Release Blitz & ARC Review + Giveaway!- Southern Pleasure by Kaylee Ryan

Title:  Southern Pleasure

Author: Kaylee Ryan
Genre: New Adult Romance

Publication Date: December 22nd 2015

Plot:  They tell you that a parent’s love is all consuming. I never put much thought into it. Not until the minute I heard her take her first breath. That little girl is my world. I’d do anything to protect her. 

My ex signed over her rights and her family vowed that my daughter didn’t exist. Now that she’s gone, they want my little girl. They’re trying to say I can’t give her what she needs.

I’ve known Evan all my life. Our families farms run parallel with each other. He and my brother Aaron have been best friends for as long as I can remember. 

What they’re trying to do is wrong. He needs my help, someone he can trust and I’m more than happy to do it. I volunteered without hesitation.

I should have thought about what it would be like to have our lives intertwined. I should have thought about what would happen when our time together ended and how my heart would feel when I had to walk away.
Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GlUcEvYGrM

☆✮ My Review ✮☆

☆ I received an ARC via Give Me Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ☆

Sometimes love comes in the most unassuming forms.
I really loved this read. It was heart-rendering and touching, and makes you realize the sensational power of love and its no holds barred nature.

Evan. Is there any word to really describe this wonderful, amazing, and courageous man? Fatherhood is a big step to take on, and he does it with stride. But what parent, doesn’t need a little help?

They say it takes a village to raise a child, and Evan does not escape that quota. While he does some support, a child needs a mother, and with Evan’s ex out of the picture--in comes Evan’s bestie’s little sister—one of whom has always noticed Evan, but the same has not been reciprocated on the other end. Until now…

Will there be a second chance at love?
And when Evan’s ex’s folks causing a stir and try to take the one life that brought light and love to Evan, will he be able to hold onto Mckinley and his baby girl?

A beautiful tale of love, family, friendship and the unforeseen yet beautiful obstacles that life throws at you.

Each character, both main and secondary, played an important instrument throughout bringing this story to life.

There was a lot of stepping up and growing up, finding & rediscovering yourself, as well as, sacrifice for all parties involved. I really admired themes such as this, as it strikes home and is very universal to all who have families, particularly children.

It’s a bunch of soul searching and digging deep, but, a life changing and gratifying one at that.

Great book!

My Rating:

♥♥♥♥

☆✮ Teasers ✮☆

☆✮ About the Author ✮☆

Kaylee Ryan has had a passion for reading since she was a little girl. That passion has slowly led to spinning romantic tales, and a one-click addiction. When she doesn’t have her nose stuck in her kindle or fingers glued to the keyboard, you can find Kaylee hanging out with friends and family. She loves all genres of music, and enjoys scrapbooking. She lives in Ohio with her husband (her real life happily ever after) and their rambunctious little boy.

Author's Links:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter 

☆✮ Giveaway! ✮☆

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba3ffd55787

☆✮ Buy Links ✮☆

Release Week Blitz & Giveaway!- The Aftermath (The Hurricane, #2) by R.J. Prescott

Title:  The Aftermath (The Hurricane, #2)
Author: R.J. Prescott

Genre: New Adult, Romance
Publication Date: December 15th 2015 by Grand Central Publishing

Plot: When you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose. But what happens when you have everything you ever wanted? You fight to keep it.

Cormac “the Hurricane” O’Connell’s star is on the rise. Billed as the most promising young boxer of his generation, his new career is taking him to places he never dreamed. But O’Connell only needs one thing in life: his wife. In her final year of college, Em cannot follow him around the world but together they make it work.

Just when everything they ever wanted is on the horizon, the past resurfaces to haunt them and O’Connell realizes that justice might not be a part of his happy ever after. 

He couldn’t protect Em once before, but in the aftermath of the hurricane, he will make sure that never happens again. 

☆✮ Excerpt ✮☆

“Okay. Open your eyes. What do you think?” I took my hands away and let Em look. This was almost as nerve wracking as asking her to marry me. Back then I was asking her to forget all the crap surrounding me and imagine a better version who’d make something of themselves. I was asking her to take a chance on me. Now I was doing the same with this house. 
Tommy was right. It was a shit hole. But when I was done, it would be a palace. A home for the two of us no one could ever take away. I stared at her expression, looking for any sign at all about how she felt.
“I love it,” she whispered, looking up at it in awe. I let out a deep breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. 
“I know it doesn’t look like much now, but imagine if I cleared out and repaired the front garden, put in new windows and new fencing. Liam and I have gone over this place inch by inch, and the roof is sound. With a bit of hard work, it’ll look great.”
I was rambling now. She’d already agreed to it, so I have no idea why I was giving her the hard sell. 
“Can we afford it?” she asked, her eyes full of wonder.
“It’d take all our money and then some. But I’ve worked out a loan with Danny for what we need, and we can pay him back with the rent money we’ll save on our flat. We’ll have to fix it up on a budget but the boys have offered to help with the labor.”
With a squeal, Em threw her arms around my neck and kissed me loudly. “I can’t believe you found this place. It’s going to be amazing! I know I can’t do any building work but I can clean, strip wallpaper, and paint,” she babbled excitedly. “Ooow, we could go and get some paint samples today,” she suggested. 
“We haven’t even had an offer accepted yet,” I pointed out with a chuckle. 
“I know, but there’s nothing wrong with planning ahead. Can we look inside?”
“Sure. The agent is meeting us in a few minutes to show us around. It’s pretty rough inside, but the rooms are a nice size. You just have to use your imagination.”
“I can do that,” she whispered as she smiled at me adoringly. Her eyes were full of everything I’d felt when I’d first seen the place, and I knew she was imagining our future in a real home of our own. 
My heart was so full I felt invincible. The way she was looking at me, you’d think I’d built this place brick by brick myself. I’d spend the rest of the day trailing after her doing whatever she liked just to keep that look. With another squeal, she covered my face in tiny kisses, making me laugh, until a discrete cough sounded behind us. 
“Are you here for the viewing?” a skinny kid who looked about my age asked.
“Yes please,” Em answered. She was lit up inside and practically radiated happiness. People couldn’t help but be charmed by her natural warmth, and he was no exception. He smiled broadly at her and with a wink said, “Let’s go and check it out.” 
My crossed arms and fierce glare told him that I wouldn’t tolerate another wink, and he got the message as he messed around with the keys nervously. Rolling her eyes, Em pulled on my arms until I uncrossed them and clasped her fingers between mine. She was used to me getting territorial around her but she really had no idea how many hungry looks followed her around. 
The agent used his shoulder to push open the front door, past a mountain of junk mail, then fussed about brushing the dirt and paint chips off his suit. The previous owner really had gone to town with a baseball bat, and literally everything would need replacing but it didn’t matter. The more we looked, the more Em fell in love. 
By the time we were done, there were stars in her eyes. Having realized that flirting with Em was hazardous to his health, the agent couldn’t get out of there quick enough. He told us to call the office if we wanted to make an offer. 
“I’ll be in touch,” I promised him menacingly, mostly just to fuck with him, but he practically wet himself as he hightailed it back to his car. Em was so caught up in the house she didn’t notice. It was going to be a hell of a day.

☆✮ Book One of the Hurricane Series ✮☆

☆✮ About the Author ✮☆

USA Today bestselling author R.J. Prescott was born in Cardiff, South Wales, and studied law at the University of Bristol, England. Four weeks before graduation she fell in love, and stayed. Ten years later, she convinced her crazy, wonderful firefighter husband to move back to Cardiff where they now live with their two equally crazy sons. 

Author's Links:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook  | Twitter

☆✮ Giveaway! ✮☆

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/26635ce2283/?

☆✮ Buy Links ✮☆

Review- Firebird by Jennifer Loring

Title:  Firebird 

Author: Jennifer Loring
Genre: Contemporary romance with erotic elements; adult
Publication Date: October 10th 2015 by Limitless Publishing

Plot: Stephanie Hartwell is a journalist chasing the story of her career… 

When superstar hockey player and notorious bad boy Aleksandr Volynsky is traded to the Seattle Earthquakes in a blockbuster deal, Stephanie demands the opportunity to prove herself by scoring an exclusive interview with a man with no love for the media…the same man she once thought, as a naïve teenager, she’d someday marry. 

An Olympian and Stanley Cup Champion, Aleksandr has achieved every goal he’s ever set… 

Now expected to carry a failing team on his shoulders, Aleksandr’s troubles deepen when he encounters Stephanie after a season-opening loss. His lifestyle of drinking and random hookups has been a futile attempt to forget the beautiful tomboy who stole his heart nine years ago. And worse, fame and fortune have made it impossible for him to trust anyone—especially Stephanie, who is engaged to another man. 

Romance rekindles, but tragedy reveals Aleksandr’s dark side… 

Being with Aleksandr in the first place jeopardizes Stephanie’s journalistic integrity and threatens her career, and when he spirals out of control, it reawakens fears from her own history, making her unable to commit to a future with him. 

When Aleksandr discovers the truth behind his self-destructive behavior, will his newfound self-awareness be enough to convince Stephanie to give him one last chance… 

Or will his revelation drive her away for good?

☆✮ My Review ✮☆

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

"Love isn't the happy bullshit the card companies and jewelers want us to believe it is...It's work. Sometimes it's pain."

Thoroughly complicated. Yep, those are the words that best sum up and describe the main characters.

When they're 'off' they're reckless, highly emotional, and destructive.

And when they're 'on', everything's all chummy, sunshines and rainbows.

Gosh, things were so frustrating at times, and yet, I was just a bleeding heart over these two.

Stephanie Hartwell is a struggling sports journalist looking for her big break.

Aleksandr "Alex/Sasha" Volynsky is hockey's volatile bad boy who has the looks, the talent, but not so good reputation on and off the ice.

When fate brings these two together, it's fireworks.

From pangs of first love tracing all the way back to high school, spanning almost a decade later, Stephanie and Alex have never forgotten...or gotten over each other.

But there's a catch.

Stephanie's engaged to be married...

Will these two have a second chance at love? Or are they simply just not meant to be?

I really liked this story, and I really did not. It was kind of a toss up between both. I so wanted Stephanie and Alex to find their HEA, but, I did not realize at what costs.

What with Stephanie's career on the line, her fiancee, and Alex's downward spiral into the darkness, it made me nail bitingly anxious as it did lay on the heartbreak and angst.

I certainly hope that there won't be more bumps. I mean, what more can these two possibly go through?  They've already been put through the ringer..been through hell and back.  After all, no one ever said love was easy.

I say, if this trilogy solely focuses on the two of them, I hope to see more insight on Alex continues to cope and address his problem.  it was such an eye opener and wonderful awareness to people who suffer from similar feelings and actions to address it and seek help.

All in all, a beautiful and enriching sports romance!

"You saved me from myself."

My Rating:

♥♥♥♥

☆✮ Teaser ✮☆

☆✮ About the Author ✮☆

Jennifer Loring's short fiction has appeared in numerous magazines, webzines, and anthologies. In 2013, she won Crystal Lake Publishing's inaugural Tales from the Lake writing competition; in 2014, DarkFuse published her novella Conduits, and in May 2015, Omnium Gatherum released her debut novel, Those of My Kind. She recently signed a deal for a contemporary romance trilogy with Limitless Publishing; the first book, Firebird, was published on October 20, 2015. Jennifer lives in Philadelphia, PA with her husband, their turtle, and two basset hounds. She is currently at work on the second book in the Firebird Trilogy as well as a paranormal romance.

Author's Links:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

☆✮ Buy Links ✮☆