Naughty Brits by Sarah MacLean, Sophie Jordan, Louisa Edwards, Tessa Gratton & Sierra SImone

Everything is hotter with a British accent…

Source: advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review

 ❤  💙  ❤  💙  ❤

Sarah MacLean - A Duke Worth Falling For:

Her career in tatters, celebrity photographer Lilah Rose retreats to the British countryside, complete with fluffy sheep, rolling hills…and Max, the stern, sexy farmer who tends to them. But their lazy days and lush nights aren’t as far from the spotlight as Lilah thinks, and Max will have to reveal the truth if he is going to convince Lilah that some dukes are worth the risk.

Review - 4 stars

I loved it! It hit that sweet spot for me which is physical intimacy on the heels of a clear connection. Quick, effortless banter is my catnip. Lilah and Max have that give and take and I was totally on board with them getting it on. The secret identity trope though can get predictable because really, how can it not go wrong? But MacLean does throw in a few little surprises and I liked the dual POV. I was highly satisfied and happy with how this finished.


Sophie Jordan - Better with You:

When the author of a controversial self-help book starts receiving threats, she has no choice but to accept a bodyguard on her UK book tour. Vee Mathers is famous for asserting that women don’t need men—especially for sex!—but at security specialist Luca Moretti’s first, burning touch, she starts to think she might need to revise her theory...

Review - 4 stars

This is definitely one of empowerment for any woman who's been through the wringer thanks to bad relationships. Vee's sworn off men until she's assigned a bodyguard who's the first guy to make her insides go crazy in a while. This is slightly inconvenient as she's touring her much-heralded book about self love and not needing a man. And of course, he is everything that she has never experienced and more! (While he's described as Henry Cavill-like, I, for some reason pictured him as Gerard Butler.)  There is something simmering between these two and I am all for it, though I wish I could've known what was going on in Luca's mind. There's just something magnetic about him.

Louisa Edwards - Not a Bad Boy:

Writer Mallory Pritchard moved to London for research—and to get over a bad breakup. When she (literally) runs into Hollywood’s hottest action hero, Ian Hale, at a dog park, she realizes her heart isn’t as broken as she thought! Ian is even more devastatingly sexy in person, which makes Mallory wonder...is there room for a regular girl in his glamorous movie-star world?

Review - 3 stars

I wanted to get in to this because, hello hot Hollywood star! I think this is where a dual POV would've helped me get in to the instalust aspect of this coupling. It just felt like it was Mallory in the driver's seat the entire time and Ian was just kind of there as she pushed him about his career, his ambitions, his past. It was weird to me because they've only known each other a few days. I would've preferred it being balanced with his perspective so I could understand why he was so receptive to her opinions. There were moments I loved like their first date which was absolutely adorable and melted my heart. Unfortunately, their connection was lost on me.

Tessa Gratton - Songbird:

Former American soldier Daniel Kelly’s mission is simple: close the deal to buy a Welsh pub on behalf of his family’s corporation, and survive another anniversary of the worst day of his service. Too bad that from the moment he sees the pub’s owner, Elspeth Gwenlan is the only thing Daniel wants to conquer—even if it means lying to her about his agenda.

Review - 3.5 stars

This was a cute one and I liked that it was set in Wales. Elspeth's put her previous ambitions behind her to run her family's ages-old pub. Daniel is supposed to secure the sale of the pub for his family but it all gets complicated the moment he sees Elspeth. Taken under her spell, he keeps his reason for being in Wales a secret and embarks on an unexpectedly torrid tryst with her. Their encounters are sensationally hot with both finding much-needed healing and releasing from them. It becomes obvious that there's more than just their physical chemistry involved. But of course, that whole I've-got-a-secret-and-should've-told-you-sooner comes back to bite him in the arse. I was definitely curious about how things would be resolved.

Sierra Simone - Supplicant:

After being left at the altar by her cold and brilliant professor, Church Cason, Charlotte Tenpenny had to leave school to take care of her younger brother. But a fateful night brings Church—and his delicious, drugging kisses—back into Charlotte's life. And it stirs up a reckoning years in the making ... 

Review - 3 stars

The set up immediately got my interest. A jilted fiancee left at the alter, the shame/hatred/grief she's carried these past four years and then suddenly the shock of seeing him face to face again. It had all the makings of a good juicy drama...and then I met Church. He's arrogant, invasive, territorial - basically too predatory for my comfort level and that threw me off. Despite my distress at his behaviour and subsequent incomprehension of Charlotte's surrender to him, I was still taken in by Simone's writing. I couldn't put it down! She conveyed their personalities perfectly, so much so that she drew strong reactions from me, obviously. In the end, while I know this story will appeal to a lot of readers, Supplicant was a mixed bag for me. 

❤  💙  ❤  💙  ❤

There you have it. I was happy to have a chance to read new-to-me authors Louisa Edwards, Tessa Gratton and Sierra Simone, and I hope that I can check out more from them soon. All the stories were a fun and quick escape from a stressful week. Definitely pick this up for some sexy good times in the British isles!

~ Bel

This Scot of Mine Blog Tour

A daring deception…

Desperate to escape her vile fiancé, Lady Clara devises a bold lie—that she’s pregnant with another man’s child. With her reputation in tatters, Clara flees to Scotland to live out her days in disgrace, resigned to her fate as a spinster…until she claps eyes on the powerful and wickedly handsome Laird Hunt MacLarin.

She’s the answer to his curse…

Laird of an ancient clan, Hunt needs an heir, but he comes from a long line of men cursed to die before the birth of their firstborn. When the Duke of Autenberry approaches him with a proposition—marry my ruined sister—it seems the perfect solution. Even better, the defiant lass stirs him to his very soul.

No escaping the truth...

Except marriage cannot set them free. No matter how much Hunt desires her. No matter how much Clara burns for him. Soon she is falling for her husband, but is love enough to end the curse? Or is the tragic history of the MacLarin Clan doomed to repeat itself?

 Purchase Your Copy Today

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Excerpt

Clara could not have made the invitation any clearer.

She didn’t know where such boldness came from within her. She had never forayed into intimacy like this. She didn’t know she had it in her. She supposed it had something to do with the way he made her feel . . . something to do with the fire in her blood.

He said her name again. “Clara.” In that husky brogue of his she felt herself melting, sliding deeper into a puddle of desire.

They hadn’t even kissed. Not a true romantic kiss. She did not count the chaste peck the morning of her wedding.

And heavens, she wanted him to kiss her.

She wanted his mouth on hers. She wanted to taste him with an ache that went bone-deep. Despite his gruffness, his mouth looked beautiful. There was a tenderness in the well-carved shape that she wanted to explore.

About Sophie Jordan

SOPHIE JORDAN grew up in the Texas hill country where she wove fantasies of dragons, warriors, and princesses. A former high school English teacher, she’s the New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author of more than twenty novels. She now lives in Houston with her family. When she’s not writing, she spends her time overloading on caffeine (lattes preferred), talking plotlines with anyone who will listen (including her kids), and cramming her DVR with anything that has a happily ever after.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon

This promotion is brought to you by Pure Textuality PR.

The Me I Meant To Be by Sophie Jordan

* * * * 1/2

Girl Code: Never date a friend’s ex.

Willa Evans has no intention of breaking the code. So what if she’s always secretly loved her next-door neighbor Zach? As her best friend’s boyfriend, he was always off-limits and it needs to stay that way, even though they just broke up. Even though every time she turns around he’s there, tempting her…
 
No keeping secrets from your bestie.

Flor Hidalgo has a lot on her plate: her breakup with Zach, her dad’s new dating life, and her struggling grades. So why can’t she stop thinking about her hot, know-it-all tutor? At least she’s got Willa, her constant in the chaos.
 
Breaking the code breaks friendships.
 
Two friends find themselves tempted by love that defies the rules in this steamy romance perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Simone Elkeles.

Source: advance e-galley provided in exchange for an honest review


I absolutely enjoyed Sophie Jordan's latest YA offering because this one focused on a theme that I can relate to and am witnessing right now through my two teens: the changing nature of friendships.

Willa and Flor have been besties for a long time and have seen each other through ups and downs. While Willa likes to be in the background, Flor is the more popular friend at the forefront. But things are slowly changing. Flor recently broke up with Zach who happens to be Willa's nextdoor neighbor so it kind of puts her in an awkward situation. While Flor is fixated on why Zach broke things off with her and how she can win him back, Willa's just trying to work out how she can remain friends with both of them and also loyal to Flor. And because of her loyalty and their friendship, Willa has made a silent vow to herself to never allow her long held secret crush on Zach to go any further than that. Flor's way of coping is to create the Girl Code, a set of rules that girlfriends should adhere to in order to support each other and lift each other up. Poor Willa feeling treacherous inside, although Flor isn't faring any better because she's developing strange feelings for her math tutor, Grayson who is the exact opposite of Zach and who shouldn't even be occupying space in her head when she's trying to get back together with him.

Each chapter is headed by a Girl Code entry that has a tie-in to that chapter. It's quite cute. With the POV switching between Willa and Flor there's an abundance of emotion, confusion, angst and flirting flying about. I love how well Jordan handles both their stories, giving them equal time. She treats their friendship delicately - which it is at the moment - while also showing how Willa and Flor are gradually diverging on their own paths. The matter of loyalty is constantly brought up, as is the idea of family and what that should mean. Willa and Flor are each experiencing changes within their families and I can say that what's going on with Flor's astounded me. 

There is a third friend in the mix, Jenna whose story isn't delved into. I wish there could've been a way to flesh out her storyline as well but I can also see why Jordan just kept it to the two main girls. Jenna's brief appearances do initiate the topic of self-acceptance, and the painful reality of how how hard it can be to be honest with your family about something you've come to know about yourself. 

I fell in love with this book and its honesty about the inevitable changes that come with simply growing older. Even though boys are in the picture for Willa and Flor, The Me I Meant to Be is truly about the girls' friendship, growth and acceptance. Girl Code is important but it's also just a guide. Any friendship will face its test but it rests on the individuals involved to see that their friendship survives. 

~ Bel

Beautiful Sinner Blog Tour

Locked in with the town bad boy . . .

Most women would be scared, but Gabriella’s only worried about resisting Cruz Walsh, who’s even hotter than he was back in high school. Cruz was wrongly accused of the high-profile crime for which he was imprisoned; Gabriella’s desperate for the scoop that will get her career off the ground and get her out of Sweet Hill, where everyone still remembers her as “Flabby Gabby.” Being stuck in a supply closet with Cruz is the perfect opportunity to land an interview. What Bri doesn’t count on is Cruz taking “up-close and personal” to a whole new level.

If there’s a silver lining to the hell Cruz went through, it’s that losing his freedom put everything in perspective. Maybe starting over someplace new would be easier, but after years locked up, Cruz values his family—and his true friends—more than ever. So he’s back home, facing the gossip, dodging reporters . . . and face-to-face with Gabriella Rossi. They’ve both changed: Bri wants a story and Cruz just wants her. Another thing he’s learned? Don’t let a good thing slip away.

Purchase Your Copy Today

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Review

* * * *

Coming back to her tiny hometown to look after her grandmother was not the exact homecoming Gabriella had hoped for. Honestly speaking she was hoping to make a bigger splash in front of her former classmates/tormentors and show them that she was a success despite their taunting and bullying. But she returns home with a tenuous hold on her job, a spiteful ex and a strained relationship with her siblings. Of course, she’d run in to her former nemesis at a function at her former high school but that’s soon forgotten when she runs in to none other than Cruz Walsh, star of every high school girl’s dream back in the day. He still looks at hot as ever and she’s instantly reminded of that one stolen moment years ago when they shared a searing hot kiss. He never knew that it was her but she held that secret close. She doubts he even knows who she is but unbeknownst to her, Cruz has often thought of that kiss and the mysterious girl who disappeared immediately after it happened. The memory of that kiss kept him going in jail. It was something that he could always rely on to carry him through that dark time in his life. Back to the present, one of the most ridiculous thing happens when in an effort to avoid some annoying people, she and Cruz end up locked in the janitor’s closet together. Hello? Cliché, anybody? And they’re stuck there for the entire weekend possibly. Suffice it to say things get a bit cozy and Cruz is illuminated as to who his mystery kissing girl was.

What do I say? This book was steamy! Cruz is magnetic with his bad boy vibe that unfortunately overshadows his generous heart. It’s upsetting that a guy of strong moral character is seen only as a convict but let’s face it, that’s reality and most of us would be squeamish about a convict moving in next door, even if he was acquitted of all charges and found to be innocent. Gabriella who has dealt with shame all her life knows what it’s like to have people make assumptions and think that’s all the story there is to know about her. Hanging around Cruz has fired her up and she's ready to show she's no longer a pushover. Meanwhile, though her interest in Cruz is more professional at first, she's finding it hard to resist him. Not to mention now that he knows she’s “the one”, he’s not willing to lose out on this second chance that he's been gifted to get to know her. Their courtship is pretty darn sexy and dreamy, too. The only thing missing for me is further exploration of a subplot with regards to why Cruz landed in prison and why he took the fall for the crime. He mentions it briefly and acknowledges that while the truth could've saved him years ago, it would've destroyed a lot of people. I admire his desire to protect them, even at the cost of his own name and safety but that curious side of me can't let that tidbit go. He put other people before himself and it cost him a few years of his life. That's just always going to be out there and I have no idea if we'll get to find out what actually happened.

Sophie Jordan always amazes me because has so many stories swirling around in that head of hers and delivers them to so many genres. I love that she can write innocence and adventure for her YA fans (that’s how I discovered her), and pure heat for her NA and romance fans. The Devil’s Rock series has given us so much from suspense to romance to revenge; it’s been a whirlwind. With a smart and thoughtful heroine in Gabriella and a sexy bad boy who’s done caring about what other people think of him, Beautiful Sinner is right up there for me.

~ Bel

Tour Wide Giveaway

To celebrate the release of BEAUTIFUL SINNER by Sophie Jordan, we’re giving away one paperback set of the complete Devil’s Rock series by Sophie Jordan!

GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS:  Open to US shipping addresses only. One winner will receive a paperback set of the complete Devil’s Rock series by Sophie Jordan.  This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Avon Romance. Giveaway ends 11/12/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Avon Romance will send the winning copies out to the winner directly. Limit one entry per reader and mailing address.  Duplicates will be deleted. 

 CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

About Sophie Jordan

SOPHIE JORDAN grew up in the Texas hill country where she wove fantasies of dragons, warriors, and princesses. A former high school English teacher, she’s the New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author of more than twenty novels. She now lives in Houston with her family. When she’s not writing, she spends her time overloading on caffeine (lattes preferred), talking plotlines with anyone who will listen (including her kids), and cramming her DVR with anything that has a happily ever after.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon

This promotion is brought to you by Pure Textuality PR.

Beautiful Lawman (Devil's Rock #4) by Sophie Jordan

* * * *

From the wrong side of the tracks and with most of her family in jail or dead, Piper Walsh is used to everyone in town thinking the worst about her. It doesn’t seem to matter that she’s worked hard to build a good life for herself. So she isn’t surprised that when she comes into contact with Sweet Hill’s wildly irresistible, arrogant sheriff, Hale Walters, they’re instant adversaries. Piper has nothing in common with the town golden-boy-turned-lawman—and she refuses to be a notch on his bedpost.

Despite rumors, Hale avoids fooling around with the women of Sweet Hill, many of whom are hoping to get him to the altar. But staying out of Piper’s path is proving near impossible. The infuriating troublemaker clearly has no respect for his badge. As she continues to push his buttons, it becomes clear to Hale that he must either arrest Piper—or claim her as his own. 

Source: advance e-galley provided in exchange for an honest review


I adore stories about couples from vastly different backgrounds coming together. There's a degree of skepticism, assumption and also curiosity that lends itself to the making of some good chemistry, which is what happens in Beautiful Lawman. Piper has had a rough life with non-existent parents meaning she and her older brother, Cruz, were left to care for themselves and their younger sister, Malia. With Cruz serving time, the responsibility has fallen on her shoulders. There are few options where Piper can make some good cash so working as a waitress at a grimy men's club is what she has to do. Hale Walters is the town's sheriff and has a sterling reputation as a disciplined man. He initially sees Piper as a victim of her circumstances who continues to make bad decisions but soon learns that there's more to her. She's not interested in correcting anyone's gossip about her. That's their problem for all she cares and she's certainly not looking for a saviour but for an opportunity like anyone else to make life better for herself and her sister. Piper's attitude challenges all of Hale's preconceived notions about what he thought he understood of her and it's not long before he realizes that she's also the first woman in a long time to ignite something within him.

The Devil's Rock Series has been thoroughly enjoyable and I think Beautiful Lawman is the best one yet. In fact, it's probably my favourite (it's a toss up between this and Fury on Fire. Speaking of that, North and Faith do make an appearance here). I enjoyed the setup that had Piper and Hale getting closer, and then there was that oh-so-sweet delayed gratification when it came to sexy times coming to fruition. The wait is worth it and the two of them are exciting and mischievous together, a combination that I approve of!

Sophie Jordan is one of my favourite authors and this series is an auto-buy for me. Beautiful Lawman is everything I want in a read - sexy, smart, good humour and an equally matched couple that's hard not to love.

~ Bel

Rise of Fire (Reign of Shadows #2) by Sophie Jordan

* * *

The richly suspenseful sequel to Sophie Jordan’s romantic fantasy Reign of Shadows.

Luna and Fowler have escaped the kingdom of Relhok, but they haven’t escaped the darkness. When a battle against the dark dwellers mortally injures Fowler, Luna is faced with a choice: put their fate in the hands of mysterious strangers or risk losing Fowler forever.

Desperate to keep the one bright part of her life alive, Luna accepts the help of soldiers from a nearby kingdom. Lagonia’s castle offers reprieve from the dangerous outside world—until the king discovers both Fowler's and Luna’s true ties to Relhok and their influence over the throne.

Now pawns in each kingdom’s political game, Luna and Fowler are more determined than ever to escape and build the life they’ve been dreaming of. But their own pasts have a tight hold on their hearts and their destinies. Luna must embrace the darkness and fire within her before she loses not only Fowler, but the power she was destined to inherit. 

*Source: advance e-galley provided by publisher in exchange for a honest review

There's no break in the action as Rise of Fire kicks off where we last ended and that's Fowler having been taken underground by the ghastly dwellers and Luna going after him. We've come to know and admire Luna for the force that she is, therefore, it's no surprise that she heroically helps him escape. Unfortunately, Fowler is poisoned by the dwellers and she has to resort to trusting strangers they encounter for help during their escape. It's a precarious scenario but Fowler's life is on the line and Luna's not about to risk it. They end up in a neighbouring kingdom that has strained ties with Relhok. Once their identities are confirmed, they become pawns in a dangerous power grab that neither is interested in being a part of. Though their escape is thwarted, they may have found an unlikely ally in the process.

Only one thing stumped me here and that is the one element that I excited me in Reign of Shadows which became the one element that confounded me in this book. In Reign of Shadows, I was so impressed that Luna was blind yet accomplished at reading her surroundings through sound, smell and touch. She was trained well by her caretakers and it made sense to me that she was adept at taking care of herself in familiar terrain where she could easily decipher all those details. I felt it required much more of a suspension of disbelief this time when she's in foreign territory surrounded by strangers. I feel like I could have done with a little more detail from her perspective as to how she was reading and navigating her new, unfamiliar environment while keeping everyone from knowing the truth. That was the one piece that kept gnawing at me. I'd be curious to know what other readers feel about this.

I still enjoyed the book and above all I loved that Luna is a strong figure able to overcome her disability. We need to have more characters like her to cheer on. Rise of Fire is a fun fantasy, a classic good versus evil. By the way, there is a bit of a surprise towards the end, something rather unexpected! 

~ Bel

Fury on Fire (Devil's Rock #3) by Sophie Jordan

* * * 3/4

When you live next door to the big bad wolf . . .

After years in prison, North Callaghan is finally free. But the demons haunting him still make him feel like a caged beast. He loses himself in work and hard living, coming up for air only to bed any willing woman to cross his path. So when his new neighbor snares his interest, he decides to add another notch to his bedpost. The only problem? Faith Walters is a white picket fence kind of girl.

Prepare to be devoured.

Faith’s new neighbor is the rudest man alive. He’d rather grunt at her than speak and he takes her “welcome-to-the-neighborhood” scones without a thank you. She knows she should run for the hills from the ex-con. If only he weren’t so smoldering sexy…if only the sounds of him with other women didn’t drift through their shared wall and fill her with longing…and if only he didn’t look at her like they were a collision waiting to happen.

*Source: advance e-galley provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review


Faith is a hard-working professional who moves out of her parents' home into her own only to finds that her brand new neighbour is anything but friendly. Not that she wants to be besties but she'd like a bit of consideration, that's all. I liked that Faith is never intimidated by this neighbour she has yet to meet. So far communication has been through curt notes she's left for him that he ignores or quick glimpses out the window. A true-face-to-face doesn't occur until almost the middle of the book. I actually liked that. It's a departure from any insta-lust scenario. Instead Faith and North are left to resort to their imaginations about what the other is like. Neither views the other as potential relationship material though there's plenty of curiosity. When they do finally come face-to-face, all the ire and sexual tension that's been built up is that much sweeter.

As far as the books in series goes for me, Fury on Fire is the best one. I simply liked the setup and the pacing which allowed time for me to get a feel for the characters. I felt Faith lived openly and carried her heart on her sleeve. As a social worker, she has one of the most demanding jobs there is, yet she has so much room for compassion and forgiveness. North, a man of few words who was inside his head most of the time, is so tormented by his past mistakes and failures that he's emotionally stuck. It takes a strong woman with some sense to break through to him. 

Sophie Jordan, doesn't disappoint. She has created a wonderfully, sexy fantasy with the Devil's Rock series, stoking the fires of those bad-boy daydreams we have from time to time. As with all fantasies, this bad boy has a big heart once you dig deep enough to find it.

~ Bel

A Peek In The BiblioBin #228

Photo source: Bel/Bibliojunkies

Welcome to our Stacking the Shelves post! Stacking the Shelves (or as we like to call it, A Peek in the BiblioBin) has been created by the folks at Tynga's Reviews. It's a way for bloggers to share what books they've won, received for review, purchased, borrowed from the library or friend, received as a gift, grabbed off the bookshelf, etc.

What's in your bin?

+   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Happy New Year!! It seems we kind of fell off towards the end of 2016. Life just got so busy, you know? So it looks like we're making up for it in our first BiblioBin of 2017. 




For Review:

Rise of Fire (Reign of Shadows #2) by Sophie Jordan

Blade Bound (Chicagoland Vampires #13) by Chloe Neill

Safe Bet (The Rules #4) by Monica Murphy

Afraid to Fly (Anchor Point #2) by L.A. Witt

Waking In Time by Angie Stanton

Under Rose-Tinted Skies by Louise Gornall


Purchased:

Marked By Fire (Sons of Britain #1) by Mia West


Borrowed:

Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton


Off the Bookshelf:

The Color of Magic (Discworld #1) by Terry Prachett

Hell Breaks Loose (Devil's Rock #2) by Sophie Jordan

* * * 3/4



Hell hath no hunger like a man let out of a cage . . .

Shy and awkward, First Daughter Grace Reeves has always done what she’s told. Tired of taking orders, she escapes her security detail for a rare moment of peace. Except her worst nightmare comes to life when a ruthless gang of criminals abducts her. Her only choice is to place her trust in Reid Allister, an escaped convict whose piercing gaze awakens something deep inside her. Reid is nothing like her other captors.

He’s tougher, smarter…and one blistering look from him makes her hotter than any man ever has.

Reid spent years plotting escape and revenge . . .years without a woman in his bed. For this hardened felon, Grace Reeves isn’t just out of his league—she’s from another planet, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting her. Escaping Devil’s Rock was tough, but resisting this woman could be the end of him. For a man with nothing to lose, protecting her . . . claiming her as his own, becomes more necessary than his next breath.


Source: advance e-galley provided by Avon for an honest review


Sophie Jordan writes fun romances. Her Devil's Rock series featuring alpha males who are all about protecting what's theirs is no different though she always manages to soften them up a bit. Sheer pleasure and escapism is all the reason you need to read this!

Reid planned his escape from prison so that he could seek revenge on the man responsible for putting him there in the first place. He's forced to reassess his plans when he unwittingly gets involved in the kidnapping of the First Daughter. Now instead of just taking care of his business he has to worry about her safety and that of his brother who is one of the kidnappers. Grace wishes that she hadn't outsmarted her security detail because now she's hiding away in god knows where with some morally-challenged folk, frightened for her life. She senses that her kidnappers seem to be afraid of Reid and so she tries to appeal to his good side. Reid wants no part of this but he's ultimately a decent man and can't leave Grace to these thugs. The two of them must lie low while he figures out how to save them both.

I've already mentioned that Reid is a decent man. His humble backstory is sad and explains how he landed behind bars. Grace has lived her entire life in the public eye on the campaign trail with her parents. Constantly under pressure to present herself as a dutiful daughter who's part of a picture-perfect family has become tedious and not to mention a bitter experience. Everything she does is always up for scrutiny and heaven forbid she have a plan for her own life. She also comes off as a bit naive to me only because she hasn't ever had the chance to live normally. Despite the privileges she's had throughout her life, she's not elitist - something I appreciated about her. And though she has been kidnapped, the situation has its silver lining in that she gets to see what she's made of. I liked the connection that she and Reid made however difficult and dangerous it was to get there. The only thing that gave me pause was the ending. Grace and Reid falling in love has its own set of complications. It felt too easy for me but then again, I am reading this for the happily ever after and I expect them to get there some way, somehow. I guess it's up to our imaginations to fill in those blanks.

Hell Breaks Loose is another action-filled romance with some angst that's overall a fun, quick read. A criminal who turns things around. A young woman who unleashes her inner badass. Yeah, you need to spend some time with Reid and Grace!

~ Bel

Waiting on Wednesday (189)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.


By Rachel Caine
Publication Date: July 5, 2016

In Ink and Bone, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine introduced a world where knowledge is power, and power corrupts absolutely. Now, she continues the story of those who dare to defy the Great Library—and rewrite history…

With an iron fist, The Great Library controls the knowledge of the world, ruthlessly stamping out all rebellion, forbidding the personal ownership of books in the name of the greater good.

Jess Brightwell has survived his introduction to the sinister, seductive world of the Library, but serving in its army is nothing like he envisioned. His life and the lives of those he cares for have been altered forever. His best friend is lost, and Morgan, the girl he loves, is locked away in the Iron Tower and doomed to a life apart.

Embarking on a mission to save one of their own, Jess and his band of allies make one wrong move and suddenly find themselves hunted by the Library’s deadly automata and forced to flee Alexandria, all the way to London.

But Jess’s home isn’t safe anymore. The Welsh army is coming, London is burning, and soon, Jess must choose between his friends, his family, or the Library willing to sacrifice anything and anyone in the search for ultimate control… 


By Miranda Kenneally
Publication Date: July 5, 2016

Captain of the soccer team, president of the Debate Club, contender for valedictorian: Taylor’s always pushed herself to be perfect. After all, that’s what is expected of a senator’s daughter. But one impulsive decision—one lie to cover for her boyfriend—and Taylor’s kicked out of private school. Everything she’s worked so hard for is gone, and now she’s starting over at Hundred Oaks High.

Soccer has always been Taylor’s escape from the pressures of school and family, but it’s hard to fit in and play on a team that used to be her rival. The only person who seems to understand all that she’s going through is her older brother’s best friend, Ezra. Taylor’s had a crush on him for as long as she can remember. But it’s hard to trust after having been betrayed. Will Taylor repeat her past mistakes or can she score a fresh start?






By Sophie Jordan
Publication Date: July 26, 2016

Hell hath no hunger like a man let out of a cage . . .

Shy and awkward, First Daughter Grace Reeves has always done what she’s told. Tired of taking orders, she escapes her security detail for a rare moment of peace. Except her worst nightmare comes to life when a ruthless gang of criminals abducts her. Her only choice is to place her trust in Reid Allister, an escaped convict whose piercing gaze awakens something deep inside her. Reid is nothing like her other captors.

He’s tougher, smarter…and one blistering look from him makes her hotter than any man ever has.

Reid spent years plotting escape and revenge . . .years without a woman in his bed. For this hardened felon, Grace Reeves isn’t just out of his league—she’s from another planet, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting her. Escaping Devil’s Rock was tough, but resisting this woman could be the end of him. For a man with nothing to lose, protecting her . . . claiming her as his own, becomes more necessary than his next breath. 

All Chained Up (Devil's Rocks #1) by Sophie Jordan

* * *

There are bad boys and then there are the men of Devil’s Rock . . .

Some men come with a built-in warning label. Knox Callaghan is one of them. Danger radiates from every lean, muscled inch of him, and his deep blue eyes seem to see right through to Briar Davis’s most secret fantasies. But there’s one major problem: Briar is a nurse volunteering at the local prison, and Knox is an inmate who should be off-limits in every way.

Knox feels it too—a shocking animal magnetism that drives him to risk his own life to protect Briar’s. Paroled at last, he tries to resist her. She’s too innocent, too sweet, and she has no idea what Knox is capable of. But a single touch can lead to a kiss—and a taste . . . until the only crime is denying what feels so right . . .

“When the prison doors are open, the real dragon will fly out.”—Ho Chi Minh

Sophie Jordan has an impressive catalogue of books and I’m always amazed by her ability to jump between genres. Fresh off her recent YA release, Reign of Shadows, she now offers, All Chained Up, an adult contemporary romance that’s first in the Devil’s Rock series.

Nurse Briar Davis has begun volunteering at Devil’s Rock Prison once a week. The very thought of being there among the inmates freaks her out of her mind but she’s doing it to impress her boss and ensure that she has a future at the clinic she works at. On her first day she treats the inmate Knox, an intimidating presence, inside the clinic. She’s unnerved by the fact that they can’t keep their eyes off each other. Despite her wrecked nerves, she manages to make it through the remainder of the day. She doesn’t expect to be back until the following week but plans change and she’s accompanying her boss again the very next day. And this is the day that things go dreadfully wrong and all of Briar’s nightmares about prison come true. Thankfully Knox is her savior. That’s the last they see of each other until a run-in at a convenient store some time later. Neither of them can believe the coincidence. The time since prison has not erased the electricity between them.

The beginning of their relationship is mostly carnal. Briar is the only woman Knox has lusted after in some time. To Briar, Knox is the dangerous man with a secretive past that she can’t resist. Could her physical attraction to him be clouding her better judgment? As for Knox, his life is screwed up enough already that he’s worried about ruining hers just by association. Still they can’t stay away from each other. Aside from the action at the prison in the beginning, not a whole lot happens in between except for Knox and Briar romping through the sheets without much communication. It’s not supposed to get serious – this is only supposed to be a series of hook-ups but that’s not how it ever goes. All this leads to a bit of a mess down the road. 

The story is hot and a bit on the dark side. Knox fits the bill for those seeking a quiet but imposing hero who’s also a fierce protector. Briar starts out as the damsel in distress (though I can’t fault her because I’d certainly be a mess if I had to work in a prison) but grows into a more outspoken person. All Chained Up does include an unexpected subplot that felt oddly of place at first but now I’m curious as to how it’ll play out in the next book. In the meantime, Jordan serves up another delicious romance with plenty of magic time to make your head spin! Also, you may never look at Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia the same again ;)

~ Bel