HARD EVER AFTER by LAURA KAYE - #BLOGTOUR #REVIEW #EXCERPT @laurakayeauthor

 

We are over the moon excited to bring you the Review & Excerpt Tour for Laura Kaye’s HARD EVER AFTER, a novella in Laura’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling Hard Ink Series releasing February 2, 2016! Grab your copy of the amazing final book in the Hard Ink Series today!

   

Title: Hard Ever After

Series: Hard Ink #4.6

Author: Laura Kaye

Release Date: February 2, 2016

Justice served. Honor restored. Team reunited.

After a long battle to discover the truth, the men and women of Hard Ink have a lot to celebrate, especially the wedding of two of their own—Nick Rixey and Becca Merritt, whose hard-fought love deserves a happy ending.

As Nick and the team shift from crisis mode to building their new security consulting firm, Becca heads back to work at the ER. But amid the everyday chaos of demanding jobs and their upcoming nuptials, an old menace they thought long gone reemerges, threatening the peace they’ve only just found.

Now, for one last time, Nick and Becca must fight for their always and forever, because they know that when true love overcomes all the odds it lasts hard ever after.

Holy hell, had Nick ever been this nervous in his life? He’d faced down warlords, captured terrorists, survived IED explosions, and been shot on multiple occasions. Yet he’d never felt the kind of queasy, can’t-quite-manage-a-deep-breath nerves he felt just then.

He retrieved the little black box from the drawer where he’d hidden it, fisted it in his palm, and came to stand in front of Becca. He gave her a hand to stand up, then slowly sank to one knee.

“What are you—” Becca gasped. “Nick?”

“Becca.” Looking up at her beautiful face, he grasped her left hand. “When you walked through my door, you changed my whole life. You gave me purpose when I had none. You brought my family back together when I was so alone. You believed in me when no one else did, including myself. You fought for me and loved me and made me a better man.” Glassy, bright blue eyes stared down at him with so much love. “You shined light on places inside me I thought would never emerge from the dark, and you helped me reclaim my integrity, my honor, and my life.” A knot lodged in Nick’s throat. “You saved me from becoming someone I didn’t recognize, and because of you I have a life worth living. But only if you’ll walk it with me.”

“Nick,” she rasped, her voice thick with unshed tears.

He flipped open the box and pulled out the diamond and platinum round-cut ring. A halo of smaller stones surrounded the center stone, creating what to him looked like a sun. More accent stones lined the band, giving it a classic, vintage look. He’d known it was the right ring as soon as he’d seen it. 

Slowly, he slid the diamond onto Becca’s ring finger. “I love you with everything that I am, and everything I want to be. Please do me the greatest honor of my life and say you’ll be my wife, my partner, my best friend, my companion. Becca Merritt, will you marry me?”

I was so upset when I finished the Hard Ink Series.  All the characters had their happy endings and there were no more books in the series.  I was upset because I wanted more.  Then I read about Laura Kaye's contest to see who would get their wedding and I was so excited.  I didn't care who.  I just cared that I would get to read more about the Hard Ink men and women.

It makes perfect sense that the wedding would be Nick and Becca's.  They were the original Hard Ink characters and the first to fall in love.  I fell in love, too, when reading their book, Hard as it Gets. 

Everything was neatly resolved at the end of Hard to Let Go so I wasn't sure what kind of drama could be delivered in Hard Ever After but Laura Kaye proved once again that she knows how to write.  This was a short novella (it is not a standalone and should be read as part of the Hard Ink Series).  I read it in one afternoon (as soon as I got a copy).  But even though it was very short it was sexy, heart wrenching, and wonderful.  

Becca and Nick are ready to move on with their lives after everything they went through the past two months.  They're going to get married.  But Becca keeps seeing things (or more specifically, a person).  After being almost kidnapped she fears that the man will be back for her.  She thinks she sees him everywhere she goes.  Nick is wonderful.  He thinks it might just be PTSD, but he still takes her concerns to heart and checks everything out.  A lot happens in this short book.  I won't say more.

Becca and Nick (and all of the Hard Ink men and women) proved their love was real once again in this book.  These characters are ones that truly do stay with you.  They are all "real" people you can relate to.  Once again a fantastic story.  I give Hard Ever After  FIVE STARS!

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Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense, including the Hard Ink and upcoming Raven Riders series. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.      

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Laura Kaye’s HARD EVER AFTER – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:

January 25^th

I Love Romance – Review & Excerpt

My Book Snack – Review & Excerpt

New Chicks On The Blog – Excerpt

Provocative Pages – Review

Sofia Loves Books – Review

January 26^th

Reads All the Books – Review

Shayna Renee's Spicy Reads – Review & Excerpt

Biblio Belles – Excerpt

bookworms obsession blog – Review

Krista's Dust Jacket – Review & Excerpt

January 27^th

NightWolf Book Blog – Excerpt

Obsessed with Myshelf – Review

Barbara Book Blog – Excerpt

Romancing the Readers – Review

2 Girls & Their Kindles – Excerpt

January 28^th

She Hearts Books – Review

JordansBookReviews – Excerpt

Love Affair with an e-Reader – Review

Write for Your Life! – Review & Excerpt

Always YA at Heart – Review & Excerpt

January 29^th

Book Sojourner – Review & Excerpt

Brittany's Book Blog – Excerpt

Obsessive Reading Disorder – Review & Excerpt

Red Hot + Blue Reads – Review

Smut Matters – Review & Excerpt

January 30^th

Bookaholics Not-So-Anonymous – Review & Excerpt

Lucky 13 Book Reviews and News – Excerpt

mignon mykel : reviews – Review & Excerpt

Only One More Page – Review & Excerpt

Bookalicious book babes – Review & Excerpt

January 31^st

Extreme Bookaholic's – Excerpt

It's About the Book – Review

Ticket to Anywhere – Excerpt

Kelsey's Corner Time – Review & Excerpt

Cocktails and Books – Review & Excerpt

February 1^st

Read-Love-Blog – Review & Excerpt

Bambi Unbridled – Excerpt

Becky on Books – Review & Excerpt

First Dream of Books – Review & Excerpt

Carol Kittie Reviews – Review & Excerpt

February 2^nd

The Book Hammock – Review

I A-M a Bookaholic – Excerpt

About That Story – Review

What I'm Reading – Review & Excerpt

FMR Book Grind – Review

February 3^rd

SnoopyDoo's Book Reviews – Excerpt

Renee Entress's Blog – Review

Four Chicks Flipping Pages – Review

Books Need TLC – Review

My Girlfriends Couch – Review & Excerpt

February 4^th

Reviews by Tammy and Kim – Review & Excerpt

Book Lovers 4Ever – Review & Excerpt

Jax's Book Magic – Excerpt

Ripe For Reader – Review

Sultry, Steamy Reading – Review & Excerpt

February 5th

Vera is Reading – Excerpt

Wickedcoolflight – Review & Excerpt

The Fairest of All Book Reviews – Review

JB's Book Obsession – Review & Excerpt

Book Reader Chronicles – Review & Excerpt

February 6^th

Love Drug Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

She's a Lip Biter – Review & Excerpt

Book Nook Nuts – Review & Excerpt

I'm A Sweet And Sassy Book Whore – Review & Excerpt

Shelf_Life – Review & Excerpt

      

THREE DIRTY SECRETS by NIKKI SLOANE - #BLOGTOUR

Three Dirty Secrets by Nikki Sloane is finally here!

Title:  Three Dirty Secrets

Series: The Blindfold Club #4

Author: Nikki Sloane

Release Date: January 26, 2016

No man can own me. I negotiate sex for money at an illicit blindfold club, but my body is not for sale. I don’t submit and I don’t surrender. Until I meet him. This beautiful artist’s tattoo now covers the scar of the worst mistake of my life. Being with him could expose everything I’ve been hiding, and although there’s so much at stake, I can’t stop myself. The battle for control between us is too hot, too powerful to resist. With all my dirty secrets, what’s going to happen when he forces me to come clean? 

NOTE: This book is a standalone with no cliffhanger ending, but does include scenes of MFF. Mature readers only.

 “I think you want this almost as badly as I do, Regan. You’re going to take your clothes off because I’m putting my hands on your fucking body in a few seconds, and you don’t want me to ruin your clothes.” He left me standing there in surprise and went back to the table. He picked up the charcoal pencil and rubbed it between his palms, covering his hands with even more black dust. It was impossible to have friction without heat, and it flickered through my body, warming all the way down to my toes. He’d told me to take off my clothes, but it was really a choice. I could stay as I was and call his bluff, do as he asked, or walk away. What would those dark hands do? Would they leave perfect black handprints against my ivory skin? The image was too powerful to deny. I locked my gaze on him, only breaking it for a moment as I tore my sweater up over my head. Lust made his eyes heavy as he watched me shed the plain white t-shirt, and work the snap of my jeans. I tugged them off and tossed them to the floor with aggression. “Okay, done. Put your filthy goddamn hands on me.” Fire flared so hot, it made the room scorching. He came at me, but I held my ground. His hands lifted to cup my face—wait, no. That wasn’t his intent. I inhaled sharply when he put both hands around my neck. I fought the instinct to break his hold. There wasn’t any tension in his fingers as his hands wrapped around my throat, they simple rested there. It was dominating, but it was exciting, too.  When he released me, Silas made a noise of satisfaction. The sight of his black handprints on my skin obviously pleased him. My pulse sped to a million miles an hour. Did these handprints ringing my neck look like a collar? Like he owned me? “The bra,” he said on a hurried breath. “Take it off.” He gazed at me like I was the most beautiful thing he’d seen, and my hands moved instantly. The clasp was undone and I slipped the straps down my shoulders, letting the bra fall away. My exposed breasts felt heavy and aching for his touch, which he seemed eager to do. He filled the weight of one in his hand, pressing his dark, rough palm against my pale skin. As he peeled his fingers away, we both looked down and admired the perfect gray handprint he’d left. God, it was sexy. He instantly did the other breast so I had a matching set. “That looks fucking amazing,” he said. “Stay right like that.” And then he hurried for his camera.

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Nikki Sloane landed in graphic design after her careers as a waitress, a screenwriter, and a ballroom dance instructor fell through. For eight years she worked for a design firm in that extremely tall, black, and tiered building in Chicago that went through an unfortunate name change during her time there. Now she lives in Kentucky and manages a team of graphic artists. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America, is married with two sons, writes dirty books, and couldn't be any happier.

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GRANTED WISHES by TANYA VOUGHT - #BLOGTOUR #BOOKREVIEW

TITLE – Granted Wishes 

SERIES – The Granted Series 

AUTHOR – Tanya Vought 

GENRE – Contemporary Romance 

PUBLICATION DATE – Feb 24, 2015 

LENGTH (Pages/# Words) - 234ish 

PUBLISHER – Booktrope 

COVER ARTIST – Shari Ryan

**STANDALONE NOVEL WITH HEA***

A decision that will change her life forever.

After the loss of her husband, Gracelynn Calhoun has struggled with her life and career. Forced to take a four-week vacation or be fired from her job, she surprises everyone including herself and agrees to the vacation.

The owner of Antonetti Suites, Giovanni works hard and doesn’t have time for relationships or love. That is until he literally crashes into Gracelynn. She brings back all the feelings he thought he would never feel again.

With the odds stacked against them in every way possible, will they forge ahead together or will this be the end of the road for their newfound love? Will the whispers from above bring them together or will misunderstandings ruin what could be an amazing second chance at love?

“Wow. You’re a vision, you know that?” He practically drools all over. She wears a pair of blue jeans and a low cut green sweater with a white scarf wrapped around her neck. Her hair is up, and she wears light make up. 

She chuckles. “Like what you see?” She smirks at him, daunting him. The little vixen can come out and play when she wants and he is enjoying this side of the sexy Gracelynn. 

He decides to play dirty himself. “Want to see how happy I am to see you?” He smirks back at her. “Let’s make a wager, shall we?” he asks competitively. 

She grins at him. She intently twirls a strand of her hair that she left down by her face between her fingers, licks her lips and stares at him. She looks him up and down, making him even more drawn to her. 

He gulps. The damn vixen knows how to play dirty.

“Well, what is the wager? Because if it is staring at each other all night, I could do that and then some.”

Copyright © Tanya Vought. All rights reserved.

When I first read the synopsis I was really excited to read Granted Wishes.  Then I started reading, but had a really hard time getting into it.  I like the premise alot.  And I like the idea of the characters.  Both Gracelynn and Giovanni have lost their spouses.  They're each dealing with grief in their own way, although Gracelynn's seems to be a lot deeper.  It's been two years and she really can't move on.  Her friends send her on a vacation, but she ends up at Giovanni's house.  It later turns out that that is exactly where she was supposed to be.

The characters were fairly well developed, especially Gracelynn.  I felt her pain and could understand where she was coming from. 

My biggest issue with the book was that the dialogue seemed stilted.  It seemed like everytime a character spoke they used someone's name.  In real life people don't speak that way.  Also the tenses really bothered me.  It was written in present tense, but in third person.  And there were some tense issues and non-agreeement at various points.   At times, it seemed like something a teen would write (it reminded me of stories my daughter wrote when she was 13).  

If you can get past these issues (maybe a younger audience can) then it's a sweet romance.

I give Granted Wishes THREE STARS!

***FREE on kindle unlimited!!!***

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What started as a lifelong dream became a reality when Tanya Vought penned and released her debut romance novel, Granted Wishes. She is a hopeless romantic who loves reading, writing and singing. You may know her as blogger "Tanya - The Book Obsessed Momma", where she's been a loyal supporter of authors and an active participant in the book community for several years. You'll find that Tanya writes stories that are sweet, sassy and unique--like her. When she's not inspiring others with her kindness, she's spending time with her husband and two imaginative children. She believes whole-heartedly that anything is possible. If you can dream it, you can achieve it!

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