FORSAKEN BY LISA RENEE JONES

In this third book in the sexy, suspenseful “The Secret Life of Amy Bensen” series from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones, we meet Amy’s brother Chad—and the woman who either loves him or wants him dead.

Six years ago, Chad’s hunt for a dangerous treasure turned deadly when his family home was set on fire, his parents killed. Faking his and his sister Amy’s death to protect her from further retaliation, he set her up in a new life with a friend’s help, letting her believe he’d died.

But now the men who hired Chad to find the treasure have found him, imprisoning and torturing him to learn where it’s hidden. A dark-haired beauty named Gia helps him escape, promising him access to his worst enemy. And as he tries to unravel the deep secrets of the past, he starts falling for her…only to discover she’s not what she seems.

Unable to trust anyone, Chad focuses on only two things: protecting his sister Amy and getting revenge. Is love even possible in the midst of heartache?

It’s nearly eight in the evening when I take the elevator to our secure, key-coded floor and enter the suite, where I immediately hear, “Chad! Is that you?”

Angry, I grab the chair in front of the door and shove it aside.

“Oh, thank God,” Gia gushes, flinging her arms around my neck. “You’re in one piece.”

Stunned by her greeting, by the way her sweet curves meld against me, I fight the heat rushes through me, untangling her grip and pressing her hands against the wall. “Tell me what you know about my sister,” I demand.

“Nothing, Chad. I told you that. Is she—was she—”

“You know I didn’t find her.”

“I wanted you to find her. I was terrified for you.”

Anger expands in me, seeping into my veins, and on some level, I know it’s not about Gia at all, or maybe I just fear it will be about her. I don’t want to trust her and be wrong. “You barely know me.”

“I know you’re in pain. I know what being alone feels like, and I know that’s what you feel right now.”

Alone.

It’s a word that pierces my heart with guilt. It’s what I know my sister has felt for six long years. I was all she had, the only one she could count on, even if she didn’t know I was there—and I failed her. The pain is a seed that grows and expands inside me in an instant, and suddenly, or maybe not so suddenly, the idea of being betrayed by Gia is not as biting as the idea of failing her as well. My hands come down on her face, and I stare at her. “I have money and resources to hide you, and I promise you, no one will find you. But I won’t be there with you. I’m poison to anyone near me. You can’t forget that. I can’t forget that.”

I don’t give her time to reply. My mouth closes down on hers, my tongue pressing past her lips, stroking and stroking again, in what is instantly an aggressive, searching kiss. She moans, and I swear the sound of her moan shatters a piece of my soul that is already bleeding for my sister. In this moment, it feels like all I have left is this woman. 

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT SERIES, and is now in development by Suzanne Todd (Alice in Wonderland) for cable TV. In addition, her Tall, Dark and Deadly series and The Secret Life of Amy Bensen series, both spent several months on a combination of the NY Times and USA Today lists. 

Watch the video on casting for the INSIDE TV Show HERE

Since beginning her publishing career in 2007, Lisa has published more than 40 books translated around the world. Booklist says that Jones suspense truly sizzles with an energy similar to FBI tales with a paranormal twist by Julie Garwood or Suzanne Brockmann.

Prior to publishing, Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by Dallas Women Magazine. In 1998 LRJ was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.

Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at on her website and she is active on twitter and facebook daily.

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Book Review: Ruthless - Michelle St. James

 Ruthless - Michelle St. James
Publish:Aug. 3, 2015
Series:Mob Boss #1
Genre:New Adult, Suspense, Dark, Contemporary, Romance
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Two years out of college, Angelica Bondesan spends her time working as a barista, keeping in touch with her prodigal brother, and trying to figure out how to bridge the gap with her father, a wealthy real estate developer.

But all of that changes the night she’s kidnapped. Thrown into a windowless room, Angelica is positive there’s been some kind of mistake — until she meets Nico Vitale.

Gorgeous and frightening, Nico became the boss of New York City’s Vitale crime family after the execution style murder of his parents two years earlier. Since then he’s turned the old-school mob into a sleek, modern army of ruthless men who understand that physical violence — while always an option — isn’t the only way to get what you want.

Now Angel is forced to face the truth;

Her father is not the man she believed him to be.

Nico Vitale is dangerous, possibly lethal.

She is falling in love with Nico Vitale.

Why is Ruthless my first experience with Mob book. I think I have a new genre that I adore. To make things even better I found a new author that I’ll be checking for. It goes without question Michelle St. James has made herself a contender with this debut.

Angelica Bondesan is more than content with her hushed lifestyle. Working at a local barista. One night after closing up the quiet life she knew will forever change her. After having a bag placed over her head and waking up in a strange room with her brain full of so many questions? Who are you people? Why did you take me? What do you want?

New head of the Vitale family Nico has a vendetta to settle with the man he believes killed his parents all he need is the proof. Going against the rules of the syndicate he takes the man’s daughter is hopes of drawing him out. I have to admit I wasn’t exactly impressed with Nico as a mobster, but more so as a gentleman. He has this soft manner about him when I require more alpha.

Ruthless is told with a dual POV which works very well considering both Angelica and Nico are both looking for answers to the dilemma that has forced their paths to crossed. Nico is looking to Angelica about the man she didn’t know had a second life - her father who also has mafia ties. Refusing to believe her father could be a part of Nico’s world, Angelica is convince a mistake has been made.

The romance between the two come with much resistance both as time passes the battle of their attraction overwhelms their logic. In a way Ruthless reminded me of a modern day mob like Romeo & Juliet story. Two people from opposite sides torn by loyalty to their family and love.

While some reviews mention that Ruthless has a cliffhanger I would disagree with that. Ms. St. James definitely leaves the door open for more to come, which it is, but if not I would be satisfied. Who am I kidding I would still want to know more.

Author's Bio:

Michelle St. James aka Michelle Zink is the author of seven published books and six novellas. Her first series, Prophecy of the Sisters (YA), was one of Booklist's Top Ten Debut novels. Her work has also been an Indie Next selection and has appeared on prestigious lists such as the Lonestar List, New York Public Library's Stuff for the Teen Age, and Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best. Her character, Alice, won the Teen Read Awards for Best Villain against Harry Potter's Lord Voldemort.

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Guess who's Got a Fitbit

This chick right here and I absolutely love it. After doing much research on this little gadget I said I wouldn’t get one until I completed 6 continuous month of working out without falling off track, but I couldn’t help myself I had to have it. This thing motivates you to get all of your steps and flights of stairs, its crazy. I’m still having issues with logging my food, but that also goes to say I still enjoy eating crap. I’ll get better *pinky swear*.

My current workout consist of alternating Jillian Michaels Killer Buns & Thighs and 6 weeks 6 pack abs. I’ve also added an arm workout (Tank Top Arms part 1 &2 )from Fitness Blender and cardio consisting of either the elliptical or walking. So far I’ve completed 2 intense weeks. I still fall behind and need to do the modified version there are a few moves that I have to do a modification of the modified version and I’m ok with that.

When it was time to begin level 2 of KBT something happened with my back throwing me off my workout game. I tried toning things down and down walk dvds but even that brought tears to my eyes, so I opted for stretching just to keep the I’m moving momentum.

I haven’t weighed myself in awhile mainly because I know nothing has truly changed. My current plan is just to stay consistent with my workout and continue to finds healthier recipes that I enjoy.

Book Review: Compulsive (Liar #1) by Lia Fairchild

Compulsive - Lia Fairchild

Released: May 12, 2015 

Series: Liar #1

Genre: Comtemporary, Romance, New Adult

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What happened to me...exactly?
I was a liar.
I know what you're thinking. We're all fucking liars.
But, I'm not talking about the lie you tell your Aunt Helen when she gives you that crappy sweater for your birthday. Or, even the lie you tell yourself when you're sleeping with someone for all the wrong reasons. I'm talking about bold-faced lies that spilled from my lips as easy as the breath from my lungs. Lies that ruined people, lies that protected people, lies for the hell of it. I ate, slept, and drank lies. I bathed in deceit. At one point in my life, I might not have recognized the truth if it bent me over and slapped me on the ass.
And sometimes, the chaos that was my life got me in a whole hell of a lot of trouble.
I was a master at keeping it all locked up inside me...until I met Dr. Daniel Harrison.

**Content Warning: Due to language and sexual situations, this book is intended for 18+ Only**

Is it ok that I didn’t enjoy Compulsive as much as most of the reviews that I’ve read? At some point I was convince I received a defective copy. I couldn’t get into the storyline, I walked away from reading this a few times because of my lack of interest.

I will say that the cover and the blurb initially caught my attention, my vision of how the story was going to go was completely different from what actually happened. The heroine Gray Sky has a serious problem not only can she not tell the truth, but she was attracted to drama. This girl was a wreck. Her complete way of life landed her on a therapist couch.As fate would have it her current therapist who I think was on the verge of dismissing her as a patient had personal issues of her own;so Gray was on the search for someone new. Being the rebel that she is Gray wanted nothing to do with the recommended therapist list left by her, she wanted Dr. Daniel Harrison.

Daniel decision making gave me concerned mainly because I’m sure being in his profession he knows not to get involved with his patients. While for the most part he attempted to keep things legit Gray made that very difficult.

The epilogue was from Daniel’s POV and it did intrigue me enough to want to read the second installment, even though I wasn’t wowed. I secretly hoping that Gray’s guy friend Nathan get a story, because I took a liking to him and I’m hoping that he find a woman that deserves and maybe better friends, because Gray sucked.

Compulsive is my first experience with Lia Fairchild’s work and fingers crossed that this will not be the last. The writing was decent, but again the story felt all over the place and my attention didn’t hold. The optimist in me want to believe this was because the heroine was a complete flake, she was flighty, and she made she absolutely crazy.

Exclusive Excerpt:

The ridges on the stark white ceiling blurred from my intense stare as I listened to the steady even breaths coming from the body next to me. He wasn’t a bad guy. Just an idiot. Maybe even married for all I knew. The clock read four twenty-three. That wouldn’t work for me. I waited for a nice round even number. Something that felt right. I held my phone with the message typed out: I need you. I keyed in the address, and when the clock hit four thirty, I hit Send.

At ten before five AM, I eased my body out of the bed the way a mother slips from her sleeping child, hoping not to rouse her angel. He stirred a moment and turned on his side, his arm involuntarily reaching for me.

“Sky,” he murmured with his eyes closed. His dark buzz cut hair was sprinkled with gray flecks, and a small rectangular scar bordered the hairline on the right side of his face. I hadn’t noticed that the night before, or I would have asked him. Now my curiosity had me pausing, conjuring up various scenarios for its origin. Whatever the cause would forever remain a mystery. With a gentle hold around his wrist, I lifted his hand and rested it on the comforter. His eyes flitted open and closed. Frozen, I waited to see if he’d wake. I didn’t worry about coming up with a story. It always came.

Still sitting on the edge of the bed, I reached over to an adjacent chair to snag my black silk shirt. When I pulled it over my head and then glanced down, two light blue eyes met mine.

“Hey, you,” he whispered. His soft, sweet smile almost made a dent, but I pulled my hand away.

“I’ve got to run.”

Surprise and confusion colored his face. “What time is it?”

“Around five. I’ve got early rounds.”

He seemed satisfied with my excuse and looked thoughtful. “Ah, yes, Dr. Phillips. Time to save lives.”

I gave him a nod and a tight smile just before a knock at the door sounded. I rose from the bed to pull on my skirt and slip my feet into my heels.

He sat up watching me closely like a cat that’d dart out of an open door. “Who could that be at this time?” he said.

“My ride,” I threw over my shoulder. I scooped up my purse from the dresser on the way out, catching his face in the mirror. They always had that same look the next day. Or perhaps I was the one who saw things differently.

I heard him jump out of bed and scramble for his pants as I made my way to the living room, picking up my pace. “Sky, wait.”

When I reached the door, he came in and leaned against the couch, folding his arms. “I could have driven you home.”

“It’s okay,” I said, pulling the door open.

Nathan stood in the doorway, hands stretched out to the jams on each side, his brown hair ragged from being dragged from the comfort of his bed. He shot me that look that said, you owe me and then let one hand fall and sweep to the side as if making a path for royalty.

“Wait,” a voice came from behind me. “Who’s this guy?”

Nathan took a step into the doorway. “Oh, hey, man.”

“John, this is my cousin, Nathan,” I said.

Unfortunately, Nathan had spoken at the same time I did and said, “I’m her neighbor.”

John walked over to the two of us, eyes darting between me and my partner in crime. “Well, which is it?”

Nathan and I exchanged looks, and I opened my mouth to speak.

John held up his hand. “No. Let me guess,” he said in a sarcastic tone. “He’s your cousin who lives next door.”

I half-shrugged while looking him dead in the eye. “I really should get going.” A split second later, I plastered on a smile. “I’ll call you.”

“You haven’t given me much choice,” he said to my back as I sidled past Nathan. “I don’t even have your number.”

I’d be willing to bet John wouldn’t be holding his breath.

Body of Law (Body of Law #2) by Amanda Lance

Body of Law - Amanda Lance
Released: Feburary 5, 2015
Series: Body of Law #2
Genre:New Adult, Romance, Contemporary
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She turned me into a criminal…

She corrupted my practical line of thinking by being uncommonly beautiful and so much more interesting than I expected. It’s too bad she wasn’t just someone else—someone who wasn’t swimming with brilliance. She had the uncanny talent to make me feel—well, to make me feel anything at all—something no other woman had ever done before.

I hate her for it, and yet I can’t throw her away like all the other women before. Still, with criminal charges pending against me I’ll have to forget all about the intern who stole my heart.

She should have just stayed off limits.

I’m not sure if it's the major gap I allowed since reading part one until now, but while reading
Body of Law #2 I felt this disconnect from the characters.’m not sure how to explain it.

Of course since we were given a mean cliffhanger, things pick up exactly where the fell of at and Sebastian is in jail due to assaulting a douche that assaulted Violet. Everyone seems to be keeping status quo, Sebastian continues to be an ass hat and Violet still has aggravating inexperience to life and when BS is being presented. Which makes me question how is she ever going to be a lawyer.

Still Amanda Lance was able to write a very entertaining even when the characters are being flawed. The office drama and the tension between Sebastian and Violet keeps me wanting more. The cliffhangers are making me crazy, only because of the love hate relationship. Fingers crossed that part 3 wraps everything up in a pleasing manner, without the rush or another cliffhanger.

Back to Back (Behind Your Back #2) by Chelsea M. Cameron

Back to Back - Chelsea M. Cameron

Released: June 9, 2015

Series: Back to Back # 2

Genre: NA, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense

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He underestimated me.
The girl with the red hair and green eyes.
But I also underestimated him.
We’re both good at what we do.
Together, we’re unstoppable.
But I’ll have to be careful.
Last time I played him and he's not going to take the betrayal lightly.
I'll have to watch my back... and my heart.

After reading the epilogue to Behind Your Back to say that I was excited to get my hands on Back to Back was an understatement. Especially with that jaw dropper that I was left with. Well that excitement unfortunately did not last long. For some reason everything dragged for me, I’m not sure if the timing was just wrong or if I had my hopes too high. I don’t know.

Things pick up where Behind Your Back leaves off and the story is told from Saige’s POV, which at times I felt a tad cheated, because it felt like I was still get Sylas’s story just from her view. I wanted to learn more about this mystery girl that was able to con a con man.

The unraveling of Sylas was something that I didn’t care for, I felt that it was a bit much. Their relationship started to become this borderline dependent someone should stop this before it becomes toxic type. Where he would lose control and she would use her body”sex” to soothe hi, not the best tactic, when this guy clearly needs to sit on someone’s black couch.

I did enjoyed the us against everything bond that they had. No matter what obstacle they face they knew they wanted each other. Honestly, I wished more questions were answered, things just felt unfinished.

Heart Breaker (Break on Through #2) by Harper Kincaid

Heart Breaker - Harper Kincaid

Released: July 28, 2015

Series: Break on Through #2

Genre:NA, Contemporary, Romance

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Love wasn’t in the script…

Break on Through, Book 2

Former man-eater Samantha Lockhart has been an actress long enough to be able to spot a smooth-talking player a mile away. Dark-haired, bourbon-eyed, a wicked smile…Kyle Masterson is one of the best.

From his bad-boy motorcycle boots to his good-ole-boy Southern drawl, everything about Kyle screams sex appeal. But after a tragedy hits close to home, Sam tries to convince herself she’s done with players on and off the stage.

Kyle, a V-twin-riding divorce attorney, has witnessed enough horror stories of love gone wrong to know that while women are welcome in his bed, they’re definitely not in his future. But once the petite, mercurial redhead catches his eye, he can’t think of anything—or anyone—else.

Sam’s trust doesn’t come easy, but the more time they spend together, the deeper they both fall. Yet just as they’re breaking through each other’s barriers, someone who doesn’t like being upstaged makes a deadly play of his own. And if Sam refuses, she may not be able to breathe a word to anyone…ever.

Warning: Contains a small-town thespian who isn’t easily fooled and a lawyer with a weakness for V-twin engines and sassy redheads.

Heart Breaker is definitely my favorite in Harper Kincaid's Break on Through series thus far. I'm I'm not sure if it had to do with characters or the overall storyline, whatever the case I enjoyed getting lost in Samantha's and Kyle's story.

Samantha Lockhart was once not only a lively thespian, but also a severe commitment-phobe. All of that changed after the tragic death of her parents. In efforts to avoid human contact she devoted bedtime into remodeling her childhood home. After must corehorsing from her sister, Samantha finds herself at a tailgate party were almost instantly she attracts the attention of Kyle.

Kyle Masterson is a divorce lawyer by day and sexy biker by night. Honestly, Kyle didn't put me in the mindset of of a biker, maybe it was his lack of tattoos. However, he did makeup for it with his charm and ....

The attraction between Sam and Kyle was instant,but it wasn't exactly love at first sight. The pace of their relationship was enjoyable to watch develop. Sam tried desperately to avoid Kyle at all cost because she was under the impression he only wanted one thing from her. It didn't ts and long to see Kyle genuinely wanted more with Samantha, luckily for him he has help from Samantha's sister.

Harper Kincaid's writing was highly enjoyable and the pace of the story kept me entertained. My only complaint was how the situation with her deranged stalker director was handled so quickly and without any real effort. Not that I was hoping for anything tragic to happen to Samantha, it was just made things seem less plausible.

Harper Kincaid's Bio:

A woman with the heart of a revolutionary,
The mind of a pragmatist,
And the inappropriate humor of your tipsy BFF...

Born in California and raised in South Florida, I've moved around like a gypsy with a bounty on my head ever since. Along the way, I've worked as a community organizer, a professional matchmaker, an art teacher, a popular blogger, and a crisis counselor (to name a few). All the while, longing to have the guts and follow-through to do what I really wanted: to write and become a published author. That wish has finally come true and I am tickled pink with glitter over this good piece of fortune.


What else? Hmm...I love indie, lo-fi, complaint rock played on vinyl, wearing black because it's slimming, the theater, well-informed optimism, happy endings (both kinds),and making those close to me laugh 'til they snort. I'm a self-admitted change junkie, loving new experiences and places, but have now happily settled in the cutest lil' town, Vienna, Virginia. I totally love hearing from readers so stalk me via social media or email me at HarperKincaid26@gmail.com!

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