ARC Review: All He Wants for Christmas Anthology

Title: All He Wants for Christmas
Authors: Elisabeth Naughton , Alexandra Ivy ,Cynthia Eden, Katie Reus , Laura Wright, Skye Jordan
Series: None

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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From six of your favorite New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors…

Here’s to finding spies, cops, rockers, SEALs, professional hockey players and billionaires under the Christmas tree this year! Grab this bundle of ALL NEW, 100% sizzling hot holiday tales for just 99 cents! Pre-order price guaranteed!

All he wants for Christmas is an amazing anthology with 6 Christmas stories taking place in Holly, North Carolina.

Melt for me by Elizabeth Naughton
Ella McKinley may live in Holly, North Carolina where it’s Christmas all year round but she doesn’t do holidays ever since she lost her husband.

When rock star Tate Kendrick returns to Holly, the chemistry between Ella and him is about to explode. Unfortunately for him Ella wants nothing to do with him. You never actually forget your first love and Ella knows that better than anyone. She will do everything to protect her heart what can you do when the pull is too strong?

Melt for me was a nice Christmas story about second chances at love and life as well.

Sweet Rapture by Alexandra Ivy
This was an incredibly sweet story! When Meg Anderson returns to her home, Holly, she never expects Dylan Kain to follow. After their brief relationship in Vegas and a betrayal that burned deep, Meg has made it clear that she expects nothing from Dylan.

But Dylan wants a second chance, he has to explain and he hopes Meg will listen.

The spy who came for Christmas by Cynthia Eden
Jemma White is the biggest fan of Christmas. She loves baking and she even has her own chocolate shop. Everyone in town believes she is a shy, sweet girl but Jemma is a woman who wants to have fun for a night and she just found the perfect man.

Grayson Cole is just passing through Holly, to catch up with a friend and he ends up at Jemma’s heaven chocolate shop. When Jemma asks him out he can’t refuse but there are lots of things they don’t know about each other; he’s a spy and she’s a woman with secrets.

Merry Christmas, baby by Katie Reus
Nora has done everything to take care the only family she has, her younger sister. The last thing on her mind is her personal life until Jackson O’Connor, former SEAL, returns to Holly. Once upon a time Jackson broke her heart but what Nora doesn’t know is that she stole his. Now, Jackson is willing to work hard to regain what he’s lost.

Sinful in snow by Laura Wright
Billionaire Gabriel Fox is back in town. He once swore he would never return to Holly but Gabriel is back to get his revenge. His goal is simple: ruin Carol Cardini’s life as she ruined his. Carol never expected to see Gabriel again. She never thought that the boy she once knew could change so much and become ruthless and cold. Carol has no idea how ruthless Gabriel has really become but she’s about to find out.

Home advantage by Skye Jordan
The worst place to recover after his shoulder injury is probably his home. Meier Grant, NHL super star can’t believe he’s forced to stay with his parents in Holly. He knows that the only thing they care about is his fame but when he finds out that Faith Nicolas, the high school beauty, is single he can’t resist but go after her.

All he wants for Christmas is a must read! This Christmas will be a lot better for these couples because in the magical, Christmas town of Holly, the miracles never stop. This anthology is full of sweet, romantic stories with some action, suspense and a lot of surprises.

You don’t want to miss this!

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*

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STACKING THE SHELVES #63

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. It gives us a chance to share with readers what we bought, borrowed, swapped, won or got for review each week.

This week I read:

Click on cover for Goodreads:

  

I did it! I COMPLETED my Goodreads challenge this week reaching my goal of 250 books! This week I got to read 3 amazing books because I love reading and 1 book because I had to (Uni-read)!

What did you read this week?

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WAITING ON WEDNESDAY #68 Options by Abbi Glines

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine and is where we can talk about books we are looking forward to being released.

Title: Options

Author: Abbi Glines

Series: None

Expected publication: December 2015

Goodreads

Two paths.

Two completely different roads.

Each one standing before me.

Each one holding a different destiny.

In life you're just supposed to choose one path.

In life you're not given the chance at choosing one specific future.

Until now.

Until me.

Why am I different? I don't know. But I'm going to see those roads and walk down each one. When it's over I'll know which one to choose because I'll know my - options.

What are you waiting on Wednesday? 

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TOP TEN TUESDAY #58 Ten fictional families I'd like to celebrate Thanksgiving with

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new Top Ten list topic is posted and book bloggers fill in their own choices. 

This Week's Topics is:

Ten fictional families I'd like to celebrate Thanksgiving with

Click on covers for Goodreads

1. Alex and Aiden from 

Sentinel (Covenant #5)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2. Damen and Ever from
Everlasting (The Immortals #6)
by Alyson Noel

3. The whole family of the Rosemary Beach

Fallen Too Far (Rosemary Beach #1)

by Abbi Glines

4. Cat and Bones from 

Up From the Grave (Night Huntress #7)

by Jeaniene Frost

5. All the angels from 

Archangel's Enigma: A Guild Hunter Novel(Guild Hunter #8)

by Nalini Singh

6. The "Alien" family from 

Obsidian (Lux #1)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

7. All the Lords from 

The Darkest Seduction (Lords of the Underworld #9)

by Gena Showalter

8. Every single Immortal from 

A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark #2)

by Kresley Cole

9. All the Changelings from 

Kiss of Snow (Psy-Changeling #10)

by Nalini Singh

10. Mac, Barrons, Dani and Ryodan from 

Burned (Fever #7)

by Karen Marie Moning

Who would you like to celebrate Thanksgiving with?

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Review: Sweet Ruin (Immortals After Dark #15) by Kresley Cole

Title: Sweet Ruin
Author: Kresley Cole
Series: Immortals After Dark #15

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepo

A foundling raised in a world of humansGrowing up, orphaned Josephine didn’t know who or what she was—just that she was “bad,” an outcast with strange powers. Her baby brother Thaddeus was as perfect as she was flawed; protecting him became her entire life. The day he was taken away began Jo’s transition from angry girl…to would-be superhero…to enchanting, ruthless villain.
A lethally sensual enforcer on a missionA threat to the Møriør has brought archer Rune the Baneblood to the mortal realm to slay the oldest living Valkyrie. Whether by bow or in bed, he never fails to eliminate his target. Yet before he can strike, he encounters a vampiric creature whose beauty conceals a black heart. With one bite, she pierces him with aching pleasure, taking his forbidden blood—and jeopardizing the secrets of his brethren.
A boundless passion that will lead to sweet ruin…Could this exquisite female be a spy sent by the very Valkyrie he hunts? Rune knows he must not trust Josephine, yet he’s unable to turn her away. Despite his millennia of sexual conquests, he can’t ignore the unfamiliar longing she arouses deep within him. When Jo betrays the identity of the one man she will die to protect, she and Rune become locked in a treacherous battle of wills that pits ultimate loyalty against unbridled lust.

OMG!!! Holy Cow! Sweet Ruin was MIND BLOWING!

When I found out that this book was going to be about Thad’s sister, Josephine and Rune, a member of the Morior, I wasn’t that excited! I wanted to know more about the Morior but what I really wanted was Munro’s story. HOWEVER, after actually reading the book I really can’t complain!

Ever since she can remember herself, Josephine has had one life goal; protect her little brother Thaddeus. She knows nothing about their past, who their parents are or where they came from but she knows she has to protect him no matter what. Until she’s brutally murdered and they are separated. When Josephine wakes up at the morgue, she has no idea she’s a half phantom, half vampire hybrid but she quickly realizes that she’s not normal. She takes revenge on the people who murdered her and her next thought is to go after her brother but it’s too late!

Now 14 years later, she’s aimlessly wandering around New Orleans still trying to find out information about her past until she comes across Rune.

Rune the Baneblood is on a mission. The Morior have decided that Nix is a threat against them and therefore she must be killed. Rune, a hybrid himself, is a true assassin who will do anything for the Morior. He desires Josephine but he knows he can’t trust her. With the same mission, to kill Nix, they form an uneasy alliance that will either bring them close or tear them apart…

This book was freaking mind blowing. There was so much action, so many twists and soooooo many surprises. We almost got to see everyone (just a pretty little scene) including the Enemy of Old. I L-O-V-E-D everything about this book. It’s a huge step towards the impending Accession and with the Morior in play you never know what will happen!

Favorite Scene between the Morior and Nix's Allies: (to view spoiler highlight/select it with your cursor)

Morior: “Trifling beings, you are presently beneath my boot heal; you just don’t have the awareness to grasp your own doom. We are the bringers of it.”

Lothaire: “Well, I like them already. That sounds like something I would have said. With, of course, a dash more verve.” 

I fell in love with Josephine. It’s usual the male hero that gets my attention but the heroine in this book was so selfless. She was a badass, she has the best powers EVER and she truly has no idea how AWESOME she is! Josephine sacrificed her own happiness so that her brother could get a chance at having a normal and balanced life. She was soooo lonely but she still didn’t care about herself as much as she did about her brother. Every night she went out hunting to make the world a better (aka safer) place for Thad to live in. BEST SISTER EVER!

We also get to see what is happening with Nix! So freaking intelligent that Valkyrie! I really admire her but she’s NUTS! She’s also about to become completely something else so prepare yourselves!

I devoured this book in a matter of hours (who needs sleep?! Not ME!) I’m so obsessed. I can’t stop thinking about it and what is going to happen next; I just know I’m going to love it. What I can’t stop thinking about is Nix’s mate. Who is he? When are we going to meet him? Have we already met him? What if Orion, leader of the Morior, is actually her mate? (Highly improbably but what if?) When is the next book coming out? Can I have it now please?

I really can’t wait for more but until then, I’m going to re-read it a thousand times (I vow it to the Lore :)

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*

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STACKING THE SHELVES #62

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. It gives us a chance to share with readers what we bought, borrowed, swapped, won or got for review each week.

This week I read:

Click on cover for Goodreads:

 

 

Wow! I actually thought that I wouldn't be able to read 4 books (my week was really busy) but I made it!!! :)

What did you read this week?

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WAITING ON WEDNESDAY #67 The Best Goodbye (Rosemary Beach #13) by Abbi Glines

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine and is where we can talk about books we are looking forward to being released.

Title: The Best Goodbye 

Author: Abbi Glines

Series: Rosemary Beach #13

Expected publication: December 1st 2015

Goodreads

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines comes the next sizzling novel in the Rosemary Beach series, featuring well-known playboy and Blaire’s half brother, Captain.

What are you waiting on Wednesday? 

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Release Day Launch & Excerpt: Monster Prick by Kendall Ryan

Over my dead body. 

That's what I told Gracie when she informed me of her plan to pick some random guy she met online to get rid of her pesky virginity. 

If anyone is touching her, it's going to be me. 

I shouldn't even be considering it, but I can't get it out of my head: her, under me, begging me. 

*** 

Arrogant. Cocky. Prick. 

Those are the words I’d use to describe my older brother’s dangerously handsome best friend. 

When he learned of my plan to kick off my white cotton briefs, ditching my good girl persona once and for all by losing my virginity to the first eligible bachelor I could find, he flipped out. Said over his dead body. 

He says if anyone’s going to do it, it’s going to be him. 

I hate that I’m even considering his offer. 

But I am … I sooo am. 

Ever since he suggested it, all I can think about is his cocky smile on those full lips as he’s driving in to me. 

But if we cross that line … will I ever be able to go back? 

MONSTER PRICK, a sexy romantic comedy, is a spin off novella from SCREWED, but can be read as a standalone, as it features a new couple.

ADD TO GOODREADS

AMAZON | iBooks | B&N

EXCERPT

Hudson

“What if I could help you?”

I have no idea what the hell I was thinking. The words just leaped out of my mouth. Listening to Gracie talk about kicking off her granny panties and popping her cherry with some random Internet dick...I guess it drove me temporarily insane.

But there's no taking back the idea now. Gracie sucks in her breath, blinking wide-eyed. “What do you mean?” she asks.

What do I mean? Here I am, sitting next to the world's most beautiful girl—drowning in her eyes, her scent, the gentle puff of her breath on my mouth that begs me to close the distance. I know what I want, but I also know what will happen if I take it. My best friend will rip off my balls and feed them to me. And I'll probably deserve every second.

But sweet Jesus, I'm pretty sure Gracie wants this, too, and that's enough to blow my better judgment to pieces. All I care about right now is making her feel better. In as many ways as possible. And if her slightly quickened breathing, blown pupils, and flushed cheeks are anything to go by...

As an experiment, I dart out the tip of my tongue to wet my lips. Her darkened eyes drop like a magnet yanked them. Yeah, bingo. Having a little black book as thick as the dictionary has its advantages. I know damn well how to tell when a woman wants me.

About The Author

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than 18 titles, Kendall Ryan has sold more than a million ebooks and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. She's a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as enjoying success as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she's appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller list 23 times.

Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras.

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TOP TEN TUESDAY #57 Top Ten Quotes I Loved From Books I Read In The Past Year Or So

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new Top Ten list topic is posted and book bloggers fill in their own choices. 

This Week's Topics is:

Top Ten Quotes I Loved From Books I Read In The Past Year Or So

Click on covers for Goodreads

1.City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3)

by Cassandra Clare

“There is no pretending," Jace said with absolute clarity. "I love you, and I will love you until I die, and if there is life after that, I'll love you then.” 

2. Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful #1)

by Jamie McGuire

“To douchebags!" he said, gesturing to Brad. "And to girls that break your heart," he bowed his head to me. His eyes lost focus. "And to the absolute fucking horror of losing your best friend because you were stupid enough to fall in love with her.”

3. One Hundred Years of Solitude

by Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez

“and both of them remained floating in an empty universe where the only everyday & eternal reality was love...”

4. Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1)

by Tahereh Mafi

“I spent my life folded between the pages of books.
In the absence of human relationships I formed bonds with paper characters. I lived love and loss through stories threaded in history; I experienced adolescence by association. My world is one interwoven web of words, stringing limb to limb, bone to sinew, thoughts and images all together. I am a being comprised of letters, a character created by sentences, a figment of imagination formed through fiction.”

5. Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress #1)

by Jeaniene Frost

“I'm saying that I'm a moody, insecure, narrow-minded, jealous, borderline homicidal bitch, and I want you to promise me that you're okay with that, because it's who I am, and you're what I need.”

6. Archangel's Consort (Guild Hunter #3)

by Nalini Singh

“Our memories make us... even the darkest of them all.”  

7. Bloodfever (Fever #2)

by Karen Marie Moning

“One day you will kiss a man you can't breathe without, and find that breath is of little consequence.” 

8. Obsidian (Lux #1)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“I've always found that the most beautiful people, truly beautiful inside and out, are the ones who are quietly unaware of their effect." His eyes searched mine intently, and for a moment we stood there toe to toe. "The ones who throw their beauty around, waste what they have. Their beauty is only passing. It's just a shell hiding nothing but shadows and emptiness.”

9. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #1)

by Michelle Hodkin

“Thinking something does not make it true. Wanting something does not make it real.” 

10. Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1)
by Leigh Bardugo

“The heart is an arrow. It demands aim to land true.”

What are the quotes you loved from books you read the past year? 

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Review: Reap (Scarred Souls #2) by Tillie Cole

Title: Reap
Author: Tillie Cole
Series: Scarred Souls #2

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepo

Raised as a prototype for the Georgian Bratva's obedience drug, 221 fails to think, act, or live for himself; he's his master's perfectly-crafted killing puppet. Standing at six-foot-six, weighing two-hundred-and-fifty pounds, and unrivaled in to-the-death combat, 221 successfully secures business for the Georgian Mafiya Boss of NYC, who rules the dark world of the criminal underground. Until his enemies capture him.
Talia Tolstaia dreams to break from the heavy clutches of Bratva life. She dreams of another life--away from the stifling leash of her Russian Bratva Boss father and from the brutality of her work at The Dungeon, her criminal family's underground death-match enterprise. But when she stumbles upon her family's captive who is more monster than man, she starts to see the man underneath. A powerful, beautiful, damaged man whose heart calls to hers. But sacrifices must be made--blood for blood...life for life...souls for scarred souls...

"I have lived, Talia. In the short time I have known you, I have lived more than I could have ever dreamed. I have lived because of you. I have gained a full heart, a full heart for you." - Zaal Kostava

Reap is the second book in Tillie Cole’s amazing series Scarred Souls and tells the story of Talia Tolstaia, Luka’s sister and Zaal Kostava (aka 221).

Luka can’t forget the promise he made to his only friend, Arni, before he was forced to kill him; take revenge from the people who destroyed their lives. When he finds out that Arni has a twin brother who is still captured and referred to as 221, he risks everything to save him even knowing his true identity. Zaal is a Georgian and thus an enemy to the Tolstois but Luka has made a promise and he intends to keep it.

Talia Tolstaia, princess of the Russian family, just wanted a week away from her family’s business to rest and think about her future. So when her brother brings a man to their getaway house she’s surprised to learn that he isn’t an ally but an enemy. Still Luka seems to think that he is a friend. Talia can’t really interact with Zaal since he is heavily drugged from all the years of abuse but she can still spy on him, which she does. It doesn’t take long for Talia to realize how wrong she’s been about Zaal.

Reap is the first book I read by Tillie Cole in which the heroine is a normal person who actually manages to remain quite safe throughout the book and doesn’t get abused. I was really getting tired of that motive and I’m really glad it’s not repeated here as well. The story was surprisingly romantic with a lot of action, suspense and many twists.

Zaal was a tortured hero who recognized Talia as his anchor. With her he experienced what freedom feels like and the warmth of the sun on his skin. She was the first woman to ever touch his face and be gentle and patient with him. In return Zaal gave her the only thing he had, his heart.

There are some great obstacles on the way to their happiness but the bond they share is stronger than anyone expected, even them.

Reap was a really great book and I’m really glad I didn’t miss it. Zaal and Talia’s story was enthralling and I totally recommend it.

*ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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STACKING THE SHELVES #61

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. It gives us a chance to share with readers what we bought, borrowed, swapped, won or got for review each week.

This week I read:

Click on cover for Goodreads:

  

 

That's quite a lot for me for this week! I got to read 3 ARCs and 2 books for uni! win-win :)

What did you read this week?

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Book tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Reaper's Fall (Reapers MC #5) by Joanna Wylde

The New York Times bestselling author of Reaper’s Stand is back in her “uber-alpha rough world of MCs”* as one woman’s future is rocked by the man whose hardcore past could destroy her…

He never meant to hurt her.
Levi “Painter” Brooks was nothing before he joined the Reapers motorcycle club. The day he patched in, they became his brothers and his life. All they asked in return was a strong arm and unconditional loyalty—a loyalty that’s tested when he’s caught and sentenced to prison for a crime committed on their behalf.
Melanie Tucker may have had a rough start, but along the way she’s learned to fight for her future. She’s escaped from hell and started a new life, yet every night she dreams of a biker whose touch she can’t forget. It all started out so innocently—just a series of letters to a lonely man in prison. Friendly. Harmless. Safe.
Now Painter Brooks is coming home… and Melanie’s about to learn that there’s no room for innocence in the Reapers MC.

 Reaper’s Fall is the newest standalone in the Reaper's MC Series. Painter & Melanie's story is FINALLY here! 

Available at the following retailers:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1DsDyRt

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1yYt1Rn

Nook: http://tinyurl.com/pljucpa

iBooks: http://tinyurl.com/pwfxzyj

Excerpt #1 

“You want to watch a movie or something?” she asked, nodding toward the TV. I had a decent one, too. Giant-ass flat-screen—homecoming present from the club.

“Sure,” I said, reaching for the remote. I didn’t have cable, but Ruger had set up some kind of box thingie for me so I could stream shit. “Whatcha in the mood for?”

“Not horror,” she said quickly, and I laughed again, remembering that first evening I’d spent with her at Pic’s house. She’d been so young and scared and vulnerable . . . I’d wanted to eat her up.

I still wanted to eat her.

“I can’t believe that you and Puck were supposed to be watching over me, and then you put in a slasher movie. That’s not how you make a girl feel safe.”

“No horror,” I agreed, although the thought of holding her for a couple hours while she was scared shitless appealed way more than it should. Watch it, asshole. “How about Star Wars?”

“You like Star Wars?”

I shrugged. “Everyone likes Star Wars. You know, I’m pretty damned sure Han Solo was a biker.”

She giggled. “You mean, like a space biker?”

“See, when you say it like that it sounds stupid.”

“I wanted to be Princess Leia. She’s badass,” she said, taking a deep drink of her beer. I watched as her lips wrapped around the neck, her throat swallowing. Oh fuck, that was good. She set the beer down on the coffee table with a clink, then let loose with the biggest burp I’d ever heard.

“Fucking hell,” I said, stunned. “I didn’t think girls could burp like that. Shit. Impressive, Mel. Very impressive.”

She grinned at me.

“We’re friends,” she told me. “And friends don’t need to worry about stuff like that. Let me guess—you’ve never had a female friend before?”

“Not really,” I admitted. “I’m think I’m a little scared.”

Scared and turned on, which was weird.

“You should be. I can do the whole alphabet.”

Damn. I kinda wanted to see that.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author:

Joanna Wylde is a New York Times bestselling author and creator of the Reapers Motorcycle Club series. She currently lives in Idaho.

Stalk Her: Website | Facebook | Twitter |  Goodreads

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