CARESS OF PLEASURE by Julie Kenner - #BOOKREVIEW #BLOGTOUR

Title: Caress of Pleasure

Series: A Dark Pleasures Novella

Author: Julie Kenner

Release Date: April 28, 2015

I'd thought that he was mine, the dark, arresting man who commanded not only my body but my heart. Dante had swept into my life, and I'd succumbed to the burn of passion in his arms.

I'd believed we had a love that would last forever, but he'd shattered my dreams and broken me into pieces when he'd walked away, taking a piece of my soul with him.

Now he has come back seeking my help, and though I try to keep my distance and protect my heart, I cannot deny that the fire between us burns hotter than ever. And I cannot help but fear that this time our passion will reduce us both to ashes.

I fell in love with him once—and I'm honestly not sure that I ever fell out of love.

But I do know one thing for sure—Dante Storm is dangerous to my heart. And whatever we started just now is something that we can't finish.

I meet his eyes and am about to say just that when he shakes his head. “No. Don't say it. You don't need to say it.”

“What?”

“That we can't do it again.”

“We can't.”

“I know.”

I stand in silence. I know why I can't; it's because he will break my heart.

But I don't know why he doesn't want me. I only know that he doesn't. I only know that he walked away once, and that he has already told me he will walk away again.

That should be enough, but then I have to go and open my mouth. I have to ask— “Why? Why did you leave?”

For a minute, I don't think that he's going to answer. But he surprises me by saying, “Because I was looking at forever.”

“And you don't think I was, too?” I'm baffled. With Dante, forever was my mantra.

He looks at me, his eyes so sad I want to cry. “No,” he says, “I know you weren't.”

I start to protest, but he just shakes his head, like a dog shaking off water. “Let's go transfer your money.”

“No,” I say, standing firm.

He cocks his head, then winces. “We shouldn't have done this. It won't happen again. But please don't back out. I really need your help. I can't tell you how urgent this is.”

“I'll help,” I say. “But I don't want your money. And I don't want sex.” That's not entirely true. I want it; I don't think I can handle it.

“Then why?”

“I don't know,” I say. “Maybe because I loved you once upon a time.”

Maybe because I still do.

15 years ago Brenna was devasted when Dante walked away from her and broke her heart.  Now he is back, looking just as he did then.  He wants to hire Brenna, but she can't forget the past.  

While Brenna hasn't been physically wounded, she is definitely a wounded character.  She can't commit to a relationship and has basically sworn them off.  Dante destroyed her when she was still young.  Now she's mature (mid thirties) and a bit jaded.  She knows how life can hurt you and she's experienced the ultimate heartbreak.

Dante is a character we've met before in the other Dark Pleasures books.  He is immortal.  He knows that unless he finds "true, everlasting love" he is destined to be alone.  He thought he had found that love with Brenna 15 years ago, but when he realized that he hadn't he walked away rather than having both of them experience the pain.  Ever since he's been a devastated and hurt.  He, too, doesn't commit to any relationship and just seems to exist.

Even through all the hurt from 15 years prior Brenna and Dante find that they still can't resist each other.  Their love is so explosive that they can't keep away.  But is it an eternal love?  Read the book to find out.  

Like the other Dark Pleasures books this is a short novella.  While it could probably be read as a stand alone I wouldn't recommend that.  It would be confusing if you don't know the history.  I read through Caress of Pleasure in one sitting, mostly because I couldn't put it down.  Another good Julie Kenner book.  I give "Caress of Pleasure" FOUR STARS!

Amazon | Amazon UK

Julie Kenner (aka J. Kenner and J.K. Beck) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over forty novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

Praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations,” J.K. writes a range of stories including super sexy romances, paranormal romance, chick lit suspense and paranormal mommy lit. Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, is in development as a feature film with 1492 Pictures.

Her most recent trilogy of erotic romances, The Stark Trilogy (as J. Kenner), reached as high as #2 on the New York Times list and is published in over twenty countries.

J.K. lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and several cats.

 Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

CARESS OF PLEASURE by Julie Kenner - #RELEASEDAY

CARESS OF PLEASURE by Julie Kenner is available today! Dante is waiting...

 

Title: Caress of Pleasure

Series: A Dark Pleasures Novella

Author: Julie Kenner

Release Date: April 28, 2015

I'd thought that he was mine, the dark, arresting man who commanded not only my body but my heart. Dante had swept into my life, and I'd succumbed to the burn of passion in his arms.

I'd believed we had a love that would last forever, but he'd shattered my dreams and broken me into pieces when he'd walked away, taking a piece of my soul with him.

Now he has come back seeking my help, and though I try to keep my distance and protect my heart, I cannot deny that the fire between us burns hotter than ever. And I cannot help but fear that this time our passion will reduce us both to ashes.

I fell in love with him once—and I'm honestly not sure that I ever fell out of love.

But I do know one thing for sure—Dante Storm is dangerous to my heart. And whatever we started just now is something that we can't finish.

I meet his eyes and am about to say just that when he shakes his head. “No. Don't say it. You don't need to say it.”

“What?”

“That we can't do it again.”

“We can't.”

“I know.”

I stand in silence. I know why I can't; it's because he will break my heart.

But I don't know why he doesn't want me. I only know that he doesn't. I only know that he walked away once, and that he has already told me he will walk away again.

That should be enough, but then I have to go and open my mouth. I have to ask— “Why? Why did you leave?”

For a minute, I don't think that he's going to answer. But he surprises me by saying, “Because I was looking at forever.”

“And you don't think I was, too?” I'm baffled. With Dante, forever was my mantra.

He looks at me, his eyes so sad I want to cry. “No,” he says, “I know you weren't.”

I start to protest, but he just shakes his head, like a dog shaking off water. “Let's go transfer your money.”

“No,” I say, standing firm.

He cocks his head, then winces. “We shouldn't have done this. It won't happen again. But please don't back out. I really need your help. I can't tell you how urgent this is.”

“I'll help,” I say. “But I don't want your money. And I don't want sex.” That's not entirely true. I want it; I don't think I can handle it.

“Then why?”

“I don't know,” I say. “Maybe because I loved you once upon a time.”

Maybe because I still do.

Amazon | Amazon UK

Julie Kenner (aka J. Kenner and J.K. Beck) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over forty novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

Praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations,” J.K. writes a range of stories including super sexy romances, paranormal romance, chick lit suspense and paranormal mommy lit. Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, is in development as a feature film with 1492 Pictures.

Her most recent trilogy of erotic romances, The Stark Trilogy (as J. Kenner), reached as high as #2 on the New York Times list and is published in over twenty countries.

J.K. lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and several cats.

 Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

FIND ME TRILOGY by Julie Kenner - #BOOKBLITZ #GIVEAWAY #REVIEW @juliekenner @DarkWorldBooks

FIND ME TRILOGY (Dark Pleasures)

by Julie Kenner

Paranormal Romance

Published on January, 2015

A doomed woman. A dangerous and mysterious man. And an epic passion that cannot be denied…

From the first moment I saw Malcolm, I felt his power shudder through me. Lithe and powerful, dark and controlling, he cast a spell over me that I didn’t understand, but to which I willingly surrendered.

One touch and I melted. One glance into his storm-swept eyes and I was lost. One kiss, and I was bound.

But sometimes passion can burn to hot, and it would take all of our strength for Mal and I to survive the fire that raged between us…

NOTE TO READERS: Each of the 1001 Dark Nights novellas is a stand-alone, be sure not to miss Caress of Darkness by Julie Kenner. The Find Me books are a true trilogy spanning Mal and Christina’s romance and are meant to be read in order

The alley is about as wide as a car, and as I follow him past a collection of rather pungent smelling garbage cans, we pass a heavy door that I assume opens to the bar’s kitchen. A single bulb above the door emits a dim light that ostensibly illuminates the alley, but really only makes the shadows deeper.

I hear a rustling behind me and turn, expecting to find Roger. Instead, it’s the flame lady. 

The first thing I notice is that her face looks normal.

The second thing is the knife in her hand.

I scream and stumble backward even as the big gray blob of a cat launches itself from the top of a trashcan and connects with her face.

The knife goes flying, but that doesn’t deter the woman, whose fingers close around my upper arm.

In that freakish trick of time, everything seems to slow and the world is suddenly more clear than it has ever been. 

I feel the pressure of her fingers. 

I see the cat hissing from behind a plastic crate. 

I hear Brayden calling my name.

And I see a strange, colorful blade of light slice sideways from behind the woman, neatly lopping off her head to reveal the tall, dark, god of a warrior wielding a sword behind her.

What the fuck?

Some part of me thinks that I have snapped. That whatever bit of crazy I have inherited from my mother has battled its way to the surface and is all set to drag me back under.

Except I don’t believe that. This doesn’t feel like crazy—which is a ridiculous rationalization, when you get right down to it. I mean, if you are losing your mind, chances are you believe that you’re perfectly sane.

Even so, I am not worried about my sanity. And, frankly, I don’t have time to be concerned about my laissez-faire attitude toward these strange goings-on. Time has snapped back into place, and there is a body falling to the ground, and Brayden has my hand and he is yanking me toward the back of the alley where, presumably, there is another way out.

We don’t even make it one step. 

The warrior holds up a hand, and the air seems suddenly charged. It rolls toward us in waves, its force knocking us both backward. Me against the brick wall and Braydon to the ground. I see him hit his head, and I cry out, afraid he’s been knocked unconscious, but the air is so thick that the sound can’t even travel.

Then the wave dissipates and I’m left gasping as the warrior approaches me, that strange, sword-like weapon tight in his hand.

I tilt my head back, breathing hard. 

I realize with some surprise that I’m not scared. On the contrary, everything seems oddly familiar. Like deja vu on steroids.

And in that moment, I am certain that the fierce looking warrior with the sad gray eyes is going to kill me. More than that, I’m certain that he has killed me before, which really makes no sense whatsoever.

I open my mouth to beg him to stop, but that is not the word that comes out. 

Instead, I hear myself saying, “Malcolm?”

As always I love Julie Kenner's books.  This series was different from some of the other Julie Kenner/J. Kenner books I've read, but I loved it too.  We were introduced to some of the characters, including Malcolm in Caress of Darkness.  That book is meant to be a standalone, but reading Caress of Darkness before the trilogy definitely helps set the time, place, and explains a bit of Malcolm's background.  

But I don't believe it's necessary to read Caress first, just helpful.  These books are meant to be read in order as a trilogy.  Reading them out of order would probably be very confusing.  So I wouldn't suggest that.  

From the moment Jaymie meets Malcolm she knows him.  They connect in a way that she's never connected with anyone else and she feels drawn to him.  We learn in Find Me in Darkness that Jaymie does know Malcolm.  They are soulmates and are meant to be together.  But fate has cursed them and Mal has been called upon to end Jaymie (who was known as Christina in a prior life) time and again.  

In the Find Me Trilogy Malcolm is determined to end the cycle that is not only killing his beloved.  He is determined to help Jaymie/Christina and prove that love can conquer all.  

Malcolm is dominant, powerful, and sexy.  Jaymie/Christina is beautiful, wounded, but no less strong.  Their love is timeless and they prove that love conquers all.

I don't love serial romances usually because you have to wait for each book.  This series was wonderful in that each book was released one week after the next.  There was no waiting.  Great job, Julie!

I loved this series and give it 4 1/2 stars!

FIND ME IN DARKNESS (Part 1)

Published on January 13^th, 2015

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FIND ME IN PLEASURE (Part 2)

Published on January 20^th, 2015

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FIND ME IN PASSION (Part 3)

Published on January 27^th, 2015

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J. Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and International bestselling author of over seventy novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres. Though known primarily for her award-winning and international bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, JK has been writing full time for over a decade in a variety of genres including paranormal and contemporary romance, “chicklit” suspense, urban fantasy, Victorian-era thrillers (coming soon), and paranormal mommy lit. Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, has been consistently in development in Hollywood since prior to publication. Most recently, it has been optioned by Warner Brothers Television for development as series on the CW Network with Alloy Entertainment producing. JK has been praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations” and by RT Bookclub for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swoon for him.” A three time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award, JK took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy). Her books have sold well over a million copies and are published in over over twenty countries. In her previous career as an attorney, JK worked as a clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and practiced primarily civil, entertainment and First Amendment litigation in Los Angeles and Irvine, California, as well as in Austin, Texas. She currently lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and two rather spastic cats.

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FIND ME IN DARKNESS by Julie Kenner - #BLOGTOUR, #BOOKREVIEW

 

 

Are you ready to get to know Malcom? FIND ME IN DARKNESS by Julie Kenner releases today and you can get your hands on it for just .99c!

 

Title: Find Me in Darkness

Series: Find Me

Author: Julie Kenner

Release Date:  January 13, 2015 

A doomed woman. A dangerous and mysterious man. And an epic passion that cannot be denied…

From the first moment I saw Malcolm, I felt his power shudder through me. Lithe and powerful, dark and controlling, he cast a spell over me that I didn’t understand, but to which I willingly surrendered. One touch and I melted. One glance into his storm-swept eyes and I was lost. One kiss, and I was bound. But sometimes passion can burn too hot, and it would take all of our strength for Mal and I to survive the fire that raged between us...  

Read the first chapter here

 

Wow!  I just finished reading Find Me in Darkness and that's my first thought.  Find Me in Darkness was a very quick read, but be prepared to put everything else aside.  Once you start it you can't stop.  We met Mal in Caress of Darkness, but in this series we learn to love him.  One word to sum up Malcolm is intense.  He's also dedicated, loyal, protective, and sexy.  He's also all alpha male and extremely dominant.  I don't know how Julie Kenner does it, but each of her characters is different, but they are all almost perfect. 

From their first meeting Christina is drawn to Mal, but she has no idea why.  Mal knows why but he doesn't share.  They're relationship is doomed from the start, but the intensity and passion can't be stopped.  It's a forever kind of love.  It's tough to write about them without giving away any of the secrets in the book so let me just say that you have to read this book (and this series).  

I am so happy that the books are releasing next week and the week after because I need to know what happens with Mal and Christina.  I'm anxiously awaiting Book 2 and Book 3.  

I give Find Me in Darkness FIVE STARS! 

Find Me In Darkness – Part 1

Amazon

Find Me In Pleasure – Part 2 - Jan 20th

Amazon http://bit.ly/FindMeInPleasure

Find Me in Passion – Part 3 - Jan 27th

Amazon http://bit.ly/FinhttpdMeInPassion 

  *** And be sure not to miss the first novella in this exciting and sexy series by Julie Kenner (aka J. Kenner), Caress of Darkness, a 1001 Dark Nights novella.

 ***NOTE TO READERS*** 

Each of the 1001 Dark Nights novellas stands alone. (Caress of Darkness and the 2015 release, Caress of Pleasure.) The Find Me books are a true trilogy spanning Mal and Christina’s romance and are meant to be read in order.

Amazon

 

Julie Kenner

Julie Kenner (aka J. Kenner and J.K. Beck) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over forty novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres. Praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations,” J.K. writes a range of stories including super sexy romances, paranormal romance, chick lit suspense and paranormal mommy lit. Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, is in development as a feature film with 1492 Pictures. Her most recent trilogy of erotic romances, The Stark Trilogy (as J. Kenner), reached as high as #2 on the New York Times list and is published in over twenty countries. J.K. lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and several cats.

 Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest