STANDALONE CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

I let him steal my breath and I want to give him my heart too.
But it’s complicated.

Internet dating and Callie St James do not go together.

25.
Desperate for sex.
Earns shit money waitressing while desperately trying to get a publishing deal.
Only does yoga to keep core muscles strong—trust me, guys thank me.
Reads too much because gets no sex.
Did I mention desperate for sex?

She’s about to give up on love when the guy she’s been lusting after for a year breaks her three month sex drought.

Luke Hardy.

Mysterious, moody and all alpha, Luke is hiding a secret—one that Callie never saw coming.

The secret, however, is nothing compared to the discovery she makes about Luke’s family when she starts a new job at the local paper. Callie finds herself caught between her morals and her desires. Whichever path she chooses, someone will lose. Is she ready to give up the man she’s just found or will she go against everything she believes in so she can finally have the love she’s always dreamt of?

This story contains all the panty-melting sexiness and alpha goodness that Nina Levine books are known for.

Goodreads

I received a copy of this book for an honest review.

4.5 rounded up to 5

This was a new contemporary series by Nina Levine and even though I love her biker series this one really grabbed my attention and I think I will be enjoying it just as much. We are introduced to Luke Hardy and Callie who do nothing but argue and have wore on each other’s nerves for the past year.

Luke owns the bar where Callie’s BFF works and Callie is a writer who had been spending her time trying to find her perfect man via internet dating which drives Luke crazy. After all this time these two butting heads they finally give into what they both really want and hook up and both start to open up to each other. WOW I never saw those past coming. To say I’m shocked about Luke’s past is an understatement. I love Callie for sticking to her guns and morals. I love that they take things slow and get to know one another before taking things to the next step until Luke can get his situation figured out.

Then Holy crap when Callie gets the job at the news paper and she finds out what she does and then does what she does gives me so much more respect for her but breaks my heart for what she loses. She has lost so much in her life and now to lose more was a punch in the gut. To see her so sad was just heartbreaking. I do have to say I loved how Luke supported her and praised her something she never received before. My favorite line in the book is when Luke is describing Callie because he could so be describing me to a T. I absolutely loved Luke’s mom, brother Tyler and Callies BFF Avery.  I cannot wait to see more of Tyler and Avery..OK I really hope we see more of Tyler and Avery.

A few of my favorite lines:

I’m convinced Callie could talk under water.

Surprisingly you love both county music and heavy metal; and you prefer to support indie artists rather than mainstream. You don’t back down easily when you’re passionate about something or believe you’re right, but you will begrudgingly admit when you’re wrong.

I’m like a dazed teenager around you.

“And I’m like a fucking horny teenager when I’m around you, Callie.”

There’s no harm in asking for what you want, Luke. It’s time you started putting yourself first. Live a little. God knows life flies by so fast that if we don’t make ourselves happy while we have the chance, we’ll grow old in a puddle of regret.”

ESCAPE WITH AN ALPHA

USA Today Bestselling Author Nina Levine is an Aussie author who writes alphas with a side of dirty and sassy women who don’t hand their hearts over easily.

When she isn’t creating with words, she loves to create with paint and paper. Often though, she can be found curled up with a good book and some chocolate.

Join Nina’s newsletter to keep up to date with new releases: http://eepurl.com/bQ8mRD

Visit Nina’s website: http://ninalevinebooks.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNinaLevine/

Join Nina’s reader’s group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LevinesLadies/

*** Now Live! $.99 Release Special ***

I ran away from the glitz and privilege of my famous New York City family to this small-town Texas college to find myself. I didn’t expect to find him…

…the muscular, tatted bad-boy who would soon become my obsession.

He was broken, lost, and voiceless … just like me.

His eyes smoldered me with one look.
His touch awakened the woman inside me.

And through his lips, his perfect, plush, kissable lips, he drew out the inspiration deep in my soul I did not know was there.

I needed to believe that he could save me. I wanted him to help me find my voice at last … the voice that would set me apart from my tragically perfect family, the voice that would finally break me free …

If only he could hear a word of it.

The College Obsession Romance series centers around a group of friends and the relationships they form during their time at a small-town Texas school. They are angsty, steamy new adult novels with HEAs and NO cheating. Although they are obsession-themed romances, there are no stalkers or psychos!

Amazon

Goodreads

I received this book from the author for an honest review.

Holy Smokes! This book!  The dang anxiety and stress of these beautifully flawed characters.  I mean FOR REALZ!!  I was a hot mess.  My stomach was in KNOTS.  I was dying for them to TALK and then KISS let along fall in love!!  GAH!!!!  Well written Mr. Banner, VERY WELL WRITTEN!!!

The book is about Dessie who runs to a smaller Texas university to study theater.  She is a child of theater celebrities and is stuck in the family name shadow.  She wants to hide out essentially and make it on her own.  She spies a talk dark cup of water and is flustered by him. She can’t understand why this stranger has her so mixed up.  When she gets up and sings at a bar, she gets the confidence to stroll over, mic in hand, to sing to him but he LEAVES!!  SAY WHAT????

Clayton is deaf and angry.  He uses his disability to push people away.  He has been broken by a theater women in the past and refuses to go that road again and then he sees Dessie. The way she goes out of her way to communicate with him after learning he is deaf…..yup I said “AWWW”.  He is a mess because he wants to see what happens but he can’t let another woman break him.

People, the FEELs of this book were off the hook.  I was screaming at the character to JUST KISS ALREADY so many times.  Then when we thought our couple was on the right track something or some “skeleton in their closets” came flying out.  OMG they have both been burned and are full of fear.  They want to experience what the other has to offer but fear and doubt can really wreak havoc on a person.

Can I tell you how freaking excited I am at book 2??  OMG Brant…..for real though.  I can’t wait to see this woman who kicks the man whores butt into submission!!!

Daryl Banner is an author and composer who graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Theatre and Psychology. He writes new adult romance, M/M romance, post-apocalyptic fantasy, and dystopian. He is most inspired by the smart and unlikely hero, but urges you (the reader) not to fall in love with them; they may deceive you with their innocence.

TERESA GABELMAN

Hot Tree Publishing has got together with four amazing New York Times and USA Today best-selling authors to bring to you four incredible romance stories.
The talented authors have produced new stories especially for our fertility research charity anthology, Incompatibly Yours.
100% of the profits from the sales of this stunning anthology will be donated to fertility research and support charities and organizations.

SUMMER’S BAY by A.C. BEXTOR

For years, Ryleigh has ignored her heart’s desire and its ache for the man she’s always wanted. Since coming home after years of being away, she discovers her love for him hasn’t changed. The only problem is she’s no longer the girl she once was.

BLIND FAITH by TERESA GABELMAN

Committing her life to teaching the blind, Julie Daniels doesn’t expect cowboy Clay Marshall to turn to her for help. As their worlds collide, Clay and Julie discover they have to rely on blind faith to find their own slice of happiness.

KISS, INTERRUPTED by S.R. GREY

Shy girl Brooks Happ wants nothing more than for her first kiss to come from someone who’s her complete opposite, Confident Sebastian Kain fits the bill. Problem is, the world won’t cooperate. Time and time again, Brooks’s first kiss is interrupted. A cute, funny romantic comedy sure to make you laugh.

HER KIND OF CRAZY by NINA LEVINE

Juliette Taylor never saw Tanner Brady coming and as much as she swears he’s all kinds of wrong for her and that she wants nothing to do with him, he’s out to show her otherwise.

Never in a million years did she think a laid-back tattoo artist could be the man for her, but he’s determined to show her that she’s his kind of crazy.

Goodreads

I purchased this book one because it has two authors I enjoy reading, Teresa Gableman and Nina Levine, plus it is for a good cause.  I was also introduced to two more authors I have never read before, A.C. Baxtor and SR Grey.  I enjoyed and devoured all four small town short stories.

I loved the country story of Teresa Gableman Blind Faith. Julie was brought in to help Clay’s brother Bo learn to deal with his blindness. This is a great love story of quite shy girl having a crush on the jock in high school only to meet up years later. The connection between Clay and Julie was awesome. Bo put up a heck of a fight but the shy quiet school girl was stronger than Clay thought. I would love to hear more about Bo and Juile’s sister.

Her Kind of Crazy by Nina Levine was wonderful. Juliette knows what she wants in life she has a 10 year plan and nothing will distract her. Until she stumbles into Tanner Brady (darn high heels) and he just may have put a kink in her plan. Loved the connection between Juliette and her sister, she is always there to make Juliette stop and think about things. The relationship between her and Ana was great she was more than an employer she was a friend. No matter how professional Juliette tried to be Ana treated her more like a BFF. Juliette was determined not to let anything derail her from her 10 year plan especially a hot “bad boy” with tattoos. However, Tanner was determined to change that. I so hope we get more of Tanner in the future.

Summer’s Bay by A.C. Bextor was a first for me by this author. Ryleigh is set to marry her high school sweetheart who happens to be the brother of her first crush and man that broke her heart. You can see the disconnect the entire time between Ryleigh and her fiancé, Myles, and the connection that is between Ryleigh and Chase. I wanted to shake Ryleigh so many times to just admit what she really wanted not what she thought she had to do.

SR Grey’s Kiss, Interrupted was the first kiss gone wrong and funny. Brooks was the shy girl all her life and had never been kissed. She found the perfect guy she wanted her first kiss to be with. It happens to be another counselor at the camp, Sebastian.  Only problem is night after night something happens and their kiss gets derailed.  The antics of the kids, especially one little boy, in the camp were great.

If you have never read any of these authors this is a great way to be introduced to them. All the stories were good and they were quick reads.  Plus it is for a good cause.

KNOT by M. Mabie

SPECIAL PREORDER PRICE $2.99

Henry Alexander’s story in The Spiral Down by Aly Martinez is NOW LIVE!

Download your copy of this M/M Standalone TODAY!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Xuy9Go

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1TVGmAx

iBooks: Pending

Nook: Pending

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1TQX3Kx

Blurb

I was afraid to fly.

He made me soar.

After years of climbing the ladder of success in the music industry, I finally had everything I could want.

Yet I still found myself wandering through life alone.

Captain Evan Roth was the one man I never saw coming.

Tall, dark, mysterious… Straight.

We were both damaged beyond repair and searching for something so elusive we weren’t sure it even existed.

But, when two broken souls collide in midair, falling is a given.

I just never expected to crave the spiral down.

Melinda’s Review

I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.

I loved Henry in The Fall UP and have been waiting for his story. He had me laughing with his over the top dramatics. He likes a challenge and what a better challenge than for him to be with a straight man, but he cannot find his one which is ultimately what he wants his one.  Until he meets Evan you see Henry has a fear of Flying and when his pilot gets sick and they have to bring in Evan to get them there all things change for Henry. Evan has a way of calming him when the panic attach hits.

Evan is a great pilot that has had heartbreak in the past and refuses to let someone in. Evan protects his heart like there is no tomorrow. He is having a hard time denying the connection to Henry.

Both Henry and Evan have heart breaking pasts. Both trying to shield their hearts but their connection is just too much. Knowing that Henry doesn’t put his heart out there are Love easily when he does open up an let you in your are in for life. The dynamic between Evan and Scott, his best friend, is a wonderful friendship. To watch the banter between Henry and Evan was great. I cracked up over the way Sam and Henry tormented each other all the time especially with the text messages. I also loved that we got to see more of Sam and Levee. I enjoyed Henry and Evan as much as I did Levee and Sam and I wouldn’t mind seeing more of them again.

Excerpt

Henry

“How about you and one of your girls come out to my show in L.A. next week? My treat. Dinner, drinks, the whole deal. Evan and I would love to take you two beautiful ladies out for an evening.”

“Excuse me?” he exclaimed, cocking his head to catch my gaze.

I leaned back into my seat and lifted a hand to massage his shoulder. I was barely able to suppress a moan when the angle of his firm trap muscle met my palm.

Fuck, this guy was built like a brick wall. And I was going to love every second of watching him crumble for me.

“Oh, come on, Evan. It’s the least we can do. Double date.” I winked at Jessica. “You can fly them out! My plane should be ready by then.”

Jessica’s eyes jumped to Evan’s. “You’re a pilot?” Her smile spread irritatingly wide.

Back off, Ginger Spice.

Snapping my fingers in her direction, I corrected, “He’s my pilot.”

Subtlety was not a virtue I possessed. Was subtlety a virtue at all?

“Your temporary pilot,” he amended before shaking his head and then tipping his beer to his lips for a long pull.

“Anyway. Do we have a date?” And, by date, I meant feeding her dinner while I attempted to work my way into Evan’s pants.

She pressed one finger to her lips and then nervously flashed her eyes around the cabin.

“Oops. Sorry.” I shrugged sheepishly. Lifting my drink to my mouth, I discreetly passed her my cocktail napkin and then not-so-discreetly brushed my forearm against Evan’s chest as I pulled away.

He offered her a tight smile just before she disappeared.

I grinned proudly.

“What the fucking hell was that?” he whisper-yelled at me.

“That was me getting a woman’s number.”

He arched an eyebrow. “A woman. Really?”

“What? Is that not allowed?” I feigned innocence.

He clenched his fist in his lap, and it made me suddenly aware that my own hands had stopped trembling—and in record time, I should note. Evan seemed to be quite useful in the art of distraction.

He leaned closer. “Don’t bullshit me. I looked you up. You’re…” He stopped, unwilling to say the big, bad “G” word.

“I’m what?” I taunted.

He rolled his eyes and chugged the rest of his beer.

We went back to silence until Jessica came back by with another drink, complete with her phone number written on the napkin.

“I’m not going on a double date,” Evan said as I tucked the napkin into my pocket. “You want me to fly them out? Not a problem. Schedule it with Jackson. But that’s the extent of my professional responsibilities. And, since I’m off the clock right now, I’d also like to mention that I think whatever play you’re planning to run on that woman is fucked up.”

My head snapped to his. “I’m sorry. Play?” I asked with more attitude than I had originally planned.

“Yes. Play,” he sneered.

I stirred my drink. “Let me get this straight. I’m offering to fly her out in a private jet, feed her dinner at one of the best restaurants in the city, and put her front row at a concert that has been sold out for over a year. That doesn’t seem like a play to me. It sounds like I’m trying to do something nice for a woman I was rude to earlier.” I casually leaned back in my seat. “My conscience doesn’t ‘play’ when it comes to apologies.”

“Right. Well, maybe you should have a chat with your conscience, because she looks like she just won the date of a lifetime. Meanwhile, you don’t even like women.” He stalled, no doubt looking for just the right word to express his disgust without sounding like a bigot. Judging by his gentleness when we’d taken off, he wasn’t the type of guy to go for the fag bomb.

I watched him intently, excited to see how he was going to handle this.

“You’re gay.”

I frowned at his lack of creativity. “Not that it’s any of your damn business. But I’ll have you know I love women.”

It wasn’t a lie. I adored women. Especially Levee and Robin.

I just didn’t like pussy. Meh. Semantics.

He gaped. “You’re bi?”

“And I’ll repeat: None of your damn business. But yeah. Do you have a problem with that?”

Again, it wasn’t necessarily a lie.

Was I bisexual? Fuck no. My cock was in no way an equal opportunity employer.

I was somewhat bilingual though. I knew how to ask for a blow job in English and Spanish. I pretended that was what he meant.

Chupame la verga.

About the Author:

Aly Martinez

Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five, including a set of twins. Currently living in South Carolina, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.

After some encouragement from her friends, Aly decided to add “Author” to her ever-growing list of job titles. Five books later, she shows no signs of slowing. So grab a glass of Chardonnay, or a bottle if you’re hanging out with Aly, and join her aboard the crazy train she calls life.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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