Book Review – Jordan Reclaimed

28 Tuesday Feb 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review

Tags

Book Review, Jordan Reclaimed, Preload series, Scarlett Cole

We’ve seen these guys before (and even this book) and I was so VERY VERY happy to get my hands on it. I have to admit … it exceeded all of my expectations!!!

*****

Jordan Reclaimed

A Preload Novel

by Scarlett Cole

E-Original published by Swerve

Publication Date: February 28, 2017

ISBN: 9781250132406

Price: $4.99

Blurb:

Jordan Steele’s life began when he was ten. When he was taken from his parents and a house that was never a home. When he met his brothers, the other lost and abandoned boys in his group home. When he learned what friendship and family and love looked like.

Now he’s made good, touring the world with the band he and his brothers formed in that crowded group home. No one but his found family really knows the man under the fame and fortune, the scars he hides behind the rockstar lifestyle. Until he sees her through the windows of the National Ballet, dancing, and suddenly the world doesn’t seem so dark.

Aleksandra Artemov ticks all the ballet boxes. Father a legendary Kirov dancer. Check. Prepping since birth for classical ballet. Check. Compulsive control over the food she eats. Check. Principal dancer at The National Ballet of Canada. Check. But what she craves is freedom.

She craves Jordan.

Everything about him should terrify her. His size, his tattoos, his edge. But he doesn’t. He stirs her very soul. Jordan has nothing but himself to offer her, and he’s never been good enough for anyone. Can he figure out how to face his own demons before he loses his light for good?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M3X4F7O

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jordan-reclaimed-scarlett-cole/1125495393

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/jordan-reclaimed/id1171075980?mt=11

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/jordan-reclaimed

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Scarlett_Cole_Jordan_Reclaimed?id=xARpDQAAQBAJ

*****

Review:

This is the first in a spin-off series for Cole and while it can very much stand on its own I would recommend reading The Purest Hook, Dred’s story, because you get a better understanding of the dynamic of this group of men. (Plus, the Second Circle Tattoos series is so amazing – why wouldn’t you want to read great books?!?!) They’ve been together for years after they were placed in the same foster home and have been carrying around the scars of their childhoods for so very long. Here we concentrate on Jordan, who I was most curious about when I first got to know Preload, and on the one hand I’m thrilled that we get his secrets but on the other I’m a little sad that the other guys took such a back seat here. They are there to support him, which so fantastically shows their bond with each other and their places in the family, but we only got a few small glimpses into their issues. The upside, of course, is that they are all getting their own books and I’m so excited to get my hands on those stories!

Jordan’s past is SO messed up and I can’t imagine how he even managed to make it to this point in as good shape as he has. Every day is a struggle to overcome his fears and anxieties, but luckily he has an amazing support system within the band. Then one night he sees Lexi dancing thru the window of her studio. The connection he feels with her and the balm she provides him is instantaneous, but he’s so screwed up that he feels like he’s no good for him. He’s finding himself drawn to her with a power, though, that it’s hard to resist.

And Lexi is just as strong in spirit as she is in body so she’s not letting him run without a fight. She has her own battles, although they aren’t as apparent as his – she’s got a less than positive relationship with her father and, like most dancers, there’s a lot of pressure for her to keep her body in top form (low weight, no injuries, etc). Her life is hectic but she knows that they can’t ignore the feelings they have for each other and with patience and understanding they could have something amazing.

I can’t even imagine what a jackpot a therapist would find between these two! But Cole doesn’t pull any punches, always delivering characters of depth and complexity, however by being honest and laying everything out there these two figure out a way to work through every trouble point. They do it together, which is so important for the future of their relationship. Jordan Reclaimed is a deeply troubling look at abuse, in many forms, and the long term effects that it has on people but it’s also heartwarming as they work hard to overcome it to be together. While not an easy book, it was a fast read for me because I just could not put it down. I think it took less than 24 hours from beginning to end and I wanted to keep going, to get to the next story now 🙂

*****

Author Info:

SCARLETT COLE is a writer of contemporary romance and a two-time RITA finalist. Her debut, The Strongest Steel, was a Best Debut Goodreads Author Finalist 2015. Born in England, Scarlett traveled the world, living in Japan and the United States before settling in Canada where she met her own personal hero – all six and a half feet of him. She now lives with her husband and children in Manchester, England.

Website: http://www.scarlettcole.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsscarlettcole/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ItsScarlettCole

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31688253-jordan-reclaimed

*****

Spotlight – Second Circle Tattoos Box Set

03 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Jordan Reclaimed, Preload series, Scarlett Cole, Second Circle Tattoos series, The Darkest Link, The Fractured Heart, The Purest Hook, The Strongest Steel

Hopefully everyone has seen these books before (and gotten your own copies!) If not, now is the time because Scarlett Cole is releasing them all in a fantastic box set and they are definitely not to be missed. (Oh, and if you are interested, my reviews for each are linked below. I have been addicted to them since page one of the very first book 🙂 )

I’m also just a tad giddy because there’s a sneak peek at the first in the Preload series too. If you have been lucky enough to have read Cole’s books you know that these are destined to be heart-breakers … and I cannot wait!

*****

Start #BingeReading the Second Circle Tattoos series by Scarlett Cole with the new box set containing all four novels and an exclusive extended epilogue with your favourite heroes! Get all four books in the series now for a discounted price!

*****

Blurb:

The tattoo artist with a heart of gold.

The playboy with his own hidden scars.

The international rockstar who longs for a home.

The mechanic with a dark past.

These are the heroes of Second Circle Tattoos. Trent, Cujo, Dred, Reid. And now all four books are together for the first time in a fabulous, low priced eBook box set featuring an exclusive epilogue. Why pick one book boyfriend when you can have all four?

The Strongest Steel

Harper Connelly never expected to find herself outside of a tattoo parlor at one in the morning. The scars that decorate her back are just one more reminder of things she’d rather forget, the past she wants to leave far behind her, but before she can move on, she needs him. Trent Andrews has his own reasons for specializing in inking over scars. And there’s no way in hell he’s going to turn Harper away. Being with Harper is like going ten rounds in the ring—exhilarating, powerful, and dangerous. She stirs feelings in him he thought were long gone… if he can only get past her carefully constructed defenses.

The Fractured Heart

Tattoo artist Brody “Cujo” Matthews knows how to keep things simple. In life and in love.That all changes when he meets Drea Caron, the definition of high maintenance and sizzling curves. And the one woman he doesn’t want to walk away from. Andrea “Drea” Caron is broke and tired. After years of caring for her ailing mom, she’s at the end of her rope trying to manage the piling medical bills, two jobs, and a life placed on hold. She certainly doesn’t need the added frustration of a sexy playboy tattoo artist messing up her carefully balanced life. Too bad the universe has other ideas.

The Purest Hook

Rugged, hot, and rock hard, Dred Zander is exactly the type of man that normally sends Pixie running. Not dreaming about running her hands down his washboard abs…and lower. The lead singer and guitarist for the band Preload embodies trouble behind his quick smile and guarded eyes, and Pixie left trouble behind her years ago along with the name Sarah Jane Travers and the pathetic trailer her mom called home. But Dred has other ideas. Pixie’s sweet hazel eyes, purple hair and kaleidoscopic tattoo of exotic flowers that swirl up her arm haunt his dreams, and he’s ready to fight like hell to keep that feeling.

The Darkest Link

When her car breaks down off the side of a lonely highway far from her sunny Miami home, tattoo artist Lia never expected her very own white knight to ride up on the back of a barely street-legal motorcycle…and she never expected to fall for her dark savior. A bruised heart Lia is not looking for forever, and the hot mechanic, with his sexy scruff and shaggy hair, is simply impossible to resist. He’s the perfect candidate for a mind-blowingly-perfect, no-strings-attached one-night stand. But when their fling becomes something more and Reid surprises her at her tattoo studio, Second Circle Tattoos, he’s in for a shock—and a fist to the face—when his past and present collide.

Find out more at: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N

*****

Excerpt:

So, I don’t want you to get mad, Shortcake, but I have a surprise for you,” Cujo said. Nervously, he ran his hand through his blond hair as the opulent elevator of the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas took him and his unsuspecting soon-to-be fiancée up to their room. He studied Drea’s hazel eyes. Eyes that lit up when she smiled, that became red and blotchy when she cried, and went wide when she came apart in his arms like she had in bed that morning. Right now they looked at him suspiciously.

“More of a surprise than this morning when you woke me and told me I had an hour to pack and get ready?” She grinned at him and flicked her long-layered hair over her shoulder. “A surprise I am very grateful for. It’s a nice break before I go back for my second year of school.” Confidently, Drea stepped toward him, lifted up onto her toes, and brushed her lips against his in a kiss which had him second guessing the surprise waiting for them in their room. He should have ensured it would be empty so he could throw her down on the bed, claim one more state on his places-I-fucked-Drea map. But that was going to have to wait, because first he had to get down on one knee and ask the one question he’d been so certain she’d say yes to when he’d put all of the plans in place. Now he was less than ten minutes away from doing the deed, he wasn’t feeling quite so confident. He loved her with every fucking cell in his body and was certain she felt the same way. So why was asking her to confirm that with a ring so nerve-wracking?

He’d inked her name on his body. Hell, all the tattoos on his left arm were dedicated to her. So why should putting ink on a piece of paper, a marriage certificate, feel so much more important?

*****

Coming soon from Scarlett Cole: Jordan Reclaimed (Preload #1)!

She craves Jordan.

Find out more at: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | iBooks

*****

Author Info:

Scarlett Cole is a writer of contemporary romance and a two-time RITA finalist. Her debut, THE STRONGEST STEEL, has already become an Amazon best seller in romantic suspense, was a Best Debut Goodreads Author Finalist 2015, and Authors On The Air Global Radio Network Contemporary Romance Pick of 2015.

When Scarlett isn’t writing, she spends her time reading, hoarding mason jars, and working out to off-set an epic sour candy habit. She likes hot men, cold beer, and expensive shoes.

Having travelled the world for work and fun, Scarlett is a citizen of both Britain and Canada. A true city-dweller, she considers Toronto and Manchester home and likes to set her books in vibrant locations such as Miami and Los Angeles.

Rep’d by Beth Phelan at The Bent Agency, and published by St. Martin’s Press.

She’d love to hear from you on twitter @itsscarlettcole

Connect with Scarlett: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

*****

Giveaway:

One grand prize winners will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card and the runner-up prize will be a copy of the box set including all four books in the series and an exclusive extended epilogue.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29313/

*****

Book Review – The Darkest Link

09 Friday Sep 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Book Review, Scarlett Cole, Second Circle Tattoos series, The Darkest Link

When a pin-up worthy tattoo artist meets a car mechanic on a Florida roadside, it feels like the start of a great one-night stand. But when feelings grow, and secrets are revealed, both of their lives will be at risk. The only question is from who? Find out in THE DARKEST LINK by RITA finalist, Scarlett Cole.

*****

The Darkest Link

Second Circle Tattoos #4

by Scarlett Cole

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Pub. Date: August 30, 2016

Blurb:

When her car breaks down off the side of a lonely highway far from her sunny Miami home, tattoo artist Lia never expected her very own white knight to ride up on the back of a barely street-legal motorcycle…and she never expected to fall for her dark savior. After a string of failed relationships and a bruised heart Lia is not looking for forever, and the hot mechanic, with his sexy scruff and shaggy hair, is simply impossible to resist. He’s the perfect candidate for a mind-blowingly-perfect, no-strings-attached one-night stand.

Reid left his life in Chicago far behind him and hasn’t been back, but he’s never been able to escape the guilt he feels about his own painful role in inviting a monster into his baby sister’s life. A monster who almost destroyed her. Being with Lia is an unexpected gift, one he doesn’t feel he deserves, and their one night together has him wanting more than he should. When he surprises her at her tattoo studio, Second Circle Tattoos, in Miami, he’s in for a shock—and a fist to the face—when his past and present collide.

With secrets coming to the surface, Reid and Lia are thrown into a world of betrayal and lies that threatens to pull them under, and the last link to his former life may be the darkest of them all.

Find out more at: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | iBooks

Check out the other books in the Second Circle Tattoos series!

THE STRONGEST STEEL, Second Circle Tattoos #1

Available at: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

THE FRACTURED HEART, Second Circle Tattoos #2

Available at: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

THE PUREST HOOK, Second Circle Tattoos #3

Available at: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

*****

Excerpt:

“What is this?” she asked, running her hand over the elongated hood.

“A 1958 Ford Thunderbird. It was a shell when I bought it. Was found in an unused barn with a bunch of other old classics.”

The wheels were black with white faces, and the soft top was a creamy white. Reflections from the chrome cast light onto the white walls.

“I love it,” she said, excited to sit inside.

“Hood up or down?” Kenny asked, slipping her cases into the trunk.

“Oh, most definitely down,” Lia said. Screw the victory rolls, she could always put her hair into a high ponytail and add the red ribbon she had in her purse if her scarf failed. She reached into her bag to find it and tied it around her head.

“I like this,” Kenny said, fingering the knot under her chin gently. The way his eyes crinkled at the corners made her feel all kinds of gooey inside. Perhaps it was a good thing they lived a long drive away from each other. His very presence made it difficult to remember why she was taking some time off from men. But a little harmless flirtation was adding to the adventure of a few days off work. There couldn’t be any harm in that.

Once inside the car, Kenny took her hotel details and plugged them into his phone. “There are few downsides to the classics, but lack of sat-nav has to be one,” he said, turning the radio on. “Ready?”

“I feel like Thelma and Louise about to drive over the edge of the cliff,” she said with a laugh.

“Close. That was a 1966 Ford Thunderbird, eight years younger than this baby. Does that make me J.D.?”

“That depends. Are you planning on driving me to a motel, having your wicked way with me on the dresser, then stealing my life savings?”

“I know a motel, don’t know if they have a dresser, but more than willing to do a drive-by to find out.”

Lia laughed. “I was joking.”

“I wasn’t. Say the word, Red.”

He revved the engine several times, the low growl sexy as all hell, and grinned as he roared out onto the street. Lia watched his hand as he shifted the stick. He caressed the gear stick. The more she stared, the more turned on she became until she had to cross her legs and look out of the window.

Damn him for getting her so hot and bothered. She spared a glance back toward him, just as he turned to face her. And he winked. Because he knew.

And that just turned her on even more.

*****

Review:

(If you are interested in the rest of the Second Circle Tattoos series, click on their titles above to see my reviews.)

When I read the first book in this series, I was so excited to see what Cole had in store for us with the next three books and I gotta say she didn’t disappoint. While it seems that things work out a little too conveniently with who these people are and what their meeting means, I’m happy to overlook it because I like how the story plays out 🙂 (I’m not going to give too much away just in case you don’t know who Reid is and why he’s important.)

Lia is fantastic – she’s fun, sassy and embraces her own style. For the most part she’s comfortable in her skin and likes all the things that makes her her. Reid is also comfortable in his skin (and what sexy skin it is), but he’s also got a huge heart and gives back to his community. Plus he’s willing to stop and help a damsel in distress …

I really appreciate that other than a propensity to fall in love (and a father that is seriously horrible), Lia doesn’t come into this with a lot of baggage. And Reid only carries a little guilt over what happened in Chicago. The story basically starts with these two meeting, getting to know each other, and then the real fun begins when Reid visits Lia at work 🙂

Like the other Second Circle Tattoos stories, there is danger involved and some intrigue over who is causing them trouble. It’s a very well played out mystery and I really like how Cole resolved everything.

I can’t wait to see what Cole has in store next. There’s lots of opportunities and it looks like it might be Dred’s guys next. And I’m super excited to see them again and find out more about their histories.

*****

Author Info:

When Scarlett isn’t writing, she spends her time reading, hoarding mason jars, and working out to off-set an epic sour candy habit. She likes hot men, cold beer, and expensive shoes.

Rep’d by Beth Phelan at The Bent Agency, and published by St. Martin’s Press.

She’d love to hear from you on twitter @itsscarlettcole

Connect with Scarlett: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

*****

Giveaway:

Two grand prize winners will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card and the runner-up prize will be all four ebooks in the series.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29265/

*****

Tour Schedule:

8/29/16

Deborah Favorite Book Reviews, Spotlight and More’s blogs

WTF Are You Reading?

Penny Dreadful Book Reviews

It’s All About the Romance

The Book Disciple

Readers Retreats

U.S. – Brazil Book Review

We So Nerdy

Lipstick ‘N Lashes Chronicles

8/30/16

Fiona Reads and FoodSpots

Jeri’s Book Attic

Red Cheeks Reads

Lisa’s Loves(Books of Course)

8/31/16

RoloPoloBookBlog

Hike2Forty and beyond

KT Book Reviews

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Book Boyfriends

Em & M Books

Wonderful World of Books

9/1/16

Avid Reader Amy’s Reviews

Kimmie Sue’s Book Review

9/2/16

Reese’s Review

Read My Mind

Musings of the Modern Belle

9/5/16

Jen’s Reading Obsession

Mary Gramlich (The Reading Reviewer)

Ramblings From This Chick

Happily Ever Chapter

Naughty Moms’ Story Time

9/6/16

9/7/16

Nicole’s Book Musings

Lynn’s Romance Enthusiasm

9/8/16

9/9/16

Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books!

Read Between the Lines

Alpha Book Club

Readsalot

TBR Book Blog

Romantic Reads and Such

underneath the covers

Book Review – The Purest Hook

19 Thursday May 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Book Review, Scarlett Cole, Second Circle Tattoos series, The Purest Hook

Can heavy metal rock God, Dred, put his turbulent upbringing in a Toronto group home behind him long enough to fall in love and save Pix from her past? Find out in THE PUREST HOOK by RITA nominee, Scarlett Cole and St. Martin’s Press. Fans of Laura Kaye’s Hard Ink series or Kylie Scott’s Stage Dive books will fall in love with the tattooed heroes of the Second Circle Tattoos!

*****

The Purest Hook

by Scarlett Cole

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense

Release Date: May 3rd, 2016

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Blurb:

Can a love built on secrets survive?

Rugged, hot, and rock hard, Dred Zander is exactly the type of man that normally sends Pixie running. Not dreaming about running her hands down his washboard abs…and lower. The lead singer and guitarist for the band Preload embodies trouble behind his quick smile and guarded eyes, and Pixie left trouble behind her years ago along with the name Sarah Jane Travers and the pathetic trailer her mom called home. With her abusive past in her past, she has a new life, a new family at Second Circle, and a dream of opening her own business. She needs capital and time. What she doesn’t need is a tempting long-haired rocker or the paparazzi that follow him around.

But Dred has other ideas. Pixie’s sweet hazel eyes, purple hair and kaleidoscopic tattoo of exotic flowers that swirl up her arm haunt his dreams, and he knows she wants him too. He just has to convince her. But as a juicy exposé threatens to expose their pasts, and a blackmailer terrorizes their present, Pixie and Dred have to decide what really matters and fight like hell to keep it.

Available at: Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | B&N

*****

Excerpt:

Pyrotechnics went off all the way around the stage as the crowd screamed and cheered. He hugged each of the guys, then ran off the stage to pull Pixie from Harper and Drea. The break between the end of the act and the encore was approximately four minutes, and he had plans to use them wisely.

Pixie looked at him, her eyes wide in shock as he grabbed her hand.

“Quick,” he said to her, tugging her down the stage steps. There was no way he could make it back to his dressing room in time, so he hurried them along the black curtain that surrounded the stage into a darkened corner. He pushed her gently against the wall, trapping her in his arms.

“Watching you watch me, Pix . . . drove me crazy. You going to let me kiss you?” he begged. “Please.”

Pixie looked at him and put a hand against his cheek. “Yes.”

He slid both hands into her hair and pressed his mouth against hers. Energized from the performance, Dred struggled to rein in the need to kiss her fiercely. When he heard her groan, felt her lift up on her toes to loop her arms around his neck, he was done for. She was more than he’d dreamed of, and he’d dreamed a hell of a fucking lot. And yet none of his half-asleep fantasies could match the emotions currently blazing through him. Her tongue tentatively brushed against his so gently it was almost innocent. Well, as innocent as it could be when what he really wanted to do was take her against this black curtain.

It was fucking heaven.

He slid his hands down her body. Pixie giggled when he gripped her waist to pull her close. Ticklish. He’d have to remember that.

Not that he wanted to, but he needed to get back onstage. Fucking encore. He kissed her one more time, tasted the whiskey he’d given her earlier. The telltale thump of Lennon’s bass drum started to sound. He pulled back, willing his hard-on to take it down a notch before he got back onstage.

“That was quite the kiss,” Pixie said shyly.

He took her hand and led her back to the stage, positioning her right where she had been. It was impossible to resist kissing her again, and he grinned when Trent raised an eyebrow in his direction.

“Agreed. As beginnings go, Pix, it was pretty fucking epic,” he said with a wink, and walked back onto the stage to face the screaming fans.

*****

Review:

I love the idea that these two people, who have been damaged by their pasts, are able to use their terrible experiences to give them insight into each other, turning it all into something wonderfully positive. They both have hang-ups, things that make having a relationship extremely difficult, but when they get together it creates something magical.

Pixie lived through an absolutely devastating thing but managed to come out the other side, showing her strength and resilience. That’s not to say she doesn’t have her scars but lucky for her Dred is just the guy who has the understanding to help her work through them. And while I hurt for her, my heart also aches for what Dred went through growing up. I just want to cuddle the little boy that he was – alone, scared, and finding himself thrown into scary situations.

The relationship between the men of Preload, the way they support each other and will do just about anything to make sure that that each of them feels comfortable, is spectacular. They have an unshakable bond forged in heartache and tested to show that it will last. And it’s just a notch down on the awesome scale from the romance between him and Pixie 🙂 The way that he understands her and is willing to wait for her to be ready each step of the way is oh-so-sexy. Every time he calls her snowflake my heart sighs. I’m also ready to cuddle the grown up version of Dred but for an entirely different reason!

I will say my only complaint is how vague Cole is about the things that Dred’s boys experienced. I understand that she wants the big reveals to happen during their own books, but that is one of those things that irritates me when reading a book. I’m not the most patient of people and I think that might have something to do with it 🙂 – I want my answers and I want them now … I will give her props though because I am so very anxious to get my hands on the next book! And the next and the next!

As with the other books in this series, there is an element of danger and suspense. It’s a great complement to the more emotional moments, helping to pull readers in and have them anxiously turning pages to find out how it all works out. I feel bad for these people to have so many horrible things happen to them but they have the strength and support they need to come out happy on the other side.

Full of passion, humor and a massive amount of heartwarming goodness, this latest book in the Second Circle Tattoos series highlights how Scarlett Cole shines at creating can’t-put-down romances.

*****

Author Info:

When Scarlett isn’t writing, she spends her time reading, hoarding mason jars, and working out to off-set an epic sour candy habit. She likes hot men, cold beer, and expensive shoes.

Rep’d by Beth Phelan at The Bent Agency, and published by St. Martin’s Press.

She’d love to hear from you on twitter @itsscarlettcole

Connect with Scarlett: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

*****

Giveaway:

Follow the tour and enter to win great prizes!

1 grand prize winner will receive a signed copy of The Strongest Steel (Second Circle Tattoos #1)

2 runner-ups will receive a $25 Amazon Giftcard!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29221/

*****

Visit all the blogs participating in the tour for reviews, excerpts, guest posts and more chances to win!

05/02/2016

The Lusty Literate

mignon mykel: reviews

05/03/2016

05/04/2016

Avid Reader Amy’s Reviews

Lisa’s Louisiana Home

05/05/2016

Wild Heart Reviews

Flame Resistant Undies Romance Reviews

MrsLeif’s Two Fangs About It

Two Girls with Books

Sleep Deprived Book Lovers

05/06/2016

Lisa’s Louisiana Home

Mary Gramlich (The Reading Reviewer)

Reese’s Review

Reviews From The Heart

05/09/2016

Life With Two Boys

Vera is Reading

05/10/2016

Swept Away By Romance

05/11/2016

Ramblings From This Chick

05/12/2016

The Book Disciple

Loves 2 Read Romance

Positively Book Crazy

My YA NA Book Obsession

05/13/2016

Nicole’s Book Musings

Lea’s Book Blog

Smitten with Reading blog

05/16/2016

Underneath The Covers

Amanda’s Book Nook for Mature Adults

Eskie Mama Reads

05/17/2016

iScream Books

Splashes Into Books

05/18/2016

U.S. – Brazil Book Review

Happily Ever Chapter

Book Reviews & More by Kathy

Alpha Book Club

Naughty Book Eden

05/19/2016

Ellesea Loves Reading

OMGReads

Romantic Reads and Such

My Favorite Things

Evermore Books

05/20/2016

Just Booked

The Phantom Paragrapher

Nice Ladies, Naughty Books

Tantos Livros Tão Pouco Tempo

Book Review – The Fractured Heart

08 Friday Jan 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Book Review, Scarlett Cole, Second Circle Tattoos series, The Fractured Heart

The Fractured Heart

A Second Circle Tattoos Novel

by Scarlett Cole

All things, when placed under pressure, eventually break or leave a mark.

Tattoo artist Brody “Cujo” Matthews knows how to keep things simple. In life and in love. Abandoned as a child by a mother who refused to stick around to raise three boys she didn’t want, he’s intent on staying clear of complicated women. The only things complicated in Cujo’s life are the killer tattoos he designs and inks. That all changes when he’s asked to help organize his best friend Trent’s engagement party, which means working with Trent’s fiancée’s best friend, Drea, the definition of high maintenance and sizzling curves. And the one woman he doesn’t want to walk away from.

Andrea “Drea” Caron is broke and tired. After years of caring for her ailing mom, she’s at the end of her rope trying to manage the piling medical bills, two jobs, and a life placed on hold. She certainly doesn’t need the added frustration of a sexy playboy tattoo artist messing up her best friend’s engagement party or her carefully balanced life. But when Drea witnesses the abduction of a woman from the café she works at, she can’t help but turn to Cujo who’s determined to prove to Drea that he’s someone she can count on forever…but as they attempt to bring the truth to light, someone is working to bring that forever to a sudden, deadly halt.

I really shouldn’t be surprised at how much I loved this one – The Strongest Steel was one of my favorite books from last year (and I wasn’t the only one because it was a Best Debut Goodreads Author 2015 Finalist). And once again she knocks it out of the park.

Poor Drea has not had a great decade. She’s had to take on a lot all by herself, starting when she’s just a teenager, while dealing with a mother who has spent years treating her horribly. It’s caused her to be prickly and defensive and isolated, but she’s also very strong to be able to do it all. Unfortunately she needs to learn that sometimes you need someone to lean on. Once Cujo sees beyond her armor, he wants to be that person … and it scares him. His own history has made him swear off relationships, but Drea has him reconsidering.

The relationship that develops between them is wondrous– the ups and downs are just about perfect. Cole makes it very realistic and I totally get them every step of the way. Both of them come into it with baggage, some much more obvious than others, but they manage to figure things out and it is so great to see.

I will say that the suspense portion wasn’t as fantastic as it was in the first book, however the real focus is on Cujo and Drea (much as it should be). Because of how Drea has had to stand on her own for so long, she’s hesitant to let the mystery go. I would have liked her to be a little more cautious with the danger involved, but I kinda can see why she wouldn’t be.

Just like with the first book, the highs and lows between Drea and Cujo make this book an absolutely fabulous ride. I definitely can’t wait to see what Cole has for us in book 3.

Buy it on Amazon

Book Review – The Strongest Steel

13 Monday Jul 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Scarlett Cole, Second Circle Tattoos series, The Strongest Steel

The Strongest Steel

Second Circle Tattoos series

by Scarlett Cole

First in a sexy new romantic suspense series centering about the people of Second Circle tattoo studio.

Harper Connelly never expected to find herself outside of a tattoo parlor at one in the morning, summoning the nerve to take back her past. She’s determined to forget her old life and is looking for an artist who can tattoo over the scars on her back.

Trent Andrews, local legend and owner of the Second Circle tattoo studio, has his own reasons for specializing in inking over scars. And in spite of her mysterious past and the difficult road ahead, he quickly realizes that Harper is funny, smart, and-under her ridiculously oversized clothing and SPF 100 sunscreen-totally hot. He’s happy to take on the challenge of designing a meaningful and deadly full-back tattoo for her.

But when cryptic messages start appearing on Harper’s phone, strange deliveries arrive at her door, and Second Circle is vandalized, Harper is convinced that her ex-boyfriend has tracked her down, and worse, that he knows about Trent. Running was the only thing that saved her last time, but now that she’s started to put down roots in Miami, she’ll have to decide if she can finally fight back instead.

Harper has a history that has left just as many scars on the outside as on the inside but she makes a fateful decision when she goes to Trent for a tattoo. He’s fantastic – patient, understanding and sexy as can be. As the two get to know each other, he helps her address more than just how she looks. He helps her learn how to let others close again, to realize that she’s got value, and that maybe she can do more than just survive. She’s fabulous in her own right – strong, caring and hot. She just needed a little help realizing how much strength she’s been hiding. I loved the care that Trent shows as he draws her out bit by bit and gets her to really look at herself in a new way.

Of course, things can’t go smoothly for them. Besides some angst stemming from their baggage – of course, he’s not perfect so he’s got some as well – they also have to deal with ghosts from Harper’s past coming back for a visit. It gets emotional as they deal with everything that life throws their way, but they handle it together (mostly, because where would the fun be if they didn’t have some downs to go with the ups?).

If this is what Cole can give readers on her first time out, I cannot wait to see what she delivers next … and next … and again in book 4.