guilt, believing he was responsible for their deaths.

    

Though I've read and enjoyed two previous entries in this series, I must say I liked this one best. Because it is considerably longer than the earlier novellas, there's more room for character development (not to mention plenty more hot sex!) I liked Caitlin's self-assurance and the way she owned what she enjoyed sexually. Her efforts to be a "good sub" were sometimes comical, in that submitting was so unlike her nature. Damon was a super-hot hero and his struggle to overcome his past was very touching. I loved how deeply Caitlin cared and how much she wanted to help him. Her plan to give him room to battle his demons was very wise. I enjoyed the reappearance of several characters from earlier stories--especially Glorie, the Domme. I really hope she gets her own story. And I loved the description of the treehouse--I want one for myself!

    

I highly recommend Beauty Submits to Her Beast as an awesome erotic read. Everyone who loves feisty heroines and tortured alpha heroes should give this book a try.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Sydney St. Claire is the pseudonym of Susan Edwards, author of 14 Historical Native American/Western/Paranormal romances and the author of the popular “White” Series.

Sydney loves writing and sharing stories of love, happiness and dreams come true with her readers. She credits her mother for her writing success.  Encouraged to read as a child, she always preferred happy endings which meant romances were her favorite genre.  Sydney takes her readers into the world of erotica romance where her characters come together in explosive passion as they solve life’s problems and find true love along with the best sex our hero and heroine have ever experienced.

Sydney’s office is quite crowded with three dogs at her feet and five cats to keep her company while she writes. Three cats always insist on beds on her desk, barely leaving enough room for her monitor and keyboard. Life gets fun when all five insist on supervising…

When not writing, she enjoys crafts of all sorts including quilting, sewing, cross-stitch and knitting. She and her husband of 30 + years are avid gardeners. He takes care of the veggies, and Susan is in charge of the ‘pretties’. Her medicine wheel garden is in a contact state of war: flowers vs. weeds. Sadly, right now the weeds are wining…

While writing, she listens to a wide variety of music. Her current favorites are Blackmore’s Night and David Lanz.

Contact Links:

 

Email:              Sydney@sydneystclaire.com

Trailer

Website:          http://sydneystclaire.com

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