Toni Aleo - Trying to Score

Title : Trying to Score
Series : Assassins # 2
Release date : April 11th, 2012
Genre : Contemporary Romance


Synopsis:

Fallon Parker’s dream was to have her family’s wine company at the top of all wine magazines and to have a cellar of her own. After graduating from college, she has worked hard to make that dream a reality, even if that meant having a nonexistent love life. She had her chance at love and that was a bust, so she put everything into the wine company. After becoming the official sponsor of the Nashville Assassins, Fallon finally feels like everything is falling in place that is until Lucas Brooks comes back into her life.

Lucas Brooks hates his life. He is lonely, he is sober, and he is angry. On the ice, when he’s not in the sin bin, he the leading scorer in the NHL but off the ice, he is a mess. He threw away the most important person in his life, and has regretted it ever since but when Lucas sees Fallon again after being traded to the Assassins; he is bound and determined to get her back. Even if she wants nothing to do with him.

The sexual tension between Fallon and Lucas is electrifying as Lucas tries to convince Fallon that he is a changed man. Fallon tries to resist Lucas, but it is so hard when all her body wants is his. But when Lucas finds out that Fallon has been keeping a huge secret from him, the game he is playing stops and penalties are called.

With new rules and new players on the ice, will Fallon and Lucas be able to work out their differences and work as a team or will they be left trying to score alone.

Trying to Score by Toni Aleo is the second novel in her Assassins Series and another blown away novel. I was given the opportunity to read and review this book as part of a blog tour and when I read the book description I knew I had to sign up. Just like the first novel in this series I wasn’t able to put the book down when I start reading.

Here we meet Fallon Parker; who’s fighting hard to succeed in life and make their family business a success. She wants to start her won Wine Cellar one day, so when she has the opportunity to work with her best friend Elli Adler and her hockey team she knows this might be the beginning of her dream. Never in a million years could she have thought to see the one man she left behind and knows her biggest secret is about to come out.

Lucas Brooks has been transferred to the Assassins in Nashville and is determined to succeed wit this new hockey team and also to fix his biggest mistake in his life. He has jeopardized his relationship with Fallon in the past, but he will do anything to proof to her that he is a changed man. Despite his motives and actions nothing seems to go according plan.

I loved the tension and huge attraction between Fallon and Lucas, although I wanted to smack Fallon sometimes. Lucas did everything possible to proof his intentions and every time she reminded him of the past and his mistakes. I have to tell you that after a few times that behaviour was getting boring. I loved seeing Elli and Shea again and it was great to see how their life is turning out. Fallon’s sister Audrey is another great character, but I really hope she’ll get stronger in her choice of men, because I think Levi is not the right man for her…or he really needs to change.

Toni Aleo has written another amazing novel with those fabulous characters. I can only say one thing…I’m a huge fan not only of this author but also of these hockey team. I really hope she is going to write about more of them. I’m definitely going to follow this author and hopefully see more of those amazing hockey players.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Author Bio

I am a wife, mother, and hopeless romantic.

I have been told I have anger issues, but I think it’s cause of my intense love for hockey!

I am the biggest Shea Weber fan ever, and can be found during hockey season with my nose pressed against the Bridgestone Arena’s glass, watching my Nashville Predators play!

When my nose isn’t pressed against the glass, I enjoy going to my husband and son’s hockey games, my daughters dance competition, hanging with my best friends, taking pictures, and reading the latest romance novel.

I love things that sparkle, I love the color pink, and did I mention I love hockey?

Website

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Twitter: tonilovesweber6

Links to Buy 

Amazon - Trying To Score

Barnes and Noble - Trying To Score

Toni Aleo - Taking Shots

Title : Taking Shots
Series : Assassins # 1
Release date : November 28th, 2011 (first published October 4th, 2011)
Publisher : Lulu
Genre : Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Elli Fisher has never thought she was good enough. Let it be her job, her weight, her love life, nothing, she was convinced she couldn’t do anything right. She had walked through life for the past six years in a daze, never thinking that life could be good again after the abuse she endured from her ex boyfriend. She is lonely, sad, and depressed, that is until she meets Shea Adler. After doing a promotional shoot for the NHL team, the Nashville Assassins, she meets the hunky hockey player who shoots a puck, shattering her world.

Shea Adler was tired of the life he was living outside of the rink. The girls, the money blowing, the drinking, everything had to stop and it all did when he met Eleanor Fisher. He had never met anyone like her. She is feisty, witty, shy, and simply gorgeous. When he laid eyes on her, it was as if he was taking the hardest hit of his life into the boards, and he had to have her.

Elli is a little sceptical of Shea, but he knows that they were meant to be together, and he needed her in his life. But Elli just doesn’t understand what Shea could see in her. She is overweight, loud, and not even that pretty, so why would someone so gorgeous and so amazing want to be with her? It seemed that no matter how hard she tried to shake Shea off, he wasn’t going anywhere, and for the first time Elli didn’t feel alone.

But could Elli throw her insecurities out the window and love Shea with everything inside of her? Or will she let a past relationship, and her family ruin any chance of her being happy?


Would Elli miss her shot at love?

Taking Shots by Toni Aleo is the first novel in her Assassins Series and I have to tell you this book blew me away. After I read the book description I knew I had to read it and it was one hell of a ride. The moment I start reading I knew this novel would be hard to put down and I found myself reading way past my bedtime.

We meet Eleanor “Elli” Fisher, who is a fantastic photographer with her own business. For years she’s trying to get the job to photograph the local hockey team “Assassins”; who happens to be her favourite team. Now the opportunity has finally come, she will be doing the group and single shoots of the players and the moment Shea Adler steps in front of the camera she is lost.

Shea Adler is the captain of the Assassins hockey team and is known as a man who knows what he wants and will fight to get it. The moment he meets Elli at the photo shoot he knows she’s the one for him, but Elli isn’t like all the other women and he has to work hard to get what he wants.

OMG what an amazing book, I totally fell in love with the characters, the hockey team and the storyline. The moment Shea came into the picture, I was in love and when I read about the way he cares for Elli, made me want him for myself. Holy Moly that man is gorgeous on the inside and out. I loved the fact that he didn’t care that Elli had a little meat on her bones. I cheered for him when he stood up for Elli against her evil mother and sister and I cried for him when their relationship didn’t go as they planned.

Toni Aleo has written an amazing novel with a great storyline and amazing characters. I’m dying to read more novels by this fabulous author and her yummy hockey players, so Toni Aleo watches out cause I will be following you around.

DeAnna Marie Kinney - Charity Moon

Title                 : Charity Moon

Release date   : April 12^th, 2012

Genre             : Young Adult / Paranormal Romance

Charity Bell is eighteen, beautiful, and has an unyielding chip on her shoulder. The loss of her father and betrayal of her stepfather have left her angry and confident that no man will ever win her trust, or possess her heart. She wears that declaration proudly--on her countenance, as well as her sharp tongue.

That's all tested when the enchanting Levi Drake transfers from her rival school across town. In a town divided by intense rivalry this should mean trouble, and yet the school is quickly won over by his alluring charm. When a strange encounter with the mysterious young man leaves Charity bewildered, she's convinced he's hiding something and sets out on a dangerous plot to discover his secret. What she uncovers, however, will leave her both grasping for reality and hanging onto the tattered shreds of what's left of her declaration. As she faces the demons of her past, and present, she must decide if she can live, or die, with his.

Charity Moon by DeAnna Kinney is the first novel in the series and it’s an amazing read. It’s a novel that you’ll read fast, not only because it’s easy to read but also because the storyline and the characters are fabulous.

Charity Bell is an eighteen year old young woman, who lost her father and still struggles with his dead. She cannot get along with her new stepfather and is afraid to be alone with him. So she is spending a lot of time with her best friend Ash after school or locks herself up in her bedroom until her mother gets home from work. Now there is a new man in her life that turns her world upside down.

Levi Drake has been transferred from the school across town and is immediately drawn to Charity. He knows she’s forbidden for him, but he cannot ignore the huge attraction towards her. Charity knows something is up with this boy and when she discovers his secret of whom and what he really is, she freaks out a little. But it appears she is stronger than they thought by adapting in his world.

Charity and Levi are both great character, the moment you start reading you will loved them. Charity has a lip balm fetish and cannot seem to live without that stuff. Levi is definitely the alpha he needs to be, although he’s very young he takes the job very serious.

I also loved secondary characters Ash, Josh and Hector. Ash is Charity’s best friend and will do anything to keep Charity save. Josh is Levi’s second in command and also drawn to the human girls instead of their own people, so of course Ash isn’t save from him. Then we have Hector; who is really a member of the rival pack but decide to switch pack after meeting Charity.

Miss Kinney has written a fabulous novel where she created an amazing world with great characters. I found myself turning page after page because I wanted to see what happened next between Charity and Levi and if they were going to get a happy ending after what their evil enemies Wesley and Raven did to them.

I’m already looking forward to the sequel Charity Uprising and cannot wait to read it.

Tony-Paul de Vissage - The Night Man Cometh

Title                 : The Night Man Cometh

Release date    : July 15^th, 2011

Publisher         : Class Act Books

Genre              : Paranormal Romance

In 1249, Damien La Croix willingly chooses Undeath rather than perish of the Plague. Once risen as a vampire, he takes his betrothed into the dark with him, but something goes wrong and Antoinette perishes. Thus, Damien begins a solitary walk down the corridors of time in search of Antoinette's replacement. Beginning with Konstancza in 15th century Romania where Damien and his garde de nuit serve Voivoide Vlad Drakula, his search extends into the far future to a fateful meeting in a snow-filled Chicago.

Until then, Damien meets, loves, and loses each person he thinks may be the one to replace his Antoinette-Kate in Colonial America, who avenges herself against her rapist but prefers to hang rather than become an Undead; Bess, a 21st century Goth, wanting both an Undead lover and a living one and dying for the wrong choice; Michel, a concentration camp guard where Damien and his kind are imprisoned in the human answer to the Vampire Problem; Alyss - descendant of his beloved Konstancza -lost to a rival vampire's seduction. All could be his but all perish, for when the Night man Cometh, can Death be behind...?

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The Night Man Cometh by Tony-Paul de Vissage is a fabulous paranormal romance that will take the readers back to the old fashion vampire tales from Bram Stoker and Anne Rice. I knew I had to read the book when I read the book description. I’m a huge fan of all vampire stories, but I love the old fashion ones and I have to say this book didn’t disappoint me.

We meet Damian La Croix when he is young, mortal and in love with his betrothed Antoinette, but disaster strikes when the plague hit their village. Antoinette gets ill and Damian is desperate to save his love and makes a deal with a sansmort who turns Damian into one himself – an immortal. In order to survive he needs to fee on his servants and his family. When he turns his betrothed Antoinette and his best friend Armand, he couldn’t imagine the grief when his Antoinette is completely gone.

During his journey to find the one woman who completes him, whom he wants to spend his immortal life with, you see Damian and his followers join Vlad Dracula’s army and fighting their very bloody battles. Damian is one of those vampires who fight like vampires need to fight to survive. But we also see a side of Damian where he is caring for the women he meets during his immortal life.

I loved the fact that Damian isn’t the typical vampire, there were definitely times where I believed he’s hard and not very likeable, but it totally fits the story and his character. He had to be the scary immortal in order to survive that long. When you get further to the end Damian definitely grew on me and finally won over my heart. I was glad to see how he grew into the vampire he is at the end, strong powerful and righteous.  

Tony-Paul de Vissage has written a great novel with some interesting characters and a fabulous world I loved reading about. I definitely recommend this book to all the Bram Stoker and Anne Rice fans out there, you won’t be disappointed.

Catherine Bybee - Highland Shifter

Title                 : Highland Shifter

Series              : MacCoinnich Time Travel Series # 4

Release date   : February 12, 2012

Publisher        : Catherine Bybee

Genre              : Paranormal / Time Travel Romance

Helen Adams has a knack for finding lost objects, but the Simon McAllister she finds isn’t what she expected. The missing California teen is now a grown man—a kilted, sword wielding, Highland warrior.

A mysterious Druid book and Helen’s sixth sense send her to Scotland in search of a missing boy. After being attacked by strange men dressed in medieval garb, a handsome, desirable hero answering to the boy’s name rescues her. No one is more surprised than she to find herself in sixteenth century Scotland. Unable to deny the reality of time travel, Helen discovers smoldering passion with a man destined to leave her.

Simon has lived his Druid life in two very different worlds, two vastly different times, and when Helen practically lands in his lap, he knows his life is about to change forever. There are enemies in California lying in wait for her, and an army in Scotland closing in on his family. Simon is the only person who can protect her. But when she learns his most guarded secret, will she still want him? Can Helen love a Highland Shifter?

Highlander Shifter by Catherine Bybee is a terrific paranormal time travel romance and it have to be honest it drew me right in from the beginning. I met this amazing author at the RT convention in Chicago and the moment I saw the cover of this book I knew I had to read it. I love shifters and time travel and mixed into one is definitely a bonus. When I started this book I didn’t knew it was part of a series, but that doesn’t matter because this story can read as stand alone.

Helen is a strong and determined woman from the 21^st century; who has an amazing gift, she can find any object or person she is looking for.  It amaze me how strong Helen really is, especially when she’s thrown back in time and meet the very person she’s been looking for. Only he is not a teenage boy anymore, but a strong handsome highland warrior. Although everything is strange to her, she adapts quickly and helps these Druid men and women like they are her own family.

I haven’t read the previous books in this series, so I cannot compare young Simon with this grown man; but Holy Moly what a fine specimen he is. Not only is he drop dead gorgeous but has an amazing power too. When he meets Helen, you can feel the attraction between them even thought they just met. I just loved the scene where Helen discovers Simon’s shifting ability and the way she handle it.

The secondary characters Duncan & Tara, Todd & Myra, Fin & Liz and many other were great. I really want to get the three previous novels in the series too, so I can see how they find each other.

I only have one little criticism and that would be the major cliffhanger at the end. How could Ms. Bybee do that to us readers and leave us with this empty feeling. I’m dying to get my hands on the next book and see how that is going to turn out.

I highly recommend this novel to fans of paranormal / time travel romance; you won’t be disappointed when you pick up this book.

Maisey Yates - Marriage Made on Paper

Title                 : Marriage Made on Paper

Release date  : March 18, 2011

Publisher         : Harlequin

Genre             : Contemporary Romance

When ambitious public relations expert Lily Ford signs a contract with hotshot property tycoon Gage Forrester, she inadvertently signs her life away! A tough taskmaster, he wants Lily at his beck and call 24/7.

Gage expects employees to go above and beyond. So, when he needs to generate some positive PR, his solution is completely unexpected: he proposes to Lily! All in the name of business, of course.

This may be a deal struck on paper, but Gage is a stickler for tradition when it comes to their wedding night!

Marriage Made on Paper by Maisey Yates is a great contemporary romance novel, where the author created two fabulous characters any reader could relate too.

Lily Ford is a PR agent who has her own company; she has put everything on hold to get her agency where it is now. Then Gage Forrester walks into her office and wants her to handle his PR. The only catch is that she has to be available 24/7. Then something happens in the Forrester family that explodes in the media and Lily has to find a way to get the attention away from Gage’s sister. Never would she imagine she has to play Gage’s fiancée.

Lily and Gage are fabulous together; from the moment they meet they feel this huge attraction between them. Both of them are fighting these feelings; Gage doesn’t want to mix business with pleasure and Lily likes her independence. But they cannot ignore the sparkles between them and soon they will find themselves in an engagement they both want to succeed.

Maisey Yates has written a fabulous novel with great characters, a good storyline and lots of sparkles flying around. I couldn’t put the book down and read the whole thing in one sitting; this means that I totally loved it. Because I loved it so much that I’m definitely going to check out the other books from this author.

Anthology - Lustfully Ever After

Title : Lustfully Ever After 

Release date : May, 2012 

Publisher : Carina Press 

Genre : Erotica / Fantasy 

 In Lustfully Ever After, classic fairy tales are reimagined for an adult audience with twists (and kinks) to keep readers entertained. In Michelle Augello-Page's romantically charged BDSM tale "Wolf Moon," Little Red Riding Hood is the big bad wolf, while Kristina Lloyd rewrites "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" as a scorching hot MFM threesome in "The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces." Shanna Germain's "Mirror Mirror" shows the sensual Sapphic side of Snow White's stepmother and Andrea Dale pens a contemporary version of "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" in the poignantly erotic "Steadfast." 

This delightful collection of fairy tales will lead you down a magical path into forbidden romance and erotic love. You won’t need those bread crumbs to find your way home—for home is where the heart is and the authors of Lustfully Ever After know your heart’s most wicked and secret desires 

Lustfully Ever After is an anthology with seventeen short erotica stories and they all have a fairytale theme. Normally I love the very short stories in these kind of anthologies, but I have to be honest I didn’t had that feeling with this one. I don’t know if it has something to do with the fact that they were based on the classic fairytale or simply because the were too short to get a nice story. 

Three stories were definitely interesting; Twelve Dancing Princesses, Kit and Boots & You were my favourites, but with the other stories I didn’t feel any connection to really like them. 

I believe this would be a better anthology if the stories were longer, where the authors could fit more into the stories than they did now. I had the feeling this was one huge sex-scene with a little story around it. I don’t mind a lot of erotica, but I prefer a real story weaved into the whole thing. 

That doesn’t mean this anthology wasn’t well written; because it was. It’s just that I personally didn’t have the loving vibes with this one. But if you are in for an anthology full of short erotica fairytales, then maybe this is something for you. For readers who love erotica but with a good story, then this will be a nice read but not very satisfying.

Robin LaFevers - Grave Mercy

Title : Grave Mercy
Series : His Fair Assassin # 1
Release date : April 2, 2012
Publisher : Houghton Miffin Books for Children
Genre : Urban Fantasy / Historical Romance

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers is one hell of a book. The moment I read the book description I knew I had to read it and it didn’t disappoint me. It’s a mix of Urban Fantasy with Medieval Fiction all mixed in a fabulous storyline.

Ismae has been unwanted since birth and felt that too during her childhood. At the age of 14 she has the chance to join the St. Mortain Convent and she accept. In the convent she’s trained to be an assassin for the Saint of Death. During her first big assignment three years later, she meets a young man who will change her life forever.

From the moment I started this book I couldn’t put it down. Normally I don’t read many book of the medieval genre, but for some reason this novel called to me and I had to read it. Miss LaFevers has created an amazing world where young women are trained to act as assassin for the Saint of Death. I totally loved it, they way this author writes about the world, her strong heroine and the historical highlights involving Anne, the Duchess of Brittany and the complots against her.

Ismae is a fabulous strong leading character, her life has been hard and the decisions she makes are something hard, but the further you are in the book; the more understanding you will get for her actions.

Robin LaFevers has written one hell of a novel and I’m definitely a fan and going to keep an eye on her future books. I really hope she will continue writing this series, cause I have two more lady assassins I would like to read about.

Toni V. Sweeney - Wizard's Wife

Title : Wizard’s Wife
Release date : January 15, 2011
Publisher : Class Act Books
Genre : Contemporary / Fantasy Romance


Wizard’s Wife by Toni V. Sweeney is the first book I’ve read by this author and I have to say I liked it. It’s a book full of great characters, a good storyline, and lots of magic and very easy to read.

Megan and David are the main characters and so perfect for each other. But life doesn’t always go how it should be; they are just married and have decided to wait with having children. Megan isn’t too thrilled about that at first, but respect her new husband wishes. Then she discovers that she is pregnant and fears David’s reaction, but she knows she has to tell him. But telling David isn’t the biggest surprise of the day, it appears David has a much greater secret that he needs to share with her. He isn’t exactly human and everything around them is under some glamour spell.

What I loved about Megan and David is their personalities; they are so forgiving towards each other. They both have a secret to share with the other, but are afraid to tell and maybe ruin their relationship. But the moment the secrets are out, it definitely clears the tension between them and they can look to the future from that point.

Ossian and his twin-sister Brigid are David’s servants from the feary world and very protective of Megan and her unborn child. Exeter Dubhtina is David sworn enemy and out to destroy David’s family and their kingdom. The moment Megan steps into the feary world Exeter knows she is the tool to get what he wants. But Megan’s willpower to protect her unborn child and the man she loves is more than Exeter can handle.

Ms. Sweeney has definitely written a great book and left open the possibilities for another book in this storyline. For some reason you can sense that this story hasn’t been told completely, David has one more secret to share with Megan and the future of the is therefore uncertain. I really hope she will write another novel with these characters.

Icy Snow Blackstone - Runaway Brother

Title : Runaway Brother
Release date : September 15, 2011
Publisher : Class Act Books
Genre : Contemporary Romance

At the age of twenty-two, newly-graduated Nicolo Liguori is forced by his three brothers to become care-giver for his father, who suffered multiple strokes. For the next ten years, Nick gives up his own ambitions , working during the day in the family jewelry business in Vanderhoek, New York, and returning to the Liguori mansion every night, to be at his father’s beck-and-call. Then Papa dies and Nick is free…or is he? Carlo, Marco, and Pietro expect him to continue life as usual, but Nick has other ideas. Secretly buying a motorcycle, he starts to work one day and… disappears.

Nick gets as far as the southern coast of Georgia before an accident disables his bike. Stranded, with no idea of the South except what he’s seen on TV, Nick isn’t certain what kind of reception he’s going to get. Then, a pretty Southern miss and a white tank disguised as a temperamental horse named Shazam change his life as they and the citizens of Oceano teach a runaway Yankee about life and love in a small Georgia town

Runaway Brother by Icy Snow Blackstone is a story about one brother, who cannot take the pressure of his older brothers and their family business and decides to run.

Nicolo “Nick” Liguori has been taking care of his father for years, giving up his own personal life because his older brothers expected it from him. Now his father is gone and Nick is planning is escape from his brothers and their business. So one day he just packs a little bag, jump on his motor and left. But he knows his brothers and wants to explore the world for as long as he can.

On his trip to the South he meets Sydney after his accident with his motor and her horse. Sydney is a nice southern woman; who takes care of her grandfather and their ranch. The attraction between Nick and Sydney is there from the start, but Nick keeps his distant when she hires him to work on the ranch. But they cannot resist each other and Sydney teaches him to enjoy life and look forward.

This novel has a great storyline, but for some reason I’m missing something. I think it has something to do with the lack of information of Nick’s past, it’s only mention briefly during the book, but I would have loved to read more how his life really was living with his father; his really feelings and thoughts. I also would have loved to read more scenes where Nick confronts his older brothers and really tells them what taking care of his father really did to him. But it was a brief scene at the end, so not really satisfying for me.

Overall this book was good and entertaining, but I have to be honest that I’m not really sure if I will try another contemporary novel by this author. I know she writes fantastic fantasy novel under her pen name Toni V. Sweeney, so I think I will stick to them.