Review of New Release – Lure by Alyssa Rose Ivy

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LURE is the first novel in her New Adult Paranormal Romance series The Allure Chronicles! Make sure you grab the prequel novella, SEDUCTION’S KISS, while it is FREE for a limited time!!!

 

LURE

There’s danger in the beauty…

Two years, six months, and twenty-five days. That’s how long it had been since I’d seen my winged hero— not that I’d been counting. I’d suffered through years of counseling just to convince my friends and family that I wasn’t crazy and knew he didn’t exist.

But he did. And I was done waiting.

Days after college graduation I headed back down to New Orleans to retrace my steps and find Owen again only to find my life was about to get even crazier… thanks to the most beautiful and dangerous of all paranormal creatures, the Allures.

BFF K’s Review

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Alyssa Rose Ivy has created a fantastic new world! It was so much fun to read a great new paranormal romance series; and this one has a little bit of everything. Vampires, shifters, heroes with beautiful black wings and beings that prey on human emotions – I am loving all of these incredible paranormal creatures.

I feel like Seduction’s Kiss (which I read before I started Lure, and you should too) and Lure both set the foundation for the rest of the series while establishing a fantastic romance between Owen and Daisy. If you’re a fan of paranormal romance, you’ll definitely want to check out this terrific new series. The only problem – you’ll have to wait (get in line behind me) for the next book in this new series to be released. UGH – the wait!

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Excerpt

(This was BFF K’s favorite part in the book!)

We stood awkwardly for another moment before I had to break the silence. “It’s been a while.”

“Two and a half years.”

“I thought about you the past few Halloweens.”

“I thought about you more than that. It’s actually pretty humiliating now that I’m standing in the same room with you. I don’t know what I was thinking.” She looked away.

“I lied.”

“About?”

I walked toward her. I had to wipe that regret off her face. “I thought about you a lot more than just Halloween.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” I stopped right in front of her. “You were very memorable.”

“So were you.” She licked her lips. Again with the lips.

“I probably should ask you a million questions right now, but would it be okay if we put those off and did something else?”

“I guess that depends on what else you want to do?” Her eyes widened slightly.

“I want to kiss you.”

“I’m okay with that.” Her eyes seemed to sparkle.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

I didn’t wait for her to change her mind. I brushed my lips against hers gently. I was going to keep it short, but I had to know if I was glorifying the last kiss.

She moved her lips against mine, and any thoughts of keeping it short disappeared. I wrapped my arms around her as I deepened the kiss, greedily pushing for access beyond those irresistible lips of hers. She opened up, welcoming me in with the same intoxicating taste as she had the last time.

She moaned, encouraging me to continue the kiss. I didn’t need the encouragement. I lifted her up and carried her over to the couch. I sat down, settling her on my lap. I needed her close, closer than standing would allow.

Her fingers tangled in my hair as she let me explore her mouth. My hands ached to explore more, but I didn’t want to rush it. I’d waited over two years to taste her lips again, and I was going to enjoy every second of it.

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Don’t miss SEDUCTION’S KISS, the prequel novella to Lure (The Allure Chronicles #1)…

Seductions Kiss

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Alyssa Rose Ivy- Author PhotoAbout Alyssa Rose Ivy:

Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

 

 

 

 

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Review – The Grown Ups by Robin Antalek

From Robin Antalek, author of The Summer We Fell Apart, comes an evocative and emotionally resonant coming-of-age novel involving three friends who explore what it means to be happy, what it means to grow up, and the difficulties in doing both together. Spanning over a decade, and told in alternating voices, The Grown Ups explores the indelible bonds between friends and family and the challenges that threaten to divide them. It is the addictive and moving story of these old friends who wind up confronting their past in order to find happiness in their adult lives that make this novel an anticipated winter release.

Sam Turner, the summer he turns 15, feels lucky enough to enjoy the unexpected attention of his friend Suzie Epstein, even though it’s only a few secret months. For reasons Sam doesn’t entirely understand—and will never question—the budding relationship is kept hidden from their close circle of friends. But before their summer tans can even start to fade, Sam’s world unexpectedly shatters twice: Suzie’s parents are moving away to save their marriage, and his own mother has suddenly left the house, leaving Sam’s father alone to raise two sons.

Watching as her parents’ marital troubles escalate, Suzie Epstein takes on the responsibility of raising her two younger brothers while simultaneously planning an early escape to college to seek independence. Though she occasionally thinks of Sam, it’s her oldest friend Bella Spade she finds herself missing. Embarrassed by the destructive wake of her parents as they left the only place Suzie could call home, Suzie makes no attempt to reconnect with the one person she needs. Its years later that a chance meeting with Sam’s older brother Michael will reunite her with both Sam and Bella—finally forcing her to confront her friends, her past and what she left behind.

After losing Suzie, Bella surprisingly finds her first real love in Sam. But his inability to commit to her or even his own future eventually drives them apart. Watching Suzie and Michael as they seem to have worked it all out, Bella’s only to wonder where she went wrong and how to make it right.

BFF K’s Review

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Multiple characters, multiple points of view, spanning several years. The Grown Ups is one of those reads that builds characters and layers experiences and emotions one on top of the other over the span of the most formative years in life and leaves the reader raw and aching for the beautiful insights that turn the every day into the extraordinary.

The Grown Ups is told from the point of view of three major characters who grew up together in a neighborhood filled with children and families and drama. This is the kind of idyllic setting that would lead you to think there are perfect families behind all of the closed doors. But, you get a glimpse into dysfunctional marriages, illnesses and experiences that impact the development and maturation of the children in those neighborhoods. This is a story that shows how simple it is for several people to share similar, or even the same experiences, yet interpret them completely differently as they use their own filter and experiences to make sense of their worlds.

The hallmark of this book is the incredibly rich and deep characters that are built. You will fall in love with Sam, ache with Bella and share the joys and heartaches of Suzie. It’s a beautifully written book that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

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(I know that character development is there twice. It is really the highlight of the book and it’s really that good!)

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Excerpt

Mrs. Spade died in the winter of their junior year of college and they all returned home for the funeral.

Bella had called from Vassar to tell Sam. He’d picked up the phone and heard his name and then nothing, just a rush of air across the wires followed by what sounded like a far away howling. Bella and Sam had continued, despite distance and any real commitment, to find their way back to each other. She surprised him first at school, showing up at his door, and they had fallen back onto his twin mattress as if they were starving.   It felt exotic, somehow, to be in a place where no one knew them as a couple. To hold hands as they shared crummy food off Sam’s meal ticket at the dining hall, to drink dollar pitchers at The Rat, to wake up next to each other and have sex without talking, like they had the map of what they liked inked indelibly in their brains. By the time Sam’s roommate returned from his girlfriend’s place, the weekend ended, the buzz would wear off, and Sam would think they wouldn’t do it again. Until one of them showed up on the doorstep of the other’s room and it started up all over again. Sam thought this thing with Bella was casual, comfortable. They had never labeled what they were or talked about where it was going. He thought that was what they both wanted. Or maybe they were just too scared to bring it up. Sam liked things the way they were until something like this happened, and he had no idea how to act or what they meant to each other.

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About the Author

Robin Antalek is the author of The Summer We Fell Apart. Her nonfiction writing has been published in literary journals and in several collections, including The Beautiful Anthology; Writing off Script: Writers on the Influence of Cinema; and The Weeklings: Revolution #1 Selected Essays 2012-1013. Her short fiction has appeared in 52 Stories, Five Chapters, Sun Dog, The Southeast Review, and Literary Mama among others. She lives in Saratoga Springs, New York.

 

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Review – Floored by Melanie Harlow

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The new release of Floored has it all! Be sure to read through the end of this post!

Review, Excerpt, Links to reviews of the other books in the series AND a Giveaway!

Erin Upton is too embarrassed to tell the cops what she was really doing while her townhouse was burglarized, especially since the first officer on the scene is former nuisance next door Charlie Dwyer. Where’s the justice in the world when a neighborhood know-it-all grows up to be six-foot-three inches of solid muscle with gorgeous green eyes and a slow, sexy please-arrest-me-now-officer smile? It’s bad enough she’s wearing her robe and slippers—did he have to notice her fuzzy hand cuffs on the bathroom sink?

He’s arrogant as he ever was, which is fine by her—she’s too busy with her dance studio’s grand opening to make time for a man. But they keep crossing paths, and

when Charlie offers to help her put in new flooring at the studio one night, things go from hammering nails to hammering each other in a hurry. And about those hand cuffs…

They agree it’s a one-time thing. But when that becomes a two-time thing, then a three-time thing, Erin starts to wonder if maybe she and Charlie could be a life-time thing. Her best friends Mia and Coco found love in unexpected places. Is it finally her turn?

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BFF K’s Review

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There’s no doubt in my mind that Melanie Harlow saved the very best story for the end of the Frenched series! I absolutely adored the story of Erin and Charlie. It’s sweet and steamy. I loved Erin! When I started the book I felt like she was really the least known and understood of the Frenched series heroines. She had made appearances in the other books, but I didn’t feel like I really knew her.

I really loved getting inside Erin’s head. She was a great character with a good heart and wonderful intentions. And, she proved a worthy partner for new-comer Charlie. Swoon! Charlie is absolutely charming and endearing. Woooo – can he bring the steam with his dirty mouth and big ideas! One of my favorite parts was how Charlie teases Erin. He brings out a lighter side for her and it was fun to read.

AND – the epilogue was a bright bow on the wonderful present that has been the Frenched series!

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Read BFF K’s Reviews for the Frenched Series

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Floored Excerpt

I waited under my covers the entire time the police were checking the house, about twenty minutes. I had the phone under there with me, and I called both Mia and Coco, but neither of them answered their phones. I left messages, telling them what happened and begging both of them to call me back. I would’ve called my mother, but she’d left this morning for a twelve-day religious pilgrimage to Spain. I should have gone with her, like she wanted me to. Now God is punishing me! He knows I have unholy thoughts about Brad Pitt (a married man!) and now I have to pay for it!

A knock sounded on my locked bedroom door, making me jump.

“Ma’am? We’ve checked the house. There’s no one here.” The officer’s voice was deep and reassuring. “When you’re ready, we’d like to speak with you. We’ll wait in the kitchen.”

I peeked out from the covers, eyeing the door suspiciously. “How do I know you’re really the police and not the intruder?”

“Well, you could open the door and take a look at me in uniform.”

“No way. Slide your badge under the door or something.” That’s what they did in the movies, right?

“Come on, Erin. Open the door.”

“No. And how do you know my name?”

“The police department has all kinds of useful information, like who lives where. Either that or I’m psychic.”

I made a face at the door. Did I know this guy? His voice was familiar somehow, but I couldn’t think of who it could be. “I’m not in the mood for jokes.”

“You never did have much of a sense of humor. Now come on out and see me in uniform. I think you’ll be impressed. The ladies usually are.”

My jaw dropped. Who on earth was this? Curiosity got the better of me, and I threw the covers off and jumped out of bed. In front of the door I paused for a second, my hand on the handle, thinking that if it was a scary hairy madman I’d be ready to give him a great big grand battement to the balls. Then I turned the handle and yanked it open.

Oh dear.

Oh dear.

The crazy thing was, he was so handsome I had the fleeting thought this whole burglary thing was a hoax and this “cop” was actually a stripper. For a second I just stared at him, half expecting him to rip open his shirt at the chest and start gyrating.

Confession: I really, really wished he would. (For a couple of reasons.)

But he didn’t.

“Have I changed that much, Red?”

It hit me. “Oh my God. Charlie Dwyer. You’re a cop?”

He smiled, and if he hadn’t been such a turd when we were younger, I might have melted right there at his feet. As it was, I could only shake my head in disbelief at this nightmare—not only had more than two thousand dollars’ worth of electronics been stolen from my townhouse while I was upstairs getting myself off, but here to protect me was the bully next door who’d kidnapped my hamster for ransom and held up my charity lemonade stand with a Taser. And he was drop-dead gorgeous! Where was the justice in the world?

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About the Author

Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her lipstick red, and her history with the naughty bits left in. She lifts her glass to readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI.

Website:        http://www.melanieharlow.com/

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Twitter:           https://twitter.com/MelanieHarlow2

Review – The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan

The rules: no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone, and above all… No falling in love

Anna Jones just wants to finish college and figure out her life. Falling for star quarterback Drew Baylor is certainly not on her to do list. Confident and charming, he lives in the limelight and is way too gorgeous for his own good. If only she could ignore his heated stares and stop thinking about doing hot and dirty things with him. Easy right?

Too bad he’s committed to making her break every rule…

Football has been good to Drew. It’s given him recognition, two National Championships, and the Heisman. But what he really craves is sexy yet prickly Anna Jones. Her cutting humor and blatant disregard for his fame turns him on like nothing else. But there’s one problem: she’s shut him down. Completely.
That is until a chance encounter leads to the hottest sex of their lives, along with the possibility of something great. Unfortunately, Anna wants it to remain a hook up. Now it’s up to Drew to tempt her with more: more sex, more satisfaction, more time with him. Until she’s truly hooked. It’s a good thing Drew knows all about winning.

All’s fair in love and football…Game on

 

BFF K’s Review

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Drew Baylor has a lot riding on his shoulders. He’s the superstar quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner. Lesser men would shrink under that kind of spotlight. But, Drew takes it all in stride and manages his life in the public eye. Until he meets Anna and everything is turned upside down. She doesn’t see his status as anything other than an annoyance….And he doesn’t see anything but her.

Their “relationship” comes with rules that Drew has decided are “more like guidelines.” He’s determined to show her that he’s more than Mr. Quarterback. Both Drew and Anna have interesting life experiences and back-stories that impact the way they relate to one another. It’s enjoyable to go through the ups and downs and happenings of their fledgling relationship. There are some definite butterfly moments! (You know where you can feel the butterflies in YOUR stomach!)

Good character development, several steamy scenes, a great romance and a swoon-worthy hero – The Hook Up is a really great sports related read!

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One-Click on Amazon

About the Author

Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

 

Review – The Phoenix Candidate by Heidi Joy Tretheway

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Fans of Scandal, House of Cards, and The Good Wife will love Grace Colton…

Congresswoman Grace Colton is the most famous woman in politics—and the loneliest—until a drawling, sexy stranger offers her one night, no strings and no regrets.

Grace wakes to an empty hotel room and a phone call: the dark horse for the 2016 presidential election, Senator Shep Conover, is considering her as his vice presidential running mate. But first, Grace must be vetted and coached by Shep’s political consultant, Jared Rankin, who already knows too many intimate details about her. He’s Mr. One-Night Stand.

Grace is torn: Play nice with Jared to join the senator’s ticket, or play hardball and back the slick frontrunner? Grace must decide where her loyalties lie and if she can trust Jared with her future—and her heart.

The Phoenix Candidate is an erotic romance set in the world of presidential election politics. Recommended for mature readers due to sharp dialogue, wickedly hot sex, and a few delicious taboos. This full-length novel is first in a series and can be read as a standalone.

BFF K’s Review

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The minute that I finished the Phoenix Candidate, I did something I don’t do very often, I emailed the author! I absolutely had to tell Heidi Joy Tretheway how much I loved her book. It is fantastic, full of smart, richly developed characters and a story line that I LOVED!

I have a strange interest and fascination with politics and have since 1980 when I got to vote in a mock election for US President in Kindergarten! I started volunteering for campaigns when I was in Jr. High. I’ve worked for 2 US Senators and behind the scenes of a few campaigns in various capacities. So much of The Phoenix Candidate is just spot on – I really really really loved it! (And, if you’re not a dorky political wonk since Kindergarten, never fear, Tretheway does a fantastic job of explaining the votes and totals and electoral college ramifications so that it’s easy to understand!)

This is an entertaining novel, not a civics lesson. The twists and turns the story takes are really interesting. They’re also written with intention, some of the scenes might happen “in real life”, some might not. But, it all makes for a absolutely intriguing storyline. I so wish that we could end up with an election that would come down to a final decision, between good candidates, at the party convention! The book is written in many ways to reflect the kind of people, candidates and elections that I wish would really exist! And there are some antagonists that I KNOW exist in the real world!

Oh and I may have forgotten to mention that there are some super-hot, downright steamy scenes between Grace and Jared. Holy Hotness!!!!

I was loving the book, wondering how it would end and if anything would come next. Then, I read the first chapter for the Phoenix Campaign at the end of this book…I’m floored and I can’t wait to read more about Grace and Jared!!!

Strongly developed characters, steamy scenes, a fantastic-feisty heroine and just enough suspense to keep you turning the pages….this book is fantastic, I definitely recommend you one-click!

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About Heidi Joy Tretheway:

heidi-profile-picHeidi Joy is a sucker for campfires, craft cocktails, and steamy romance in books and real life. She sings along with musicals (badly), craves French carbs, and buys plane tickets the way some women buy shoes.

Her first career as a journalist took Heidi behind the scenes with politicians, rock stars, chefs, and detectives, all of whom inspire her stories. Heidi Joy is currently working on her eighth book from her home in Portland, Oregon. She adores hearing from readers at author.heidi@gmail.com.

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Review – Something Reckless by Lexi Ryan

He talks dirty to me, but I don’t know his name.

He wants to tie me up, but I don’t know his face.

He turns me on, but I couldn’t point him out in a crowd.

I’ve fallen for an anonymous stranger, and tonight the anonymity ends. Tonight I want more than typed secrets and texted promises. I want something reckless. Heat. Passion. The thrill of being entirely possessed.

Because I suspect this anonymous stranger isn’t a stranger at all.

Lizzy Thompson met riverrat69 online through Something Real, a service promising to deliver meaningful relationships by forbidding its users to share names or photos until they’ve reached a certain benchmark. She was looking for love. He was researching an investment. They hit it off. Talked and flirted, hid behind screen names and cartoon avatars.

Now they’re breaking the rules and meeting in person. But Liz is prepared. She’s picked up hints and followed clues.

She’s ninety-percent convinced she’s discovered the identity of her dirty-talking online friend.

She wonders if her ex-lover Sam Bradshaw knows her identity too.

When she rolls the dice on one reckless night, her chance at something real could crumble.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22434551-something-reckless

 

BFF K’s Review

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WOW! Put your seat belt on ladies, you’re about to be in for a wild ride! This book was so much more that I expected. Reading the summary and even starting the book, it seems like a cut and dry story….girl has loved her friends’ older brother for years, he’s rebuffed her, but now she’s turning his head……BUT – this book is so much more than a simple story.

There are twists and turns in this book that absolutely blew my mind! I didn’t see most of them coming. Even now, I’m still kind of shocked – in a really good way! Part romance, part erotica, part political stunner, this book is a little bit of everything. I liked Sam and Lizzy’s story and I was so intrigued by the supporting cast of characters. There are a lot of them and they’re a really beautiful and sketchy crew. I will say there are times I wanted to grab Sam or Liz or both of them and just shake them! If they would only talk to one another, some of the drama could be avoided and that annoys me. But, really, isn’t the back and forth/will they or won’t they the point of the whole thing?

I had to sit down and make a bunch of notes for myself so that I’m primed and ready to jump into the next story when it releases in March. This was my first book by Lexi Ryan, but it definitely won’t be my last!

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Excerpt from Something Reckless

“You look amazing in this dress. I’ve been pretending all night that there’s something I want to do more than get you out of it.”

“What would you do with me if you got so lucky?”

“I’d keep you up all night, for starters.” He slides a hand into my hair and traces the side of my neck with his thumb. His groan rumbles through me. “Tell me what you came here for.”

I thought that was pretty clear. “I’m wearing extremely slutty underwear. What do you think?”

His nostrils flare and his breathing goes thready. “I think I’m going to have to up my game, because now I want to see it.”

I have to bite back a smile. “Good,” I say. My heart thumps out a beat, probably Morse code for please and thank you.

“How slutty is this underwear of yours?”

I lick my lips. “Oh, it’s damn near whorish.”

“Let me see it, Liz.”

I lift my chin and prop my hands on my hips. “Seriously? That’s all the seduction I get? Let me see it?”

He steps closer until I have to crane my neck to look at him, and holy hell he smells good. “What game are we playing here, Rowdy?” he murmurs against my ear. “Is this the one where we pretend we don’t want each other and sleep alone . . .” His fingers skim down my shoulder and my eyes float closed. “Or is it the one where I make you come so hard you scream my name and tomorrow you act like you want nothing to do with me?”

“Are those my only choices?” I ask, but I keep my eyes closed, focusing on the feel of his rough fingers dancing across my skin. The truth is, I don’t want to play either game. I’m done playing games when it comes to Sam. I’m done pretending I don’t want him when I do, and I’m done pretending our annual one-night stand is enough for me.

“Tell me you aren’t going to run away in the morning. Promise me you won’t shut me out again.”

I don’t know what that means, and I’m too scared to analyze it. My eyes are still closed when he takes my chin in his fingers and tilts my face up to his, still closed when he brushes his lips over mine and when I open under him because I’m helpless to this man’s kiss.

“Promise me,” he repeats.

“I won’t run away.” Then I unzip my dress and let it fall to the floor in a puddle, and my boldness is rewarded. Sam’s lips part and his breath escapes him in a rush.

He steps back and takes me in. The bra is strapless, black lace demi-cups that lift my breasts until they threaten to spill out. The panties—what there is of them—are a thong in matching black lace. Their fine lace straps sit in a sharp V high on my hipbones.

A ringlet of hair escaped my up-do, and he takes it between his fingers and twirls it around. I deserve a medal for not melting right here at his feet.

He hooks his index finger under the black bow between my bra cups. “Did you wear this for me?” His voice is a husky whisper that I can’t deny.

“Yes.”

His fingers skim my belly, trace over my hip, following the lace of my thong behind me to where the straps meet at the small of my back. My breath catches as he takes the fabric path over the curve of my tailbone and down, his fingers bringing every nerve ending to life as they pass. Electric pleasure whips through me.

“Fourteen months since I’ve touched you,” he says. “Fourteen months since I’ve gotten to hear the way you breathe when you’re turned on, since I’ve gotten to listen to you scream as I make you come. Tell me you haven’t thought about it.”

“I’d be lying.”

“Don’t lie,” he says, eyes hot and intense. “Just tell me you want me.”

Adult Contemporary Romance includes

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“You need a good guy. A long-term guy. One who does dates and romance and emotional strings…I’m just an asshole who wants to tie you up, make you come, and walk away.”

Samuel Bradshaw is a man with a reputation—the kind of reputation that should have me running the other way. Instead, it has me searching for the shortest distance to his bed. I won’t be the starry-eyed girl who thinks she can change a man like Sam, and despite what he thinks, forever is not what I need. I need the things he makes me feel, the way he turns me on, and the promise of pleasure in his eyes. This promises to be SOMETHING WILD.

 

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author Lexi Ryan’s novels have been described as intense, emotional, and wickedly sexy. A former college professor, she now writes full-time from her home in Indiana, where she lives with her husband, two children, and a neurotic dog. Find her on Facebook or Twitter to chat about books, TV, and her children’s latest antics.

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2014 Besties

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WOW, what a year it has been for incredible books! We couldn’t let 2014 slip away without highlighting a few of our favorite reads.

BFF Book Blog 2014 Besties

BFF K’s 2014 Besties

Tie for #1

It was just too hard to choose my favorite between these amazing books! I loved the overall experience of reading Maybe Someday. The addition of the soundtrack made it such a complete and completely unique experience. Plus, BFF A and I had an incredible trip to Chicago to attend the concert/book signing. It’s one of my favorite books EVER!

The Collectors’ Society is one of the most unique books I’ve ever read! I adore everything about it and Alice truly has set a new standard that I hold for the very best in book heroines! The Hidden Library – Book 2 comes out in early 2015!

 

#2

Another top pick for its unique writing, incredible characters and 90’s pop culture references, I loved The Album by Ashley Pullo. Be sure to read the review AND our exclusive interview with the author!

#3

Another book with a KICK ASS heroine! I LOVE Kricket and Book #2, Sea of Stars is one of my most highly anticipated new releases for 2015!

 #4

What an emotional ride! I hid from this book like a big baby for weeks after it came out. I was seriously, legitimately, scared of a book. But, I didn’t need to be! This book was so wonderful and I’ve thought about passages and themes from this book countless times throughout the year!

#5

A Matter of Fate is one of my favorite series of all time! I absolutely love it! I have spent way too many hours thinking and dreaming about the characters in this series. A Matter of Forever was the perfect, beautiful, emotionally raw conclusion (we’re talking snot-filled ugly cry) to this series and one of my tops for 2014!

#6

This is the twisted book that I love to hate or hate to love, I’m still not sure! Either way, it’s one of the best I read this year.

#7

Like many friends, I’m always looking for books that will give me the same feels as 50 Shades of Grey! This series comes close AND it has a smoking hot race car driver!

 #8

The Deep End of the Sea is Medusa as you’ve never seen her before! I loved this modern twist on the classic mythology. And, everything Heather Lyons writes is impeccable!

#9

Reed. I should really just say that and move on. In 2014, he shot to the top of my Book Boyfriend list! I am loving this incredible storyline and can’t wait to finish the series in 2015.

#10

Lick, Play, Lead – I read them all in 2014 and I’m in love with the men of Stage Dive! These are super fun, rockstar romances filled with GREAT characters and LOL moments. Play is my fave in the series so far and Mal is definitely one of my top Book Boyfriends. (What can I say, I LOVE a guy who can make me laugh!)

 

BFF A’s 2014 Besties

I think I read more this year than I ever have in one year. Maybe it’s because I finally found books that intrigue me the most. Perhaps it’s because I have a purpose for reading more. I love talking to my BFF about books. I love instilling in my daughter the love of reading. I love that I can use a book to escape reality, even if for just a little bit. I hope to do more in 2015. More reading, more searching, more conversations, more focus.

It’s difficult to narrow down. There have been many books I have loved this year. I was able to immerse myself in the stories, become a part of the events and finish with serious book hangover. When I think back to those that I constantly talk about, those that brought out my emotions, and left me wanting more, these made it to the top of my list.

#1

I still have no words to describe the mind-twisting journey I took while reading this book. It is definitely at the top of my list for 2014.

#2

It’s the only book that I can remember reading twice, it’s that good! Traveling to Chicago with BFF K for the concert with Griffin and Colleen was icing on the cake!

#3

I cried. I never cry when reading. Anything that has my emotions show like that is fantastic.

#4

This was not a 2014 release, but it was a new read for me this year. The entire series is thrilling, but book 1 really gets you hooked into the characters, events, and makes you want more. The journey of Anthony and Claire will continue in January 2015 when Beyond the Consequences is released. I already have it ordered.

 

We thank you so much for coming along on the exciting book journey we’ve taken in 2014. We look forward to an incredible 2015 and we thank you for being our Book BFF’s!

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REVIEW – Under Different Stars by Amy A. Bartol

Kricket Hollowell never wished upon stars. She was too busy hiding in plain sight, eluding Chicago’s foster care system. As her eighteenth birthday approaches, she now eagerly anticipates the day she’ll stop running and finally find her place in the world.

That day comes when she meets a young Etharian soldier named Trey Allairis, who has been charged with coming to Earth to find Kricket and transport her to her true home. As danger draws close, he must protect her until she can wield the powers she cannot use on Earth…and he soon realizes that counting a galaxy of stars would be easier than losing this extraordinary girl.

Kyon knows the powerful depths of Kricket’s gifts—gifts he’ll control when he takes her for his tribe and leads the forces that will claim Ethar and destroy his enemies, starting with Trey Allairis. Now, Kricket faces the most difficult choice of her life: whether to wage a battle for survival or a fight for love.

Winner of four 2014 utopYA Awards, including Best Book of the Year and Best Sci-Fi Book of the Year.

BFF K’s Review

This is the book that confirm beyond the shadow of a doubt, I LOVE PARANORMAL ROMANCE. I used to think that I just liked certain kinds of paranormal, ‘only vampires’ or just ‘what Heather Lyons writes,’ but I can’t deny it anymore….I think paranormal romance is my favorite genre!

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I have a real soft spot for a heroine who kicks ass, and Kricket kicks ass! She is smart, strong, trusts her instincts, listens to her gut, shows vulnerability, knows what she wants, creates her own destiny and makes no apologies for who she is. I wish that more books had heroines who displayed the virtues that Kricket does!

Then there’s Trey…..SWOON! He’s the perfect match to Kricket. He’s honorable, loyal, strong and accomplished. Trey’s not at all intimidated by Kricket, nor does he want to change her or make her any less awesome! He truly wants to be her partner and protector. Trey’s willing to give up everything to be with Kricket and to keep her safe, but hopefully he’s wily enough that he won’t have to do that.

Amy Bartol has built an incredible world. If anyone would have told me that I would be loving a book where the heroine is taken to another dimension where there are warring factions on a different plane….I would have said, ‘you’re crazy’. (That brings me to my PNR proclamation at the beginning of this review!)

The supporting characters are richly written with great dialogue, personalities and purpose that compliment the main characters and the overall story line. There’s action, suspense, discovery and a really wonderful romance! The only problem with Under Different Stars is that we have to wait until March 31, 2015 for Sea of Stars (The Kricket Series Book 2.)

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Click to purchase Under Different Stars on Amazon

Click to pre-order Sea of Stars on Amazon

About the Author

I live in Michigan with my husband and our two sons. My family is very supportive of my writing. When I’m writing, they often bring me the take-out menu so that I can call and order them dinner. They listen patiently when I talk about my characters like they’re real. They rarely roll their eyes when I tell them I’ll only be a second while I finish writing a chapter…and then they take off their coats. They ask me how the story is going when I surface after living for hours in a world of my own making. They have learned to accept my “writing uniform” consisting of a slightly unflattering pink fleece jacket, t-shirt, and black yoga pants. And they smile at my nerdy bookishness whenever I try to explain urban fantasy to them. In short, they get me, so they are perfect and I am blessed. Please visit me at my website: http://www.amyabartol.com

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Review – Deep End of the Sea by Heather Lyons

What if all the legends you’ve learned were wrong?

Brutally attacked by one god and unfairly cursed by another she faithfully served, Medusa has spent the last two thousand years living out her punishment on an enchanted isle in the Aegean Sea. A far cry from the monster legends depict, she’s spent her time educating herself, gardening, and desperately trying to frighten away adventure seekers who occasionally end up, much to her dismay, as statues when they manage to catch her off guard. As time marches on without her, Medusa wishes for nothing more than to be given a second chance at a life stolen away at far too young an age.

But then comes a day when Hermes, one of the few friends she still has and the only deity she trusts, petitions the rest of the gods and goddesses to reverse the curse. Thus begins a journey toward healing and redemption, of reclaiming a life after tragedy, and of just how powerful friendship and love can be—because sometimes, you have to sink in the deep end of the sea before you can rise back up again.

BFF K’s Review

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It’s no secret that I LOVE Heather Lyons! She’s one of my favorites. When I realized that I had never posted my review for Deep End of the Sea on the BFF Book Blog, I had to fix that immediately! Here you go:

I love the musical Wicked. (Stick with me, I have a point.) I’m particularly drawn to it because of the way it makes me think of the Wizard of Oz. I’ve known that story and watched the movie since I was a little girl, but honestly wasn’t a fan until Wicked. This re-invention of the Wizard of Oz story has forever changed the way I look at the original.

The Deep End of the Sea is EXACTLY like that but replace Medusa for Elphaba! I will never be able to think about Medusa in the same way or consider mythology without wondering what the backstory is for each of the characters I’ve long-thought `I knew’! The love story between Medusa and Hermes in TDEotS will make you re-think everything you’ve ever learned or thought about these characters. How wonderful! Isn’t that what books should do, change the way we look at the world?

I was drawn to Medusa. I could relate to her in so many ways. “A good cry, as I’ve learned over the years, is a cathartic experience. I don’t do it often, as it can be a fruitless endeavor – it changes nothing, but sometimes, there’s this sweet spot I can find where I simply feel better afterward, even if just for an hour.” or “…no matter how many times I ask myself, `Why me?’ I am never given an answer.” See what I mean? What girl hasn’t felt that way?

And Hermes? SWOON! The patience and selfless commitment to his love is remarkable. Hermes is Medusa’s best friend and they have the kind of relationship that makes both of them better. “His goodness is a beacon I can’t resist navigating toward, especially when I commit such atrocities myself.” Characters like these are why I read romance novels!

In the end, TDEotS, with a rich cast of clever and wonderful characters, is a fairytale. And, it’s one that fills you with all the hope and great emotions inspired by fairytales. “Because, like in so many fairytales, a single kiss can make all the difference. The kiss the prince and princess shared was nothing like either had ever experienced. It changed them.”

This book will change your thoughts too, don’t miss it!

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About Heather Lyons:

Heather Lyons has always had a thing for words—She’s been writing stories since she was a kid. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. Heather is a rabid music fan, as evidenced by her (mostly) music-centric blog, and she’s married to an even larger music snob. They’re happily raising three kids who are mini music fiends who love to read and be read to.

 

Website ** Author Goodreads ** Twitter ** Facebook

 

Review – The Ballad by Ashley Pullo

 

Two Lovers.
Two Dreamers.
One Love Song.

Locations: New York City (Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Heights, TriBeCA) Las Vegas,
San Francisco

Setting: 2003-Present day

Characters:

Chloe LeGrange Ford – talented musician craving resolve

Adam Ford – handsome attorney longing for a revelation

Natalie LeGrange Brooks – creative free-spirit dreaming of the stars

Chris Brooks – sexy Texan waiting for the right time

Objective:

Authentic situations and original characters capture the intimate moments in a
timeless love story.

Themes:

Patience, impulse, pride, joy, and undeniable sexual attraction.

Genre:

Indie/Romance/Drama/Humor

The Ballad is a love song following dreamers and lovers over a span of ten
years. Set against the picturesque backdrop of New York City and paired with a
reverse narrative, their story is an original retelling of what it means to
find the happily ever after in the midst of the journey.

BFF K’s Review

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The Album is one of BFF K’s Bestie Reads for 2014! It is an incredible, wonderful, funny, heart-warming,  tale of five friends written in the most unique style and format we’ve come across in a long time! I LOVED it!

 

So, I was thrilled with the recent release of The Ballad. This is a companion novel to The Album sharing stories and vignettes from the lives and loves of many of the same characters in The Album. The Ballad is like going to a reunion, but only seeing/spending time with your most favorite people! This book is an opportunity to slip back into their stories and get a deeper look at some of the most significant moments.

 

You’ll be a guest at Chloe and Adam’s wedding, have a ring-side-seat at the births of babies, experience career changes and even a Vegas vacation. In many cases, it expands on the epic narratives started in The Album or tells new ones that you’ll love to read. The unique format and writing for The Ballad is one of the things I love most about the book. It’s like getting little glimpses into the lives of the characters over several years and learning about their thoughts and all the things that make them tick. The characters are so well developed, parts are LOL-funny, there is lots of romance and a little steam. Through everything: cousins Chloe and Natalie are the heart of the story, their friendship is the very best love story told and music makes the memories!

 

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Read BFF K’s Review of The Album,

THEN check out That’s What She Said, a fun and informative interview with Ashley Pullo,

where she answers all of BFF K’s most pressing questions about The Album!

Links to Buy

AMAZON US / UK

Also Available

AMAZON US / UK

Music Video

About the Author

 

Fifteen years ago I became a permanent New Yorker, but I’ve yet to abandon my Texas charm. NYC is an amazing place to find inspiration – the random and the ordinary that make up reality. My writing showcases inspired ideas, as well as my love for dichotomy, authenticity and humor.

I’m just a girl. A girl with a dream. A dream to write for television. I also had a dream to marry Christian Bale, but I digress. I’m a girl with a dream to write and write and
write until someone tells me to stop. And even then I would find a way to write about the jerk who wanted me to stop.

Author Links