BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY - UNCONDITIONAL LOVE by KELLY ELLIOTT - CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

SYNOPSIS:

Lark Williams leads a fast-paced life, always on the edge of danger. Running from his past and fighting to keep his present life a secret, he keeps his heart out of reach from love. The walls he built around himself come crumbling down when he meets Azurdee Emerson.

Azurdee lives a peaceful life in the small town of Wimberley, Texas. Her tame world quickly becomes heated as she begins to fall in love with Lark. He’s everything she has vowed to stay away from—dark and mysterious, and not to mention, sexy as hell and full of secrets.

Just as Lark and Azurdee give in to their feelings of love, Lark’s present life threatens the safety of the one person he would sacrifice his own happiness for. When Lark finds history repeating itself, he makes a decision that will forever change both of their lives, leaving one heartbroken and lost and the other fighting to survive.

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EXCERPT:

Hello? Jessie?”

“What did you just ask me?” she said.

I chuckled. “After your first time. Were you sore?”

Then she screamed. Right in my ear. “Azurdee! You and Lark? Oh. My. God. Was it good? I mean, I know it hurts at first, but after that? How many times did y’all? Was he sweet to you? That bastard better have been sweet to you! Was it hot? Oh my God, tell me everything!”

I laughed as I made my way downstairs. I saw about a half dozen people out back cleaning up the rest of the reception. Tables and chairs were being taken down and placed into a trailer.

“Azurdee!”

“Oh, sorry. I was watching them take down the rest of the things from the reception.”

She let out a long sigh and said, “Azurdee, spill it.”

I moved into the living room and sat down on the sofa. “Oh Jessie, it was amazing. He was amazing. He kept calling me mi amor! It melted my heart every time he said it. He was sweet, passionate, and so gentle. It was beyond anything I had ever dreamed.”

She let out the silliest little yelp. “I knew Lark Williams had it in him.

He just needed to find the right girl.”

My stomach dipped a little and my smile faded a bit. “Well, I’m not sure if I’m the right girl or even the girl.”

“Wait. Was this a one-time thing? Please tell me you didn’t agree to him taking your virginity and walking away!”

“No. We both agreed that we would be exclusive, but I have a feeling this is the first time he has been exclusive since…well since…” Why couldn’t I say her name?

“Nikki?” Jessie asked.

“Yes. Jessie, why do I feel like I’m in competition with someone who passed away years ago? I can’t shake this feeling that he was comparing me to her.”

She let out a breath and said, “Pesh. Nonsense, Azurdee. He would never do that. I’m sure it was probably just very powerful for him. I mean, by his own admission he has said he has no intentions of ever…”

Her voice trailed off and I knew she was regretting what she had just said. “Jessie, I knew how Lark was and how he thought when I got into this. I know he could walk away at any given moment.”

I silently prayed that would never happen, but deep down inside I knew it was a strong possibility.

“He won’t walk away, sweetie. I see the way he looks at you. I think you are the game changer he’s been waiting for.”

I bit down on my fingernail and began chewing it. “Maybe. I don’t want to get my hopes up, ya know?”

 “So tell me…are you sore?” she asked with a giggle.

I felt like a teenager in high school. “Let’s just say he told me he was going to make it so I would think about him every time I moved…for a few days.”

Jessie let out a gasp and began laughing. “Oh my.”

I dropped my head back onto the sofa and said, “Jessie…he is amazing. I mean…the way he can be so sweet and then so dirty. Oh God. He had me going insane with lust for him.”

“The sweet part surprises me, but not the dirty,” she said with a laugh. I laughed in return and said, “Four times.”

“Four times! Look at the stamina Mr. Williams has!”

We both lost it in a laughing fit. “Jesus, Azurdee. No wonder you’re sore.”

“Bed twice, bathtub once, and then the shower,” I said in an almost whisper.

AUTHOR BIO:

Kelly is married to a wonderful Texas cowboy who has a knack for making her laugh almost daily and supports her crazy ideas and dreams for some unknown reason...he claims it's because he loves her!

She’s also a mom to an amazing daughter who is constantly asking for something to eat while her fingers move like mad on her cell phone sending out what is sure to be another very important text message.

In her spare time she loves to sit in her small corner overlooking the Texas hill country and write.

One of her favorite things to do is go for hikes around her property with Gus....her chocolate lab and the other man in her life, and Rose, her golden retriever. When Kelly is not outside helping the hubby haul brush, move rocks or whatever fun chore he has in store for her that day, you’ll find her inside reading, writing or watching HGTV.

Stay connected with Kelly Elliott:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/KellyElliottAuthor

Twitter: @author_kelly

Website: http://www.kellyelliottauthor.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6581091.Kelly_Elliott

Email: authorkellyelliott@gmail.com

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BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY - SEX PISTON by JAMIE BEGLEY - CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE BIKER

Sex Piston (Biker Bitches, #1)

Released – November 23, 2014

Book Blurb:

Sex Piston wasn’t about to apologize to anyone for her bitch attitude and certainly not the President of The Blue Horsemen, Stud. If he thinks he’s going to be able to control her and her crew then he has another thing coming. A lapse in judgment has him thinking that he’s won this battle of the sexes but a one-night stand isn’t about to bring this woman to heel.

Stud has to prove himself as the new President of the Destructors, and Sex Piston and her crew’s attitude isn’t helping. If he has to sacrifice his body to tame the bitch then that’s exactly what he’s going to do even if it means losing his heart in the battle.

EXCERPT:

Sex Piston smoothed her leather skirt down over her hips then smoothed down her tumbled hair before adjusting her breasts in the halter-top. When she was finished, she went to the door. Her hand was on the doorknob when Stud stopped her again.

“Sex Piston?”

“What?!” She turned back around.

“Come here.”

She started to ignore him, but for some inexplicable reason she found herself going back to him. He pulled her toward him when she was within reach, giving her a sweet kiss that tugged at her heartstrings. He then released her with a pat on the ass.

“Now you can go.”

She turned on her heel, leaving him in the bedroom, not even slamming the door behind her at his arrogant attitude. The kiss had been that good. He deserved a reward.

To soothe her bitchy side, she told herself that next time, she’d make him eat his nuts if he got mushy with her again.

Author Bio 

I was born in a small town in Kentucky. My family began poor, but worked their way to owning a restaurant. My mother was one of the best cooks I have ever known, and she instilled in all her children the value of hard work and education.

Taking after my mother, I’ve always loved to cook, and became pretty good if I do say so myself. I love to experiment and my unfortunate family has suffered through many. They now have learned to steer clear of those dishes. I absolutely love the holidays and my family puts up with my zany decorations.

For now, my days are spent at work and I write during the nights and weekends. I have two children who both graduate next year from college. My daughter does my book covers, and my son just tries not to blush when someone asks him about my books.

Currently, I am writing three series of books- The Last Riders that is fairly popular, The Dark Souls series, which is not, and The VIP Room, which we will soon see. My favorite book I have written is Soul Of A Woman, which I am hoping to release during the summer of 2014. It took me two years to write, during which I lost my mother and brother. It’s a book that I truly feel captures the true depths of love a woman can hold for a man. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I am an emotional writer who wants the readers to feel the emotion of the characters they are reading. Because of this, Teased is probably the hardest thing I have written.

All my books are written for one purpose - the enjoyment others find in them and the expectations of my fans that inspire me to give it my best. In the near future I hope to take a weekend break and visit Vegas (hopefully be next summer). Right now, I am typing away on the next story and enjoying the holidays. Did I mention I love the holidays?

Goodreads page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7127521.Jamie_Begley

Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJamieBegley

Website:

http://jamiebegley.net/

Email:

JamieBegley@ymail.com

Twitter:

@Jamie_Begley

Goodreads page: 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18743467-sex-piston

Website Page:

http://jamiebegley.net/biker-bitches-%E2%9D%A4/

Available to purchase at: 

Amazon

Amazon UK

B&N

Kobo 

GIVEAWAY TIME

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

RELEASE DAY BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY - 4 X $10 AMAZON GIFT CARDS - VENDETTA by SIENNA LANE & AUTUMN KARR - CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE SUSPENSE

Title: Vendetta

Authors: Sienna Lane and Autumn Karr

Genre: Contemporary Romance / Suspense

Release Date: December 17, 2013

Hosted By: Love Between the Sheets

Synopsis

I am not a good man.

I have lied and cheated and stolen. I've decided between life or death, like it was my due. None of it matters, not anymore. These are not my sins.

I see her raise her hands, the dark metal she's clutching reflecting the moonlight. Her finger trembles as she cocks the gun pointed at me. Her eyes are cold, determined, but I know.

I know her.

My name is Devon Andre and I confess my sin. I am not a good man because this is the woman I love.

She pulls the trigger.

* Standalone contemporary romance.
* Mature reader advised due to sexual content and strong language.

Excerpt

“You didn’t tell them I left the door open. Why?” he demands, his voice hardening.

“Why, Leighton?” he repeats when I don’t reply.

“Why do you think?” I spit back at him, hating him for asking this question.

He puts his hand on my sore shoulder lightly, careful not to hurt me. “Tell me. I want—I need to know why you'd protect me, after everything?”

“Because of this,” I snap, leaning forward and capturing his lips with my own. He responds instantly, taking my mouth in a punishing kiss. He starts to suck on my bottom lip, and I run my hand up his shirt, feeling each taut muscle of his six-pack. He moans at the contact, but gently pushes me away.

“Fuck,” he whispers, sounding defeated.

“I know what’s going to happen,” I say sadly, huffing out a breath. “I know it doesn’t change anything, but right now I don’t care. Kiss me, Devon.”

About the Authors

Sienna Lane and Autumn Karr are two friends with a joint love of reading, writing, candy, and Disney heroes (and Disney songs, of course.)

When they aren’t scheming against fictional characters, or talking about their favourite books, you can find them ogling tattooed models and trying to figure out how to get them to do a cover shoot for their next book.

Together they wrote VENDETTA, releasing this December, and hopefully many more books to come.They love to hear from readers, so don't hesitate to contact them through their Facebook page (http://on.fb.me/18TGRU9).

Connect with Sienna and Autumn

Our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/karrandlane

Sienna’s Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7195737.Sienna_Lane

Sienna’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sienna.lane.39

Autumn’s Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7195738.Autumn_Karr

Autumn’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/autumn.karrauthor

Our blog: http://karrandlane.wordpress.com/

Add to Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18331733-vendetta

PURCHASE FROM: 

Giveaway Time

(4) $10 Amazon Gift Cards

(5) eBook copies of Vendetta

(1) Signed paperback of Vendetta with Swag

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BLOG TOUR - BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY - ELECT by RACHEL VAN DYKEN - EAGLE ELITE # 2 - NEW ADULT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

SYNOPSIS

By: Rachel Van Dyken
Published By: Rachel Van Dyken
Released : Available 10th December 2013
Details: Kindle, 

RATING: 4.5 NIXON STARS!!

Blurb: Goodreads

Would you die for the one you love?


Nixon Abandonato made his choice. And now he has to pay the price. Tracey is the love of his life, but being with him has made her a target of his family's enemies. The only way to keep Trace alive is convince the world she means nothing to him.

Trace Rooks has fallen irrevocably in love with the son of her family's sworn rival, and she knows in her bones nothing can tear them apart. Until Nix suddenly pushes her away and into the arms of his best friend... But Trace isn't ready to give up on a future with Nix--and if he won't fight for them, she will.

In the end, a sacrifice must be made. A life for a life. For what better way to cover a multitude of sins than with the blood of a sinner . . .


BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

“Every Saint has a past, every sinner has a future.” 

I had always wondered which I was. The saint or the sinner?

I really enjoyed this installment told from Phoenix, Chase and Nixon’s pov’s.

Getting inside the lads heads really helped me connect with them and their fears. It made sense doing it this way as we learn so much. I think it added that much more to the story. It gave the reader a much more real mob life feel to this book.

This is very much a man’s voice book. Trace and Monroe were definitely quieter characters in this one. I think I enjoyed it this way. I wanted to know these lads more. 

What is it like being sons and growing up in an environment that was full of violence? Monroe and Trace missed out on that.

Hearing the first time Phoenix or Chase had to do what their fathers ordered them to do. That is frightening stuff to a teenager. It is violent and setting the tone for ongoing violence and even rape. 

Mil is the exception to the other girls. I like her. I am intrigued by her.

Sometimes Trace felt like she didn’t belong in this world. But then she up and does something that shows me what blood she has running through her veins.

This installment is about sacrifice.

“ Trust me. Trust in us. No matter what I say, no matter what I do - and I’ll do some terrible things - know that I love you. No matter what.”

... “I’m going to break your heart every day...”

I definitely connected more with understanding what these lads are going through. They are made men and they are trying to keep the peace. They are only in their early twenties and they have a lot they are carrying around on their shoulders.

They are all prepared to die. It seems inevitable they will not live a long life. They know this. It comes with the job description.

“But Trace, you’re never really free from this. You’re always going to be watching your back. You’ll always carry a gun with you just in case, and you’ll still never trust the other families or sometimes, even your own.”

Chase is taking advantage because he honestly can’t help himself, in his role of bodyguard to Trace. His feelings are taking over. Trace is a little naive I think to Chase’s feelings. Maybe a little too dumbed down to his feelings.

Chase is a great guy. Being in his head you can’t help liking him. He seems more casual, even almost like he couldn’t do what Nixon can. But, you may be mistaken. They are all still the sons of the mob. They are all made men.

Let’s just say I’m not as scary as people would like to think I am. No, that nomination goes to Nixon. The things I’d seen that guy do would put nightmares into even the worst sort of prisoner.


Nixon is doing his damnedest to keep Trace away from himself for her own good and Phoenix is showing us a side that had me feeling sorry for him. He has made mistakes. He has not had an easy life.

I would hate me, too. I did hate me. I hated what I was, I hated what I did, I hated what I represented; but most of all, I hated that the legacy I would leave behind as a De Lange was that of an attempted rapist and a rat.

There is a mystery to solve. A who-dunnit?

“Don’t hold back,” he whispered. “When you interrogate, don’t hold back. Pull fingernails off, rip skin, use hammers; get as graphic and scary as you can.  Because if we don’t figure this shit out soon -"


Nixon is definitely a leader. A boss. He had me peeking through my fingers at what he must do, to get answers.

Gahhh!

My words held a double meaning. My asking what I could do for him. He knew who I was; he knew what my family did. I always chose my words carefully for that very reason. Most people asked for favors in public - not in private. So the art of deception was my specialty. If he answered that he needed something taken care of, then I’d know he wanted to deal with Nixon Abandonato, mafia boss.


Sometimes I wondered what normal would be like.


Careful how you answer, Faust. I wouldn’t hesitate to slice you open where you sit.”


Mr. Ryan was waiting in the hall. “Do I even want to know?”

“Nah...” I shook my head and offered him a smile. “That may just get you killed.”


This installment definitely picked up what I thought was possibly missing from Elite. It gave me that sense of believability, what was more real with the life these lads lead, what these lads are capable of. They can do what is necessary to get answers. They will have done terrible, violent things in the past because they were ordered to.

“Living in a constant state of fear wasn’t living - it was hell on earth.”

EXCERPT

“Let’s make a pact.” Chase put his hand on my shoulder.

“A pact?” I sniffled and turned to him. “What kind of pact?”

“One that’s forever. One that protects people rather than hurts them.”

“How do we do that?” I was suddenly interested. What if I could make all the hurt go away? What if I could save everyone!

“We do this.” Chase pulled out his pocketknife and cut open his hand, then nodded to me to do the same thing. Without pausing I cut open my hand and handed back the knife. “Blood brothers. We’re never gonna hurt each other and we’re gonna save those like your ma, Nixon. Ones who can’t save themselves. We’re going to protect them.”

“How?” I watched as the blood dripped from my open palm.

“Rules.” Chase shrugged. “They keep people safe, right? At least that’s what my mom says.” He smiled. “We make rules and we start our own club. That way, we don’t have to listen to anyone but us.”

I liked it. I chewed on my lower lip. “What do we call ourselves?”

“The chosen?” Chase offered.

“No, that sounds lame. We have to sound… more powerful than that.”

My eyes flickered to the road, and a sign poked into the ground. It said election. “Elect.” I pointed. “Let’s call ourselves The Elect.” It made sense; after all, the president was elected, wasn’t he? We weren’t exactly chosen, but we were making the choice, we were electing ourselves protectors. That’s what we were.

“Who else can join?” Chase asked.

“Tex and Phoenix. They’ll want to.” A weight suddenly felt like it was being lifted off my twelve-year-old shoulders. “Should we shake on it?”

“Yeah.” Chase smashed his hand against mine as our blood mixed. “No going back, Nixon.”

“No.” I shook my head. “No going back.”

I pressed my fingers to my temples and watched, replaying that moment over and over again in my head as the outline of Chase and Tracey flickered in the moonlight. Would he really do this to me? After all the shit we’d been through?

I gauged her reaction, hoping that I would be wrong. Praying to God that Trace would just this once listen to me. Her eyes flickered with interest for a few brief seconds before she looked down at the ground.

“Shit.” I waited in the shadows. A part of me knew this would happen. The part that told me to damn my feelings to hell and ignore all the warning signs that I’d been seeing. But now it seemed like it was too late. I stayed, planted where I was, watching, waiting.

“Chase, you can’t…” Trace shook her head. “You can’t be like this. We can’t do this!”

“We aren’t doing anything,” Chase said in low tones, reaching for Trace’s hand. “Don’t you?” He looked directly at me, although all he saw was a shadow. I knew I was well hidden. “Don’t you feel the same way?”

Trace jerked her hand away from Chase’s. “It doesn’t matter what I feel. It’s not about me, Chase.”

“But it is.” Chase reached for her again. This time her hand grasped his in such an intimate embrace I thought I was going to vomit all over the ground. The outside air was cold as hell as little pieces of ice tried to find their way into my wool coat.

“It isn’t.” Trace sighed. “It never was.”

Chase jerked her toward him. She fell against his chest and looked up into his eyes. “What are you doing?”

Chase sighed. “What I should have done a long time ago.” He grabbed the back of her head and pulled her in for a kiss. Their lips touched.

I had to look away.

The only sound in the night was that of my soft footsteps as I walked away… leaving my heart in broken pieces where I’d last stood. She was lost to me; it wasn’t even the Sicilians that had taken her, but my best friend.

A gunshot rang out loud and clear in the night air. I turned back around just in time to see Trace collapse into Chase’s arms.

Author’s Social Networking links: 

Blog: http://rachelvandykenauthor.com

Twitter: @RachVD 

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

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4882127.Rachel_Van_Dyken

Purchase From: 

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

ibooks

Author Bio: 

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor. She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers! You can follow her writing journey at http://rachelvandykenauthor.com/

GIVEAWAY TIME

5 WINNER: 

SIGNED Forever gift bag, Signed PRINT copy of ELITE

 (to catch you up on the series!)

5 WINNERS: 5 digital copies of ELITE

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BLOG TOUR - PROMO - GIVEAWAY - BOOK REVIEW - GABRIEL'S INFERNO by SYLVAIN REYNARD - GABRIEL'S INFERNO # 1 - ADULT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE - OMNIFIC PUBLISHING - PENGUIN

Today on my stop of the blog tour I am going to have my review for Gabriel's Inferno. I should have been doing my review for Gabriel's Redemption but I had a mix up with my postal system with Gabriel's Rapture and I only received it yesterday from the lovely Penguin Aust. Big thankyou to them for sending it to me. It had actually been sitting waiting for me at post office since 29th November. But all sorted now and I have all three books now for my reading pleasure. So today you get a promo and giveaway for my posting and my Gabriel's Inferno review.

Enjoy!

Good Luck!

Michelle

Author: Sylvain Reynard

Title: Gabriel’s Redemption 
(Gabriel’s Inferno Series #3)

Publisher: Penguin Berkley

Synopsis:

From the author of the New York Times bestsellers Gabriel’s Rapture and Gabriel’s Inferno comes the epic conclusion to the captivating romantic trilogy.

Professor Gabriel Emerson has left his position at the University of Toronto to embark on a new life with his beloved Julianne. Together, he’s confident that they can face any challenge. And he’s eager to become a father.

But Julianne’s graduate program threatens Gabriel’s plans, as the pressures of being a student become all consuming. When she is given the honor of presenting an academic lecture at Oxford, Gabriel is forced to confront Julianne about the subject of her presentation—research that conflicts with his own. And in Oxford, several individuals from their past appear, including an old nemesis intent on humiliating Julia and exposing one of Gabriel’s darkest secrets.

In an effort to confront his remaining demons, Gabriel begins a quest to discover more about his biological parents, beginning a chain of events that has startling repercussions for himself, Julianne, and his hope of having a family.

Author Bio:

I'm interested in the way literature can help us explore aspects of the human condition - particularly suffering, sex, love, faith, and redemption. My favourite stories are those in which a character takes a journey, either a physical journey to a new and exciting place, or a personal journey in which he or she learns something about himself/herself.

I'm also interested in how aesthetic elements such as art, architecture, and music can be used to tell a story or to illuminate the traits of a particular character. In my writing, I combine all of these elements with the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the transformative power of goodness.

I try to use my platform as an author to raise awareness about the following charities: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation, WorldVision, Alex's Lemonade Stand, and Covenant House. For more information, see my Twitter account.

By: Sylvain Reynard
Published By: Omnific Publishing,  Penguin
Released : Available Now
Details: Paperback, 507 Pages

RATING :  5 TORTURED PROFESSOR STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

Enigmatic and sexy, Professor Gabriel Emerson is a well respected Dante specialist by day, but by night he devotes himself to an uninhibited life of pleasure. He uses his notorious good looks and sophisticated charm to gratify his every whim, but is secretly tortured by his dark past and consumed by the profound belief that he is beyond all hope of redemption. When the sweet and innocent Julia Mitchell enrolls as his graduate student, his attraction and mysterious connection to her not only jeopardizes his career, but sends him on a journey in which his past and his present collide. An intriguing and sinful exploration of seduction, forbidden love and redemption, "Gabriel's Inferno" is a captivating and wildly passionate tale of one man's escape from his own personal hell as he tries to earn the impossible...forgiveness and love.


BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:


Professor Gabriel Emerson

Thirty Three, pretentious, addictive personality, intelligent, pompous, smexi, scarred emotionally, in love, beautiful, cranky, extreme, Nine Inch Nails, The Lobby, photographer, Dante specialist, intense, commanding, protective, lust, firsts, honest, atone for sins, hurt, Professor, dark days, University of Toronto, Dante’s Divine Comedy, tortured past, charming, courting, shoe fetish, adopted, temper, fraternization, forbidden romance, broken, wealthy, black sheep.

Fallen Angel.

“I have a problem with anger, Miss Mitchell. I have a bad temper. I have trouble controlling it, and when I lose my temper I can be very destructive.”

“Wrath is one of the seven deadly sins,” she remarked, turning away from him to gaze out of the window, trying to alleviate the burning sensation in her middle.

He laughed bitterly. “Remarkably, I have all seven; don’t bother counting. Pride, envy, wrath, sloth, avarice, gluttony, lust.”

She lifted an eyebrow but did not turn around. “Somehow I doubt that.”

“I don’t expect you to understand. You’re only a magnet for mishap. Miss Mitchell, while I am a magnet for sin.”

Lobby was an upscale martini bar and lounge on Bloor Street. Gabriel, in true Dantean fashion, always referred to the club as The Vestibule, because he deluded himself that its inhabitants resembled the virtuous pagans who spent eternity in Dante’s vision of Limbo. In reality, however, Lobby and its patrons had far more in common with the various circles of Hell.

Gabriel did not want to bring Julianne there, let alone Rachel, for Lobby was his hunting ground, the place he always went to feed his hungers.

Gabriel sighed deeply, and placed both hands at the back of his neck. He wasn’t cross with her; he was cross with himself. And he felt ashamed. Part of him wanted to repel her intentionally- to stand naked in front of her, hiding nothing - so that she would see him for what he really was, a dark, sinister creature exposed by her virtue. Then she would walk away.

Julia Mitchell

Twenty Three , student, Rabbit, virgin, intelligent, emotionally scarred, financially light, University of Toronto, muse, beautiful, loyal, shy, timid, friend, broken, sexually ready, furious when poked, independent, in love, adopted, forbidden romance, Julianne.

Angel.


As they continued their tour, Paul resolved in his heart to be patient. Very, very patient. And cautious, whenever he reached out a tentative hand to offer her a carrot or to gently stroke her soft fur with his fingers. Or else he knew he would frighten Rabbit away, and he wouldn’t have the opportunity to help her become Real.

Sylvain Reynard

Possesses a most beautiful writing style. An intelligent idea using Dante & Beatrice and the parallel lives of Gabriel and Julia woven into a contemporary romance.



This is a hard book to review because so many reviews have been written. Everything has been covered. I was held captive by Gabriel’s charms. I was listening to the story being told in the third person.

I found myself studying Sylvain’s style.

There is a breathtaking beauty that is hard to emulate with Sylvain’s storytelling. It appears at times very gentlemanly.

Gabriel’s physical appearance was almost a contradiction to his voice. He could come across very pretentious and pompous almost like he belonged in a historical romance novel in his choice of dialogue.

He gave her a puzzled look. “Of course I like you. And I would like to win your affection. Where we go from there is up to you.”

When he pulled away, he crushed her to his chest and whispered in her ear. “You strip me bare. You see through everything. You are the only one who has ever known everything and still wanted me. Only you, my beloved.”

And then at times he would surprise me with his “Angelfucker” comments. LOL!

Gabriel had the ability to look at things from different angles. Some things displeased him. He had to fix them.

“I like to people watch,” she said shyly.

“Me to,” he admitted. “But you look like a Yeti.”

Julia reddened.

“Forgive me,” he hastened to add. “But surely we can do better than a lambskin rug that has been God knows where. It probably used to grace the floor of Christopher’s apartment. And who knows what kind of shenanigans went down on it.”

Did he just use the word shenanigans in a sentence? 

And with that, Professor Emerson gracefully pulled his British-racing-green cashmere sweater over his pretentious bow tie and head and handed it to her. She accepted it and moved the objectionable Yeti-like carpet to one side.

Gabriel is quite the male lead , written by a male author. I often wondered whether any of Sylvain was injected into Gabriel. To write a man like Gabriel who has the body that doesn’t quite equal a Professor in my mind. He sounds like a UFC fighter - Ultimate Fighting Championship. He doesn’t look like he would be sprouting Dante and speaking as pretentiously as he did. Maybe I got it wrong with Gabriel's physical appearance.

I had this voice in my head that was the narrator of this story, it was British. I couldn’t shake it. It wasn’t American. Yes, folks I know Toronto is in Canada, but the characters were American.

?

What can I say. It is how it felt in my noggin. British.

She was undoing him slowly, bit by bit, and he did not understand how.

“I tried to talk to you for days, but you spurned me.”

“What was I supposed to do? You’re an emotional rollercoaster, and I wanted to climb off. I never know whether you’re going to be sweet and whisper something that takes my breath away or say something so fucking mean it breaks my...” She stopped herself.

I did feel like this was a long book, but not in a bad way. Sylvain really expresses in words the Professor. We get a lot of fleshing out of his torturous character.

“We both have scars, Julianne. Mine just aren’t on the skin.”

Listening to his inner thoughts can be quite humorous. My favorite times are when Gabriel drops his pompous voice and he gets all growly and says to himself, “Angelfucker,” or he swears. 

What the fuck?

The thought scared the living hell out of The Professor. In addition to being an ass and a pompous prick, he was a knuckle-dragging, potentially mouth-breathing Neanderthal who felt some proprietary ownership over a younger woman he barely knew and who hated him. Not to mention the fact that she was his student.

My fave scene was in the apple orchard. Gabriel wasn't quite himself. I loved the scene with the 'firsts.' He was so endearing , I wanted to cuddle him.

Paul was an interesting character used to raise Gabriel's hackles. I liked Paul, I liked his humor at Gabriel's expense and how he looked out for Julia. 

He didn't stand a chance.

“Don’t be scared, Rabbit. It’s not going to hurt.” He patted her arm. Paul’s heart was almost as big as he was, and so he was very sensitive to the pain of others.

Rachel is a very likable character. She says it how she sees it and she makes no exceptions for Gabriel. A spade is a spade.

“Gabriel, get Julia a drink, would you ? And stop boring her with your antique crap?”

“She’s been broken, you jackass. That’s why she hasn’t kept in touch with me this past year. And now she’s finally crawled out of her shell, a shell I might add, that I thought she would never leave, and you’re forcing her back into it with your... your arrogance and condescension! So drop the Mr Rochester-Mr. Darcy-Heathcliff British stuck-uppity bullshit and treat her like the treasure she is! Or I’m coming back here and putting a pump in your ass!”

“Big brother, only you could make ordering a drink sound pretentious.”

Rachel has a very honest mouth on her. She is a good friend to have in your corner.

Rachel sighed. “My family is like a Dickensian novel, Julia. No , it’s worse. We’re a twisted mix of Arthur Miller and John Steinbeck, with a bit of Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy thrown in.”

“Is it really that bad?”

“Yes, because I have the feeling there are elements of Thomas Hardy lurking below the surface. And you know how much I hate him. Mind-fucking bastard.”

Rachel believed that his coldness was his worst character flaw - his ability to say and do things without regard for the feelings of others, including his family.

Sylvain captivated me with these two broken characters and I can't wait to find out what Gabriel has in-store for me in Gabriel's Rapture. The ending was worth waiting for. 

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BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY - 2 x $50 AMAZON CARDS - ENSLAVED BY THE OCEAN by BELLA JEWEL - ADULT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Title: Enslaved By the Ocean

Author: Bella Jewel

Expected Release Date: December 9, 2013

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Hosted by: Love Between the Sheets

Synopsis

Indigo is running, she has no other choice. She's done something bad, and there only way to escape it, is to flee her home, and her country. She sets out on a luxury Yacht, to take her to another country with her best friend Eric. But she runs into a problem.

The Yacht catches fire.

She ends up stranded in the ocean, terrified, and scared of the uncertain. Until they show up. The pirates. Terrified, Indigo and Eric have to face the reality that this might be the end for them. These are pirates, they are the criminals of the ocean. What chance have they got of surviving this nightmare?

Then she lays eyes on Hendrix. He's the Captain, he's gorgeous, rugged, and mean. He's planning on keeping her to repay his debt to another man, by selling her. Now Indigo has a crazy ex after her, as well as a pirate she can't seem to get out of her head.

Come on this heart wrenching, dark, angsty and dangerous adventure as two people so opposite, find something so beautiful.

Excerpt

“No,” I scream, shoving him so hard he takes two steps back. “I won’t listen to you. All you’re going to do is make me feel incomplete. Do you know that you can do that? Make someone feel so utterly worthless? You touched me like I mattered, and yet you look at me like I’m a sale. I won’t do it. I don’t deserve it. I don’t…”

He’s moving toward me before I can finish, and before I know what’s happening he grips my shoulder and jerks me forward, crushing his lips down on mine.

My world stops.

My legs give way.

Hendrix wraps his arms around my waist, holding me up before parting my shocked frozen lips with his tongue. It only takes a moment for me to respond. My entire body is tingling with warmth, my heart is thumping, and my stomach is full of butterflies. I open my mouth to him, and I let him slide his tongue inside. I connect my tongue with his, and finally, I get to taste him. It’s been worth the wait. His lips, his tongue, his mouth: it’s like heaven. The feeling of his stubble on my cheeks is exactly as I imagined.

Author Bio

Bella Jewel is an Aussie girl through and through. She spent her life in Western Australia, growing up in many different areas of the state. She now currently lives in Perth with her husband, children and mass amounts of pets. She's crazy, fun, outgoing and friendly. Writing is her passion, she started at the young age of 18 but finally got the courage up to publish, and her first novel Hell's Knights was released in August 2013.

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Website: http://authorbellajewel.wix.com/bella-jewel

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7178194.Bella_Jewel

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Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18625453-enslaved-by-the-ocean

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