Guest Book Review: Pucked by Helena Hunting (@HelenaHunting)

Pucked by Helena Hunting
Publication Date: May 3, 2015
Published: Helena Hunting
Reviewer: Elisa

My Rating:

With a famous NHL player for a step-brother, Violet Hall is well acquainted with the playboy reputation many hockey stars come with. She’s smart enough to steer clear of those hot, well-built boys with unparalleled stamina. That is until she meets the legendary team captain—Alex Waters.
Violet isn’t interested in his pretty, beat-up face, or his rock-hard six-pack abs. But when Alex inadvertently obliterates Violet’s previous misapprehension regarding the inferior intellect of hockey players, he becomes more than just a hot body with a face to match.
In what can only be considered a complete lapse in judgment, Violet finds out just how good Alex is with the hockey stick in his pants. But what starts out as a one-night stand, quickly turns into something more. Post-night of orgasmic magic, Alex starts to call, and text, and e-mail and send extravagant—and quirky—gifts, making him difficult to ignore, and even more difficult not to like.
The problem is, the media portrays Alex as a total player, and Violet doesn’t want to be part of the game.

Waiting on Wednesday #21

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Been a while but that's okay! 

Aside from the book I'm waiting on today, I'm also waiting for Book Con this weekend! Second year in a row. I'll only be there Saturday, but I'll let you all know how it goes. Also, next weekend I'll be heading to Atlantic City (For the first time.) for the Lovely Ladies and Naughty Books signing! I'm hella excited for that as well! 

Back to the book...

Title: A Pound of Flesh
Author: Sophie Jackson
Release Date: June 9, 2015

Lose your heart to your new bad boy book boyfriend. Wes Carter - sexy, edgy, behind bars, with emotional scars as permanent as the ink on his skin, just waiting to be healed by love...
Fans of Samantha Young, Jodi Ellen Malpas, Jamie McGuire, Katy Evans and Prison Break will find this powerful love story utterly addictive and unforgettable.
Their love is forbidden. But won't be denied... Can true love heal the deepest scars?
For Kat Lane, teaching inmates at a New York prison is her way of upholding the legacy of her beloved father, murdered fifteen years ago. But when new student Wes Carter walks into her classroom, she's shaken by the strength of her attraction to him. Carter is as handsome as he is dangerous, as mysterious as he is quick-witted - and he ensures people keep their distance. Yet vibrant Kat bypasses his defences and challenges him to reveal the real man behind the intimidating reputation. As their emotional barriers crumble, their inescapable but forbidden feelings cannot be ignored. But will Kat's discovery of Carter's role on the night her father died force them apart...or bind their hearts for ever?
A Pound of Flesh is a tale of loyalty, redemption and all-consuming love against the odds, introducing an irresistible bad boy hero...

Way back, when I used to read fanfiction, I would read so many stories that they would start to blend into one another. This one however, wasn't one of them. I know some people don't like to support fic-to-publish books, but when it is good, I like to give them a go. I never finished it before so I can't wait to see what has changed and how the transition goes. Plus, I like redemption stories as well. They hit me where my heart lives. 

What has you gripping your sheets? And any weekend plans have you bubbling with excitement?

Blog Tour: Changing His Game by Megan Erickson - Review (@MeganErickson_)

Title: Changing His Game
Author: Megan Erickson
Series: Gamers #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Fiction
Publication: April 28, 2015 by Brazen

My Rating: 

He controls the game, but she’s rewriting all the rules…
Marley Lake is no stranger to awkwardness, but getting caught watching a dirty GIF by the company’s hot new IT guy exceeds even her standards. That is, until she realizes he's as turned on by it as she is. But with a big promotion on the line, she refuses to let her current dry spell be her downfall. Maybe.
Austin Rivers has no business lusting after the irresistible editor of Gamers Magazine. He's a secret partner in the business—and technically Marley’s boss. One look at that GIF, though, and he’s ready to install a whole lot more than just software…as long as she never finds out who he really is.
But reality’s not as virtual as it seems, and when Austin’s identity jeopardizes Marley’s promotion, he has to change his game or risk losing the only woman with the cheat code to his heart.

Purchase:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Google Play

Book Review: Crushed by Lauren Layne (@_laurenlayne)

Crushed (Redemption #2) by Lauren Layne
Publication Date: April 14, 2015
Published: Flirt
Source: Netgalley

My Rating:

Growing up in New York, Michael St. Claire never expected to spend his twenties wearing cowboy boots. But that was before he learned about his real father, a total stranger with a family in Cedar Grove, Texas. Once in the Lone Star State, Michael meets Kristin Bellamy, who is exquisitely refined and everything Michael always thought he wanted in a woman. The only problem is that Kristin is dating Michael’s new half brother, Devon.
Kristin’s mouthy, curvy sister Chloe has always been in love with Devon Patterson. So when Michael offers to help Chloe break up Devon and Kristin, Chloe agrees to a deal that seems too good to be true. Before long, Chloe finally gets her man, only to make a startling discovery: She no longer wants the guy she had to fight for—she wants the one who stood by her side.
After all he and Chloe have been through, Michael swears he’s damaged goods. Can Chloe convince him that love is worth the risk?

Waiting On Wednesday #20

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

*Knocking on the screen* Is this thing on? I think it is. Hey there. I know, I know, we kind of just up and poofed. But we became so burned out it was insane. We are reworking how we blog and from this point on, we won't be doing things every day or even every week but just know, we have not abandoned ship. 

Anyway, on with the waiting...

Title: Changing His Game

Author: Megan Erickson

Release Date: April 28, 2015

He controls the game, but she’s rewriting all the rules…
Marley Lake is no stranger to awkwardness, but getting caught watching a dirty GIF by the company’s hot new IT guy exceeds even her standards. That is, until she realizes he's as turned on by it as she is. But with a big promotion on the line, she refuses to let her current dry spell be her downfall. Maybe.
Austin Rivers has no business lusting after the irresistible editor of Gamers Magazine. He's a secret partner in the business—and technically Marley’s boss. One look at that GIF, though, and he’s ready to install a whole lot more than just software…as long as she never finds out who he really is.
But reality’s not as virtual as it seems, and when Austin’s identity jeopardizes Marley’s promotion, he has to change his game or risk losing the only woman with the cheat code to his heart.

 Why wouldn't I be waiting for this? Megan is probably one of my top favorite authors, so anything she writes I will be devouring. But when she told me about this one, I almost fell on the floor. Who wouldn't want to read a book that has mentions of dirty GIF's? Also, Megan does nerdy better than most, so I think with Austin will be no exception. And two words that hooked me: Cosplay Sex. Enough said.

What has you all on the edge of your seats?

ApollyCon Featured Author: Ann Marie Frohoff

ApollyCon Featured Author: Ann Marie Frohoff

About the Author

Ann Marie ("Annie") Frohoff grew up in sunny Southern California. As a teen and young adult she spent her time frequenting and living in nearly every beachside city up and down the coast. She settled in Hollywood at 19 working in film and TV. Soon her itch to keep moving took over again, taking her to Hawaii for a time and then back to LA.

She’s now settled in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. Her wanderlust and propensity to live life out loud has brought her many life experiences so many of us only dream about. Always the storyteller, it would be of no surprise to those who grew up with Annie, that she made the transition into a book and screenplay author. You could say that she woke up one day and had an epiphany, deciding to go to school for screenwriting. It’s with this inner fire she set out to write her first screenplay. Soon after, such work made it into the hands of an agency creative executive who challenged her to write a novel to support the complex ensemble cast of characters she’d created. Thus, after only a couple of years and many hours on the road immersing herself in her subject matter; her edgy modern day "Walk The Line meets John Hughes Classics” debut novella, SKID OUT, has been completed, along with the first installment in her Trilogy. SKID OUT is the prequel novella to the HEAVY INFLUENCE TRILOGY.

***Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads***

Books

Recent Release

Being rich, famous and in an award winning, multi-platinum band can't save you from life's tragedies.

When Jake and Alyssa begin to build a life together in New York City, a death and an unfortunate set of events rattle Jake's very existence. Alyssa clings to her own dreams. Jake's blurred take on life may end what they've fought so hard to keep. Will love remain the same?

Amazon

Other Titles

First Kiss | Fever Pitch

Full details can be found on the ApollyCon website.

ApollyCon Featured Author: Mary Lindsey

ApollyCon Featured Author: Mary Lindsey/Marissa Clarke

About the Author

Mary's writing is a natural expression of her love of reading and a fascination with the flexibility of the human imagination. Books make the impossible possible.

Prior to attending University of Houston Law School, Mary received a B.A. in English Literature with a minor in Drama from the University of Houston. She has taught drama and playwriting in a large public high school and English in a private school.

She serves as Vice-President of Communications of the West Houston RWA Chapter, and is a founding member of Houston YA/MG Writers and the QueryTracker.net Blog. Mary is represented by Kevan Lyon of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Mary lives in Houston with her husband, three kids, two dogs, her daughter's pet rats, an Australian Bearded Dragon and dozens of Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches. (The roaches are long story—don't ask.) Mary loves connecting with readers.

***Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads***

Books

Recent Release

Medical research scientist Elena Arcos has always lived her life under the radar, which is not easy to do when you live with the craziest woman in the world. But eccentric Aunt Uza is a picnic compared to the other people who enter her orderly life after she is shot in a convenience store robbery.

Elena finds herself rocketed from comfortable predictability to supernatural insanity courtesy of her own private angel of death who happens to have the sexiest accent on earth and a body to match. Her death angel is convinced she’s some kind of freaky half vampire thing and that her deceased dad was the real deal: a blood sucking monster.

Yeah, right. She’ll play along, but then she doesn’t have much choice seeing how as the guy claims to be some immortal law enforcer and has taken her prisoner.

* * *

Nikolai Itzov had expected to fight the urge to torture the progeny of his father’s murderer, but he’d never anticipated battling the urge to kiss her her.

As a Slayer, an elite law enforcer descended from Azrael himself, his charge from the Underveil General is clear: Kill her or die. He has been told she is one of them--an Undead. Nothing but a parasite to be destroyed. But he has been told wrong.

Nikolai and Elena find themselves in a life and death battle to stop a plot designed to lift the Underveil and enslave humans.

With her analytical mind and his centuries of training and experience, they might be able to foil the plot with their lives and maybe their hearts intact. But in order to succeed, he must help her become the very thing he hates the most: an Undead.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes

Other Titles

Shattered Souls | Fragile Spirits | Ashes on the Waves | Sleeping With the Boss

Full details can be found on the ApollyCon website.