HE SAID/SHE SAID: LADY LUCK (COLORADO MOUNTAIN #3) by KRISTEN ASHLEY

Since falling in love with Kristen Ashley's writing in the Rock Chick Series, I've decided to dedicate one week each month to more of her books. First up is the Colorado Mountain Series, at the insistence of my friends Erin, Cindy and Jess. But this time around, I'm doing "He Said/She Said" reviews with my guy, who read this series first.

Series: Colorado Mountain #3

Category/Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Self-Published (now published by Forever)

Publication Date: 10/22/11
Format: ebook
Pages: 400
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5 stars

Ty Walker was wrongly imprisoned and for the five years he was inside, he honed his plan so when he gets out, he has nothing but vengeance on his mind.

But then he walks straight to stylish, leggy, beautiful, goofy Lexie Berry and he suddenly has something else to think about. He knows within seconds he wants her and within days he can love her but with the filth that was flung at him clinging; he also knows he can’t have her.

Since birth, Lexie Berry has been Lady Luck’s favorite toy and because of that, Lexie is cautious. But within a day, she senses Ty is something special. With her luck, however, she can’t trust it. Then she finds out what was done to Ty and she’s willing to do anything to make it right.

Even what Ty will never forgive her for doing.

Ty clings to vengeance and Lexie goes all out to give him back the time he lost. But Ty is battling demons within and they’re up against dirty cops and criminals who will stop at nothing to sway Lady Luck against them. All Ty and Lexie have is hope Lady Luck will finally swing their way.

He Said.....

Lady Luck (Colorado Mountain #3) was another great story, maybe not my favorite of the series, but that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it any less than the others. It was still packed with the same gut wrenching action and mystery, raw sex, and beautiful, curvy women with their Alpha Males.

Ty needs a ride and a wife. Lexie needs money so she can get out of Dallas and away from Shift. Shift owes Ty money so he offers up Lexie as his ride and possible "wife."

Ty Walker spends five years in prison planning his revenge on local cops and the woman that helped bring him down with false Claims. Ty Walker walks out a bitter, yet determined man and, unknowingly, right into the heart of a woman that will turn his world around. A woman who, within days, is willing to do anything and everything for him. She gives him the “home” he never had, all the while helping him to regain his innocence. Lexie Berry would slowly turn his bitterness to love.

Ty was a character hard to like at first, but given his situation, totally understandable. What turns the "hard to like" around is when he starts to let Lexie in his life and in his heart. He seems to become a new man - a man with a better outlook on life filled with hope, love and new determinations. A man he hadn't seen in himself in a while.

Lexie is yet another sweet, strong and great female character in this series with a BIG heart. Once she breaks through to Ty and sees who he really is or who he really can be without the demons, she is his forever. She gives him what he needs, unconditional love, a family and most importantly, her backing.

Add in the love and support from the rest of the crew - Tate, Max, Wood, Krystal - and the help of one of the only good cops left, Chase, Ty can slowly work his way back to normal.


She Said.....

Lady Luck is the book my KA expert friends have been waiting for me to read....pretty much since the day we became friends. To say that Erin and Cindy love Ty Walker is a massive understatement. He is the standard they hold all other book men to, and though he's not an obvious choice, I can totally see why.

So, I went into Lady Luck super excited, ready for another epic story of love and lust, suspense and redemption. This a story of a wrongfully convicted man who leaves prison dead set on revenge, but walks out to a miracle. A story of a woman who sets out to fulfill an obligation, but finds a forever love with an unlikely hero. Ty and Lexie were ridiculous. I loved them so hard. These two became a team, impenetrable, unbreakable. I am totally Team Walker.

Besides the amazing that is Ty and Lexie, Lady Luck has all the fabulous pieces that make the Colorado Mountain series a favorite. We get the hot, strong and (really) silent dude in Ty. We have another spirited, strong, and funny heroine in Lexie. Their relationship is intense and heartwarming. The residents of Carnal play a huge part in the story, particularly my lover Tate. We even get treat of Max and Nina! What's also cool is certain seemingly small bits from Sweet Dreams wind up playing heavily into this story, proving that Kristen Ashley is always going to surprise her readers in the best ways possible.

Lady Luck is another wickedly awesome book in the Colorado Mountain series. This book and series delivers everything I've come to know, expect, and love from a Kristen Ashley novel. These books make me laugh, cry (in both sadness and joy) and clutch my heart at every breathtaking moment. 



A Favorite Moment....

  "Your nightmare, mama, was my dream.
  My heart clenched. 
  "Never had a home until you gave me one."
  My breath started sticking.
  "Never had anyone give to me the way you gave to me."
  My breath stopped sticking and clogged.
  "Never thought of findin' a woman who I wanted to have my baby."
  Oh God.
  "Never had light in my life, never, not once, I lived wild but I didn't burn bright until you shined your light on me."
  Oh God.
  "Whacked, fuckin' insane, but, at night, you curled in front of me, didn't mind I did that time that wasn't mine 'cause it meant I walked out to you."
  He had to stop. He had to.
  He didn't.
  "Your nightmare," he whispered, turned his head and against my neck he finished, "my dream."

Colorado Mountain Series

Colorado Mountain Series

    
  

(covers lead to GoodReads page)

Kaleidoscope (Colorado Mountains #6) release 2/4/14

Purchase Lady Luck

Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon  |  iBooks

About the author:
Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!).

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook   |  GoodReads

HE SAID/SHE SAID REVIEW: THE GAMBLE (COLORADO MOUNTAIN #1) by KRISTEN ASHLEY

Since falling in love with Kristen Ashley's writing in the Rock Chick Series, I've decided to dedicate one week each month to more of her books. First up is the Colorado Mountain Series, at the insistence of my friends Erin, Cindy and Jess. But, this time around, I'm doing He Said/She Said reviews, with my guy, Eric.

Series: Colorado Mountain #1

Category/Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Self-Published (now published by Forever)

Publication Date: 10/22/11
Format: ebook
Pages: 629
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5 stars

Nina Sheridan’s on a timeout adventure in the Colorado Mountains. She needs distance from her clueless fiancé, distance to decide whether she wants to spend the rest of her life with a man who doesn’t care enough to learn how she takes her coffee.

Arriving in a blinding snowstorm at the A-Frame she rented, she comes face to face with the most amazing man she’s ever seen. Minutes later, when he kicks her out of his house, she goes head to head with him.

Beyond angry because she’s flown half a world away to start her timeout adventure, not to mention her sinuses hurt, she heads back down the mountain and ends up in a ditch. Unable to extricate herself, she gives up, hopes for rescue and falls asleep in the backseat.

The next morning she wakes up in the amazing man’s bed and she’s sick as a dog.

Holden Maxwell spends days nursing her back to health and then he spends the next two weeks trying to convince her to take her Colorado adventure further, in other words, make it permanent and take a gamble on him.

Nina has a tough time fighting her attraction to Max, especially when it seems all Max’s friends, her mother and stepdad and the whole town want them together and both she and Max get embroiled in the murder of Max’s ex-friend and the town of Gnaw Bone’s most detested resident – a man everyone has motive to kill, especially Max

He Said....

Nina Sheridan travels from Europe to the Colorado Mountains, before marrying her fiancé Niles, to take a two week timeout, an adventure, to clear her head, and make sure her decision to marry is the right one. What Nina finds when she arrives at the A-frame vacation rental she booked for her getaway is Holden Maxwell (Max), mountain-man extraordinaire and owner of the property, which he rents to vacationers while out of town for work. Seeing as he is in town and at home, he does not honor the rental agreement and tries to send her on her way, back down the mountain, to get a hotel room in Gnaw Bone. Starting to feel under the weather and very irritated after her 17 hour travel, Nina's not having any of Max's BS for reneging on the rental agreement. After a head to head battle and a lot of back and forth over the rental Max tells her she needs to get moving and find her a hotel seeing as it was dark and starting to snow. With snow beginning to fall heavily and Nina's sudden battle with sinus problems, Max tries to get her to stay at least for the night.

  "Listen, Duchess, it's cold, it's snowing, we're both standin' outside like idiots arguing over what you wanted in the first place. Come into the damned house. You can sleep on the couch."
  "I am not going to sleep on the couch." Then my head jerked and I asked, "Duchess?"
  He threw his other hand out, his gaze drifting the length of me as he said, "Fancy-ass clothes, fancy-ass purse, fancy-ass boots, fancy-ass accent." His eyes came to my face and he finished firmly. "Duchess."

Frustrated with the fact her rental agreement is broken, Nina heads for town to get a hotel room. While heading back down the mountain she hits an icy patch on the road and ends up in the ditch. With no help in sight she climbs in the back seat, downs some cough medicine, covers up and falls asleep. When Nina wakes up she finds that she is in the A-frame and feeling like absolute crap. Max called the local hotels and when Nina hadn't checked into any he headed down the mountain in search of her. He found her asleep in her car and took her back to his house. Realizing how sick she had become, Max spent the next two days taking care of her.

A mutual attraction starts to grow. Max is straightforward with his desire. Nina is fighting it. And fighting it hard. She tries to find way after way to escape the A-frame, to escape Max, but he has her pinned at every corner. Over the next two weeks Nina goes to hell and back, in what I call signature KA fashion: kidnappings, beatings, shootings, murder and family meddling, all the while meeting friends and family of Max and seeing what kind of man he truly is. And she's liking it, a lot. So much so that she realizes that her and Max are supposed to be together.

As with the Rock Chick books, KA delivers the banter, the sex and an awesome cast of secondary characters - the crazy sister, Kami; the wildly enthusiastic mom, Nellie; the BITCH, Shauna; the clueless fiancé, Niles.

This story is lengthy, but great, from start to end. It's packed with plenty of sex and male bossiness for the women, yet plenty of in your face ass kicking for the male.



She Said...

After swoony, madcap beauty of the Rock Chick series, I needed more from Kristen Ashley. I knew this series would be different, and yes, it's not quite as "zany" as RC, but I'm so happy that I still got a lot of laughs, a hot Mountain Man in Holden "Max" Maxwell, a flat-out gorgeous love story, and some serious swooning.

Something I really, really appreciate about The Gamble is that the characters are in their mid-thirties, and while I hate admitting I've hit that age group, I kind of love the benefits that come with it, knowing who you are and being at ease in your own skin. Nina and Max may not initially have their baggage sorted, but you know they're going to get there, and it's a fun ride to tag along.

In addition to a great love story, The Gamble also has a murder mystery going on. It doesn't truly take over the story, but it does play a large part in the overall story, does involve many of the characters in some aspect, and isn't solved until the very end, which left me dying to figure it out.

Nina and Max, as I've mentioned have such a great love story. It involves trust and faith in the person beside you to hold on to you no matter what. It also speaks volumes about the different types of love, of letting go while still honoring and loving those who've moved on.

The Gamble is another fabulous book from KA, and the Colorado Mountain series is sure to be another favorite.



Favorite Quote:


  "There was a time in my life where I used to roll the dice. I did it a lot and I always lost. Every time, I lost and when I lost, I lost everything. So I got scared of rolling the dice."
  My hair was hanging down, curtaining our faces and one of Max's hands moved to pull one side up and hold it at the back of my head. I watched his face get soft and I knew that he knew what was coming.
  So I gave it to him.
  "Thank you for showing me it was worth taking a gamble again, darling." I dropped my head until my lips were against his and finished, "It feels good finally to win and win huge." 

Colorado Mountain Series


    
  

(covers lead to GoodReads page)

Kaleidoscope (Colorado Mountains #6) release 2/4/14

Purchase The Gamble

Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon  |  iBooks

About the author:
Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!).

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook   |  GoodReads
 

 

SERIES REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY: ROCK CHICK by KRISTEN ASHLEY

It's official: Rock Chick is my newest obsession.

I became friends with a great bunch of ladies earlier this year. When I was pulled into this group, one of the first emails I received was all about this series, Rock Chick, and author, Kristen Ashley. They loved and raved about all of her books, but this series was at the top of the list. There was talk of badass chicks, something called a "Hot Bunch", and just epicness is general.

Of course this got my interest, and I put the books on my to-read list. Well, my husband caught wind of this series, and being a lover of awesome chicks who consistently get into trouble,  action, and fun, he was all over that. He read this series and LOVED it. He and my friend were constantly emailing and tweeting each other about how much he loved the books and the insanity that is the Rock Chicks. He kept telling me to get on this, I wouldn't regret it. So after months, I finally got around to starting Rock Chick.

I. Had. No. Idea. Rock Chick has been, without a doubt, one of my favorite reading experiences ever. I am such a speed reader, but I forced myself to slow down and truly enjoy the series. I also spent as much time emailing, tweeting, gushing to my husband and friends, and laughing at the hilarity of the Rock Chicks as reading. What makes this even better is, I have found so many new friends from simply tweeting about this series. Kristen Ashley has devoted fans, and I love it.

I've been debating on a way to express my love without rambling on and on about the books, because truly, nothing I can say will do this series justice. So many readers have said so many amazing things about the series and I didn't feel like I had anything new to say. But you know me, and I had to say something. So I decided just to feature each book, the main characters, and highlight what I loved about it.



Series: Rock Chick #1
Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary
Publisher: FeedARead
Publication Date: 12/8/08
Format: ebook
Pages: 398
Source: Purchase

Indy Savage, cop's daughter, rock chick and used bookstore owner, has been in love with Lee Nightingale, once bad boy, now the man behind Nightingale Investigations, since she was five years old. No matter what ingenious schemes Indy used to capture his attention, Lee never showed an interest and Indy finally gave up. Now Indy's employee, Rosie, has lost a bag of diamonds and bad guys are shooting at him. When Indy gets involved, Lee is forced to help. Complicating matters, Lee has decided he's interested, Indy's decided she's not. But she can't seem to keep Lee out of her life when she's repeatedly stun gunned, kidnapped and there are car bombs exploding (not to mention she's finding dead bodies).

Indy's best bet is to solve the mystery of the diamonds before Lee. Lee's challenge is to keep Indy alive and, at the same time, win back her heart.

  

Rock Chick ~ India "Indy" Savage. A kickass woman who can rock high heels and a stun gun. India, along with best friend Ally Nightingale, is one of the original Rock Chicks. She's not afraid of life. Love, well that's another story, and that brings me to...

Hot Bunch Hero ~ Liam "Lee" Nightingale. Hot Guy Move ~ The Smile
Oh. My. Gawd. Now I know what the Hot Bunch is, and Lee is the leader. A legendary Badass, Lee is the owner of Nightingale Investigations, a whole group of badass hotties.  Lee was a bossy, sexy, dangerous, protective piece of man and I loved him. Lee is not above handcuffs and wrestling (the fun kind) to get Indy's attention.

What made Rock Chick stand out for me
Indy has been in love with Lee since she was five years old, but Lee never returned the feelings. Or so she thought. Lee has been in love with her for the past ten years, and he's tired of waiting for her to see it. Indy is in danger, Lee can protect her, and in the meantime, he's going to make her his. After the last time Lee shut her down ten years prior, Indy has become an expert in evading him. Lee's not having it anymore, and uses bribery, neck kisses, arm cages, and waist-grabbing/holding. What really makes this book so incredible for me - besides the dialogue, the hilarity, the excitement, and the Hot Bunch hotness - is the history between Lee and Indy.

  "For what it's worth, I'll share my intentions. You and me, we aren't practice for the real thing. It isn't that too much is at stake with family and friends, it's because I love you. You're funny, beautiful, and you care about people. I like the way you look at me, especially when you think I don't notice it. I like that we have history and our kids will have a big family and share that history because there was never a time when their Mom and Dad weren't together. 
  If you were a terrible lay, I might have second thoughts but you and I are dynamite together. I intend to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you. If that freaks you out, tough, because now that we've started this, there's no goin' back." 

Sa-woon, Lee Nightingale. And I love that this book introduced me to Naked Gratitude.

I also have to mention how much I loved the secondary characters Tex, Ally, Duke, Tod and Stevie. Oh, and Kitty Sue!

Part comedy. Part action/adventure. Part love story. All parts awesome.

Series: Rock Chick #2

Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary
Publisher: FeedARead
Publication Date: 12/19/09
Format: ebook
Pages: 500
Source: Purchase

Jet McAlister has a secret. Eddie Chavez has the hots for Jet (not to mention Eddie’s just plain hot). Jet has too many problems to realize that Eddie’s interested. Eddie loses patience when Jet ends her waitressing shift at a strip club with a knife at her throat. Since Eddie’s a cop, he figures he can help. Since Jet’s used to solving everyone’s problems she doesn’t want Eddie’s help.

Throw in a Dolly Parton look-alike, a gruff but lovable strip club owner, Jet’s ne’er do well father, his ne’er do well friend, Bear, Bear’s long-suffering, chain-smoking wife Lavonne and the crew from Rock Chick and you’ve got Rock Chick Rescue.

Rock Chick Rescue takes you on a wild ride with Jet, Eddie and the gang as they wrestle bad guys in a bagel shop, hit Denver’s backstreet poker tables (with big hair), and help the strippers at Smithie’s take down a would-be murderer.

Through this, Jet’s got to learn that even when life made you give up your dreams, you can still end up with the (hot) guy. Eddie’s got to rescue Jet from a bad man (so he can do better things with her) and teach her that some dreams can come true.

 

Rock Chick ~ Jet McAlister, quiet, unassuming, a self-professed bore. Jet works at Fortnum's (Indy's bookstore/coffee shop) and waitresses at a strip club. Jet has dedicated her life to taking care of her mom and sister, and doesn't have time for love.

Hot Bunch Hero ~ Eddie Chavez  Hot Guy Move ~ the Eddie Daze, wherein Jet finds herself so dazzled by his kisses and moves that she's unable to argue, or form coherent thoughts.  Eddie is a vice cop, and Lee's best friend, which has him walking a fine line with the law, and sometimes looking the other way.

What I Loved About Rock Chick Rescue

Eddie Chavez had a thing for Indy (yeah, complicated) until... Jet caught his attention. But what's a guy to do when the object of his affection won't give him the time of day? That hindrance is pushed out of the way when Jet's bum of a dad comes to town and puts her in immediate danger. It's time for Eddie to make his move, rescue Jet, and show her that he's the man for her. This involves lots of  hesitation, attitude and Glares from Jet. Eddie employs Eddie Talks, long showers, hip-grabbing, side-tucking, neck-hugs, and kissing. Lots and lots of kissing. I loved how Eddie fell in love with Jet's smile. I loved how Eddie fell so hard for Jet, knew she felt the same way, and didn't give up on her. The man was persistent.

Rock Chick Rescue only continued my avid obsession for the series. Tex is still the biggest, craziest badass of them all. This book also introduces us to Nancy, Lottie, Shirleen, and Daisy!

 
Favorite Moment ~

  "Why not you?" he asked.
  I didn't answer. He shook me. "Why not you?" he repeated.
  The tears hit the back of my throat and I gulped them down.
  "Jet," he said.
  I shook my head but answered.
  "I can't because there's no one to catch me when I fall."
  His guard went down and his eyes warmed. He'd looked at me with warm eyes before but never like this, they came complete with a look so tender it made my breath catch.
  "Everyone's got their hands out waitin' for you to take one. Carina, you gotta learn when to take someone's hand before you fall."

Series: Rock Chick #3

Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary

Publisher: Kristen Ashley

Publication Date: 2/24/11

Format: ebook

Pages: 672

Source: Purchase

Roxie’s on the run from a bad boyfriend who will not catch the hint that it is o-v-e-r. She’s in no mood for love at first sight, but when her eyes fall on Hank, it’s trouble from the get-go. Roxie tries to hold Hank at arms length but Hank wants to be a closer (as in, a lot closer). Roxie’s trouble catches up with her and Hank wants to help but Roxie knows in her heart that she’s no good for a white hat guy. The problem is no one agrees with her, especially her crazy hippie best friend Annette or her parents; the even crazier small-Indiana-town Herb and Trish. Toss into the mix the gang from Rock Chick and Rock Chick Rescue and Roxie finds herself totally outnumbered.

Climb in for another Rock Chick wild ride through Rock Chick Redemption. As the odds stack up against Roxie, she has no choice but to hold on and just ride it out through the kidnappings, car chases, society parties, a riot at the strip club, Hank getting “Mom Bombed” and one crazy night at the Haunted House.

During all this Hank works at convincing her she really wants to stay and he, along with the Hot Bunch, go all out to make her safe. Hank also needs to work on showing Roxie that her past decisions don’t mean her future can’t include something as downright delicious as… normal.

 

Rock Chick ~ Roxie Logan, a woman on the run from her crazed ex-boyfriend who won't let go. Roxie is a fashionista, a web designer, a nut. She was smart - except when it comes to dangerous situations - and determined to keep those around her safe.

Hot Bunch Hero ~ Hank Nightingale  Hot Guy Move ~ Hank Conversations, in which he can pretty much talk Roxie into going along with what he says. If that doesn't work, he has Four Kisses, each serve a different emotion, all leave his woman dizzy. And the Eyes...intense, angry, lazy (ie sexy), and smiling.

What I Loved About Rock Chick Redemption
HOLY CRAP, I loved Hank. Good guys are my weakness, particularly when they're as protective, loving, sexy, and badass as Hank. Hank was pretty much done for the moment he laid eyes on Roxie. He just had to show her that they were meant to be together. Roxie doesn't feel worthy of a man like Hank. A stalker, a kidnapping, a car chase, standoffs, and a crazy family all play a big part in Rock Chick Redemption, and I loved every moment.

Rock Chick Redemption has MORE TEX! So much more Tex, and I loved every moment of the big, crazy guy's story. We also get more Daisy and Shirleen, which always promises a good time. Indy, Ally, and Jet are all there in support of their new friend. Lee and Eddie are still hot as ever; Vance and Luke play a big part in the story, too. I was most excited to meet Annette. My husband has been talking up Annette for months now, and she was even crazier (awesome) than I expected.


Words of Wisdom ~ courtesy of Duke. To me, this best sums up the men and women of this series:

  "These boys need women who can take the heat without meltin' like butter, and sometimes that heat is fiery. They need women who can give back their shit so they don't walk all over 'em and get bored out of their fucking skulls. And they need women who can go soft when the situation demands because they get hard knocks on a regular basis, sometimes literally, and comin' home to somethin' soft is the only way to cope."



Series: Rock Chick #4

Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary

Publisher: Kristen Ashley

Publication Date: 3/14/11

Format: ebook

Pages: 411

Source: Purchase

Jules has got a score to settle against the drug dealers of Denver. Vance has made it his mission that Jules won’t get dead while dishing out vigilante justice. Jules doesn’t have time for romance, she’s too busy saving the world and she enlists Zip (the gunstore owner), Heavy (an ex-PI) and Frank (a mysterious recluse) to help.

The Rock Chicks of Fortnum’s Bookstore get involved to provide romantic advice and guidance, none of which Jules accepts at first. The Hot Bunch of Nightingale Investigations adopt Jules as one of their own. Even though Jules tries to hang on to her inner Head Crackin’ Mamma Jamma, the Rock Chicks; Hot Bunch; Jules’s long-suffering Uncle Nick; Jules’s friend the rotund, African-American, Jackie-O wannabe, May; and especially Vance will stop at nothing to wear her down.

But Jules makes some bad guys pretty angry and one is dedicated to taking her out. Vance and the Hot Bunch have to pull out all the stops to keep her alive. At the same time, Jules and Vance learn the true meaning of home but once they find this precious entity they’ve been searching for all their lives, will Jules’s enemies tear it away?

 

Rock Chick ~ Jules Lawler. Social worker by day, badass vigilante by night. Jules is a completely different type of Rock Chick. Sure, she's beautiful, funny, kind, and all-around awesome, but she can also kick some serious bad guy butt. And, if you make a move on her man (or piss her off), she just might flip you over her shoulder.

Hot Bunch Hero ~ Vance Crowe  Hot Guy Move ~ the Crowe Effect, wherein Vance nails you with his stare, causing the body to react to him in more ways than one. Very effective when he wants to stop you from arguing, be agreeable, or when he wants you to remember how he can make your body feel.


Rock Chick Renegade is the book I've been most anxious to read since I started the series. This one (and Jules) is my husband's favorite, and now I see why. Because the lead characters were so different from those of the previous books, Renegade has such a different feel to it. It's not quite as...zany(?) as the others. Jules is a serious chick and she is serious about the kids she works with, and keeping them away from the dealers.

I really love how Jules stood toe-to-toe with the Nightingale Investigations boys. Jules was smart, she was tough, and she listened. And Vance Crowe? Wow, did he take me by surprise. I didn't really consider Vance all that much before, because he has mainly been on the periphery, and when he is around, he's very quiet and very intense. But in this book, Vance was amazing. His backstory was sad, his present is lonely, but with Jules, his future looks amazing. He still doesn't say much, but what he says is always worth listening to, particularly when he's showing Jules that they are forever. In the moonlight.

This book had so many amazing moments. Darius and Shirleen. Smithee's. Jules and Vance's Midnight Talks. The ending of Rock Chick Renegade tore me up, and had some events that really shake things up moving ahead. LOVED IT. And Hector Chavez!!


Words of Wisdom ~ Once again, Duke provided some Rock Chick Wisdom that helps summarize why this series is perfection.

  "Got a feeling you're gonna be a fixture in Indy's life. Whoever is a fixture in Indy's life is a fixture in mine. Don't got no family outside Delores and her folks. What family I got walks through the doors of that store on a regular basis. I'm guessin' by the way Vance looks at you and Indy and her gang have taken to you, you're gonna be walkin' through those doors on a regular basis. I'm gonna do my bit to make sure you continue walkin' through those doors.
  Where I come from, you take care of your family." 



Series: Rock Chick #5

Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary

Publisher: Kristen Ashley

Publication Date: 4/24/11

Format: ebook

Pages: 595

Source: Purchase

Ava hates men, she has reason and she’s vowed not only never to get involved with another one again but also to exact vengeance on her best friend’s, lying, cheating husband. Since Luke, Ava’s childhood crush, is now a private investigator, she thinks to enlist him but changes her mind at the last second.

Too late, Luke knows she’s up to something and he’s already seen many a Rock Chick try to fight her own battles without the Hot Bunch stepping in. He’s having none of it. She’s having none of him. The clash of the Rock Chick and Hot Guy begins but Luke’s got the advantage. He has handcuffs and he’s not afraid to use them.
 

Rock Chick ~ Ava Barlow. Burned by men her whole life, Ava has sworn off men. There's only one guy who can shake her resolve, her childhood friend, Luke Stark.

Hot Bunch Hero ~ Luke Stark  Hot Guy Move ~ Luke Lip Fog. Luke has beautiful lips that will cause a woman to go speechless if she truly looks at them. And, those lips are so amazing that he can kiss a woman stupid.

THIS BOOK! Rock Chick Revenge is my favorite of the series (so far). Ava was a character that I could relate to on so many levels. She just felt so real to me. She considers herself a dork. She's kind of silly, but is strong when it counts. I loved that she had known Luke since she was eight, and had been in love with him ever since. I didn't really think I was going to truly love Luke. He was kind of a bad boy in Redemption and Revenge. Well, not really bad, but he was lurking around Roxie and Jules pretty hard, and it's clear he was becoming ready for love.

But once I got to know Luke?? I fell hard. This man, oh my gosh, the way he cared about Ava was so beyond what I expected. The fact that he adored and cared for her, even when they were young, and she was a chubby girl with glasses, was incredible. The way he protected her when trouble comes her way was awesome. And the mouth on that man! Forget Luke Lip Fog, the things he said to Ava had me hardcore swooning.

Besides the love story, Revenge had so much action. This book was just non-stop trouble from beginning to end. And I can't forget Shirleen. That woman makes me giggle like crazy. Seriously, no movie or show could be half as entertaining as this series.
And the ending? I cried like a baby. Happy, happy tears.


Favorite Moment ~

  He touched his lips to mine, eyes open, and murmured, "Never thought life could be this sweet."
  My stomach got melty. "Really?" I whispered.
  He rested his forehead against mine. "There are two kinds of women. The ones you go to bed with and the ones you wanna wake up with. Lots of the first, not many of the last. If a man's lucky, he'll find the last."
  He touched his mouth to mine again and I took that as a definite sign I was the last. 




Series: Rock Chick #6

Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary

Publisher: Kristen Ashley

Publication Date: 11/13/11

Format: ebook

Pages: 561

Source: Purchase

Stella’s the lead singer and lead guitarist of the Blue Moon Gypsies and Stella used to be Mace’s girl. Mace broke up with her though and the loss of him rocked her world. But Stella gets a call, late at night (again) from one of the members of her crazy band. She has to go play clean up (again) and runs into Mace (and a shed load of police) and ends up getting shot.

Mace finds he doesn’t like it much that his ex-girlfriend got shot, right in front of him but it’s worse. A very bad man has thrown down the gauntlet and ALL the Rock Chicks are in the firing line. Stella doesn’t want Mace to be the one to keep her alive but she has no choice… mainly because Mace isn’t giving her one.

Rock Chick ~ Stella Gunn, leader of Blue Moon Gypsies. Stella is not only a Rock Chick, she's a Rock 'n Roll Chick.

Hot Bunch Hero ~ Kai "Mace" Mason   Hot Guy Move ~  Ummm... Intensity? For me, Mace was sort of a departure from the rest of the Hot Bunch. Tragedy has led him to become a closed book. He was a challenge. I love a challenge.

I honestly didn't think the series could get any better after Rock Chick Revenge, but I was wrong. What completely killed me with Reckoning, besides the story and characters, was the various points-of -view added. I was blown away when I got to be back in Indy's head again, and Jules, Ava, Roxie and Jet. It was fun to see how they viewed their lives and the other characters now versus when they each had their book. AND, the GUYS! Being in the head of a Hot Bunch guy was just as awesome as I'd hoped.

Rock Chick Reckoning had such a different, much more intense feel to it. Don't get me wrong, the characters are still amazing and funny, and the action is just as crazy as ever. It's just, Mace's story is hard. Stella's story was hard, too, but his broke my heart. I spent a lot of this book wiping tears away.  But, I also spent a lot of it laughing, especially at Shirleen, Tex, and Smithee, who were being their ridiculous, awesome selves, as usual.

Mace and Stella together were terrific. Unlike the rest of the Rock Chick/Hot Bunch group (except for Indy and Lee), Mace and Stella had a past romantic relationship; one that ended abruptly and painfully. I loved seeing Mace and Stella reconnect, even though it did hurt to see Stella believe she wasn't really good enough for Mace. I loved seeing their walls begin to come down, the truth about their feelings come out. Best of all, I loved seeing them fight to the death for each other, and prove that love can heal anything.

The Epilogue. I'm not exactly sure why, since there are two more books in the series, to be honest, I don't care because of how much I loved it. There is an epilogue to beat ALL epilogues in Reckoning. This takes place five years in the future, and that's really all I can say about this because my eyes keep tearing up just thinking about it and I can't see.


Favorite Moment~

  "I would never have guessed Mace had a weakness but there it was. And without hesitation, he gave it to me, a piece of him. And that piece was the fact that he lived in black too. And it was right then, I knew I loved him. And that my luck had finally changed. And that, come hell or high water, I was going to pull him out of the black."   




Series: Rock Chick #7

Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary

Publisher: Kristen Ashley

Publication Date: 12/9/11

Format: ebook

Pages: 607

Source: Purchase

Sadie Townsend is known by all as The Ice Princess and she’s worked hard to earn her reputation. Her father, a now-incarcerated Drug Lord, has kept her under his thumb her whole life and she’s learned enough from living in his world to give everyone the cold shoulder. But one inebriated night, she shows the Real Sadie to the undercover agent she knows is investigating her father, the handsome Hector Chavez, and he knows he’ll stop at nothing to have her.

Hector makes one (huge) mistake; he waits for Sadie to come to him. Tragedy strikes and Sadie’s got a choice, she can retreat behind her Ice Fortress or she can embrace the Rock Chick/Hot Bunch World. Guided by Hector, the Rock Chicks, the Hot Bunch and her new gay roommates, Buddy and Ralphie, Sadie negotiates a life out from under her father’s thumb, a life that includes poison, arson and learning how to make s’mores.

 

Rock Chick ~ Sadie Townsend, Ice Princess, daughter of a crime lord.

Hot Bunch Hero ~ Hector "Oh My God" Chavez   Hot Guy Move ~ Double H, otherwise known as Hispanic Hottie,  has too many hot guy moves to name.

I don't even know what to say about Rock Chick Regret. My friends had warned me it was intense, but I didn't realize just how intense it was until the moment I burst into tears. At 4%. This book made me cry so, so many times. It also made me cry and smile and giggle and swoon.

Besides the details of Sadie's life and trials, a major theme of this book is the ups-and-downs of life. The good days and the bad days. The happy moments and the sad moments and how among all of the swings back-and-forth...life just goes on. That you must grab those happy moments when you can, because they will be there to help you through the rough times. Most importantly, you can get through anything when you are surrounded by the people who love you.

Hector Chavez was absolute perfection in this book. The way he loves and takes care of Sadie, the way he pushes just enough to make her see, but never hard enough to break her made him a hero. The amount of love in this story, between Hector and Sadie, between each Rock Chick and Hot Bunch counterpart, and between all of the characters in general continued to blow me away.

Rock Chick Regret introduced Ralphie and Buddy, who were the best. Malcolm, Kitty Sue and Tom also play a big part in the story. Tex, Duke, Marcus, Daisy, and Shirleen (always, especially Shirleen) kicked ass in this book.

Once again, KA rocked the Epilogue. Just the thought of knowing Rock Chick Revolution ends the series makes me want to cry.


Words of Wisdom ~  (once again, courtesy of Duke)

  "Somethin' else, darlin'," he went on quickly and his voice lowered. "Your mom was here, she saw what I saw at your gallery, heard what I heard you say, it'd tear her heart out. Girl, it would just kill her to think you thought that of yourself. She made the ultimate sacrifice for you, don't let it be for nothin'. Take hold of life and live it beautiful like she wanted you to." 
 



Series: Rock Chick #8

Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary

Publisher: Kristen Ashley

Publication Date: 8/13/13

Format: ebook

Source: Purchase

Ally Nightingale has secrets. Secrets she doesn't even share with the Rock Chicks. But two men know what she's up to. One has her back. The other has her heart, but he doesn't know it.

As Ally rewinds the last year of her life, she knows two things. One, she’s never going to get what every Rock Chick should have—her own Hot Bunch guy. And two, she’s a Nightingale through and through. She just isn’t sure what to do about that.

But as her secrets are revealed, the men in her life react. Darius Tucker, a lifelong friend, as usual takes her back. Ren Zano, the man she loves, isn’t quite so sure. The Rock Chicks, Hot Bunch and the entire gang at Fortnum’s weigh in, and a Rock Chick Revolution starts brewing.

It’s up to Ally to control it and prove what she knows down to her bones.

She’s a Rock Chick, she deserves her hot guy and she’s going to keep the one she wants…

Because she’s a Nightingale.

Rock Chick ~ Ally Nightingale, sister of Lee and Hank, best friend to Indy

Hot Bunch Hero ~ Ren Zano   Hot Guy Move ~ Turning on the Macho Italian American Badass


What can I say about Rock Chick Revolution that thousands of readers haven't said already? I mean, I just know I won't even come close to doing this book justice. I am so happy with the book, it was better than I ever expected, but I am also SO SAD that it's over.

I always wondered why Ally's book was last, since she is one of the original Rock Chicks. It was mentioned in Revolution that Indy was the heart of the Rock Chicks, and Ally was the backbone. That is so dead on. Ally Nightingale is tough, smart, bold, brave, and she feels deep. She was a complete departure from most of the Rock Chicks, with the exception of Jules. And I always hesitate to declare favorites, because in a series in which all of the characters are truly beyond compare, I feel like I'm downplaying my love for the others. But, I know that Ally will always hold a special place for me among the group.

Not only was Ally a completely different type of Rock Chick, but her guy Ren Zano, he's a departure from the Hot Bunch. Yes, he was bossy and sexy and just out-of-control appealing, but he and Ally were so unique to the series. This definitely caught me by surprise, but I loved it.

Rock Chick Revolution was a great conclusion to the series. Once again, no one rocks an epilogue like Kristen Ashley. I was thrilled to get a look at the gang in the future, and even now, I'm still a little teary-eyed and choked up just thinking about this group of characters I feel I know, love, and have brought me so many new friends and so much fun. I know I'm selling this book short, but guys, I have a huge lump in my throat and tears in my eyes and I just can't even.

Also...the last line of the epilogue....RIGHTEOUS! Can't. Wait.


Words of Wisdom ~
  "It's a gift," she said, her voice funny, deep with emotion. "Watching you all get close, witnessing all that happened making you closer, feeling that love. But it was another gift, maybe even a bigger one, precious, knowing that sharing it makes people I don't know laugh. It makes them happy. Some of them write to me. They tell me bad things are happening in their lives. But they read my book and it takes them away. It makes them smile. Laugh. Even if for moments, or better yet hours, they can forget the bad, be with us here at Fortnum's, and laugh."  

  "Because, no matter how old we get, we always need to believe in fairy tales."



What I think I loved the most about Rock Chick, besides the humor and incomparable dialogue, is the love. Yes, the love between the Rock Chicks and their guys, but also the love shared between all the characters. Every woman cared about every guy, and vice versa. They were all friends and they all treated each other like family. Would die for one another in a heartbeat. They took each new character in, made them a part of the family, and there was no going back. Your family is what you make it.

  "A motley crew of cops and crooks, bounty hunters and baristas, PIs and rock stars, hot guys and Rock Chicks.
  My people.
  My family."


Thank you, Kristen Ashley, for giving me a series that I happily invested my time, heart, tears, and laughter in.

Thank you #booksluts for pushing me to read Rock Chick and virtually holding my hands the whole way through.

Purchase Rock Chicks Series

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Smashwords

About Kristen Ashley
Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!).

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

GIVEAWAY

To spread the Rock Chick love, I will gift one random commenter their choice of books from the Rock Chick series, via Amazon or B&N

Ends 9/4/13, at 11:59 pm

Open Intl.

Must be 18+ years of age.
Please leave an email address. 

 

AVOIDING RESPONSIBILITY BLOG TOUR ~ REVIEW, GUEST POST, GIVEAWAYS

Welcome to my stop on the Avoiding Responsibility Blog Tour! This tour is being hosted by Taryn at My Secret Romance. My stop includes a review, a "behind the scenes" with K.A. Linde and the tour giveaway.

Series: Avoiding #2
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Publisher: K.A. Linde
Publication Date: 12/1/12
Source: Received from author for review.

Lexi has finally given up her once destructive relationships and moved onto bigger and better things with a sexy new man in town. Just when she is starting to figure it out with him, her world is tilted once again with a phone call from none other than Ramsey Bridges. A year after his entrance into her life, Ramsey is trying to make amends and does the one thing she never expects—invites her to Jack's wedding.

The wedding she had evaded at all costs. But no matter what she does, Lexi can't seem to escape her past with Jack. But does she really want to?

Despite the explosive chemistry between Lexi and Ramsey, she is skeptical about trusting him after everything that has happened. When things are amiss with him, she starts questioning his motives. Can Ramsey be the one to remove Jack from Lexi's life permanently or should she move on with her blossoming new life?

I don't think it's possible for me to fully explain my thoughts on Avoiding Responsibility to someone who hasn't read it and Avoiding Commitment. At first glance, the story and its characters seem beyond belief. But when you look closer, and really think about the story, things become much clearer and the true meaning shows itself.

I was worried when I started Avoiding Responsibility; to the point that I almost didn't. I didn't want Lexie's character growth to backslide. I wanted to be rid of Jack and Bekah for good. I wasn't even sure if I wanted her to be with Ramsey. I just wanted Lexie to be okay.

Once I got started, though, I really didn't want to stop reading. Although not as dysfunctional as in Avoiding Commitment, the relationships in this series still felt like a disaster waiting to happen. I spent the entire time waiting for the shizz to hit the fan. And, oh boy, it sure did in the end. But in the most awesome way. Seriously, the ending of Avoiding Responsibility was so awesome that a totally bounced and giggled in my bed. At 2:00 am.

The one issue I have with the series, other than wanting to rip my hair out over Lexie's decisions, was that it was repetitious. There is a lot of internal dialogue, Lexie repeatedly reminiscing about how much she loved Jack, loves Jack, hates Jack. At this point, I get it. Seriously.

The Avoiding Series is not a love story. At least, not yet. This is the journey of a girl with some really mixed up beliefs on what love truly is. And don't forget, Lexie was nineteen when the story begins, hardly at the age to "know better". The girl showed massive, massive character development, throughout the story and by the end, she rocked it. I'm not sure what's going to happen going forward, there are a few different directions Linde could spin it. Where I was once hesitant, now I'm excited.

 

Favorite Quotes:
My favorite quotes are too spoiler-y. Boo.

  She was taking a leap of faith with Ramsey. As he melted her insides with adoring kisses, her mind filled with the joy of newfound happy memories.
  And she didn't have one thought of Jack. Okay, just one--he had never given her this.  ~eARC, 24%


  Yes, everyone made mistakes, but she was an idiot about it all. She avoided everything at any cost...commitment and the responsibility of her actions. She hadn't been able to face up to them and what they meant. ~ eARC, 71%


You can purchase Avoiding Responsibility at:

Ten Facts about the Avoiding Series

 

1)      The Avoiding Series is not a love story.  It’s a story of dysfunction and heartache.  It’s about losing yourself, finding yourself, and living with yourself.

2)      I wrote all of Avoiding Commitment and a quarter of Avoiding Responsibility before I realized that the gym I dance in is called Ramsey and my character’s name is Ramsey.  After that I went around giggling to myself saying I let Ramsey work me over three times a week for hours on end. ;)

3)      I edited and published the first book while working full time on the presidential campaign.  And full time on a campaign is a hundred hours a week not forty.

4)      Jack’s favorite band is the D-Bags from S.C. Stephens book Thoughtless, and I include references to them in both books.  Lexi likes to wear their t-shirts.

5)      I haven’t been to New York City since I was a baby, yet a large part of the books are set in New York.  Lexi attends NYU law.  Her best friend, Chyna, lives in a penthouse overlooking Central Park.  I did a lot of research on the internet to make sure it felt as realistic as possible to the reader.

6)      The college that Jack and Lexi attended is based off of the University of Georgia where I spent six years getting my bachelors and masters.  Hot Corner, the coffee shop Jack worked at, is a real place downtown that changed its name to Trapeze.  Chamber, the bar they frequented, is based off of the Loft now renamed Cloud.  The Theatre is a combination of the 40 Watt and the Georgia Theatre, both major concert venues in downtown Athens.

7)      Considering they are in my books.  I don’t like:  coffee, Jack Daniels, or the taste of peppermint.

8)      In Avoiding Responsibility, I introduce a character that Lexi calls Mystery Man throughout the whole book.  Originally he was just supposed to be a one-night stand, but after everyone was so shocked by his appearance, I decided to leave him in and see where his character took me. 

9)      Chyna was the name of my sister’s childhood friend. 

10)  The original title of the book was called The Art of Avoiding Commitment.  But after everyone kept referring to it as AC or Avoiding Commitment, I dropped the front half of the title.

 

 

**I love learning "behind-the-scenes" facts about the books I read. I think #1 is the most important this to remember while reading the series.**

 

 

 

About the author

 

K.A. Linde is an independent author and publisher who enjoys writing novels that keep you guessing to the very end. She wrote Avoiding Commitment in 2009. She studied political science and philosophy at the University of Georgia and received her Masters in 2012. She currently resides in North Carolina. She enjoys dancing in her spare time. She has written a sequel to this novel and plans to have it released as an ebook in the near future along with her future endeavors. She is currently working on a fantasy/romance titled The Affiliate and the 3rd book in the Avoiding Series.

You can email K.A. Linde at kalinde45@gmail.com

 

GIVEAWAYS

I have one ecopy of either Avoiding Commitment or Avoiding Responsibility to give away.

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The grand prize is a Kindle Paperwhite. It’s in the punch Tab tool.

NEW RELEASE - CONFESSIONS OF AN ALLI CAT by COURTNEY COLE

Today is the Release Day for the newest book from Courtney Cole, Confessions of an Alli Cat (The Cougar Chronicles #1). I have the inside word from a friend who's already read Confessions, and word is it is AWESOME.

Series: The Cougar Chronicles #1
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Lakehouse Press
Publication Date: 10/21/12

Thirty-five year-old Allison “Alli” Lancaster has it all—a fabulous job, a beautiful 15 year-old daughter, a hilarious BFF and a gorgeous house with a pool and Jacuzzi in an exclusive Las Vegas neighborhood. What she doesn’t have is a husband, because she kicked her lousy, cheating ex to the curb nine months ago. Since then, Alli has paid her dues with seemingly endless self-improvement and seemingly endless mourning. Now she’s ready to move on and try new things.

Alli’s idea of “trying new things” is nothing like that devil-of-a-best-friend of hers. Somehow, Sara, the devil of a best friend, talks Alli into trying out a sex toy, sleeping with a younger man and letting a stranger in a lab jacket put hot wax on a place that should never, ever, ever see wax. And that’s only the beginning.

Alli never saw her life going quite like this. She also never thought she’d meet someone else who had the very real potential to change her life forever.

But she did.

Enter the new guy. He’s gorgeous, refined and mature. He’s also marriage material. But that poses a problem for Alli, who renounced the institution of marriage when she renounced her ex. What’s a girl to do?

They say that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. But what the heck happens when you can’t leave Vegas? Well, you spin the wheel, of course. You play the game and let the chips fall where they may.

Alli just hopes she can find them all.

*******

Caution! Only read this book if you want to laugh and are not offended at adult themes and language. This is not a Young Adult book.

Excerpt

“You look marvelous!” Sara says when I round the corner into the bedroom.

“I feel ridiculous.”

“Why?  We are simply two wealthy women with trophy boy toys out for a night on the town at one of Vegas’s most luxurious night spots.  Nothing to feel ridiculous about.”

“I’m dressed like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, only without the body for it,” I say, indicating my short, tight dress.  “How did I let you talk me into buying this?”

“Well, I thought it might help things with Rick the Dick many moons ago, but this is an even better use.  Besides, you look mouthwatering.”  

Standing up, she walks to me.  She trails the fingertips of one hand down my cheek. 

“A beautiful face,” she says, dragging her hands down to palm my boobs next.  She gives them a squeeze.  “Delicious rack,” she declares then grabs my waist and spins me around.  “And a perfect ass,” she exclaims, slapping my butt.  “You are gorgeous and any man in his right mind would give his left nut to lick you from head to toe and everywhere in between.”

“I think you secretly have the hots for me,” I laugh.  “Maybe I should be going out with you instead.”

“Oh, you flatter!  If either of us swung that way, we’d be perfect together.  But, alas, I’m a sausage lover, as are you.  No tacos for us.”

I can’t help but laugh.  “Have you always been this way and I’m just now noticing?”

“Yes.  You’ve been preoccupied for a few years.”

“I’m beginning to really love this new you.  Even if she shocks me regularly and gets me into trouble more often than not.”

“You love it and you know it.  I add much-needed excitement to your life,” Sara claims, walking to the mirror to touch up her lipstick.

“Did I tell you I love that hair style on you, too?”  I ask, referring to her dark red pixie cut.  She totally has the face to pull it off.

“Keep going like that and I’m yours.”

We both laugh. 

“Well, I guess I’m ready.”  I add under my breath, “At least as ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Then it’s time to go.”

My stomach flutters in dread and anxiety and, yes, a little bit of excitement.  I take a deep breath and smile at Sara.  She loops her arms through mine and grins. 

“Welcome to the first night of the rest of your life.”

We make our way outside and down the walk to the curb, to the shiny black limousine waiting there.  The ride is only twenty minutes or so, during which I drink champagne in the back of the limo at a rate of speed that would make a sailor proud.

When we glide to a stop at the club, I follow Sara out of the car. 

And the man waiting for me nearly takes my breath away.

He’s taller than I imagined and much broader than I expected.  His shoulders look a mile wide in his perfectly-tailored tuxedo, making his waist look smaller than mine.  His hair is dark brown and his eyes are the same dark, sparkling blue as they are in his picture.

He’s young, all right.  But there is nothing boyish about this guy.  Not at all.

As I step from the car, he extends his hand toward me.  I slip my fingers into his and he smiles.  I’m pretty sure my knees go numb and my uterus has a spasm.  But it’s when he speaks that I know it’s all over but the shouting. And the Hallelujah choir. 

“You’re more beautiful than I could’ve imagined,” he purrs in a deep, velvety voice.

Yep, I’m gonna ride him like a runaway bull tonight. No two ways about it.

The thought makes me smile.

 

Good stuff, right? I seriously can't wait to read Confessions. Be sure to add it to your TBR pile or better yet, go get it!

Amazon 

You can connect with Courtney Cole at:
her blog   |   Twitter   |  Facebook  |  Goodreads |  Amazon