BOOK BLAST: Tiger Lily by Amélie S. Duncan

Tiger Lily

Tiger Lily # 1 

 Amélie S. Duncan

Released February 10th, 2015

Self-Published

What started as an assignment became more than Lily could have ever hoped for...

Lily Salomé has encountered more challenges than the average twenty-four year old. After a horrendous crash killed her parents, an abusive relationship was all she needed to calcify her broken heart to stone. So when Lily’s boss comes to her with a challenge most girls would balk at, she knows there isn’t much left in this world to be afraid of. 

The target: Jonas Crane, a brooding business mogul who hasn't smiled once since his divorce. Dark, dangerous and mouthwatering, Crane has written a book about life in the fast lane and with the recent publicity, Lily's boss wants the rights. Problem is, Crane won't return a phone call, let alone agree to a meeting. But if a pretty publishing assistant happens to run into him at the Waldorf, with a business card and a smile...what could go wrong? 

A lot, it seems. Lily thinks she's going to the Waldorf to meet a rich jerk, or worse, a playboy, but the truth is way more challenging. Jonas Crane is smart, engaging...and devastatingly out of her league.

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EXCERPT

 I managed to not stare in awe at the murals, and walk confidently inside the softly lit lounge of Sir Harry’s.

The sleek mahogany bar with porcelain snack bowls dotted along the top took up a prominent portion of the room, and thereby was the first thing I noticed upon entry. Searching for a place to stand or sit, I zeroed in on one of the empty Japanned leather bar stools, and briskly made my way to secure the seat before someone else. With luck, I captured the vacant seat and swiveled around. Eyeing the eclectic mix of patrons, I stared over the high-fashioned starlets, middle-aged tailored gentlemen, and nouveau-riche designer clad tourists and wondered where I fit in.

Not sure, but I patted my back on arriving with ten minutes to spare before Jonas Crane was due to arrive. Jonas! It finally dawned on me I didn’t have a plan for approaching him. Knitting my brows, I tilted my head down and tried to focus on making an impromptu plan. What would be a good opener? Hello, yes. Jonas? Can I call you Jonas? I’m Lily Salomé from Arch Limited, and I’m your publishing house stalker, nice to meet you.

Fidgeting and inward gazing didn’t mix. At least not when holding my satin handbag with sweaty palms. Unfortunately, this realization came too late and my bag took flight, sliding across the floor.

Shit. I had barely made it inside the bar and hadn’t even ordered my first drink or eaten a pistachio nut without embarrassing myself. Straightening my shoulders and ignoring the burning of my cheeks, I lifted my chin and eased over in the direction of my bag, doing my best to pretend I was bored and didn’t care, or that I had maybe even purposely tossed it around. Spotting the bag, my insides winced at the polished leather shoes it had bounced against. I hastened my steps, but paused as a pair of large tanned hands with a golden ring on the left ring finger picked it up.

Gazing up further, I met the most luminous eyes I had ever seen. They were a rare combination of blue and turquoise like a tropical sea. He had black wavy hair that hung a little longer on the top and sides. Some lines around his eyes, but boasted of an otherwise flawless face. With a smooth angular jawline, straight nose, and well-defined cheekbones most women would die for, he was divine. Not to mention, full sensual lips were flashing a perfect set of teeth.

My hand trembled a little as I took my handbag from him, and recognition finally set in. He was not only gorgeous, but he was the man I had come here for, Jonas Crane. Serendipitous or cliché, it didn’t matter. My “accidental on purpose” encounter with him had taken place.

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Amélie S. Duncan writes contemporary, erotic romances with a dark edge. Her inspiration comes from many sources including her life experiences and travels. She lives on the West Coast of the United States with her husband.

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REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: LEAVING AMARILLO by CAISEY QUINN!

Dixie Lark hasn't had it easy. She lost her parents in an accident when she was young and grew up in a ramshackle house on a dirt road in Amarillo with her ailing grandparents and overprotective older brother. Thanks to her grandfather, Dixie learned to play a mean fiddle, inspired by the sounds of the greats- Johnny and June, Waylon and Hank. Her grandfather's fiddle changed Dixie's life forever, giving her an outlet for the turmoil of her broken heart and inspiring a daring dream.

Ten years later, Dixie and her brother, Dallas are creating the music they love and chasing fame with their hot band, Leaving Amarillo. But Dixie isn't enjoying the ride. All she can think about is Gavin, the band's tattooed, tortured drummer who she's loved since they were kids. She knows he feels the connection between them, but he refuses to see her as more than his best friends little sister.

Convinced that one night with Gavin will get him out of her system, Dixie devises a plan. She doesn't know that her brother has forbidden Gavin from making a movie on her- a promise he swore he'd always keep... a promise that once broken will unexpectedly change the future for Dixie, Gavin and the band.

Review:
Let me start out by saying I have been so excited for this series since the day I found out that Caisey Quinn signed a series with William Morrow! I discovered this author by accident and fell in love with her Kylie Ryans series.  She met and exceeded all of my expectations with Leaving Amarillo! This book is RED HOT! 

Leaving Amarillo is a steamy  take on the forbidden love plot. Dixie pretty much fell in love with Gavin at their first meeting.. 

"Falling in love with Gavin Garrison happened without my permission as

inevitable as a Popsicle melting down my chin in the middle of a heat wave, Gavin cracked my heart open and seeped into me slowly and all at once. My feelings for him consumed me, worked their way into my genetic makeup, and became an intrinsic part of who I was without my actually realizing it."- Dixie

Gavin made a vow to her brother, one that he doesn't want to break and risk losing the only true family he's ever known...

"You're the one person that's supposed to be off-limits. I made a promise. One I intended to keep."-Gavin

The attraction between Gavin and Dixie was scorching hot.. and to be honest, once I read the full description of Gavin- I don't know why it took Dixie as long as it did to make her move.... holy hotness. The chemistry between these two is toe curling and the love scenes will leave you fanning yourself and looking for a glass of ice water. 

Their band is so close to making it big....will the band survive if Dallas discovers  his little sister and his best friend have it bad for each other? The music industry is not always sunshine and roses.. and there are other factors that will test the bond between the family, friendship and the band. 

Fun playlist -while reading Amarillo!

Leaving Amarillo gets 5 SHINING STARS from this reviewer! I read this entire book in one sitting and immediately looked for the release date for Loving Dallas- Neon Dreams #2 (it's 6/16/15). I can't wait for more from Leaving Amarillo (the band) and for Dallas's love story- I already know who I am hoping for him to fall in love with and who I would like to throw in front of a train to keep away from him! 

If you haven't read a Casiey Quinn book yet, stop what your doing and one click this one now! She tells a story, that pardon the pun, Neon Dreams are made of! 

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Author Info:
Caisey Quinn lives in a suburb outside of Birmingham, Alabama with her husband, daughter, and other assorted animals. She wears cowgirl boots most of the time, even to church. She is the bestselling author of the Kylie Ryans series and writes New and Young Adult books about country girls finding love in unexpected places.

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Note: I was given an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

All opinions expressed here are my own.

Review & Giveaway: Crashing the Net by Jami Davenport

Hockey Star Cooper Black and professional party crasher Izzy Maxwell return in the sequel to Crashing the Boards.

Jealous boyfriends and glitzy parties can be a recipe for disaster. When gorgeous yet controlling Cooper interrupts a party Izzy was paid to crash and almost ruins her career as a professional party crasher, Izzy kicks him to the curb. She learned early in life not to count on anyone, and she will not relinquish her independence, not even to a sexy-as-sin pro athlete who can melt her with one wink.

As the Sockeyes hockey team opens their inaugural season in Seattle, Cooper finds himself minus a girlfriend and plus a surly teenage nephew. Cooper doesn't want to be a surrogate dad, but he doesn't want to play in Seattle, and he doesn't want to be alone. He misses Izzy, but seeing her with other men at parties turns him every shade of green.  Regardless, he wants her back, and he's willing to change, if only she'll give him a second chance. Aware of her precarious finances, Cooper makes an offer she can't refuse by hiring her to be responsible for his nephew when he's traveling for the team.

Fearing Cooper isn't capable of changing his control freak ways, Izzy resists his efforts to turn their financial arrangement into a personal relationship. He needs a sweet, docile girlfriend, and Izzy cannot be that woman. Yet, when tragedy strikes, Izzy is there when Cooper needs her the most, and love has a way of getting what it wants, no matter the circumstances.

Excerpt:

“What are you doing here?” Izzy hissed, ever mindful their voices could carry down the hallway to anyone loitering about the ballroom entrance.

“Looking for you,” Cooper growled right back while his gaze raked up and down her body clad in a form-fitting little black dress which revealed a tasteful amount of cleavage and bare thighs.

“Cooper, I told you I had to work tonight.”

He scowled and stepped toward her, backing her up until she hit the wall behind her. He put his big hands on either side of her face and leaned in. “I don’t like you hanging out with all these wealthy businessmen and athletes who’re salivating after you like tomcats on the prowl.”

“You are a wealthy athlete,” she reminded.

“Exactly,” he responded with a grimace.

“It’s just a job.” She stared up into his stormy blue eyes, forcing herself to stay on task and not get lost in those passionate depths.

“I have more than enough money to support you while you go back to school. You don’t need to do this job.”

“I love my job.” Izzy shook her head. She would never be dependent on anyone. After all, when you couldn’t trust your own parents to provide the bare minimum basics of food and shelter, why would you set yourself up to depend on anyone else?

“I don’t.” He glared down at her, his strong jaw set and his kissable mouth drawn in a firm line. If she kissed him right now, he’d forget about everything and the situation would be defused. Until next time. She gathered her strength and did what she had to do. For herself, her sanity, and her business.

“You, buster—” she jabbed her finger in his hard chest. “Do not get a vote.”

He ground his jaw. She cringed at the thought of what that’d do to his implants if he kept it up.

“Cooper, please—”

“This isn’t working. I can’t live like this, not knowing where you are and what you’re doing.”

“You know where I am. I tell you what parties we’re crashing.”

“Yeah, but I worry about you.” Concern softened the anger in his eyes, but judging by his clenched fists, it still bubbled beneath the surface even as he fought to control it.

“There’s nothing to worry about.” Izzy sighed. She wouldn’t quit this job. Number one, she loved it. Number two, it supported her three younger sisters and their college tuition's. Number three, Cooper would not take away her ability to control her present or future.

“You don’t know these people.”

“I don’t have to know them. It’s not like I’m going to establish a relationship with any of them.”

“You did with me.” He pointed out the fact that they’d met at a party her company, the Party Crashers, had been hired to crash over a month ago.

“That was the only time that happened.” She lifted her head and glared at him. “Is that what this is all about? You don’t trust me?”

A muscle ticked in Cooper’s square, stubbled jaw, and his face hardened to stone. That was all the answer she needed.

Review:
There is nothing I love more than an alpha male- add a big bad professional hockey player and this book is the stuff those dreams are made of! We met Cooper & Izzy in the novella Crashing the Boards and while you don't HAVE to read it before Crashing the Net, I recommend it! It is great short read and really gets you invested in Cooper & Izzy's story. Crashing the Net starts off where Crashing the Boards ended. Cooper and Izzy are a couple and Izzy's party crashing business is growing, thanks to her luck with the Seattle Sockeyes, but things aren't completely sunshine and roses. Cooper isn't comfortable with her career. She's had enough of his alpha male possessiveness and the two part ways. Enter Cooper's nephew, the son of his estranged sister that he never knew existed. He needs someone to help him and he knows Izzy is the perfect person for the job even if he has to swallow some of his pride and ask for help. 

To be honest, I didn't find Cooper that likable at first. He's hot- oh yes, and while I love a domineering hero, he came across as very self-centered. I grew to love him as the story progressed, as details from his past were revealed and the reason why he is the man he is became more clear. Izzy is the responsible one, she has taken care of her sisters, put their needs before her own, but now as they are starting to become more independent and she feels as if she is losing control of her life. Her past has taught her to to rely on herself. They say opposites attract, but I think in the case of Izzy and Cooper these two like-minded souls were on a crash course for each other from the very beginning. Izzy is the perfect match for Cooper, while he may thing he needs a docile submissive female, what he really needs is someone who isn't afraid to tell him exactly what she thinks. These two burn up the pages and I found myself holding my breath for their happily ever after! 

Crashing the Net is a sexy fun story with a great plot twist and I enjoyed this book very much. I gave this book 5 Starts and it is a MUST read for fans of sports romance. In fact I suggest that you add the entire Seattle Sockeyes series to your must read list! 


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Author Info:

USA Today Bestselling Author Jami Davenport writes sexy contemporary and sports romances, including her new indie endeavors: the Game On in Seattle Series and the Madrona Island Series. Jami lives on a small farm near the Puget Sound with her Green Beret-turned-plumber-husband, a Newfoundland cross with a tennis ball fetish, a price disguised as an orange tabby cat, and an opinionated Hanoverian mare. She works in computer support in her day job and juggles too many balls, but she wouldn't have it any other way.

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Note: I was given an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

5 STARS for Garrett by Sawyer Bennett

USA Today bestselling author Sawyer Bennett hits the ice with the story of a playboy athlete whose winning ways lead him to a beautiful woman with a lot to lose.
 
Carolina Cold Fury star Garrett Samuelson never wants to miss out on a single minute of fun. Whether he’s playing hockey, hanging out with friends, or walking the red carpet with a new date on his arm, he lives every day to the fullest. When he meets Olivia Case, he sees someone who’s exactly his type—confident, sexy, smart . . . his next fling. But the more he pursues her, the more Garrett shares a side of himself that other women don’t normally get to see.
 
Olivia has been keeping a secret. While Garrett lives for the next thrill, Olivia’s not sure she’ll live to see the next day. She’s undergoing treatment for some serious medical issues, and she doesn’t have time for a relationship with no guarantees—especially one with a hot-as-sin womanizer who won’t take no for an answer. But as she gets to know the real Garrett, Olivia can’t help falling for him . . . hard. To reveal the truth would mean risking everything—but you can’t score without taking the tough shots.

Review:
Wow, just Wow. Sawyer Bennett has managed to blow me away yet again with Garrett, the newest Cold Fury Hockey book. This book just made my top list of favorite reads for 2015 to date. 

Olivia is getting ready to begin her fight against cancer. One wild night with a sexy, hot hockey player is just what she needs to relieve a little stress. Garrett is a playboy, everyone knows it, but after one date with Olivia he can't get her out of his head, and starts to want more. When Garrett discovers Olivia's illness, it only makes him more determined to man up and do whatever it takes to help the woman he is falling for as she begins the battle of her life. This story is sexy, emotional, sweet... and did I mention sexy? These two start off with a scorching first date, but they have more than physical chemistry. I loved the connection between Garrett and Olivia. Their relationship felt real. This quote sealed the deal with adding Garrett to my list of book boyfriends.

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"Nothing and no one will ever come close to making me feel the way I do just when I am holding your hand, or listening to you breathe at night. Nothing compares." She blinks at me, her eyes wide and confused. I give her head a slight shake with my hands. "Do you understand me, Olivia? Nothing compares to you."- Garrett

I gave Garrett 5 Stars and it will be added to my shelf of "Favorite Books" on Goodreads.. I could not put it down. This is a must read for anyone who loves an emotional, scorching hot romance!

PS> No spoiler here, but the epilogue to this story was AWESOME! Perfect ending, to a perfect story. 

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Author Info:

USA Today Best-Selling Author, Sawyer Bennett is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. Her husband works for a Fortune 100 company which lets him fly all over the world while she stays at home with their daughter and three big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Sawyer is the author of several contemporary romances including the popular Off Series, the Legal Affairs Series and the Last Call Series. She will be releasing her second book in the Cold Fury Hockey Series with Random House Loveswept, February 20th.

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Note: I was given an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.