Title: Not Looking for Love Serial

Author: Lena Bourne

Published by: By the Pond Pub.

Date published: Oct. 20, 2014

Genres: NA Contemporary

Book Length: 190 pages total

Steam Rating: Steamy

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A no-strings fling is what she wants…but is that what she needs?

Sometimes, what you want is not really what you need.

Gail is only twenty-two years old and she is about to lose her mom, if the doctors are to be trusted. After a run in with Scott, the hot gardener from next door, Gail begins to see him as the perfect distraction from her unbearable life. She just wants to feel good with someone who makes her forget, if only for a little while, and Scott fits that description perfectly.

Scott just got back into town and he’s still trying to get his life back together. He already has more problems and regrets than he can ever hope to live with, and the last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who is clearly a little unsettled, if not downright insane. But the fact that Gail is very attractive and keeps throwing herself at him makes it impossible to send her away. Which he should, for Gail’s sake more than his own.

Lena Bourne is a young writer, but she has seen her fair share of the world, of love and loss, and all that happens in between. Now she’s here telling the stories you might otherwise have missed, which are made up, of course, but could very well be real and true.

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CHAPTER ONE

Mom’s coughs, raspy and urgent, wake me. Her room is at the far end of the hall, five doors down, yet the sound rips through my chest like she’s lying right next to me. Leaving me, saying goodbye. The too many cocktails I drank at Kate’s party no longer make my thoughts fuzzy, instead they buzz around in my stomach, churning, making me sick. The coughing doesn’t stop, changes pitch until it sounds like she’s screaming. I bolt out of bed and run to the door, the sudden movement making the room spin around me. Dad’s footsteps pound down the hallway as he rushes to my mom’s room, so I sit on the chair by my makeup desk and turn on the sidelights, willing the room to stop spinning.

I’d only be in the way now, if I go to my mom. Then my dad will think he has to take care of us both: comfort my mom and keep me safe. Only he can’t, because my mom is dying, and there is no one who can change that. Twenty-two years old is too young to lose a mom. Cancer. Such a whimsical word for such a terrible disease. My birth sign. Bile rises in my throat as I struggle to chase the thought away, thinking of anything but that. That my birth sign is killing my mom, that I’m killing my mom. It’s childish, and it’s stupid to think it, but the idea still feels like I’ve swallowed broken glass.

I grab my wrist, hoping to clutch the charm bracelet she gave me on my 21st birthday just over a year ago. She gave me all of her jewelry for my birthday this year. Tiny charms dangle from the bracelet: a little princess, a colorful egg, and a golden coin. But all I feel is my racing pulse, a tiny ball bouncing in my vein that might break free at any moment, making me bleed out. The bracelet is gone.

I had worn it to Kate’s party, since I never take it off. I’d only gone to the party for a little distraction, and because Kate’s house is just next door, I could be back with my mom in a few minutes if she needed me. It was a total disaster. Brandon wouldn’t stop pestering me, and he ended up throwing me in the pool for a laugh. After that, I ran home, very nearly crying.

Digging through my makeup table, I send creams and blushes, hairpins and lipsticks toppling to the ground, searching frantically for the bracelet, even though I don’t remember taking it off. I run back to the bed, throwing the sheets, the pillows on the ground, checking the nightstand. The bracelet isn’t anywhere.

I’m outside on the patio before I can think.

Mornings are chilly this late in August, and dawn has hardly broken. All I’m wearing is a white tank top and the silk boxers I sleep in. I run across the lawn barefoot, not thinking of what I may be stepping on. I have to find the bracelet; I have no time to put on shoes.

I crawl through the hole in the fence that separates my garden from Kate’s. It’s a tight fit, now that I’m no longer five years old. Chairs and towels, empty glasses and discarded clothes are still strewn across the lawn, but, thankfully, no one is around. Likely, the cold dawn chased the last of the party away. I glance up at the house to make sure no one is watching. All the windows are dark. A light reflects in the first floor windows, and I drop into a crouch reflexively, but it’s just a passing car.

I find my dress near the pool where I took it off to take a dip. Right before Brandon tossed me in. I just left it lying there when I ran home. Everyone must think I’m completely mental now. I hope Brandon does too. Why won’t he just take a hint? Brandon is Kate’s brother, and since she’s like a sister to me, he’s like a brother to me. I can’t be dating my brother. Besides he’s the love ’em and leave ’em type, and all he can give me is a broken heart. Like he did with his last five girlfriends. As if my heart could take any more breaking.

I look around, tossing things aside, not caring where they land, hoping to find the bracelet. It’s not anywhere. The sun’s not up yet, but birds are chirping something awful all around me, and the sky is more white than grey now. Dawn is my favorite time of day. I love watching the colors of the sky change from inky black to grey to lilac blue and finally yellow, the new day being born, bringing new hope. Today, I just wish the sun would come up.

If the bracelet is not in the grass, it might be in the pool. The thought of going back in the water makes me shiver, but my desperation to get the bracelet back right away is stronger.

I ease myself off the side of the pool in roughly the spot where I went in before, feet first, trying not to make any sound that could wake Kate’s family. It’s like slow torture to do it that way, and my whole body cramps up, but the last thing I need is to cause a panic. I could just go back home and come back once the sun is up, but I can’t. I need that bracelet, or else I won’t sleep.

The cold water grips my body like a vice and I take shallow breaths until the worst of the pain passes. The lights in the pool are off already, they’re connected to the porch lights, and someone thoughtfully turned them all off after the party ended. Too thoughtfully. I could really use those lights right now.

After a final deep breath, I submerge my head, fighting the overwhelming urge to gasp as the cold water goes straight to my brain, which is what it feels like. I can almost see the steam coming off, but at least my heart is no longer pounding. I let myself float on the surface, scanning the floor of the pool. Lucky really, that Kate’s pool is saltwater. I can float, eliminating the need to tread water to keep myself on the surface.

Shadows play upon the mosaic floor of the pool, all blues, whites, yellows, and pinks. I turn slightly to adjust my angle of view. No silver gleams against the tiles anywhere. I only come up for air once my lungs start burning and dip my face back in immediately. Grey is giving way to white in the sky now, so the visibility should soon improve. I’m enjoying the silence, the serenity of floating in the water, with my long hair plastered down my ears, blocking out the chirping birds.

The eerie silence is almost like diving, only without the crushing weight of the water pressing against me. But I can’t see my bracelet anywhere, and no doubt the servants will be out cleaning up soon. I adjust my angle again and am just about to come up for more air when something grabs my waist and flips me over in the water.

I scream and flail, gulp water instead of air, with visions of a shark attacking vivid in my mind. Beating and kicking, I paddle hard to get out of the water, my hair obscuring my vision.

Whatever grabbed me is no longer touching me, but I kick back to the side of the pool frantically anyway, still coughing, still seeing nothing. My knuckles collide with the wall of the pool, but I ignore the pain, scraping my knees as I struggle out of the water. My arms are shaking so badly I can’t lift myself up to get out of the pool.

“Calm the fuck down!” a man yells behind me. “You’ll hurt yourself. It’s alright.”

He places his hands on my hips and lifts me from the water.

I’m panting now, but at least I’m not swallowing water anymore. I brush my hair from my eyes and stand up, though my legs are shaking so hard I’ll probably just topple back down even if I succeed.

The guy is still in the water, eyeing me like I’m insane. “Are you alright?”

I nod as I finally manage to stand.

He hoists himself from the water in one fluid motion. His white t-shirt is plastered against his chest, and his grey pants hug his legs tightly. He’s all muscle, from his biceps, to his shoulders, chest, and stomach that ripples in a neat six-pack. And not those chiseled for-show muscles that otherwise thin guys have. He’s bulky, twice as wide as any guy I know. Even his legs. No wonder he had no problem tossing me out of the pool.

“Are you alright?” he asks again, standing right in front of me now.

I quickly look up into his face, hoping he didn’t notice me checking him out before. He can’t be much older than me, I see now. His short blond hair looks black near his scalp, but stands up in light colored spikes all over his head. His eyes are either blue or grey—the kind of eyes that change color according to the light. And deep. I could stare at his eyes all day long just to see what I could see.

“Are you high?” he asks. I shake my head a little too sharply and feel my boobs bounce around under my tank. My wet white tank, which isn’t covering me up at all right now if the state of his shirt is anything to go by. A thought to cover myself up flitters through my mind, but it’s distant and sounds ridiculous.

His eyes leave my face and travel down, taking me in. He likes what he sees, and I can feel it. It’s like his gaze is fire, and whatever he’s thinking is bringing my blood to a boil, warming me.

His eyes return to my face, my parted lips. His are slightly parted too, like he’s breathing hard, but I don’t hear it.

“What were you doing in the pool? You scared me to death,” he says, his eyes soft now, and his lips curl into a sheepish grin. “I thought you were dead.”

I shake my head again, this time catching my boobs under my arm. “I thought I lost something in the pool. My bracelet… but I can’t find it.”

He turns back to the pool. The ripples from my flight have still not died down completely, and the surface is an opaque white now, reflecting the sky.

“I doubt you’ll find it in there, not now at least. Wait ’til the sun comes up, maybe,” he says and shrugs like he doesn’t think I’ll ever find it.

“I have to find the bracelet,” I say too loudly, too shrilly.

He holds his hands up like he’s wading me off. “Alright, alright, I’m just saying, wait ’til the sun comes up.”

I look up at the sky, checking to see if the sun is anywhere near up. “Everyone will be up by then.”

He smiles at me again. “I can help you look, I guess.”

I let my arms fall to my sides and turn to the pool. My boobs bounce and that hungry look is back in his eyes. They look brown now, almost black. It’s like he’s touching me with his look, and my nipples, erect and clearly visible through my tank prickle like he’d just run his fingers over them. A ball of heat erupts between my legs, heavy and urgent. Somehow, all I can think of are his arms around my hips, and his cock, so plainly outlined by his wet pants, pressing into me. I really want to go for another dip in the pool with him. I can’t remember any other guy ever turning me on so fast, so hard.

“Gail!” Brandon’s whiny voice rips through my fantasy of me and this pool boy entwined in the water. “What’s happening? Is he harassing you?”

Brandon’s footsteps thump through the grass toward us, and the pool boy takes a step away from me, crossing his arms over his chest. I mimic his motion, and face away from Brandon. Likely, his yells have awoken the whole house. A dark shadow passes over the pool boy’s eyes, and he’s staring at Brandon, but he stays quiet.

“I’m fine,” I say and turn to Brandon. He picks up a towel and wraps it around my shoulders, keeping his arm there too like he owns me.

“Your girlfriend lost something,” the pool boy says. “You should keep a better eye on her.”

I shake off Brandon’s arm. “I’m not his girlfriend.”

Somehow, it’s very important that the pool boy knows this. Softness flashes across his eyes but is gone again in an instant.

He turns and walks toward the gardening tools he tossed on the ground by the pool when he thought he had to save me.

I take a step after him, my arm stretched out like I want to pull him back. I have no idea what I’m doing, but I was warm before, when he was looking at me, and now I’m cold.

I cover the gesture by wrapping the towel tighter around myself. “Do you need some dry clothes? I can bring you something.”

He bends over and picks up a hoe off the ground. “Don’t worry about me. I have a change of clothes in my truck.”

Brandon’s next to me, trying to place his arm around me again. I step to the side, and his arm flails through the air. I could swear pool boy chuckles a little seeing it, but I’m not sure. Maybe it’s just what I want to see. I want him to want me.

The sun finally peeks over the fence, and something glimmers a few steps away from me in the grass.

I lunge for it, making both Brandon and the pool boy start.

“My bracelet!” I ‘m clutching it so tightly the charms dig painfully into my palm. I know my face is a mask of deranged glee, but I can’t help it.

The pool boy picks up the rest of his tools and shakes his head, muttering something that could be ‘crazy rich chick,’ but I may be wrong.

“Do you want to go inside? Get warmed up?” Brandon asks. He’s hovering next to me again, standing between the pool boy and me. Going in with him is the last thing I want to do. Pool boy is already at the far side of the garden.

I shake my head and run toward the hole in the fence, wishing Brandon never showed up and I was dipping in the pool with, well, pool boy. I need to find out his name. Pool boy is a dumb nickname. Especially since he’s obviously the gardener.

Dad is standing on the patio and sipping his coffee, his eyes glazed. I’m not even sure he sees me approach.

“How’s Mom?” I ask, forestalling any questions from him and making sure he knows I’m sober and ready for bed.

“She’s asleep now. Try not to wake her.”

I slip past him, not wanting to share his grief. It multiplies when we’re together, breeds, grows, and expands until it’s all there is, and I can’t breathe. A week or so is all Mommy has left. All the doctors agree. I hope they’re wrong. Every second of every minute, I hope they’re wrong. And right now, I’d rather loose myself in the fantasy of pool boy and me in the pool than hope for anything at all.

I fell asleep before I could get any kind of fantasy going, and by the time I wake up it’s almost one in the afternoon. Since, I ended up sleeping in my sweats, I just pull my damp hair into a messy bun and go in search of some coffee.

I stop by my mom’s room, cracking the door open just a little bit to see if she’s awake. All I hear is her raspy, shallow breathing. One of her hands is hanging off the side of the bed, and her cover and sheets are all crumbled up like she just woke from a nightmare. Only she’s still sleeping, each breath like stone grating against sandpaper.

I slip into the room and tiptoe to her bed. My heart is in my throat, beating against the hot, jagged ball of burning tears that’s always there when I see her. I can’t let her see me cry because I’m not a little girl anymore, even though that’s exactly how I feel most of the time now. Like I’m ten and my mommy is dying. She can’t know any of that; it would just make it all harder on her. But she’s asleep now, and a hot tear trickles down my cheek. Only I don’t whimper, don’t let any sound escape my clenched throat. She might wake up. I take her hand, tears rushing from my eyes now, and place it on the bed next to her. She doesn’t stir. The nurse is giving her the maximum amount of morphine she can now. It’s not always enough to dull the pain. And she’s sleeping now. I mustn’t wake her. Yet all I want to do is climb in bed with her. Like I did when I was little. Wake her, talk to her. Laugh. Instead, I’m crying, inching back out of the room silently because I can’t wake her.

I wipe my tears away as I walk down to the kitchen, concentrating hard on the cup of coffee I’m about to have, until it’s all I know and all I think about. I lean against the counter, waiting for the coffee to brew. The window has a partial view of Kate’s service driveway and the red pick-up parked there. A magnolia tree by the fence near it is shaking like someone’s cutting it. Pool boy or gardener. The memory of him, in his wet clothes this morning sends, tingles through my stomach. He’d be a better distraction than a cup of coffee and much better than one of Kate’s wild parties.

I run back up the stairs, untangling my hair as I go. I slip on a sundress with a deep v-cut that I’d normally only wear if it was really hot out. Back in the kitchen, I pour two cups of coffee and walk across the lawn to the fence, hoping pool boy is indeed trimming the magnolia tree.

I climb through the hole in the fence, sloshing hot coffee over my bare leg, but at least I don’t spill it all over my dress. Kate’s high-pitched laugh echoes from the pool, but the hedge from here to the magnolia tree is so thick she shouldn’t be able to see me.

The shrubbery hides me from the pool boy too. He’s wearing a pair of faded jeans now and no shirt. The sunlight makes his skin glisten, and all I really want to do is run my hand down his back, feeling those hard muscles. That desire surprises me. I’m not usually very forward with guys and definitely prefer them to take the lead. He’s got one of those electric cutters going, so he doesn’t hear me approach.

I clear my throat once I reach him. “Excuse me.”

The saw sputters, and the noise dies out. He turns toward me, surprise evident in the way his face hovers between a smile and a frown. I wouldn’t mind touching his lips either.

“I thought you might like some coffee,” I say, holding one of the cups toward him, sloshing more of it across my arm in the process.

He just stares at me like he can’t figure out what I’m doing there.

“Thank you for saving me,” I explain, belatedly adding, “or, you know, trying to.”

He puts the saw down, wipes sweat off his face with the back of his hand, and finally takes the coffee.

“I put milk and sugar in. I don’t know how you like it,” I say rather stupidly.

His eyes, the color of a cloudless blue sky now with just a hint of sunlight dip down to the v of my dress. With the push-up I’m wearing, the dress reveals more than it hides.

“Thanks. I like milk and sugar just fine.”

His gaze warms me again, heat shooting through my stomach. Somehow, I don’t think he’s really talking about the milk and sugar.

What I’m feeling must be showing on my face because he chuckles a little and gulps down the coffee.

“Thank you, Miss…?” he says, holding the empty cup toward me.

“Gail,” I manage.

“Miss Gail,” he says and chuckles again.

“No, just Gail,” I explain too seriously. His eyes are still taking me in, sizing me up, and sending tingles across all the places I wish he’d touch. “And what’s your name?”

“Scott,” he says and shakes the empty cup at me. “And you’re welcome. Anytime. I’m just glad you’re not dead.”

Dead, I hate that word. That word used to be scary, now it’s terrifying. Dead is what my mom will be. Her two-month sentence will be done in one week. An image of her laughing face flashes through my mind, as she bought me the bracelet in Rome, and as she listened to me telling her of that boy I was so helplessly in love with back in sixth grade. She doesn’t laugh like that anymore. Soon she never will. Because she will be dead.

Scott’s eyes narrow and pull together. He bends down and places the cup on the ground. “I should get back to work. Thanks for the coffee. Have a nice day.”

“I’d like to thank you properly,” I hear myself saying, with no idea where the words are coming from or where they’re going. “Do you have time for a proper drink later, after work?”

I’ve never asked a guy out so pointedly before. Never had the nerve. Not in sixth grade, not at any time since. So, I don’t know why I’m doing it now. I must be crazy.

He lifts his eyes up to mine again, stopping just a little too long at my boobs.

My mouth is hanging open, and my eyes must be too wide. I know all this, but can’t stop it. I wish I had Kate’s easygoing manner with guys, but I don’t. And now he’ll say no, thinking I’m just a crazy rich chick, and this is the second time I’m making a total fool of myself in front of him.

He gives me a lopsided grin, and locks his eyes on mine. “I’d love to; I really would, but…”

I hate that ‘but’. At least he’s being nice about it.

I want to wipe the expectant look off my face, but it’s stuck there.

“… that guy, Brandon… he likes you. He’s my boss, sort of, and I need this job, kind of, but I’d love to.”

I know I’m wearing a confused, unattractive grimace on my face right now.

“So is it a yes or a no?” I ask.

A cloud of annoyance covers his eyes, and I look away, down to his chest at his dark red nipples. I wonder what they’d feel like between my teeth. Oh my God, I’ve never ever wanted to suck a guy’s nipples before. What’s wrong with me?

“It’s a no,” he says. It feels more like a slap.

I’m going insane; it’s the only explanation. I’m asking a gardener out on a date. And he said no.

“Fine, fine, whatever,” I mutter, pick up his empty cup, and twirl around, sloshing my own, untouched coffee all over my dress this time.

It’s too much. My mom is dying, I’ve barely slept, I’m not acting like myself at all, and now this guy is rejecting me. Tears blind me.

“I’m sorry.” I think I hear him yell after me, but I’m already climbing back through the fence, sloshing more coffee all over myself. What was I thinking? I’m a mess. I should be with my mom, not chasing guys and wondering what their nipples taste like. Not asking gardeners out on dates.

Title: Heart of Marley

Author: T.K. Leigh

Published by: Carpe Per Diem, Inc

Date published: Nov. 3, 2014

Genres: Mystery

Book Length: 313 pages

Steam Rating: Steamy

Main Characters: Marley & Cameron

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“This story is an emotional roller-coaster that will grip you from page one and will not let you go…even after you reach the end.” ~Becca

To the moon and back…

From the stars to the ocean…

That was Marley and Cameron Bowen’s secret code.

Twins born just five minutes apart, they have the perfect life… Until tragedy strikes just weeks after their eighth birthday and their father is killed by a drunk driver. Having trouble coping with the loss of her soul mate, their mother tries to find comfort in drugs and alcohol… And an abusive man with a penchant for underage girls.

No longer able to stand listening to his sister’s screams and cries every night for nearly three years, Cam takes matters into his own hands and they’re finally able to escape the nightmare.

They’re finally able to start over…

But the nightmare still haunts Marley. The years go on and she is forced to put on a smile, making everyone think that she is the perfect, well-adjusted teenager that she is supposed to be… Until she is faced with a painful reminder of her past during her senior year of high school and she’s no longer able to keep on the mask that she has been compelled to wear.

Heart Of Marley is a prequel novel to T.K. Leigh’s Heart Of Light.

RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 18 AND OVER DUE TO GRAPHIC VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, AND SEXUAL SITUATIONS.

Guys…I honestly don’t even know where to begin with my review of Heart of Marley.

This book was so damn raw…

so emotional…

so real and honest and just plain heart-wrenching!

I literally spent the last 20% of Heart of Marley reading through constant tears!! I have not read a book that had such a strong effect on me in a very long time.

The subject matter is deep and dark but sadly realistic. The life that Marley and Cam have lived is more ‘normal’ than anyone would like to believe. Having dealt with abuse as a child, I found parts of this book very therapeutic and some parts extremely difficult to get through. The thoughts running through Marley’s head…the way she wore a mask to hide the truth…I’ve been there and hell even after all these years I still have days where I’m there.

I have to say that I was very surprised by the religious aspect of the book. I loved that T.K. gave a more realistic view of this situation than most books do. The first time I read the line ‘Turn to Him and He will help you through it. God is the only therapy you need.’ (Not word for word what T.K. wrote but you get the gist.) I honestly cringed. I always hate it when books/movies make it seem like therapy is a bad thing. I want to scream at the world and the people that have made that stigma a reality. Some things hurt…some things scar…and there are some things that you NEED to get help for and there is NOTHING wrong with that!

When T.K. took this horrible subject matter and managed to show the world the truth behind the lies…the damage that not seeking help can cause…I lost it. I have never wanted to find an author and thank them so much in my life. Heart of Marley gives girls, boys, women and men a voice and makes it clear that admitting that you need help is not a weakness it is a strength. Bottling your thoughts and feelings inside and hiding the truth from the world doesn’t help anyone. (Hell, just writing this review has me tearing up again….)

I want to stop my review right here and now and say one thing to T.K. Leigh if she reads this…Thank you! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your words, for this story, for taking the time to write something so difficult. Thank you for giving me a voice and reminding me that it’s okay to show your scars and it’s okay to ask for help. Thank you so very much for this book (as well as Heart of Light, that was just as amazing).

Okay, sorry for that guys…back to my review.

I’m not going to go into too much detail with the story line because honestly there isn’t much I can say that won’t be a spoiler. Cam and Marley are such amazingly developed characters. T.K. did an excellent job of depicting what someone growing up in this situation would be like. Everything felt realistic and was extremely well written. This story is an emotional roller-coaster that will grip you from page one and will not let you go…even after you reach the end.

Heart of Marley left me bawling and yet so deeply moved that I had to know more. I had to read Heart of Light and see what came next. If you can’t tell already, I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone and everyone that has a chance to read it.

T.K. Leigh, otherwise known as Tracy Leigh Kellam, is the USA Today Best Selling author of the Beautiful Mess series. Originally from New England, she now resides in sunny Southern California with her husband, dog and three cats, all of which she has rescued (including the husband). She always had a knack for writing, but mostly in the legal field. It wasn’t until recently that she decided to try her hand at creative writing and is now addicted to creating different characters and new and unique story lines in the Contemporary Romantic Suspense genre. When she’s not planted in front of her computer, writing away, she can be found running and training for her next marathon (of which she has run over fifteen fulls and far too many halfs to recall). Unlike Olivia, the main character in her Beautiful Mess series, she has yet to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Blog ~ Pinterest ~ Amazon Author Page ~ Goodreads

Twenty Fun Facts

1. I wear a shirt when I write that has Shakespeare’s face on it and says “This shit writes itself.”

2. I am a middle child. I have a sister that is two years older and a sister that is two years younger.

3. My favorite movie of all time is Casablanca.

4. When I was 21, I did an internship working at Walt Disney World. Best seven months EVER!

5. I met my husband in the parking lot of a Jimmy Buffett concert. He was working. I was drinking.

6. My favorite beer is Blue Moon.

7. I love the Red Sox.

8. Every time I publish a new book, I drink champagne and watch Anchorman and Talladega Nights. It’s a tradition now.

9. When I was moving out to California from Connecticut after graduating law school, the hubs and I drove route 66 all the way from Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier. It was such an amazing experience, and I think there may be a book in it.

10. My pen name is a play on my real name. My full name is Tracy Leigh Kellam. I don’t think I need to spell out where T.K. Leigh came from.

11. I have a yellow jeep wrangler that I love. Her name is Savvy J.

12. In my opinion, there is no such thing as too much coffee. Or peanut butter.

13. I am a sushi addict.

14. I am deathly afraid of snakes. I can’t even watch a movie with them in it or I’ll flip out.

15. My favorite New Kid on the Block was Donnie. I’m glad I picked one that aged well.

16. I am a huge proponent of “Adopt, don’t shop.” We have a dog and 3 kittens, all of whom we have found on the streets and saved.

17. One of my favorite TV shows is Arrested Development.

18. My favorite book of all time is The Great Gatsby. What can I say. I’m a sucker for a story with no HEA.

19. I currently have 8 works in progress.

20. You will all be seeing Cam and Jolene again.

“Thanks for asking me to come. I mean, tonight… I mean, for asking me to go to the bonfire with you. Not for asking me to come. That doesn’t sound right.” My face flamed red with embarrassment.

He smiled at me and winked. “No but, if you ask me, it sounds good.”

I halted in my tracks, completely frozen in place. I can do this, I said to myself. He was just joking. He doesn’t mean anything by it. It’s just a harmless joke, Marley. Just a joke.

He noticed my reaction and turned to face me on the street. “I’m so sorry, Marley. That was completely inappropriate. I don’t know what possessed me to say that. That’s not the way my mama raised me. I really am a good guy. I normally wouldn’t joke like that. You’ve got to believe that I didn’t mean anything by it. Please.” He slumped his shoulders, the formerly confident Doug replaced by a Doug that was full of remorse. “I understand if you don’t want to come with me.”

My eyes grew wide, more in irony than dread or concern.

“I mean, you don’t have to go to the bonfire with me. God, I really hate that word right now.”

I giggled. “Me, too.” I raised my head and met his pleading eyes. I could tell that he was bracing for me to turn around and walk away from him, but that was the last thing I wanted to do.

“Come. Say it with me. Come…” I said to him. “It feels good.” Throwing my head back to look at the stars in the sky, I shouted to the heavens, “Come!” I raised my arms like an angel and spun around, screaming the word over and over again. I must have looked like a spectacle, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want one word to come between what could blossom into a good thing with Doug.

I slowed my spins, but the sky kept moving even when I stopped. I attempted to regain my balance, but soon found myself tripping over my own feet.

Two arms were around me instantly, preventing me from falling to the ground. “Whoa. Careful, Marley Jane.”

I closed my eyes and basked at the sound of his voice calling me Marley Jane. Cam called me that all the time, but there was something so warm, affectionate, and thrilling about my first and middle name rolling off Doug’s tongue. Focusing my gaze on his, I was met with his brilliant green eyes.

“Hey,” I breathed.

“Hey.”

“You still haven’t said it.”

He scrunched his eyebrows at me. “Said what?”

A grin crossed my face. “Come.”

Are you up for a soul wrenching read? Have you read Heart of Light?

by Kate L. Mary

Post-Apocalyptic/Zombie Series

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***Warning: Contains Spoilers for Broken World***

Stranded in the middle of the Mojave Desert, surrounded by zombies, Vivian and Axl are sure they’re facing the end. The dead are closing in and the shelter they were promised is sealed tight. Just when they think they’ve run out of time, the doors are thrown open. Five years underground with all the provisions there for the taking. It’s almost too good to be true. With the promise of security, Vivian hopes she’ll finally able to deal with the loss of Emily, her growing feelings for Axl, and the terrifying new world they’re facing.

But their sense of security is soon shattered when they discover the shelter isn’t the utopia they thought it would be. It seems the company that built the shelter decided to solve their financial problems by selling off provisions, which means the group has to find a way to get supplies. Or face starvation.

And Vegas is the closest city.

With her feelings for Axl stronger than ever, Vivian volunteers to accompany him and a few others on a trip into one of the biggest tourist cities in the world. Vegas is overrun with the dead, but there are other survivors as well. Only not everyone they meet is a welcome sight. As the emotional baggage piles up, Vivian and Axl’s bond grows stronger, but it doesn’t take long to realize that zombies aren’t the only thing they have to fear.

“Here goes nothin’,” Axl says, echoing my thoughts.

He leans down and fools with the wires under the steering wheel. The dead bang against the car, but even more have surrounded the sedan. I dig my nails into my legs while I wait for Axl to do whatever he has planned. He grunts, and a few sparks fly. My entire body jerks when the deafening sound of the alarm rings through the car.

The world around us explodes. The bodies go crazy and converge on the car, banging on it with their hands, their bodies, their faces. They leave thick smears of black on the windows as they desperately try to get in. The door handle rattles, and some even climb on top of the car.

They’re wild and frantic. It’s so terrifying that for a moment I can’t remember exactly why we decided to do this. My heart pounds and I cover my ears, trying to block out the sounds of the hammering and the alarm. Trying to keep the terror at bay. All I want to do is run, but there’s nowhere to go. The realization that we’re stuck hits me so hard I start to shake.

Then the sedan drives off. It turns the corner with the truck close behind it, and I relax just a little. They’re going to make it. Nathan and his wife, their daughter. Two other little boys who have years ahead of them. Trey can get back to Parvarti and Winston to his daughter. They will have food and safety. That’s why we chose to commit suicide in this horrifying way.

Axl pries my hands away from my ears and pulls me against his chest. He wraps his arms around me as the pounding continues. He doesn’t say anything, and neither do I. All I can do is watch silently as the truck pulls out of sight.

After a few minutes, he turns the alarm off, but the damage is already done. They know we’re in here, and they won’t give up until they’ve broken in. A crack starts at the corner of the windshield and travels across. Then another. A dead man hurls himself against the glass and pounds his fists. Hundreds of cracks fan out across the windshield in a frightening web pattern, and I have to stifle the urge to scream. It’s safety glass, so it doesn’t give. At least not yet.

“I won’t let them get us.” Axl’s lips brush against my head, and strands of hair fall into my face. They tickle my nose, but I can’t find the motivation to move them aside.

I nod and swallow against the lump in my throat. He doesn’t mean he won’t let them get in, because we both know there’s nothing we can do about that now. Surprisingly though, I’m okay with it. A bullet to the brain sounds a lot better than being ripped apart by the undead.

Kate L. Mary is a stay-at-home mother of four and an Air Force wife. She spent most of her life in a small town just north of Dayton, Ohio where she and her husband met at the age of twelve. Since their marriage in 2002, they have lived in Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and California.

Kate enjoys any post-apocalyptic story – especially if zombies are involved – as long as there is a romantic twist to give the story hope. Kate prefers nerdy, non-traditional heroes that can make you laugh to hunky pieces of man-meat, and her love of wine and chocolate is legendary among her friends and family. She currently resides in Oklahoma with her husband and children.

Website │ Facebook │ Twitter

When a deadly virus sweeps the country, Vivian Thomas sets out for California in hopes of seeing the daughter she gave up for adoption. Then her car breaks down and she’s faced with a choice. Give up, or accept a ride from redneck brothers, Angus and Axl. Vivian knows the offer has more to do with her double D’s than kindness, but she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to reach her daughter.

The virus is spreading, and by the time the group makes it to California, most of the population has been wiped out. When the dead start coming back, Vivian and the others realize that no electricity or running water are the least of their concerns. Now Vivian has to figure out how to be a mother under the most frightening circumstances, cope with Angus’s aggressive mood swings, and sort out her growing attraction to his brooding younger brother, Axl.

While searching for a safe place to go, they pick up a pompous billionaire who may be the answer to all their problems. Trusting him means going into the middle of the Mojave Desert and possibly risking their lives, but with the streets overrun and nowhere else to turn, it seems he might be their only chance for survival.

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He was my best friend. 

All within the span of one night. 

And I didn’t want his life to be in vain, so I tried to make something of myself. I tried and failed. 

Welcome to The Family. 

I wanted his lips more than I wanted my next breath, but how long before those lips were taken away? How long before my heart would get ripped from my chest a second time? I almost didn’t survive the first — I knew I wouldn’t live through the second.

He swore. The car door opened. I gasped as humid air filtered in. “What are you doing?”

 

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

Title: Thrash

Author: JC Emery

Series: Bayonet Scars

Published by: Left Break Press

Date published: January 6, 2014

Genres: Contemporary, Mystery

Book Length: 293 pages

Steam Rating: Risque

Main Characters: Duke & Nic

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“I am totally addicted to JC Emery’s writing style, it is so raw and real that it drags me, kicking and screaming, in to the story whether I want to be there or not. Thrash is a fast paced and action packed book that doesn’t have a dull moment in sight!” ~Becca 

Loneliness suffocates the heart. Acceptance breaks down walls.

As a Lost Girl to the Forsaken Motorcycle Club, Nicole Whelan knows how to party. She’s not cut-out for relationships and her life is way too complicated for anything more than casual encounters. But one night when she falls into Duke’s bed at the clubhouse, he sees something in her that he can’t let go of—no matter how many times she tries to run.

Having been left to raise her teenage brother, Jeremy, she’s already got her hands full and isn’t looking for anymore complications. But Duke’s just watched his best friend fall for the only girl he couldn’t have, and then almost lose her so shortly after, shaking him to his core. Faced with his own loneliness, he’s more determined than ever to break down Nic’s walls and show her that he can be good for her; but he’s got a bad track record and she’s got a bad temper. Changing his ways isn’t easy when he’s not sure what he’s even changing for.

The violence and turmoil are at an all-time high, and Forsaken is in a vulnerable place when a twist of fate breathes new life into the club. It’s a much-needed beacon of hope for the embattled biker family, even if everyone’s not exactly on board. With Duke and Nic’s relationship already on shaky ground, and something even more important at stake, the Forsaken Motorcycle Club will fight like hell to keep their family together and whole.

Love is never more precious than when it’s new.

COMING SOON by BreathlessInk!

Alright, so I thoroughly covered my feelings on MC novels while reviewing Ride, book one in the series, so I will try not to bring that up…much! I will say that Thrash took some of my 10 reasons I LOATHE MC books a bit further than Ride did…but hey…no one is perfect! Honestly, with the plot line of Thrash I sort of expected it to be a bit on the rough side.

Thrash doesn’t pick up where I thought it would. In my mind I pictured the books sort of picking up where the last one finished…boy was I wrong! JC Emery decided to challenge herself and write a sort of continuity series, like the Wedding Dare series, where each book overlaps and we see some scenes over and over again from different POVs. This means that with Thrash following Duke and Nic we get to see a few things that the doors were closed in our faces on in Ride. While Ryan is totally still an asshat and I don’t care for him…reading Thrash caused me to second guess a few things and have a much better understanding of why he behaved the way that he did. It doesn’t clear him of all wrong doing towards Alex…but it does make his “hot and cold” attitude make a bit more sense.

Let’s talk story line and characters in Thrash.

Unlike Ride, Thrash focuses solely on the biker side of things. We still get the action and suspense from the mafia issues but it’s a bit different. Nic, the step-daughter of a Forsaken that is in prison, has a lot of responsibilities on her shoulders. Nic not only has to take care of herself, she also has to keep her 17 year old brother in line as well as try to figure out a way to get her dad out of prison. She was raised in this world and knows exactly what it means to be a Lost Girl…and an Old Lady. She has done everything in her power to avoid the one biker that can do major damage to her…but after one drunken encounter her life gets a lot more complicated. Growing up with her mom as a club whore, even once a decent man claimed her, made Nic a bit rough around the edges and bitter towards the life. Even though she knows what it means and doesn’t exactly like it, she somehow manages to become a Lost Girl in order to let loose and forget about some of her troubles.

Duke…mmm…Duke! I don’t know about you guys but Duke’s straight forward, brutally honest, and extremely sexual self totally caught my attention in Ride. Even if he was a total douche for what he did with Alex…he was still a sexy as sin douche! Anyways, moving on from his sexy side…Joshua “Duke” Wilcox is the Sexretary…I mean Secretary for the Forsaken. Duke has had a “thing” for Nic since high school and when he finally gets his hands on her he realizes that for her he is willing to give up sleeping around and have an Old Lady. Unfortunately for Duke…Nic isn’t going to make things easy. Her strength and independence that has drawn him to her may just be the death of their relationship. 

When Duke realizes that something more is going on with Nic than he, or any of the Forsaken, realized he knows that he has to step up and make sure that she is taken care of. But is he too late?

Chemistry? Romance?

With Duke and Nic there is definitely chemistry…these two are so explosive I can’t even begin to explain it. It is easy to see that both of them have spent so much time fighting their sexual attraction that they have lost sight of themselves. They are both sleeping around and being…well…slutty in order to keep away from the other. I can’t say that I approve of the slutty behavior, but hey..who am I to judge? Needless to say, when Duke and Nic finally let go and give in to the sexual tension…well there is a reason this book is named Thrash! The sex between these two is anything but sweet and gentle…it is rough, dirty and just plain fun!

Romance…hmm was there romance in Thrash? Actually yes! Not as much as you would find in a traditional contemporary romance novel…but it was there! Duke made a show in front of his “brothers” and played the part of asshole very well. However, when it was just the two of them…Duke showed that he has a whole different side of himself. He can be sweet and thoughtful…now don’t get me wrong…he is always in control and demanding…basically he is always a Forsaken. But when the lights go down and it’s just him and Nic…he has his moments of almost lovey-dovey!

That being said…Duke screws up…A LOT! He sleeps around, he gets pissy, he doesn’t think things through…he is your basic Forsaken biker dude! I can’t imagine how Nic felt while trying to overcome some of the positions Duke put her in…I mean just wow! I’m not sure I could forgive so easily. Because of all of Duke’s screw ups, I felt like I missed out on the good times. They were constantly at one another’s throats for some reason and it made it so that I honestly wasn’t sure if they SHOULD be together…maybe they weren’t good for each other. Once things settle down a little and they stop fighting their attraction, I changed my mind. If they can both control their tempers I think they could be VERY good for each other….that’s a big if though.

Nic’s character evolves greatly from the beginning of the book to the end. She comes across as strong and flippant in the beginning. However, over time we learn that maybe that isn’t exactly true. Maybe what we are seeing is more of a mask that she wants the world to see. Nic has had some pretty shitty things happen to her in life and unfortunately being a Forsaken’s daughter didn’t stop it. Watching as Nic grows and becomes even stronger was heart wrenching and wonderful. Some of it was a bit difficult to read…but I understand why it had to be in there as well. (For example…the wrench scene…goodness…I will never look at a wrench the same way again! Hehe JC did add in a touch of humor there for us….Jeremy stating that he will never give Nic attitude again was priceless! Oh and a little later on Duke making it clear that Nic isn’t allowed around his tools in the garage was just as great!)

Over all, Thrash is a very deep, very dark, and very good book. I am totally addicted to JC Emery’s writing style, it is so raw and real that it drags me, kicking and screaming, in to the story whether I want to be there or not. Thrash is a fast paced, drama filled and action packed book that doesn’t have a dull moment in sight!

Check out the other books in the series

As a child, JC was fascinated by things that went bump in the night. As they say, some things never change. Now, as an adult, she divides her time between the sexy law men, mythical creatures, and kick-ass heroines that live inside her head and pursuing her bachelor’s degree in English. JC is a San Francisco Bay Area native, but has also called both Texas and Louisiana home. These days she rocks her flip flops year round in Northern California and can’t imagine a climate more beautiful.

JC writes adult, new adult, and young adult fiction. She dabbles in many different genres including science fiction, horror, chick lit, and murder mysteries, yet she is most enthralled by supernatural stories– and everything has at least a splash of romance.

Find JC Emery on the web…

Website     Twitter     Facebook     GoodReads

How do you feel about the idea of Lost Girls?

Title: Ride

Author: JC Emery

Series: Bayonet Scars

Published by: Left Break Press

Date published: October 19, 2013

Genres: Contemporary, Mystery

Book Length: 302 pages

Steam Rating: Risque

Main Characters: Ryan & Alex

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“It’s tough, dirty, and all out crazy….but the story is so perfectly executed that all I can say is buckle up buttercup, hold on tight and enjoy the ride!” ~Becca 

Death comes in Armani. Salvation comes in leather.

Principessa to the Mancuso crime family, Alexandra knows a thing or two about living outside the bounds of the law. Suffocated by the future her father has laid out for her, she makes a choice she can’t take back, changing the entire trajectory of her life.

Thrust into the dark and dangerous world of the Forsaken Motorcycle Club for her own protection, Alex finds herself faced with the last thing she needs right now: the man of her dreams. He’s sex in leather, the devil incarnate, and one hell of a kisser. But he’s also off-limits. Ryan Stone can be her friend, but he’s forbidden to be her lover.

Third-generation Forsaken, Ryan knows nothing other than life on two wheels, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. He enjoys the many privileges that come with the patch, and the only laws he recognizes are the ones set-forth by his club. That is, until who he wants more than anything isn’t allowed on the back of his bike —or in his bed. Balancing his desire for her body, and need to keep her safe, Ryan tries to keep Alex at a distance. Finally having made a choice for herself, she’s done hearing the word “no” and will push boundaries even Ryan himself doesn’t dare cross.

Love is never more tempting than when it’s forbidden.

COMING SOON by BreathlessInk!

The beginning of this review has VERY LITTLE to do with the Bayonet Series…just let me rant for a minute please

OOOHHH MC (motorcycle club) BOOKS HOW I LOATHE YOU…let me count the ways….

**Please envision the following: toe tapping, severe eye rolling, heavy sighs, head cocked to the side as I tick off annoying points on my fingers….**

1. Guys that make the term Alpha-Male equate to “Ass-hat”….
2. Excessive drugs…sex…and rock-n-roll….okay so maybe not rock and roll…but it’s a part of the saying dang it!
3. Degrading behavior towards women…club whores and old ladies. The humiliation, cheating and debauchery is just down right wrong!
4. Realistic dialogue….I know what you’re thinking…how is that bad? Well…the constant grammatically incorrect speech is like nails on a chalkboard to me. Can’t we have one book where a biker can at least speak somewhat properly???
5. Extreme language…I’m pretty sure some of these books would make sailors blush!
6. Violence….violence and more violence.
7. Lots and lots of leather….not sure this is really a bad thing…I mean sexy men in lots of leather…hmmm…
8. The inability to call a woman something other than “bitch”…and the few times they manage it…well it’s typically worse!
9. The lack of anything even remotely romantic between characters…
10. The fact that as much as I don’t want to….I enjoy them! I hate to love these books…but they hook me in and I can’t put them down…even with all of the crap they throw at me!

Okay…so now you have heard me rant…you have giggled at my excessive and indecisive arguments on why I hate to love MC Books…let’s talk about JC Emery’s Ride…because dang it if this book isn’t one of the best MC books I have read! I’ll admit it…I was hooked from page one and never looked back!

After reading the synopsis of Ride I was intrigued and just HAD to give it a shot…even with my quite strong and extremely negative feelings towards MC books…the story line just sounded too awesome NOT to read! What’s not to love about a book series where the Italian Mafia meets a biker gang?!? It would be difficult for this book not to rock and the way that JC Emery writes makes you feel like a part of the story whether you want to be or not.

What about the story line?

As you can guess from the synopsis and my thoughts on it…the story line is AMAZEBALLS! It is unique, captivating, emotional, scarring (yes I said that), raw, real, deep…so many damn descriptions fit this story line it’s hard to choose just one. JC Emery has created a fast-paced, white knuckled grip on your Kindle story that will leave you begging for more! In Ride, we get a dual POV that switches between Alex, the mafia Principessa, and Ryan (Trigger), the sexy as sin biker. I honestly wish we had gotten a bit more from Ryan’s POV…maybe then I could relate to him more and would be able to see him as more than a douche…because honestly I HATED Ryan. I have read MC books before where I started out hating a character and the author manages to turn things around for me…make me care about them. (Check out the Sons of Sangue series for an example.) Ryan is NOT one of those characters. I hated him from the first time we met him and I still hate him now! But we aren’t talking about characters yet…we are still on the story line….more to come on my intense hatred of Ryan later!

Back to the story! When these two worlds collide things get crazy! While the mafia and a biker gang may seem to be completely different…there are quite a few similarities in my eyes. Especially when it comes to a woman’s place. They are expected to be seen and not heard…dude…I would SUCK at this life! lol I am far from quiet and I don’t like being ordered around that’s for sure! Not to mention the danger that comes from living both of these lives. Ride is a fast paced, dark and dirty book with a ton of twists and turns to keep you on your toes! There were so many moments throughout this story that all I could think or say was “What the fuck?? No way that just happened!” Overall, the story is epic and intense…it will leave you with a ton of questions and emotions that you may not know how to deal with.

I was angry…

I was scared…

I was pissed…

I was annoyed…

I was excited…

I was terrified…

more than anything…I was hooked!

Now about the characters.

I started talking about Ryan Stone, AKA Trigger, earlier so let’s start with his petulant, annoying, bastard self shall we? Let’s see…Ryan is an officer in the Forsaken motorcycle club…I don’t remember his full title…something about Road Crew…or Street Leader…or heck if I know…basically he is in charge of how the bikers line up when they ride, among other things. Ryan is the club president’s son and a real piece of work. Honestly, I’m not sure if JC Emery wanted us to like him or not…it doesn’t come across that way. The little added bit at the end of the book where we get to re-read a few chapters from his POV really helped me understand him a bit better. However, he is still an asshole that I don’t like. Even with me hating him and understanding why he did some of the things that he did…he is a GOOD character. He is well developed, deep and evokes some pretty strong emotions from me as a reader. I lost count of how many times I wanted to hit him…or how many times I was literally screeching at my Kindle over some crap he pulled! JC definitely did a great job in writing him. No matter how much I hate him, I can’t see this story working or the plot line flowing as well without him.

When I was reading reviews of Ride the majority seemed to focus on Ryan being a shitty person….but what they don’t seem to realize is that for them to have that strong of a reaction to him he is a well written character. Yeah he is a douche and I hate him…but he is a damn good character and the story wouldn’t work any other way. In my opinion you need to remember what you are reading…this is a biker book and he is a young guy. If you are looking for a sweet, romantic and love-dovey book…move on because this is not the book for you!

Alexandra Mancuso is the Princepessa of the Italian Mafia…she has been raised to understand her role in life from an early age…but when things pop up that cause her to realize the little bit of freedom she expected will never happen she gets a bit freaked out. She is only 19 years old…and yet she has some pretty serious decisions she has to make when she accidentally gets in the middle of a gun fight. Little does she know that her decisions during those moments will change her life forever. When Alex finds herself on the other side of the country in the home of the president of a biker gang she has no idea what to think. These crazy bikers have saved her life…but at what cost? Her father will never let her go, not after what she has done. When she realizes that she is falling for the biggest bastard ever, one she has been told specifically to stay away from, her life gets even more hectic than it was before.

As a couple these two are explosive. Both know that they aren’t good for the other…and yet they aren’t willing to stay away. Ryan is a young (20 something) man with hormones that usually end up with him being with a different club whore most nights of the week. He isn’t used to having feelings…let alone the kind that make him want to be with just one person. I know that I said I hate him…and I do…but I also get it. The first time he feels something for a girl/woman it just has to be for the one woman that could cost him his patch? The Forsaken is his life, his family, his blood…but Alex is quickly becoming just as big of a part of it. To make matters worse, Ryan knows that having Alex be a part of his life will only cause her more troubles…he honestly doesn’t think he is worth it. (Or at least that is my view on the situation.) The sexual tension between these two is insane! I was honestly a little scared for Alex when she and Ryan finally manage some alone time…I wasn’t sure if it would be the type of explosion that leaves them clinging to one another and panting for breath…or the kind that leaves you hunting for body parts with no idea how you got here or what you are supposed to do now.

While Ride is definitely a romance novel…it sure isn’t a typical one! Ride is what I would categorize as a DARK Romance. The roller coaster ride that these two go on is intense and one that I’m not sure I could have survived. Ryan is a dick that sleeps around and screws up a lot. Alex is a spoiled kid that makes some pretty stupid decisions and cries a ton…but somehow they figure out a way to work things out. I do wish that there had been more HEA or romance in general in the story. I get that MC books aren’t all lovey-dovey and all that jazz, but I’m just not sure if maybe this one went a bit over board on the harsh crap. The way the characters treat one another is harsh to say the least and was difficult to read at times. With that being said, what JC Emery managed to pull off in this book is crazy! Each page of Ride is filled with action, suspense, sexual tension and a touch of humor and romance. Reading this book left me dizzy and a tad bit pissed, but in a way that had me digging for the next book in the series!

So again I am to this place where I think…OOOOH how I hate MC books! But…well…I didn’t hate Ride!

Yep, Ryan is an asshat that makes me so mad I want to throw things….but he is a character that has been written so damn well that you can’t help but react to him.

Drugs…sex…again yeah those are there and they are a huge part of the book. But they are described in such a way that makes me feel like I understand why these big, bad, biker boys do what they do.

Degrading behavior towards women? Oh hell yeah…this one almost TAKES OVER the entire story! It was difficult to read and relate to…most of the time I found myself shaking my head and saying that I would NEVER let someone treat me that way.

Realistic dialogue…well yeah! But it honestly wasn’t as bad as some books. I could even understand these guys!

Don’t get me started on the extreme language! I curse (heck I’ve done it quite a bit in this review…) but just wow! I’m pretty sure JC hit some world records with the creative uses of the words “Fuck” and “Bitch” in this one! Yet somehow it didn’t bother me, it just felt natural for the biker boys and therefor totally okay to me.

Violence….this book didn’t go overboard on the violence but it is definitely there. Again, JC manages to write it in a way that I could handle reading.

Lots and lots of leather…hehe yep that one was covered, but these bikers tend to wear jeans and a t-shirt under their cut…

Luckily the “bitch” calling issue wasn’t too bad in Ride….it was thrown around a bit, but not overdone.

The lack of anything even remotely romantic between characters…well yeah. Sadly, there isn’t a ton of “romance” in Ride. Part of me wishes that there had been…but then again a bigger part of me knows that had JC worked in more “romance” it would have felt forced and unnatural. The way things flow in Ride is perfect and believable. 

Well, while I hate to love MC books, I HIGHLY recommend Ride. It’s tough, dirty, and all out crazy….but the story is so perfectly executed that all I can say is buckle up buttercup, hold on tight and enjoy the ride!

Check out the other books in the series

As a child, JC was fascinated by things that went bump in the night. As they say, some things never change. Now, as an adult, she divides her time between the sexy law men, mythical creatures, and kick-ass heroines that live inside her head and pursuing her bachelor’s degree in English. JC is a San Francisco Bay Area native, but has also called both Texas and Louisiana home. These days she rocks her flip flops year round in Northern California and can’t imagine a climate more beautiful.

JC writes adult, new adult, and young adult fiction. She dabbles in many different genres including science fiction, horror, chick lit, and murder mysteries, yet she is most enthralled by supernatural stories– and everything has at least a splash of romance.

Find JC Emery on the web…

Website     Twitter     Facebook     GoodReads

Do you hate to love MC books? Or maybe you just plain love them…

either way I want to know why!

Title: Our Lives Entwined

Author: Lilliana Anderson

Series: Entwined

Published by: INDIE

Date published: August 13, 2013

Genres: Contemporary, Mystery

Book Length: 206 pages

Steam Rating: Steamy

Main Characters: Mia, Natalie, Eric & Cayd

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“Our Lives Entwined is totally worth reading if for no other reason than to get some closure and find out where each relationship leads!” ~Becca

***Adult content warning*** New Adult Romance, containing sexual acts and adult scenarios. For 18+

After the disastrous reunion between twin sisters Mia and Natalie, Natalie returned to Sydney, leaving Mia, Cayd, Eric, Louise and Josh to get on with their lives.

Over the next year, they all try to move on. Louise and Josh become engaged, and Mia and Cayd now live together. But Eric is still lost, he fell hard for Natalie, even though he didn’t really know her – and can’t stop thinking about her.

Natalie wants a second chance. She’s been trying to find her birth mother in the hopes that her twin will want to meet her too. And if she can get Mia to forgive her, then maybe Eric can forgive her too…

But when the past is uncovered, huge secrets are revealed that will once again threaten everyone’s happiness.

Mia just wants Natalie to leave her alone. Every time she enters her life, everything falls apart. First she ruined her relationship with Eric, and now she’s uncovering things about Cayd that Mia’s not sure she can get past.

And then there’s their mother… without realizing it, their lives are already entwined – far more than any of them will ever be comfortable with.

Book one in this series was simply to die for! The twists and turns were unexpected and fun but didn’t take away from the romance at all. Our Lives Entwined was interesting and had a TON of potential to be awesome…however, for me it just didn’t reach the heights I had hoped it would.

After the crazy discoveries from Our Hearts Entwined, there is a lot of healing and dealing that needs to be done. I really love that these books don’t focus in on one couple. Instead we get to read from everyone’s POV and get a glimpse at their lives and relationships.

Mia and Cayd are trying to live out their happily ever after…but things are not always that simple.

Eric and Natalie are both trying to move on…but failing miserably.

Josh and Louise…well they are awesome! (Possibly my favorite characters in the book lol very little whining or self-absorbed behavior from these two!)

With all of these couples there is a certain level of chemistry and sexual tension. Lilliana Anderson’s writing style makes it easy to feel like a part of the story and this book is no different. There is a lot of drama between…well everyone and some of it just started to get to me. I kept thinking “Umm…well that was childish….what about your love…ever think of forgiving someone? Past is past, people…especially when they didn’t even KNOW you when it happened!”

Okay…so from my mini rant there you may have a feeling why this book didn’t get the 4 or 5 star rating. While the story line has a decent amount of suspense and romance…the characters just got plain out whiny and self-absorbed! I know that Natalie’s character is supposed to be that way…I get that…and I dealt with it! I couldn’t fully understand how or why Eric wanted to deal with that…but hey his choice! However, somewhere along the way Mia joined in on the crazy-train and things went down hill from there for me. I found myself really disliking the characters! (Don’t get me wrong, the book is written beautifully and I couldn’t put it down, I really wanted to know where things would go…but I literally cringed every time Mia or Natalie spoke…all they cared about were themselves and it just got to be too much!)

Cayd puts up with a ton of crap in this book…Mia goes from being a mature woman to someone who runs at the drop of a hat and doesn’t give anyone the chance to explain. I know that a lot has happened to her and it is a lot to deal with…but none of it was cause for her to treat her friends the way that she did. I just can’t get over the personality change from book 1 to book 2! I still adore Cayd though…even if he did live a “playboy” life for a bit, that doesn’t make him a bad guy now.

As I mentioned before, Our Lives Entwined pulls out some awesome twists and turns on the mystery/suspense front. I remember when things came to a head over who the twins mother was…I was lying in bed reading and my first thought was “There is NO WAY IN HELL…nope…nu uh…fate couldn’t be so cruel!” But yep…it made for a good read!

I know that this review may seem like I’m saying the book isn’t good or worth reading…PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS NOT WHAT I AM GETTING AT! I am simply trying to explain why I didn’t enjoy it as much as I did the first one. 

Our Lives Entwined is totally worth reading if for no other reason than to get some closure and find out where each relationship leads! The story is still unique and fun to read (if you aren’t bothered by some childish behaviors) and the sexual tension and chemistry is intense. If you enjoyed Our Hearts Entwined then I HIGHLY RECOMMEND giving Our Lives Entwined a chance

“Mia,” Cayd called after her, as she made a beeline for the ballroom’s exit doors.

Glancing over her shoulder at him, she pursed her lips together and pushed through the doors, heading straight for the elevator bay. She called out to hold the lift as the doors were about to close and was lucky that the occupants waited to let her in.

“Thank you,” she smiled, as she took her place near them, closely followed of course, by Cayd.

“Where are you going?” he demanded, as soon as the lift doors were closed.

Mia hadn’t bothered to punch a button, she was just willing to ride the lift tow her where ever it was going, in the hopes that Cayd would be left outside it. But now, she glanced at the levels.

“The bar of course.” She leaned forward and pressed the floor that stated ‘bar and restaurant’. “I have some ‘picking up’ to do.”

Choosing to ignore her childish insinuation, Cayd tried to keep his voice calm. “You’re headed in the wrong direction for the bar. This lift is going up,” he pointed out.

“I’ll get there eventually.”

When the elevator doors pinged open, the couple inside made a hasty retreat, glad for freedom away from what was about to turn into a lover’s quarrel.

Although, the moment the doors closed and the lift once again began to move, Cayd pressed the stop button.

“Tell me what you’re upset about.”

“Cayd. What are you doing? Start the bloody lift or they’ll call the fire brigade.”

“Tell me what she said to you.”

Mia folded her arms and leaned against the wall of the lift. “She said that you’d slept with her and every other girl out there, and that you got some girl pregnant and took off. But mostly, she just went on about how young I am, and how you’ll get bored with me and toss me aside once I’m over thirty.”

Cayd let out a sigh, and stepped toward her, sliding his hands up to either side of her face. “Mia, I’m not going to lie to you. I have been with a lot of those women out there. But not one of them even holds a candle to you. She’s just trying to upset you. You, my love, are the only one I see. The only one I want to be with. You’re the only one who can run and have me pursue. I don’t care what those women think. I care about you. I love you. Only you,” he whispered, gently kissing her forehead, her cheeks, her eyes and finally her mouth.

Mia let out a whimper as his tongue entered her mouth, sliding against her own as he possessed her with his adoration. A frenzy overcame them, as her body screamed with want and he moaned in response. Suddenly, he was pulling her dress up as she reached between them and unbuckled his pants, reaching her hand inside…

Bestselling Author of the Drawn Series, the Beautiful Series, and the Confidante Trilogy, Lilliana has always loved to read and write, considering it the best form of escapism that the world has to offer.

Australian born and bred, she writes New Adult Romance revolving around her authentically Aussie characters as well as a biographical trilogy based on an ex-Sydney sex worker, named Angelien.

Lilliana feels that the world should see Australia for more than just it’s outback and tries to show characters in more of a city setting.

When she isn’t writing, she wears the hat of ‘wife and mother’ to her husband and four children.

Before Lilliana turned to writing, she worked in a variety of industries and studied humanities and communications before transferring to commerce/law at university.

Originally from Sydney’s Western suburbs, she currently lives a fairly quiet life in suburban Melbourne.

Blog | Twitter  | Facebook  | Author Goodreads  | Newsletter | Website

What do you think of romance novels with a twist? Would you be interested in reading one with a psychological aspect?

Author: Lilliana Anderson

Gere: Contemporary, Mystery

Books currently in the series: 2

The Entwined series is a difficult one to sum up without spoilers! How about this:

The Entwined Series shows that the past is never too far behind you, and the future is more twisted than any of us could imagine…

Long time lovers + romance + suspense+ surprises = new adventures for all involved! Mia and Eric may be comfortable in their relationship now, but when things get a bit interesting their love is put to the test! When Cayd and Natalie are added to the mix all hell breaks loose!

Be prepared to be immersed in a story filled with sexual tension, mystery, action and romance. Don’t start this series unless you are prepared to finish it…I promise you won’t want to put it down! 

Title: Our Hearts Entwined (Entwined Book #1)

“Our Hearts Entwined was interesting, captivating, dark, serious, unique, intriguing, weird, and totally awesome!” ~Becca

Title: Our Lives Entwined (Entwined book #2)

“Our Lives Entwined is totally worth reading if for no other reason than to get some closure and find out where each relationship leads!” ~Becca

Title: Our Hearts Entwined

Author: Lilliana Anderson

Series: Entwined

Published by: INDIE

Date published: May 20, 2013

Genres: Contemporary, Mystery

Book Length: 333 pages

Steam Rating: Steamy

Main Characters: Mia, Natalie, Eric & Cayd

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“Our Hearts Entwined was interesting, captivating, dark, serious, unique, intriguing, weird, and totally awesome!” ~Becca

****Due to sexual content, it is advised that readers be over 18 years****

During a routine meeting at a special needs school in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, Mia is set to discuss the welfare of one of her students. It’s here that she’s introduced to Dr Cayd Donnelly, a man so devastatingly attractive that she almost forgot to say no when he asked her out – despite her loyalty to her long term boyfriend, Eric.


Shortly after, the usually predictable Mia becomes anything but. The change in her behaviour delights Eric, but concerns her best friend Louise when she stops signing while they talk.

After a month of worry and frustration, Mia finally seeks help. Help that comes in the form of an incredibly hard to resist doctor – Cayd.

From there, she discovers just how entwined her life and her heart is with those of others while she navigates a path of passion, treachery, and loss.

Things will never be the same for Mia again…

(Confused? This book was previously known as ‘Alter’)

Our Hearts Entwined was interesting, captivating, dark, serious, unique, intriguing, weird, and totally awesome!

The first few chapters had me hooked and lost all at the same time! While I had an idea of what was going on, the way that Lilliana Anderson writes is so flawless and beautiful that I just wanted to take it slow and find out when it was time!

The characters are well developed, deep and relatable. Simply put they are REAL! I felt myself drawn to them on a level that I don’t remember feeling in a while. The story line is so convoluted and mixed up and twisted in an awesome way that it keeps the reader focused and paying close attention so that we can hopefully figure out the mystery!

Mia, Eric, Cayd, Natalie, Josh and Louise…what a set of people to get to know! I ADORED the way the book is written from all of their points of view! It really added a depth to the book and characters that I’m not sure could have been there otherwise. (I do sort of wish that it had been written in first person instead…but it wasn’t a deal breaker for me.)

*SIGH* It’s hard to get into the story line without spoilers so I won’t really cover much there. Just know that it is absolutely freaking amazing and one of a kind! The amount of important and real life issues that Lilliana Anderson manages to fit into this story is incredible. I am awed by her ability to flawlessly merge serious topics with romance and mystery. While this is a love story, there are some pretty dark and serious matters that pop up and I felt that that made the story feel real and made it captivating.

The ending is a bit odd…I feel that people will have one of two reactions…”WTF, how can they just let that go!” or “I totally get that…she has issues but still deserves to be happy.” I honestly think I lean more towards the first…but hey everyone has their own opinions!

I can straight up say that this was the most unique story line I have read in a long time! It was so well written that I couldn’t put it down. I felt like a part of the story and often found my heart pounding and tears filling my eyes. I cannot wait to read the next book and find out what happens now!

Bestselling Author of the Drawn Series, the Beautiful Series, and the Confidante Trilogy, Lilliana has always loved to read and write, considering it the best form of escapism that the world has to offer.

Australian born and bred, she writes New Adult Romance revolving around her authentically Aussie characters as well as a biographical trilogy based on an ex-Sydney sex worker, named Angelien.

Lilliana feels that the world should see Australia for more than just it’s outback and tries to show characters in more of a city setting.

When she isn’t writing, she wears the hat of ‘wife and mother’ to her husband and four children.

Before Lilliana turned to writing, she worked in a variety of industries and studied humanities and communications before transferring to commerce/law at university.

Originally from Sydney’s Western suburbs, she currently lives a fairly quiet life in suburban Melbourne.

Blog | Twitter  | Facebook  | Author Goodreads  | Newsletter | Website

What do you think of romance novels with a twist? Would you be interested in reading one with a psychological aspect?

Author: Heidi Joy Tretheway

Gere: Contemporary, Mystery

Books currently in the series: 3

One band. Four love stories. Too many secrets.

Title: Tattoo Thief (Tattoo Thief #1)

Want to see who Heidi would have as a Dream Cast? Click here!

“Tattoo Thief is an excellent example of an amazing author and I just KNOW that Heidi Joy Tretheway is going to knock my socks off with the next book in the series! I highly recommend reading Tattoo Thief and I hope that you enjoy it’s unique qualities, it’s epic romance, and the touch of suspense as much as I did!” ~Becca

Title: Tyler & Stella (Tattoo Thief #2)

Click here to visit Heidi’s website and check out What makes Tyler tick!

“Heidi Joy Tretheways’ brilliant writing style is at work again, leaving the reader in awe of the chemistry and romance throughout the story. I am in love with her writing style and cannot wait to read the next book in the series! ” ~Becca

Title: Revenge Bound (Tattoo Thief #3)

Want a sneak peak? CLICK HERE and check out the prologue and first chapter!

“This book took the Tattoo Thief series to a who new level! It filled in all of the gaps that I felt were in the first two and then added in a touch of mystery and thrill for added benefit!” ~Becca