Worth the Fight (MMA Fighter #1)

   

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It didn’t matter that the ref called it a clean hit. Nico Hunter would never be the same.
Elle has a good life. A job she loves, a great apartment, and the guy she’s been dating for more than two years is a catch and a half. But it’s boring…and she strives to keep it that way. Too many emotions are dangerous. Her own past is living proof of what can happen when you lose control.
Then Nico walks into Elle’s office and everything changes…for both of them. But what can the tattooed, hard-bodied MMA fighter and the beautiful and always steady attorney have in common? A lot more than they bargained for.

Review

****I was given an ARC of this book for my honest review****
Elle has a good job, good apartment, the perfect guy, everything a woman would be thrilled to have but Elle is bored. That's fine she wants things to be boring, emotions are messy and can lead to bad things. Nico is an MMA fighter and his life changed after one fight, when their paths cross the two of them experience an instant lust connection, but can it be more? After reading two very emotionally charged books this was just what I needed, something that had a bit of substance to it but wasn't so heavy that I was left comatose. I really liked the instant lust connection that Elle and Nico had, I loved that the author didn't drag things out a lot and didn't have Elle going through a bunch of angst over ending her pseudo relationship with William. There isn't a lot of drama or emotional turmoil, there is a lot of sexual tension and when it's finally released its explosive. Vi knows how to write some really great panty melting sex scenes, this isn't my book from this author and it definitely won't be my last. 

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Alchemy

Alchemy by Sheena Boekweg, Melanie Crouse, and Sabrina West
457 pages
YA, paranormal 

"Do you want me to be dangerous?" he asked, his voice husky and low.
I gulped, and for a moment I was incapable of speech. But he was quiet, waiting. "No. I don't."
"Then I'm not dangerous at all," he murmured. His gaze moved from my eyes to my mouth. "You've never been safer than you are at this moment." I shivered as his breath tickled my skin. Our lips were mere millimeters apart when the sky shattered in a kaleidoscope of colored light.

We didn’t know how much we had to lose until we were infected with magic. Sam was in love, Juliette was the main caretaker for her siblings, and Ana and her dad planned the best parties in New York. But we lost it all when we were shipped to Chebeague, an exclusive school for newly infected mages.

Everyone knows about the mages, those who survive the infection and end up with magical abilities. We’ve seen the power of magic, the high-paying jobs, and the world fame. But we never saw the cost. We didn’t know we’d be forced to give up everything: sanity, family, even the right to talk on the phone.

We didn’t know mage was just another word for prisoner.

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How we came to write Alchemy: 

Once upon a time, there were some aspiring authors who wrote on a blog called The Prosers. (theprosers.blogspot.com) One day, Sabrina wrote a blog post about a book called Sorcery and Cecilia. Sabrina explained that:  

"The authors wrote the book entirely by sending letters to each other from the point of view of their characters. The picked a setting ahead of time… and then were not allowed to discuss plot at all, just let it develop naturally. And yes, it has to be real letters, or else it's not quite so fun to get the story in the mail."

Sheena was delighted with the idea, and asked if anyone wanted to try it with her. Both Sabrina and Melanie volunteered, and there we hit our first snag. How on earth does one write a cohesive story via letters sent between three people? 

So we got together for a facebook chat where we brainstormed solutions. It took a few weeks, and false starts, but eventually Melanie mentioned a real boarding school for rich, troubled teenagers where they were required to write journal entries to their therapists in exchange for privileges, and everything took off from there.

We each picked a character. Sabrina chose Juliette, an angry, scared girl who just wants to go home. Sheena created Sam, a sexy but broken boy who doesn't know how to function without his girlfriend, and Melanie created Ana, a gracious, yet opportunistic beauty who doesn't have anything worth missing back home.

We added some secondary characters and a rich magical world, and began. For most of the book, we truly did send the letters via snail mail (although thank heavens we knew not to start anticipating them until we got a message on facebook saying they were on their way! How did people survive doing it the other way???) As the action started heating up at the end, we started sending our sections via internet, and that’s when we really hit our stride. 

On the one hand, it is pretty frustrating when you think you know where you are going with a story, and someone (cough, cough, Sheena) careens off the path and turns the whole story line on its head. On the other hand, some of best parts of the book came when we were trying desperately to get the story back on track.The explanations we all had to come up with about why the stories turned out the way they did were so much fun! For example, if Sheena hadn't had the characters try to escape, we would never have realized they were prisoners. Sometimes the ripples created waves that were better than what we had originally planned. It was exhilarating and magical, and it didn't take long before we realized that this book wasn't just fun, it was also going to be awesome enough to share with the world! We hope you love it as much as we do. 

What is Alchemy about?

There are three main characters: Sam, a former baseball player who uses girls as a kind of medicine, Juliette, whose past has made her react to the world with clenched fists, and Ana, who is so normal that there is no way she’ll ever be able to fit in at this school for freaks.

Imagine a cross between Harry Potter, Ender’s Game, and Gossip Girl. Sam, Juliette and Ana have just been sent to a magical school, and have been told they will never see their families again. One of the biggest things that makes our book different from the usual paranormal romance, is that magic isn't a secret. Once they have survived infection with a magical virus, and managed to retain their sanity, they will be used by the government as a weapon, similar to nuclear armament.  Mages aren’t allowed back into polite society. They are too unstable, and definitely too dangerous.  But Juliette, Ana, and Sam are still teens, and none of that is half as important as their friendships and crushes.

Shy, awkward Seb is in love with Ana. Can Sam teach him the right moves to pull Ana’s attention away from the sexy janitor, James? Juliette hates Zach, the snarky leader of the Elite. So why can’t she get him out of her head? Even though Sam will never be allowed to see his girlfriend Katie again, his love for her is unfailing. Except, there’s this girl...

Sheena Boekweg (writing as Sam) is the author of the award winning novel Funny Tragic Crazy Magic. Look for her next novel, Waxling in 2014. She is a mom of three living in West Jordan, Utah. You can find Sheena on Facebook, Twitter, and her website. 

Sabrina West (writing as Juliette) is a writer and wildlife biologist living in San Diego, California. There, she wanders the streets searching for rare shorebirds, quality espresso, and elusive snippets of dialogue and imagery. Her short fiction has appeared in markets such as the Santa Clara Review, Cover of Darkness, and Strange, Weird and Wonderful Magazine. She also has a story upcoming in Kayelle Press's Night Terrors Anthology.

Melanie Crouse (writing as Ana) lives in the gorgeous state of Maine with her (usually) delightful family. She wishes with all her heart that her teenage children weren't so embarrassed that their mom writes "kissing scenes". With any luck, her first solo book, Hidden Magic, will be out in early January, 2015. You can find Melanie on Facebook and her website.

Meet all of us at: 

theprosers.blogspot.com

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Let It Be Me

 

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Do you see that woman there?
The one with long, wavy blond hair and blue eyes that used to sparkle?
That’s me, Violet Moore.
 Do you see those men over there?
 One is my husband, Rob.
A man who claimed he loved me, but proved his fist loved me more.
The other is Tucker McCloud, my savior and confidant.
 I'm torn between what's right and my own fear.
 But not anymore.
I’m taking my life back now.
 I will fight back.
 I will be happy
 

  

Review

****I was given an ARC of this book for my honest review****
Violet is an abused woman away from her family and friends, her saving grace comes in the form of a new job as an office manager and Tucker. I am a glutton for punishment I just got done reading a book that tore me up and then I started this one, so now I am a sobbing mess of emotions. I love Toni and I know that her books will always give me a good read, but this one was different it's a book that will keep you up at night and have your mind running a mile a minute. Rob how I loathe that man, he was a weak willed man and I wanted really wanted him to just die. Violet was beaten down emotionally and physically it was hard for me to see what she went through, I wanted to reach through the book and help. Tucker and the McClouds were truly wonderful people. This is a survivors story, yes Violet was a victim of abuse but I hate to call her that because when she does find the strength to fight back she is no longer a victim. Toni did an amazing job, she wrote a story on a dark subject without shying away from the details and in doing so she shows you the emotional turmoil that an abused woman can feel. This book is a powerful story on the inner strength it takes to stop being a victim and become a survivor.

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Unforgiven

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A mistake made long ago…
Pain buried so deep…
When Bailey Trent returns home to her small little Ozark mountain town after being away for nearly six years, she knows she’ll face the ghosts of her past. It does not mean she’s prepared to come face to face with the cruelest of those memories.
Darren Cory’s life is a shell of what it once was, and when he’s forced to endure the cause of his agony, hatred abounds quickly. But hating Bailey destroys him too.
Can Darren find a way to move past the pain and forgive the woman he once cared so much for before his anger consumes them both? Or will he drag them into the hell of an unforgiven past.

Review

****The author provided me with an ARC of this book for my honest review****
I am not going to do a recap for two reasons one the synopsis does a good job of it and two I have no idea how to do one without giving away some serious spoilers that would ruin the story for you. I love Elizabeths books I know whenever I sit down to read one of them I'm not moving until I've read the entire thing and most of the time it's going to gut me, Unforgiven was no exception. Bailey made one stupid mistake, she has been paying for it for six years and lost so much, I wanted things to work out for her so badly and every time she was knocked down or hurt it made me cry. Then Darren, poor Darren, yes he was an asshole at times but he was in his own personal hell. His emotional turmoil was just gut wrenching and as much as I wanted to kick him in the balls I also wanted to hug him. While there were plenty of sad angsty moments there were also some seriously hot sex scenes, the author doesn't just focus on the physical aspect the way she writes the scenes the characters emotions in those moments jump off the pages. Unforgiven is not a hearts and flowers easy love story, it's a story that deals with grief, how you deal with it, guilt and how what happens when the person you love makes one mistake that you don't know how to forgive? I loved this book, if I could give it more than five stars I would. 

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A Playboy's Love Affair

 

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What a playboy wants, a playboy gets... Alex St. Jones, black sheep of the famous St. Joneses, is the playboy of playboys whose only love affair is his freedom. He lives by one rule: Enchant them. Seduce them. Leave them. But that's about to change when a midnight temptress stumbles upon him and demands he kiss her. Carly Mitchell wants nothing to do with Alex St. Jones. She hates his good looks, his arrogance. Plus, he won't leave her alone no matter what she does. Most importantly, she hates that she's falling for him. But she's determined not to go down without a fight and to teach him a lesson at that.Alex may have met the one woman he cannot tame, but he doesn't plan on letting that stop him. Will Carly withstand his charms? When two strong personalities collide, sparks are sure to fly.

Excerpt

Alex walked through a stunningly tall garden arbor, admiring the beautiful roses clambering up its sides. He came to a halt at its end, and closed his eyes as he slowly inhaled the tranquility mixed in the rose sweet smelling cool night air. Instinct told him he wasn’t alone, and was glad to see his gut feeling never failed him. His gaze followed a path leading up to a woman in a midnight blue gown, standing under a timeless giant tree a few steps away from him.
“Trying to get away?” the mysterious woman purred, coming out of the shadows with a cat-like walk.
He nodded. His gaze traveled the length of her body, and his hands itched to touch her long chocolate waves resting on her left shoulder.
“I don’t blame you.” She lifted her hand offering him the bottle of wine she’d been drinking from. “Alex St. Jones, is it?” Her moonlit cosmic green eyes met his caramel brown moss.
Alex was sure he’d never crossed paths with this woman before tonight. “And you are?” He puckered his brow in inquiry. He shouldn’t have been surprised to hear she knew who he was, but he was. Alex had yet to meet a woman who claimed she’d never heard of the St. Joneses. He didn’t know whether he owed a “thank you” to his wealthy-as-sin dad or not.
“Carly Mitchell… Are you going to have some wine or should I just do the deed myself?” Her upper lip curled showing straight pearl white teeth. “I certainly don’t mind.”
Alex grabbed the bottle of wine from her and took a long sip. “Who are you trying to get away from?”
“My ex.” Carly rolled her eyes.
“Your ex?” His gaze drifted around them.

 

The Derby Girl

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Book two of Getting Physical
Roller derby girl Gretchen "Honey Badger" Badgerton lives in the moment, no apologies. Like every woman in Pleasant Park with a pulse, she finds Dr. Jared Fine irresistible, but she's taken by surprise when her unattainable new neighbor asks her out.
On paper, Jared is the perfect man: gorgeous, wealthy and charitable. But his golden image is just that, and opening an upstate practice is a welcome chance to start a new life. When Gretchen stops to help him with a flat tire, he's intrigued by her feisty attitude—and her sexy body art. There's something refreshing about being with a take-charge woman who doesn't expect him to be anything but himself.
Though Gretchen is hesitant to shatter Jared's "bad girl" illusion of her, she has to face facts: she's fallen for the good doctor. She's used to putting everyone else's needs before hers, but as their relationship heats up, can she handle having someone take care of her for a change?
Call back to The Rebound Girl.
Review

**** Carina Press through NetGalley provided me with an ARC of this book for my honest review****

I had never heard of this series before coming across the book on NetGalley. That being said, the minute I read the synopsis I knew I had to read it. I have always been a fan of roller derby so a roller derby girl as a heroine? I was excited. A few pages into this book I was completely hooked. Gretchen "Honey Badger" Badgerton was an amazingly smart and complex character, she could be a tough as nails girl in the ring who laughed about bruises, but outside she had a vulnerable side and could have her moments of just being as lost as everyone else. Her eccentricity just made her all the more appealing as she dabbled in various careers and wasn't afraid to try new things. When she stops to "rescue" our hero Jared Fine aka Dr. Fine, renowned plastic surgeon from a flat tire on the side of the road, you immediately know this is not going to be a storybook simple romance. Jared isn't without his own flaws and past, and together they weave an entertaining story line filled with meddling ex's, steam, stereotypes and reality checks. An awesome series that I'm sure to continue!

 

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Four Weddings and a Werewolf

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To have and to howl…
Logan Black, former Marine and bodyguard for the Seattle Wolf Pack, hates weddings and has no plan to walk the path to matrimonial misery. But when he’s hired to protect a hot-to-trot wedding planner with a werewolf stalker, he’s forced to put his feelings aside. Not such an easy task when the damsel can turn him on with a single smoldering glance.
Wedding planner Veronica Vale knows werewolves exist, but hates them. One bit her sister, changing their lives forever. When a sexy Marine shows his gorgeous face at one of her wedding appointments, Veronica finds it hard to focus on the task at hand.
The chemistry drawing Logan and Veronica together seems fated, but with Logan’s playboy attitude, Veronica’s hatred for werewolves, and a stalker lurking in the shadows, these two need more than passion to keep them together.

Review

****Entangled Publishing, LLC through NetGalley gave me an ARC of this book for my honest review.****
Veronica is a wedding planner she believes in loves and is flattered when she starts receiving notes and tokens from a secret admirer. She doesn't know this admirer is really a werewolf stalker, ever since her sister was bitten their lives changed, so while she knows werewolves exist she hates and fears them. Logan is a bodyguard for his wolf pack he doesn't do long term relationships and has no plans to ever marry, but when the two of them get together the chemistry is off the charts. Can Veronica get over her prejudice and fear? Will Logan realize what he is feeling and make the plunge? Can the two of them find her stalker before it's too late? This book was good, yes it was predictable with the hero being so against relationships and heroine being afraid, but the two of them together worked and the sex scenes were hot so while the set up was not very original the book holds your attention and isn't boring. I didn't get that mystery/suspense edge of your seat tension because I figured out who the stalker was the first time he appeared. This isn't a book that really stands out, but it's still a good read with a few cute funny moments thrown in.

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Believing Again

 

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As the youngest woman ever to make detective in the Portland Police Bureau, Danny Hartmann has racked up an impressive record. It doesn’t keep her warm at night, but it does make up for feeling she’s somehow disappointed her family with her career choice. Called to the scene of the murder of a homeless veteran in a transient camp, Danny doesn’t expect it to be anything other than another case she clears.
Then she meets the man who made the 9-1-1 call and everything changes.
Jake Abrams, a volunteer doctor at the Veterans Medical Services Clinic, doesn’t have much faith in anything other than his work and the vets he cares deeply about. Not shy about voicing his opinions, even to the cops investigating the murder of one of his patients, he annoys Danny with his snarky remarks.
However, working the case, she has to rely on Jake to help her find her way around the transient camps under the bridges and in the city’s huge wilderness park. As they work together, their attraction becomes mutual and passionate.
But Jake has demons. Like the vets he cares for, he carries scars both mental and physical from his service in the National Guard in Iraq. He fears Danny will turn from him in disgust when she discovers them. She’s afraid his experience in Iraq makes it impossible for him to love someone who does what she does for a living.
When the murderer of the homeless vets comes too close to Jake, it’ll be up to Danny to save his life. It’ll be up to their love for each other to save them both

Review

****I was given an ARC of this book for my honest review****
Believing Again is the 5th book in the Second Chances series by Peggy Bird, so I have come into this series rather late. However I did not feel lost or confused, you can definitely read this as a stand alone.
Jake and Danny, two people with a few issues to overcome. Both feel the connection with the other but because of certain feelings Danny is hesitant to follow through on her feelings.
This was a quick romance with plenty of steam. I found myself enjoying it even though the issues between the couple seemed to annoy me after a while. Danny's issue with a man accepting her for her work and trusting her not to get hurt, I felt that she was a little unreasonable. I wished a few times that she could see outside the box.
However this was a problem that I could overlook and I ended up quite enjoying the romance and the background mystery. 3 stars 

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