DIRTY LITTLE LIES (MEN OF SUMMER #3)

THE HEART HAS ITS SECRETS.

Zack Richards knows he’s asking for trouble. Trying to protect a member of the notorious Maddox family could get a man killed—even a battle-scarred, muscle-ripped alpha like Zack. But the woman who has captured his wildest fantasies is nothing like the rest of her power-hungry clan. She’s innocent, beautiful, and has quickly become the one shining light in his dark, desperate world. The only woman worth fighting for…and dying for…

BUT PASSION NEVER LIES.

Her name is Grace Maddox—and everybody knows that she is a marked woman. Targeted for her family’s sins and hunted like a wild animal, Grace has no choice but to accept Zack’s protection. In his arms, she finally feels safe. In his eyes, she sees an insatiable desire that mirrors her own. But the truth is dangerous—and could end up tearing them apart. Will surrendering to Zack end up being the biggest mistake of Grace’s life?

Release date: August 30, 2016

St. Martin’s Press

The Men of Summer series #3

Romantic Suspense

Review copy provided by the publisher

Nikki’s Review:

When I think of Lora Leigh, I think of the queen of erotic romance...at last in my opinion. Maybe it's because she was the first author I read when I picked up the genre many years ago. Maybe it's because she just freakin' rocks!

One thing that I've come to expect from a Lora Leigh book is an intricately woven story. There are books that are light and fluffy; you can sit back and enjoy them and not need to think much. And this is absolutely fantastic. You need light and fluffy sometimes. But a Lora Leigh book is never light and never fluffy. I know when I pick up one of her books that I have to commit to paying close attention to details, character relationships, and background stories. 

It was in the details that I struggled a bit with this book. So many details. Details overload! There are many characters and story arcs in this book. At one point I stopped reading to make some notes; reminders of who was who and how they were all connected. Oy! It made my damn head hurt. This pulled me out of the book on numerous occasions. I've never had this problem with a Lora Leigh book. 

I really liked Zack and Grace. They were likeable together and individually. The relationship was smokin'! They've always been in each other's heart...whether they wanted to or not. Zack being the noble alpha needed to protect her; to shelter her and keep the danger off of her doorstep. All the while keeping her at arms length. 

The chemistry was so thick; it was practically suffocating...in a good way! There are very few authors who can write sex scenes like Ms. Leigh. I don't blush easily, but Lawd, I just about crawled into myself at times I was blushing so hard! Seriously, it's that scorching!

At times I felt like, Grace wasn't taken seriously enough. She was coddled and often treated like a child who couldn't make decisions for herself. I found this to be really frustrating. I'm fine with a damsel in distress, but she could actually take care of herself. She just needed other people to believe in her. 

I want to say that I loved this book. I've loved every other book that I've read by this author. At best, I'm kinda meh. I felt like the suspense aspect took away from the romance. It wasn't balanced. I love romantic suspense, but the love story has to be front and centre, at least for me. The overload of information and details just made it difficult for me to really sink into the book. I adore a solid story and details that pull everything together, but when I have to stop every few paragraphs and try to connect the dots, it's a bit much. Even though, Dirty Little Lies won't be considered a Lora Leigh favourite, I will happily and greedily read whatever else she puts out. 

Rating 2.5 Stars (C-)

WICKED LIES (MEN OF SUMMER #2)

Jazz has never been known as a good boy.

A good drinker. A good partier. A damned good builder, and a hell of a good liar. Those are all descriptions that come to mind when the citizens of Loudon, Tennessee think of the tall, muscular, laughter-filled charmer they know as Jazz. And Jazz will admit to all of them: he likes to play; he likes to tease. And a little white lie surely never hurt anyone.

Until the sexy, too-shy kindergarten teacher, Annie. Annie sets fire to his lusts as well as to his heart. But Annie has a past he wasn’t aware of. A past that will draw Jazz into the heart of a conflict he had never expected to face. His little Annie is under the protection of the United States Marshal Service for her testimony that has a high profile, very wealthy businessman facing death by lethal injection. A man that will stop at nothing to see her dead.

Now, Jazz has to pull in some serious favors, just as he finds himself fighting not just an overprotective Marshal that he believed was the new school principal, but also a woman determined to save the charming liar that has never been serious. One that has never faced reality. A man that has always sworn himself a bachelor. A man that now is telling the most wicked lies of his life to steal the heart of the woman that has stolen his soul.

Release Date: September 1, 2015

Men of Summer #2

St. Martin’s Press

Review copy provided by publisher

Nikki’s Review:

It seems like forever ago that I picked up my first Lora Leigh novel. I remember the way my heart sped up and my face went red with excitement and a little bit of shock. This author can write erotic romance like no one else I've read. I read the first book in this series about 6 years ago. I fell in love with the characters and the entire concept of the series. I was hungry for the next book. So you can imagine my sadness that book 2 was a long, long way off. It felt like Christmas when this book landed in my greedy little mitts! I told my husband to get pizza for dinner because I was planning on ignoring everything, except his book!

When I first met Jazz in book one, I was curious about him. He was a joker, a real playboy, and an absolute panty-melting charmer! But underneath all that surface stuff, was some real pain and sorrow. I knew he was mourning something. He is such a likeable hero; fiercely loyal and deals only in absolute honesty. He's struggling to understand this intense interest in the beautiful schoolteacher. He's so drawn to her and he can't quite put his finger on why she seems so familiar. He just knows he has to have her!

Kenni Maddox has been on the run for ten years. Fighting to stay alive and figure out who killed her mother and wants her dead. As a young teenager, she was fascinated by the older and more experienced Jazz. So coming home to him after so long away, and pretending to be someone else is torturous. Jazz thinks she died on the fateful night, along with her mother. She wants him to know who she is but to open herself up like that, could very well mean her death. She's been betrayed by someone in her family and they can never know that she survived.

Kenni is a kick ass heroine! She has fought so hard, with so little, to survive on the run for a decade. I love her sense of determination and her boundless strength. My heart ached that she was resigned to never have a true sense of peace or happiness. That she would forever be in the background watching the only man she has ever loved, live his life without her. I kept chanting to myself "just tell him it's you". I was on the edge of my seat and feverishly reading to get to that moment. And sweet baby Jesus...when Jazz realizes that the woman who has sparked his curiosity, is the young girl he never had a chance to love so many years ago, Gah! It was like lightening just exploded! He's angry, hurt, and so crazy happy that his Kenni is alive. He is definitely upset that she never came to him for help, that she didn't trust him. My heart fluttered for these two when that explosive moment came to a head. I was giggly, and all lumpy throated. I think I may have flailed my hands around a bit!

The love between these two was so palpable; I could feel it sitting on my chest. The feelings were so thick and angst filled, that I just about lost my mind trying to navigate through all the emotions. It was intense, hot, and so damn exciting that I was exhilarated. If you've never read a love scene written by Lora Leigh, it may be difficult to understand just how smokin' hot and incredibly beautiful it is. These scenes get me every time. I always think that I have myself in check and then...bam! Another love scene and my pulse is racing all over again!

I'm always so impressed by the complete story I get when I read a book by this author. The plot is so detailed but not too "wordy". I can't imagine the type of research that goes into her books. The mystery part is always so well thought out and executed. At the end of each book, I'm left thinking, how did she do that again? This book was no different. The intricately woven story was intoxicating and left me breathless. I can hardly wait for book 3! My only hope, is that it doesn't take another 6 years to get my hands on it.

Reading anything by Lora Leigh gives me a feeling of coming home. Not because I live the sometimes crazy lives of her characters. But because she was one of the first authors to introduce me to erotic romance so many years ago. When I had a chance to sit down with her during one of her RAW conferences a few years ago, it was like meeting a rockstar. She was so gracious and kind. She answered all my questions and signed my many, many, MANY books. She's a real class act in my opinion! If you love a solid plot, and heart stopping sexiness, read this book! Start with the first book in this series, Loving Lies, and then grab this one!