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  • Embracing His Syn by A.E. Via

    Posted on by Karen Comment
    Sergeant Corbin ‘Syn’ Sydney had dedicated his life to becoming the best detective. So when he heard there was an opening on the notorious Atlanta Narcotics Task Force, he jumped at the chance. But, what he wasn’t ready for was realizing just how lonely he’d made himself, when he observed the loving and dedicated relationship between the two men he served under: Lieutenant Cashel ‘God’ Godfrey and Lieutenant Leonidis Day.

    Syn prepared himself to accept his lonely fate until he walked into a small pub and met the long-haired, tattooed bartender, Furious Barkley. Before Syn can even understand why, he’s overcome with feelings he barely recognizes: passion, yearning, craving. And if the dark, lustful gazes are anything to go by, Furious might be feeling the same things for him.

    Just two thing needs to happen before Syn and Furi can give each other what’s been missing from their lives for so long… Syn needs to find the evidence that proves Furi’s innocence of murder, as well as protect him from a past that refuses to let go.

    God, Day, Ronowski, and Johnson are still as entertaining as ever…

    You’ll swoon over God’s massive take-charge attitude…

    You’ll laugh hysterically at Day’s never-ending wit…

    You’ll fall in love with Furious’ mysterious, sexy demeanor…

    and…

    You’ll embrace Syn…

    And you will embrace his Syn.  Syn closed himself off from dating and love so that he could focus on making sure he was the best cop he could be.  Furi was in an abusive marriage and had to get away so that he could live his dream to be just like his dad.  When the two find each other, they both have their insecurities about starting anything, however, they just can’t ignore it. 

    I love how you think Syn would be the top in this relationship, but he isn’t.  I love a guy who is a gladiator in the real world and a lamb in the bedroom.  It is hot.    Beyond that, I also love how Syn’s team came together and formed the family that Furi always wanted.  Gave him a sense of belonging, security and comfort.  

    This story has mystery, action, humor, and passion.  There is nothing that this book doesn’t have.  5 Hearts!











    “I was exactly the man for this job Captain Myers, but I refuse to work for these two thieves.”

    God moved into Syn’s personal space quickly, damn near putting his nose on Syn’s forehead. He snarled, “Shut up,” but Syn didn’t budge. He kept talking, refusing to be intimidated.

    “The bust went exactly according to their plan. You might want to check some of your detectives’ bank accounts, Captain. It seems they aren’t satisfied with their pay grade and have resorted to robbing dealers.”

    “Are you referring to yourself, Sydney?” God pfftd.

    Syn saw red. His hand moved quickly, too fast for God to stop it as he bunched God’s jacket up in his fists. Syn didn’t anticipate God’s anger escalating as quickly as it did. A huge hand locked on to his throat, the other massive hand gripping his bulletproof vest. God propelled him backwards until Syn slammed against the wall.

    “Calm down, Sydney!” God roared.

    Syn tried to unsuccessfully take a breath.

    “God, back off, now!” Syn could hear the Captain yelling, but his head was pounding from the impact with the wall.

    Syn knew he only had a few more seconds before he would pass out. He brought his right arm all the way up and slammed it back down onto God’s forearm, dislodging the punishing grip. Syn gulped a quick breath, crouched low and slammed his right fist into God’s ribs. He saw God’s right fist coming and he had to use both arms to block the hit. Fuck, God was strong and fucking huge. God grabbed both of Syn’s shoulders and no matter how Syn twisted, he couldn’t pry himself free. 

    He stopped trying to remove God’s fingers and instead braced both hands on God’s thick shoulders, reared his head back and slammed his forehead into the bridge of God’s nose, finally making him release his grip. God staggered back and although Syn was dazed, he moved in, determined to keep the upper hand. In a split second he registered his legs being taken out from under him. Day had moved like a panther, dropped and spin-kicked his legs, sending Syn to the floor back first, hard.

    Damn that fucker is fast. Syn didn’t let the pain radiating down his back stall him. He kicked back up onto his feet and prepared to take them both on. How? He had no idea, but he damn sure was going to give it his best try.

    “Enough,” Day said easily, not even out of breath.

    Syn saw God over against the Captain’s desk moving his nose back and forth checking to see if it was broken. Syn didn’t dare let his guard down. “I’ll say when it’s enough and I won’t stop until I’ve gone to IA and your whole goddamn task force is under investigation. It won’t be enough until they’re probing up your asses with microscopes for dirty money,” Syn gasped the words between breaths.

    “A microscope is not what I prefer up my ass Detective Sydney … or haven’t you heard?” Day retorted.

    Syn couldn’t stop his startled reaction, Day’s crass remark catching him off guard. “You sonofabitch.” Syn moved toward Day again, his resolve long gone.

    Captain Myers moved in and put a thick hand against the front of Syn’s chest. “Actually, I say when it’s enough. Detective Sydney, unless you want to wait down in lockup until you calm down, I suggest you get a hold of yourself. You are all highly trained professionals and you’re acting like goddamn animals.”

    Syn’s chest heaved up and down with adrenaline. He’d just taken on God and Day. What the hell am I doing?

    Captain Myers turned and pointed a long finger at Day. “Day, if you ever refer to anything you want in your ass around me again, I’ll have your inappropriate, cocky ass back in a uniform policing school zone traffic.”

    Syn heard Day snort at the Captain and walk over to God, squinting to look at his nose. “Is it broken?” Day asked.

    God shook his head no, while glaring at Syn.

    Day smiled at Syn with what looked like pride. He clapped his hands together once and whooped before speaking. “Damn, the man can rumble. Never seen anyone not back down from you, God. I like him already. I say we make him third in command. I told you he’d fit right in. Man, when I’m right, I’m right. Sometimes I stun my damn self with how great a judge of character I am!” Day did some weird happy dance.

    “Yeah, I’m a great judge of character too, that’s why I don’t like anyone,” God snapped.

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  • Wounded by Erin R. Flynn

    Posted on by Karen Comment

    Gas station coffee is the highlight of Lily Slone’s boring outing until fate intervenes… Along with the barrel of a gun and a lost soldier who saves her life.

    Jasper Hutson—a homeless Marine, discarded by his family after returning home from the war wounded—reacted on instinct. But this one act brings him to Lily’s attention, and not because he saves her life. She sees something else in him. Something no one else sees.

    Refusing to give up on him when everyone else does, Lily offers Jasper a place to stay and an opportunity to get back on his feet. That one offer will change her world. When they grow closer and Jasper makes Lily’s life so much easier, she’s not sure she can go back to living without him.

    As life moves forward and they get into their own rhythm, Lily discover something about Jasper that he’s kept hidden. Will she continue to reach for her happily ever after or will they both remain wounded?


    As you may or may not know, I have been a fan of Erin’s for a long time now.  I follow her on her blog and Facebook.  Reading this book was like reading her biography in a way.  There is so much of Erin in Lily.  I could pick out things that Erin has shared in the past with readers.  I found myself carefully reading to see what else I can remember.  

    The story itself was endearing.  Watching Jasper and Lily fall in love one odd job at a time was awsome.  Kind of reminded me of a line from a Rosie O’Donnell movie:  Slave says “How can I please you ma’am?”  Her answer, “Paint my House!”  

    There is a big twist in this book, that I didn’t see coming!  I will not say what it is, you will have to read it to find out!  A read worth reading! 5 Hearts!

    Website   |   Amazon  |   All Romance




    Most people complained or picked on gas station coffee. It was even a running gag that only hospital food being horrible beat it. But still, thousands of people across the country got it every day because it was easy, cheap, and already where they need to stop.

    I wasn’t most people. It was a treat for me because it had real sugar. Those goofy-flavored cappuccino machines were the highlight of needing gas for me. No, I never claimed to be remotely normal.
    Just overweight.

    And to make things worse, I filled the last quarter of the cup with ice—because I didn’t like hot coffee. Lukewarm or iced. That was what tickled my fancy. That was a lot of detail for one drink, but that was what you focused on when the scariest thing ever happened to you—the details sear into your brain.

    That day I’d gone with a caramel white chocolate large one, glancing at the donuts and reminding myself they’d probably been sitting there for hours and were so not worth the calories. 

    Then people screamed.

    I knocked the cup, spilling scalding liquid all over my hand as I turned to the door and saw the man with gun. Faster than I would have thought I was able to move, I darted behind the condiments counter, the gunman a blur. Part of me wanted to chew myself out for not getting a better view of the guy, the police would need that later. The sane part of me patted myself on the back for thinking so quickly.
    “Money. I want the money,” someone demanded and I didn’t need three guesses who was speaking. 

    “And the expensive booze back there. The good stuff.”

    “Yeah, sure. Take whatever you want,” a woman whimpered. Tears burned in my eyes at the fear in her voice. It wasn’t like I would have traded places with her, but I did wish there was some way I could help her without getting shot. Then again, sometimes people tried to be heroes and made the situation worse. I made a mental note to remind myself of that later.

    “Faster!” the same man snarled.

    I won’t judge if she pees herself. I might have. I rolled my eyes. What a random thought. My parents would be very disappointed with the lack of manners I was mentally having as I crouched there looking out the windows and praying the police somehow showed up.

    At least that was a better use of the time.

    Something brushed my shoulder as it moved past me. Then I heard someone hiss behind me and I realized why when I glanced at what it had been.

    A kid.

    I wasn’t thinking—and that was what I’d say later—when I jumped up from my spot and grabbed the little girl’s arm. I quickly shoved her back to where I saw her parents hiding, cursing how stupid they were to not have held on to her better.

    And debating calling Child and Family Services that they hadn’t gone after her.

    “What are you doing over there?” the man bellowed. My heart stopped as I realized he was talking to me. I slowly turned towards him with my hands up, thinking that I might throw up instead of pee my pants when I focused on the barrel of the gun pointed in my direction. “I asked what you’re doing!”

    “I tripped,” I lied, swallowing loudly. “I was hiding and I tripped. I’m sorry.”

    “Keep filling the bag,” he snapped at the poor attendant before taking a step towards me. “I could shoot you!” I saw his eyes darting around wildly and my heart sunk in my stomach. He was high. I mean high as a mother fucking kite kinda high.

    “My name is Lily Slone,” I blurted, remembering somewhere that if you personalized yourself that a gunman was less likely to shoot you. “I’m thirty years old. I live here in Bellevue. I grew up in Chicago. I have an older brother and a younger sister. I’m an author—”

    “I hate authors. They took my spot with publishers,” he seethed, taking another step closer.

    “I’m not with a publisher. I self-publish.” Yeah, not my finest moment, and not completely true but I didn’t think the drug-influenced gunman holding up the gas station was going to Google me at the moment.

    “And you made it that way? Why you? Why not me?”

    “I’m not Danielle Steele,” I squeaked. “No one’s ever heard of me. I just do the best I can.”

    “I could write what you do. I could become you.”

    Right because no one would ever tell anyone that he’d killed me and the crazy man could just pick up in my series without there being any continuity issues. Sure he could.

    He cocked the gun and my brain froze. There was nothing left to say that could help me when talking had made things worse. Plus he was bat shit crazy.

    A cammies-covered figure plowed into the gunman, and on instinct, I dropped to the ground. The shot echoed in the store and I begged whoever was listening that no one got hit when he’d been aiming for me. I heard some grunting and looked up in time to see the solider punch the guy twice in the face. Then he picked up the gun and tucked it into the back of his pants before glancing at me. He gave me a nod that everything was okay and I was staring into the prettiest green eyes I’d ever seen.

    And not just because he’d saved my life. No, they were a bright green with flecks of blue in them, but not hazel.

    Focus. Stop acting like a loony toon.

    I slowly got to my feet, my legs shaking and my knees sore from dropping to the hard tile so fast. That was going to bruise later—a bruise I’d love because I was still alive.

    The solider walked out the door, and I blinked after him, shocked that was how he was reacting. Then again, he just dove at an armed man. He could sing a happy tune and he’d still be my favorite person for a long, long time. 

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  • Racy Nights Series By Tara Rose

    Posted on by Karen 1 Comment

    A few months ago I won an auction which included most of the Racy Nights Series by Tara Rose.  Since then, a few more books were released (which I bought), and I decided not to read the series until this latest book was released.  In about one week, I read all 15 books!  See Tara, told you I could do it!  

    On July 15, 2014, the latest book Racy Nights  (#15) book was released.  Healing Her Racy Doctors is about a nurse and two doctors who find themselves in a position to act on hidden desires.  After losing the people they thought they would spend the rest of their lives with, Loreen and Adam find that they can love again, with the help of Adam’s best friend and fellow Dom, Travis.  Both Adam and Travis have always been drawn to Loreen and when she admits her submissive fantasies, they jump at the chance to help her bring these fantasies to reality.

    This book, like the series, is a hot read that will touch your heart.  After losing love once, you can find it again, if you let yourself be open to the possibility.  Many of Racy’s inhabitants found love for the second time, while some finally found out what love really is.  

    The whole series had me reading until all hours of the night.  I am so happy that I had the opportunity to read about the lives of the residents of Racy and I cannot wait for more.  I highly you make the trip to Racy and revisit it often I know I will.  5 Heart Series!

    I will have to add Racy to the literary road trip I am planning….  Male Order, Lusty, Divine Creek, Bliss just to name a few.


    Healing Her Racy Doctors (MFM)



    ER nurse and submissive Loreen Newhouse has admired surgeons and Doms Adam Eastman and Travis Randall from afar for years, but she hasn’t dated since her fiancé was killed four years earlier.

    Adam lost his fiancée to a car bomb three years earlier when he and Travis served together in Doctors Without Borders. Travis is afraid to give away his heart after watching the pain that Adam went through.

    When a chance encounter leads to Adam and Travis pursuing a Dom/sub relationship with Loreen, all three believe they are on the road to healing. Until an ER victim who too closely resembles Adam’s fiancé is brought in on the anniversary of her death, and Adam bolts without telling Travis or Loreen where he’s gone.

    Can Loreen overcome her own past grief and help Adam and Travis heal from their loss, or has she lost them both forever?

    Series Reading Order:

    Winning Her Racy Heart (Racy Nights #1) 
    Claiming Their Racy Sub (Racy Nights #2) 
    Tempting Their Racy Shrink (Racy Nights #3) 
    Satisfying Their Racy Desires (Racy Nights #4) 
    Taming Her Racy Ways (Racy Nights #5) 
    Pleasing Her Racy Doms (Racy Nights #6) 
    Sharing Their Racy Fantasies (Racy Nights #7) 
    Obeying Her Racy Firemen (Racy Nights #8) 
    Awakening Her Racy Passion (Racy Nights #9) 
    Schooling Their Racy Teacher (Racy Nights #10) 
    Engineering Her Racy Pleasure (Racy Nights #11) 
    Collaring Their Racy Runaway (Racy Nights #12) 
    Captivating Her Racy Heroes (Racy Nights #13) 
    Chasing Their Racy Destiny (Racy Nights #14) 
    Healing Her Racy Doctors (Racy Nights #15) 



    Tara Rose loves to write about small towns and the quirky people that inhabit them. You’ll find engaging characters, budding romance, intrigue and plenty of hot steamy ménage sex within the pages of her books. You never really know what goes on behind closed doors, but her books will take you there, and leave you panting for more.

    When she isn’t writing, Tara spends time with her husband—her real-life hero. She loves to cook, collect antique pottery, and she will read just about anything. Tara also plays the cello, and loves decorating her house for Christmas.



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  • Let Love Live by Melissa Collins

    Posted on by Karen Comment
    Last month, I attended the Indies Invade Philly Convention.  There, I met some of my favorite authors and I also met some new authors.  One of those latter authors was Melissa Collins.  Later that week I decided to give her book, Let Love In a try.  (Long Island Girls need to stick together.)  Needless to say, I binge read the rest of the series.   I haven’t written about this series yet, because I was waiting for the fifth book in the series to come out.  Now that it has…… 

    The Love Series by Melissa Collins is a wonderful collection of love stories surrounding a group of family and friends.  You will laugh but you will definitely cry, so keep your tissues handy.  

    Let Love Live is the fifth book in the Love Series.  Here is the blurb:

    Who would you become if you lost the only person who ever mattered?

    For twenty-six year old Dylan Hopkins, the answer is easy. He’s become no one.  Memories of the happier times are all he has left as he finds himself meandering numbly through his now dull life. Though he cares about his work and family dearly, he’s yet to let himself find love again. Afraid of letting go of what he once had, Dylan chooses to keep his heart buried, where it belongs, having died a long time ago. 

    Conner Michelson is about to change everything Dylan knows. He’s every bit the bad boy persona – tatted up, ex-MMA fighter, but after an injury leaves him unable to fight, he has to rethink his goals. Having just opened his own gym, Conner can cross his first major life accomplishment off his very short list. Next up: find a man he can settle down with and build a family. Seems simple enough – a dream most people have, but when he meets Dylan, his carefree, easy-going life is thrown into a tailspin.

    Determined to keep Dylan in his life, Conner vows to resurrect Dylan’s long ago buried heart and let love live once more.


    Like I said before, I have been waiting for this book to come out before I said anything about this series.  But it is more than that.  I have been waiting for Dylan’s story since the first time he was mentioned and that it was clear he was going to be a recurring character.  

    Devastated by the suicide of his first lover, Dylan has been afraid to turn himself fully over to the possibility of love for the fear of being left again.  You can feel how lonely he has been from the beginning.  I longed for Dylan to have his happily ever after.

    Conner is big, strong and sooooo handsome.  As soon as Dylan entered his gym, he is interested.  I just knew, once the truth came out, and they opened up to each other sparks would fly.

    And fly they did.  As their story progresses, you can feel how natural it is.  They were meant to be together.  

    This might be Melissa’s first venture in the m/m genre, but I think she did an incredible job with this story.  I read many m/m books, and I hope Melissa will do another one day.  

    Not only do I give Let Love Live 5 Hearts, but I give the entire series 5 Hearts.  I hope that there will be more installments.


    Melissa Collins has always been a book worm. Studying Literature in college ensured that her nose was always stuck in a book. She followed her passion for reading to the most logical career choice: English teacher. Her hope was to share her passion for reading and the escapism of books to her students. Having spent more than a decade in front of a classroom, she can easily say that it’s been a dream.

    Her passion for writing didn’t start until more recently. When she was home on maternity leave in early 2012, she read her first romance novel and her head filled with the passion, angst and laughter of the characters who she read about it. It wasn’t long before characters of her own took shape in her mind. Their lives took over Melissa’s brain and The Love Series was born.


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