Blog Tour Review & Giveaway!- Get off on the Pain (Pain #1) by Victoria Ashley

Title:  Get Off On The Pain
Author:  Victoria Ashley‏
Publication Date:  February 2nd 2015

Plot:  Sexy, tattooed and inevitably dangerous. Memphis is all that and more…

I live for the pain; it’s what drives me to keep moving. But there comes a time when one has to push the demons aside in order to survive. 

I thought I buried them deep. I thought I was ready to finally live. Until… my brother, Alex; he throws me into the fire—right into the place I could never control myself, the one place I never want to be again. 

When I put my hands on people, they get hurt. Things happen that bring me back to that night. The one that will forever torment me. 

I’m doing fine, keeping to myself in order to ensure no one gets hurt by me. Then along comes Lyric, and all I want to do is touch her, to put my hands in places that I know will only lead to her being crushed by me. 

She’s the rush that I crave. The darkest of poison running through my veins, killing me bit by bit; like a drug I can’t get enough of even though I’m almost down to my last breath. 

And being around her only hurts more, but what she doesn’t understand is that I welcome the pain; I get off on it, which in the end leaves me with the hardest decision of my life—one that might get us all killed…

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☆✮ My Review ✮☆

☆ I received an ARC via BSBS Promotions in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ☆

Get Off of the Pain follows Memphis Carter- a broken shell of a man he once was, who’s just gotten out of prison and looking to start over with his life. He returns to his hometown in hopes distancing himself from his hellish ordeals and making anew.

Memphis is the brooding, mysterious, tatted, “don’t f*%k with me” types and doesn’t think he deserves any sort of redemption.

That is, until he meets spirited Lyric, a talented photographer and tattoo parlor worker, who doesn’t take any of his sh*% and pushes his buttons, tests his limits and brings him out of his comfort zone and out of his shell.

Memphis and Lyric are quite the pair as they bring the good out of one another kind of like each other’s ying&yang. They are raw, vulnerable, and jaded as the other. And most importantly, they make each other face themselves and confront their pasts.

Author Victoria Ashley does a phenomenal job pairing their background repertoire and undeniable chemistry together as everything was really well thought out, nicely executed, and evenly balanced throughout as they cope with guilt, pain, forgiveness, and learning how to live and let live.

A turbulent, emotional read that will tug at your heartstrings!

My Rating:

♥♥♥♥

☆✮ Excerpt ✮☆

I walk down the steps and call his name but he still doesn’t answer. I notice a light shining through the bottom of what I believe is the downstairs bathroom, so I throw his jacket on the queen-sized bed and look around me.

      It’s like a mix between a bedroom and a gym. Everything about this room tells me that Memphis is a fighter… or was. In the back corner there is a heavy bag, a speed bag, two long, heavy ropes, and some kind of bar hanging from the ceiling that must be for pull-ups. There is more random equipment sitting around, but I really have no idea what they are used for.

      You can tell he was heavy into training and staying fit: sexy and dangerous. Hand in hand they make a lethal weapon, and also one reason I should want to stay away.

      I look down at the jacket on his bed one more time before turning around to head back upstairs.

      The sight in front of me takes the breath straight from my lungs and for some reason refuses to give it back.  Damn you wine. Damn you.

      Memphis is standing there, dripping wet, with a small towel wrapped around his waist. One hand is shaking out his hair and the other is holding his towel together.

      Please let go. Please let go…

      I try my best to turn away, I swear, but I have to face it – it’s pointless at this point. My eyes slowly trail down his body, taking their time on each and every body part. Think he’d notice if I grabbed my camera? Holy hell…

      Every single muscle in that firm chest is dying to be licked by me. Oh fuck me. Those defined muscles leading down to his… I swallow. Oh my… that looks like a nice package.

      Where’s the wine?  

      My mouth feels dry. I quickly bring my eyes up to his face right as he pulls the towel away to adjust it. I catch a quick glimpse, but hold my breath and try to pretend that I missed it, although, that is definitely hard to miss.

      “I… uh…” I point down at his bed. “Was just dropping off your jacket like you asked. You didn’t answer the door so I… never mind. I’m sorry. I’m leaving. I should have just left it upstairs.”

      I turn to walk away, but his voice stops me. “I heard you knocking, Lyric. I expected you’d come down here. I know you more than you think.” He steps up behind me and touches my camera. “I was hoping you’d bring this.” He grabs the strap and pulls it over my shoulder toward the front of my body, letting it rest against my front, then turns me around to face him.

      His icy blue eyes stare at me with an intensity that makes my heart skip a beat. “Why,” I ask softly, still trying to keep my eyes from wandering.

      “Because I like it.” He runs his finger from the camera up the center of my body, between my breasts, and looks into my eyes. “And fuck me, but I love you using it on me.”

☆✮ Teasers ✮☆

☆✮ About the Author ✮☆

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 favorite shows such as Sons Of Anarchy, Dexter and True Blood.

She is the author of Wake Up Call and This Regret and is currently working on more works for 2014.

Author's Links:

Facebook | Goodreads

☆✮ Giveaway! ✮☆

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Blog Tour Review & Giveaway!- The Traveling Man (Traveling #1) by Jane Harvey-Berrick

Title:  The Traveling Man (Traveling #1)
Author:  Jane Harvey-Berrick
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date:  January 27th 2015

Plot:  I was ordinary. Nice. He was extraordinary. And he wasn’t always nice.

Moody and difficult, brilliant and beautiful, Kes scared me and he protected me. He could be incredibly hurtful and incredibly thoughtful. He wasn’t perfect, but he was perfect for me. He challenged me, he took me out of my safe little box and showed me the world could be magnificent. He was everything I wasn’t. 

Aimee Anderson is ten when the traveling carnival first comes to her nice little town. She doesn’t expect her world to change so completely. But meeting Kestrel Donohue puts her life on a different path.

Even though she only sees him for the two weeks of the year when he passes through her home town, his friendship is the most important of her life. As a child’s friendship grows to adult love, the choices become harder, and both Kes and Aimee realize that two weeks a year will never be enough.

☆✮ My Review ✮☆

☆ I received an ARC via LBTS PR in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! ☆

The Traveling Man was all around an intriguing read for me that had both its positives and negatives. Sure, it kind of had some clichéd ploys where I felt were used to superficially heighten the stakes of things, but as a whole I liked it.

I think what carried the plot for me was always the questionable factors of how two people with vastly different backgrounds and who only get to see each other for two weeks a year could build a relationship? Sounds quite unheard of to be honest.

It truly makes one wonder the power of falling in love and making a relationship work even if you hardly see each other. Must be some higher power type of thing, huh? *wink wink*

As for any cons, well, it wasn’t that I disliked anything per say. I just had a love-hate relationship with both protagonists, as many conflicts do arise, as well as secrets, and it’s just a bunch of touch and go from there on out with a lot of unnecessary and sometimes vexing drama schemes that at times grated on my last nerves.

So, my thoughts as a whole?: Positive over all, but I do have a substantial amount of mixed thoughts and feelings regarding this story line. Some of it just wasn’t my cup of tea while the rest coincided greatly with the rest of the plot and characters nicely.

I will definitely be holding on to finish what I started in the upcoming (no release date set as of yet) sequel and conclusion, The Traveling Woman of this two-part series!! You can bet on that!! All I have to say in that regard, is that there better be some huge turn around and foreclosure since the way things ended here in bk1 was one hot mess!

Until then, ladies and gents!! I’m out!!

My Rating:
♥♥♥

☆✮ Excerpt ✮☆

I gripped his biceps then pulled him closer, sliding my hands over his satiny skin.

The feel of his erection digging into my hip made me pause.

“We can’t,” I whispered.

“Why not?” he mumbled as his hand disappeared up my t-shirt.

“Because everyone saw us come in here—they’ll all know what we’re up to.”

“So?”

“So! I’ve only just met them—it’s embarrassing!”

Kes chuckled. “No secrets between carnies, Aimee. We all live too close to each other for that. Cut one, we all bleed.”

“How sweet. But I don’t want my new family to know that we’re in here fucking, five minutes after I met them.”

“They won’t care,” he said, squeezing my nipples hard enough to make me gasp.

“I care,” I said, as my voice wobbled unconvincingly. “And there are kids out there, Kes! We can’t give them the wrong impression.”

This time he laughed loudly.

“I never knew you were such a prude!”

“I am not!”

“Jesus, Aimee! These are carnie kids. They live in trailers and RVs like us. They’ve heard their parents fucking a thousand times. They’ve seen the stallion take the mare when she’s in heat, and believe me, once you’ve seen that, every guy has performance anxiety.”

I laughed a little when he said that, but he wasn’t finished.

“Do you remember when we were kids and you asked me how I knew that Madame Cindy was Dono’s girlfriend? I heard them. I knew what sex was before I could say the word. These carnie kids are just like that. We’re not doing anything wrong, we’re not hurting anyone.”

His tone had started off light and amused, but had become more serious and insistent as he’d gone on.

“Maybe I am prudish,” I said quietly. “It was the way I was brought up. I just happen to think that making love is a private thing between two people: not a public display of your testosterone, unless you’re doing it to make that stallion blush.”

He sighed and shifted onto his back. “Did I imagine you rubbing my cock while we were laying in the field at the carnival when we were kids?”

I didn’t answer, but fiddled with the hem of my t-shirt.

“You want to wait until everyone has their backs turned, pretending that they don’t know what we’re doing in the privacy of our own home?”

“Yes, exactly.”

He turned his head to smile at me. “My funny girl.”

I smiled back, and he reached out to wind his long fingers around mine. He brought my knuckles to his lips and kissed them one at a time.

It was the sweetest gesture, and I fell a little more under his spell.

☆✮ Book Trailer ✮☆

☆✮ About the Author ✮☆

I lived in London for over 10 years and have a love affair with New York. It's only since I have moved to the countryside, that the words have really begun to flow.

I live in a small village by the ocean and walk my little dog, Pip, every day. It’s on those beachside walks that I have all my best ideas.

Writing has become a way of life – and one that I love to share.

Author's Links:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

☆✮ Buy Links ✮☆

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway!- Sever by J.M. Miller‏

Title:  Sever  
Author:  J.M. Miller‏
Genre: NA Romance/Suspense
Publication Date:  January 26th 2015

Plot:  One simple decision can end a future. 
One simple persuasion can sever a life. 

The moment Annisyn Kane slips her rake pick into the lock of a stranger's door, the straight life she's led the last few years is scratched out. In the past, the goal was never theft. It was to escape. From life. From death. To quiet the dreams that replayed an affliction she longed to forget. This night, though, was different. She was out of options.

The isolated house was supposed to be an easy target. In and out. No problems. But the simple job takes a twisted turn when Annisyn comes face to face with the only real love she ever had. 

Five years ago, she could have persuaded Damian Mead to stay. But she wasn't willing to be the end of his future, so she let him go. Before the emotions from their tangled past have a chance to spin between them, Annisyn discovers that their startling encounter is the least of the night's problems. There's someone else in the house, and the only thing on his mind is revenge.

*recommended ages 17+ for mature content* 

☆✮ My Review ✮☆

☆ I received an ARC via Enticing Journey Book PR in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ☆

Sever balances an even mix of past and present flashbacks and events.

Ever heard of the saying, “One night can change everything?”.

Yep, well, that’s what happens for Annisyn “Syn” Kane when she finds herself broke and sh*# out of luck, and gets set up with a job to break into a house which leads her straight back into her heart.

You see…that “house” that Syn gets orchestrated to infiltrate happens to be that of her first and only love, Damien “Stripes” Mead.

“If my life had been different at six years old, if I hadn’t picked up that knife, I would have never saved Damien on the tracks. It was the decision that everything was based on, the first time my life had really been severed.”

Author J.M. Miller does a great job building a repertoire as we journey into Syn’s life and delve into her background and beginnings, along with how she met, fell in love with, and ultimately severed ties with her Stripes.

Syn isn’t like most girls, as she carries a switchblade every where she goes, can hold her ground in a fight, and has a haunted past filled with guilt, remorse, and death.

*Childhood friendship and growing pains*

Her relationship with Damien develops when they are children and Damien is a fat, chubby kid getting picked on and Syn is the one to save the day. They grow a friendship following that but sadly it is not long lived as Syn moves away shortly after.

*Distance makes the heart grow fonder*

Years later, they meet up again but Damien is no longer that overweight boy he once was and Syn begins to see him in a different light.

They pick up their budding relationship after that and soon it blooms into romance with Syn relying on Damien for support and guidance.

*Bleeding heart*

But, as luck would have it, tragedy, biases, misunderstandings, the future unknown, and insecurities pave their way into the build and soon Syn and Damien break up, terminating all contact between them.

*Now flashback to present*

Syn is coming to terms with being reunited with the boy who's heart she had broken five years ago, but soon a devious force is also inside on their reunion and isn’t looking for a happy ending for these two love birds. They seek revenge and won’t stop at nothing until the debt is paid….in blood..

So, my thoughts? I actually really liked this story. It was different from what I’m accustomed to.

I really could feel Syn’s brokenness and her not feeling good enough and wanting more than what she could give to Damien.

She feels as if she will taint him and ultimately break him, with a clouded history such as hers, but genuinely what she fears is how he will break her…and devastate her...

“I never wanted to get close to anyone, but it happened with you. You made my nightmares disappear. Losing you because my biggest fear, and I thought I needed to face it like the rest, to save you from my life, to save you from ruining your own.”

And yet she craves a sense of stability, to feel whole, and to be saved from the downward nothingness.

“He made me consider my own future when I was haunted by the past. He gave me hope when all I had was emptiness. He loved the person I was, the person I was meant to be. He was the one who had made me whole again. He had saved me too.”

Loved this gem of a story!♥

My Rating:
♥♥♥♥

☆✮ Excerpt ✮☆

"You okay?" Damian shifted beside me, rubbing his arm against mine in the process. The binds at our elbows were now tied together and secured to the lowest wood railing of the stairs.

I wiggled my arms, but there was very little room to move. Looking down at the material connecting our ankles, I wondered if there was another way to get free. "Aside from the headache, yeah. You?"

Damian didn't look at me. His eyes remained forward, staring blankly off toward the kitchen. We were farther from the light, but I could still see each of his features: the eyes that would look at me like I was the only other person alive, the thin nose that would brush my skin whenever he kissed the back of my neck, the plump lower lip that he'd sometimes bite when I dug my fingernails into his back.

He nodded. "I'm fine. Now, are you gonna tell me what you're doing in my house?"

Great. There was no easy way to answer. It was probably best to just say it. "I broke in."

He exhaled a puff of air and shook his head. "Of course you did."

☆✮ Teasers ✮☆

☆✮ About the Author ✮☆

J.M. Miller currently consumes her coffee in Florida. When she isn't busy being distracted by social media sites, she writes Young Adult and New Adult romance novels that vary in genre from contemporary to paranormal, with a little mystery thrown in for fun.
Aside from spending time with her family, she loves to travel and will jump at the chance to go anywhere, whenever life allows.

Author's Links:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Tsu

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