Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Space Wrangler by Kate Donovan


On this frontier, love could get you killed. And that’s part of the rush.

Like all miracles, a rip in space has its dark side. Through it, adventurers explore new worlds, smugglers make their fortunes, and wranglers like Rick Gage pit their skills against hordes of magnificent robots. The downside? Five percent of those who enter “the sinkhole” are never seen again.

Alexia Montoya isn’t looking for thrills. She just wants to find her brother, who disappeared in the sinkhole five years ago. Conventional wisdom says he disintegrated within seconds, and the powers-that-be want her to stop looking. Stop agitating. Stop ruining business.

When desperation drives her to transit the rip herself, the official reception is armed and hostile. Luckily, someone steps in to protect her: a handsome, gun-toting wrangler—who believes her quest is futile.

Rick has one piece of advice for Alexia. Go home. But the pesky woman persists until the authorities come up with a more permanent solution. Reunite her with her brother—permanently—by throwing her into the sinkhole. After all, no one would dare challenge their absolute authority.

No one, that is, except Rick.

Warning: This book glorifies outlaws, encourages lawlessness, condones unprotected space contact, and could lead to the rise of the kind of machines that don’t require batteries.

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Book 1
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Samhain Publishing



Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo☆☆☆
I really enjoyed the world building in this story, but I found that it dragged in places.

Alexia Montoya’s search for her brother who went missing during a trip through the sinkhole has consumed her for the past five years. Everything she has done has been with the sole intent of finding him, even if the odds of him being alive are nil. She has a feeling that her brother is still alive and she's going to do everything in her power to get him back alive -- even if it means putting herself in grave danger.

What worked/what didn't: The chemistry between Alexia and Rick is solid as is their romance; however, I was more fascinated with the Titans, thugs and infodroids. I was left with wanting more information about them and the history of D'stry.



Words are Kate Donovan’s drug of choice, whether she’s crafting dialogue for a story or building legal arguments for a client. And as for leisure pursuits, well, discovering a new word, or better still, the origins of an old one, constitutes high adventure in Kate’s world. Also in her world are her husband – a fellow attorney – and their two children.

Predictably, the whole family loves to read, although Paul and the kids spend far too much time outdoors – fishing, hiking, exploring and lord knows what else – for her taste. Kate has authored twenty books ranging from time travel to space travel, historical to paranormal.

Connect with Kate

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Space Wrangler (Space Rustlers #1) by Kate Donovan to read and review.

On the Line by Kathryn Ascher


Janelle Wagoner kept a lot of secrets for her husband, but the one she tried hardest to protect was her own. She never suspected he knew or that he would choose to reveal it in such a dramatic way. Now that he’s gone, leaving behind her and two children, Janelle is left to pick up the pieces and try to put her life back together before it’s too late. Nathan Harris has only ever loved one woman, despite the fact that she was married to someone else. After learning that she has been hiding something from him, he’s faced with a tough decision: With everything at stake, will he walk away from her for good, or will he lay it all on the line to win her back?

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Book 2
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo☆☆☆
This is the second book in the Rocky Creek Series and I feel that it could be read as a standalone.

What worked/what didn't: For me, most of this book didn't work. There was no genuine spark between Nathan and Janelle and the conflict that was should have brought them together only separated them further.


Ruthie☆☆☆
Having read the first in this series and loved it, I was delighted to get the chance to read Kelsey's sister, Janelle's story.

It was a much more challenging read, as it dealt with some very difficult issues, and also their mother is a major feature – and she is an awful woman. Truly awful. I can't think of many book characters I dislike more ... possibly Orks! The story itself is quite long, and somewhat convoluted, but the ending is all that we have come to expect from Ms. Ascher. I can imagine that a lot of people will have a problem with some of the plotlines, and the actions of Janelle, but given her mother, almost anything would seem believable. Slowly, as things unravel and are re-knitted in a more positive way, there is light in the story. But it is neither an easy, nor a very uplifting story for the most part.


Also Available in the Rocky Creek Series

http://amzn.to/1A34xk9
Book 1
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For reviews & more info, check out our What It Takes blog post.



Born and raised in Virginia, Kathryn Ascher tried her hand at poetry and fiction in high school, but put it all aside when she went to college. After graduating from Virginia Tech with her degree in communications, she married her college sweetheart and went to work for a local radio station. After her first child was born, she became a stay-at-home mom and began spending her free time crafting and reading.

It wasn’t until after the birth of her third child and a blind book exchange that Kathryn decided to give writing another try. When she picked up her first romance novel, she immediately knew that was the genre for her. She was drawn to the strong lead characters and the quirky secondary characters, the settings, the humor, and most importantly the feelings of falling in love for the first time. She hopes that her readers enjoy these aspects in her writings as well.

The inspiration for Kathryn’s first novel, What It Takes, came during a trip to the grocery store. In the checkout line, she amused herself with a tabloid article about a movie sequel she was looking forward to seeing. She read an interview with one of the actors who, when asked if he was dating his co-star, replied that he thought fans confused the characters with the actors and saw what they wanted to see. Kathryn began to wonder what would happen if the actors themselves got confused about their relationships and feelings—and a book was born.

Kathryn resides with her husband and three children in Land O' Lakes, Florida.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of On the Line (Rocky Creek #2) by Kathryn Ascher to read and review.

Darkness Shifting by Iris Astres


To find her way back to the light, she ll have to follow the howl...

When her disturbed, drug-addicted husband drops her off a balcony, nearly killing her, Libby has had enough. It s time to reclaim her life, starting by running away to a cabin at the foot of the Cascade Mountains.

There she finds welcome solitude—until a dead car battery leaves her stranded and alone on a frigid night. Her rescuer is a man with a name as unusual as his looks, and a white wolf at his side.

Equally isolated, but for very different reasons, Bodhi is drawn to Libby's fragile, wounded spirit. Their erotic connection is strong from the start, but helping her risks exposing the secrets of his wolf companion, Stavros, to an unforgiving world.

Libby's refuge doesn t last long. When danger comes hard and fast in the form of a husband determined to drag her back into his nightmare, the three of them must trust each other—with all their secrets—to escape the past's long, deadly reach.

Warning: This book includes a violent ex-husband, a white wolf, two sexy heroes, a marathon threesome, and a heroine discovering her voyeuristic side.

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Samhain Publishing



Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie☆☆☆
I am a big fan of ménage and shifter stories, but this one didn't quite work for me. There is a decent story in this book, but I didn't really click with any of the characters, except maybe (Stav)Ros. I liked some of the ideas – such as the backstory about the men and Nastasia – but somehow it just missed an edge.


Dawn☆☆
I was really looking forward to reading this book, I love paranormal, m/m and ménage books. However sadly this book really didn't hit the mark. I felt that there was so much going on but at the same time nothing was really happening. I felt short changed on the m/m and ménage aspects of the book. The story itself had so much potential and could have been a really great book, if only longer maybe, as I just felt that everything was rushed.

Just not for me :(



A native Californian, Iris managed to misspend most of her youth in Paris, France, where she learned to parlez-vous with the best of them. Now she leads a bilingual, bi-coastal and frequently bi-continental life saying yes to desire whenever she can.

You might enjoy Iris’ historical romances which she writes under the pen name Ellen Trubody.

Connect with Iris

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https://www.netgalley.com


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Darkness Shifting by Iris Astres to read and review.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Slashed by Tracy Wolff Blog Tour


Do nice guys always finish last? In the new Extreme Risk novel from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Tracy Wolff, a burnt-out underdog and a vulnerable tomboy defy the pressure to be perfect and go after what they really want.

Bighearted and easygoing, Luc Jennings is falling behind in a family of serious overachievers. While he may be decent enough at snowboarding to turn pro and rack up some sponsors, he’s never topped any podiums—unlike his friends Z, Ash, and Cam. Luc’s always been head over heels for Cam Bradley, but she’s never seen him as anything more than a friend. Now, after years of coming in second, Luc can’t take it anymore—especially if it means watching Cam chase another guy.

Cam hangs out almost exclusively with dudes, and that’s fine by her. She’d much rather be shredding at the Olympics than primping in the mirror. Cam’s wildest dreams have a way of coming true—except when it comes to getting her longtime crush and best friend, Z Michaels, to notice her. Then her mother suddenly shows up after being gone for, like, ever, and Cam’s whole world comes crashing down. Desperate for a place to lay low, she turns to the one person who’s always had her back.

Try as he might to move on, Luc could never leave Cam hanging. He lets her crash at his place—and it isn’t long before she winds up in his bed. With Cam running scared and her icy facade starting to melt at last, Luc’s determined to finally win the only prize that matters.

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Book 3
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Fuck, she looks good. And fuck, it’s hard to keep my eyes off of her.

Like the other girls, Cam’s dressed in a bikini. But unlike Ophelia and Tansy, hers isn’t two little scraps of cloth held together with strings. No, in typical Cam fashion, she’s wearing a simple black suit that’s much more about athletic function than hotness factor. And still she looks fucking fantastic in it. All long, lean lines and tanned, gorgeous skin, with legs that go on forever—legs that seem specifically designed to drape themselves over a guy’s shoulders as he thrusts into her again and again and again.

Not that I care. Not anymore. I may have been in love with her once upon a time, but after the disastrous one night we spent together, I am totally over it.

Completely.

Absolutely.

Or at least that’s what I tell myself once a day. More if I’m actually around her for any length of time.

Fake it till you make it. That’s the motto I’m living by these days.

“Dude, where the hell did that come from?” Ash demands as he sits down on the edge of the boat and fastens himself into his wakeboard.

I shrug. The last thing I want to say is the truth, which is I’m sick to fucking death of always coming in last. I’m a good athlete, a really good athlete, and in any other group, that would probably count for something. With my three best friends—all of whom top snowboarding podiums on a regular basis—not so much.

It’s not that I’m jealous of them, because I’m not. They’ve each had some really bad, really heavy shit to deal with through the years and I figure their mad skills are kind of the universe’s way of evening up the scales. Still, it’d be nice to not always feel like the loser. Like the ballast they cart around, not because I contribute anything to the team but out of loyalty.

“That was totally wicked,” Ophelia tells me as I move to the front of the boat. “I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

“Thanks.” I shoot her a smile, even knowing she’s just trying to make me feel better.

“Uh, sure you have,” Z tells her even as he grins at me. “I do believe you’ve seen me work a half-pipe before.”

She rolls her eyes. “Of course, baby. And you have a bigger penis, too.”

“Hey, now!” I squawk in mock affront. “That seems a little judgmental considering you haven’t seen the goods.”

“You want to fix that?” she asks, eyebrows raised. But she’s been Z’s girl long enough for me to know she’s all bravado.

I reach for the waist of my board shorts. “Sure—”

“No!” Z stands up abruptly, grabbing onto Ophelia as he does. “No, she doesn’t.” He’s picking her up in his arms and striding over to the side of the boat while I slip into the vacated driver’s spot.

“You want to take a go?” I shout to him, but instead of answering he just steps onto the bench seat at the back of the boat.

“Don’t you dare,” Ophelia shrieks. “I mean it, Z! You better no—” Her shriek is abruptly cut off when he jumps in the water, still carrying her.

I glance at Ash, who’s just shaking his head like when’s she going to learn? I know exactly what he means. Z pretty much dares everything and telling him not to do something is a surefire way to get him to do just that.

Logan and Cam are close to hysterical they’re laughing so hard, and when I glance in the water at Ophelia—who’s still so shocked that her mouth is opening and closing like a guppy’s—I can’t blame them. Especially when she finally seems to come around and starts smacking at Z, who’s laughing just as hard as the other two.

Tansy keeps glancing back and forth between the lot of them like they’ve all escaped from an insane asylum. But when Ophelia finally stops beating up on Z, Tansy leans over the side of the boat and calls, “Here. I’ll help you up.”

Ash heads toward her—to help, I’m sure. Tansy isn’t close to being as fragile as she was when we first met her a couple months ago and she was fresh off of chemo, but Ash still has a tendency to treat her like glass. But before he can get there, Ophelia grabs her hand and yanks.

Tansy’s only protest is an astonished little squeak, and then she’s tumbling headfirst into the lake. Ash makes a dive for her, misses, and falls in after her.

By now Cam and Logan are laughing so hard they’re practically crying, and I’m not far behind. Especially when Ophelia leaps on Z’s back and starts trying to drown him.

It’s second nature for me to look at Cam, to try to catch her eye and share the joke. At least until I remember that we don’t do that anymore. We don’t do anything anymore. So, I look at Logan instead, and that’s when I see it. The wistfulness. The envy. He won’t say it—the kid never says it—but I know he misses being able to jump out of the boat without a second thought. Misses being able to just do what he wants instead of having to plan every little thing out beforehand. After running it by Ash, who we’ve already established has major protective issues when it comes to the people he loves.

The boat is stopped, but I turn the ignition all the way off before I climb out of the pilot’s seat and head toward him. I pick him up easily—he may be long but he’s also super lanky—throw him over my shoulder. “Hold your breath,” I warn, then jump off the back of the boat without waiting to see if he follows directions. It’s exactly what I would have done a year ago, before the accident, and though there’s a tiny part of me that questions if it’s really okay, I tamp it down. Except for the paralysis, he’s all healed up. In as good a shape as any other fourteen-year-old boy. So to hell with it. He deserves to have fun, too.

I hold onto him until we surface, making sure he can tread water using just his arms—which he does just fine despite the fact that he’s still laughing. Only then do I glance at Ash, expecting him to bitch me out. Which is fine. I know how he is and I’m prepared for it. Except when our eyes meet, his are filled with something that looks an awful lot like—shame.

I shoot him a questioning look, but he just shakes his head. Mouths “thank you,” then moves over to dunk his brother a second time.

Cam joins us after a couple minutes, and even though I know it’s totally masochistic, I can’t stop myself from swimming up behind her. From putting my hands on the silky skin of her waist.

“Hey, don’t—” she says with a laugh, twisting around to see which one of us is going to dunk her.

But dunking her is the last thing on my mind—even if I did start out with that as a vague plan—and when her surprised eyes meet mine, I don’t push down until she’s underwater. I don’t pull away, though, either. Instead I stay right where I am, hands lightly resting above her hips, thumbs gently stroking at the hard, flat plane of her abs.

Her green eyes are huge as she watches me watching her, and then she smiles a little tremulously. “Hi.” It’s almost a whisper.

“Hi,” I say back. It’s the first word I’ve said to her in weeks that hasn’t at least been partially for show.




Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary☆☆☆☆☆
This Extreme Risk series has become one of my favorites since the beginning. With each story about one of the four best friends and their extreme snowboarding skills. Cam Bradley is the only female in this group and Luc Jennings is her best friend since second grade. They talk about everything and anything. Then one night they drink too much and cross the line between friendship and more. Cam freaks out and runs and Luc can't believe he let it happen. So now months later and they are still avoiding each other. Can they work things out? It would be hard for them to go back to being just friends. And how will Luc handle Cam's secret? Will the other friends and their girlfriends be there for them? I love this series and Tracy Wolf, she has a great writing style that seems to pull you into the story. And I can't wait for more.


Rachael☆☆☆☆☆
I haven't read any sports books in a while so this was a nice change of pace for me... and I LOVED it. I haven't read any of the other books in this series so I was a bit unprepared for how much I would enjoy this group of characters.

The chemistry is amazing between the characters due to the long history they have together. I felt so bad for the mental damage that was done to Luc from his upbringing, but to see him finally start to come out of it was really sweet.

I did have a problem with their boating trip and the fact that everyone was so impressed with all these 'new' skills he was pulling out but then Luc never says anything about how those came to be.

A lot of this book is due to not communicating and not being willing to open themselves up to talk to their best friend about the now awkward situation that their lives have become.

I can't wait for more of this series and more from Tracy Wolff.


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
The third in the series, it was lovely to catch up with old friends and watch the next pairing work out what Ms. Wolff had planned for their future.

I love sports romances, and ones which happen in high adrenaline situations are possibly my favourite. That said, there is much more romance than sport in this book and that suited me just fine too. Oh there is snow board talk, and even action, but the focus is definitely on Luc and Cam.

These two best friends forever each tell their story, and give us insight into their feelings, in such a way that only the most ardent pacifist wouldn't want to knock their heads together! As someone who thinks far, far too much myself, I empathised with both of them – in fact maybe too much. It was important that we understood their backgrounds and just why they had such difficulty in seeing what was blindly obvious to everyone else. Their bodies certainly had the idea – which makes for some hot and steamy encounters. I can't really wait to get an update on how things move forward – so I do hope that a new book is being crafted.


Johanna☆☆☆☆
Well YES, the gang’s all here. After all the tortured souls in this series it was nice to get to some normal drama. This is still one of the best series I have read, and I devoured them. In a group of overachievers it was nice to see Luc's story come out, and even though he has some serious insecurities about Cam, I loved the story. Cam and Luc had a one night/drunk sex which didn't end well, and really wore on their bestie friendship. Very entertaining read and four stars of entertainment!


Also Available in the Extreme Risk Series

Book 1
Buy Links

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B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo


Book 2
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New York Times bestselling author Tracy Wolff lives in Texas and teaches writing at her local community college. She is married and the mother of three young sons.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Slashed (Extreme Risk #3) by Tracy Wolff to read and review for this tour.

Rope Burn by Em Petrova


She wants to turn up the heat. He’s got the skills to whip her into a frenzy.

TV food show host Tabbart Tracy works hard to give viewers her best recipes. But while her fans are legion, her personal life is colder than a meat locker. Most men just want her to serve up some pie—in the nude.

One glance at her assistant’s sexy brother, though, and her body skips straight from low simmer to rolling boil. Especially when she tracks him down at a stud ranch. Where he’s the stud.

When a certain little TV foodie personally requests Stowe’s company for a week, he’s flattered as hell. She needs to give up some control, and as a sex therapist otherwise known as the “Dom from Down Under”, Stowe has the leather, rope, and paddles to do it.

Just as Tabbart melts into a puddle under Stowe’s hands, her worst fear chills her back to reality: someone recognizes her. Worse, her Master frowns on opening her checkbook to make it all go away. But trusting him means hanging onto their connection with both hands—while he takes her for the ride of her life.

Warning: This book contains a TV chef looking for some R&R (as in rough and raunchy) and a whip-wielding Aussie cowboy Dom intent on showing her she can take the heat. As hot as—and anywhere—she wants it.

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Book 5
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica☆☆☆
Another hot little erotic book from the Boot Knockers Ranch. I enjoyed reading about Stowe, an Aussie cowboy in Texas. When Tabbart, a celebrity TV chef, sees Stowe for the first time it is lust at first sight for both of them. She tracks him down at the ranch and pays for him for a week. Imagine the scandal if the public finds out.

Rope Burn is a hot and steamy story. I loved the BDSM elements but I did think they leaned more toward a fantasy version of BDSM rather than reality, but I didn't mind. I also really enjoy the general setting on the ranch. Reading this made me want to go out, sit in the sun and have a picnic. I hope we will be getting more stories from the Boot Knockers ranch.


Angie☆☆☆☆☆
Hot, hot, hot! I just love this series; each book can be read as a standalone too. Tabbart is a famous food show host. Stowe is the “dom from down under” at the Boot Knockers Ranch. When these two set eyes on each other you can feel the heat. When Tabbart hunts down Stowe you knew it was gonna be on like donkey kong! This was a hot, steamy read and in true Boot Knockers fashion it swept you off your feet and made you wish you were there on the ranch! When Tabbart goes for week number two you knew it was gonna be good and couldn’t wait to see how it all ended.

Characters: Well written and easy to relate to
Sex: Yes
Religious: No
Would I recommend to others: Yes
More than one book in the series: Yes
Genre: Romance
Would I read more by this author: Yes


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
I've enjoyed all the Boot Knockers books to date, and this one is another fun and feisty book in the series.

There has not been a celebrity at the Ranch before, and it does rather make things complicated – Stowe however is definitely up to the task. Oh and we get to play voyeurs as he introduces her to D/s in a tantalising way, clearly both of them having more feelings than they had expected or perhaps even wanted. There are some lovely touches in a story which is so concentrated in the couple. The meeting with the cook, the sister who works for the TV station. And a perfect BK ending.

I highly recommend this to you – but you might prefer to read it in private in case your cheeks warm up – Tabbart's certainly do!


Jacki☆☆☆
This was a nice, steamy short read for me. I am a big fan of books with a ranch theme and the TV cooking show star aspect made this one stand out to me.

Tabbart and Stowe definitely live two very different lifestyles. Both have been content with their lives for a while now, but lately everything is feeling stagnant.

Tabbart longs to take her hair down, relax, and be herself out of the public eye for once. She has a tarnished history with men and isn't sure what she wants anymore, but when she lays eyes on her assistant's brother, she gets a huge sexy surprise with how attracted she is to him.

Stowe is feeling stuck in a rut. He decides to visit his sister in the USA and is excited when he lays eyes on her delectable cooking show host of a boss.

They both feel the attraction, but should they take a chance to find out if this is what they've been needing to spice up their lives?

I suggest you read and find out.

Overall, I found it interesting and quick to read. I would recommend it to anyone who likes sexy ranch reads and I may just have to look into the rest of this series.



Also Available in the Boot Knockers Ranch Series

http://amzn.to/1qPSxgx
Book 1
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For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Pushin’ Buttons Blog Tour.


http://amzn.to/WAFx6T
Book 2
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For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Body Language Blog Tour.


Book 3
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Book 4
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For reviews & more info, check out our Ropin’ Hearts Release Day post.




Em Petrova lives in Backwoods, Pennsylvania, where she raises four kids and a Labradoodle named Daisy Hasselhoff. Her dream is to buy an old pickup and travel small-town USA meeting people and hearing their stories. Her heroes are hardworking—in bed and out—and she is known for panty-scorching erotic romance.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Rope Burn (Boot Knockers Ranch #5) by Em Petrova to read and review.

Breaking a Legend by Sarah Robinson Blog Tour


Perfect for fans of Katy Evans and Monica Murphy, Sarah Robinson’s blistering-hot series debut introduces the Kavanagh brothers—mixed martial arts fighters who work hard, play hard, and love with all their hearts.

As one of the big names at his family’s gym, Legends, MMA star Rory Kavanagh is used to being in the spotlight—until a gruesome leg injury knocks him out of the cage. Rory is left feeling sidelined in more ways than one, battling the inner demons that come with losing the one shot at his dreams. Then Clare walks into his life and gives him a new dream: winning her heart. There aren’t many new faces in Woodlawn these days, but this tough, beautiful stranger makes Rory want to get his life back into fighting shape.

Clare Ivers doesn’t think she’ll be able to tell anyone what really brought her to the close-knit Bronx neighborhood where she just started bartending. But her life’s on pause and her past is catching up fast, try as she might to move on—with new friends, steady work, and a chiseled alpha male trying to get her attention. Even though Rory’s more than a little intense, she can’t deny that her heart beats faster when he looks at her with those soulful silver eyes. Clare thought she was done with love, but Rory might just be man enough to show her she thought wrong.

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Well, if it isn’t our long-lost brother,” a familiar voice said a few minutes later, as he meandered into the neighborhood bar that everyone he knew frequented. A hand clasped his shoulder. “Shit, Rory, where the hell have you been?”

Rory inwardly groaned as he turned to face his younger brother, Quinn Kavanagh. Rory wanted to wipe Quinn’s smug smirk off with his fist. He had been sporting that same cocky attitude since the moment he popped into this world, a trait that Rory found uniquely irritating.

Now I remember why I’ve been avoiding this bar, Rory thought as he forced a smile at his brother.

“Just stopping in for a quick drink, Quinn,” Rory said, attempting to make clear that he wasn’t interested in socializing.

He headed over to the long wooden bar that wrapped around two sides of the small pub and stood before walls of liquor bottles and televisions. Several bartenders moved around swiftly, filling drink orders and talking with the full crowd that O’Leary’s always attracted on weekend nights. Rory found an empty stool down at one end, far away from the door, and quickly staked his claim.

He saw Cian, who had worked at O’Leary’s for as long as he could remember, and nodded his head to him. Cian nodded back and put up his hand, indicating he would be over in a minute, as he finished serving the group of college-aged kids at that end of the bar. The door to the kitchen swung open and a short, petite blonde ambled through carrying a large bucket of ice that seemed much too heavy for her small frame to manage.

Rory smiled slightly as he lifted one eyebrow, watching her with interest while she carefully poured the ice over the liquor bottles that sat in a metal bin below the bar’s surface. She huffed and her face was slightly red at the task, but she still managed to completely empty the bucket’s contents evenly around each of the glass bottles.

He took advantage of her being distracted by her task to stare at her shapely legs, which disappeared under a short skirt barely longer than her small apron. Her skin was delicately pale and smooth, and he wondered what it would feel like to slide his fingers up the length of those legs. His eyes traveled up her body, disappointed that the thick, blond ringlets dangling halfway down her back were also hiding most of her face as she leaned over the bar. He wanted to see her perfectly sloped nose, catch her eyes with his, and see what her small pink lips would look like when they smiled.

Something about this woman was intriguing him, although he couldn’t pinpoint what.

Her work completed, she exhaled loudly and plopped the empty bucket at her feet, taking a breather. Rory chuckled lightly, finally grabbing her attention.

“You laughing at me?” She put her hands on her hips, daring him to make fun of her.

Her eyes narrowed as she spoke, but he was still able to catch a glimpse of the dazzling emerald color that contrasted against her light skin and golden hair so perfectly.

“Wouldn’t dream of it, mhuirnín.” A smile spread across his face as he watched her saunter over to him, her full, pink lips tightly pressed together in irritation.

“What’s that mean?” she asked when she reached him, standing across the bar with her arms folded across her chest and one hip tilted higher than the other. Her tone was defiant and he loved the feisty spirit she exuded.

Mhuirnín? You’re all questions today. I’ll answer your question, if you answer mine.” Rory concentrated on keeping his speech normal and not slurring his words. He might have had a bit more to drink tonight than he had intended.

She turned away from him, looking back down the length of the bar and drumming her fingers on its surface.

Rory could sense her nervousness. He already missed her green gaze and silently begged her to turn back to him. There was something about her that stirred a protective instinct in him, a feeling entirely foreign toward anyone who wasn’t family. She was smiling, but there was an undercurrent of pain breaking through her friendliness.

He didn’t like it.

“I guess that’s fair,” she relented, turning back to him and leaning against the wall.

“I haven’t seen you here before. What’s your name?” His question was simple, but the desire in his eyes was not as he licked his bottom lip and admired how perfectly her uniform hugged her curves, even on her small figure.

“Clare Ivers. I’m new in town. Needed a job.” She shrugged, not divulging much, but he felt a sliver of hope when he saw that the smile on her face had yet to disappear.

He knew that she could feel his attraction toward her when he saw the blush creep up her cheeks. The smile she couldn’t push away told him she was enjoying their banter as much as he was.

Despite her clear interest, there was a hint of disapproval as he watched her eyes roam over his torso. It was a look he was way too familiar with from the last year. Rory worried he might be slurring his words or sounding more drunk than he felt.

Wouldn’t be the first time, he thought.

“Your turn.” She pointed at him, biting the corner of her lip in an attempt to hide her smile.

Mhuirnín means sweetheart. If you’re going to work in Woodlawn, Clare, you gotta learn some Irish.”

“Is that right? I guess I’ll have to find a good tutor then,” she taunted, before turning on her heels and sauntering off.




Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary☆☆☆☆
Rory Kavanagh is a retired MMA fighter, he was forced to retire after a really bad accident during a match. A year later the only thing helping with the pain in his leg is booze and pills. That is until he meets Clare Ivers. While Clare is in New York trying to escape a bad relationship and her ex-boyfriend, she doesn't want a relationship with anyone. So when Rory keeps showing up to walk her home after work, she sees it as him trying to take care of her and yes she is beginning to like that idea. Rory can always be seen with Ace, a dog he rescued from the shelter who was used as a bait dog in a dog fighting ring. Ace is a very good judge of character because he doesn't like bad or mean people to be around Rory. Will Rory change his ways to be with Clare? Will he help train his brother Kane for his first match? Can Clare trust Rory with more than her safety? What will happen when her ex shows up? I love MMA fighters and when this one came up on the review list, I knew I had to read it and I am so glad I did. I loved the story and loved Rory too. Can't wait for more from this series. This is a first for me to read from Sarah Robinson and I will be reading more from her.


Rachael☆☆☆
Well, first off, I have to say I think it really sets a book up to HUGE standards to list some huge authors in the blurb.... and this book didn't meet those standards at all for me. Would I have thought the book was better without going in with such high expectations? Maybe... Maybe not.

Now on to the story. The blurb was fantastic and made me so excited to read this story. However, finding out within the first few chapters that it was basically insta-love was a huge let down especially from two people who had been through so much. I wanted to love the fighter overcoming an injury along with two addictions and a domestic abuse victim getting her happy ending, but I couldn't. Neither character reached the mark.

Clare doesn't act like a domestic abuse victim in anyway. Yes, I know they are all different and all act differently, but one consistency would have to be the fact that they would not want to get close as a friend or otherwise to a man that punches in the face of their boss the first time they meet them or one that acts quite overpowering and overprotective from day one. At least not in my opinion.

Rory's addiction and his getting over it was... yeah... didn't work. Not if you've known a real addict before.

A lot of the book felt like it was all shallow. No deep feelings, nothing deep to really shift through and struggle with.

Now, after all that, I will say that the action that takes place later in the book helped me connect with the characters and made the storyline work a bit more. I did love the family and their conversations and input. And the overall writing style was actually quite good.

I really felt like a lot of what I didn't like was a personal thing for me.


Shannan☆☆☆☆
Rory Kavanagh knows what it's like to be a star. He was once called one of the top five MMA fighters, until he got hurt. One bad injury has ruined the only thing he's ever known. The pain that reminds him daily has pushed him to drink and pop pills to combat the ache in his leg. Rory has been living in this cycle for some time. Coming from a fighter family his need to put on a good face for them but always ending up in bottom of a bottle. It seems to be the only way to escape the pain of the past.

Clare Ivers has a past, one she hopes will never catch up to her. She moved from California to escape her life and start over. Meeting Rory and his family was never on the list of things to do. Can the Kavanaghs be the family she longs for? Can Rory become a one woman man?

I was really drawn into this story. I love the broken bad boy aspect. I'm a sucker for those reads. The characters were believable, emotional and well worth the read. I would love to see more about the Kavanagh brothers!


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
The first in a new series, this holds out a lot of promise.

With a very gritty prologue, MMA-wise, the set-up is clear from the beginning. And sadly its impact on Rory's life is permanent, and painful. So we meet him struggling to come to terms with the pain; he's already recognised that his career is in the past. A lack of financial worries from his previous successes makes him a surly character, until someone finally brightens up his day (or night) at Leary's bar – Clare.

As we follow this pair through a delightful courtship and romance, we get to know his family and her reasons for leaving her past behind. In spite of his addictions, and her fears, they seem to have found a reason to fight on – even if not in a cage. It is sweet and sexy and a really easy on the eyes read. And a start to what is going to be a good series – as the rest of the brothers will soon prove I am sure. Ace is also an important part of the team!




Sarah Robinson is the bestselling author of The Photographer Trilogy and the Sand & Clay rock star series. A native of Washington, D.C., Robinson has both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal psychology. She is married to a local police officer who is just as much of an animal rescue enthusiast as she is. Together, they own a zoo of rescue and foster animals.

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