Dare to Touch by Carly Phillips Review Tour

Olivia Dare, executive director of the Miami Thunder, and team travel director Dylan Rhodes share more than just a passion for football. Their chemistry is explosive--their feelings for each other intense. Yet Olivia has ended things for reasons he still can’t fathom and she won’t explain.

Unwilling to let something special go so easily, Dylan has been pursuing Olivia ever since. When the Pro-Bowl takes them to the tropical paradise of Hawaii, Dylan is determined to make sure their time together isn’t all business. What happens in paradise is life altering but once Olivia admits her deepest secret and fear, will Dylan still want the forever he’s been pushing for? 

Book 5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Olivia woke up in the big bed in the suite she shared with Dylan. She recalled their evening and how he’d carried her back to the room, ignoring the catcalls and whistles of people as they’d walked. Honestly, she’d been so exhausted she hadn’t cared.|

She rolled onto her back to find his dark eyes watching her.

“Everything good?” he asked.

She didn’t blame him. She had a tendency to pull away, but she had no intention of doing so this morning. “I’m good.” She crawled closer. “Very, very good.”

She was sore in the best possible ways, a gorgeous man had gone out of his way to make her night special, and to make sure she’d come quite a few times… Yeah, she was more than good!

He smiled in obvious relief.

“So what’s on today’s agenda?” she asked.

“We have the day free. Breakfast?”

She nodded. They ended up sharing a shower, which delayed getting to breakfast, because Dylan’s definition of getting clean involved a whole lot of getting dirty first. With the hot water streaming over them and her arms braced against the wall, he still managed to snag a condom and to take her from behind, filling her up and giving her another experience she’d never forget.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is the fifth in the series, and to my mind is the best yet. The underlying plot is in some ways similar to the others, but somehow the story unfolded perfectly. It was also more closely aligned with the sports elements that I enjoy a lot. We know from book 1 that there is some history and chemistry between Dylan and Olivia, so it is not a surprise that they get their story, but how it plays out is scorchingly hot, and deeply moving too. Ms. Phillips knows how to excite and undo the reader – can't wait for the next installment.

Also Available in the Dare to Love Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews and more info, check out our Dare to Love Series blog post.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews and more info, check out our Dare to Love Series blog post.

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews and more info, check out our Dare to Love Series blog post.

Book 4
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews and more info, check out our Dare to Love Series blog post.

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carly Phillips has written over 40 sexy contemporary romance novels that today's readers identify with and enjoy. After a successful 15 year career with various New York publishing houses, Carly is making the leap to Indie author, with the goal of giving her readers more books at a faster pace at a better price. Her Serendipity books will still finish up in January/February 2014 via Berkley as planned. Carly lives in Purchase, NY with her family, two nearly adult daughters and two crazy dogs who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. She's a writer, a knitter of sorts, a wife, and a mom. In addition, she's a Twitter and Internet junkie and is always around to interact with her readers. You can find all information about Carly at her website and other social media sites.

Connect with Carly

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Google+  ~  tsū

Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Dare to Touch (Dare to Love #5) by Carly Phillips to read and review for this tour.

Cartel by Lili St. Germain Blog Tour

How much is a life worth?

Mariana Rodriguez is the eldest daughter of a Colombian drug lord. Growing up in Villanueva, Colombia, she has never wanted for anything. Private schools, a lavish lifestyle, and the safety of the Cartel that her father works for.

At nineteen, she's got her entire life mapped out, and what a good life it's going to be: graduate from college, move to America, and finally be free from the stifling grip of the Cartel.

Only, her father messes up. A shipment of cocaine - a very large, very valuable shipment - is seized by the authorities whilst under his care and he becomes liable for the debt. Half a million dollars’ worth of cocaine.

Half a million dollars he does not have.

But he has a daughter, a very smart one, a daughter who would give up her very existence and offer herself as payment for her father's sins, to ensure her family survives.

But falling in love with the man who owned her wasn't part of the plan...

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

His eyes lit up at that as his gaze travelled across my chest and wandered down to the most private of places. I was clothed and covered in the right places, but in front of him, I felt completely naked. The feeling was unnerving and delicious all at once, which only confused me further.

So he’s sexy as hell. It doesn’t matter. He’s the enemy.

‘It doesn’t matter anyway,’ I added hastily. ‘I’ve got a nasty case of the clap. Better not rape me or your pico might fall off.’ I thrust my chin out as I used the Spanish term for ‘small dick’, smirking at the Gypsy Brother as his warm hands continued to roam every bit of bare flesh on my arms.

Dornan laughed at my admission, a throaty noise full of gravel and insolence that made me increasingly unsteady on my feet.

‘I’m not going to rape you,’ he replied, amusement dancing in his dark eyes. ‘And you don’t have the clap. So don’t use that one on me.’

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
I am going to preface this review with a statement, and try as I may, I’m trying to not have it affect my rating. I was drawn into the book quickly, yet I can’t help feeling bittersweet. To me, reading Cartel is like reading the last book in a long-standing series first (Gypsy Brothers), and then going back to read the prequel (Cartel). It doesn’t matter how well-written the story is, you already know the final outcome. With this series, the outcome is as final as it could possibly be, with no room for interpretation and absolutely nowhere to go.

So, with an open mind, I read Cartel, pretending I didn’t know the finite outcome, and tried to become emotionally invested without feeling heartbroken. I’d always wanted to know more about Marianna, and I’ve always been a HUGE Dornan fan. I basically pretended this was a new story, one I was eager to read.

How best to describe Cartel? Fast-paced. Thrilling. Violent. Dark. Raw. Ruthless. As frustrating as it is gripping. From the first page, I was sucked in and engrossed with this brutal book, even with the fact that I knew what was coming. I felt empowered reading Marianna, as she used strength and intelligence to endure, instead of lying down and acting pitiful. The heroine has a strong constitution, written in a way that shows a depth of emotion, making her lifelike to the readers. Loyal, she sacrificed herself even knowing what it meant, and I appreciated Marianna’s thoughts on her father as a result.

Even with the villains in this story, the reader can empathize, understand what makes them tick and why they react as they do, even when it’s with horrific consequences. Each ‘villainous’ character is written as a legacy, their actions evolve from their parents, and worsen over time as they pass these same traits onto their children, until it infects all those around them.

I will admit, I speed-read Cartel in one sitting, unable to put it down, so I’ve yet to fully digest it.

The only negatives I can state at this time- as I didn’t allow the book to marinate in my mind before writing this review –are the things that yanked me from the story as I read. Cartel needs a good polish with the editing. Not just with grammar and mistakes, but with colloquialisms and regional spellings. For me, the narration should reflect the narrator. When a character is from a specific area, their slang and the spelling of their words should reflect them. I expect the Columbians, the Italians, and the Americans to think and speak in their native tongue. I’m not suggesting foreign languages, just keep to the character’s roots.

Would I recommend Cartel? Absolutely, especially to those who love a well-written Mafia/MC series that is fast-paced, violent, and brutal. If you haven’t read the Gypsy Brothers yet, I suggest waiting and reading Cartel and its subsequent books first. I believe the feel of the series and the emotions it elicits would have been dramatically different if I’d read them in reverse. For me, even though I didn't know the minute details, it was like‘watching’ a painful rerun. 

Check out the Gypsy Brothers Series for more books including these character.

For reviews and more info, check out our stop on the One Love Blog Tour.

Lili writes dark romance, suspense and paranormal stories. Her serial novel, Seven Sons, was released in early 2014, with the following books in the series to be released in quick succession. Lili quit corporate life to focus on writing and so far is loving every minute of it. Her other loves in life include her gorgeous husband and beautiful daughter, good coffee, Tarantino movies and spending hours on Pinterest.

She loves to read almost as much as she loves to write.

Connect with Lili

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Google+  ~  Pinterest  ~  tsū

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Cartel (Cartel #1) by Lili St. Germain by the Wicked Reads blog to read and review for this tour.

Civilian Master by Cassandra Carr Blog Tour

Originally released as part of the Unconditional Surrender bundle in 2014, now available as a stand-alone novella complete with BRAND-NEW 5,000+ word, 16-page short story.

The only life Clay Benson has known in years is the Army. Now he's on forced leave after a Ranger mission goes terribly wrong. When he decides to return home, Clay knows he needs to face his past, and the only man he's ever loved: Flynn. Now Flynn is a Dominant, and Clay wants nothing more than to heal and find his true self. Is his place as Flynn's submissive? Flynn certainly thinks so, but must convince Clay there's something worth fighting for besides his country.

Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
ARe  ~  B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Shannan – ☆☆☆
Civilian Master is a quick read. It has all the things that individually make for a good read. A broken military man that needs saving from himself, a new submissive looking for a Master, a BDSM club, a sexy Dom, lost love reuniting, and it's m/m.

It has the all elements separately but when you add them all together there is so much going on I felt like I couldn't connect with the MCs. The other “stuff” took away from the character development for me. The insta-love was a turn off, I get there is history but after eight years a little more conversation is usually needed.

I felt like I just read the book but I wasn't immersed in the story. Which is fine, not every book will pull you in. I am not saying it wasn't entertaining, it was. If I had to put it in a category I would say quick entertaining m/m BDSM read.


Angie – ☆☆☆☆
Clay is home on a forced R&R from the Special Ops mission that went bad. Clay went back to his hometown even though he doesn’t speak to his family and doesn’t want to be there. But Flynn is there, not like he ever told Flynn how he felt all those years ago when they were growing up and best friends. Always curious about BDSM, Clay goes to a local club to check it out and see if it’s something he would enjoy. Who is at said club? Flynn. OMG….when Flynn sees Clay in the club he is shocked and determined to not let Clay slip away again. This was a great story and I loved Clay and Flynn and was cheering them on right from the start.

Characters: The characters were well written and believable.
Sex: Yes
Religious: No
Would I recommend to others: Yes
More than one book in the series: Was part of a bundle, now available as standalone
Genre: M/M/BDSM/Romance
Would I read more by this author: Yes


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
I really enjoyed this story – it combines some incredibly hot, passionate scenes, with a genuine friendship/relationship that is touching and believable. There is something very sexy about these men and the roles that they take in each other's lives.

Cassandra Carr is a multi-award winning romance writer. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out online. Cassandra's books have won numerous "Best Book Of" awards and her novella Unexpected Top was nominated in the E-book Erotic Romance category of RT's Reviewers' Choice Awards.

Connect with Cassandra

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Google+  ~  tsū


Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Civilian Master by Cassandra Carr to read and review for this tour.

Resilient Heart by Annabeth Albert Blog Tour

Originally released as part of the Unconditional Surrender bundle, now available as a stand-alone novella complete with BRAND-NEW 10,000 word short story/epilogue. When a wounded soldier is forced to accept help from his former best friend, both men discover the true strength of their entwined hearts.

Army IT specialist Xander keeps his emotions wired as tight as his NETCOM gear, but when he’s seriously injured by an IED, his whole life unravels. Running out of options, Xander must accept help from his ex-friend-with-benefits, Mackey. However, Xander’s had feelings for Mackey for years, and close quarters only complicates his emotions. Further, Xander doesn’t know which is worse: combating his inner demons or dealing with Mackey’s guilty kindnesses.

Mackey’s always kept his emotions close to his chest, but now he’s got a secret that could destroy his one chance with the man he cares far too much for. Both men will have to heal their wounded hearts to ensure a future together.

Entwined Future: In this new short story, Mackey has news that could change everything for him and Xander, but a visit from Xander's family jeopardizes Mackey's plans--and forces Xander to confront some harsh truths.

Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
ARe  ~  B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Shannan – ☆☆☆☆☆
I didn't know what to expect from this one but I was pleasantly surprised. I lost myself almost immediately. Military reads can be tricky. Resilient Heart brought real issues affecting military into a fictional world very well.

Xander is ready to end his long stay in the hospital after his Humvee hits an IED, but he has no idea where he is going or how he will care for himself. He's bitter, he's angry, he's depressed but won't admit it. Mackey, his buddy with benefits, is waiting to help. Can Mackey make Xander see he's cared all along? Will Xander's depression push him over the edge?

I hope this isn't the last of Mackey and Xander. The sweet emotional love story was a quick read. I couldn't put it down. This was my first read from Ms. Albert and hopefully not my last.

Kudos to Ms. Albert for bringing more attention to the Wounded Warrior Project and America's Vet Dog Program!


Angie – ☆☆☆☆
Xander gets seriously injured in the Army and his whole life is in a tailspin. After pushing everyone away after his accident, Xander doesn’t really have a choice but to accept help from his ex, Mackey. Mackey has always had feelings for Xander but will he be able to convince Xander of that and have a future together? Many issues are addressed in this story, depression, living with a disability, trust, and true feelings. The story was well written and I love both Xander and Mackey.

Characters: The characters were well written and believable.
Sex: Yes
Religious: No
Would I recommend to others: Yes
More than one book in the series: Was part of a bundle, now available as standalone
Genre: M/M/Romance
Would I read more by this author: Yes


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is a really life affirming story, which has a wonderful epilogue. The relationship between these two men, how they have got to where we meet them, it all combines to give us a really good read. Strong, damaged military men are hot, two of them are off the temperature scale!

Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter.  In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two toddlers.

Represented by Saritza Hernandez of the Corvisiero Literary Agency.

Connect with Annabeth

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
FB Fan Group  ~  Google+  ~  Tumblr  ~  tsū


Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Resilient Heart by Annabeth Albert to read and review for this tour.

Geek in the Woods by Cheryl Dragon Book Blitz

Major construction disrupts more than Ray Hooker’s life; it rattles his small town with a secret.

As sexy genius Eric Ridgeway continues building his state-of-the-art think tank, the town’s shifter population is terrified their identities will be uncovered by the group of incoming scientists. When fear drives vandals to slow construction, Ray helps Eric defend his property. Their relationship heats up and, in order to protect Eric, Ray reveals that he’s a bear shifter.

Now, not only is his secret out of the bag, but Ray needs to decide if loving Eric is worth the risk of discovery by other scientists. None of that will matter if their newfound attraction can’t outlast fear, lies and distrust!

Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
ARe  ~  B&N

A lover of unusual things, Cheryl Dragon enjoys writing unique stories with sinfully hot erotic romance. Her two favorite settings are Las Vegas and New Orleans...where anything can happen! Cheryl lives in the Chicagoland area with her deaf albino cat. By day she analyzes numbers for a division of a large international conglomerate, which leaves the creative juices free for her erotic romance novels.

Connect with Cheryl

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Fan Club on FB  ~  Google+  ~  tsū


Hosted by