Showing posts with label #College. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #College. Show all posts

Monday, March 11, 2019

RELEASE DAY: Wrath by Claire C. Riley

I’ll do whatever it takes to become a member and earn my place in the ranks of only the most Elite.

I am Samuel Gunner.

I am Wrath



WRATH BY CLAIRE C. RILEY

AN ELITE SEVEN IS LIVE!

Keep reading to grab your copy & to enter to win a $20 gift card!!! 


I’m a motherless son to a father who hates me. Fury has lived and breathed in my black heart for so long, it’s a part of my soul now. The only thing that’s ever mattered to me is protecting my twin sister, Sabella, from my father’s temper.

So when the chance to join a secret society presents itself, there’s no question I’ll do whatever it takes to become a member and earn my place in the ranks of only the most Elite.
With a taste for the deviant, I’m drawn to the darkest of desires, and no one ever leaves my bed unscathed.
My task: seduce Patience Noelle, St. Augustine’s sweetheart and the mayor’s beloved daughter—then break her heart.
Sinning is what I live for, and deviance is my passion. Failing has never been an option.
But what happens when my sin becomes my curse—when destroying the only woman I’ve ever wanted is my key to protecting my sister?
Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak...they’re for The Elite.
This isn’t just my chance, it’s my legacy and reckoning.
I am Samuel Gunner.
I am WRATH






I do not believe I’ve ready Claire C. Riley previously. However, I have read the other two books in the Elite Seven Series and I knew I had to continue getting every little morsel of this storyline as I could. It’s like they all have woven these little bits of secrets into their stories that connect them all. I love how wide and just all consuming it feels. I seriously feel as though I am stepping into a new world… one that these authors have painstakingly created to unravel my mind… and the minds of every single reader enthralled in this series. 

It’s interesting but Wrath felt a bit different than the other books. I know we have seven books by 7 different authors about 7 different coming of age men… really, that is what this is. They are transitioning to college. This is a difficult time in life anyway without being thrown sex, drugs, alcohol all at alarming speeds… this is definitely a 0 to 60 book! I didn’t think my heart could ache more than it did in Pride, but alas, I was wrong. While Samuel (Wrath) is an incredibly angry man… like he’s vicious! But he’s totally come by it honestly. He’s always ready for a fight. It’s how he thinks he needs to prove himself… the only way he can be strong and he always has to be strong.

I did enjoy Riley’s writing. I felt she was descriptive. She really developed her characters very well. Samuel was a harsh, nearly cruel man to connect with. I’m not sure if that was part of my feelings toward the story. Patience, really, how funny is that name for a man like Samuel to want? It’s exactly what he needs. He needs some patience. Even with that, they are fire together! This book is so unlike any other romance I’ve read. Wrath likes his sex and lots of it! It was an interesting read but something was off for me and I think it was mostly Wrath himself.

I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... my opinions.






The Elite Seven

7 AUTHORS.
7 STORIES.
7 DEADLY SINS.



Since 1942, The Elite Seven Society have created and guided influential leaders, molding the country into something better. This society was birthed by Malcom Benedict, II who wanted more for Americans.  More wealth.  More influence.  More power. Some leaders have the skills, but not the influence, and that simply wasn’t fair according to Mr. Benedict. He invested his own money and time to construct a society that bred the best of the best, year after year.
But to be the best, you must be ruthless.

Good leaders make sacrifices.  Sometimes the sacrifices are hard, but the rewards are plentiful.  Mr. Benedict made sure to indulge these leaders with their utmost desires.  A devout Catholic himself, he designed a society that rewarded his leaders with the sins that were frowned upon.  If they were giving up love and happiness and joy for the betterment of the country, they deserved something in its stead.
Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, and Lust.
Choosing leaders for this society means that it takes intense focus.  Only seven are to be selected, and the investments and time are showered upon the new seven chosen every four years.  The predecessors of each group of seven choose people who fit the sin that will mold them into who they are needed to be in the future—what America needs them to be.  This is after a detailed study of many potential candidates.  The university’s acting dean behaves as a liaison for the society bringing the college applicants to the predecessors so that the selection may begin.  The society members who are going out will bring forth a candidate that the society votes on and approves.

After they are chosen, the initiates are given a token and an invitation to initiation.  The initiation will be a test to their character and ability to do what’s right for the betterment of the society.  Once the initiates pass their test, they are discreetly branded with the mark of the society, and are groomed through challenges during the course of their elite education to breed them into the influential people they were meant to be.

Once in The Elite Seven, there is no getting out. The money and power are their reward. Should they choose to stray or break the rules, the society strips them of everything.  Anything they once had will be removed.  Opportunities will never arise.  They will no longer have the support of the society.  To this day, there have been no known occurrences of anyone from the society having to be banished.  This elite group of people are what every young man and woman aspire to be a part of.  While the group is a secret society, they are whispered about amongst the privileged folks in the country.  Anyone who is anyone knows of the group and secretly hopes it’s their son or daughter who are selected, for good fortune is showered on the family for decades to come.




Lust: NOW LIVE 


I was born with wealth, athletic ability, and looks that could melt the panties off a nun.

I had a clear path to success.

Until fate dealt me a cruel blow, leaving me empty and in need of purpose.

My only focus now is to become part of The Elite—a secret society in one of the most prestigious colleges in the world.

But everything comes at a price, and with The Elite, you have to earn your place.

Lucky for me, being sinful is in my DNA.

The only obstacle to full initiation is my task: seduce the un-seducible, the forbidden, and lure her with the sins of the flesh.

Easy for a man like me…in theory.

She started as my task, but what happens when the lines between lust and love blur, and the need for power rages war with the need for her?

Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak—they’re for The Elite.

This is my life, my chance, my legacy.

I am Rhett Masters.

I am Lust.

Purchase LUST by Ker Dukey NOW



Check out my Review for LUST





Pride: NOW LIVE 


The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

But who said the devil was a he?

In my world, she was out to cause havoc on all our lives.

She’ll use the one thing I care most about to control me—force me into her Elite world, filled with sin, deceit, and power. And under her spell, I’ll lead a sinister brotherhood of seven at one of the most prestigious universities in New Orleans.

Seven tasks set forth by the devil herself, promising nothing less than the forbidden fruit of power. What they don’t understand is it will all end in bloodshed and regret.

They call me the alpha. The one in charge. The one with pride bigger than any task I could be given. And my pride won’t let me be anywhere but at the top of the food chain until she gives me what I truly want.

My task is Meghan Thorne.

She’s too pure for me to touch, too good for me to ruin—and the only thing standing in my way to freedom.

Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak...they’re for The Elite.

As they say, pride comes before the fall.

I am Mason Blackwell.

I am Pride.

Purchase PRIDE By J.D Hollyfield NOW





Check out my Review for PRIDE




Wrath: NOW LIVE 

I’m a motherless son to a father who hates me. Fury has lived and breathed in my black heart for so long, it’s a part of my soul now. The only thing that’s ever mattered to me is protecting my twin sister, Sabella, from my father’s temper.

So when the chance to join a secret society presents itself, there’s no question I’ll do whatever it takes to become a member and earn my place in the ranks of only the most Elite.

With a taste for the deviant, I’m drawn to the darkest of desires, and no one ever leaves my bed unscathed.

My task: seduce Patience Noelle, St. Augustine’s sweetheart and the mayor’s beloved daughter—then break her heart.

Sinning is what I live for, and deviance is my passion. Failing has never been an option.

But what happens when my sin becomes my curse—when destroying the only woman I’ve ever wanted is my key to protecting my sister?

Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak...they’re for The Elite.

This isn’t just my chance, it’s my legacy and reckoning.

I am Samuel Gunner.

I am WRATH


Purchase WRATH by Claire C. Riley
Amazon US | Amazon UK
Amazon CA | Amazon AU 










Envy: Pre-order now available

It was temptation that broke the sinner.

People say I have everything.

They’re wrong.

I may have looks, money, and privilege, but I don’t have the one thing that really matters, the one thing I crave: a woman with eyes only for me.

I’m searching for my woman—one who will fall to her knees because I’m her king. She’ll wear the crown of my tarnished name, and long for me when I’m not near. And when I am close, she’ll be naked across my lap, feeling the sting of my palm across her milky skin.

You could say I’m a sinner because I’d do anything to have the perfect woman—compliant to my every need and whim—and I’m envious of every couple who walks around naive to the luxury they have.

That’s why I joined The Elite, the most prestigious brotherhood in the south.

It’s the one place that will give me what I cannot have.

Only…the task assigned to me is too much for my jealous eyes.

Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak...they’re for The Elite.

Those who envy have no peace.

My name is Sabastian Westbrook.

I am Envy.

Envy by M.N. Forgy
Pre-order now for instant Kindle delivery
Amazon US | Amazon UK
Amazon CA | Amazon AU 


 









Greed: Releasing April 8th


I was born into a world of darkness—one that never touched me when I was around my brother, Mason Blackwell. Leader of The Elite Seven. The thing about darkness, though, is it’s persistent. Eventually, it pushes itself into my life, penetrating my soul and leaving its stench latched to every vein, rooted inside every bone, and sunken into every pore. I thought I reached rock bottom when I fell in love with my brother’s best friend. My very own brand of drug with no comedown. My own nightmare I never woke from. But I was wrong. So very wrong. When I returned to New Orleans, I arrived as a shell of the girl they once knew. Put on a smile. Be the sweet innocent girl they remember.

I’m Evie Blackwell, hostage to my demons. Can the damned be saved?

I’ve done some unforgivable acts in my years, but I never asked for forgiveness. Nothing beats the feeling of wrapping my hand around someone’s throat and watching as their life bleeds down their cheeks. She was everything I should have stayed away from. The first night I saw her, I knew I was doomed—a slave to the girl with the pretty eyes and soft smile. The girl who turned out to be my best friend's baby sister. I couldn’t stay away. I had to be near her, even if it meant ruining her in the process. I wanted to wreck her, so I could piece her back together—a puzzle only I knew how to solve.

I’m Micah Dixon.

Greed.

I come for everything and get everything I come for—and I want all of her. But she’s changed, and so have I.

I’m much, much worse now…


GREED By Amo Jones


 











Gluttony: Releasing April 22nd


My life has been served to me on a gold platter to be devoured by my silver spoon.

Money, money, and more money. It’s the backbone of the Goddard name. I’m the only son, so it’s all mine for the taking.

But sometimes money isn’t enough. I always want more, yet nothing seems to satisfy me.

My father has made sure I become a part of The Elite Seven. Where most candidates are chosen, I was given my place. Everything comes at a price, though. Luckily, I can afford any price—no one has more money than God.

The Elite Seven have their initiations. My assignment is personal and beneath me: steal a car and send a warning. It’ll hurt my best friend in the process, but we both made a pact going into this. There’s no line we won’t cross.

My task makes an ugly turn and I nearly take a life. Such a small, unimportant person—someone no one would even notice was gone. She’s a problem my money and power can easily sweep under the rug.

It’s what my father wants. It’s what my brothers want. But when she finally opens those big, innocent brown eyes, I realize I’ve found what I’ve been searching for my entire life. I don’t want my little problem to disappear…I want to keep her.

Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak—they’re for The Elite.

Money is my legacy, but I want something money can’t buy.

I am Baxter Samuel Goddard V.

I am Gluttony.

GLUTTONY by K. Webster


 








Sloth: Releasing May 13th


I don’t give a fuck.

Not about money or fame, beauty or power. I’ve had all those things since birth, and trust me, they’re a fucking snooze.

I don’t give a fuck about anyone, not even myself.

Until my father proves evil can exist in the most holy of places. For the first time ever, something like interest stirs in my soul.

He wants me to enroll at St. Augustine.

Join The Elite.

Court the virginal daughter of Archbishop Savoie.

Prove to him I’m worth the family name.

I’ll do it all.

And I’ll do it so well, no one will know what’s coming. People are so quick to underestimate the wicked and lazy.

They forget idle hands are the best tools for the devil’s work.

I am Rush Dempsey.

I am Sloth.

SLOTH By Giana Darling






▼▼▼Click the image to enter!!▼▼▼







Thursday, May 3, 2018

BLOG TOUR: I Dare You by Ilsa Madden-Mills



Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills brings you a brand-new heartfelt, sexy contemporary romance with I DARE YOU is LIVE!

 
Bad Ass Athlete: I dare you to…
Delaney Shaw: Who is this?

The late night text is random, but "Bad Ass Athlete" sure seems to know who she is…

Delaney Shaw. 
Good girl.
Lover of fluffy kitties and Star Wars. 
Curious.

His dare? Spend one night in his bed—a night he promises will be unforgettable—and she can solve the mystery of who he is. 

She knows she shouldn't, but what else is she going to do with her boring Valentine's Day?

One sexy hook-up later, her mind is blown and the secret's out.

Maverick Monroe.
Bad boy.
The most talented football player in the country.
Just ask him.

Too bad for him Delaney's sworn off dating athletes forever after her last heartbreak.

But Maverick wants more than one night and refuses to give up on winning Delaney’s heart. She isn’t one to be fazed by a set of broad shoulders. 

After the semester ends, will the bad boy land the nerd girl or will the secrets they keep from each other separate them forever?


Download Today or Read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon Universal: http://mybook.to/IDareYou
      
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/IDareYouHookUp
Is it like totally weird that I love the title font on the cover so much? No?? You dig font's too... don't you!? What is it about them? Seriously, they can make or break a cover sometimes. They totally worked for this cover. Now I know this is classified as a sports romance but it didn't really FEEL like one. There almost seemed a disconnect between the innards of the book with the cover and blurb. It just didn't seem to fit the inside. It could just be me... I didn't remove any stars for these thoughts. Blurbs are super duper hard... I can't even imagine coming up with a few paragraphs to summarize a book... nope, no thanks!

This was such an adorably, cute and funny story! I love these nerdy girls tossed into sports romances. She was adorable. I totally felt connected to Delaney. She was my kind of girl! Ilsa Madden-Mills did a fantabulous job with Muffin... I mean, I can't be the only one who wanted to bitch smack her... right? Anywho, I so loved Ms. Madden-Mills story. It's light and fun and a perfect break from reading a ton of deep, emotional books!

I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... my opinions.






Excerpt

Prologue
Freshman year

Delaney


Welcome to Magnolia, Mississippi, where locusts are as big as your hand and iced tea comes with a double helping of sugar.
It’s also home to the best damn annual bonfire party at prestigious Waylon University, which is currently happening right now in the middle of a cotton field.
But…
I shouldn’t even be at this party.
It’s mostly for Greeks and jocks and popular people, yet here I am, a mere freshman, hanging out with my bubbly redheaded roommate, Skye.
“See?” she says as we take in the bonfire. “Isn’t this better than watching cat videos on a Saturday night? What do you want to do first?”
I sigh, feeling nervous. Ever since I moved here from North Carolina, I’ve been pushing myself to try new things. Might as well put a crazy college party on that list. “Let’s get a drink.”
She claps and excitedly replies, “Done. Alcohol at two o’clock.” We weave through the crowd, headed in that direction, and eventually we reach the bar, which is really just a long collapsible table someone set up. On top are various bottles of alcohol, and I grab the Fireball to pour shots. I’ve just tossed mine back and set down my cup when a prickling sensation washes over me, giving me goose bumps.
My gaze moves across the crowd, stopping on a tall guy with dark blond hair, broad shoulders, and a cocky smile. Aha. He’s been staring at me, and now that he’s caught, he raises his glass as a half-grin crosses his face.
I blush wildly as I adjust my black cat-eye glasses. I’m not used to such blatant male attention.
Skye—who’s followed the trajectory of my gaze—spits out part of her drink. “Oh my God, do you know who that is?”
“Obviously I should,” I say dryly.
Her mouth flops open. “You really need to get out more.”
My eyes drift back to him but keep moving as if I’m not staring. “So who is Mr. Hottie McParty Pants?”
“If you don’t know him, you don’t deserve to know. But, he’s H-O-T—like Chris Hemsworth hot. I dare you to flirt with him.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me, knowing full well that for some reason, I can’t resist a dare. Normally rather reserved, a dare gives me permission to be someone I’m not.
So does Fireball. I sling back another shot.
“I’ll bring you a donut every day for a week if you flirt with him,” she adds, watching me.
My ears perk up. “The ones with edible glitter?”
She nods, and I toss a quick glance back to him. Our eyes collide again, and a zing of connection fires between us. He has a strong, handsome face and a stance that has masculine written all over it. A smile tips up his full sensuous lips, and—
Two brunettes—twins, no less—approach him, one on either side, and wrap their arms around his waist. He smiles down at them. Oh. Well then.
I turn back to Skye and frown. “Player. Not interested.”
She waves her hands in my face. “He likes you—I saw it on his face.”
I snort. “Probably gas pains. Your dare is not accepted.”
We hear our names being called from the other side of the party and turn to take in the helmet-haired Martha approaching us, which is taking some time due to the fact that she’s wearing stilettos and a slinky halter dress. She carefully picks her way through the crowd, nudging people out of her way—sometimes rudely—as she focuses on us. Great.
“Incoming mean girl,” I mutter under my breath.
Like us, Martha Burrows is a freshman and lives on our floor. Rather full of herself, she announced within a week of meeting us that she’d no longer answer to anything but Muffin, a nickname she’d given herself.
She eyes us both, a look of superiority on her pretty face. “I didn’t know you two were invited to this little shindig. Obviously, I know all the right people, so I’m always invited.” Her gaze zeroes in on my outfit and she rears back. “What on earth are you wearing, Nerd Girl?”
“Clothes.” I stiffen at her name for me as I tug on my fitted Star Wars shirt and the pleated red miniskirt I made from a man’s shirt. My long pale blonde hair is up in curled pigtails, and I went a bit heavy-handed with the shimmery eye shadow and red lipstick. It’s not your typical look for WU—which is anything monogrammed—but I’m learning to ignore the raised eyebrows.
Skye, the peacemaker among us three, clears her throat and nods her head at the guy who’s been staring. “Delaney has an admirer, but she doesn’t know who he is.”
Martha-Muffin follows Skye’s gaze, eyeballing the mystery man over my shoulder. She gives me an exasperated look. “That’s Maverick Monroe, you idiot. He’s the biggest football star in Mississippi and the freshman recruit of the year. Word is, though, girls like you aren’t his type—not at all.” Her hand flicks a stiff honey-colored curl over her shoulder.
My teeth grind together. “Martha, if you think I care what you think about me and whether or not a quasi-famous football player is interested in me, then you are confused.”
Her lips tighten. “It’s Muffin now, and why do you have to use such big words? What does quasi even mean?” is her cutting reply.
Skye’s eyes get as big as saucers, and I assume it’s because Martha-Muffin and I are about to finally have it out. I can’t stand her, and she can’t stand me. We just…clash.
But that isn’t what has Skye in such a titter.
She points over my shoulder, and I get it.
It’s the person standing behind me, the one I can’t see. I feel a nervous sneeze coming on and—thank God—I somehow push it down.
A husky voice reaches my ears. “Quasi means seemingly or supposedly. What she means is I’m probably not a famous football player but rather one that’s been highly touted but is without merit.”
Oh, shit. The voice is rich and smooth with just enough southern drawl to make a girl swoon. He also sounds halfway intelligent.
I turn around slowly. Mr. Tall, Blond, and Football is right in front of me wearing a cocky smile.
How in the hell did he get over here so fast?
You know that moment when everything stops and the next breath you take is the first one of the rest of your life? That’s what it feels like as Maverick Monroe stares at me with his piercing blue eyes.
I glance down and take in the sculpted chest and hard biceps.
I look back up and see a chiseled jawline that’s defined and lined with a slight scruff. I see the thin pink scar that slices through his left eyebrow, and it does nothing to detract from his appeal.
He’s perfection.
He’s air.
Which I desperately need right now, because I can’t breathe.
He smirks, as if reading my mind, and I scramble to pull myself together. Someone calls his name—it’s a girl’s voice, probably one of those twins—but he doesn’t budge.
His eyes rove over my skirt, glasses, and lips. “The question is…do you even know what makes a good football player?”
“Nice hands?”
His lips twitch. “Hardly.”
“A tight end?” I smirk, feeling sassy…which is weird. I don’t know who I am right now, but it’s like my mouth has a life of its own, saying things I normally wouldn’t.
Martha-Muffin chokes on her drink at my remark and Skye watches me with glee, clearly excited that I have the attention of someone who is apparently very important at Waylon.
I put my hand on my hip. “The question is…why do I need to know?”
“You don’t. All you need to know is I’m the best.”
I suck in a little breath at his arrogance.
A guy walks past us and claps him on the shoulder. “Badass game last week, Mav. Rock on.”
“Thanks, man.” Maverick acknowledges the compliment and lifts his chin, his eyes never straying from mine.
“What position do you play?” I ask. “Quarterback?”
He smirks. “Middle linebacker—defense.”
“Sounds fancy.”
He laughs.
Skye, who’s been eavesdropping unabashedly, sighs with a dreamy expression on her face. “His stats are the best in the country.” She clears her throat. “I-I only know that because my brother is a huge fan, I swear.”
“Hi, Maverick,” Martha-Muffin says as she edges closer to him, nudging me out of the way with her sharp shoulders. “Remember me?”
He focuses on her. “No.”
She glowers. “I was in your dorm room with your roommate last week. You said hello to me.”
He shrugs. “A lot of girls come through. I can’t remember them all.”
Oh. My. God. He is arrogant, but I like how he just shut her down.
Martha-Muffin’s face reddens and she mutters something under her breath, flips around, and flounces off. Good riddance.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Skye is drifting away too, giving me a thumbs-up.
Whatever. I am not going to flirt with this guy…am I?
He’s definitely got something about him, something that makes my body buzz. I tilt my chin up, taking in how tall he is. He has to be at least six-four.
His gaze drifts over my face. “You know there’s a legend here at Waylon about our famous bonfire party?”
“Oh?”
He smiles, a flash of white on his handsome face. “Legend says the first person you kiss at the party is the one you’ll never forget. It might be years later, and still their face is the one you dream about.”
“Sounds like hocus-pocus.”
He lifts that mesmerizing left eyebrow. “I like to believe in legends—after all, I am one.”
I smirk. “Probably a game made up by some frat-boy-slash-jock wanting to kiss all the girls.”
He pauses for a moment as if thinking, and then he steps in closer, so close that I can see the varying shades of blue around his pupils. “May I?”
My heart does somersaults.
“May you what?” I ask, my voice low, but I know what he wants. My body is already leaning toward him, wanting it too.
“This.” He kisses me, an almost imperceptible touch as he brushes his full lips against mine. The contact of our mouths is electric, sparks of fire skating along my skin.
As if from a distance, I hear someone calling his name. It’s a female, and she’s pissed.
It’s one of the twins probably.
And I’m jealous.
But, I don’t look. We pull away, and I stare at him as he stares right back. A stillness settles over the party, although I don’t think anything’s actually changed. The music is still playing. People are still talking. Beers are being passed around.
Yet…
We’re connected.
Two stars in the black velvet sky.
Two ships passing in the night.
Oh, fuck, stop the nonsense, I tell myself.
“What was that?” I ask, my voice breathless.
“That’s your first kiss of the bonfire. Now you’ll never forget me.”
And then, before I can think of a reply, he’s gone.
I watch him go back to the twins, frustration coiling inside of me as I exhale.
It would be two years before I kissed him again.








About the Author 


 
Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills writes about strong heroines and sexy alpha males that sometimes you just want to slap. She's best known for her angsty, heartfelt new adult college romances. 

A former high school English teacher, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice; Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero. 

She's also addicted to frothy coffee beverages, Vampire Dairies, and any kind of book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females. 


Join her Unicorn Girls FB group for special excerpts, prizes, and snarky fun!


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