Blog Tour & Giveaway : A Harmless Little Ruse (Harmless, #2) by Meli Raine

A Harmless Little Ruse

Harmless,#2
by Meli Raine

Release Date:
November 18th, 2016

Genres:
Romantic
Suspense
Thriller

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Blog Tour Hosted by:
InkSlinger PR

Source:
Author via BT Host

eARC received in exchange of honest review

Synopsis:

She has no idea what she’s doing. Loose cannons never hit their targets.



And they take out plenty of collateral damage.



Four years ago Lindsay experienced the unspeakable right before me, and I couldn’t stop them.



But that’s all changed now.



When her father, Senator Bosworth, contacted me to ask — demand — that I protect her, it was a second chance. A shot at redemption.



An opportunity to right an unspeakable wrong.



Controlling Lindsay as she seeks her revenge on the monsters who hurt her won’t be hard.



Containing my own out-of-control feelings for Lindsay and keeping up this ruse of cold-blooded distance will be.



Even harder than admitting to her what really happened that night four years ago.



It turns out I don’t have to, though.



Someone else did it for me.



And I’ll make sure they regret it.


* * *

A Harmless Little Ruse is the second book in this political thriller/romantic suspense trilogy by USA Today bestselling author Meli Raine, and is entirely from Drew’s perspective.* * *



Purchase Links:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Harmless Series on Goodreads:

A Harmless Little Game Synopsis:

Four years ago I lost my virginity on live, streaming television. 

Too bad I wasn’t awake for it. 

The video went viral. Of course it would. A Senator’s daughter on camera? Wouldn’t you click “share”? Besides, that’s what three of the four guys in the video did. 

Share. 

They shared me. 

But that fourth guy? The nondescript one in the background in the upper left corner of the screen, just sitting on the couch? The only one who did nothing? 

Not one single thing. 

That was my boyfriend, Drew. 

And that was the last time I saw him. 

Until today, when my father—now on a path to the White House—hired him as head of security for my new team as I return home after four years of “recovering” in an undisclosed location that involved white lab coats, needles, pills and damage control. 

You see, the other three guys never went to jail. 

Never had charges pressed. 

Never faced consequences. 

Until today. 

Game on. 

* * * A Harmless Little Game is the first in this political thriller/romantic suspense trilogy by USA Today bestselling author Meli Raine.* * *

Purchase Links for A Harmless Little Game #1

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Pre-order Links for A Harmless Little Plan #3

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Review of Book #1 (A Harmless Little Game):

This is my first time reading a book by Meli Raine. When I read the blurb, I was intrigued. I'm always trying to jumble my genres and romantic suspense is one genre I don't read enough of. I knew when I first started this book that it was going to be a heartbreaking read. 

Lindsay's world is numb. Four years ago, her life got destroyed by people who she thought were her friends. The biggest heartbreak? Seeing her boyfriend, Drew, do nothing about it. Four years later, Lindsay comes back home at a crucial moment in her dad's political career. He has big plans and Lindsay's scandal has no place in them. She's back in her home, but everything has exchanged. The only thing that hasn't changed? Her attraction to Drew and the love she still feels for him. Lindsay is turned about her feelings. How can she still feel something for a man that let others destroy her? As days go by, Lindsay is more determined than ever to get her revenge. The last thing she expected? Having Drew on her side. He's about to turn her world upside down once again.

This was an interesting first installment to the Harmless series. Don't expect hearts and flowers in this installment. Lindsay's story is heartbreaking and will make you wish you could jump into the book to bring her comfort. Things are very tense between Lindsay and the rest of the characters in this book. Everybody is lying to her. I felt that she was alone for a very long time. Her healing journey at home is nothing like she expected. 

Drew was a surprise to me. The more I read, the more his real intentions came to life. I was mad at him for a long time. I could not understand why he did not stop that horrible night from happening. As the story develops, all the pieces of an intricate puzzle start falling into place. Drew was hired to protect Lindsay and he will stop at nothing to keep her safe.

Many characters are involved in this story. I can't wait to see what happens next. Secrets are about to be exposed and things will never be the same for Lindsay and Drew. This romantic suspense series is off to an amazing start!

Rating:

I give, A Harmless Little Game, by Meli Raine, 4 intense, suspenseful, thrilling stars!

Review of Book #2 (A Harmless Little Ruse):

This was such a great sequel! I love reading a book from a male POV. This book is entirely in Drew's POV and I could not have asked for more!! So many answers to my questions have been answered in this book. The revelations in this second installment of the Harmless Series are out of this world crazy!!

Lindsay and Drew's connection grows stronger than ever in this book. Revenge is around the corner and these two will do whatever it takes to deliver it. There is literally too many secrets that are revealed and twists thrown our way to actually recap this second book. I don't want to give anything away. What I will say is that Lindsay and Drew are two warriors. As days go by, they are making new memories to replace the horrible events that occurred four years ago.

This series is a roller coaster ride of emotions! I was left speechless by Drew's revelations. Things are about to get extremely complicated. You never know what is going to happen next. I'm trying really hard to figure out who the mole is in this story. I keep on changing my mind every five minutes. It's driving me crazy!! I can't wait to read the conclusion to this thrilling series by Meli Raine.

Rating:

I give, A Harmless Little Ruse, by Meli Raine, 4.5 passionate, edge of your seat, revelations filled stars!

Teaser:

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author:

Meli Raine writes romantic suspense with hot bikers, intense undercover DEA agents, bad boys turned good, and Special Ops heroes — and the women who love them. 

Meli rode her first motorcycle when she was five years old, but she played in the ocean long before that. She lives in New England with her family. 

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Book Review : Ghost (Boston Underworld, #3) by A. Zavarelli

Ghost

Boston Underworld, #3
by A. Zavarelli

Release Date:
August 27th, 2016

Genres:
Adult
Romance

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Source:
Expresso Book Tours


eARC received in exchange of honest review

Synopsis:

Talia. 

I have always been a bird. Caged by one prison or another when the only thing I ever wanted was to fly away. 
Sold. Beaten. Starved. Drugged. 
Nothing scares me anymore. 
Until him. 
He makes the numbness go away. 
He is hazardous to me. It has nothing to do with his mafia lifestyle, and everything to do with what he offers. 
A gilded prison. 
A retreat from everything that I once knew. The reality I have no desire to return to. 
He thinks he’s caged me, but soon… 
I’m going to fly. 

Alexei. 

I live by a code. The Vory code. 
In this mafiya world, there are traditions. 
Expectations. 
She does not care for these things. She does not care about anything. 
She thinks she has me fooled with her haunted eyes. 
What she can’t know is that I see her better than most. 
She wants to fly. 
But I’m going to clip her wings. 
And make her my wife.

Boston Underworld Series on Goodreads:

Purchase Links:

Crow (Boston Underworld, #1) on Amazon
Reaper (Boston Underworld, #2) on Amazon
Ghost (Boston Underworld, #3) on Amazon

Review:

The Boston Underworld Series, by A. Zavarelli, has been such a fantastic series to follow. Falling in love is not always hearts and flowers. Sometimes the strongest of bonds is created when two broken souls become one. Every couple in this series has been through many obstacles to get their HEA. Talia and Alexei are no exception. They are, in my opinion, the most broken couple of the series. The layers of pain that these two have accumulated over the years are absolutely heartbreaking.  

Alexei is keeping secrets. Secrets that would be seen as a weakness in his world. He has ghosts in his past that are always lurking around. These ghosts come back full force when he rescues Talia. His mission was to save her and make her fly on her own. Her presence in his home creates a hurricane of emotions that he can’t control. He’s attracted to her, but he can’t get close. That would be dangerous. Talia is broken. She was ripped from her world and sold has a slave. When Alexei saves her, she’s torn about her feelings towards him. He’s a ray of sunshine in her dark world. Will they be able to heal together and give their love a chance? 

I have to admit that even if I loved Talia and Alexei together, I had a love/hate journey with Alexei. He was so calm and comforting one moment and then he would be cold and distant with Talia. I did end up liking him, but it took me some time. Even if I had a little connection problem with Alexei, I can’t deny that these two are absolutely meant to be with each other. Their love was born in moments of darkness. Moments that made them stronger as individuals and as a couple. 

Alexei is the calm in Talia’s chaotic life. The source of comfort that Talia needed to heal every single one of her emotional and physical scars. It was hard to give Alexei her trust, but she risked it all for a chance at love. Talia is a warrior. She has survived horrible events. When Alexei came into her life and rescued her, she found that even if he was the one who saved her, he could also be the one who could break her all over again. Their journey is filled with many heartbreaking moments. This is not an easy story to read. Both these characters have been through hell and back. 

I highly recommend reading the first books in the Boston Underworld Series because they intertwine well with each other. I really loved the little updates about Mackenzie, Lachlan, Sasha and Ronan. These characters are awesome and it’s always a pleasure to reunite with characters that made you feel so many emotions. This series is far from over. I am super excited about the next installment, which features Scarlett and Rory. OMG!! I love these two to pieces! Can’t wait to read their story. 

Rating:

I give, Ghost, by A. Zavarelli, 4.5 intense, dark, passionate stars!

About the Author:

A. Zavarelli is a romance book junkie, cat lover, and traveler when plagued by intense cases of wanderlust. She likes all things chocolate, books that come with warnings, and putting her characters through hell. 

Her tales have been known to flirt with darkness and sometimes court it unabashedly altogether. Revenge themes and tortured souls are her favorites to write and this gives her an excuse to watch bizarre and twisted documentaries in her spare time. 

She is slightly obsessed with Theo James and funny animal memes. If you don’t mind these things, you should add her on facebook. Even better, make sure you don’t miss a new release by signing up for the newsletter below.

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Release Day Blitz : A Veil of Vines by Tillie Cole

A Veil of Vines

by Tillie Cole

Release Date:
November 29th, 2016

Add to Goodreads

Genres:
Contemporary 
Romance

Release Day Blitz Hosted by:
Ardent Prose PR

Synopsis:

To most people, princes, princesses, counts and dukes are found only in the pages of the most famous of fairytales. Crowns, priceless jewels and gilded thrones belong only in childhood dreams. 

But for some, these frivolous fancies are truth. 

For some, they are real life. 

On Manhattan’s Upper East Side, people have always treated me as someone special. All because of my ancestral name and legacy. All because of a connection we share to our home country’s most important family of all. 

I am Caresa Acardi, Duchessa di Parma. A blue blood of Italy. I was born to marry well. And now the marriage date is set. 

I am to marry into House Savona. The family that would have been the royals had Italy not abolished the monarchy in 1946. But to the aristocrats of my home, the abolishment means nothing at all. 

The Savonas still hold power where it counts most. 

In our tight-knit world of money, status and masked balls, they are everything and more. 

And I am soon to become one of them. 

I am soon to become Prince Zeno Savona’s wife… … or at least I was, until I met him. And everything changed. 

Purchase Links:
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA
Amazon AU | Kobo

Excerpt:

I opened the window beside me and stared at the illuminated entrance. I swallowed hard and placed my empty glass on the bar. Metal groaned, breaking through the twilight, as the massive black wrought-iron gates began to open. The limo slowly pulled onto the property’s lane, and I drank in the thick forest that shielded the estate. I inhaled the freshness of the lush green trees. The unpolluted sky was thick with stars—not a single cloud in sight. 

A few minutes later, the thick woods cleared, and I gasped. Acres and acres of gold and green vineyards covered the landscape. The scents of plump grapes and damp soil permeated the warm air. I closed my eyes. It reminded me of being a child. It brought me back to the days before I was taken to New York. I could still feel the heat of the Emilia-Romagna sun on my face, the deep smell of olives, grapes and flowers drifting in the breeze as I ran around our Parma estate. 

I smiled a nostalgic smile and allowed my eyes to drift open again. I rested my arms on the window and leaned my chin on them as the limo drove on. There were several small villas peppered over the landscape, their lights twinkling in the distance. They must have been the winemakers’ residences. It was not only the Bella Collina merlot that was made on this land; other reds were too—particularly the Chianti from the region’s finest Sangiovese grapes. The Bella Collina olive oil was also up there with the best. But nothing compared to the famed merlot. 

The limo turned right, and my breath caught in my throat. I lifted my head and stared disbelievingly at the property ahead. Bella Collina was a veritable Palace of Versailles tucked away in the Umbrian wilderness. 

“Mio Dio,” I whispered as I took in the imposing stone structure, the sweeping steps and the vast number of windows set in the building’s walls. Large pillars of red-veined marble flanked the entrance. Cypress trees framed the estate as if it were the shining star of a fine Renaissance painting. Sculptures of famed Savona monarchs of old stood proudly on the manicured lawns, and strategically placed lighting illuminated the sheer perfection of every piece of topiary. 

As a child, I had been to the Palazzo Savona in Florence. It was widely regarded to be one of the finest estates in all of Italy, if not western Europe. But this . . . this . . . there were no words. It was perfectly placed, as if it had always been there. As if it had grown naturally from the Umbrian earth just as sure as the vines and woods that kept this architectural treasure hidden from view.

About the Author:

Tillie Cole hails from a small town in the North-East of England. She grew up on a farm with her English mother, Scottish father and older sister and a multitude of rescue animals. As soon as she could, Tillie left her rural roots for the bright lights of the big city. 

After graduating from Newcastle University with a BA Hons in Religious Studies, Tillie followed her Professional Rugby player husband around the world for a decade, becoming a teacher in between and thoroughly enjoyed teaching High School students Social Studies before putting pen to paper, and finishing her first novel. 

Tillie has now settled in Austin, Texas, where she is finally able to sit down and write, throwing herself into fantasy worlds and the fabulous minds of her characters. 

Tillie is both an independent and traditionally published author, and writes many genres including: Contemporary Romance, Dark Romance, Young Adult and New Adult novels. 

When she is not writing, Tillie enjoys nothing more than curling up on her couch watching movies, drinking far too much coffee, while convincing herself that she really doesn’t need that extra square of chocolate. 

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Release Day Launch: Fire in You by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Some are born with fire in them.

✮✮✮ SECOND CHANCES, HOPE, & RED-HOT CHEMISTRY… FIRE IN YOU, the final book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Wait For You World is here! Don’t Miss Brock and Jillian’s passionate and richly moving story in this standalone contemporary romance! ✮✮✮

Let the FIRE IN YOU burn and grab your copy today!

About FIRE IN YOU:

From the # 1 New York Times and International bestselling author comes a richly moving story about heartbreak and guilt, second chances and hope. Full of familiar, fan-favorite characters and no two people more deserving of a happy ending, Fire In You will burn bright beyond the last page…

Jillian Lima’s whole world was destroyed in a span of a few hours. The same night her childhood love, Brock ‘the Beast’ Mitchell, broke her heart, her life was irrevocably altered by the hand of a stranger with a gun.  It takes six years to slowly glue together the shattered pieces of her life, but Jillian is finally ready to stop existing in a past full of pain and regret. She takes a job at her father’s martial arts Academy and she’s going out on her first date since a failed relationship that was more yuck than yum. Jillian is determined to start living.

She just never expected Brock to be a part of her life again. But he’s firmly back in her life before she knows it, and not only is he older, he’s impossibly more handsome, more teasing and more everything. And when he sees Jillian, he’s no longer capable of thinking of her as the little girl who was his shadow growing up or the daughter of the man who gave him a second chance at life. He sees the woman who’d always been there for him, the one person who believed in him no matter what.

Brock knows she’s the one he should’ve made his, and what begins as a tentative friendship quickly turns to red-hot chemistry that sparks a flame that burns brighter than lust. Falling for Brock again risks more than her heart, because when the sorrow-filled and guilt-ridden past resurfaces, and a web of lies threatens to rip them apart, the fallout could lay waste to everything they’ve fought to build together, and destroy the dreams of those they care most about.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2bxxrst
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/2bVLCXB
iBooks: http://apple.co/2bdWMWy

Order a digital or paperback copy of FIRE IN YOU by Jennifer L. Armentrout, writing as J. Lynn, AND fill out THIS FORM by December 3^rd, and get an exclusive bonus scene-an Epilogue featuring POVs from all the major couples throughout the Wait For You World!

FIRE IN YOU will be available in paperback and eBook November 28th, 2016!

Just enter your name, age, email address, and the order number from your digital or paperback pre-order receipt at https://a.pgtb.me/M7KhMC to receive your exclusive FIRE IN YOU bonus scene! All entrants will receive the bonus scene on December 5th, 2016 through email using the email given when the entrant filled out THIS FORM.

EXCERPT 

Making my way through the narrow pathways between the tables, I headed back toward the bathroom. Only once I pushed open the double doors and stopped in front of the water-spotted mirror did I realize I’d left my purse at the table, so there’d be no reapplying my lipstick.

I pumped soap onto my hands and waved them under the facet. Water flowed, washing away the suds as I slowly lifted my gaze to my reflection. Normally when I looked at myself, I didn’t really pay attention longer than was necessary to put makeup on without ending up looking like a tutorial gone wrong.

Standing here now, I really looked at myself, though.

I used to wear my hair up all the time, but I’d stopped doing that every day. My hair now hung in waves and the ends curled over the tips of my breasts. I also used to have heavy bangs, but thank God they were long gone. I’d finally learned how to put on eyeliner. That was another miracle. The slight flush of my face darkened my naturally tan skin. My lips were fuller and my nose straight.

My hair was parted to sweep to the left so it shielded my cheek…and my cheek didn’t look that bad, especially considering how it looked the first time I’d seen it after…after days in the hospital.

Hell, my entire face had been one hot mess.

There was a deep indentation in my left cheek, almost like an icepick had been shoved in there, and as I stared at my right jaw line, I was still amazed by what reconstructive plastic surgeons could accomplish. Half my face had literally been pieced back together with an iliac crest graft with a reconstruction plate and a crap ton of dentistry to give me back a full set of functional teeth.

Plastic surgeons didn’t have magic wands, but they were magicians. If you weren’t looking at me straight on, you’d have no idea that my right jaw was thinner than my left.

You’d have no idea what had happened to me that night.

Now I stared back at myself just like I had done that night, six years ago, standing in a bathroom, mere minutes before my entire life came crashing down.

It wasn’t that I hated the way I looked now. The fact that I was alive meant I was one of those rare, walking and breathing statistics.

But even knowing how lucky I was didn’t change the fact that I felt…deformed. That was a harsh word to use. I didn’t like to whip it out often. Doing so on what was so far a pretty good date was probably not a good idea.

Taking a deep breath, I shook my head. I didn’t need my thoughts going in that direction tonight. So far, the dinner had been amazing. Grady was nice and he was cute. I could maybe see myself going out with him again, to an art exhibit, and maybe coffee.

And that was what had freaked me out.

I was not going to let living freak me out.

Nope.

I could give him a chance and not worry about whether or not I was settling.

Turning from the sink, I dried my hands and then readjusted my hair so it fell forward, over my left shoulder and cheek. I walked out of the bathroom and into the narrow hall, gaze trained on the floor as I took about two steps before I realized someone was standing right outside the door, leaning against the wall. Before I nearly plowed into him.

Gasping, I took a step back. All I could see were finely cut black trousers paired with…with old black and white Chucks? What an odd combination, but those shoes reminded me of…

I gave a little shake of my head and stepped to the side. “Sorry. Excuse—”

“Jillian.”

I stopped.

Time stopped.

Everything stopped except my heart, because it was suddenly pounding in my chest too hard, too fast. That deep, rough voice. I recognized it all the way to my very core. Slowly, I lifted my gaze, already knowing what I was going to see but refusing to believe it.

Brock Mitchell stood in front of me.

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About Jennifer L. Armentrout:

# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. She spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA.

She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Links:

Website: https://jenniferlarmentrout.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferLArmentrout 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jlarmentrout 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4476934.Jennifer_L_Armentrout