Losers Weepers by Nicole Williams ~ Tour Stop & Review

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New Adult Contemporary Romance
Release: February 24, 2015

If we didn’t know darkness, we couldn’t fully appreciate the light.
 
Garth Black’s more familiar with this concept than most people are. He hadn’t just lived in the dark for the majority of his life—he thrived in it. With a mom who’d bailed on him and a dad whose understanding of coddling started and ended with a bottle of whiskey, Garth had never been expected to rise to any sort of occasion other than following down the same dead-end paths.
 
That changed when he fell in love with Josie Gibson. After years of pulling each other closer before shoving the other way, they finally stopped shoving. Josie’s love is like nothing Garth’s ever experienced. He holds it close. He holds it sacred. He would do anything to preserve it and keep it from pollution, even if that means removing himself from the picture.
 
Garth might have been allowed a temporary furlough to bask in the light, but that pass has been revoked, and he’s been swallowed again by the dark. Will he revert to his old ways of hurting those he cares for most? Will he go back to the same destructive patterns . . . or will it be worse this time?
 
We can’t know light without first knowing dark . . . and Garth Black’s about to get acquainted with the dark in a whole new way.

 
 

Review...

Wow.  This book was hard on me.  It was emotional and tear causing.  It was "I'm gonna slap Garth into a batter heap" causing.  It was also right.  I have some personal struggles that come entirely too close to this and I cried.  At first, I wasn't sure I could read it.  But I had to.  The book was meant for me to read.  I flew threw it and I smiled at the end.

I have loved this series from the start.  I love that there is more Jess coming after this one.  I love this Montana community and these characters.  They feel so real to me.  I want to hug them.

This type of story could have been depressing but this one wasn't.  Between Garth and Rowan's sarcasm and the true love Josie has for Garth, I was so cheering them on.  I so wanted them to find that happy and to be content.

If you've been reading along with this group of friends, don't miss this one.  If you haven't, make sure you give them a try because this is real New Adult.

                                

About the Author

I’m the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the CRASH series (HarperTeen, S&S UK), LOST & FOUND series, UP IN FLAMES (S&S UK), The EDEN TRILOGY, and a handful of others. I write stories about everyday kinds of people who find themselves in extraordinary kinds of situations. I tell love stories with happy endings because I believe in making the world a better place, and that’s one tiny way I can make it so. I’m one of those people who still believe in true love and soul mates, and would rather keep my head in the clouds any day over having my feet firmly on the ground.

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Three Brothers by Nicole Williams ~ Review

I grew up with three brothers. They weren’t tied to me by blood, but our connection went beyond genetics or bearing the same last name. Our connection was forged the summer I turned thirteen, the summer my mom ended her life and left me in the custody of John Armstrong, a man I’d never met. Packing all I owned in a couple of boxes, I left the familiarity of the big city and headed west to Red Mountain Ranch, set in a lonely valley outside of Jackson Hole.

Nothing was as it seemed at Red Mountain—it didn’t take long for me to figure that out. John was kind to me but distant, as if he was afraid to let anyone get too close. His three teenage sons had their own devices for keeping love as far away as they could. The eldest distracted himself with cheap relationships that had a shelf-life of one night. The middle son threw himself into the rigor of running a ranch, and the third wielded cruelty and mind-games in his quest to keep people from getting close.

Time has gone by, and I’ve spent those years trying to forget the brother I’d fallen for—the biggest mistake of my life.

Finally, I’ve moved on. Finally, I’m back. But what I didn’t realize was that running away from the wrong brother meant I’d also run away from the right one. The one who’d been there for me all along, waiting in his brother’s shadow for the day I either would or could move on.

But a decade is a long time to wait. Has the brother I should have chosen all of those years ago moved on too? Am I about to discover that my biggest mistake wasn’t falling in love with the wrong brother, but failing to return the love of the right one sooner?

Does unrequited love have an expiration date?

I’m about to find out.

Author’s Note: This book is a “sweet” romance that isn’t overly sexy. Fans of Lost & Found will be interested in Three Brothers.

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Review...

This book is an emotional journey for one girl who has been so effected by one family.  It was clear her relationship with Conn was toxic.  His cruel comments and hurtful actions both in the past and during the book are hard to understand.  I'm not sure I ever understood why he was so messed up.  It was hinted at but I so wished to understand him better.  But his personality had me cheering for Chance.

It seemed so clear that Chance loved Scout.  His tender care for her showed his feeling completely.  Everyone teases him that he's perfect and I'm thinking that's true.  He holds the family, the ranch and especially Scout together.

I adore Chase.  He's sweet and suffering.  I wish there as a happy for that boy.  But at least he found Wolf.  Loved that little fir ball and how he attached himself to Chase.  I loved John too.  I hurt for him.  He had so much pain in his life.  But his sons were great men and that spoke so much to him.

The story was different.  A curse, some tense emotions, a secret and a sweet romance make up this one.  It does move slower than some books but it fit the cowboy feel of the book and the need to fix emotional wounds.  I enjoyed that the romance was not the story so much as the healing, the revealing and the recover.  It felt real for that reason.

It has the same feel of this authors Lost & Found series.  It's a sweet story that leaves the sexy behind closed doors.  I enjoyed that.

              

About the Author...

I’m the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the CRASH series (HarperTeen, S&S UK), LOST & FOUND series, UP IN FLAMES (S&S UK), The EDEN TRILOGY, and a handful of others. I write stories about everyday kinds of people who find themselves in extraordinary kinds of situations. I tell love stories with happy endings because I believe in making the world a better place, and that’s one tiny way I can make it so. I’m one of those people who still believe in true love and soul mates, and would rather keep my head in the clouds any day over having my feet firmly on the ground.

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Now Available ~ Three Brothers by Nicole Williams

New Adult/Adult Romance

Release: January 20, 2015

I grew up with three brothers. They weren’t tied to me by blood, but our connection went beyond genetics or bearing the same last name. Our connection was forged the summer I turned thirteen, the summer my mom ended her life and left me in the custody of John Armstrong, a man I’d never met. Packing all I owned in a couple of boxes, I left the familiarity of the big city and headed west to Red Mountain Ranch, set in a lonely valley outside of Jackson Hole. 

Nothing was as it seemed at Red Mountain—it didn’t take long for me to figure that out. John was kind to me but distant, as if he was afraid to let anyone get too close. His three teenage sons had their own devices for keeping love as far away as they could. The eldest distracted himself with cheap relationships that had a shelf-life of one night. The middle son threw himself into the rigor of running a ranch, and the third wielded cruelty and mind-games in his quest to keep people from getting close. 

Time has gone by, and I’ve spent those years trying to forget the brother I’d fallen for—the biggest mistake of my life. 

Finally, I’ve moved on. Finally, I’m back. But what I didn’t realize was that running away from the wrong brother meant I’d also run away from the right one. The one who’d been there for me all along, waiting in his brother’s shadow for the day I either would or could move on.

But a decade is a long time to wait. Has the brother I should have chosen all of those years ago moved on too? Am I about to discover that my biggest mistake wasn’t falling in love with the wrong brother, but failing to return the love of the right one sooner?

Does unrequited love have an expiration date? 

I’m about to find out.

Author’s Note: This book is a "sweet" romance that isn't overly sexy. Fans of LOST & FOUND will be interested in THREE BROTHERS.

Goodreads

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes

About the Author

I’m the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the CRASH series (HarperTeen, S&S UK), LOST & FOUND series, UP IN FLAMES (S&S UK), The EDEN TRILOGY, and a handful of others. I write stories about everyday kinds of people who find themselves in extraordinary kinds of situations. I tell love stories with happy endings because I believe in making the world a better place, and that’s one tiny way I can make it so. I’m one of those people who still believe in true love and soul mates, and would rather keep my head in the clouds any day over having my feet firmly on the ground.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Something Reckless by Lexi Ryan ~ Feature & Teasers

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

Lexi Ryan

Adult Contemporary Romance

Release: December 22, 2014

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes

He talks dirty to me, but I don’t know his name.

He wants to tie me up, but I don’t know his face.

He turns me on, but I couldn’t point him out in a crowd.

I’ve fallen for an anonymous stranger, and tonight the anonymity ends. Tonight I want more than typed secrets and texted promises. I want something reckless. Heat. Passion. The thrill of being entirely possessed.

Because I suspect this anonymous stranger isn’t a stranger at all.

Lizzy Thompson met riverrat69 online through Something Real, a service promising to deliver meaningful relationships by forbidding its users to share names or photos until they’ve reached a certain benchmark. She was looking for love. He was researching an investment. They hit it off. Talked and flirted, hid behind screen names and cartoon avatars.

Now they’re breaking the rules and meeting in person. But Liz is prepared. She’s picked up hints and followed clues.

She’s ninety-percent convinced she’s discovered the identity of her dirty-talking online friend.

She wonders if her ex-lover Sam Bradshaw knows her identity too.

When she rolls the dice on one reckless night, her chance at something real could crumble.

Goodreads

          

Excerpt from Something Reckless

“You look amazing in this dress. I’ve been pretending all night that there’s something I want to do more than get you out of it.”

“What would you do with me if you got so lucky?”

“I’d keep you up all night, for starters.” He slides a hand into my hair and traces the side of my neck with his thumb. His groan rumbles through me. “Tell me what you came here for.”

I thought that was pretty clear. “I’m wearing extremely slutty underwear. What do you think?”

His nostrils flare and his breathing goes thready. “I think I’m going to have to up my game, because now I want to see it.”

I have to bite back a smile. “Good,” I say. My heart thumps out a beat, probably Morse code for please and thank you.

“How slutty is this underwear of yours?”

I lick my lips. “Oh, it’s damn near whorish.”

“Let me see it, Liz.”

I lift my chin and prop my hands on my hips. “Seriously? That’s all the seduction I get? Let me see it?”

He steps closer until I have to crane my neck to look at him, and holy hell he smells good. “What game are we playing here, Rowdy?” he murmurs against my ear. “Is this the one where we pretend we don’t want each other and sleep alone . . .” His fingers skim down my shoulder and my eyes float closed. “Or is it the one where I make you come so hard you scream my name and tomorrow you act like you want nothing to do with me?”

“Are those my only choices?” I ask, but I keep my eyes closed, focusing on the feel of his rough fingers dancing across my skin. The truth is, I don’t want to play either game. I’m done playing games when it comes to Sam. I’m done pretending I don’t want him when I do, and I’m done pretending our annual one-night stand is enough for me.

“Tell me you aren’t going to run away in the morning. Promise me you won’t shut me out again.”

I don’t know what that means, and I’m too scared to analyze it. My eyes are still closed when he takes my chin in his fingers and tilts my face up to his, still closed when he brushes his lips over mine and when I open under him because I’m helpless to this man’s kiss.

“Promise me,” he repeats.

“I won’t run away.” Then I unzip my dress and let it fall to the floor in a puddle, and my boldness is rewarded. Sam’s lips part and his breath escapes him in a rush.

He steps back and takes me in. The bra is strapless, black lace demi-cups that lift my breasts until they threaten to spill out. The panties—what there is of them—are a thong in matching black lace. Their fine lace straps sit in a sharp V high on my hipbones.

A ringlet of hair escaped my up-do, and he takes it between his fingers and twirls it around. I deserve a medal for not melting right here at his feet.

He hooks his index finger under the black bow between my bra cups. “Did you wear this for me?” His voice is a husky whisper that I can’t deny.

“Yes.”

His fingers skim my belly, trace over my hip, following the lace of my thong behind me to where the straps meet at the small of my back. My breath catches as he takes the fabric path over the curve of my tailbone and down, his fingers bringing every nerve ending to life as they pass. Electric pleasure whips through me.

“Fourteen months since I’ve touched you,” he says. “Fourteen months since I’ve gotten to hear the way you breathe when you’re turned on, since I’ve gotten to listen to you scream as I make you come. Tell me you haven’t thought about it.”

“I’d be lying.”

“Don’t lie,” he says, eyes hot and intense. “Just tell me you want me.”

Copyright Lexi Ryan, 2014

Adult Contemporary Romance

FREE introductory novella to the SOMETHING RECKLESS

Amazon | Amazon UK | iBooks | Kobo | Barnes and Noble | Google Play

  

“You need a good guy. A long-term guy. One who does dates and romance and emotional strings…I’m just an asshole who wants to tie you up, make you come, and walk away.”

Samuel Bradshaw is a man with a reputation—the kind of reputation that should have me running the other way. Instead, it has me searching for the shortest distance to his bed. I won’t be the starry-eyed girl who thinks she can change a man like Sam, and despite what he thinks, forever is not what I need. I need the things he makes me feel, the way he turns me on, and the promise of pleasure in his eyes. This promises to be SOMETHING WILD.

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author Lexi Ryan’s novels have been described as intense, emotional, and wickedly sexy. A former college professor, she now writes full-time from her home in Indiana, where she lives with her husband, two children, and a neurotic dog. Find her on Facebook or Twitter to chat about books, TV, and her children’s latest antics.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Ripped (Real #5) by Katy Evans ~ Blog Tour Review

 

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Source: e-ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Ripped (Real #5) by Katy Evans

The fifth book in the New York Times new adult series that began with Real. When an angry, heartbroken girl is forced to be near her rocker ex-boyfriend, only time will tell if the fire between them will consume them both.

Pandora, the gothic friend of Brooke (Real, Mine, Remy) and Melanie, thought that getting her heart broken by her bad boy rocker ex could only happen once. But now, he's back in town with the biggest concert of the year. Pandora hates him so much that she gets Melanie to come with her and play a prank on him at his gig. But when they are caught by security, and her ex himself is summoned, he decides not to press charges if she'll follow certain conditions. Pandora likes none of his rules, or that he's in charge of her, especially since they seem designed to make sure she's in close contact with him again. But the closeness reignites the passion they once shared, and soon no matter how much she wants to hate him, it's clear she's still hung up on him. And worse: he knows it too.

Review...

I am seriously in love with Katy Evans' REAL series. I fell for Brooke & Remy. Then I met Greyson & Melanie, and I swear they're one of my favorite couples of all time. And now we have Pandora & Kenna. Another couple to add to this wonderful series. Another book that pulled me in and twisted my heart. I think Ripped may be the most heartbreaking novel of this series. It was definitely amazing, I know that.

First and foremost, Katy Evans' writing. It's so passionate and addicting. I get hooked every single time, spend what is probably way too much stuck in her stories, and come out of it with my heart full and no regrets. With Ripped, the effect of the writing was even more intense. I'm leaning toward Rogue as my favorite of the series (I'm like 92.6% sure), but this one took me through the biggest roller coaster of emotions. One second my heart was spazzing on the verge of broken, the next I was swooning like nobody's business. The up and down played an effective role in holding my attention throughout the novel.

Then there was Kenna and Pandora. These two...they clash so much, they have to be perfect for each other. Which probably makes no sense. They butt heads so often, but really none of that matters. They love each other so incredibly much. When it comes down to it, they're great for each other. Pandora is stubborn. But she's also hurt--for good reason. And Kenna...he has his own stuff swirling around, and that can also be understandable when seen from inside his mind. I swear, I should have been angry at both of these characters for a majority of the story. Instead, I couldn't help but love them and want to give hugs all day, every day.

The romance... ohmygoodness. It was so intense. As I said, Kenna and Pandora love each other big time. But they also have a past that weighs on things. It weighs, but it can't take away from how passionate they are for each other. How connected. And it certainly cannot reduce the love filling them both. It was beautiful. I loved these two characters, and I loved them together.

The plot was satisfying, especially when told with Katy Evans' writing style. The story was dual POV, which helped very much. I would have harbored a lot more anger towards these characters if I hadn't gotten such a full view of what went on in both of their heads. This was also helpful in ensuring that intense connection I felt through the words creating Kenna and Pandora's story. Since a big part of Kenna and Pandora's issues were an effect of questionable communication, it was perfect to see in their minds and understand WHY they went about things the way they did. Now my heart feels it all, but I also feel so much love.

Overall, Ripped was an intense, well-written story. Heartbreaking and beautiful, I loved this book along with the characters and their romance. Katy Evans has written another great one with Ripped, and I'm already dying to pick up whatever comes next from her!

5 stars - A beautifully heartbreaking romance that filled me with so much love. Another great one by Katy Evans! 

**About Katy Evans**

Katy Evans grew up with books and book-boyfriends until she found a real sexy boyfriend to love, married him, and now they are hard at work on their own happily ever after. Katy loves her family and friends, and she also loves reading, walking, baking, and being consumed by her characters until she reaches “The End.” Which is, hopefully, only the beginning...

Author Links: 

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Something Wild by Lexi Ryan ~ FREE

Adult Contemporary Romance

FREE introductory novella to the upcoming release SOMETHING RECKLESS

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1vTQL5B

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1zArcaL

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1uqVyqM

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1Dgj7vT

BN: http://bit.ly/1x5v1Fv

Google Play: http://bit.ly/1yUullF

**Author’s Note: This is a free introduction to the full-length romance novel SOMETHING RECKLESS, coming December 22^nd!**

“You need a good guy. A long-term guy. One who does dates and romance and emotional strings…I’m just an asshole who wants to tie you up, make you come, and walk away.”

Samuel Bradshaw is a man with a reputation—the kind of reputation that should have me running the other way. Instead, it has me searching for the shortest distance to his bed. I won’t be the starry-eyed girl who thinks she can change a man like Sam, and despite what he thinks, forever is not what I need. I need the things he makes me feel, the way he turns me on, and the promise of pleasure in his eyes. This promises to be SOMETHING WILD.

Excerpt from SOMETHING WILD by Lexi Ryan

© 2014 by Lexi Ryan

Sneaking into this room seemed like a great idea when I was on the dance floor with him, his hard body pressed into mine, but alone in the quiet conference room, I’m pretty sure this could be the most reckless thing I’ve ever done.

What if someone catches us in here? Hell, what if he doesn’t come? What if he does? I’ve thrown myself at Sam before, and it didn’t end well. He has no idea how hard I took his rejection, or the decisions I made after I left his room that night.

I should leave. I should . . .

The door clicks and then Sam steps inside, his eyes raking over me.

“Hey,” I whisper. “You came.”

He closes the door behind himself, turns the lock, then stalks toward me.

Thank you! the girlie bits shout. Stupid brain upstairs was about to ruin everything!

“Are you sure you want to do this?” His voice is a low rumble that I swear I can feel right between my legs.

Hell yes, I want to do this.

But I also don’t. Because Sam’s no longer some unrequited crush. He’s a friend. And if this goes to hell, it’ll make my life exponentially more awkward.

“We need rules,” I say quickly.

He takes another step closer. And another. Until I’m looking at his chest, smelling his aftershave. He tilts my chin up with his index finger then traces my lips with his thumb. “Hold that thought?”

I nod, nearly breathless at nothing but the touch of his thumb skimming my lips.

“I need to do this first.” He cups my jaw in his big hand and brushes his lips over mine. My lips part in surprise at the gesture that’s almost . . . sweet. He deepens the kiss, slanting his mouth over mine and sliding his tongue inside.

He tastes like beer, and I want to get drunk on this kiss—to overindulge until I can’t see straight, to imbibe until sobriety is a distant memory.

This is how kisses should be. I love the way his hand slides into my hair as he samples my lips, love how his kiss manages to be simultaneously gentle and demanding. It’s the kind of kiss that makes your toes curl, the kind worth remembering in five years when you’re lonely and bored and wondering if kissing had ever been so sweet.

When he pulls back, his eyes are hooded, darker. Sexy as sin. “Now, what were you saying?”

I have no idea. “Ru . . . rules?” I manage.

“Ah, yes. Well, I’ve never done well with rules, but tell me yours and I’ll see what I can do.”

I take a breath and try to figure out a rule that isn’t just Kiss me like that every time, or Please don’t make me fall for you.

“You keep looking at me like that,” he warns, “and I’m going to kiss you again, and we may never get to discuss these rules of yours.”

Right. “We can’t tell anyone,” I say. Cally and my sisters will try to make more of this than the one-night stand I know it to be.

His expression shifts and becomes unreadable. “Okay. What else?”

“This doesn’t change anything between us. We’re friends.” Something in my chest objects to that rule. It feels like a betrayal. But I want to say it before he does. I have to.

“Sex changes everything, Liz. That’s half the fun.”

“It doesn’t have to. I want us to still be friends after tonight.”

“Oh, we can be friends.” His breath ruffles my hair as he skims his fingertips down my bare arms, sending delicious shivers through my body that land low in my belly and turn my insides to goo. “But it’ll be different.”

“How so?”

“We won’t be able to look at each other without remembering what it was like. And if I have my way—” He dips his head to my ear and tugs the lobe between his teeth. A shudder rocks through me. “—every time you look at me, your panties will go damp as you remember what I did to you.”

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author Lexi Ryan’s novels have been described as intense, emotional, and wickedly sexy. A former college professor, she now writes full-time from her home in Indiana, where she lives with her husband, two children, and a neurotic dog. Find her on Facebook or Twitter to chat about books, TV, and her children’s latest antics.

Website | Facebook | Twitter