Review & Giveaway: Free Me (The Found Duet #1) by Laurelin Paige

Title: Free Me (The Found Duet #1)

Author: Laurelin Paige

Release Date: December 9th, 2014

Synopsis: 

Her story began long before she started working at The Sky Launch...

Screw fairytales. The only reward Gwen Anders got from her rough childhood was a thick skin and hard heart. She’s content with her daily grind managing a top NYC nightclub—Eighty-Eighth Floor. So hers isn’t a happily ever after. She doesn’t believe in those anyway.

Then she meets J.C.

The rich, smooth talking playboy is the sexiest thing that Gwen has ever encountered, but she’s not interested in a night-in-shining latex. But when a family tragedy pushes her to the brink, it’s J.C. who’s there to teach her a new method of survival, one based on following primal urges and desires. His no-strings-attached lessons require her to abandon her constant need for control. Her carefully built walls are obliterated.

Gwen discovers there’s a beautiful world outside her prison. Freedom is exhilarating—and terrifying. When she starts to feel something for J.C., she fears for her heart. Especially as she realizes that he has secrets of his own. Secrets that don't want to set him free.

BOOK ONE OF TWO. This series can be read alone or with the Fixed Trilogy.

Purchase Links:
Amazon US | iBooks | B&N | Goggle Play

About the Author:

Laurelin Paige is the NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Fixed Trilogy. She's a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there's kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn't seem to complain, however. When she isn't reading or writing sexy stories, she's probably singing, watching Mad Men and the Walking Dead, or dreaming of Adam Levine.

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My Review:

I loved Alayna and Hudson and their story and that's how I fell in love with Laurelin Paige's writing and her stories. And Free Me was definitely not a disappointment. In a way if was even better than the Fixed Trilogy. The story is intriguing and entertaining, filled with hotness and sometimes humor and peppered with danger and excitement. It kept me on my toes until the very last word and after I finished, I just wanted more of JC and Gwen. The story was only made even more interesting by the unexpected twists in it. It just kept me guessing till the last moment and I can honestly say that I still haven't figured out everything that's going on. Which I must say doesn't happen often.

JC and Gwen are quite interesting characters. They are both broken due to traumatic experiences in their past. And they both chose to close themselves from the world and save themselves the hurt of a heartbreak. The moment they meet, the attraction between them is simply undeniable and none of them can resist it for long. They are sizzling hot together and simply explosive in bed. So the no-strings attached relationship is not a surprise. The problem is that their relationship doesn't stay that way. In each other they find a deeper understanding and without even realizing it, their feelings get deeper. In a way, they are perfect for each other.

And just when they finally find the peace they are looking for, both their pasts come chasing them. In Gwen's case, that's the nightmare she lived through as a child. In JC's case, his whole past is covered in secrets and shadows, With every secret he reveals, there are just more questions popping up. And let me tell you, even if you manage to guess some of the secrets, you will be still quite surprised by the rest. The only thing is that the book finished with such a cliffhanger, that I am dying to get my hands on the next one. If all that is not enough for you to pick up Free Me, keep in mind that JC is one hot dominant alpha male with a broken heart and soul. He is also romantic and tender and simply a god in bed. And who doesn't love a broken bad boy with a chance for redemption.

So if you ask my opinion, this is definitely a must read. The story will intrigue you from the first sentence and simply keep you on your toes until the last word. I am pretty sure that you will love Gwen and JC and you will also get the chance to meet Norma, Hudson and Alayna again. The book is intriguing and it has romance, tenderness, humor, danger and excitement. So get your #oneclick finger working and pick a copy. And I know I usually don't end up my reviews with quotes but there is one in this book that simply got stuck with me. So I decided to share it :)

"The current age is but a brief moment in the greater scope of existence."

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Blitz: Such a Secret Place

Title: Such a Secret Place 

Author: Cortney Pearson 

Synopsis: Raids splatter across the news–Arcaian soldiers are stealing magic left and right, using it against the people they steal it from. When sixteen-year-old Ambry Csille’s brother gets taken in one of these raids, her utter fear and panic should be enough to invoke tears in any normal world. But for Ambry, tears are a thing of the past. Because of a spell, people can no longer feel emotion; not enough to cry, and definitely not enough to defend themselves against the tyrannical soldiers stealing her people’s magic. A rare vial of enchanted tears chooses Ambry to reverse the spell, and soon she finds herself the target not only of the Arcaians, but of battle-scarred Talon Haraway, who wants the tears for his own reasons. All Ambry wants is to rescue her brother, but when her tears get stolen, Ambry determines to work with Talon to get them back. Any day the Arcaians could drink her tears. Any day they’ll succeed at draining her people’s magic completely, and all hope will be gone—not only for her brother, but for her world.

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Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Meet Me In the Dark by J.A. Huss

Title: Meet Me In The Dark

Author: J.S. Huss

Release Day: April 15th, 2015

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Suspense

Synopsis:

Eight years ago, Merric Case—AKA Merc, freelance assassin—was sent to rescue a sixteen year old girl from a Wyoming-based militia group on Christmas Eve. A new life, new friends, and a whole lot of new money came out of that job. But a choice had to be made that night, and the girl he should’ve saved was left behind.

Sydney Channing was collateral damage in more ways than one when the rescue she expected turned into an eight-year nightmare filled with lies, sexual servitude, and mind manipulation. Case’s last threat gave her hope that one day he’d be back—even if it was just to kill her.

And now Merc is back. But he’s not here to save Sydney. His job is to pick through her damaged psyche and find the truth using whatever means necessary. Sex, drugs, lies, and love. Those are his weapons of choice. And when Merric Case takes aim—he never misses the target.

Meet Me In The Dark is a full-length dark suspense novel due to be published on April 15, 2015.

About the Author:

JA Huss is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty romances. She likes stories about family, loyalty, and extraordinary characters who struggle with basic human emotions while dealing with bigger than life problems. JA loves writing heroes who make you swoon, heroines who makes you jealous, and the perfect Happily Ever After ending.

You can chat with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AuthorJAHuss), Twitter (@jahuss), and her kick-ass romance blog, New Adult Addiction (www.newadultaddiction.com).

If you're interested in getting your hands on an advanced release copy of her upcoming books, sneak peek teasers, or information on her upcoming personal appearances, you can join her newsletter list (http://eepurl.com/JVhAr) and get those details delivered right to your inbox.

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Release Day Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway: Against Me (A Cedar Tree #3) by Freya Barker

It’s release day for Freya Barker’s Against Me and we are so excited to share this fantastic new romantic suspense with you. 

Title: Against Me
Series: A Cedar Tree #3
Author: Freya Barker
Release Date: April 1st, 2015

Synopsis:

Patience has always been Caleb Whitetail's strength. Quiet and unassuming is what you see with the GFI investigator, but the blood boils hot right under the surface. He kept his distance for years only to see the woman who has held his attention almost lose her life not just once, but twice. He is done standing in the shadows.

Katie Acker, once a tough and athletic security specialist now struggles daily to walk. The closest to family she has are her colleagues at GFI. Especially the man who saved her life and always has her back. So when she unwittingly becomes the focus of a Mexican cartel, it’s no big surprise she finds him right by her side.

With the combustive change in their deepening bond, Katie and Caleb do not see the oncoming danger - until it surrounds them.

Excerpt: 

The sound of voices gets louder as I make my way through the now dark guesthouse to the bedroom. Leaning against the doorway into the room, I can just catch the last few sentences exchanged between the women sitting on the big bed. It's obvious from the tearstained faces that some emotional stuff has gone down and I feel guilt eating at my insides. But then I hear Katie say that me walking out earlier meant I must have regretted what happened between us, I have to set her straight. She can't be further from the truth and it's time she knows it.

The moment her head swings around and her eyes meet mine, everything else disappears. I barely notice Emma leaving. In a few steps I reach the bed, lean in and pick Katie up.

"Whoa!" she calls out, scrambling to hold onto my neck. "Whatcha doing?"

"You in my bed means I can't think, and I'm having a hard enough time thinking around you. We need to set some things straight." I tell her, trying not to get lost in the feel of her soft body against mine, her subtle scent teasing me and her restless fingers playing against the short bristles in my neck. My dick, however, is a goner, and there is no way to hide it when I sit down on the couch with Katie in my lap.

"Stop squirming, you're making it worse,"

When she throws me an irritated look I'm glad to see the fire back in her eyes. There she is.

"Okay, enough of the manhandling, Caleb," Katie bats at my hands as I shift her around so she faces me. The old tank top and shorts she wears as PJs aren't doing much to cover her and I can't help the tortured groan that slips from me. Fucking hell, this is gonna be torture, with her nipples poking through the threadbare material. Right in my face.

"What the hell is this? I honestly don't know whether I'm coming or going with you."

"Shhhhh, don't get upset," I try to settle her before the tears I hear wobbling in her voice start flowing. "I just needed a minute."

Cupping her face between my hands, I tilt her head so I can look her in the eye. "This I have wanted and waited to do for so long, I need to make sure I don't miss a thing."

Her eyes are big and a little uncertain and her lips are perfectly parted when I brush my nose along hers, breathing in the soft pants of her breath. A light brush of my mouth over hers, barely skimming, and then I taste the length of her full bottom lip with my tongue before sucking its plumpness in my mouth. Fucking heaven. Her taste is heaven and I need more. Katie's fingers rubbing against my scalp is all the encouragement I need and I finally let go of my hunger for her and take her mouth. Jesus. Delicious wet heat meets me when my tongue plunges between her lips. Someone groans... and in the now furious tangle of lips and tongues I can't tell anymore. I want inside her. In one twist and without my mouth ever leaving hers, I have her below me on the couch, and I'm grinding my painfully throbbing cock between her legs. It isn't until she wrenches her lips from mine and murmurs, "Caleb..." that I realize I am fucking humping her like some deranged rutting animal. I shoot back upright and move to sit on the coffee table, my head in my hands.

"Fuck!"

Why? Why does she make me lose all control when control has always come so easy?

"Are you gonna walk out of here again?" The amused tone of Katie's voice tells me she may be a little more attuned to the struggle I'm waging than she was before. "Because, that would seriously mess with my self-esteem, you know; getting rejected based on my abilities for giving head and kissing?"

I throw my head back and laugh. "Oh sweetheart, you couldn't be further from the truth if you tried."    

Against Me Playlist   

  

Purchase Links: 

 Against Me:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU 

Hundred to One: 

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | B&N | Kobo 

Slim to None: 

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK |Amazon AUS   

About the Author: 

Freya Barker has always loved being creative. From an early age on she danced and sang, doodled, created, cooked, baked, quilted and crafted. Her latest creative outlets were influenced by an ever-present love for reading. First through blogging, then cover art and design, and finally writing.

Born and raised in the Netherlands, she packed her two toddlers, and eight suitcases filled with toys to move to Canada. No stranger to new beginnings, she thrives on them.

With the kids grown and out in the world, Freya is at the ‘prime’ of her life. The body might be a bit ramshackle, but the spirit is high and as adventurous as ever. Something you may see reflected here and there in some of her heroines.... none of who will likely be wilting flowers.

Freya craved reading about 'real' people, those who are perhaps less than perfect, but just as deserving of romance, hot monkey sex and some thrills and chills in their lives – So she decided to write about them.   

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Where Sea Meets Sky by Karina Halle

WHERE SEA MEETS SKY

KARINA HALLE

A new adult novel that perfectly captures the existential angst of your early twenties with raw wit, fresh insight, and true feeling from a critically adored USA TODAY bestselling author.

Title: Where Sea Meets Sky 

Author: Karina Halle 

Synopsis: Joshua Miles has spent his early twenties spinning his wheels. Working dead-end jobs and living at home has left him exhausted and uninspired, with little energy to pursue his passion for graphic art. Until he meets Gemma Henare, a vivacious out-of-towner from New Zealand. What begins as a one-night stand soon becomes a turning point for Josh. He can’t get Gemma out of his head, even after she has left for home, and finds himself throwing caution to the wind for the first time in his life. It’s not long before Josh is headed to New Zealand with only a backpack, some cash, and Gemma’s name to go on. But when he finally tracks her down, he finds his adventure is only just beginning. Equally infatuated, Gemma leads him on a whirlwind tour across the beautiful country, opening Josh up to life, lust, love, and all the messy heartache in between. Because, when love drags you somewhere, it might never let go—even when you know you have to say goodbye.

About the Author

Karina Halle is the New York Times bestselling author of Where Sea Meets Sky, The Pact,Love in English, and other wild and romantic reads. A former travel writer and music journalist, she lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her rescue pup, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails, and devours a lot of books.

Find Karina Online

Website: authorkarinahalle.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Karina-Halle/140649372629593

Twitter: @metalblonde

Instagram: @authorhalle

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iBookstore: http://bit.ly/1sJbvwq

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Don’t miss Karina’s next book, RACING THE SUN, on sale July 28^th!

EXCERPT:

We motor away from the mountains and toward the cloud-filtered sunshine and rolling brown hills of the east. Lake Tekapo seems to be a popular stop, and as we get closer I can see why. The lake is even bluer than Pukaki was and the town along the banks is a pleasing slice of civilization.

                But we don’t stop there like I thought we would. Gemma keeps driving until we come to a turn-off and then she’s gunning it toward the lake. On one side of us the road curves along pine trees and holiday homes; on the other there is a stream and a picturesque stone church surrounded by snap-happy tour bus groups.

                At a gravel lot at the very end, not far from the shore, she angrily slams Mr. Orange into park and jumps out of the bus. Instinctively I do the same, jumping out after her. 

                As I stand there watching, I know the memory is being ingrained into my head. The van is still running and “Comfortably Numb” is blaring from the speakers as Gemma strips down to her underwear and runs to the edge of the lake. She’s barefoot and she doesn’t even slip on the rocks as she goes. She’s running from something, she’s running to something. The water will be ice cold.

                It’s just what she wants. She wants to be numb.

                I’ve listened to this album enough damn times now to know that “Run Like Hell” will play soon. So I do. I run like hell toward her. I leave Amber in the back of Mr. Orange, puttering on Lake Tekapo’s shore, and I’m sprinting toward the water, unwilling to let her out of my sight.

She’s already splashing into the water, like a mermaid returning to a kingdom of blue milk. If the cold is shocking her, she doesn’t show it, it doesn’t slow her down. The lake splashes around her in Technicolor brilliance, her darkly tanned skin shimmering from the reflection.

                In seconds she is diving under and I hold my breath as my legs and blood pump me forward. I’m bizarrely, acutely, aware that she might not come up again. I think about what she told me, huddled in my rain jacket. I think I ache for things I may never get. I long for purpose, for life and yet sometimes I think I’m too afraid to live.

                My fear is in not living.

                We need to meet in the middle.

                So I go into the lake after her. I’m stripped down to my boxers and T-shirt, my dusty jeans and flip-flops discarded somewhere between me and the bus, in a patch of purple and pink foxgloves.

                It’s so cold I think I’m going to die. My lips open to yell, “Fuck me!” but my mouth is more intent on chattering my teeth together. Each step stabs stones into the soles of my feet and jagged knives of ice water into my legs until the feeling—all feeling—subsides.

                I’m breathless, surrounded by ice blue, a color I’ve created myself when I’ve touched too much eggshell into too little cerulean. The shores are granite, a soft warm grey, peppered by the unimaginable greens and pinks of foxglove and whatever plants happen to spring up in this country. I’m swimming in a painting, numb, and I’m going for her, the bronze mermaid who wants to swim forever.

                But she’s not mythical. She’s very real. It seems to take forever and eventually she breaks the surface, shrieking out in surprise and agony from the cold. It doesn’t numb her after all.             Perhaps in this case, the number you are, the closer you are to death.

                Though she swam for a while under, it doesn’t take me long to catch up with her. I used to be an avid swimmer for years.

                “What the hell?” I say to her between chattering teeth, spitting out lake water.

                She stares at me, wide-eyed, her head above the surface as she treads water. Her wet, dark hair is slicked back from her forehead, an inky wave between her shoulders, her cheekbones highlighted by sun and water.

                “I told you I wanted to come here,” she says, as if suddenly abandoning your van and stripping to your underwear in public is the norm.

                I can’t help but smile at how blasé she tries to be about it. “A little warning would be nice.”

                “Don’t worry about me, Josh,” she says.

                I pause because something in my heart has swelled. “But I do.”

                Oh god, how I fucking ever.

                She holds my gaze and my fingers itch to reach through the water and touch her. A few days ago I wouldn’t have, not in public like this. But I want to see just how numb she is.

                My hand glides forward, sluicing through the water in slow motion until it rests on her light and silky waist.

                She stares at me, her eyes glowing white against her brown irises, and her brows thread together in contemplation, as if she’s trying to unravel me, uncover some truth. I know something is bothering her and I know it’s about me more than anything else. It should be a good thing that it bothers her because it means she cares.

                I want to tell her that she’s all I’ve ever wanted. I want to show her.

                She relaxes into my touch for one sweet moment of victory before she slowly ducks her head under the water. I’m not sure what she’s doing so I take in a breath and submerge my head.

The cold shocks my face and when I open my eyes under water they seem to immediately freeze. Gemma is a hazy vision of pale blue, her hair swirling around her. She is so beautiful it makes my chest ache more than the cold does.

Her eyes hold mine and I see that yearning in them again. She reaches forward, grabbing my face and pulls my head toward her. She kisses me, full on the lips. It is so warm against the cold and I’m afraid I’m about to drown from happiness. I want this and I want more than this.

I don’t know how long the kiss lasts – we seem to float through time and space – but our bodies foolishly decide oxygen is equally as important. She breaks away and I am left sucking in ice water before I break through the surface.

I gasp in the dry air, fingers touching my lips as if I can’t believe it, but she’s back to the way she was before. Impassive. Immovable. Numb.