REVIEW: Sex, Not Love by Vi Keeland

 

AVAILABLE NOW

 

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My relationship with Hunter Delucia started backwards. We met at a wedding—him sitting on the groom’s side, me sitting on the bride’s. Stealing glances at each other throughout the night, there was no denying an intense, mutual attraction. I caught the bouquet; he caught the garter. Hunter held me tightly while we danced and suggested we explore the chemistry sparking between us. His blunt, dirty mouth should’ve turned me off. But for some crazy reason, it had the opposite effect on me. We ended up back in my hotel room. The next morning, I headed home to New York leaving him behind in California with the wrong number. I thought about him often, but after my last relationship, I’d sworn off of charming, cocky, gorgeous-as-sin men. A year later, Hunter and I met again at the birth of our friends’ baby. Our attraction hadn't dulled one bit. After a whirlwind trip, he demanded a real phone number this time. So I left him with my mother’s—she could scare away any man with her talks of babies and marriage—and flew back home. I’d thought it was funny, until the following week when he rang the bell at Mom’s house for Sunday night dinner. The crazy, gorgeous man had won over my mother and taken an eight-week assignment in my city. He proposed we spend that time screwing each other out of our systems. Eight weeks of mind-blowing sex with no strings attached? What did I have to lose? Nothing, I thought. It’s just sex, not love. But you know what they say about the best laid plans…  

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REVIEW

RATING:

My first 5-star read of the year, and I couldn’t be happier!

If you read my other Vi reviews, or come across it, you’ll most likely say that I’m just saying the same things over and over again no matter what the storyline is. There is a reason for that. It’s because in my mind, Vi consistently uses a winning formula that showcases her characters in the most lovable way. She’s really found her lane, I say.

Just like her previous books, everything for me is on point here; from the cover to the first meeting to the humor to the heat to the conflict to the character growth to the flow of the story. Seriously, what more can I ask for?

Hunter is def BBF material. Not quite alpha, not quite beta, perhaps gamma? Doesn’t matter, you’ll love him! I know I do! Funny, sweet, thoughtful, sexy, perfectly imperfect… sigh… And Nat is a lovable heroine. You just want to support her actions and decisions. Hunter couldn’t have deserved a better heroine. Add of course, can’t forget the side characters who added their own flavour to the story.

I appreciated how the dual POV was laid out, learning about Hunter’s past. I admit it got me nervous as Vi seems to like throw in a kink into the system by throwing in OW/OM. But that’s how she rolls, I reminded myself, so that helped. And I really can’t think of anything I didn’t like about how the story unfolded. I enjoyed every moment with those 2.

Without a doubt, Vi is a one-click author for me. She does contemporary romance so well. A definite fave! This book is another perfect example. Highly recommend.

     

 Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles have appeared in over eighty Bestseller lists and are currently translated in nineteen languages. She lives in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six. Website | Facebook Fan Group | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram         

Other books from Vi Keeland:

Standalone novels

Beautiful Mistake

Amazon eBook http://amzn.to/2uoeoJN

iBooks http://smarturl.it/20x53a

B&N http://smarturl.it/n8jey6

Kobo http://smarturl.it/1btxsz

Egomaniac

Amazon: http://smarturl.it/b1gi74

iBooks: http://apple.co/2fIsmvC

B&N: http://smarturl.it/t4ohsv

Kobo: http://smarturl.it/azmhq9

Bossman

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2a8D5B6

iBooks: http://apple.co/25x2jyX

B&N: http://bit.ly/29sL4H2

Kobo: http://bit.ly/29lW19I

The Baller

Amazon: amzn.to/1PBF2hG

iBooks: http://bit.ly/iBooksBaller

B&N: http:// bit.ly/BarnesBaller  

Kobo: http:// bit.ly/KoboBaller

Left Behind (A Young Adult Novel)

http://www.amazon.com/Left-Behind-Vi-Keeland-ebook/dp/B00OJM92LI/

Life on Stage series (2 standalone books)

Beat

http://www.amazon.com/Beat-Vi-Keeland-ebook/dp/B00ZOMUV12/ http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beat-vi-keeland/1121715501 https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/beat/id983959123 https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/beat-5

Throb

http://www.amazon.com/Throb-Vi-Keeland-ebook/dp/B00SS2RYBU

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/throb/id948747986

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/throb-vi-keeland/1121112695

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/throb-4

MMA Fighter series (3 standalone books)

Worth the Fight

http://www.amazon.com/Worth-Fight-Vi-Keeland-ebook/dp/B00FLG5B9S

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/worth-the-fight/id805540252

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/worth-the-fight-vi-keeland/1117014180

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/worth-the-fight

Worth the Chance

http://www.amazon.com/Worth-Chance-Vi-Keeland-ebook/dp/B00I2UKQOK

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/worth-the-chance/id813714461

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/worth-the-chance-vi-keeland/1118634058

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/worth-the-chance

Worth Forgiving

http://www.amazon.com/Worth-Forgiving-Vi-Keeland-ebook/dp/B00MWL78EG

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/worth-forgiving/id906130022?ls=1&mt=11

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/worth-forgiving-vi-keeland/1120173153

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/worth-forgiving

The Cole Series (2 book serial)

Belong to You

http://www.amazon.com/Belong-You-A-Cole-Novel-ebook/dp/B00BUTCXLE/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/belong-to-you/id639401754

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/belong-to-you-vi-keeland/1114962845

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/belong-to-you

Made for You

http://www.amazon.com/Made-You-A-Cole-Novel-ebook/dp/B00DPWVKS6

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/made-for-you/id84550637

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/made-for-you-vi-keeland/1115883225

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/belong-to-you

Co-written novels

Cocky Bastard

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1LfN3fc

iTunes: http://apple.co/1PffE2J

B&N: http://bit.ly/1EjxNpY

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1UxCSUO

Stuck-Up Suit

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1S3LnpZ

iBooks: http://apple.co/1Qbwy57

B&N: http://bit.ly/29vrQhV

Kobo: http:// bit.ly/1RJdUif

Playboy Pilot

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2d5I5rS

iBooks: http://apple.co/1Wb06Cf

Nook: bit.ly/2caXPEK

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2cJDXO1

Mister Moneybags

Amazon http://amzn.to/2oTaaHf 

Barnes & Noble http://smarturl.it/kx7h8m 

iBooks http://smarturl.it/3y1tuq 

Kobo http://smarturl.it/qqf5ho 

Dear Bridget, I Want You

Amazon: ➜ http://amzn.to/2sGyJbZ

iBooks: ➜ http://smarturl.it/y4x3xi

B&N ➜ http://smarturl.it/o780mb 

Kobo: ➜ http://smarturl.it/kfgc6a

Google: ➜ http://smarturl.it/7cvewu

Thanks for dropping by!

~Leftie

RELEASE BLITZ: Dream by Garrett Leigh

Universal Buy Link: books2read.com/DreamGL

Length: 60,000 words approx.

Cover Design: GDLeigh @Black Jazz Design

Cover Photo: Dan Burgess @Moonstock Photography

Blurb

I can’t sleep…

When unrequited love leaves Dylan Hart sleepless and nursing his wounds, instinct draws him to the one place he's found mindless respite in the past—Lovato’s. It’s a place for every fantasy — for crazy-hot encounters — where a night of insane NSA sex brings relief to Dylan’s fragile feelings.

It should be a perfect escape, and for one magical night it seems that way, but then worlds collide, and reality bites when his hookup desperately needs a friend. Surely Dylan can’t trust his instincts when friendship has bruised his heart so badly before?

It’s burying me alive…

The deck is stacked against former ballet dancer Angelo Giordano ever finding real love. At least visiting Lovato’s offers respite from a life defined by illness; a glimmer of light in the dull grey of his so-called life without dance. But then he encounters Dylan — a glorious ray of the brightest sunshine — who makes his heart pound once more with purpose.

Angelo’s mind is blown by this man, but the disease that ended his career won’t let him bask in new love. He’s drowning, and Dylan can’t save him while insecurities swamp them both. The only way to make it means confronting their demons.

If Dylan can turn his back on the past, and Angelo can face his uncertain future, maybe they can chase their dreams together.

Garrett Leigh is an award-winning British writer and book designer, currently working for Dreamspinner Press, Loose Id, Riptide Publishing, and Fox Love Press.

Garrett's debut novel, Slide, won Best Bisexual Debut at the 2014 Rainbow Book Awards, and her polyamorous novel, Misfits was a finalist in the 2016 LAMBDA awards.

When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible, all the while shouting at her menagerie of children and animals and attempting to tame her unruly and wonderful FOX.

Garrett is also an award winning cover artist, taking the silver medal at the Benjamin Franklin Book Awards in 2016. She designs for various publishing houses and independent authors at blackjazzdesign.com, and co-owns the specialist stock site moonstockphotography.com with renowned LGBTQA+ photographer Dan Burgess.

Website: http://www.garrettleigh.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garrettleighauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Garrett_Leigh

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Review to follow soon:) Thanks for dropping by!

~Leftie

BLOG TOUR: Prince Charming by CD Reiss

Prince Charming an all-new sexy standalone from New York Times bestselling author CD Reiss is available NOW.

Synopsis:

Keaton Bridge is one hundred percent bad boy.

Cassie doesn't need a boy and certainly not a bad one. Nope. She fights crime for a living, and everything about this guy screams trouble, from his charming British accent to his mysterious past.

And Cassie doesn't do trouble.

Keaton's got his own trouble. He's trying to go legit, and an FBI agent hanging around is the last thing that will help his credibility.

All it took was one night of passion to sear her into his skin. Now he can't imagine living happily ever after without her.

All they have to do is walk away.

But neither of them ever walks away from a challenge.

Excerpt:

The list of crimes that happen on the dark net bounce through my brain as he holds me. Is he going to kill me? Strangle me right here in the parking lot of his own factory? Maybe he wants to try. He’s well-built but I’m pretty sure I can take a computer nerd in hand to hand combat. I just can’t let him get the jump. He goes for me. I’m surprised and prepared for it at the same time. I didn’t actually believe he’d try, but I’m reaching to block an attack while he’s leading with his head, which is weird, but I got this. When his lips smash against mine my body is a split second ahead of my brain. It’s processed the list of dark net violence and thus completes a series of moves to bring down a frontal attack. Even as I’m using his weight against him by holding his arm still while I swing him, letting his high center of gravity do all the work of stripping him of his balance, my mind processes the kiss. Because it was a kiss. A real soft-lipped-slightly-open-mouthed-I want-her-to-like-it kind of kiss. By the time those nice thoughts register I’m slamming him up against the car. I’m a little disappointed that I can’t take back my counterattack. I would have let him kiss me a few more seconds before taking him down. His eyes are open wide and the breath’s knocked out of him. The thump of his body against the car door fades into the night. “Why did you do that?” I ask. He looks at me as if I asked him why he pees standing up. Brows knotted. Arms out. Mouth half open as if he can’t contain the sheer number of answers he could give me right now. “What?” He says it like whot and it’s endearing and haughty at the same time. Damnit. I should have taken that kiss and not gotten all black belt on him. “Don’t sneak up on a girl like that.” I sound like a brat. He straightens himself out, pulling his cuffs down and realigning his jacket. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t just do a very impressive judo throw and tell you, out front, that I am going to kiss you. First, I am going to put my hands on your face, because I would like to feel your mouth move when I do it. Then I’m going to tilt my head to the right, so please, you should also tilt your head to the right.” He waits for me to nod, and when I do, he comes close to me and lowers his voice. “I’m going to wait a second once our lips touch, just to make sure we’re both appreciating this first contact. When I open my mouth a little, I want you to do the same. You need to accept my tongue in your mouth.” He puts his hands on my shoulders. “Is that enough of a warning?” “What happens after that?” “It’s unwritten.” He moves his hands up to my jaw, laying his thumbs against my cheeks. He strokes them and I lean forward. He kisses me just like he said he would. His tongue tastes like ice water, and his lips curve into the shape of mine. The adrenaline in my veins blends with something newer and warmer. He slides one hand back and tugs my hair which sends fluids and sensation and pleasure and all my attention between my legs. I push against him just so I can feel him resist. I need to fight him hard as I want him. He’s rigid and yielding all at once, turning us around until I’m the one with my back against the car. I shove him away and he separates from me with a sharp intake of breath. He doesn’t say a word, still holding me by a fistful of hair. The cold clouds of our breath mingle between us. He’s a predator, a criminal, and a mistake. But his jaw is tight and his nostrils flare when he breathes. He’s all those things and a bull charging for the red cape. “Push me away again,” he says, finally, “and we’re done here. And I know for a fact that’s not what you want.” I am the red cape, and I need to be yanked away as much as I need him to charge at me again and again. “When I want you to stop I’ll say so.” I shove him again, and he smiles before laying a kiss on me. It’s not a kiss I fight. It’s a kiss I want. He pauses, pulling his mouth away as if giving me a second to tell him to stop, but I don’t. I don’t start pushing against him until our mouths are locked again. His hips grind into me. I feel his erection through our clothes. I’m clutching his coat without any sense. I want to tear away every stitch of fabric. I push and pull with equal ferocity. I want to spread my legs but my coat’s too long. I want to punch him. I want that hard d!ck stretching me and I want it to hurt. My mind is wiped clean of everything but need. I don’t have a job or a career. I don’t have dreams built from childhood. I don’t have a name. I’m just a pillar of desire. I’m reduced to movement and hunger. I want his body inside mine. Nothing else.

Review:

RATING:

My first read of 2018 and I am off to a good start. How can I not be? This is CD after all. CD being an auto-1 click author for me, I know I'll get an exquisite read, whatever the story line is.

This new standalone is about a reformed(?) hacker and the FBI agent who's after him. There was an immediate attraction but with opposing agenda, how are they to manage those feelings and achieve their respective goals at the same time. 

Keaton is a delish chap. Armed with CD's words, I don't how anyone can be unaffected and not be completely charmed by him. He cloaked himself in mystery which just added to the charm.

Cassie is woman wanting to make a mark in a man's world. I appreciate her edge and vulnerability. Her challenges are totally relatable.

I'm grateful for the dual POV. The storyline need it. As for the writing, CD's writing is lyrical and poetic as always. 

For those who've read and enjoyed King of Code (I personally haven't yet), you'll be happy to get a glimpse of Taylor and Harper.

Read Today!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2CGBa18

Amazon Universal: http://mybook.to/PrinceCharming

iBooks: https://apple.co/2xTXtAk

Nook:http://bit.ly/2EGYmgs

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2yp8eeD

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2i2MIFJ

About the Author

CD Reiss is a New York Times bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn't pick up she's at the well hauling buckets. Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master's degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels. She's frequently referred to as the Shakespeare of Smut which is flattering but hasn't ever gotten her out of chopping that cord of wood. If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.

Connect with CD Reiss:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2iwpkPQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDReiss.writer/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/cdreisswriter Instagram: https://instagram.com/cdreiss/ Website: www.cdreiss.com Newsletter: https://cdreiss.com/cd-reiss-mailing-list-signup/

Thanks for dropping by!

~Leftie

RELEASE BLITZ: Prince Charming by CD Reiss

Prince Charming an all-new sexy standalone from New York Times bestselling author CD Reiss is LIVE.

Prince Charming by CD Reiss

Release Date: January 4th, 2018

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Keaton Bridge is exactly the kind of guy a straight-arrow like Cassie doesn’t need.

For one thing, he’s a criminal—and she fights crime for a living. And being criminally handsome isn’t helping her say no, either. Everything about him screams trouble, from his British accent to his mysterious past.

And Cassie doesn’t do trouble.

Keaton’s got his own trouble. He’s trying to go legit, and an FBI agent hanging around is the last thing that will help his credibility. All it took was one night of passion to sear her into his skin. Now he can’t imagine living happily ever after without her.

All they have to do is walk away.

But neither of them ever walks away from danger.

Read Today!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2CGBa18

Amazon Universal: http://mybook.to/PrinceCharming

iBooks: https://apple.co/2xTXtAk

Nook:http://bit.ly/2EGYmgs

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2yp8eeD

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2i2MIFJ

About the Author

CD Reiss is a New York Times bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn't pick up she's at the well hauling buckets. Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master's degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels. She's frequently referred to as the Shakespeare of Smut which is flattering but hasn't ever gotten her out of chopping that cord of wood. If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.

Connect with CD Reiss:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2iwpkPQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDReiss.writer/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/cdreisswriter Instagram: https://instagram.com/cdreiss/ Website: www.cdreiss.com Newsletter: https://cdreiss.com/cd-reiss-mailing-list-signup/

Thanks for dropping by!

~Leftie

Top 5 2017 Reads

Happy New Year, blogosphere!!!

Last year has been odd to say the least, as far as my reading is concerned. Frankly, there were just too many stuff happening in the world that got me distracted and as a consequence, I've read only half as much as I normally would have in the past. And even my blog posts were pretty much cut in half as well... sigh...

Nevertheless, I've still had some awesome reads, whew!

Without further ado, my Top 5 reads for last year (in no particular order):

1) The Darkest Sunrise Duet by Aly Martinez
One word: Porter!!!
(Review)

2) Blood Guard by Megan Erickson
I don't have enough words to describe how much I love Tendra, and the chemistry between Tendra and Athan.
(Review)

3) Triumph by Cecilia London
An epic ending to an epic journey. I think it's safe to say that Jack and Caroline will remain a fave couple.
(Review)

4) Citywide by Santino Hassell
My last read of 2017 which just made my reading year end on a high note, whee! Haven't had the chance to fully review this but let me just say that this perfectly captures what I love about Santino's writing. M/M/M, F/F, M/F... heat, humour, heart... he can write anything, I tellz ya!

5) Small Change by Roan Parrish
Because "Care bear stares!"
(Review)


So looks like 2017 was the year of kicka$$ heroines and/or cinnamon roll heroes, mostly. And I'm def more than ok with that...

May 2018 be a better year for reading and all... Here's to more fab reads! Cheers!


Thanks for dropping by!

~Leftie