3.5 Sniffs Review: RIDE HARD by Heather Leigh #Giveaway

Title: Ride Hard

Series: Condemned Angels MC #2

Author: Heather Leigh

Genre: Adult, Romance, Contemporary, MC/Biker

Publisher: Heather Leigh

ASIN: B00L8COJBU
Release Date: June 22, 2014
Source: Heather Leigh ☆ Between the Sheets Promotions ☆ Tour Schedule
Links: Goodreads  ☆ Amazon ☆ Barnes and Noble

Jeremy Moretti, son the of the Condemned Angel’s President, has always had eyes for Nicole, his baby sister, Roxy’s best friend.

Nicole has eyes for both Jeremy and Hunter.

The Condemned Angels MC is the only family Nicole has left. After a series of events that almost cost Nicole to take her own life, Jeremy was the one to save her.

They have both struggled with sexual frustration for years, and have been holding back on each other. Being too stubborn and hard headed, Jeremy decides it’s best to push her away. When he doesn’t step up to the plate, Hunter is there to break her fall.

While Hunter and Nicole’s relationship blossoms, Jeremy tries to move on. However, he can’t let her go. It always been here, and it always comes back to Nicole.

After the death of the rival MC’s President, Ryder, has the Devil’s MC in a uproar as Ryder’s surviving brother, Jax has come to seek revenge.

With revenge, Jax brings unknown secrets that pertain to Nicole, which may risk everything, her safety, her MC family, and most importantly, Jeremy.

THE GIST: Roxy has returned to town after being away for 4 months. Chase has drowned himself in alcohol to deal with her absence. With the birth of the baby coming soon, the identity of the father will be known. Is the baby Chase's or the traitor, Jake's? Meanwhile, Nicole is being pulled back and forth between Jeremy and Hunter. The Devil's MC is out for blood. And Nicole learns something about herself that she never thought possible. This secret, if revealed, could make her lose everything - her best friend, the only family she's ever known, and the man she loves.

WHAT I LIKED: I'm really glad that the father of Roxy's baby was revealed right away. With that cliffhanger at the end of Burning Desire, I desperately wanted to know. Nicole's story is very interesting and the twist to her past was completely unexpected. There is an element of danger that keeps readers on their toes. The cliffhanger at the end of RIDE HARD is even worse than the one at the end of the previous book. I want the next book now!

WHAT I DISLIKED: I really did not like how Jeremy claimed to love Nicole, but slept around anyway. That does not show love to me at all, and I really can't stand guys like that. I just wanted him to finally just get on with it and tell her that he wanted her to be his, instead of stopping any chance she had of moving on. I also don't like how every other word was the f-bomb. I'm not a person who swears, so that kind of bothered me after a while. I know that it's supposed to fit in with the MC world, but I've read other MC romances that didn't use so much swearing all the time.

Nicole: Roxy's best friend. Nicole and Jeremy have been dancing around their feelings for each other for a while. Starts something up with Hunter. She learns something about herself that could destroy everything she cares about.

Jeremy: Son of the Condemned Angel's MC President. Has been in love with Nicole since their first night together years ago, but doesn't do anything about it, except preventing her from being able to move on to someone else. Best friends with Chase.

Hunter: One of Chase's best friends. Starts something with Nicole after meeting her months before. There isn't much known about him, but there is a surprising revelation at the end of the book.

Roxy: Daughter of the Condemned Angel's MC President and Jeremy's younger sister. Best friends with Nicole. Has been in love with Chase for years. Pregnant with either Chase's or Jake's baby. She ran away for 4 months, afraid to disappoint her father, the club, and Chase if the baby is Jake's.

Chase: Best friends with Jeremy and Hunter. In love with Roxy for years. Drowns himself in alcohol to deal with her 4 month absence. Knows that the baby is his, and is determined to be there for Roxy and the baby.

Jax and the Devils MC are the villains in RIDE HARD. Jax wants revenge for his brother's death and is determined to take it out on Jeremy. He uses Nicole against him. There's more that I could say, but it would give away way too much. So just know that Jax is a sicko and the Devils MC aren't going to stop until they have the revenge they are looking for.

First off, I love Roxy and Chase. Whether the baby is Chase's or not, these two are just awesome together.

Now, Nicole's love life is a little more messy. Nicole and Jeremy have been going back and forth with their feelings. Jeremy claims to love her, but never claims her and sleeps around. And when she tries to move on to someone else, Jeremy does whatever he can to prevent it. That leads to some tense moments now that Hunter is in the picture. Hunter would have been my choice for Nicole, because he's not afraid to admit how he feels about her, but with Jeremy in the way it's pretty much doomed from the start. Then when it finally seems like Nicole and Jeremy are on their way to being together, her unknown past rears its ugly head and it seems like any chance they have has been destroyed. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens for them in the next book. Also Hunter's story is going to be really interesting.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Click the cover to go to Review!

Was this review helpful?

Please vote for it on Amazon!

Just click the button!

Thank you!

Read More

3.5 Sniffs Review: FOREVER RIDE by Chelsea Camaron #Giveaway #Excerpt

Title: Forever Ride

Series: The Hellions Ride #2

Author: Chelsea Camaron

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, MC/Biker

Publisher: Whiskey Girls Publishing
ASIN: B00KU6IYW0
Release Date: June 6, 2014
Source: Between the Sheets Promotions ☆ Tour Schedule
Links: Goodreads ☆ Amazon ☆ Barnes and Noble ☆ Smashwords

Events happen in life that can awaken our truest and deepest desires. They also show us our greatest fears. Sometimes we are forced to face those fears, other times we build walls that can't be broken to protect ourselves.

A profound connection these two once shared. A strong friendship once formed was shattered. Fate has stepped in and shaken both their worlds.

The danger, the wild, the chaos, and the lifestyle of the Hellions world has become far too much for Savannah 'Sass' Perchton. Swearing off bikers and attempting a 'normal' life, she has settled. She's committed to Nick, her country club, pretty boy. She's found a way to be content.

Things aren't always what they seem. Wrap an empty box in pretty paper and a bow, it may look amazing, but it's still a hollow shell.

He's a Hellions playboy. A different chick in his bed, off on a different ride, and always something new. He's Frank the 'Tank' Oleander, Haywood's Hellions Road Chief. Throttle down and life is good.

The fast pace of the Hellions life catches up to him. At a crossroads, he's forced to face some life changing thoughts or succumb to the darkness of death. Teetering on the brink of giving in, her voice is all he's holding onto. The coma he can't pull himself out of, but her voice is the light in the darkness. He wants the girl who pulled him through when his life was literally in the balance.

She's sworn off bikers. Can he pull through? Can she ever see past the lifestyle to the heart of the man behind the cut? Will they find their Forever Ride?

THE GIST: Sass wants a normal life away from the Hellions MC that she grew up with and the man she felt rejected her. Tank is in a coma, unable to wake up but completely aware, after dealing with Delatorre. Sass quickly learns that the normal life she wanted may not be as good as it seemed, and Tank (when he awakes) realizes that he needs to fight for the woman he loves, before he loses her completely.

WHAT I LIKED: What I liked the most about FOREVER RIDE was actually Tank himself. I loved his determination and his outright love and devotion. Oh, I also loved the back story of how Tank came to be in the Hellions MC. I also like seeing all the people from the first book back in this one. There were definitely some twists that I wasn't expecting, and the end of Sass' and Tank's was really nice. I also liked the life speeches that were motorcycle related - the road, the journey, etc. They may seem kind of cheesy while reading, but afterward I was left with a smile on my face.

WHAT I DISLIKED: While I loved Tank in this story, Sass really annoyed me. She was the definition of a doormat in FOREVER RIDE. She was so strong and confident in the first book, and then in this one she just wasn't. I understand the journey she was on and even a little about how she felt, but that is no reason for her to have allowed Nick to do what he did to her. I just wanted to scream at her to get her act together. I cannot stand heroine like this. There were times that it just got to be too much and I had to take a break. After reading Sass' POV, I really looked forward to Tank's afterward. That's really the only thing I didn't like about FOREVER RIDE, the weak heroine. Although she does get her act together by the end - that's the redeeming quality.

Sass: Wants a normal life outside the MC. Lives with her boyfriend Nick. Slowly starts losing who she it as Nick becomes more controlling. Still loves Tank, still visits his bedside, but also keeps a distance between them, since he's a part of the life she wants out of. She makes Nick her priority, but soon realizes that may not have been a good idea.

Tank: In a coma after the take down of Delatorre. While he can't wake up, he is completely aware. In this state, he reflects on his life up to this current point. He realizes how much he really loves Sass, and is determined to fight for her.

Nick: Sass' pretty-boy boyfriend. He was caring in the beginning but his true color quickly began showing when he asked Sass to make him her priority.

Doll: Sass' best friend. Understands Sass' reason and has her back. But she can't help feeling something isn't right.

Tripp: Doll's husband and Tank's friend.

FOREVER RIDE's villain is none other than Nick, Sass' pretty-boy boyfriend. He basically lured her in by pretending to be this loving a caring guy, but he had his own purposes and agenda. He asks, or more like demands, Sass to make him her priority and uses her reasons for leaving the MC against her to isolate herself from her friends and family. I don't want to say anymore about their situations, because it'll give something away, so you'll just need to read the book to get the full situations and the repercussions.

I don't count what happened between Sass and Nick to be a romance, so this is the only time he'll be mentioned in this section.

So in the first book, One Ride, we learn that happened between Sass and Tank after the barbeque (which is revisited in this book, but with more detail), and that is what finally lit the fuel for Sass' reason for wanting a normal life. Basically, she's been in love with Tank for a while, they had a night together, then he treated her like one of the club whores. It's not until afterTank's accident during the Delatorre take down that he realizes his true feeling for her in return, but now she's moved on with Nick. So he's got a fight on his hands if he wants to win her back.

You really see how much Tank really loves Sass by how hard he fights for her, even as she's trying to push him away. Not only that, but when he sees how she's living now with Nick and how the fire has gone out of her eyes, it nearly destroys him, but it also fuels his determination to make her realize that that life is not what she truly wants. 

My favorite line is "I love you, Button, with every beat of my heart." Which is literally the truth.

I was really disappointed with Sass in this whole book. I was just glad when she finally got her act together and realized that she really wanted to be with Tank the whole time.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

One Ride (The Hellions Ride, #1)

99¢ for the month of June ONLY!

Amazon US ☆ Amazon UK ☆ B&N

~Sass~  

Climbing off the bike, my legs are unsteady.

“Button, you don’t have to stay here with him. You know that, right?”  

“Tank, it’s complicated,” I remind him.

“So you keep sayin’, but the way I see it, you can’t be you here. The fancy car, big house, stiff clothes, and boring hair… that shit ain’t you. Button, you gotta live life.”  

“I’m safe living here with Nick. The Hellions aren’t safe. You, for one, should see that.”

“What I see is family. What I see is you’re afraid. You once called me out about being afraid of commitment. Well, Button, you’re full of fear, too. Fear of the unknown. There was a time when you wanted to take chances, to hell with the consequences. What happened?”

“Lots of shit happened throughout my life. The club life, it’s not for me. I’m not strong enough.”

“This is the life you were born into. It’s in your blood. Holding on to me just now, you relaxed into the ride like it was second nature. You know you’re meant for this, and you’re meant for me. Life’s too short, Button.”  

“Tank, just let it go. Just let me go. Please,” I beg him, unsure how much more I can take before I climb back on his bike and let him take me away.

“Roundman once told me to play the cards life deals us. Well, folding is not an option. You’re in my cards. Life placed you in my hand and I’m building my winning play around you. Sort your shit, Button, because I’m not letting go.”  

The tears are building behind my eyes. “Please, give me time. You were gone a long time.”

“I didn’t come here to upset you or force my hand today. I’m gonna go, but I’m not giving up on you.”  

Leaning over to him since he’s still on his bike, I kiss his cheek. “Until next time, Tank.”

“Until next ride, Button,” he responds with a wink as he cranks the bike and then proceeds to pull away, leaving my heart and my life a mess.

Click the cover to go to Review!

 

Was this review helpful?

Please vote for it on Amazon!

Just click the button!

Thank you!

 

Read More

3.5 Sniffs Review: HIS TO CLAIM - NO STRINGS by Opal Carew #Giveaway #Excerpt

Title: His to Claim: No Strings

Series: His to Claim #1

Author: Opal Carew

Genre: Adult, Erotica, Romance, Contemporary, Rock Star/Musician, Billionaire

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
ASIN: B00H0UT88I
Release Date: June 3, 2014
Source: NetGalley
Links: Goodreads ☆ Amazon ☆ Barnes and Noble

Rafe is a rock musician by night and head of a multi-million dollar family business during the day. Melanie is his former assistant, a wallflower who’s harbored a secret crush on him for years. Someone he’d never even consider sleeping with. But when Melanie decides to leave behind her shy exterior and live out her own sexy bucket list, the two of them are thrown together in a whirlwind affair that pushes both their boundaries.

His to Claim: Part 1 is the first installment in the scintillating erotic serial novel His to Claim, later to be made available as a complete book featuring special bonus material. Don’t miss the other chapters of Opal Carew’s six-part serial out Summer 2014. She’s his to claim–he just doesn’t know it.

We met Rafe and Melanie in His to Possess (Dane's and Jessica's story), now we get to read their story in HIS TO CLAIM. Melanie has been in love with Rafe ever since she started working for him at Rainier Industries. But learning about his life away and the relationship he had with her new best friend Jessica, makes her leave the company to pursue different opportunities and try to get over Rafe. Rafe can't understand why Melanie left the company he owns with his brother Dane. He's never considered Melanie as anything more than a friend, but as he starts seeing different parts of her personality that she's never shown him before, he starts seeing her in a new light. And that confuses him. 

I would definitely recommend reading His to Possess first, because it will give you back story and help you to understand some of the things that are mentioned in HIS TO CLAIM. When I finished reading His to Possess, I was hoping that there would be a spin-off of Rafe's and Melanie's story, and I can tell you that I am to freaking happy that HIS TO CLAIM came out shortly after. HIS TO CLAIM: NO STRINGS has a great build up. I loved seeing the shift in Rafe's perspective of Melanie. I'm really looking forward to reading the next installments to see what happens next. 

Melanie: Rafe's former secretary at Rainier Industries. Now works in a coffee shop. Wants to pursue the life she's always wanted, but didn't because of what others wanted. Has been in love with Rafe since she started working for him. Best friends with Jessica.

Rafe: Been away for years touring with a rock band. During that time he met and fell in love with Jessica, then broke her heart when he left for a tour. Now back at Rainier Industries, running the company with his brother Dane. Sees Melanie as just a friend, until something changes.

Jessica: Melanie's best friend, and Rafe's ex-girlfriend. Now engaged and soon to be married to Dane Rainier. Learn more about her in His to Possess.

HIS TO CLAIM: NO STRINGS is the beginning of Rafe's and Melanie's story. As Rafe's perception of Melanie changes from friend to possibly something more, the tension builds. And that's just in this first part of the serial series. I think my favorite part was the motorcycle ride, followed closely by the tattoo parlor.

Great build up, a lot of tension - I can't wait to read the next serials!

HOT RIDE, by Opal Carew, #1 in the Ready to Ride series!

Goodreads

This accountant is about to learn that one rough biker plus three of his friends equals a HOT RIDE she'll never forget.

Giveaway Details:

Open International.
Ends June 27, 2014 at 11:59pm Central US

Just leave a comment!
Include your email and preferred eBook format
(PDF, Mobi, Epub).

A winner will be chosen randomly on June 28, 2014,
and the book will be sent after July 7, 2014.


ALSO...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As Melanie stepped outside, Rafe behind her, she regretted that this time with him was about to end. The tattoo had been painful, but not as bad as she’d anticipated. It had been so nice, though, having him there to literally hold her hand through it.

“Would you like a ride home?” he asked.

She gazed at him in his jeans and tank top, tattoos visible over his chest and flowing down his arms and she couldn’t help laughing. “I just got a mental picture of you dressed just as you are now climbing into that shiny, black limo.”

He shrugged. “Sure, why not? Would you like to ride in the limo?”

She had always wanted to. It seemed so glamorous and luxurious. It would be a taste of  how the other half lived.

“Or, since it’s such a nice day, we could ride my motorcycle.”

She raised her eyebrow. “You have a motorcycle?”

“That’s right. It’s over there.” He nodded his head toward a big, gleaming, burgundy Harley parked on the street in front of the shop. “But I know some women are a little intimidated  by them.”

Melanie laughed. “Not me. I’ve always wanted to ride one.” She walked to the big  machine and ran her fingers over the soft, black, leather seat. “I would love to ride with you.”

His lips turned up in a devilish grin. “Really?”

She glanced at him and realized her statement might have sounded a little . . . sexual. Suddenly, an image washed through her of straddling Rafe, and slowly moving up and down on  him, his big erection buried deep inside her. A wild surge of hormones vibrated through her. As her cheeks blossomed with heat, she flicked her gaze to the seat again. “Um, yeah. It  would be a real adventure. Then I can cross two items off my bucket list—getting a tattoo and  riding a motorcycle.”

“I never knew you had such a wild side.”

Before she could respond, he opened the back compartment and handed her a helmet, then pulled one on himself.

She opened her bag and pulled out the light sweater she’d brought with her and started to pull it on. Ever the gentleman, Rafe grabbed it and held it up for her so she could easily push her arms into the sleeves. As she zipped it up, he pulled a black leather jacket from the storage bin and pulled it on.

Oh, man, he looked incredibly hot in denim and leather. He mounted the bike and she climbed on behind him.

Once she was settled, he glanced back at her. “You sure you want to go straight home?”

Was this review helpful?

Please vote for it on Amazon!

Just click the button!

Thank you!

Read More

3.5 Sniffs Review: UNUSUAL AWAKENING by S.M. Knowles

Title: Unusual Awakening

Series: Rylee Everley #1

Author: S.M. Knowles

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Publisher: S.M. Knowles

ASIN: B00H2A2QNA
Release Date: December 2, 2013
Source: Inside Stone ☆ Tour Schedule
Links: Goodreads ☆ Amazon

With tears and a tight hug, Rylee Everley’s dad left for Afghanistan with the Army Reserve. Since his deployment, her mom has been distant, her sisters are constantly fighting, and Rylee, at only thirteen years old, has to be the glue to keep them together. While her mother stays locked in her room, Rylee has been forced into the role of parent.

Now, two years later, a freak accident involving a bus at school promises to restore some normality to her family. In spite of not knowing how their father is, her mother is happy and her sisters don’t seem to fight as much as they used to. Rylee herself is seeing more of her friends and is even trying to sort out her own feelings about Brock Parker. However, something dark threatens to disrupt that normality for personal gain, and that darkness is willing to break every rule to get what it wants.

Rylee Everley has had to hold her family together ever since her father was deployed to Afghanistan. As her mother withdraws into her bedroom, Rylee takes care of her younger twin sister, Ava and Zoe, as any mother would. After all, she's her father's second-in-command.

Now she's 15 years old. After a bus accident that left her bruised and with a broken arm, things are starting to look up. Her mother is happier than she's been since her father left and her sisters aren't fighting each other as much. She's been able to see more of her friends and just has more time for herself.

As she is trying to sort out her feelings for her childhood friend, Brock, something dark and dangerous is lurking. It'll do anything to get what it wants, even kill. And that darkness wants Brock, but Rylee is in the way. All of a sudden Rylee is hearing strange voices and she's having extremely painful headaches, all the while having dreams of death and destruction. What could it all mean?

I really liked UNUSUAL AWAKENING. All the strangeness and mystery keep you hooked. I also liked how every once in a while there were POVs for other characters, namely Adysin and Brock.

There were a couple things that bothered me about the story, though. I didn't like how Rylee basically puts her life on hold, waiting for her dad to return. Basically she just stopped living and is going through the motions. Which makes sense since she acts more like a 13 year old (the year her father left) instead of a 15 year old. And another is her feelings for Brock. It was just so frustrating, but I'll get into that more in other sections of this review.

But there is a cliffhanger at the end that left me wanting to read the next book right away. So the things I liked about UNUSUAL AWAKENING outweighed those that I didn't.

Rylee: At the age of 13, when her father was deployed, she took on the role of mother in her household when her mother withdrew into her room. Her father always told her that she was his second-in-command and had to keep the family together in his place. Now at 15, her father is still not home, she's been hit by a bus, having strange dreams and painful headaches, and to top it off, she's hearing voices. To add to the stress, her childhood friend Brock is scrambling up her feelings - at one moment he's warm, the next cold. Then she meets the mysterious Phoenix, and things get even more strange and dangerous. But at least she's somewhat prepared, right? Not.

Ava/Zoe: Rylee's twin sisters. Ava is the girly one, and Zoe is the tomboy. They have a very deep love for their older sister. They just want to see her happy.

Brock: Rylee's childhood friend. His family has been really close friends with hers for a while. He plays football for their school and is one of the best players on the team. He's had feelings for Rylee for a while, but she's never noticed. He promised her father that he would look out for her and her family, and he takes that promise very seriously. When he begins dating Adysin, Brock slowly begins to change. In a strange and not good way.

Lyla: Rylee's best friend since elementary school. She's like another sister to Rylee and always has her back. She begins dating one of Brock's teammates, Garrett.

Garrett: One of Brock's football teammates. After the Snow Ball, he begins dating Rylee's best friend, Lyla.

Charlie: Another of Brock's football teammates. He took Rylee to the Snow Ball. He starts developing feeling for Rylee, and when she tells him that she's not allowed to date until she's 17, he tells her that he'll wait for her. He's completely smitten.

Phoenix: The mysterious woman from Rylee's dreams. She wants Rylee to walk into the light. When they meet in real life, Phoenix reveals herself to be one of the Highers who govern the witches. When Rylee refuses to walk into the light and have her memories erased, Phoenix sees something in her and asks her for help. That's when she tells Rylee that there is a half-witch working dangerous and unlawful magic, and that Rylee's already met her.

Adysin: A half-witch with an unhealthy obsession with Brock. She's working some dangerous magic to make him hers, and being only a half-witch with limited powers makes what she's doing even more dangerous. She wants to take Rylee out of the picture, and she'll do just about anything to do it.

The villain of UNUSUAL AWAKENING is Adysin. She's obsessed with Brock and wants to make him hers. She comes up with a spell that will make that happen, but something about it didn't go right, because whenever her back is turned, Brock is back with Rylee. And that infuriates her. She uses her powers to terrorize Rylee into staying away from Brock. Not only that but she's got some kind of strange control over him that has Rylee worried.

Being a half-witch living in the human realm, with and unhealthy lust for more power and an obsession that's uncontrollable, makes Adysin very dangerous.

There isn't much romance in UNUSUAL AWAKENING, because Rylee can't figure out her own feeling for Brock, and Adysin shoving her way between them. Not to mention Charlie showing interest in her.

I'll start with Charlie first. He took Rylee to the Snow Ball and after that he kept in contact with her. Sending her sweet texts and telling her that he'd wait for her until she was allowed to date. I really loved Charlie. He was so sweet and sincere. He was just perfect. A guy and girl would love to have.

Now the mess with Rylee and Brock is a bit more complicated. Rylee admits to having a crush on Brock, but then says that she doesn't think of him in that way. All I'm thinking when I read these moments is this, Rylee if you have a crush on him there is no way you could not think of him in that way! It was so so frustrating! And Brock is so obvious in his feelings for her, but she's took blind to see it. Oh my goodness, there were moments when these two made me want to pull my hair out.

But then there were moments when I was thinking that maybe their relationship is moving in the right direction. Especially after Adysin's spell takes place and Rylee and Brock have these really intense make out visions. I thought maybe these visions would make Rylee finally realize her true feelings for Brock. But then Adysin would worm her way between them again.

Like I said, so so frustrating.

Check out a swoony moment between Rylee and Brock 

from this week's Swoon Thursday! Just click the button!

Book 3, Dream Ending, comes out JUNE 17th!!

Was this review helpful?

Please vote for it on Amazon!

Just click the button!

Thank you!

Read More