Review + Giveaway: Being Sawyer Knight by Nicola Haken

 

~*Synopsis*~

As lead singer and guitarist of the internationally renowned Souls of the Knight, Sawyer Knight is living a life most men can only dream of. He’s surrounded by music, fame, wealth, women throwing themselves at his feet. He has everything…

Yet he has nothing. Life as one of the world’s most sought after rock stars is tiring, oppressive and lonely. He spends every day being who the world wants him to be, who his manager tells him to be, who his mother expects him to be… all the while fighting against who he really is. Truth is, he’s used to it. He’s actually gotten pretty good at pretending… at living the lie. Until Jake Reed, his ex-best friend and the only person who’s ever made him ‘feel’, waltzes back into his life as the band’s new head of security. Jake wants Sawyer – always has, always will. Now, he just needs to get Sawyer to admit that he feels the same… “You will be mine, Sawyer Knight. The faster you try to run the quicker you’ll fall to your knees. Then, Sawyer… then you’ll be too weak to resist.” 

~*Excerpt*~

Conversation was a little awkward at first. We stuck to ‘safe’ topics, talking about our childhood and everything leading up to – but not including - the last time we saw each other. Soon enough, the rich whiskey started taking effect, visibly relaxing him. Three shots in and I saw a genuine smile… not a forced one he’d only put on for my benefit. The curve of his lips illuminated his entire face, making his caramel eyes sparkle under the wisp of dark brown hair that couldn’t seem to keep itself from falling over his face.

“So, how are your parents?” I asked casually in an effort to keep the conversation flowing. I didn’t want this night to end.

“Jerry fucked off a few years back. He was our first manager before we got signed, got us a few gigs here and there… but then I found out he’d been knocking my mum around, so after beating the living shit out of him, I told him he either disappeared or I’d call the cops.”

“Jesus,” I barely whispered, shaking my head at the image he’d put in my mind. “How’s your mum now?”

“Good, last time I heard.”

“You don’t see her?”

“Not often. She doesn’t exactly approve of my lifestyle. Got to do what’s right by her church buddies, ya know.”

“Wow. Sorry, mate.” Sawyer shrugged casually, feigning indifference. His eyes told a different story though. Evident discomfort forced his eyebrows together slightly and when he blinked, it took his eyes a couple of seconds longer than necessary to open again. “So who do you go to when you need to escape all this shit?” I asked, motioning my hands around the opulence surrounding us.

“Elle,” he said simply. Just the sound of her name tugged on the corners of his lips, making him smile.

“Maths girl?” I already knew the answer. The whole world knows about Elle Wilson – best friend and possible secret girlfriend of the hottest singer this decade has ever seen.

“Yeah,” he agreed, still smiling as he nodded. “After you… left,” he started to explain, the word ‘left’ cracking on his lips. “I spent more and more time with her. She helped me with my maths, gave me her old papers to study, that kind of shit. I still fucking failed,” he added with yet another smile. I liked Elle already. So far, she’s the only person who seems to make Sawyer happy. “But seriously, she’s the only person who’s ever been there for me. If it weren’t for her… I don’t think I’d have survived this life very long.”

Wow.

“Sounds lonely,” I said, picking my glass up from the table and taking another sip of whiskey. The burn ceased after the second glass, and so now, four glasses in, the rich liquid trickled smoothly down my throat like silk. “Are you lonely, Sawyer?”

His eyes widened just slightly and he stuttered on his response. I stared intently into his eyes, trying to catch a glimpse of his soul hiding behind them. I could almost see the debate taking place in his mind – whether to be honest with me, or lie.

“No. Course not.” He went for the option of lying. “I’m surrounded by people every day.”

“But they don’t know you,” I stated cautiously, the end of my sentence coming out slightly higher as if it were a question. “Not the real you.”

“How the fuck would you know? You don’t know me,” he spat. The anger in his voice halted the rhythm of my heart for a brief second while I considered what I was doing. I should back off. I should be professional and keep a safe personal distance. I should apologise for riling him.

But I knew immediately I wasn’t going to do any of those things. Despite what he might think right now, I do know Sawyer Knight – the real one. I grew up with him, I loved him… I still love him. We might have spent the last ten years apart but I’ve never stopped following him. I’ve watched his career go from strength to strength. I’ve studied him in interviews, TV appearances and even went to watch him play when the band’s last tour landed in Australia. Each time I watched him I was drawn to his eyes, and not once had I ever seen the sparkle in them that I used to fantasise over as a teenager. He never smiles – not genuinely. He never talks about his private life. Never discusses himself unless prompted, and even then the discomfort is evident by the slight squirm of his body.

Sawyer is hiding from the world.

He’s hiding from himself.

And I’m going to find him.

~*Teaser*~ 

~*Review by Vanessa*~

 I rated Being Sawyer FOUR LEAVES!

I loved Nicola’s other series and this book is right along with it. I really enjoy reading her books because she seems to bring out issues that are relatable and the execution of them is amazing. This book was very heart wrenching because it deals with the topic of realizing its okay to be true to your heart no matter what anyone says. Sawyer Knight is a hot rock star with tons of fans especially the women; sleeping with an endless amount to prove something he doesn’t want to admit. Jake, the ex-best friend of Sawyer comes back as the security guard for the band because they have been receiving death threats and Sawyer is not prepared for the intense attraction that he still carries for Jake even after all these years. Jake has never gotten over his love for his best friend from all those years ago and knew that no matter what happened, he would get Sawyer to realize who he is but can he get him to finally admit and accept it? Little by little Sawyer gives into the pushy Jake until finally Sawyer can no longer fight his heart and knows without a doubt he’s gay and in love with his best friend. This however is only one of many hurdles Sawyer has to go through in this book until he is truly happy. I don’t want to give away anything else but this is one of my favorites. I loved the characters and loved how accepting they all were. Another great story for Haken! 

~*About the Author*~

I'm a writer of New Adult, contemporary and m/m erotic romance. I'm a married mum of four (six if you include the dogs!) from the UK and can usually be found with a Kindle or MacBook in front of my face, or carrying out housewife/mother/all round slave duties. I'm a little bit mental and a whole lot of crazy with bordering on unhealthy addictions to tattoos, Pepsi Max and the CockyBoys! ;-)

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~*Giveaway*~ 

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~*Hosted By*~ 

Review + Giveaway: Shattering the Darkness Series by Jessica Spoon

~*Synopsis*~

Harper Reagan has been through everything a woman could possibly go through. Losing her parents and entering foster care, only to be abused by her foster father. Running away at fifteen, she enters the world’s oldest profession to survive. And survive she did. 

Barely...

If you call abuse, counted as property and tortured to no end surviving then that was what she did…survived. Her life was spared, but at what cost. Long ago Harper had died. Today, due to those decisions she made, she is left existing with no choice to do anything else. Staring the devil in the face daily for as long as she did, left its mark and pain behind for her to live with forever.

The pain of that survival scars her deeper than any physical wound she's ever received. 

Harper is finally living a better life and has a great business, friends, and a home finally her own. She will do anything to keep her past hidden, including jeopardizing her only chance at love and a truly good man.

Breccan Caldwell is everything Harper doesn't deserve. He's gorgeous, successful, caring and a true gentleman.

Can Breccan show Harper who she truly is? Or will he be pushed out by the darkness she allows herself to be consumed with?

~*Teaser*~

~*Excerpt*~ 

Darkness Deserved

Friday night at the bar was busy. Every table was full all night and the bar was packed as well. I couldn’t have been happier. It was ten o’clock as I was making my rounds through the crowd checking tables and helping Emma, Beth and Mya, my waitresses, out. 

I had just finished setting down a round of shots at a table full of sorority girls and turned around to go back to the bar, when I felt a tingle start at the top of my head and move toward my groin. When it settled and my clit began to throb I just knew. I knew it was my Adonis.

Here at last.

Dammit.

I was hoping I could just go through life without this temptation. It’s okay Harper. You wore your big girl panties tonight so quit being such a fucktwat and grow a pair. I make my way to the bar as if I notice nothing and set the tray down for Mark and Rory, my bartenders tonight.

I head towards the end of the bar to take care of some orders I need to make, when I feel his presence beating against me from behind. It’s like he already owns my body. My skin begins to tingle, my heartbeat speeds up, and my breathing becomes shallow as I try to control it. I can feel the vein in my neck throbbing relentlessly. On the outside I know I appear composed and nonchalant, but inside- inside- I feel ready to burst. 

I just want Adonis to grab me, throw me on the bar and fill me as I know only he can at this moment. He brings both arms around me so that his hands are resting on the bar and he has me trapped between it and himself. He leans in and I can feel his breath wash over my exposed neck. I inhale his scent: soap, Armani and Adonis. God, I want him to bend me over. A million different scenarios run through my mind of how to close down the bar so I can please this man.

And that’s when I stop and ice runs through my veins. I spent four years pleasing men. I was not going down that path again.

~*Synopsis*~

The repercussions of Harper’s past meeting her present have left her breathless and lost. She continues to fight an internal war with herself. Can she let the love Breccan has offered into her life? Or was she right to push him away for his own good?

As Harper struggles with this internal battle, will her past find her and tear down everything she has built?

Will Harper ever find her happily ever after?

Read the conclusion of the Shattering the Darkness Series.

~*Teaser*~

~*Excerpt*~

Ascending Darkness 

Prologue

It’s been years since I lived and breathed this way. Years since I had to wonder what would happen next. I’ve been lucky; living the good life and having whatever I wanted. I suppose I couldn’t really have it all; too greedy. It was never about money, though…. 

It was about being out of this life, having something more.

Living.

I don’t know if Nikko and Breccan know yet what has happened, or if they can even do anything about it. I imagine they will try and I hope they succeed, but how in the hell are they even going to find me? I don’t even know where I am or how I got here. How can two people that weren’t there do anything about it?

I look around the mostly dark room. The walls are a grayish color which looks to be from stains to the once white walls. The carpet is dark, almost a greenish color. There is a small bed in the corner with a table and a lamp that hardly sheds any light in this room. It smells musty in here, like a cemented basement. 

Maybe it is a basement.

I was unconscious when they took me and woke up in this room. 

I sigh and sit up on the bed so that I am facing the door. My hands are still tied with nylon rope and my wrists are raw, so it hurts to move them too much.

The door starts to open and I watch.

He walks in with the same grimy smile he always had. 

I hate you!

He walks closer to the bed, looks down at me and says, “Hey, babe. You’ve been busy. Looks like it’s time to pay your dues. Pants off. Now.”

~*Meet the Cast*~

~*Review by Ashton*~

I rate the Shattering The Darkness series FOUR AND ONE HALF LEAVES!

Let me just start by saying Author Jessica Spoon knows how to write dark romance. The backstory of the characters and the emotions they evoke are so pure and realistic. 

Harper is a gorgeous, but tortured soul. She has survived the unimaginable, built a beautiful life, and prepared for any darkness that might reappear in her future. The one thing she didn't prepare for was Breccan. 

In my mind, Breccan is like a modern-day Thor. He is handsome, successful, family-oriented, and has a body of steel. Above all that, he is Harper's hero. He saves her in ways she never knew needed saved. His love for Harper is unconditional and everlasting. 

Because Harper is extremely strong willed and stubborn, she can be a bit aggravating when it comes to decisions about Breccan. I think we all get to this point in stories where we start to hate the female lead, because she is creating unnecessary drama. Then you think about how she grew up, and you learn to understand and respect her for trying to protect herself and her loved ones. 

The dream/flashback scenes of this story will haunt you. Harper was tricked into a dangerous lifestyle and abused in so many ways. She is a true survivor. She still struggles with her past, but continues to move forward.

I highly recommend this series. The love and steamy scenes pour from these novels, but so will your tears. It can be difficult to read during the dream/flashback scenes, but the characters and the storyline keep you turning the page.

~*About the Author*~

    Jessica grew up in a small town in Southern Iowa. She went to nursing school and became a nurse only to realize her passion was in writing and reading. She loves to spend her time with friends and is very close with her family. It took her a long time to realize she even had a joy of reading. Once having declared there was no point when the books always became movies. At twenty four she discovered how wrong she was and became obsessed with reading and made up for lost time by doing it nonstop. She began writing when dozens of ideas kept flowing through her mind that she knew she had to get out.

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Darkness Deserved

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Ascending Darkness

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~*Giveaway*~

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~*Hosted By*~

Release Blitz + Review: Playing in the Rain by Jane Harvey-Berrick

~*Synopsis*~

Ava Lawton can’t believe her run of bad luck. It’s supposed to be an exciting time in her life: fresh out of college, living in a new state, with a new job, and away from her family at last.

But when she’s forced to quit her job, everything falls apart quickly. Suddenly, she’s alone in a crowd, with no one to turn to.

At her lowest point, a stranger gives her a message that brings her hope.

Now is the time to live life her own way.

Now is the time to choose to be happy.

And maybe it’s time to let a beautiful stranger be part of her life.

~*Excerpt*~

And there we saw the sunset.

My mouth dropped open as a blaze of red and orange burned the sky, setting the mesa alight in an astonishing display of nature or God or some deity more powerful, older, more mesmerizing than anything I had seen.

I think I gasped, and clutched Cody’s arm, our silence more meaningful than any words could have been. A deep stillness filled me as I watched the cycle of day to night, as the earth turned. And I was part of it; together we were part of it. My problems seemed small and ridiculous and I promised myself that this was where my life started again: this day, this moment, with this man at my side—if he’d have me.

~*Teaser*~

~*Review by Jodie Rae*~

I rated Playing in the Rain by Jane Harvey-Berrick FIVE AMAZING AND BEAUTIFULLY HEARTBREAKING LEAVES!!
This book was beautiful. I have no words for how I feel about this book. I am still crying as I write this review. This book is one of the reasons I love reading. A book that can bring so many emotions intensely that I feel I'm actually going through what the characters are in the book. Deep and personal thoughts told by a book character can sweep you away in love, can break your heart in pain, can make you estatic in laughter. This was not an easy subject to write or read, but Jane Harvey-Berrick has written a lovely, touching and highly unique story with remarkable characters.
Ava is suppose to have all going for her right now in life. She is fresh out of college and starting to work a big time company until the day she is forced to quit her job.  As she is traveling home from the worse day ever, her car comes to a halt in traffic when she meets a stranger that will forever change her life, his name being Cody Richards. I do not want to go into a lot of detail about the story-line, because it would be so easy to spoil this book for you. I will tell you one thing, this book is beautiful. One of the most beautiful books I've ever read. I do want to add that Cody is one of the most charismatic, lovable and charming character's ever. You will fall in love with this guy! Move out of the way Christian Grey and Rush Finlay, just give me Cody Richards. 
Playing in the Rain is more than I ever expected going in. The book is about living your life to the fullest and believing everything happens for a reason.  It's about understanding that no matter how much time we're given, we should be thankful for it and if by chance if we're lucky enough to find love and be able to give it back to someone. 

 

~*About the Author*~

I started writing contemporary romance two years ago. Before that, I didn’t think I could write a sex scene. Turns out I can!

My lucky number is 13 because I was born on the 13th and live near a haunted castle by the ocean. My number one past-time is watching hot surfers get changed into (and out of) their wetsuits.

My husband doesn’t read my books. My mother does.

Writing is my love, my hobby, my total addiction. All my characters are important to me and whisper their stories, even when I’ve finished writing their books. That’s why you’ll often find bonus chapters/out-takes from various books, because those voices just won’t be quiet.  You can also visit Jane on her Amazon Page.

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