Blog Tour, Review & Excerpt: Wicked Torture (Stark World #3) by J. Kenner

Title: Wicked Torture
Series: Stark World #3

Author: J. Kenner
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: November 14th, 2017

Synopsis:

Outwardly, Noah Carter is riding high as the tech world’s hottest new genius. Inside, he’s still reeling from the abduction of his wife and baby daughter eight years ago, and then the devastating discovery of his child’s body. For years, he kept up hope that his wife was alive, but now that she’s been declared legally dead, he’s thrown himself even more deeply into his work, cutting himself off from emotional ties because they just hurt too damn much.

Then he meets Kiki Porter, an eternal optimist with a killer work ethic and dreams of fronting a band. And everything changes. Even though he tries his damnedest to fight it…

Sexually, they are combustible together. But their true fire is emotional, though it is a slow to burn. But once it lights, it is all consuming. The relationship grows emotionally, the sex is hot, things are good.

But just when it’s looking like they might have a real future together, the past comes back to haunt them. And Noah’s going to have to decide what he’s willing to give up for love …

All Wicked Novels Stand Alone

Purchase Links:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | iBooks UK | Kobo UK | Kobo | B&N

 

Excerpt:

Time to heal.

Somehow, though, he never found the enthusiasm. Or maybe that was just an excuse. Another way of punishing himself for walking away from the woman he loved in favor of the woman he’d owed.

And since he’d never have either of them again, he needed to kick his own ass, pick up the pieces of his life, and start building something real. After all, there wasn’t a tech gadget he couldn’t design, build, or repair. So why was he so clueless when it came to his own damn life?

It was time, and it would be easy. Painless even, because God knew Evie embodied everything he admired in a woman. Strength. Intelligence. Ambition. Humor. Beauty. She was as desirable as Lyle had promised and obviously enthusiastic.

In other words, he was all out of excuses.

He stood up, intending to tell her to lead the way. But the words that came out of his mouth shocked them both. “I’m sorry, Evie,” he said. “You’ve been wonderful, but I have an early meeting, and I should probably get home.”

“Oh.” He’d surprised her as she was rising, and now she teetered awkwardly on her heels, as if his unexpected words would physically topple her.

He reached out a hand to steady her, and for the briefest moment, he considered pulling her close and fighting his way past his hesitation. She was everything he should want in a woman—with the unfortunately insurmountable problem that she wasn’t what he wanted at all. Or, rather, she wasn’t who he wanted.

Goddamn him.

Goddamn his stupid, unrealistic fantasies.

And while he was at it, goddamn Kiki, too.

He was being an idiot and unfair, and he knew it. An idiot, because he’d made his choice to walk away from Kiki long ago, and he knew damn well that he’d shattered her in the process. Even if he could have seen his way clear to look her up after all these years, he’d forfeited his right to come crawling back.

Unfair, because not ten minutes ago he’d been ready to take the plunge with Evie, and yet here he was, dodging and shifting like a damn coward, trying to swim up out of the deep black ocean of loss and pain. A familiar pain that wrapped him like a blanket, so cloying it was almost comfortable. And he knew damn well that there was only one way to fight it—he needed to take the girl to her room and try to fuck the darkness out of him.

The way he’d done with countless other women.

The way that never worked like it should. That only dulled the sharp edges of his pain, but added no light to the darkness.

That wasn’t what he wanted. Not anymore. One of the reasons he’d moved to Austin was to heal, after all. To heal, and to break bad habits.

Still, it was tempting, and it took more strength than he expected to shake his head again and say very gently, “I really am sorry. I’m not … ready.” She’d been polite enough not to mention the tragedy in his past, but he was certain that Lyle must have at least told her that he’d lost his wife and daughter. Hopefully, that softened the blow of rejection.

She’d regained her footing, and now she stepped back, her forehead creased as her eyes flicked over him, expertly assessing him as she would a witness. “It’s been almost nine years, I’m told.” The sharp edge of her voice sliced his heart. So much for softening the blow. “If you don’t get ready soon, I can’t help but think you’re going to end up sad and alone.”

With a thin, sympathetic smile, she turned and walked away, leaving him to watch her go and wonder at her perceptiveness. Because she was right.

He was going to end up sad and alone.

Hell, he already was.

About the Author:

J. Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and #1 International bestselling author of over seventy novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

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 praised by RT Bookclub for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swoon for them.” A five 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 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy). Her books have sold over three million copies and are published in over twenty languages.

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.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Amazon Author Page

My Review:

J. Kenner is one of my go to author when I need something exceptional, something that will make me live through the characters' story and experience every single feeling as if it was mine. And Wicked Torture is not an exception. The story is full of pain and heartbreak, of hope and just the right amount of romance and tenderness. And the scorching hot scenes are just the cherry on top.

Noah and Kiki are two incredible characters. Noah's past is painful and heartbreaking. And for a very long time he's lived like a ghost, letting the world pass him by. The nightmare he lived through when he lost his wife and his baby daughter is the stuff of nightmares. And he's carried the pain and blame for it for a very long time. Until the only woman he's ever loved comes back into his life and breaths new life into him. Kiki helps him smile again and shows him how to enjoy life again. But of course trouble is not far away and there is a ghost from the past that threatens Noah and Kiki's HEA.

For me Kiki is an incredibly strong character. She lived through some really though things that happened in her life and Noah leaving her, nearly broke her. But she found her way out of the black hole she was in and found a way to mostly overcome the crippling pain. And though she fights her feelings towards Noah, in her heart she knows that there is just so much she can do before she surrenders to the only man who can make her heart beat faster. The only man who can make her happy. But when his past threatens her HEA once again, she needs to learn how to fight for her one true love.

In my opinion, this is another great book in the Stark World series. And definitely a must read. The story is a standalone so you can pick it up even if you haven't read the previous two books. Just keep in mind, you won't want to miss those two either :D So don't waste any time and #1click this incredible heartbreaking story filled with heartbreak, second chances and hope. I can guarantee you won't regret it ;)

Release Blitz & Excerpt: Wicked Torture (Stark World #3) by J. Kenner

Title: Wicked Torture
Series: Stark World #3

Author: J. Kenner
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: November 14th, 2017

Synopsis:

Outwardly, Noah Carter is riding high as the tech world’s hottest new genius. Inside, he’s still reeling from the abduction of his wife and baby daughter eight years ago, and then the devastating discovery of his child’s body. For years, he kept up hope that his wife was alive, but now that she’s been declared legally dead, he’s thrown himself even more deeply into his work, cutting himself off from emotional ties because they just hurt too damn much.

Then he meets Kiki Porter, an eternal optimist with a killer work ethic and dreams of fronting a band. And everything changes. Even though he tries his damnedest to fight it…

Sexually, they are combustible together. But their true fire is emotional, though it is a slow to burn. But once it lights, it is all consuming. The relationship grows emotionally, the sex is hot, things are good.

But just when it’s looking like they might have a real future together, the past comes back to haunt them. And Noah’s going to have to decide what he’s willing to give up for love …

All Wicked Novels Stand Alone

Purchase Links:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | iBooks UK | Kobo UK | Kobo | B&N

 

Excerpt:

Time to heal.

Somehow, though, he never found the enthusiasm. Or maybe that was just an excuse. Another way of punishing himself for walking away from the woman he loved in favor of the woman he’d owed.

And since he’d never have either of them again, he needed to kick his own ass, pick up the pieces of his life, and start building something real. After all, there wasn’t a tech gadget he couldn’t design, build, or repair. So why was he so clueless when it came to his own damn life?

It was time, and it would be easy. Painless even, because God knew Evie embodied everything he admired in a woman. Strength. Intelligence. Ambition. Humor. Beauty. She was as desirable as Lyle had promised and obviously enthusiastic.

In other words, he was all out of excuses.

He stood up, intending to tell her to lead the way. But the words that came out of his mouth shocked them both. “I’m sorry, Evie,” he said. “You’ve been wonderful, but I have an early meeting, and I should probably get home.”

“Oh.” He’d surprised her as she was rising, and now she teetered awkwardly on her heels, as if his unexpected words would physically topple her.

He reached out a hand to steady her, and for the briefest moment, he considered pulling her close and fighting his way past his hesitation. She was everything he should want in a woman—with the unfortunately insurmountable problem that she wasn’t what he wanted at all. Or, rather, she wasn’t who he wanted.

Goddamn him.

Goddamn his stupid, unrealistic fantasies.

And while he was at it, goddamn Kiki, too.

He was being an idiot and unfair, and he knew it. An idiot, because he’d made his choice to walk away from Kiki long ago, and he knew damn well that he’d shattered her in the process. Even if he could have seen his way clear to look her up after all these years, he’d forfeited his right to come crawling back.

Unfair, because not ten minutes ago he’d been ready to take the plunge with Evie, and yet here he was, dodging and shifting like a damn coward, trying to swim up out of the deep black ocean of loss and pain. A familiar pain that wrapped him like a blanket, so cloying it was almost comfortable. And he knew damn well that there was only one way to fight it—he needed to take the girl to her room and try to fuck the darkness out of him.

The way he’d done with countless other women.

The way that never worked like it should. That only dulled the sharp edges of his pain, but added no light to the darkness.

That wasn’t what he wanted. Not anymore. One of the reasons he’d moved to Austin was to heal, after all. To heal, and to break bad habits.

Still, it was tempting, and it took more strength than he expected to shake his head again and say very gently, “I really am sorry. I’m not … ready.” She’d been polite enough not to mention the tragedy in his past, but he was certain that Lyle must have at least told her that he’d lost his wife and daughter. Hopefully, that softened the blow of rejection.

She’d regained her footing, and now she stepped back, her forehead creased as her eyes flicked over him, expertly assessing him as she would a witness. “It’s been almost nine years, I’m told.” The sharp edge of her voice sliced his heart. So much for softening the blow. “If you don’t get ready soon, I can’t help but think you’re going to end up sad and alone.”

With a thin, sympathetic smile, she turned and walked away, leaving him to watch her go and wonder at her perceptiveness. Because she was right.

He was going to end up sad and alone.

Hell, he already was.

About the Author:

J. Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and #1 International bestselling author of over seventy novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

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 praised by RT Bookclub for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swoon for them.” A five 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 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy). Her books have sold over three million copies and are published in over twenty languages.

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.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Amazon Author Page  

Release Blitz, Excerpt & Review: Wicked Dirty (Stark World #2) by J. Kenner

   

Title: Wicked Dirty
Series: Stark World #2

Author: J. Kenner
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: September 19th, 2017

Synopsis:

 

Sometimes bad isn’t good enough…

On the outside, Lyle Tarpin is a clean-cut Hollywood actor whose star is on the rise. Inside, he’s battling his own demons, shunning relationships and finding solace in the arms of a string of anonymous women paid very well for their discretion.

But when he’s photographed in a compromising position by an over-eager reporter, the only way to save his career is to say that the woman he was with is his fiancée. And now Lyle has to play a very public game with the only woman who’s ever managed to get under his skin.

Struggling waitress Sugar Laine agrees to spend one night with Lyle—but only because she’s desperate to save her family home. She never expects that a night of passion will turn into a pretend engagement … or that the heat between them will blossom into love.

But sometimes love has a price.

And now the only question is—can Lyle and Sugar afford to pay it?

Purchase Links:
Amazon | Amazon UK | iBooks | iBooks UK | Kobo UK | Kobo | B&N | Google Play

Excerpt:

My blood pounds through my body, my heart beating so hard that I can feel the pressure not only against my ribs, but against the wall behind me. My lips are parted, my breath coming in shaky gasps.

He’s only inches away, so close I could reach out and touch that famous, gorgeous face. His eyes, as deep and blue as the summer sky, roam over me. He eases closer, moving slowly, his face reflecting a hunger that sends shivers through me.

Once again, my mind conjures the image of a hungry wolf. Only now I’m thinking that maybe getting eaten wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Besides, I’m here. Might as well enjoy it.

Then, of course, I remember exactly what it is.

Oh, God.

His fingertip brushes my forehead, and I almost jump out of my skin. I meet his eyes, see something that looks like irritation, and want to kick myself. I need to focus, dammit.

“You were somewhere else.” He speaks flatly, as if he’s working to keep all emotion out.

I shake my head, conjuring a lie. “I’m right here.” And then, because I’ve seen movies with call girls, I put my hand flat on his chest, trying to seem seductive. He’s wearing a gray T-shirt, and I can feel his heart beating beneath the planes of his muscled chest.

I read somewhere that he was getting in shape to play a superhero in an upcoming movie. And kudos to whoever’s orchestrating that transformation, because this guy is rock solid.

He’s still looking at me, and I fist my hand in the material of his shirt, needing an anchor against the storm of emotion I see playing out on his face. Desire. Hunger. Longing. Regret.

And pain. I see so much damn pain that I have to fight the urge to cup my palm against his cheek and tell him that whatever it is, it’s going to be okay.

Instead, I simply whisper, “Lyle?”

I’m not sure if it was the wrong thing or the right thing to say, but I know that it was unexpected. And before I can apologize or cover or say anything else at all, he is on me. One hand at my throat, the other hard on my breast. I’m pinned against the wall, helpless, as he claims my mouth again. Wildly. Brutally.

I try to think what I’m supposed to do—try to respond. But I’m trapped. I’m not Sugar. I’m not Laine. I’m not anyone. This isn’t about sex. It’s about pain and need and that storm of horrors I saw on his face. I might as well not even be here. And as his hand squeezes tight on my breast—as his mouth clashes so hard against mine that he draws blood—my only thought is that I shouldn’t have come at all. That this was stupid. Foolish. And that this night is going to leave me scarred.

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to be what he wants. A warm body. An anonymous female.

But I can’t do it. I can’t do it at all.

All I can be is me. A woman desperate enough to have sex for money. A girl trying anything and everything to save her house. To protect her family’s memory.

I can be that girl.

But I can’t be nothing. I can’t be no one.

And as his hand tightens in my hair—as he kisses me violently—as his body presses hard against mine and I feel the steel of his erection—I know that I’ve made a terrible, horrible, awful mistake.

Stop!

About the Author:

     

J.Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and #1 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, and paranormal mommy lit.

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 them.” A five 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 Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series (as Julie Kenner) is currently in development with AwesomenessTV/Awestruck.

Her books have sold over three million copies and are published in over twenty languages.

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.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Amazon Author Page

My Review:

I love J. Kenner and her books. She has the incredible ability to build characters and stories that grab your heart from the very start and don't release it until the very last word. And even then, they continue living in your heart. And Wicked Dirty is not an exception. The story is filled with heartbreak and a little bit of romance, pain and betrayal, scorching chemistry and friendship. It is the story of two people who lived through a tragedy and how they help each other to learn how to fully live again. I won't be surprised if you shed a few tears here and there, but one thing I am sure of, you are going to love Lyle and Laine.

Both main characters are intriguing. Both of them had to live through losing the people closest to them, but the way they dealt with the loss is quite different. Where Laine, put all her time and strength into working and saving the small parts of her life left from happier times, Lyle lives in a lie. No one sees behind the shadows in his eyes, behind the mask he presents to the world. Or at least that is until he faith throws Laine in his path. She recognizes the pain in his eyes and craves the chance to help him heal. Thrown into a fake engagement situation together, Lyle and Laine find that the chemistry between them is much stronger than expected, and that the feelings growing in their hearts cannot be denied. Of course, things are never that easy and there are more than e few hurdles they have to overcome. 

I am not going into any more details, as this is a book you should definitely read. It beautiful and heartbreaking, scorching hot and romantic and even a little bit fun. It is a story of learning how to live again, of finding love and redemption. A definite must read in my book. And if you love Nikki and Damien, they do have a few appearances so you can get your fix ;) As for me, I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I am sure it is going to be amazing.

Excerpt Reveal: Wicked Dirty (Stark World #2) by J. Kenner

   

Title: Wicked Dirty
Series: Stark World #2

Author: J. Kenner
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: September 19th, 2017

Synopsis:

 

Sometimes bad isn’t good enough…

On the outside, Lyle Tarpin is a clean-cut Hollywood actor whose star is on the rise. Inside, he’s battling his own demons, shunning relationships and finding solace in the arms of a string of anonymous women paid very well for their discretion.

But when he’s photographed in a compromising position by an over-eager reporter, the only way to save his career is to say that the woman he was with is his fiancée. And now Lyle has to play a very public game with the only woman who’s ever managed to get under his skin.

Struggling waitress Sugar Laine agrees to spend one night with Lyle—but only because she’s desperate to save her family home. She never expects that a night of passion will turn into a pretend engagement … or that the heat between them will blossom into love.

But sometimes love has a price.

And now the only question is—can Lyle and Sugar afford to pay it?

Pre-order Links:
Amazon | Amazon UK | iBooks | iBooks UK | Kobo UK | Kobo | B&N | Google Play

     

Excerpt:

“As for the first, he probably did it to piss me off. He knows I don’t date and don’t like to be in the spotlight where relationships are concerned. And he’s a little jealous that I’m doing movies now, and his last show was a web series.

“And as for why I didn’t correct him,” Lyle continues, “I honestly didn’t think about it. Then again,” he adds softly, “maybe it was there in the back of my mind.”

“What was?”

“That if you were my pretend fiancée, I’d get to see you again.”

“Oh.” I draw a breath, hoping he can’t tell how much I like hearing those words.

“Will you do it?” he asks. “Backing off now would draw the kind of attention I don’t want. And besides, being engaged is a sure fire way to keep Frannie at bay for the filming.”

“The filming? You aren’t even set to begin for weeks, right?”

“Our engagement doesn’t have to be that long. Two weeks, very public. Then we can break up. With any luck, Frannie will have found another man. And even if she hasn’t, I can claim a broken heart and the hope of reconciliation. She’ll leave me alone,” he says with certainty.

“And that’s it? That’s all I have to do? Pretend to be engaged?”

He nods. “You in? I’m willing to pay.”

“Damn right, you are,” I say. “This is going to be an arms-length transaction or not at all.”

He laughs. “Well, then name your price.”

I think about it, then nod. What the hell, right? I might as well go for broke. “Sixteen thousand, nine-hundred seventy-four dollars.”

“Well,” he says with a small frown. “That’s a very exact number.”

“The amount I need to pay off the loan, minus the ten I already applied, and the five you paid me for our date. I’m not applying the value of the thousand-dollar bill, because I think it’s cool, and I don’t want to sell it. And I’m not applying the two grand I’ve saved because that would clean me out. Or the money I could get as a cash advance off my credit cards. Because then I’d just have more debt.” I shrug. “So that’s the number. Take it or leave it.”

“Done.”

“Really?” I grin. I was expecting more of a battle.

“Really,” he acknowledges. “You’re my adoring fiancée, in public and in private.”

I take a step toward him. “Fair enough,” I say. “As long as we’re clear on one thing. I’ll be your girl, and I’ll put on a show for whoever’s watching. As for the private part? You can sleep here, or I’ll sleep at your place. And we can take day trips together and put on quite the show for the media. And if you really want me to, I’ll even do your laundry.”

I’m right in front of him now, and I press my finger to his lips, then trace it down, down, down, all the way to the fly of his jeans. “But that’s as far as private goes. This,” I add, cupping his crotch, “isn’t part of our deal at all.”

I back away as I feel his cock stiffen under my hand, then smile sweetly. “Those are the terms,” I say. “Take them or leave them.”

About the Author:

     

J.Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and #1 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, and paranormal mommy lit.

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 them.” A five 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 Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series (as Julie Kenner) is currently in development with AwesomenessTV/Awestruck.

Her books have sold over three million copies and are published in over twenty languages.

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.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Amazon Author Page

Review Blitz: Wicked Grind (Stark World #1) by J. Kenner

 

Title: Wicked Grind 
Series: Stark World #1

Author: J. Kenner

Release Date: July 11th, 2017

Synopsis:

Sometimes it feels so damn good to be bad

Photographer Wyatt Royce’s career is on the verge of exploding. All he needs is one perfect model to be the centerpiece of his sexy, controversial show. Find her, and Wyatt is sure to have a winner.

Then Kelsey Draper walks in. Stunning. Vibrant. And far too fragile for a project like this. Wyatt should know—after all, he remembers only too well why their relationship ended all those years ago.

Determined to break free from her good girl persona, Kelsey wants spice. Adventure. And she’s certain that Wyatt is just the man to help.

But when Wyatt agrees to give her the job only if he has complete control—on camera and in his bed—Kelsey can’t help but wonder if she’s in too deep. Because how can a good girl like her ever be enough for a man like Wyatt?

All Wicked novels stand alone     

 Purchase Links:

Amazon US | Amazon Print | Audible | Amazon UK | Amazon AU

iBooks | iBooks UK | Kobo | Kobo UK | B&N | Google Play | Google Play UK

Excerpt:

     

She was driving him crazy.

The way she held his eyes while she moved, so bold and flirtatious, as if she was just daring him to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless.

Daring him? No, strike that. She wasn’t just daring him, she was throwing down a goddamned gauntlet. But was she challenging him to claim her? Or was she goading him that he couldn’t have her?

Damned if he knew. Right then, Wyatt was certain of only one thing—his body was tight, his cock was hard, and he wanted to be somewhere other than here. Someplace without other people.

Someplace with a bed.

It was the dancing that did it. Because Kelsey Draper and her dancing had always been his downfall. After all, that was what had started everything all those years ago. He’d seen her dancing to a bouncy pop song, her interpretation elevating the music and lyrics. He’d seen passion and precision, sensuality and seduction. She’d enchanted him. Cast a spell over him.

He’d seen the magic in her, so much larger than the quiet, subdued girl he’d met before. The Kelsey he’d watched dancing had surprised him. She was vibrant. Alive. Unexpected.

He’d fallen hard, and then she’d broken his heart.

He wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

He might want her—hell, he did want her. For his bed. For his show.

But he damn sure wasn’t going to trust her. He’d already learned that lesson, and he really didn’t need a refresher course.

As he watched, she dropped to the floor, then used one hand to rip open her shirt before letting it fall down her arms. She writhed on stage, her seductive movements making him ache inside, all the more when he imagined taking it further. Her wrists bound not with a tattered blouse, but with silk ropes. And not just her wrists, but her legs as well. Red ropes, the only color in an otherwise black and white image. Her body twisting, and the audience unsure if she was fighting the bonds or revelling in her own rising passion.

She was exactly what he needed for the show. The complete package. Hell, he’d known that from the moment she’d walked into his studio.

So why was he hesitating?

Because he wanted her?

Or was it because he wanted to punish her?

Or maybe it was even more insidious than that. Maybe it came down to how much was riding on this show. It was his shot, after all. The apex of all his work and sacrifice. The chance to escape from under the black cloud his father had left hanging over him.

The chance to prove himself to his family.

To live up to the goddamn Segel name.

But that would only happen if the show was a success.

So maybe that was why he was hesitating. Because the moment he committed was the moment the truth crept toward him on little cat paws, and it would either curl up and purr, or rip his heart out.

On stage, Kelsey rose, then did some sort of pirouette, twirling as she pulled off one of those transparent, colored scarves that served as a barely-there skirt. Wyatt imagined his hands on her waist, the brush of her skin against his palms as she spun. He could imagine her heat. The way she shivered under his touch.

So help him, he wanted that. Wanted to hear her sighs. Those little moans he remembered.

Another scarf went flying, and he straightened so that he was no longer leaning against the pillar. Instead, he shifted his weight from foot to foot as he tried to tamp down the rising lust. The violent need. To not only have her, but to have her in his show.

He wanted her, yes. But she was an indulgence he couldn’t justify. An indulgence and a risk, because he knew damn well that she’d run if things got too intense.

And damn but his show was intense. That was the point, after all.

He couldn’t take a chance on her, no matter how much he might want to. Couldn’t even bring her in only long enough to test her out. Not on such a tight schedule. Not when there was no way to ensure that she wouldn’t bolt.

Kelsey was a risk he simply couldn’t take. He had to get it right. There was too much at stake for him to be wrong about her.

The final scarf fluttered to the ground, and Wyatt’s pulse pounded in his throat as he moved closer, his mouth going dry as she reached for her bra, pulled it over her head, then tossed it aside.

The music faded out, and the dim, colored stage lights made the flesh-colored G-string blend into her pale skin, enhancing the illusion that she now stood before the entire room not just topless, but one hundred percent, birthday-suit naked.

She took a bow as the lights came up, and the men in the audience actually stood to applaud her. She’d blown away the competition, and even though Wyatt wanted to rush the stage and wrap his jacket around her, he couldn’t deny the swell of pride he felt for her victory.

  

About the Author:

       

J.Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and #1 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, and paranormal mommy lit.

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 them.” A five 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 Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series (as Julie Kenner) is currently in development with AwesomenessTV/ Awestruck.

Her books have sold over three million copies and are published in over twenty languages.

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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My Review:

WOW!!! Simply WOW! 

I am rarely left without words but this book really shook me to the core. As this is a J. Kenner book, so of course I was expecting an incredible story. But Wicked Grind is so much more than that. It is a story about second chances, about survival and fighting for the things you dream about. It is about love and it's ability to give you enough strength to break the chains that keep you locked in into a mental cage of someone else's doing. It is about finding that person that makes you feel free and complete. For me, this was mostly a very emotional book. Don't get me wrong, there are quite a few hot scenes, and there is romance and heartbreak. But it is simply so much more than that.

Through her whole life, Kelsey had to live with the mental abuse from a person who should have protected her. Instead, he made her pay for someone else's mistakes. With each hateful and degrading word, the cage around her was getting stronger and stronger. Until she believed that if she enjoyed life, she will ruin the people around her. Until she met Wyatt during a summer vacation. He showed her what it means to be free and to enjoy the small things in life. But then a tragedy struck and Kelsey lost herself again.

Once Kelsey and Wyatt meet again 12 years later, they both carry the hurt and pain from the past. Each one of them has lived through their own tragedies and that made them close the world off. But with every second spend together, they find out that their past cannot be buried and their connection is too strong to be ignored. Of course, Kelsey and Wyatt's path is not easy but they find the way to each other's hearts again.

To be honest, I am usually more of a fan of the male characters in books. And don't get me wrong, Wyatt is delicious and definitely worth it of some drooling. But Kelsey was simply extraordinary. She is strong and sensual, even if she doesn't realise it in the beginning. Living through the nightmare she lived through as a kid with all the blame she puts on herself and the verbal abuse in her everyday life, she still tries to break the figurative cage she was put into. I can honestly say that I admire her. Because her will for survival and saving her tender heart from disintegrating is simply something extraordinary.

I think this is one of my favorite J. Kenner books and I definitely recommend it. In my opinion, this is a book that everyone should read. But do keep in mind that this is not a lighthearted read. It will definitely ground and make you think about the important things in life. Make you appreciate them even more. So don't waste your time and pick up your copy now.