Review: Swept Away Volume One by J. Haymore

Title: Swept Away Volume One
Author: J. Haymore
Published:  October 20th 2014
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Buy: Amazon
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

He is everywhere. He surrounds me, wends his way under my skin. I can’t escape his strength, his intensity, his presence.

I’m trapped.

There’s nowhere to run.

Nowhere to hide.

But even if I could escape... would I be strong enough to leave?

I needed something — something big — to get myself out of the rut I’d fallen into after the car accident that killed my sister. This sailing trip was meant only to mark a new chapter in my life. Until Ethan Williams stepped on board.

Ethan radiated confidence. His darkly handsome good looks and ocean-blue eyes mesmerized me. But it was the way he looked at me that drew me in. He wasn’t looking at my past or at my scars, but the real me behind all that baggage I was trying so hard to leave behind.

But Ethan had secrets—dark, dangerous secrets. I was trapped in the middle of the ocean in a tangle of lies, sex, and violence. The problem was, I was happy to be trapped forever...if it meant I could have him.

My Thoughts:

When I first heard about this one, I was really looking forward to it. I loved the idea of a mystery and romance. Plus it's by Jennifer Haymore--the author behind some of my favorite historical romances. So, I was hoping it would be just as good. While I wasn't as hooked as I expected to be, I did find the mystery intriguing.

The instantaneous connection that Tara has with Ethan is powerful, and they're drawn in to each other. What is it about him? The mystery, of course. While Ethan and Tara are finding themselves captivated in each other, there's a strange vibe in the air around them. How do you know who you can trust?

Swept Away Volume One had enough intrigue to make you want to see what happens next. J. Haymore knows how to keep the mystery alive. I liked how Tara wasn't the usual kind of heroine--she had a past and a lot more to her than you would expect. While I'm curious about exactly what is going on, I don't know if I'll be picking up the rest of the series anytime soon.

My Rating:

Review: Scandalous Summer Nights Novellas

Title: Scandalous Summer Nights
Authors: Grace Callaway, Sabrina Darby, Jennifer Haymore, Sue London, Kate McKinley, Sandy Raven, Vivienne Westlake
Published: June 28th 2014
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Historical Romance
Buy: See Links Below
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

Seven sexy series-opening novellas from seven bestselling historical romance authors!

A Highlander’s Heart (The Highland Knights, Book 1)
By Jennifer Haymore
Once madly in love, Claire and Rob Campbell are now estranged, torn apart by war and loss. When desire rekindles between them, they both hope desperately that they can mend their broken marriage ... But some wounds go deeper than the concussion Rob suffered on the Waterloo battlefield. And some wounds can never be healed.

How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days (What Happens in Scotland, Book 1)
By Kate McKinley
Lucas Alexander, the ninth Duke of Arlington, is a man who gets what he wants. So when he sees the alluring Miss Pippa Welby from across a crowded ballroom, he vows to make her his. But the bold and spirited Pippa has sworn never to marry into the haute ton. Now Lucas must win her the only way he knows how—one wicked kiss at a time.

The Widow Vanishes (Prequel to the Heart of Enquiry Series)
By Grace Callaway
A disastrous marriage leaves Annabel Foster buried in her deceased husband’s debt and at the mercy of a cutthroat. Faced with death or selling her body, she makes an unthinkable choice … Haunted by his past, former soldier William McLeod seeks forgetfulness in the arms of a tempting wench. What begins as a night of lust, however, transforms into desire beyond his wildest fantasies … Attraction flares between the pair even as an evil enemy seeks to destroy them both. Can one night of passion lead to love forevermore?

Scandal Before Sunrise (The Weekly Scandal, Book 1)
By Sabrina Darby
When a reformed bad girl meets a rogue with dishonorable intentions, it's guaranteed to be a scandal before sunrise.

Lord Lucifer’s Disciple (Haberdashers Nights, Book 1)
By Sue London
An heiress turns away every suitor until she meets a mysterious foreigner at a masque ball. His kiss ignites her in ways that nothing else has, but he refuses her pleas to elope. Has she lost her heart to a man who doesn’t exist?

Miss Amelia Lands a Duke (A Prequel to the Caversham Chronicles)
By Sandy Raven
Caught kissing a man she believes within her reach socially, Amelia discovers he isn’t. Not only that, he is same man her widowed aunt has been stalking all season. When the Duke of Caversham realizes who Amelia is, he does the honorable thing and offers for her. Only Amelia’s pride will not allow her to be forced onto any man in marriage. Cav must then convince Amelia that she is the only woman he wants for the rest of his life.

Lady Northam’s Wicked Surrender (Wicked Liaisons, Book 1)
By Vivienne Westlake
A midnight encounter between two estranged lovers rekindles a passion beyond their wildest dreams... Rowena, Countess of Northam, is surprised to find her former suitor has returned from India and is on his way to the very house where she is staying. When he appears in her room late at night, she can only believe it is a dream. Her fantasy soon becomes reality when Simon makes every effort to seduce her.

My Thoughts:

I love me some really lovely historical romances, and these certainly didn't disappoint! I really enjoyed them, my favorite being A Highlander's Heart by Jennifer Haymore. Definitely some worthwhile stories! I would absolutely recommend these. Then again, I can't help but do so, because... ROMANCE. Seriously.

PS: This set is no longer available for purchase. Some of these novellas are now available separately instead of as a bundle. Here are the links to the ones available, and the ones that aren't:

A Highlander’s Heart (The Highland Knights, Book 1)By Jennifer Haymore

~ Amazon ~

How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days (What Happens in Scotland, Book 1)
By Kate McKinley
~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~

The Widow Vanishes (Prequel to the Heart of Enquiry Series)By Grace Callaway
~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~

Scandal Before Sunrise (The Weekly Scandal, Book 1)
By Sabrina Darby
~ N/A ~ Read an Excerpt ~

Lord Lucifer’s Disciple (Haberdashers Nights, Book 1)
By Sue London

~ Amazon ~

Miss Amelia Lands a Duke (A Prequel to the Caversham Chronicles)By Sandy Raven

~ Amazon ~

Lady Northam’s Wicked Surrender (Wicked Liaisons, Book 1)
By Vivienne Westlake

~ Amazon ~

My Rating:

Blitz: Swept Away by J. Haymore

Welcome to the Swept Away by J. Haymore blitz!

Swept Away by J. Haymore
Publication date: October 20th 2014
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Suspense

He is everywhere. He surrounds me, permeates the air, wends his way under my skin. I can’t escape his strength, his intensity, his presence.
I’m trapped.
There’s nowhere to run.
Nowhere to hide.
But even if I could escape…would I be strong enough to leave?
I needed something—something big—to get myself out of the rut I’d fallen into after the car accident that killed my sister. This sailing trip was meant only to mark a new chapter in my life. Until Ethan Williams stepped on board.
Ethan radiated confidence. His darkly handsome good looks and ocean-blue eyes mesmerized me. But it was the way he looked at me that drew me in. He wasn’t looking at my past or at my scars, but the real me behind all that baggage I was trying so hard to leave behind.
But Ethan had secrets—dark, dangerous secrets. I was trapped in the middle of the ocean in a tangle of lies, sex, and violence. The problem was, I was happy to be trapped forever…if it meant I could have him.
Warning: Swept Away is a 4-part serial. This story is messy and twisted and very, very sexy. It is not for people under 18.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23290503-swept-away-1

Purchase:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Swept-Away-J-Haymore-ebook/dp/B00O677PTM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414685381&sr=8-1&keywords=Swept+Away+1

Excerpt:

A shuffling movement comes from the direction of the navigation area. It’s Ethan, of course. Without trying to—without wanting to—I track his every movement whenever he’s near.

The trampoline grows taut beneath me as he steps on it. He sits beside me and stares up at the sky for a moment. Just having him this close washes heat over my skin.

He’s spoken to me over the past few days, of course. It’s unavoidable. He’s put on the mask of the unflinchingly polite gentleman again. It’s no wonder he’s good in business. He can be hard, terse, and commanding, but he can also be gracious and charming.

He turns to me and asks quietly, “Are you okay?”

This is the most personal question he’s asked me in days.

I give him a tight smile. “I’ve been through worse.”

“Yeah.” There’s a gruff edge of emotion in his voice.

He doesn’t know the half of it. I told him about my parents, but not about Em and the accident and the cause of my limp. He doesn’t know that I was almost killed in a convenience-store shooting, and that the only reason I’m lying here right now is because of a Good Samaritan who took a bullet for me.

Ethan lies beside me, stretching his tall form out next to mine. He’s large, and his weight makes the trampoline dip. My muscles tighten so my body doesn’t roll toward him. “Look at the stars,” he murmurs.

“I know.”

“I never thought I’d find it so peaceful out here.”

“What did you think sailing across the ocean would be like?”

“Dangerous,” he answers. “Uncomfortable. Miserable, actually.”

I turn to him, raising a brow. “Really?”

He nods.

“Then why did you come? I know you said it was something you needed to do. But if you thought it would be dangerous, uncomfortable, and miserable, then why?”

He laughs quietly, but he doesn’t answer.

Fine. By now I know how private he is.

I stare at the stars brightening the sky. Below us, the Temptation dips and rolls. All is silent except for the gentle slosh of water against the hull.

“Tara,” he murmurs. His tone draws my gaze. He turns fully onto his side, propping his head up on his hand as he watches me.

“Yes?”

“Have you ever been on a runaway train?”

I give a soft snort.

“That’s what I feel like I’m on right now.”

My lips twitch up, but they don’t quite make it to a smile. “Then put on the brakes, and you’ll stop moving before you crash.”

“It’s not that easy.”

“Why not?”

“Because… I’ve tried to stop it since I… Since the first moment I saw you on that ramp and every day since then. But it isn’t going to work. I’ve tried, and... And I can’t.” He swallows hard, but his gaze doesn’t leave mine, not for a second.

My heart starts to pound. Emotions grab at me, excitement and fear and hope, along with a sharp edge of anger. “You’ve been doing a fine job of it for the past few days.”

He reaches out and touches my cheek. It’s just the gentlest touch, but it sends a bolt of electricity through me. “No. I’ve been doing a shit job of it. I’m good at pretending, but if you knew what was going on in my head—” He breaks off abruptly. After a quiet moment, he adds, “I can’t stop it. I can’t ignore it. Trying to is only going to make me crazy. So I’m done trying.”

AUTHOR BIO:

USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Haymore is the author of sexy historical and contemporary romance.

You can find Jennifer in Southern California trying to talk her husband into yet another trip to England, helping her three children with homework while brainstorming a new five-minute dinner menu, or crouched in a corner of the local bookstore writing her next novel.

Author links:

http://www.jenniferhaymore.com/

https://www.facebook.com/JenniferHaymore.Author

https://twitter.com/jenniferhaymore

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8634517.J_Haymore

GIVEAWAY

Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)

• A copy of Swept Away #1 (eBook or Print - winner's choice) 
•  An early copy of Swept Away 1-4 (complete series)
• 20$ Amazon gift card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

http://xpressobooktours.com/

Cover Reveal: Swept Away by J. Haymore

Welcome to the Swept Away by J. Haymore cover reveal!

Swept Away by J. Haymore
Publication date: October 20th 2014
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Suspense

He is everywhere. He surrounds me, permeates the air, wends his way under my skin. I can’t escape his strength, his intensity, his presence.

I’m trapped.

There’s nowhere to run.

Nowhere to hide.

But even if I could escape…would I be strong enough to leave?
I needed something—something big—to get myself out of the rut I’d fallen into after the car accident that killed my sister. This sailing trip was meant only to mark a new chapter in my life. Until Ethan Williams stepped on board.

Ethan radiated confidence. His darkly handsome good looks and ocean-blue eyes mesmerized me. But it was the way he looked at me that drew me in. He wasn’t looking at my past or at my scars, but the real me behind all that baggage I was trying so hard to leave behind.

But Ethan had secrets—dark, dangerous secrets. I was trapped in the middle of the ocean in a tangle of lies, sex, and violence. The problem was, I was happy to be trapped forever…if it meant I could have him.

Warning: Swept Away is a 4-part serial. This story is messy and twisted and very, very sexy. It is not for people under 18.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23290503-swept-away

 AUTHOR BIO:

Jennifer holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from UC Berkeley and a master's degree in Education from UCLA. Before she became a full-time writer she held various jobs from bookselling to teaching inner-city children to playing bit roles in soap operas.

You can find Jennifer in Southern California trying to talk her husband into yet another trip to England, helping her three children with homework while brainstorming a new five-minute dinner menu, or crouched in a corner of the local bookstore writing her next novel.

Author links:

http://www.jenniferhaymore.com/

https://www.facebook.com/JenniferHaymore.Author

https://twitter.com/jenniferhaymore

http://xpressobooktours.com/

Review: The Reunion - A Sugar Cay Novella by Jennifer Haymore

Title: The Reunion
Author: Jennifer Haymore
Published: March 17th 2014
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy: Amazon
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

A woman who has it all...

Zoey Hanson has moved on since her breakup with Nathan Richards three years ago. She’s independent, she has a career she loves, and she’s in the market to buy her first house. Everything is perfect—absolutely perfect. Now she’s off to Sugar Cay, the most beautiful island in the world, to spend spring break with her best friends. If only her ex wasn’t going to be there too. Hopefully this time he won’t have a runway model draped on his arm.

A man who knows what he wants...

The worst mistake Nathan ever made was walking away from Zoey. Now, he’s determined to win her back, and there’s no better place for seduction than on the romantic island of Sugar Cay. There’s one minor problem, though—Zoey and Nathan live and work on different coasts. But Nathan is an optimist by nature: first he’ll reel her in, then he’ll convince her move to San Francisco. All goes according to plan until Zoey realizes she’s falling hard and fast for Nathan all over again. Then all hell breaks loose...and Nathan must reevaluate his strategy, or he just might lose Zoey forever.

My Thoughts:

Just give me all the Jennifer Haymore books now please!!!

In all seriousness though, I really would like that. A lot. The other books I read were historical romances, so it was new to read a modern romance by her. But, it was definitely just as good of a read as the others.

Nathan and Zoey, oh my lord were they cute. They're great together, and they know it too, but they have one tiny problem of their opposite lives. Not that they're opposites, just that they have established lives and to leave those lives, to them, would be something they could never do. The whole problem is that their feelings are strong--strong enough to not give up on the notion.

The Reunion is an enormously adorable novella. It's hard to stop reading it because you're drawn into their lives, and you're understanding their thoughts as if they were your own. I swear, I'm going to read Jennifer Haymore's work as much as I possibly can. It's just that good.

My Rating:

Review: One Night with an Earl by Jennifer Haymore

Title: One Night With An Earl
Author: Jennifer Haymore
Published: April 1st 2014
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Historical Romance
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

Beatrice Reece, Lady Fenwick, has retired from polite society. Everyone knows her late husband treated her abominably, and she simply cannot bear the whispers of the ton. But it's the night of London's premier masquerade ball—and Beatrice's one chance to revel in anonymity. She hopes no one will recognize her beneath her mask, not even the sinfully sexy stranger across the room who holds her captive in his gaze.

Andrew Sinclair would know beautiful Beatrice anywhere from the gentle sway of her hips, the richness of her hair and the lushness of her body. When he asks her to dance, the attraction is instant and all-consuming. The only woman he's ever truly wanted is finally in his arms. But when the clock strikes twelve, will this one reckless night fade into the morning light?

My Thoughts:

This book.... oh this BOOK.... you guys.

I'm gonna just chill out for a moment here. *breathe in, breathe out* Okay. All better now.

So, I picked up this book because I thought, oh, this oughta be a sweet story... not realizing it was a novella. The story starts strong, and the romance hits you like a truck, but in a good way. I love how Andrew knew who she was, and how much he cared for her; I equally loved how Beatrice fell for him before the masks came off. And when the masks do come off? Well, now that's amazing, but I'm not saying any more than that.

One Night with an Earl took place basically in less than 24 hours, showing that even the shorter stories can pack a lot of feeling. Andrew was to swoon for and I could relate so much to Beatrice. I can't get enough of Jennifer Haymore's books. I've read three of her stories so far and they're all just amazing. This one, though, is my absolute favorite. I seriously kept picking it up again and again to read my favorite parts. It was just THAT GOOD. And? I'll probably never stop wanting to pick it up. A simply MUST read.

My Rating:

Review: The Scoundrel's Seduction by Jennifer Haymore

Title: The Scoundrel's Seduction
Author: Jennifer Haymore
Published: May 27th 2014
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Historical Romance
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

Temptation Knows No Bounds…

Undercover agent Sam Hawkins has devoted his life to protecting king and country. So when he receives orders to assassinate a ruthless traitor, he doesn't question his mission. But Sam didn't know his deed had a witness—the beautiful and mysterious betrayer's wife. Now he has no choice but to take her as his prisoner—one he can neither trust…nor resist.

Élise, Lady Dunthorpe, will do anything to escape her powerful captor—including seducing him senseless. She didn't know of her miserable husband's crimes, but she has secrets of her own—secrets that threaten everything she holds dear. With his piercing dark eyes and gentle touch, Sam inflames Élise's deepest desires, but how could she ever trust a man who won't let her go? Caught between the crown he's sworn to serve and the woman he's come to love, Sam will risk his heart—and his very life—to keep her safe.

My Thoughts:

After reading, and ADORING, three of Jennifer Haymore's books, I've decided that whenever I'm in the mood to splurge, I'm buying a new one of hers. This one is the first full-length novel of hers I've read (the other two being novellas), and even though it was longer, I still wanted MORE.

The premise of this one--the whole "Stockholm Syndrome" thing--is actually quite the opposite. Maybe it's a little bit there, but you can feel the realness of their attraction. Sam and Élise are a shining example of an amazing couple. Sam, despite being her captor, is so protective of her. And
Élise? She's such a ball of fire... and her adoration of Sam is just heart melting. She calls him "My Sam" and I swear inside I think, Awwwwww...... as I touch my hand to my heart.

The Scoundrel's Seduction is simply stunning. I could read it over and again. Jennifer Haymore keeps on giving me the perfect stories to read. I don't see how I could ever, EVER, stop reading her work. You need to check her out for yourself, either this one or another by her. I guarantee you won't be sorry.

My Rating: