Irresistible Refrain by Michelle Mankin: Review





Title: Irresistible Refrain
Series: Tempest
Author: Michelle Mankin
Genre: Contemporary
Publication Date: October 13th, 2013



Two years is a long time.

Too long to keep on remembering.

Not nearly long enough to forget.

In trouble with nowhere else to go songstress Lace Lowell seeks refuge with the band during their stop in New York City. It's a risky move for her because they are both there, two impossibly good looking men whose lives are inseparably entwined with hers. One who bruised her heart and one who smashed it into pieces.

Warren "War" Jinkins, the mercurial lead singer of Tempest, has always had a thing for Lace. But then again so does his best friend and band mate.

Bryan "Bullet" Jackson, the sinfully handsome tat-sleeved lead guitarist, has a bad boy reputation befitting his nickname. For the past two years Bullet's had a rule with the groupies: one time, never twice, leave 'em satisfied, but always leave 'em.

Two guys, one woman, and a host of dark secrets all together within the tight confines of a tour bus as the group travels cross country.

Can the past be forgotten and buried?

Will friendships prevail?

Or will the three of them succumb to seductive impulses too addictive to resist?

** Irresistible Refrain is a gritty rock and roll tale intended for mature readers seventeen and up. Contains sexual situations, strong language, and drug use. **





Irresistible Refrain isn’t an I LOVE THIS or I HATE THIS when it comes to reviewing. It’s not your typical rock star romance. You will see the drugs, the groupies and the drama, but I didn’t see or feel the strong relationships between band members. They are there just not explained enough for me to have felt them when the characters were interacting and growing during this story.
Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy this book but I felt as if it wasn’t quite finished. The couple (Bryan and Lace) didn’t have an easy time growing up. They meet when they are very young and go through some seriously F’d up stuff. As they got older things got a little more messed up before life got easier for either of them.
During the story Bryan is trying to get Lace for himself and Lace is trying to stay strong along with staying committed to her boyfriend War. Who also happens to be Bryan’s childhood best friend. As you can tell from that statement it is a love triangle that is messy and breaks hearts along the way.
I do love the way Lace becomes her own person and learns that she is worth so much more than she originally thought of herself. Bryan also grows into an amazing person who I adore. After everything that happens between them the ending will melt your heart as it did mine.

I am excited to get started on the second book of this series to see if I see more of Bryan and Lace’s continued romance. Along with seeing who is next in line to fall in love. <3 



Buy Book Here 
Amazon US :: Goodreads 




Michelle Mankin is a young/new adult romance writer as well as a self-proclaimed giant... inside of her own mind! 

For many years she worked in the insurance industry as an underwriter. Somehow, the boredom didn't kill her but the hour and hours of looking at facts and figures provided ample time for her mind to wander.

Black Cat Records in Vancouver provides the central backdrop for all of Michelle's current novels. Love Evolution, Love Revolution, and Love Resolution are a Brutal Strength centered trilogy, combining the plot underpinnings of Shakespeare with the drama, excitement, and indisputable sexiness of the rock 'n roll industry.
Things take a bit of a darker, edgier turn with the Tempest series.  These pierced, tatted, and troubled Seattle rockers are young and on the cusp of making it big, but with serious obstacles to overcome that may prevent them from ever getting there.

When Michelle is not prowling the streets of her Texas town listening to her rock music much too loud, she is putting her daydreams down on paper or traveling the world with her family and friends, sometimes for real, and sometimes just for pretend as she takes the children to school and back.


Contact Author Here
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Twist Me by Anna Zaires: ARC Review


Title: Twist Me
Author: Anna Zaires
Release Date: February 11, 2014




Kidnapped. Taken to a private island.
I never thought this could happen to me. I never imagined one chance meeting on the eve of my eighteenth birthday could change my life so completely.
 Now I belong to him. To Julian. To a man who is as ruthless as he is beautiful – a man whose touch makes me burn. A man whose tenderness I find more devastating than his cruelty.
 My captor is an enigma. I don’t know who he is or why he took me. There is a darkness inside him – a darkness that scares me even as it draws me in.
 My name is Nora Leston, and this is my story.
 WARNING: This is NOT a traditional romance. It contains disturbing subject matter, including themes of questionable consent and Stockholm Syndrome, as well as graphic sexual content. This is a work of fiction intended for a mature, 18+ audience only. The author neither endorses nor condones this type of behavior.


If you’re looking to dip your toes in the dark read pool, Twist Me is a good place to start.  Twist Me has a mixture of the popular themes that have been circulating lately - kidnapping, mind games, coerced consent, BDSM, Stockholm Syndrome, sexual slavery with a little action/suspense thrown in.  While the premise isn’t new, the story itself is wonderfully written.  The degree of dark can range anywhere from light gray to absolutely black, so I’d say this lands on the light end of the spectrum.  The writing isn’t overly graphic or brutal.  It weaves the edginess of a dark read with “romance” in a palatable way making it erotic with subtle BDSM elements.   The focus is on the mental hold and control the kidnapper has over his victim as opposed to the acts she is subjected to.  There’s just the right amount of darkness to push the story over that invisible ledge from light into dark.  So if you want to be daring and try something outside your comfort zone, you should definitely consider picking up Twist Me.



The beginning of the book definitely captured my attention; I was always worried about what would happen next with Julian.  His hot and cold temperament had me perched on the edge just waiting for what was to come.  He is totally unpredictable and will go from cruel to kind, brutal to tender, ugly to beautiful, and monster to angel at the drop of a hat.  There was a cloud of anticipation and fear that loomed over me while I was waiting for Julian’s next move.  He’s a master of manipulation and mind games and possesses patience and control which in turn make him very dangerous.  Julian does not make rash decisions when it comes to “punishment”; he is more than willing to wait and serve it when least expected.

The fact that Nora is a captive and held against her will is somewhat pushed to the background while the story focuses on the “romance” surrounding her situation.  The reality of it is there, but it’s wasn’t in the forefront of my mind.  So for those that don’t care for extremely dark books, this will make Twist Me more appealing to you.  Being a reader of hardcore dark books, this is where the story was holding back for me.  This is not a bad thing, it just helps clarify the level of darkness you’re getting here.  As Nora began to settle into her new situation and accept her reality, the story began to slow.  I didn’t lose interest, but my captivation did wane a bit.

With every kidnap story, the first question is always WHY.  Why me? It’s obvious that Julian is broken and damaged, but the reason why and his motivation to kidnap is unexpected.  The WHY triggers some very interesting events and sets the story on a course that slapped me awake and definitely recaptured my attention!  

Twist Me had my feelings going back and forth between sympathy and total and utter hatred.  My hatred wasn’t only reserved for Julian either.  I developed such a hatred for Beth I was seeing stars.  For a secondary character, she really had me fired up.  I just wanted to punch her in the face.  Or better yet, stomp her face.  That woman is so evasive and patronizing she could turn a sane person into a total and utter raving lunatic.  She is one manipulative witch.  I can honestly say I hated her more than I ever did Julian.

 As for Julian, he was definitely alluring and captivating; but, for some reason I didn’t fall totally in love with him.  I definitely have an attachment to him, but my affection doesn’t cross into love.  I feel that with a book of this nature I’m supposed to fall for the villain (and I usually do), but this time was the exception for me.  I think it’s because the story is mainly focused on Nora.  If the story was told from alternating POVs or in the third person, I would probably feel like I know and understand Julian better.  But that doesn’t change my feelings about Twist Me overall.  I enjoyed this, and I can’t wait for the sequel, Keep Me, to see where Julian and Nora’s relationship is headed.

Sequel????  Yes, Julian and Nora’s story isn’t over yet.  I know you’re wondering…… cliffhanger???  I’d say no, it’s more of a To Be Continued kind of ending.  Nonetheless, I’m still very interested to see what happens from here. 

3.75 - 4 STARS!!!


Anna Zaires fell in love with books at the age of five, when her grandmother taught her to read. She wrote her first story shortly thereafter. Since then, she has always lived partially in a fantasy world where the only limits were those of her imagination. Currently residing in Florida, Anna is happily married to Dima Zales (a science fiction and fantasy author) and closely collaborates with him on all their works.

After graduating from the University of Chicago with a degree in Economics, Anna spent eight years on Wall Street analyzing stocks and writing research reports. In 2013, she became a full-time author, pursuing her lifelong dream of writing romance novels.

Dima Zales is the love of her life and a huge inspiration in all aspects of her writing. Every book Anna writes is a product of their unique collaborative process.

In addition to reading and writing, Anna enjoys drinking tea (coconut oolong, anyone?), watching addictive TV shows, and discussing book ideas during long walks with her amazing husband.


She loves hearing from her readers, so please don't hesitate to contact her through her website or connect with her on Facebook, where she hangs out way too often. Also, please visit her husband and collaborator, Dima Zales, at www.dimazales.com and check out their fantasy & science fiction books.

https://twitter.com/AnnaZaires

http://www.annazaires.com/

Fully Automatic by Jade C. Jamsion: Release Day Blitz





Title: Fully Automatic
Series: Bullet
Author: Jade C Jamison
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: Jan 30th 2014











You might think you know Brad’s story, but think again. There’s so much more to his story than what Valerie told. See Brad before Valerie came into his life and, when he was playing back burner to Ethan, see what Brad was up to when no one else in the band was looking.
Valerie might have thought she and Brad were inevitable and maybe, in the back of his mind, Brad might have felt that way too, but he didn't just sit around waiting for her. See the secret side of Brad that you had no idea existed. What kept the driving force behind Fully Automatic focused even while his heart was breaking?




That was when it was time to make his move. He let the confident feeling surge through his veins, and he stepped closer to her, close enough to touch her. “That’s not the main reason why I came back here, though.” He waited a few seconds to let his words register with her and then he said, “We have a little unfinished business.”

She seemed so innocent in that moment. “We do?”

Yes, innocent maybe, but not unwilling. He leaned over and took her face in his hands, lifting her lips to his. He kissed her, as gently as he could allow himself to, but, goddamn, it was difficult. He’d been imagining this moment for months now, and he wanted her badly. Way too badly. Fuck. He should have jerked off in the shower, because controlling himself was going to be harder than usual. Would losing his load have helped? He didn’t know, but he had to stop thinking about that right now.

It was hard, though, because she tasted so sweet, and her response was just as he’d imagined. She parted her lips and took him in. Yeah, she was willing and eager, and all that did was fuel his fire. She was feeling it too, that weird attraction between them igniting into something bigger than he’d expected, something he knew he’d be lucky to control. Still…he kept his breathing (and his cock) under control for the meantime and ended the kiss. Oh, fuck. And she placed her hands on his pecs as though to steady herself. It took her a few seconds to open her eyes, as though she’d been transported. When he had her full attention, he said, “Unfinished, right?”

She gave him a tiny smile, sweet and naive, and seemed to give the tiniest of nods. Well, she wasn't pushing him away. In fact, she seemed breathless and expectant. He wasn't going to disappoint her, so he kissed her again, and he would have sworn it was magic. Okay, so he never would have said something like that to one of his friends. Ethan would have called him a pussy if he’d even known Brad had been thinking something like that. But it was, though—it was more than just a kiss. It felt like they deepened their connection in that moment, like he could see inside her soul and, yes, she was pure and light and everything he could ever want.

He knew her response was a sign to move forward, so he wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her close. Fuckin’ A. She smelled so goddamn good and felt so right up next to him. She moved her hands onto his neck and then slid them up into his hair, driving him insane. Jesus…he wanted to fuck her right there, but he knew a girl like Val would need finesse. And he wanted to give that to her. He wanted her to know she wasn’t just a cheap lay for him. Still, he wanted to move the proceedings forward, so he slid his hands down to her ass, using it as an excuse to press her harder into his body. 

And her fingers in his hair. Shit. She was driving him fucking crazy.

Her breathing got deeper, so he knew he was on the right track. He couldn't hold it back anymore and just let the blood flow straight to his cock…like he’d be able to stop it anyway. He moved his lips to her neck and not only did she let out a sigh, he could have sworn he heard a moan. Fuck, yeah. He didn't know that a girl had ever done that before they’d actually engaged in the real deal. He moved a hand up underneath her shirt, feeling the bare skin above her jeans, and he heard her breathing quicken again.

It was then, though, that she took a hand out of his hair and placed it firmly on his chest. No. Fuck, no. If he was reading her right, she was putting on the brakes.

“Brad…please stop.”

He opened his eyes and looked in hers. “Stop?”

“Yeah.”

Why was she changing her mind? Was that really what she wanted? He had to try one more time. He kissed her again. Yeah, there were those sparks. Could she deny them? “Stop that?”

She blinked. “Yes.”

“You don’t seem so sure…” He pressed his forehead on hers and bore into her eyes with his. He wanted to understand. 

“What’s wrong?”

She moved both hands to his chest. She wasn't pressing against him as if to push him away, but they seemed to ground her. 

“I…It’s not you, Brad. Oh, God, it’s not you. I swear. I want you bad.”

That’s what he’d thought. “So why not? If you’re worried about birth control…” He wasn't going to be irresponsible. She had to know that.

She hesitated. “No. I’m…um… I’m a…”

“Virgin?” He knew it even before she nodded her head. “Oh.” He nodded too as if to process the information. “Oh. Yeah. Uh…your first time should be…special, right? At least, for girls. I didn’t give much of a shit.” He didn’t know how to do that for her, not right now, anyway. He was nearly out of his mind with desire, and she was pulling the plug. He needed a bathtub of ice water to jump in. She giggled and, in spite of his feelings of desperation, he found it endearing. But then it dawned on him. Fuck. He had to know. As much as it was gonna hurt, he needed to know. Her eyes all but said it, but he needed to confirm it. “That’s not it, though. It’s Ethan, isn’t it? You still care about him.” She didn’t say a word. She didn’t need to. It was written all over her face…






 

 Jade C. Jamison was born and raised in Colorado, moved from one city/town to the next, and she’s decided she likes it so much she wants to stay…although travel is not out of the question. She lives in a big town in Colorado (not unlike Winchester!) with her husband and four children. She is working on becoming a crazy cat lady. Okay, so maybe not.
Still want more? Jade has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Theater, a master’s degree in English, and a master of fine arts in Creative Writing. Obviously, she loves school and the student loan folks love her. She works in human services by day, teaches English and creative writing at night, and—in between playing soccer mom and community leader—writes like a fiend. Someday soon, she’ll narrow it down to just writing, but let’s get all those kids off to college first.


Contact Author Here











An Epic Rock Star Novel 

What if you discover the man you want is toxic? 

She tasted a little bit of heaven with him, and now they've gone through hell and back, but can their relationship take anymore? 

Valerie Quinn is a naive college freshman when she meets on-the-rise rock star Ethan Richards. He’s an idealistic, handsome, reckless young man, but he’s captured her heart. She doesn't give up on him and eventually his walls crumble down. By the time Valerie has given herself to him completely, she discovers he’s damaged and may be beyond help. Can she save Ethan and their relationship before he implodes, or will he self-destruct and take her with him? 



Buy Book Here
Amazon US :: Barns & Noble :: Goodreads :: Smashwords




******

The much-anticipated sequel to Bullet. 

Ethan Richards has fought depression and a host of other demons all his adult life, and it’s caused him to lose everything—his wife, his son, his friends, and he almost loses the one thing that means the most to him—his band. He hits rock bottom and believes there is no way out. 

Enter Jenna McCormick, a feisty drug and alcohol counselor, a woman with her own share of troubles. She finds Ethan intriguing but keeps him at a distance while trying to help him face life without crutches. She feels a spark but denies it, knowing that a relationship with unstable Ethan could be dangerous for both of them. 

Ethan knows what he wants, though, and isn’t used to being told no. Jenna isn’t willing to risk Ethan losing his tenuous grip on sobriety, however, and is prepared to deny her deeper feelings to help Ethan climb out of his hole, but he learns how to let go of his pain when he finds that someone is prepared to walk with him through the shadows. Can he convince Jenna that they should take a chance on love or will they forever deny their feelings in an effort to keep Ethan on the straight and narrow?
Buy Book Here
Amazon US :: Barns & Noble :: Goodreads :: KOBO :: Smashwords

*****

Book 3 in the Bullet series (however, book can be read as a stand alone!) 
…To be loved by the good guy 
…To be f**ked by the bad boy 
He’ll make you FEVERISH either way… 

Clayton “Jet” Smith has enjoyed acting the part of rock star god / incorrigible bad boy since his breakup with rock goddess Valerie Quinn. He’s racking up quite a score playing the field, and he has no plans to settle down anytime soon. His biggest problem these days is meeting his obligations. He’s so busy having fun, he forgets the important things. 

To help him out, he hires recent graduate Emily Brinkman to be his personal assistant, and he quickly finds a fire burning in his belly for her. There are two problems, however. The first is that Emily is engaged to be married, a fact that leaves Jet unfazed. The second problem isn’t so easy to surmount, though: Emily is disgusted and unimpressed by both sides of the man. 

Will Clay find a way to persuade Emily to try him out, not just for one night, but for all time? 

Buy Book Here
Amazon US :: Barns & Noble :: Goodreads :: KOBO :: Smashwords







Behind His Lens by R.S. Grey:





Title: Behind His Lens
Author: R S Grey
Release Date:  December 22, 2013


~What reviewers are saying about  BEHIND HIS LENS~

"I have to say Jude got to me and those scenes in Hawaii, wowsers…..they were HOT!!!" -TotallyBookedBlog

"What a wonderful book! I was entranced for the entirety of the read. Passionate, fiery, slow building and mesmerizing, this book tells the tale of two individuals both hiding behind a façade afraid to trust and completely let go." - Sinfully Sexy Reviews
  
"I implore anyone that loves a solid, sexually tension charged love story to read this book." - Sizzling Pages Romance Reviews

"I LOVED this book. Can I tell you, I LOVED it! The characters in this story are fantastic." - Stephanie's Book Reports

"I absolutely adored this book and fell in love with both Charley and Jude and everything about them from the start." - GR REVIEW

"R.S. Grey mastered her book, Behind His Lens. Words alone cannot describe how much feeling this romance evoked." - GR Review

"Behind His Lens was a poignant and deeply-moving read." - GR Review



Twenty-three year old model Charley Whitlock built a quiet life for herself after disaster struck four years ago. She hides beneath her beautiful mask, never revealing her true self to the world... until she comes face-to-face with her new photographer — sexy, possessive Jude Anderson. It's clear from the first time she meets him that she's playing by his rules. He says jump, she asks how high. He tells her to unzip her cream Dior gown; she knows she has to comply. But what if she wants him to take charge outside of the studio as well?

Jude Anderson has a strict "no model" dating policy. But everything about Charley sets his body on fire.

When a tropical photo shoot in Hawaii forces the stubborn pair into sexually charged situations, their chemistry can no longer be ignored. They’ll have to decide if they’re willing to break their rules and leave the past behind or if they’ll stay consumed by their demons forever.

Will Jude persuade Charley to give in to her deepest desires?

**Recommended for ages 17+ due to language and sexual situations.**






The tropical sun pours over us and a bead of sweat runs down my neck, along the valley of my breasts. Jude pauses, pulls the camera away, and eyes me dangerously. It’s the kind of look he’d have before flooring a car down a long dirt road: impulsive and alive.

“Let’s move to the water,” Jude commands. My cheeks flush under his gaze, and I wonder what he thinks of the photos so far.

As we step closer to the slow-rolling shore, I shake out my hair and let it fall alluring around my face.

“Stay facing me,” Jude directs, “and walk slowly back into the water, like you’re inviting me in with you.” I keep my gaze on Jude and do as he says, letting the tropical waters lap up around my feet. With a seductive little wag, I draw him and the camera toward me and he keeps clicking away, stepping closer and closer. Once my ankles hit the water, I drop down onto my knees and part my thighs alluringly, trying to show off the bikini bottom. I’m hardly an inch or two into the water, but it feels so refreshing against my skin. I sigh happily and dig my toes into the sand.

“Good, Angel,” he whispers so that only I can hear.

I love moving for him, and I blossom under his positive appraisal, wanting to please him even more. I want him to remember this image when he’s alone tonight.

Playing off his confidence in me, I twine one hand through my hair and pull my head back gently while my other hand finds the strings on my bikini bottom. I tug down so that the bottom exposes another inch of my lower hip. The action should look sexy on camera, like I’m right in the moment of seduction— pulling the tiny string on my bikini and revealing everything. For Jude. He licks his bottom lip and I smile seductively into the lens before pulling another inch down.

“Charley,” he warns quietly, but his husky voice turns me on even more.

“Good!” Ryan yells from a few feet away, oblivious to Jude’s behavior.

But I don’t need Ryan’s encouragement anymore. I’m a woman trying to seduce a man and my body knows what to do. I lean back, letting the salty water drench my hair and bathing suit so that the material clings to my skin even more.

“Stay down like that, Charley,” Jude orders, stepping over my ankles and coming to stand above me. His foot hits my leg beneath the water and the touch electrifies my skin. I follow his instructions, letting my legs fall open a few inches so that he can see the thin material between my legs. I reach back and prop my hands into the sand, supporting my upper body. My back twists and I arch up until I see the muscles tighten in his jaw. I love affecting him like this, especially after how he left things last night. I’m exacting my revenge and driving us both insane. My eyes narrow seductively and my lips part, pleading with Jude to push me back into the sand and take me right here.

“Damn, Charley,” Ryan huffs.

I want to push the limits; I want to see how far Jude will let me go. It feels like a high-stakes poker game. Who’s going to fold first? With one hand still stuck in the sand, I reach up with the other and tug down the middle of my bandeau top ever so gently. I wouldn’t have revealed anything, just another millimeter of my skin, but Jude doesn’t let me.

“Enough,” he snaps, dropping the camera away from his face and revealing his losing hand.

“What! Are you insane?” Ryan huffs with wide eyes.

I drop down into the sand and sit frozen, volleying my eyes between the two men.

“We’ve got everything,” Jude responds sharply.

Ryan’s arm shoots out to gesture toward me. “She was completely working the camera!” he protests. Jude doesn’t look at him; he’s staring down at me with fire behind his blue eyes. He’s pissed and he’s not even trying to hide it from me.


 



 
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