Thursday, April 30, 2015

Third Debt by Pepper Winters Blog Tour


“She healed me. She broke me. I set her free. But we are in this together. We will end this together. The rules of this ancient game can’t be broken.”

Nila Weaver no longer recognises herself. She’s left her lover, her courage, and her promise. Two debts down. Too many to go.

Jethro Hawk no longer recognises himself. He’s embraced what he always ran from, and now faces punishment far greater than he feared.

It’s almost time. It’s demanding to be paid.

The Third Debt will be the ultimate test...

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Book 4
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HOW HAD THIS happened?

Where did it all go so wrong?

Jethro was supposed to love me. I was supposed to love him.

Yet he’d given me over to his family. He’d bound the ropes, blindfolded my eyes, and gifted me to his kin.

“Know what time it is, Nila Weaver?” Daniel breathed in my ear.

I jerked away. The restraints around my body meant I couldn’t run, couldn’t fight; I couldn’t even see.

Oh, God.

Please don’t let them do this.


I wanted to scream for Jethro to save me. I wanted him to put an end to this and claim me once and for all. Didn’t our connection mean anything?

You know it’s all different now.

Ever since I’d returned to Hawksridge Hall, things had been different—horribly, horribly different.

The fire crackled in the billiards room where the Hawk men had been playing poker. The air was hot and muggy and laced with cognac fumes.

Tonight, I’d had plans to end whatever changed between Jethro and me forever.

But now…those plans had changed.

Kestrel ran his fingers over my collar. “Relax, little Weaver. It will all be over soon.”

Cut chuckled. “Yes, soon you can go to sleep and pretend none of this happened.”

My ears strained for one other voice. The voice of the man who controlled my heart even though he’d thrown it back in my face.

But only silence greeted me.

Daniel snickered, licking my cheek. “Time to pay, Weaver.”

Someone clapped and in a voice full of darkness and doom said, “It’s time for the Third Debt.”






Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angie☆☆☆☆☆
I normally try to write a little bit about the book in my reviews but for this book I can’t. I don’t want to ruin anything for anyone. You must read all the previous books before reading this one or you will be lost. Heck, I read them all and at times I am lost because my mind is going one way and the characters’ minds are going another. To remain spoiler free all I will tell you is it is another great book, I cried, I was sick to my stomach, and it was over too soon and I wanted more instantly. Pepper is a brilliant author and I can’t wait for the next installment.


Shelby☆☆☆☆
This is such a difficult series to write a review for, just about anything I say about the story can be considered a spoiler. I will try to refrain from any spoilage while discussing my likes/dislikes of this particular installment.

The Indebted Series by Pepper Winters is unlike any "dark" story I've read. The Debt Inheritance is just insane. The Weavers (Nila) are indebted to the Hawks (Jethro), through some seriously archaic/barbaric means, the Hawks are serious about collecting said debt. At this point, we've seen Whipping and Drowning as repayment methods, what could the 3rd debt possibly be – to up the ante on those?! Well, let’s just say it's not nice – but for some reason I feel cheated.
Can I just add, poor Emma Weaver?! The hell that woman went through hurts my heart.

At this point, I'm flip flopping on my like/dislike of both characters. At times Nila seemed too wish-washy, then Jethro seemed too low-key. At about 50% both characters seem to find who they are [eventually] – and stick to it (thankfully).

I just can't fathom why Jethro keeps playing this game, and why Nila is determined to win. Finally, though, we do find out what afflicts Jethro and I think that helped to clarify his character.
I know the "cliff-hanger" has been mentioned, but the ending...my gawd...the ending is worth the purchase price of this book period.



Also Available in the Indebted Series

Book 1
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B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Debt Inheritance Blog Tour.


Book 2
Buy Links

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

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the First Debt Blog Tour.


Book 3
Buy Links

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

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Second Debt Blog Tour.




Pepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero the better and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex… her books have sex.

She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby (who speaks French—hot!) who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends.

Connect with Pepper

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Third Debt (Indebted #4) by Pepper Winters to read and review for this tour.

Catching Cassidy by Melissa Foster Blog Tour


Wyatt Armstrong never imagined that instead of celebrating his college graduation, he and his twin sister would be dealing with the death of their parents.  Then again, Wyatt had never been one to think past tomorrow. He heads to their summer home in Harborside, Massachusetts, with his best friend Cassidy Lowell in tow, to deal with his parents’ death and to try to figure out his next step.

Six foot two, infuriatingly handsome, and flirtatious, Wyatt Armstrong has always been there for Cassidy, helping her pass her classes and fend off unwanted advances, while driving her insane with his one-night stands—but that’s what best friends are for, isn’t it? Having each other’s backs. There was never any doubt that she would accompany him to his family’s summer home—but she never expected to begin seeing Wyatt as more than a friend. Or has she been ignoring her feelings all along?

It’s impossible to ignore the sizzling heat between them as Wyatt and Cassidy get even closer, but Cassidy knows Wyatt’s past, and she has a real job to begin in the fall. Wyatt may be a sure thing for the summer, but Cassidy needs more. For the first time in his life, Wyatt is forced to look toward the future if he doesn’t want to lose the one woman who’s shared his past and owns his heart.

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Book 1
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie☆☆☆☆
Ms. Foster is a talented writer, whose work flows easily off the page and into your brain. I love it when I don't stress about the use of language and just immerse myself fully in the writing.

I am a big fan of longtime friends finally working out just how special their relationship is and could be, that they do it in a highly charged and passionate atmosphere just ramps up the enjoyment. As we know that this is the first in a series, it is fun to pay attention to the side characters and imagine how their stories will develop. There were times when I questioned whether these were people leaving school or college, as they did seem quite immature and reliant on others – but then there are plenty of people whose parents enable them to be that way.

Can't wait for the next books to come out, and I am delighted that there is a mix of relationships being examined, as that will keep it fresh and real.




Melissa Foster is an award-winning, International bestselling author. Her books have been recommended by USA Today's book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, the World Literary Café. When she's not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa is also a community builder for the Alliance for Independent Authors. She has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Catching Cassidy (Harborside Nights #1) by Melissa Foster to read and review for this tour.

Wicked Reads Reviews – Winning Appeal by N.M. Silber


Beth Pierce, is the Director of Fundraising for her older brother's new legal non-profit. She spends her weekends fighting off lecherous men at charity galas and her weekdays trying to hide her attraction for a certain sexy young attorney in her office.

Mark Patterson, is the object of Beth's desire. He spends his weekends having casual encounters with women and his weekdays trying not to think about how gorgeous, smart, and sexy Beth is. Because not only is Beth his colleague, she's the younger sister of one of his closest friends.

When Mark is assigned to escort Beth to those weekend galas, they both quickly realize that things could get very interesting. Will Beth be as naughty as she would like to be? Can Mark be as good as he wants to be? Even if they give in to their desire for each other, how can they risk romance when so much is at stake?

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Book 4
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the fourth in the series, and you really do need to read them all to fully appreciate why this is such a good read. It has been a while since I read them, but the characters soon woke up in my mind and it was good to see how life is treating them.

Beth and Mark were great secondary players in the previous books, so it was inevitable that this would be a fun ride. It is just as silly funny as the others and the point that a politician's son is lauded for his wild behaviour, but a daughter's is frowned upon, rang very true. I was glad that there wasn't too much brother/best friend wants sister angst.

Looking forward to the next installment.


Mary☆☆☆☆
I love this series, it starts with one couple and each book adds to the couples and the series gets better and better. Beth is Braden's sister and Mark is his best friend. They have liked each other for years but Mark was afraid the Braden wouldn't want him dating his sister. When the go to a fund raiser together, that are drawn to each other more. And with Beth so tied up in knots when she is around Mark, there are some painful moments for them both. All the friends are lawyers or have something to do with law, except one and she is a writer. This series is fun, light hearten and a little suspense thrown in too. If you haven't read this series yet, then you should and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. Can't wait for more.


Also Available in the Lawyers in Love Series

The Lawyers in Love Boxed Set (Books 1 & 2)
Buy Links

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B&N  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Legal Briefs Blog Tour.


Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Legal Briefs Blog Tour.


Book 3.1
Buy Links

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For reviews & more info, check out our Legally Wed review post.



N.M. Silber is an author and recovering attorney who survived the Philadelphia criminal court system, largely by having a sarcastic sense of humor. She used her experiences there as a starting place to build her humorous cast of characters and sexy story lines, and she uses her knowledge of legal practice, courtroom procedure, and how lawyers really think, in every one of her novels.

She has been a USA Today Bestselling author and a #1 Bestselling author in Romantic Comedy on Amazon. She was voted an Amazon Reader's Choice Best New Author for 2013, and has been ranked as a Top 100 author there overall. She has stated that her goal is to write books that make readers laugh, blush, swoon and genuinely feel good. – Goodreads bio

Connect with N.M.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Winning Appeal (Lawyers in Love #4) by N.M. Silber to read and review.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Wicked Reads Reviews – The Oak King by P.G. Forte


Twice each year, Aine Murphy ventures into the woods to hold ceremonies to honor the Oak King and the Holly King, never dreaming these Lords of the Forest could be anything more than myth. When the legends spring to life in front of her, how can she help but fall for the sexy demi-gods she’s loved all her life?

From midwinter to midsummer, Fionn O’Dair rules the Greenworld as the Oak King—a role he feels is beyond his abilities, and one that dooms him to a loveless future, forever craving the one man he can never allow himself to have. How can he resist what Aine offers—the sweet devotion that soothes his aching soul, and the slim chance to live a “normal” life as her husband, if only for half a year?

Holly King Kieran Mac Cuilenn never desired a human lover—until now. Seeing Fionn and Aine together fills him with longing for the love he threw away and awakens feelings he thought he’d buried with the last Oak King. Is there enough magic in the solstice to correct the mistakes he made years ago? Or is he doomed to be forever left out in the cold?

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Shelby☆☆☆☆
This was an interesting story, set in 1800's Ireland. According to this folk tale – the Oak King and Holly King are the yin and yang of the Forest. One rules over the summer months, while the other only comes out during the winter.

One fateful day Aine was performing her annual summer solstice religious ritual, a gentleman appeared from the forest to approach the widow – who was very apprehensive of the naked man in front of her. As they get to know one another, they find love, but an important secret has yet to be revealed.

How will Aine react once the secret is revealed? Will their relationship survive?

This story was very interesting, it was unique and it drew me in quickly.
I really enjoyed this – the romance was quick but sweet, and the ménage was HOT!
I'd like a continuation of this story to see how these characters grow.



PG Forte inhabits a world only slightly less strange than the ones she creates. Filled with serendipity, coincidence, love at first sight and dreams come true…it also bears an uncanny resemblance to Berkeley, California.

She wrote her first serialized story when she was still in her teens. The sexy, ongoing adventure tales were very popular at her oh-so-proper, all girls, Catholic High School, where they helped to liven up otherwise dull classes.

Even if her teachers didn’t always think so.

Originally a Jersey girl, PG now resides with her family on the extreme left coast where she writes rule bending, genre blending romance and paranormal stories.

When she's not pestering her husband to help her research scenes for upcoming books or being amused by her vastly entertaining children, she can usually be found serving the needs and whims of her characters...and her cats.

It's a difficult job, but someone's got to do it.

Connect with P.G.

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http://www.loose-id.com


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Oak King by P.G. Forte to read and review.

Wicked Reads Reviews – Touch of Salar by Alexis Duran


In a world ruled by tyrannical kings and fickle gods, the young monk M'lan finds himself at the center of royal intrigue as his healing powers attract the attention of his superiors. When he learns the handsome warrior whose body he’s tending to is not only a noble, but a king's assassin, any attachment to him might prove fatal. Despite the danger, he can't stop himself from falling in love. Can he risk the abandon of passion when a slip of the tongue might force his lover to execute him?

Major Jamil Jarka comes to the temple with one intention—heal his wounds so he can return to the fight against the rebellion. When the monk assigned to him turns out to be stunningly attractive, he sees this as a pleasant distraction, no more. But soon he finds himself becoming obsessed with M'lan and is torn between the fear of betrayal and the lure of love.

Sinister forces strive to turn the monk and the warrior against each other—a conflict neither will survive if they cannot trust their lives to love and the healing power of Salar.

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Book 1
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica☆☆☆
3.5 Stars
I had great difficulty getting into this novella because of the way the information was released- new story, new world-building, and new characters. The flow and pacing of the information had me struggling, as it was written in a jarring fashion, laying it on the reader all at once. But it did lead to the overall validity of the storytelling, as this is a fantasy title. The narration felt as if it was from that era of time, in that type of setting, befitting the characters.

Not a mark against the book itself, just that I’m used to reading contemporary or historical books, so I had a difficult time with the flow and sentence structure. I felt I should mention this so that readers who are struggling as well will continue to read on. I should add, not only am I an avid reader of all genres, I'm a writer. In most of my reviews as of late, I'm commenting on how I wished the book was shortened. In the case of this novella, I wish it had been broadened, as it took a lot of concentration on my part to understand what was happening during certain scenes, as well as the backstory. In essence, I needed to be eased into some of the plot threads.

Touch of Salar was heavy on the fantasy, action, intrigue, political plots, and physical and sexual aspects, yet light on character development and eliciting emotion from the reader. With most novellas, you can only pack so much into so few pages, leaving some things out while making others feel complicated. With that being said, it was a quick read, sometimes difficult to understand, yet still entertaining.

The concept of this series is intriguing, with a well-thought out premise. I was a bit thrown at the declarations of love after a handful of meetings, sexual engagements, and absolutely no conversation to connect on a deeper level than the physical. For me, I had a difficult time reading after this moment, because there was no basis for love to be brought in as of yet. I understood the characters' physical connection, their chemistry, their need to be around one another to learn about each other, but love takes time to grow- over time and experience. I can't say this was an insta-love situation like in some books. It just felt out of left-field for this genre. While I enjoyed some of the sex scenes, the final one felt misplaced and repetitive, drawing this more into the erotic category instead of fantasy. The overall feel of the novella is deeply rooted in fantasy, so the sexual aspects didn't always flow well for me.

In all honesty, Touch of Salar was just not my type of read. I'm trying to be respectful without being critical by pointing out what was missing for me, in hopes others who read differently from me will find great enjoyment from this novella and the series as a whole. It was written well, with a great foundation of world-building, and I could tell there was tremendous thought put into this concept by the author. I just wasn't gripped. I didn't become invested in the story or the characters. This isn't a mark against the author, but just to my individual reading tastes.

Genre tag: Fantasy | Mythology | Religion | Sorcery | Wartime | LGBTQ | Male/Male | Romance | Political Intrigue- plots and conspiracy |

Sex level: Moderate yet not explicit. Sex scenes scattered throughout the novella, from beginning to end.

Will I read more by this author: I was offered the next in the series by my review group- Wicked Reads -and I'm strongly debating on whether or not to continue, as I feel I am not a good fit.


Also Available in the Masters and Mages Series

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca  ~  Loose Id



Psychic, photographer, poet, fairy godmother, writer, woman on a train.

I am a writer of fantasy, science fiction, romance and erotic m/m everything. Most likely my stories will have a paranormal element, but I’m dreaming up some “real world” recovery romances as well. I’m thrilled to be working with Loose Id on both my Masters and Mages series (Touch of Salar is Book 1) and my high fantasy novella, To Catch a Threeve.

Like my characters, I am a figment of someone else’s imagination.

I was conceived on the Orient Express, somewhere between Venice and Istanbul. That trip was one of many revival attempts at the old, romantic line and the year was 1965. Three years before the Russian crackdown, my father, a Czech diplomat, was traveling with a cultural delegation promoting socialist writers.

My mother was an American housewife on the run.

What was she running from? Boredom. Also from turning 30. From being old and boring, she ran. She’d won a national cooking contest for her Mexicali Macaroni and Cheese. She took her winnings and bought a one-way ticket to Paris. As often happens when you seize your dream by its uni-horn and jump the track, fate intervened to keep my mother alive and moving for over a year in a Europe she knew nothing about. She spoke very little French and no Czech. My father spoke a smattering of English, only enough to flirt with the vivacious Californian in the bar car.

My mother wasn’t sure about most of what he said, but she’s pretty sure he said his name was Alex Duran. She never saw him again after that fateful night, but they did exchange postcards for many years in code, via a post office box Prague. He signed his cards A.D.

Fate again played a hand because it was also on a train, this time between Prague and Munich, that I met my first star-crossed lovers whose tale demanded to be immortalized.

Though it might seem more natural for a writer to insert herself in the middle of her fantasies, I have been content to remain an observer, friend and biographer of my soul-bound friends. I spent three months in Sophia, Bulgaria with an old witch woman learning how to channel the many spirits and forms which they’ve taken over the centuries and dimensions, in order to record their adventures. I consider it an honor to be the woman on the train, and take my own pleasures where I find them. They often begin in the bar car of international high speed trains.

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http://www.loose-id.com


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Touch of Salar (Masters and Mages #1) by Alexis Duran to read and review.

Wicked Reads Reviews – Another Life by Jasmine Denton


Keeping secrets is second nature to Cameron Baker. The eighteen year old has had her fair share of pain and suffering. Those past events drive her to return to her childhood home and move in with her estranged brothers.

Though Cameron is seemingly safe, she can’t shake the urges to drink her pain away, and her brothers notice this quickly. As awkward and protective instincts fly in the wounded family, Cameron feels like the black sheep among them.

Shane, a reformed bad-boy and long time friend of the family quickly takes her under his wing. His belief in hope and second chances is just the ticket she needs to straighten out her life, and a reluctant romance blooms between them.

Just as she’s about to settle in and allow herself some happiness, the past catches up to her in the form of a manipulative ex. His threat: leave with him, or he’ll tell everyone all of her dirty little secrets.

As the family struggles to accept each other, flaws and all, the past just won’t stay buried. With so many secrets to hide, it’s only a matter of time before it all blows up in her face. Her only way out is to admit the terrible truths she’s been running from, and finally face her demons, but will she be strong enough?

Add to Goodreads


Book 1
Buy Links

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie☆☆☆☆
With all the warnings that come with this book, I was a little nervous to start, but once I had got over that, I pitched in and read it straight through. It certainly doesn't hold back, and I was glad it was fiction! I enjoyed the characters, in all their forms and the tension kept me reading long beyond my eyes' comfort! I am still trying to decide whether I would want Chad and Sam as brothers or not ... but Cameron certainly needed someone to sort her out!

I haven't read a book by Ms. Denton before, but I will be rectifying that very soon. Looking forward to book 2 in this series.



Jasmine Denton has trouble confining herself to one genre, so she writes books that often include (but aren't limited to) fantasy, sci-fi, thrillers, paranormal romance, contemporary romance and most recently, mafia romance. – Amazon bio

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Another Life (Another Life #1) by Jasmine Denton to read and review.