Tuesday, December 9, 2014

ARC Review: Want It (Rule Breakers #3) by Jennifer Chance

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: December 9, 2014
Publisher: Loveswept
224 Pages

In the latest tantalizing Rule Breakers novel from Jennifer Chance, an irresistible alpha male follows his ex into a deadly standoff—and reignites a heated affair.

For Erin Connelly, being a good girl isn’t such a bad thing. She’s working her dream job at a Boston art gallery and staying out of trouble, which is more than she can say for her deadbeat mom. Unfortunately, her mother’s latest misadventure lands her in the clutches of a Mexican drug lord. Now the only person who can save her is the one man Erin has no business asking for help: the sexy-as-sin army ranger who just so happens to be her former high school sweetheart.

Zander James is no gentleman—and no officer, either, thanks to Erin. Four years ago, she made a call that terminated his highest aspirations . . . and their relationship. He’s never forgiven her, but when he learns that Erin’s embarking on a half-baked rescue mission, he sure as hell can’t let her go alone. Now, with a treacherous enemy lying in wait, the electrifying tension between them may just be Zander’s undoing. Because while he may be able to keep Erin alive, he can’t promise to keep his hands off her.




I first read Jennifer Chance when I received an ARC of Rock It, the first book in the Rule Breakers series. I enjoyed it immensely.  The plot brought back memories of my love for Justin Timberlake and I connected with the story and the characters. Unfortunately, I didn’t get all of that with Want It.

This series is nice in that each book can be read as a standalone. There is an underlying connection but it’s so minor that you blink, you miss it. Which worked in my favor here as I didn’t read the second one. In Want It, we meet Erin Connelly, the girl who plays it safe. She works hard, has a good job, and has an okay living situation having inherited her grandmother’s place and rents out extra rooms for more income. She never takes chances, never does anything risky with the exception of her mother and her high school boyfriend. 

Erin’s mother is basically a horrible parent. She left Erin to be raised by her grandmother while she went off and got in dead end relationship after dead end relationship only to come back to Erin when she needed something. Like money to give to the kidnappers holding her and her current boyfriend in Mexico (I kid you not). Erin, not really knowing what to do, takes a mortgage out on her house for the cash and a plan, although not a very good one.

Enter Zander James, Erin’s high school boyfriend whom she hasn’t seen in four years. Even though they had a bad breakup, Zander still can’t let Erin follow through with her plan alone. Using his military connections, he decides to accompany Erin down to Mexico under the guise of being her boyfriend. Of course, old feelings get stirred up and Erin has to constantly remind herself to keep her head in the game.

There were parts that I liked about this book – the banter between the two, Zanders willingness to help, Erin wanting to be independent and strong. But there were also parts that I disliked such as the dramaticness of the plot. Not only do we have two people recovering from a messy breakup but we also have kidnapping, extortion, hostage negations…it was crazy. Also I wasn’t a fan of the ‘I’m just going to sleep with you to get you out of my head’. While it fit the character of Zander, it didn’t fit Erin. Which made me wonder if the author even knew who Erin was to begin with, her character was kind of all over the place. She was quiet and controlled, then outspoken and demanding. She was weak and didn’t listen when people tried to help her. For most of the book, she pissed me off. It just seemed like there was too much happening to really take time and develop the characters. It was hard to relate to any of them. 

While this book wasn’t my favorite, I do like Chance’s writing style and will continue to read her work. 

I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 
 

Monday, December 8, 2014

Blog Tour: WANT IT Book Blitz + Giveaway!

Displaying WantIt_TourBadge.jpg

I am so excited to be a part of the WANT IT Book Blitz! The third in the Rule Breakers series which introduces us to Erin Connelly and Zander James, two ex-lovers who find themselves in a very compromising position. I loved Jennifer Chance since the first book Rock It was released and I'm sure this one will not disappoint. If you want to get to know Jennifer more, you can go here to find out more about the Rule Breakers series.

WANT IT
by Jennifer Chance
The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: December 9, 2014
Publisher: Loveswept
224 Pages

In the latest tantalizing Rule Breakers novel from Jennifer Chance, an irresistible alpha male follows his ex into a deadly standoff—and reignites a heated affair.

For Erin Connelly, being a good girl isn’t such a bad thing. She’s working her dream job at a Boston art gallery and staying out of trouble, which is more than she can say for her deadbeat mom. Unfortunately, her mother’s latest misadventure lands her in the clutches of a Mexican drug lord. Now the only person who can save her is the one man Erin has no business asking for help: the sexy-as-sin army ranger who just so happens to be her former high school sweetheart.

Zander James is no gentleman—and no officer, either, thanks to Erin. Four years ago, she made a call that terminated his highest aspirations . . . and their relationship. He’s never forgiven her, but when he learns that Erin’s embarking on a half-baked rescue mission, he sure as hell can’t let her go alone. Now, with a treacherous enemy lying in wait, the electrifying tension between them may just be Zander’s undoing. Because while he may be able to keep Erin alive, he can’t promise to keep his hands off her.




 Jennifer is offering up two fabulous prizes during the WANT IT Blitz Event. One lucky Grand Prize winner will receive a Seasons Greetings Gift Basket and one Runner Up will receive a $25 Gift Card for Amazon or B&N (winner's choice)! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

It's Just a Kiss


A note to readers from author Jennifer Chance:



As I prepared to write Erin’s first meeting with Zander, I knew there had to be a lot of anger between them. After all, she had been there the night his entire world had fallen apart, and he still blamed her for letting him down at such a critical juncture  (even if he knew better, some old beliefs die hard).  However, not all of their first meeting could be about anger and guilt and blame . . . there had to be a flare of attraction as well, that reminded both of them of everything they’d left behind, and everything they still felt about each other, even if they didn’t want to feel it. In this section of the scene, Erin has told Zander that she doesn’t need his help after all—she’ll get her ‘boyfriend’ to assist her. A suggestion that Zander is more than ready to challenge.  

     “Don’t you think we should get this thing between us out of our systems, then, Erin?” Zander murmured. “Before it becomes something you do need to explain to your boyfriend?”
     “This . . . thing?” she asked, and honest to God, she meant to raise her hand and place it on his chest to push him back, to stop him, only when her fingers connected with the solidity of Zander’s abs through the thin cotton shirt, her eyes almost crossed. “We don’t even like each other anymore,” she said faintly.

      His words were so quiet she barely registered them. “Who said we needed to like each other? It’s just a kiss.”

      For some reason, that made infinite sense. Without saying another word, Erin stood on her tiptoes and it still wasn’t enough. Zander met her more than halfway, though, not reaching down, not forcing it, just leaning in close enough for her to feel his breath against her face. Then his lips came down on hers.



     The heat that blasted through Zander was so intense that he was glad for the grip he had on the bright-blue roller skate Erin called a car. He’d known this was coming the moment she’d put her hand in his and allowed him to drag her across the yard and out into the street where they could actually be alone, without the covert stares of everyone with an ounce of James blood in their veins. Some of the stares had been amused, some of them had been worried, some of them just curious. But none of them mattered now.
     The taste of Erin’s mouth made his pulse go apeshit as every muscle in his body clenched. She’d intended the kiss as a quick good-bye, he knew. She’d been a master of the quick exit four years ago, quivering with anger and outrage and shock. But this time, Erin was shaking in an entirely different way. This time her breathing was as ragged with need as his was. And this time Erin did make a sound, and it cut right to the core of him, her fingers gripping his shirt as she gave a low, almost desperate moan.

     Boyfriend, his lily-white ass.

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So who wants more? Don't forget to come back tomorrow when I will be posting my review of WANT IT!

Thank you to Jennifer for joining us today with a that amazing excerpt, and to Loveswept for letting me join the tour!

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Blog Tour: Guest Post: THE MASSEUSE by Sierra Kincade

I am delighted to be hosting Sierra Kincade for a guest post as part of her THE MASSEUSE blog tour! This is the first in The Body Works Trilogy and  I can't wait to see where this ends up!


THE MASSEUSE
by Sierra Kincade
The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: December 2, 2014
Publisher: Berkeley Trade
352 Pages

First in the sexy and suspenseful Body Work Trilogy

Anna Rossi lives by one simple rule: don’t get attached, don’t get hurt. But Alec Flynn doesn’t play by the rules…

Anna never takes on a massage client without screening him first, but the paycheck offered by billionaire Maxim Stein is too good to turn down. Stein is the richest man she’s ever laid her hands on, and despite the risks, she trusts that she can take care of herself. After all, she’s handled difficult clients in the past. What she isn’t prepared for is getting caught in a compromising situation by Maxim’s tall, dark, and gorgeous bodyguard—or the desperate desires he awakens in her…

Alec is dangerous. The mysterious, hard-bodied man is completely irresistible and won’t be refused, no matter what walls Anna puts up to protect herself. But as Anna falls fast for his careful ministrations and mind-blowing skills, she begins to realize that giving herself over to a man with so many secrets isn’t just putting her heart at risk—it’s endangering her life…

 
 
 
Thank you so much for having me on Book Jems! I’m so thrilled to be here – so thrilled, in fact, that I snuck into Alec’s house, and stole his dating profile. He never actually posted it – he met Anna before that – but in case you’re curious, here you go…

Dating Profile
Name: Alec Flynn
Age: 29
Height: 6’2”
Lives in Tampa, FL

Ten things that describe you:
1.      Tall
2.      Dark
3.      Handsome
4.      Hard worker (read: doesn’t live with parents)
5.      Sex (as in, I like it, and you’ll like it, too)
6.      Big fan of vanilla ice cream (and its many uses)
7.      Loves planes, hates flying
8.      Loyal
9.      Not bossy. (What?)
10.  Complicated. But worth it.

What do you do for work:
I’m a bodyman for the owner of one of the top aviation companies in the world. I’d tell you more, but then I’d have to kill you.

Typical Friday Night:
Let’s just say I’m probably rescuing baby kittens or walking old ladies across the street.

What are you looking for in a partner:
Someone who challenges me. Someone who isn’t afraid to get dirty, in more ways than one. Preferably someone with dark hair who’s good with her hands.

Someone kind. I don’t know, decent. Not that I’d deserve it, it would just be nice, that’s all I’m saying.

Would you rather be a rock star or a movie star:
Movie star. I already am a rock star. In bed. Haha. Kidding. (Not kidding.)

Something no one knows about you:
I’m a cuddler. A regular goddamn kitty cat. With the right woman.

Are you the right woman? Give me a call and we’ll find out.\

----------------------------

What do you think? Does Alec sound perfect for anyone out there? Don't forget to come back Monday when I will be posting my review of THE MASSEUSE!

Thank you to Sierra for joining us today with a fantastic post, and to Jessica from Berkeley Trade for letting me join the tour!
 
 
 

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Caged In Winter by Brighton Walsh



Hey guys! I'm so happy to be joining Berkley Books and Brighton Walsh in their blog tour for Caged in Winter! I absolutely loved this debut from Walsh and hope that you guys will check it out too! There's also a fancy giveaway further down if you wanted to try to get your hand on a copy!

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Publisher: Berkley Books
304 Pages

In this emotional and sexy New Adult debut from Brighton Walsh, the only thing more frightening than commitment is hope…...

Aspiring chef Cade Maxwell is immediately, viscerally attracted to Winter Jacobson. But it’s not her mouthwatering curves he’s drawn to—it’s the strange emptiness in her eyes. When Cade saves her from a drunken customer with grabby hands, he’s shocked at her response…...

Winter doesn’t need Cade’s help. After a lifetime of getting by on her own, she’s happy to rely on herself. She’s exactly seventy-six days away from graduating college, and if she can hold it together that long, she’ll finally be able to rise above the crappy hand she was dealt.

But now, every time she turns around, Cade is there, ready to push her, smile at her, distract her from her plans. Winter knows she can’t afford to open up—especially to a man she’s terrified to actually want….


 
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Girl running from her past meets boy who wants to fix it. This isn’t a new idea in New Adult. In fact, it’s one of the most common. What it boils down to is how the author tells the story and what they bring to it emotionally that makes it stand out. 

Caged in Winter tells the story of Winter, a disillusioned girl who is struggling to make it on her own as a waitress in a dive bar. She hates the job, but can make bank in tips by pretending to flirt with the clientele. When knight in shining armor Cade shows up and “saves” Winter from getting groped, he doesn’t get the thank you he was expecting. Instead, Winter is furious. And here begins Cade’s infatuation with this feisty, fiery-eyed girl.

Winter, on the other hand, just wants to be left alone. She’s counting down the days until she can graduate and move on and she just doesn’t know what to do with this boy, especially when he starts showing up after her shifts to walk her to the bus stop. Over the course of many walks, Winter slowly starts to let down her guard. Cade, ever persistent, doesn’t give up until he has the promise of a date.

While I didn’t swoon over the entire book, Cade was definitely swoonworthy. First, he’s a chef in training. And because of tragic events in their past, he helps his sister in raising his niece. A cook and has tea parties with little girls…
If I had any issues with this book it was mostly on the side of Winter. While I admire her for supporting herself and pushing her way through college, there comes a point where it’s okay to ask/accept help. It doesn’t make you weak and it doesn’t make you less of an independent person. These were things Winter just couldn’t understand and it just caused problems everywhere. It was hard to feel sorry for her towards the end because she was the one putting herself in that situation.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. The chemistry was real and I felt it between the characters. I like how Walsh took the time to show that Cade wanted to get to know Winter, it wasn’t just instant lust in a “let’s have sex now” kind of way that plagues the NA genre. Their banter and time spent getting to know each other was what made this book for me. And I also liked the overall idea of following your own dreams and not planning your life around someone else. 

A solid debut from Brighton Walsh and I look forward to reading more of her work. 

A big thank you to Berkley Books for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.

 
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