Review - Unlocked (The Alpha Group #3) by Maya Cross

Unlocked (The Alpha Group #3) by Maya Cross

My rating = a lascivious five!

The Blurb

The breathtaking conclusion to the USA Today bestselling Alpha Group Series.

Who is Sebastian Lock?

The heart can lead you to dangerous places. Abandoned by the man she loves, with nothing more than sweet words and riddles for an explanation, Sophia Pearce felt like her life was crumbling before her eyes. And then they came for her. Now, things will never be the same.

Confronted with the truth about Sebastian’s identity, she’s thrust into a high stakes world beyond anything she could have imagined. A world that threatens much more than just her feelings. Sebastian’s enemies will stop at nothing to get what they want, and they want her.

Their passion for one another consumes them, but as the danger mounts, and loyalties are tested, Sophia must answer one simple question. What is she willing to risk for love?

**This book is approximately 55,000 words, or about 200 printed pages. It contains erotic content and a dominant man who always gets what he wants in the bedroom. It is intended for readers aged 18 and over.**

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My Review

What an amazing conclusion in this, the third book in The Alpha Group series. The second book left us with a mouth dropping cliffhanger that had you eager to rush onto this next book which certainly did not disappoint. It also came armed with Sebastian’s POV (as well as Sophia's) which usually is not something I particularly like as I am keen to keep my book boyfriends dark and mysterious, so knowing all that Sebastian had been thinking and feeling up to this point could have been a dealbreaker for me. It wasn’t. This book astounded and amazed me.

When I first started reading this series in Locked I presumed what ‘The Alpha Group’ stood for. How wrong I was and also to think the series would be the predictive plot found in other ‘billionaire men’ type of reads. It wasn't and it kept me thoroughly enthralled and ensnared in the intricacies of the storyline.

In this final instalment we find out what ‘The Alpha Group’ actually is and what a curveball that was! To describe my thoughts about this would totally give the game away and as a reader this part was one of the highlights when this was relayed in the book, so I don't want to fling a spoiler into the works but just let me say it was an integral part of the book but also a wonderful and original addition. 

We still had the sexy and delicious Sebastian with his dominant demands in the bedroom but we also got to see the softer side where he shared with Sophia his deepest and desperate emotions. 

Finally he pulled away, only to bury his head against my neck. "Say it again," he whispered, teasing me with a slow rocking motion.

"I love you," I breathed.

"And I love you," he replied.

Sophia and Sebastian found themselves thrown back together as the result of a dark and despicable action which is at the hands of a devious force. However, as the plot evolves even more surprises are thrown into the mix, leaving Sebastian and Sophia running for their lives and learning to act on their instincts. Throughout all this they realise and reveal their true feelings for each other which were so glorious to read and again turned this read into something much deeper than envisioned at the beginning.

The action and suspense was intertwined with the romance aspects and it grabbed the reader into another dimension of an erotic read. I must admit though I did spot who ‘he’ was from the onset but that was not through any clues the author threw in – just a throwaway guess which had me high fiving myself at the end!

So would I recommend this series? Absolutely. A wonderful series that had me clicking the button on my kindle for more and held me spellbound from the onset. Fabulous!

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Cover reveal - All I Want For Christmas Is You by Molly O'Keefe

Let's get a jump start on the holidays with a cover reveal for All I Want For Christmas Is You (short story) by Molly O'Keefe. This was originally included in the Loveswept Naughty and Nice 3-story bundle and is a prequel to Molly's Crazy Thing Called Love. It will be available as a standalone ebook. Yay!

All I Want for Christmas Is You (Short Story)

By Molly O'Keefe

Loveswept | 978-0-345-54244-1

On Sale November 4, 2013

Book Blurb: 

In this touching eBook novella, a prequel to Molly O’Keefe’s Crazy Thing Called Love, a young woman swept up by first love is ready to say “I do”—until challenges arise during the holiday season.

Maddy Baumgarten and Billy Wilkins are spontaneous, in love, and prepared to elope the day after Christmas—that is, if Maddy’s family doesn't throw a wrench in their plans. Her parents are more than a little reluctant to give their blessing to the impending nuptials. After all, Maddy’s barely out of high school and Billy’s a notorious bad boy. Maddy doesn’t care about Billy’s rough past—all she cares about is living in the here and now. But after Maddy’s mother stops speaking to her in protest, and a Christmas Eve heart-to-heart with her father leaves her with butterflies, Maddy starts to get cold feet. She loves Billy, but is she taking this big step too soon?

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About the Author

Molly O’Keefe published her first Harlequin romance at age twenty-five and hasn't looked back. She loves exploring each character’s road toward happily ever after. She’s won two Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice awards and the RITA for Best Novella in 2010. Originally from a small town outside of Chicago, she now lives in Toronto, Canada, with her husband, two kids, and the largest heap of dirty laundry in North America.

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Pre-order All I Want for Christmas Is You (Short Story)

By Molly O'Keefe here

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Cover Reveal - Curves and The Sheriff by Jenn Roseton

Book: Curves and the Sheriff

Author: Jenn Roseton

Genre: Sexy Contemporary Western Romance – BBW Romance

Release date: August 20, 2013

Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

When Libby Grant breezes into Coldwater Springs, the last thing she expects is to be pulled over on the highway by Sheriff Jake Morgan.  Sparks fly when Jake suspects her of being a con-artist and is tempted to arrest her!

But when he discovers the real reason she’s in town, he finds he can’t get curvy Libby out of his mind - or his heart.  Can he convince her that his feelings for her are real?

Jenn Roseton believes that romance and happy endings go together. When she's not writing, she indulges in delicious gourmet chocolate. Although she’s spent time in Wyoming, unfortunately she hasn't met a sexy cowboy of her own - yet.

Facebook | Website | Twitter | Goodreads Author

Cover Reveals - Ruined and Full Exposure by Tracey Wolff

Well it's a Tracy Wolff double bubble today! I was only going do the reveal for the cover of Ruined but holy moly the ebook reissue for Full Exposure just came in too so here you are - feast your eyes on these beautiful covers. Gorgeous!

RUINED

Written by Tracy Wolff

Loveswept Original | 9780804179263

On Sale January 7, 2014

RUINED Book Blurb:

He was the last man I should love … but the first I ever could.

Ethan Frost was a visionary.  A genius. Every woman’s deepest, darkest fantasy—even mine.  And, somehow, I was his.

He stole into my life like a dream.  Turned my reality upside down and made my every desire come true—especially those I never knew I had.   He demanded everything I had to give.  Gave me everything of himself in return. 

But dreams don’t last forever, and ours was no exception.  Because my nightmares were darker, and my wounds deeper, than I could ever reveal.  And much as Ethan wanted to protect me, the secrets we didn't know we shared could only tear us apart. 

Pr-order Ruined here 

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FULL EXPOSURE

Written by Tracy Wolff

Loveswept Contemporary Erotic Romance | 978080417764

On sale October 28, 2013

FULL EXPOSURE Book Blurb:

In Tracy Wolff’s sizzling novel of erotic tension—perfect for fans of Sylvia Day, E. L. James, and J. Kenner—sex and suspense steam up the sultry bayou.

Desperate to leave a traumatic past behind, photographer Serena Macafee prefers sex with no strings attached—no commitment, just pure pleasure. Her new subject, sculptor Kevin Riley, seems like the perfect man to fulfill her hottest fantasies. And where better than the torrid wetlands of Baton Rouge, where Kevin works—and plays? But as their sessions heat up, so do Serena’s feelings for Kevin.

As she opens herself up to emotions she never wanted, Serena leaves herself vulnerable to everything she thought she’d escaped. As her guard breaks down, her fears are aroused. Something has followed her to the sweltering southern bayou, exposing her to the twisted fantasies of someone in the shadows—and to dangers beyond her wildest dreams.

Pre-order Full Exposure here

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Review - Lock Out by Maya Cross

Lock Out by Maya Cross

My rating = A flip-floppity Five!!

The Blurb

Who is Sebastian Lock?

Sophia had never felt attraction like that before. Raw. Electric. Irresistible. Swept off her feet by the dashing, enigmatic billionaire Sebastian Lock, she was taken on a journey of self-discovery, taken to places she never dreamed she’d go.

But things are never as simple as they appear. Sophia’s trust is a fragile thing, and Sebastian seems insistent on testing it. He has his own demons to battle, and nobody has brought them to the fore like she has.

As their relationship deepens, and Sophia begins to break down his walls, all that greets her are more questions. Why is Sebastian fighting so hard to keep her at a distance? Who is the girl on the background of his phone? And why does the strange tattoo on his chest seem so familiar?

These puzzles plague her, but as Sebastian’s mysteries begin to unravel, she must face an entirely different truth. Staying in the dark may be painful, but finding the answers could be deadly

My Review

This is book two in The Alpha Group series.

In the first scintillating book Locked, we were left with a cliffhanger ending where Sophia sees the picture on Sebastian’s phone, leading her to walk out on him and their arrangement. I loved that this then brought them to the next step in their journey and we find a chip in Sebastian’s demeanour, showing his softer side. The scene outside Sophia’s house was a “flippity-flop” moment for me, to see how scared and desperate Sebastian was. Le sighs.

So with the ‘arrangement’ back on the relationship developed deeper and things stepped up to another level but like all alpha men, this had Sebastian withdrawing again leading to Sophia taking drastic action which again pushed Sebastian to reveal more of his history in order for her to understand. And what a history – I wasn't expecting that but it gave more depth to the story and pulled you in further, wanting to understand this gorgeous, dominant man. When he reveals where he is from, it just gave me another reason to push Mr Lock further up the Lush List. Oh and he can dance? Hell yeah!

But underneath all this hot action was an entirely different story – just simmering under the storyline, the darkness was waiting to swoop right on in and throw a curveball to all the love fests we were being entertained with. So more questions arose – what exactly was the business that Sebastian and his colleagues were in? What was the meaning of the tattoo? What was the link to the British Politician and his death? 

As with the first book we are left with another cliffhanger but this time it had the element of danger entangled and how would it end for Sophia? 

Lock Out has been another amazing spellbinding edition of this fantastic series which I have thoroughly enjoyed so far. All will all be resolved in the final book Unlocked which is out now. 

I highly recommend this series, brilliant!

Buy it here

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Review - Locked by Maya Cross

Locked by Maya Cross

My rating - a sexy alphamatic five!

The Blurb

Who is Sebastian Lock?

The bar Sophia Pearce is in doesn't look like much. The wine is bad and the decor worse. But when a sudden attack of curiosity leads her to sneak past security and into the back room, she discovers something unimaginable. The most lavish party she’s ever laid eyes on, in the most unlikely of places.

But that’s nothing compared to what comes next, to the man she meets back there. Sebastian Lock. Gorgeous, commanding, and radiating charm, he is exactly the sort of silver-tongued rake Sophia has sworn to avoid. Unfortunately, he doesn't care much for her promises.

Every instinct tells her to run, but the chemistry between them is as inescapable as gravity. Soon, he’s opening her eyes to a whole new world of pleasures, pleasures she never thought she'd enjoy.

There’s just one problem. Sebastian is more than he seems. Between the famous company he keeps and the almost paranoid secrecy of his employers, he’s a puzzle Sophia can’t quite solve, and his insistence on keeping things casual forces her to confront the demons of her past.

Can she learn to trust again? Or will Sebastian’s privacy tear them apart?

Contains light BDSM, including spanking, restraint, and anal play

Note: This book is the first part of a trilogy that is designed to be read together, much like The Blackstone Affair. Sebastian and Sophia will get their happily ever after, but not until the last book.

Lockout: The Alpha Group Book Two - Due May 2013

Unlocked: The Alpha Group Book Three - Due June/July 2013

My review

This is book one of a three part series – The Alpha Group. I like that the author tells you up front this information so you know what to expect, what I also like is you didn't have to wait a long time for the next book. However I have saved the first two books to read in time for the third which is due out tomorrow.

In this first book we are introduced to Sebastian Lock and whoa what an introduction. With his sexy name, his sexy dulcet tones, and his sexy body, he has the total package to fall in lust with. 

Sophia is with the girls on a night out in a shitty bar when she notices a door being closely guarded for entrance. She sees a famous movie star go through the door and her interest is peaked. Not one for being slow in coming forward she formulates a plan to get past the guard and see for herself what is happening on the other side of that door. Once she gets through she is perplexed at what she finds – such opulence and a vibe in the air with the beautiful but fake people there. Until she hears that deep, seductive voice behind her, ordering her drink for her. And that is when she first sets eyes on Sebastian Lock, the tall dark and gorgeous man with the ultimate alpha vibe. 

But Sophia doesn't want to get pulled into whatever he is trying to pull her into and she dismisses his attention, however she gets lost in the corridors of the secret ‘club’ and when she hears voices she hides in an office cupboard. It just so happens to be Sebastian’s office and what she sees through the slats of the cupboard door is the start of the build-up of the relationship that develops between Sebastian and Sophia. It totally was not she thought she wanted but once it did it was inevitable what it would lead her to.

For a novella the storyline is very in depth and draws you in immediately. The characters are both likable from the offset. I like that even though Sebastian is the deep, dark, dominant male, Sophia is not a weak willed submissive woman that is usually portrayed in similar books. She is like a breath of fresh air and a strong likable woman. I just loved the interaction of them both and that the casualness of their affair keeps the reading fresh and inviting. 

There is a cliffy but it is a really good one leaving the reader gasping for the answer. This is why I am glad I was able to go straight onto the next book but even if I had read each novella as they came out I would not have been kept hanging as the author didn't leave a long time span in between books. 

So if you like your books with hot alpha males, strong females, a little light BDSM and a little mystery, then I can highly recommend this series. Right onto book two – Lock Out.

Buy it here

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Review - Stripped Bare by Susan Mac Nicol

My Review

My rating = An absolutely wonderful five stars!

The Blurb

Though two years past, Matthew Langer is still getting over the death of a loved one. He's steered clear of serious relationships, but when he meets the irascible, dirty mouthed and tempestuous Shane Templar that decision has never been harder. Shane is sexy, warm and funny, and Matthew finds himself trying like hell not to care about him. Especially when Shane, with his quick wit and hacking skills, is quick to stand up for justice and avenge wrongs. Then Shane strikes at the wrong target, and Matthew realises just how far gone he already is. At the threat of losing for good yet another man who’s broken through his armour, Matthew finds his heart stripped bare. He must face the demons of his soul or a future without love.

Shane continued whispering. “I would love to break that control. See you beg, hear you say my name as you beg me to fuck you. Watch you let loose and just be yourself. Oops, sorry, I didn't mean to swear. You can cane me later.”

“You are my lover, Shane,” he whispered, feeling a sense of release as he said the words. “My sexy, annoying, amazing man.” He kissed Shane passionately. “Mein Liebhaber,” he whispered.

“I’m here and I'm not going anywhere. I'm so sorry I wasn't there with you. I should

have been. I don't care what happened in the past. We were meant to be together, I know that. I'm just sorry it took something like this for me to be able to tell you that.”

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* ARC provided by the author in return for my honest review which is below

This was a beautiful and amazing read that had me spellbound from the first page. The characters were so well developed I was enraptured with their lives as if I was part of their story. The two MCs, Shane and Matthew, at first appeared to be total opposites but as their story unfolds it becomes clear they are two utterly gorgeous halves that are destined to be together as one. 

Matthew is a dutiful lawyer working for a man who he has no respect for whilst also coming out of a deep and dark period of his life after the devastating death of his husband, Sam. It is through another near tragedy after their friend David is beaten up, that he first meets Shane. To say it was an explosive meeting would be an understatement, both getting the wrong impression of who each other were and what they stood for but neither able to ignore the instant attraction. 

Shane is a man who has his own past demons that he won't allow to take precedence in his current life. He works as a legitimate hacker but also works as an escort for the high class agency where he has regular innocent ‘hook ups’ with David.

It was after an evening of one of these ‘hook ups’ that David went home and was beaten up by Ray who is the right hand man (read thug) of his father, Walter. Both men are total homophobes and Walter cannot come to terms that his son is gay, as is his employee Matthew. After Walter demands Matthew covers up the situation with David, Matthew resigns and Shane then sees him in a new light.  A sexy one at that!

I just loved Shane and Matthew (forever to be Shay and Matty to me) – with Matthew and his control issues and Shane with his potty mouth, they had the whole ‘opposites attract’ thing going on. Shay was just so darn lovable even with his impatience to know everything and Matty with his standoffishness and unwilling to let go with his feelings again. Both men were absolutely hot and the scenes between them kept the pages turning and sizzling with the passion!

The back story and how this intermingled with the current plotline was wonderfully pulled together. The secondary characters were extremely well executed and gave strength to the story – especially Timmy. Everyone needs a big Timmy to sit on them homophobes! 

I loved that Matty was German and how Shay thought the German spoken word was a turn on. I so wish I could be with them on that trip to Dresden – I can just imagine Shay melting when being spoken to by the locals!

On that note Ich verehrte dieses buch! (I hope that translates to I loved this book!) I certainly did. I was so surprised to find out this was Susan Mac Nicol’s first book in the m/m genre. It was so well researched and written. This was an absolute gem of a read and one of my new favourites this year if not ever. Brilliant!

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