Cover Reveal: Still Water by A.M. Johnson

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Rock Hard Romance

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Title: Still Water (Forever Still #2)
Author: A.M. Johnson
Book Tour: October 19 – 30
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Hosted by: S.B.B. Promotions

After being rejected by his childhood best friend, Todd Dixon turns his back on love and all its false promises. Three years later, he’s living in a new city, making a name for himself with his bar, record label, and one night stands.

Lily Spring knows nothing but the music that flows through her veins, but after one night of betrayal that ended in tragedy, her entire life falls from under her right along with her musical dreams. Now, she finds herself living in a new state with a sister she barely knows and a dream that she MUST fulfill.

He’s everything she doesn’t need.

Stubborn as hell, sexy as sin, with a reputation as wicked as his body. To make things worse, he’s her new boss and the ticket to what she’s always wanted.

When two fates collide and passions burn high, will the fire die or will it simmer into a slow burn becoming much more than either of them thought possible

This isn’t just a love story.

This is a story of hope, repentance and second chances.

Are you ready?

still water meme 3

PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR REVIEW HERE

OR DELETE THIS SECTION IF YOU ARE NOT REVIEWING.

Amanda Marie Johnson was born and raised in Valrico, Florida. She’s now surrounded by mountains with her husband and three children in Ogden, Utah. She attended Weber State University and graduated with her A.S.N. She is a full-time registered nurse. Reading and writing have always been something she is passionate about. She loves to write about the human experience, love and happily ever afters.

~ Hosted By ~

Blog Tour! Island Captive by Fossbrook & Cole

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Rock Hard Romance

ISLAND CAPTIVES

Fossbrook & Cole

Release Date: October 19^th, 2015

Cover Designer: J.C. Clarke

Genre: Erotic Adventure Romance

Goodreads
TBR

BLURB

Mollie
Wan-Chu, pretty and academic University Student, wins a place on the reality TV
show “Shipwrecked Survivor.” Filled with gleeful excitement she
prepares for her time in the exotic sunshine of Potomac Island.

When
she first arrives, the idyllic vision that has existed in her mind’s eye
becomes the reality, however the desire that builds in C4TV cameraman Pete and
her co-islander Neil, ensures that the perfection soon gives way to a game of
sexual domination in which Mollie becomes the unwitting subject.

Will
Mollie survive the attempts to humiliate and hurt her or will she break down
and be sent home in shame …

Island Captives Book Trailer

Purchase Link

Facebook Release Day Party

Island Captives Party

AUTHOR’S COMBINED BIO

Fossbrook & Cole are a writing duo comprised of a mystery man
only known as Fossbrook and NJ Cole. Residing in the UK, Fossbrook enjoys
writing the darker side of life. NJ Cole, author of over half a dozen erotic
books, has an eclectic writing style. When Fossbrook & Cole get together is
a combination of fire and ice. Only it’s hard to tell which is the fire and
which is the ice.

STALK LINKS

NJ Cole

Fossbrook

It’s A Mystery

Hosted by

Alpha Book Club, PR

Everything I left Unsaid by M. O’Keefe

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Rock Hard Romance

Everything I left Unsaid

5** Review

Purchase Everything I Left Unsaid: A Novel

I didn’t think answering someone else’s cellphone would change my life. But the stranger with the low, deep voice on the other end of the line tempted me, awakened my body, set me on fire. He was looking for someone else. Instead he found me.

And I found a hot, secret world where I felt alive for the first time.

His name was Dylan, and, strangely, he made me feel safe. Desired. Compelled. Every dark thing he asked me to do, I did. Without question. I longed to meet him, but we were both keeping secrets. And mine were dangerous. If I took the first step, if I got closer to Dylan—emotionally, physically—then I wouldn’t be hiding anymore. I would be exposed, with nothing left to surrender but the truth. And my truth could hurt us both.

Emma received a Netgalley arc in exchange for honest review.

I would say the best way to read this book is BLIND. Don’t read any reviews (including mine although it’s spoiler free, I hope!), don’t read the synopsis… Just read it!

I loved this book! It’s a contender for top read of 2015 for me!

Cake for breakfast…check!

Skinny dipping….check!

Hot phone sex…check!

Annie McKay is a woman on the run. She’s running from an abusive, controlling husband. After finding herself in The Flowered Manor, a run down trailer park with an old converted RV she feels a semblance of safety. At peace with herself after so many years of being controlled.

“No one missed me. Or worried. Or wondered. I’d vanished and the world just kept spinning.”

Dylan Daniels lives on the mountain he owns, a life of solitude. One phone call between him and Annie change everything. He find’s himself drawn to Annie, breaking all his rules…intrigued by her meekness, he wants to break her out of her shell.

“Daniels was the beast. He was the bad guy in the stories. Some other asshole could be the hero, save the day and get the girl.”

Their story progresses at the perfect pace. Without giving too much away, Annie and Dylan don’t actually lay eyes on each other until about three quarters of the way through the book. Their relationship is based solely on phone calls until then. That being said every single moment and encounter between them is rife with want, longing and need.

“In her voice he could hear every dark and forbidden thing she craved. And he wanted to give it to her.”

“The distance between us throbbed. With anger. With lust. Questions and huge fucking secrets.”

“Now what?”
“Now, take off your clothes.”

Secondary characters play a huge part in this story. Who is Ben? Why does Dylan employ someone to watch him? Is Joan everything she seems? Tiffany the woman in the trailer by the Rhododendron bush? They all have their own person hardships, financial struggles, drama, past, secrets but still M. O’Keefe has created a community within the trailer park. Without seeing that community, I think the story wouldn’t of been as good for me.

I found myself wondering, only a page or two into Everything I left Unsaid… why have I never heard of M. O’Keefe before? Rest assured I have now added more books to my TBR (like I really had to!). She previously published with Mills & Boon under Molly O’Keefe and has books dating back to at least 2008 on amazon.

So a summary… A quick roundup of Everything I Left Unsaid, if that’s possible.

Discovery. Community. Cake for Breakfast. Skinny Dipping. Lust. Want. Need. Hot. Steamy. Some of the best phone sex, I’ve ever read.

Cliffhanger!

Yes, it ends on one hell of a cliffhanger. Book Two The Truth About Him is releasing November 24th. I’ve had the pleasure of reading book two already and can’t wait to share my review with you!

“This is what it’s like between two liars, baby.”

A note from Emma: due to illness review is late, Everything I left unsaid was released October 13th.

Review: Alasdair (Masters Among Monsters 1) by Ella Frank (4.5*)

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Rock Hard Romance

Alasdair is not for the faint hearted. It is a paranormal erotic Male/Male romance. It also features scenes of M/M/M, M/F and F/F. Please do not read if you feel you may be offended by the content.

Alasdair by Ella Frank

4.5 Stars!

Release Date: October 13th (Purchase link below)

Alasdair (Masters Among Monsters Book 1)

A DANGEROUS ALLURE
Bestowed with eternal life by the Ancient Vasilios, Alasdair Kyriakous is one of the most feared and ruthless vampires in existence. His name carries weight across all of the seven continents.

But he is a mystery to his kind, an anomaly among the self-indulgent. While he enjoys the pleasures of the flesh, he is exceptionally particular in his choice of partners and prides himself on his ironclad self-control.

Yet with one look his control will become a thing of the past, and Alasdair will discover that eternal life doesn’t always last forever…

A DEADLY ATTRACTION
Thrust into a world he could never have imagined, Leo Chapel awakens in his worst nightmare. Taken hostage by the dangerously mesmerizing vampire, Alasdair, Leo must rely on his intelligence to escape before he reveals a secret he isn’t even aware he’s hiding.

A FORBIDDEN DESIRE
Unaware that they’ve been brought together by an outside force and are little more than pawns to a higher power, Alasdair and Leo spend time trying to uncover the other’s secrets, the attraction between them growing stronger all the while.

But enemies are watching and preparing to act against them. When decisions that will alter lives and destinies have to be made—can a dead, grey heart learn to beat again?

Emma was provided with an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I knew nothing when I picked up this arc. Again I judged a book by it’s cover, and of course Ella Frank’s Name. It wasn’t until Shaz mentioned ‘some new M/M paranormal vampirey type book’ (yes i may be taking liberties with how she actually described it!) that I realised she was taking about Alasdair.

Greek mythology, vampires, and sizzling hot sex. Intrigued? As you should be.

“An arrogant as fuck smile stretched across Alasdair’s lips, and he went from sexy to downright fucking dangerous in seconds.”

Alasdair was erotic from the get-go, but strangely it wasn’t all about sex. Erotic? yes, Full of sex? no. Never thought I’d see the day,

I was turned on: tingling from my head to my toes and of course it includes all the important parts, but at times I found myself giggling…. yes, giggling. Like a teenager, a centuries old vampire going by the name of Alasdair had me giggling like a 14 year old with her first crush.

“You get a perverse kind of pleasure out of this, don’t you?”
“Out of?”
“My confusion. My fear. It turns you on, right? What kind of sick fuck are you?”
“Is that a trick question? I’m not a person, Leonidas. I’m vampire. That’s the kind of sick fuck I am.”

Ella managed to maintain the focus on the Alasdair and Leonidas while building a world of intriguing secondary characters: Isadora, Elias, Vasilios and Thanos, around them all without ever having it be too much. You get a little more of their world piece by piece but it doesn’t interfere, if anything it makes everything better! I loved the dynamic of the ongoing story lines with secondary characters.

Everyone has their own take on vampires, and their creation. I loved how Ella has managed to wrap Greek mythology into such a sexy, stunning story.

Book two will focus on different characters while continuing to build on the story that began in Alasdair. I’m hooked. Addicted. I’m pretty sure I shed a tear when I realised I had finished.

I. Need. More!

A note from Emma: Due to illness my review is late, Alasdair was released October 13th.

Cover Reveal: Freed by Him

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Rock Hard Romance

COVER REVEAL

Title: Freed by Him

Series: Fighting Free Series

Author: GL Chapple

Genre: Contemporary Romance / Suspense

Release date: November 19^th 2015

Blurb:

He hurt me

He broke me

He almost destroyed me

Nobody was ever going to do that to me again. I learnt to fight back. I made myself tougher, harder, stronger. I didn’t want or need anyone.

Until Nate Masters.

Until he made me feel, want and need

Then my carefully constructed world began falling apart around me. Secrets shattering my faith in those closest to me and with the nightmare from my past pushing its way back into my present, I don’t know how much strength I have left to fight with…

Could I trust him? Give someone the power to hurt me again? He’s determined to break me free from behind my walls of self preservation

I’m just not sure I’m ready or willing to be Freed by Him….

I’m currently a SAHM to two little ones. I live in Wales in the UK and spend a huge amount of time at the beach, despite our climate…

I don’t drink any hot drinks despite trying my best to make myself like coffee! I love reading – obviously, writing and music, and hot sunny days which we never get enough of!

I’ve dreamed of writing my whole life and would often pen short stories as a child. Unfortunately, life took over and reading and writing were forced to take a back seat for the last few years. Until my husband bought me a kindle last Christmas, and well, suddenly everything changed…

Connect With GL Chapple

FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM

Kristen Ashley – Walk Through Fire 4.9*

Posted on October 17, 2015 by Rock Hard Romance

Walk Through Fire (The Chaos Series Book 4)

The flame never dies . . .

Millie Cross knows what it’s like to burn for someone. She was young and wild and he was fierce and even wilder-a Chaos biker who made her heart pound. They fell in love at first sight and life was good, until she learned she couldn’t be the woman he needed and made it so he had no choice but to walk away. Twenty years later, Millie’s chance run-in with her old flame sparks a desire she just can’t ignore. And this time, she won’t let him ride off . . .

Bad boy Logan “High” Judd has seen his share of troubles with the law. Yet it was a beautiful woman who broke him. After ending a loveless marriage, High is shocked when his true love walks back into his life. Millie is still gorgeous, but she’s just a ghost of her former self. High’s intrigued at the change, but her betrayal cut him deep-and he doesn’t want to get burned again. As High sinks into meting out vengeance for Millie’s betrayal, he’ll break all over again when he realizes just how Millie walked through fire for her man . . .

Walk through fire is about Millie and High (Logan, low) They were madly in love in their youth, Millie ditched High after 3 years but no-one ever knew why. They were perfect for each other. Millie was born to step in to the shoes of an old lady. So why after such an epic tale of love did Millie through it all away?

After 20 years Millie sees High in a Chipolte and from there things get explosive and very very dirty with a little heart-break thrown in for good measure. New friendships are made along the way.

Fuck them. All of them. Especially Logan. He was dead to me.

There is a lot of heart-break along the way. Millie’s secret broke my heart, I just wanted to hug her and slap High for being so blind!

I found from all the old ladies I connected with Millie more than the others. She was just existing until High came back in to her life with the usual bang you’d expect from Chaos. We also get a few povs from Tack and Tyra. I don’t want to give away too much to spoil the read. I only had one issue with the book and that was the length. I felt there was some bits that could have been removed and would have still kept the amazing story line running. but as always I got to the end of the book and wanted more.

I mean who doesn’t want more of a KA Alpha!

Peace out – Rose

Must Reads

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Rock Hard Romance

Our Must Reads…books old and new that we think everyone should read at least once.

The list will grow and change and will be updated as often as possible, you can click the covers to find out more and to purchase from Amazon UK.

Please note: The sections they are in are the ones we think they are suited too, they may or may not match up with the amazons categories.

Alpha Male/ Tattooed Bad Boy

Rockstar

**Double Time features MM, MMF and MFM scenes.

Military

Fighter

**RAZE is also quite dark.

New Adult

Erotic Romance

Romance

Biker

M/M

Sports

Mind F*ck/Taboo/ Dark Reads (most of these have trigger warnings, please be aware)

Paranormal

**Lover at Last features MM scenes

Finding Ever After (Ever After 1) by Stephanie Hoffman McManus (5*)

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Rock Hard Romance

Reviewed by Vicki.

Out Now, purchase link below.

It’s been three years since she left everything she knew behind, but Jaxyn is finally done running, and returning home to Boston face the friends she abandoned without warning and the nightmare that still wakes her in the night.

Back in the childhood home that holds all of her memories from before life showed her that ‘happily ever afters’ don’t come easy, she is unsure of what the future holds. The one thing she definitely wasn’t expecting was Kyden McCabe, the hot, tattooed and pierced musician she meets her first night back.

All she ever wanted as a little girl was to be swept off her feet by a prince, but Ky is nothing like the heroes from the stories her mom used to read to her. He’s arrogant, frustrating and completely wrong for her. He lives his life one night stand at a time and she knows he’s nothing but trouble.

Still haunted by her past and afraid to let anyone see the scars she hides, she fights the attraction she feels for Kyden and wonders if she’ll ever find her storybook ending. Then a monster from her past threatens to rip away her chances before she realizes that maybe she already found it.

Content Advisory 17+ recommended

Finding Ever After (Ever After 1)

Vicki was given a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the idea of this story and the character’s created so much so that I ended up getting the other books in this ‘Ever After’ Series. It is not your typical Rock Star Romance.

Told from Jaxyn’s POV until the Epilogue which is from Kyden’s, It is a story which takes it time unfolding but I enjoyed the way the author wrote it.We don’t have the usual scenes there’s no un-planned pregnancies/secret child/drug use and it was a nice change from some of the other books I’ve read over the years.There are tears,laughter,sweet moments and character’s you will fall in love with (and a couple who you’ll be glad to see the back of!) Jaxyn and Kyden’s story is one that along with the rest of the series,I will re-read again. Although each can be read as a stand alone,it makes sense to read the whole series,as we do get more from each as the series goes on.

Reading Order is..

Finding Ever After
Chasing Ever After
Fighting Ever After (Kyden’s POV of Finding Ever After)
Saving Ever After
Risking Ever After (out on the 12th September)

Pretty When You Cry – Skye Warren (4*)

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Rock Hard Romance

Shaz was kindly provided an ARC in return for an honest review.
Release Date: October 20th.
No Pre-order available.

A new dark romance novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Wanderlust and Prisoner…

I came from a place of dirt floors and holy scriptures. They told me the world outside was full of sin, and the first night I escape, I find out it’s true. Ivan saves me, but he does more than that. He takes me. He makes me his own girl.

My conditioning runs too deep. Ivan sees what I am.

That’s the thing about showing a mouse to a cat. He wants to play. And it’s terrifying, even for me. Because the only thing darker than my past is his.

Skye Warren is a beautiful writer who isn’t afraid to guide you into the darkness, what’s more, she’ll make you want to stay there. Pretty When You Cry is the story of Candace. After growing up in a twisted religious community where her self esteem was stripped from her, she finally escapes and meets Ivan, being the terrified young girl she is,he takes her in and claims her for his own, all the while keeping her at arms length. Ivan is a hard man but it is obvious from the onset that he cares for Candace deeply.

There is no getting away from the fact he is down right mean to her a lot of the time but the reader is also aware that he would never let anyone harm her. Ivan holds Candy on a type of pedestal, denying himself the pleasure of her. Haunted by his own demons, Ivans dark and sometimes humiliating forms of play, inadvertently give Candace what she needs and build her up to be a strong, independent woman but now she wants more. She wants Ivan, all of him and she’s not going to settle for less.

Ivan is an intense and complex character and I would have loved to have delved further into his psyche, this book was crying out for Ivan’s POV, there were many times I would have loved to have known what he was thinking or why he did what he did and although this book is a standalone, I did wonder if there was more to come from Ivan.
All in all, this is a captivating read for lovers of dark romance and Skye does not disappoint.

Obscured by Tara Sue Me writing as Cat Waters (4*)

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Rock Hard Romance

Obscured was given to Emma through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Releasing October 12th 2015, pre-order link below.

There’s the truth you know….

At age 16, Athena Hamilton traded her body for survival when a powerful Vegas hotelier and pimp lured her into his world. Ten years of turning tricks has taught her to trust no one and feel nothing. Yet a chance meeting with a childhood crush sparks hope for something more.

The truth you believe…

There’s no way Isaiah Martin could want her. He’s a pastor. Too good. Too pure. But when she learns her days are numbered, she runs into the safety of his arms and trusts his promise of protection.

And the truth you never imagined…

The aftermath of a tragic accident and a bitter betrayal leaves her destitute and alone. The one man she shouldn’t trust offers her a chance to escape. But when good and evil collide, what do you do when the truth is Obscured? cover74815-medium

Obscured

I went into Obscured blind; I skimmed over the synopsis, the cover and Tara Sue Me was what drew me in.

Throughout the book there were twists and turns I never expected, it kept me wondering what would happen each time I turned the page. It was fast paced and quite enjoyable.

Athena Hamilton became a prostitute at 16 years old, after meeting Mike Randolph. After meeting an old friend 10 years later something within Athena breaks as she decides to run. This is when she find out the truth, truly is, obscured.

I found Athena to be a little bit flaky at times, but who can blame her when you read what she’s gone/going through. Her decisions at times had me shaking my head, thinking ‘you silly girl’.

Isaiah Martin, her old friend, tells her he is a pastor. When Athena makes the decision to leave, her path leads her to Isaiah once more. To begin with he was likable, a southern boy, all grown up, Athena can’t see he’s almost too good to be true.

There was a twist in the story, a good one in which Athena seemed to be on the way to getting her happy ever after.

Saying anymore would be a spoiler, so I’ll leave it there. Obscured was generally really good, 1* off for the flakiness of Athena and the fact it’s looking like a series but there was no mention of it.