THE ASSASSINS SERIES BLOG TOUR {GIVEAWAY}

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the ASSASSINS SERIES Blog Tour! The tour is being hosted by the lovely ladies at AToMR Book Tours.  You can find the entire blog tour schedule here.

The author of the ASSASSINS SERIES is Toni Aleo. My stop includes reviews of both TAKING SHOTS and TRYING TO SCORE, followed by an ebook giveaway of TAKING SHOTS.


***The ASSASSINS SERIES is suitable for those 18yrs of age and older.***

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 skeptical 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? ~From GoodReads

I have to start by saying "Wow". I first heard about the ASSASSINS SERIES from my friend Autumn at The Autumn Review. When I began asking her questions about the series, she said, and I quote, "I didn't know how much sauce you could take." To which I promptly replied that " I could handle plenty, thank you very much!" So I signed on for this blog tour and climbed aboard the ASSASSINS train.

I must say that TAKING SHOTS was a fun read from start to finish. The story has engaging lead characters, a really dramatic story, and some super duper sexy times. Elli and Shea were easy to adore. She is a sort of "everywoman" with her self-esteem issues and easy demeanor. He is a sweet, generous, hockey-playing-hottie! I love nice guys. Shea is a one-woman kind of guy and the only woman on his radar is Elli. Only problem is, Elli is still wrecked from a long-term relationship with a total asshat. Shea is determined to win Elli's love, but even he may be no match for her insecurities.

What I got out of TAKING SHOTS was pure fun, a bit of a guilty pleasure. Let me tell you, author Toni Aleo can write some sexy men and some smoking hot scenes. Seriously, I had a few hot flashes while reading this book. And better yet, even when the characters were merely flirting, or almost hooking up, the chemistry was out of this world.

I will say, there are a few editing issues. I did read an eARC, though, so I can't speak for the finished copy. Normally I'm a bit picky about this. But to be perfectly honest, I was so into the story that I could mostly overlook it.

TAKING SHOTS was a great escape for me. I mean, who doesn't want to get swept away by a hot hockey player? The story was pure fun, with a nice dose of drama and I'm excited to read more of the series.

Favorite Quote:

"I want to see you because I like you. I like you because you are amazing, sweet, and understanding.  If I ever hear you say you are ordinary again, I might smack your ass. You are gorgeous, Elli. So freaking beautiful that sometimes, like tonight, I find myself speechless at your beauty."
(eARC, pg68)

Buy TAKING SHOTS at Amazon.

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. ~From GoodReads

TRYING TO SCORE, the second book in the ASSASSINS SERIES, is a companion more than a continuation to TAKING SHOTS.  But happily, a few of the characters make several appearances. Win!

I was so happy to be able to start reading TRYING TO SCORE as soon as I finished TAKING SHOTS. Even though the story followed new characters, author Toni Aleo's fun, flirty style had me revved up to read more. TRYING TO SCORE, is the story of Fallon and Lucas. These two are pure fire. Both have combative, take-charge personalities and are used to getting their way. What I enjoyed about this book was, Fallon was the one with her life on track and Lucas is working to get his back in order. Lucas knows that losing Fallon seven years ago was the biggest mistake of his life, and is determined to get her back. He'll play dirty, do anything it takes to get under her skin, and under her clothes. But Fallon has a secret. A secret so life-altering that it changes the entire game and gives Lucas even more incentive to earn the life they both deserve.

As I said in my TAKING SHOTS review, this series is so much fun. All the flirting, bickering, and heart-melting moments had me reading at a breakneck pace. But, this book? It made me cry. A lot. I was reading this alone in the dark, and at 2am I was choking back sobs. (hint for those who've read TtS: It's when Molly came to Nashville.) I don't want to spoil it, but a character that I haven't mentioned in my review stole my heart. This character changed the game and the tone of the book. So not only did I have fun times, I also had super dramatic moments. The best of both worlds.

TRYING TO SCORE, like book one, had some serious heat. Like, jaw-dropping, stick-your-head-in-freezer kind of heat. I had been warned by a few readers that there were some "moments" to anticipate. There were scenes so intense, I actually had to put it down and text my friend to squee a little.

I will mention, like I did in book one, that there are some editing issues. And again, I read an eARC, so I can't say how the finished copy differs. But, once again, I enjoyed the story so much that I could mostly overlook it.

The ASSASSINS SERIES continues to be a pure pleasure to read. I am more than a little bummed that I don't have book three on deck. The series is so engrossing that I want to keep going. I can't wait for EMPTY NET.


Favorite Quote:

" 'You said you loved me! You're a liar because you never, ever, ever did! If you did you wouldn't have f**ked my best friend!'

Lucas couldn't help but laugh. 'Are we really quoting Bruno Mars right now? Do you want me to carry on the next part, and then we can join together at the chorus?' "  (eARC, pg. 90)

Buy TRYING TO SCORE at Amazon.

Giveaway

Author Toni Aleo is giving one lucky winner an ecopy of TAKING SHOTS.

The rules:

• You must be 18+ years of age to enter.
• Open to International residents.
• The only mandatory entry is name/email.
• You can tweet/Facebook about the giveaway for an extra entry.

Source: ARCs were provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.