BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY - Chicago War: The Complete Series by Bethany Kris

Chicago War: The Complete Series

by Bethany-Kris

Chicago War #1-4

Publication Date: August 8, 2016

Genres: Organized Crime, Erotic Romance, Suspense

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Synopsis: The war began with the death of one person and would end with the killing of many more. Four families paint Chicago red as greed, hatred, secrets, and loyalties divide them to opposite ends of the city.

But in the midst of the fighting and bloodshed, there are those who struggle between love and famiglia.

They are the most dangerous of all.

They have everything to lose.

And no one will see them coming.

Chicago War: The Complete Series features the full-length novels,Deathless & Divided, Reckless & Ruined, Scarless & Sacred, and Breathless & Bloodstained.

Man oh man...the start of a beautiful series. The first book introduces you into this world of crime, drama and passion. Not only is there passion between couples but passion for the life they are all living. There are ups and downs in the life of the Chicago Outfit. The only way to survive is to follow the rules. Made up of four families, DeLucas, Trentinis, Contis, and Rossis, they are in control of Chicago. When the top boss is no longer the top, tensions rise to figure out who will be the leader overall. Although there is war, you can always find love in the mix. No matter what happens around them, they will all find ways to protect the ones they love. 

DEATHLESS & DIVIDED

The way Damian holds this protectiveness over Lily is one of the most romantic gestures in this series. Although placed in an arranged marriage, this enemies to lovers story. Damian has always had a connection to her but Lily didn't trust anyone. While that trust builds slowly throughout the book between them, love builds along the way. My favorite part of the story are the gestures Damian make to ensure Lily's happiness stays intact. You don't want to mess with him. 

RECKLESS & RUINED

Alessa and Adriano...I don't know where to start! So much unfolds in this book in the series. It's were everything starts getting really intense. Not only is there tension between all the families. There is a different tension between Alessa and Adriano. When they are in the same room...they don't have eyes for other people but each other. One look from Adriano will make Alessa weak at the knees. There love is so strong...nothing can pull them apart.

SCARLESS & SACRED

Theo is one attractive fella and Evelina balances out his nature so well. It doesn't matter how many problems they encounter, they will always find a way to get through the them together. Theo never thought he has the capability to love with the past he had. When Evelina came into his life...he just doesn't know how she can change him in the best possible ways.

BREATHLESS & BLOODSTAINED

Four years. Four years of sneaking around and staying hidden. A forbidden romance that can be used as a tactic if discovered. There is no possible way Tommas will ever let Abriella be used as a pawn in her family. All he wants for her is to be happy and he would do anything to make it happen. The attraction between the two is off the charts because the love is already there (even if it is not said). When love comes into play, the sexy scenes get quite steamy. Since they already have four years under their belt of discovering how their connection works as a couple, it just feels natural. All the anger from unfolding events will play a part of it. Their love is just as intense as the war happening around them.

FAMILY - THAT EPILOGUE!! 

The connections between all characters in the same generation (Damian, Lily, Theo, Evelina, Adriano, Alessa, and Tommas) are so beautifully written. I love how they are extremely close and continue to watch each others' backs. It feels like they are apart of one big family rather than four different families. They know each others' secrets and make sure to protect those who matter. While the older members in the families try to fight for the top seed, one of them has to put a stop to it all before the most important ones die.

** 5 CHICAGO WAR STARS **

#DIVIDED

#RUINED

#SACRED

#BLOODSTAINED

ABOUT BETHANY-KRIS

Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to three young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something … when she can find the time.

To keep up-to-date with new releases from Bethany-Kris, sign up to her New Release Newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bf9lzD

Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads • Pinterest • Mailing List • Amazon Author Page

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BOOK RELEASE REVIEW & EXCERPT - Wicked Sexy by J.T. Geissinger

 WICKED SEXY

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Publication Date: July 19, 2016

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW, PLAYLIST & GIVEAWAY - Thin Lines by Bethany-Kris

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Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Second Chance

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May 17th, 2016

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Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Sports, Humor

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Publication Date: April 5, 2016 

Genre: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary, Humor

BLOG TOUR REVIEW, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY - Cuff Me by Lauren Layne

CUFF ME

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Releasing on March 29th, 2016 

Forever: Grand Central

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Adult

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY - Breathless and Bloodstained by Bethany-Kris

BREATHLESS & BLOODSTAINED

The Chicago War, #4 

Bethany-Kris 

Publication Date: March 7, 2016 

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Erotic, Mafia

Purchase: Amazon (#FREE with #KindleUnlimited)

No war is won without a few bloodstains.

Tommas Rossi wants what belongs to him—he wants it bad. At thirty-years-old, he’s on course to become the youngest boss in the Chicago Outfit’s history. He just has to make it to the end alive. But being the boss of the Outfit means nothing to Tommas if a certain blue-eyed girl isn’t standing with him when the city finally crumbles. The crown is so close he can taste it. Blood paves his way. Every king needs a queen, but he doesn’t know how to get his anymore.

Abriella Trentini has always been the rebel. She’s quicker than most men, dangerous when she wants something, and more careful than anyone knows. Her relationship with Tommas Rossi has been a dangerous game she loved to play, but someone always has to lose. With choices to make, the kind that determines who will live and who will die, Abriella doesn’t know what to do. This should have been easy, but nothing ever is, and her time to choose is running out.

So much blood has spilled for this. The Outfit is in shambles, grieving and angry. The families just want peace. No one knows who will take the Chicago throne because too many men have a stake in this game. In wars like these, no one will let it go easily.

They’ll be bloodstained until the very bitter end.

And left breathless in the devastation of it all.

Has it been worth it?

*** Please Note: Breathless is the fourth book in a series and should only be read after the first three books have also been read. It is NOT a standalone.

THIS SERIES...I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! 

Mafia books have become my most recent obsession. It all started with J.J. McAvoy's Ruthless series and now Bethany-Kris has turned it up a notch. This series is a long and crazy journey for four different families who make up the Outfit: Rossi, DeLuca, Trentini, and Conti. The way Bethany-Kris intertwines characters within the Outfit is beautifully written. It all just works out perfectly. As the series progresses, the books just keep getting better and better. With all the messes that started in the beginning, Breathless and Bloodstained was a great way to end it all. It has to be my favorite. 

Thoughts:

PLOT LINE - The story starts where Scarless and Sacred left off. If you haven't read the series...go read it now! Once you start Deathless and Divided, you won't be able to stop because it you just want to know how the war ends. Which family will triumph over the other to be in control? Who will end up in the cross fires and die for their family? Most importantly: Will love conquer all? The plot line is a roller coaster ride of emotions filled with twists, secrets and surprises. It was all quick-paced because everything just flowed so smoothly. The mix of action and romance made the journey worth while.  This book follows Tommas Rossi and Abriella Trentini's story. The story we all have been waiting for since the beginning. Bethany-Kris has indeed "saved the best for last". 

CHEMISTRY - Four years. Four years of sneaking around and staying hidden. A forbidden romance that can be used as a tactic if discovered. There is no possible way Tommas will ever let Abriella be used as a pawn in her family. All he wants for her is to be happy and he would do anything to make it happen. The attraction between the two is off the charts because the love is already there (even if it is not said). When love comes into play, the sexy scenes get quite steamy. Since they already have four years under their belt of discovering how their connection works as a couple, it just feels natural. All the anger from unfolding events will play a part of it. Their love is just as intense as the war happening around them. 

FAMILY - THAT EPILOGUE!! The connections between all characters in the same generation (Damian, Lily, Theo, Evelina, Adriano, Alessa, and Tommas) are so beautifully written. I love how they are extremely close and continue to watch each others' backs. It feels like they are apart of one big family rather than four different families. They know each others' secrets and make sure to protect those who matter. While the older members in the families try to fight for the top seed, one of them has to put a stop to it all before the most important ones die. Tommas' personality fits the bill. He has the determination, courage, strength to fight for the ones he love. Especially his love for Abriella, it makes him fight even harder. On the end note, if I have to choose one favorite among the six, Damian is the one. He is like the protector of the family. If they need a job done, they can always rely on him. 

5 BREATHLESS STARS

EXCERPT

There were very few things in life that made a man worthy. Those things became lessened when a man was in the mafia. Instead of his value being counted in his actions and words, it was tallied by his deeds and possessions. It was determined by the number of men on his streets and the most red he could cover on a map to say he owned.

Tommas Rossi had always found it amusing how made men were called Men of Honor. There was nothing honorable about this life. The Outfit had forgotten honor a long time ago. Long before the war.

They breathed. They bled.

Life and death.

That’s all this life had ever been.

The one thing in his life that had kept Tommas honorable throughout the years was just a few steps ahead of him, but still out of reach.

Tommas tugged his jacket tighter around his neck, determined to keep the cold February air out. Even with it being the last days of the coldest month of the season, he knew the weather wouldn’t let up for another two. Probably. The bite of the wind was the only thing he seemed to feel lately. Maybe that was why he preferred to be outside rather than inside.

“No way,” a familiar voice said down the way.

Leaning around the lamp post, Tommas watched the two women walk arm in arm down the street. His eye caught the taller of the two and the dark waves of her hair that flew wildly in the wind. For a moment, he felt something else.

His heart splintered.

It was an agonizing crack.

He hated it.

But he loved her.

“Not at all?” Abriella asked.

“No, I want to make sure it’s all pale yellows and greens,” Alessa replied. “No pink. I hate pink. No dark blues, either. I don’t want to know the gender or make people think we do know what it is.”

Abriella’s laughter floated down to Tommas’ spot, traveling in the wind. It was a sweet sound, and one so familiar to him that it soothed the deep ache inside his chest. But not for long. It never lasted very long.

He hadn’t expected to see Abriella strolling out of the hospital with her sister in tow when he arrived to visit Theo. His plans to see the Capo had been forgotten while he followed the sisters down the street.

“I’m excited for you,” Abriella said.

Alessa tugged her sister closer. “Me, too.”

Tommas wondered if Abriella was smiling. The fact that he was the cause of her unhappiness lately, or the majority of it, sucked away what little soul he had left. People shouldn’t hurt those they loved.

God knew he had grown up in a home where that’s all he ever saw. His mother hating his father, and his father despising his mother. Violence. Drinking. Abuse.

Tommas wanted to be better than that, but then he’d went ahead and got himself mixed up with a girl eight years younger than his thirty years. Someone that the Outfit determined he couldn’t have because of her status and last name. And because he wasn’t good enough for her with his status or last name.

Fuck.

He knew better.

All those years ago?

Tommas wasn’t stupid, but it had been fun. Just simple, honest fun with a girl who tasted like trouble all over and gave him a whole new thrill that had nothing to do with the streets, being a Capo, or the mafia. Somewhere along the lines, fun with Abriella turned into a private apartment with her clothes in his closest, scarfs hanging off the bedpost, and her lotions in the bathroom.

It changed to comfort.

She seeped into his blood.

She infected him.

DON'T MISS THE FIRST 3 BOOKS IN THE CHICAGO WAR SERIES....

Damian Rossi and Lily DeLuca

DEATHLESS & DIVIDED by Bethany-Kris The Chicago War #1
Publication Date: September 7, 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Erotic, Romance, Suspense

Buy (#FREE with #KindleUnlimited): Amazon • PRINT

___

Adriano Conti and Alessa Trentini

RECKLESS & RUINED by Bethany-Kris The Chicago War #2
Publication Date: November 9, 2015
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Erotic, Organized Crime, Romance

Buy (#FREE with #KindleUnlimited!): Amazon • Print

___

Theo DeLuca and Evelina Conti

SCARLESS & SACRED by Bethany-Kris The Chicago Wars #3
Publication Date: January 11, 2016
Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Erotic,Adult, Organized Crime

Buy (#FREE with #KindleUnlimited): Amazon • PRINT

Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to three young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something … when she can find the time.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads 
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EARLY REVIEW & EXCERPT - That Thing Between Eli and Gwen by J.J. McAvoy

That Thing Between Eli & Gwen

By: J.J. McAvoy

Release Date: April 21, 2016

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, New Adult

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Synopsis:

Eli Davenport thinks he's found the perfect woman to be his wife. She's a doctor, like he is. She's brilliant, like he is. And she's wealthy, like he is.

Guinevere 'Gwen' Poe thinks her fiance is the perfect man. He's handsome, successful and he was her first...

But when Eli's bride runs off with Gwen's fiance on his wedding day, they are left to pick up the broken pieces of each other...

REVIEW

You just don't know what to expect when you pick up a J.J. McAvoy novel. She is one of those authors who can dip their toes into anything and it would still be amazing. She wrote a badass mafia series (Ruthless) with one of the most powerful book couples EVER. A forbidden romance (Black Rainbow) filled with so much tension, you can slice a knife through it. A twisted romance (Sugar Baby Beautiful) leaving you with a WTF just happened moment. And most recently, a second chance, suspense romance (Child Star) full of secrets, taking you on a roller coaster ride of emotions.

How will she up her game this time around? 
That Thing Between Eli & Gwen is not her usual action packed, suspenseful, thriller romances. Oh no...it's more of a romantic comedy. But don't let this turn you away! J.J. McAvoy always has a couple tricks up her sleeve and I loved it as much as the others.

Eli Davenport - A hot-shot neurosurgeon, who plans everything, ready to tackle whatever life throws at him.

Guinevere Poe - A rebel artist, who goes with the flow of the world, not caring what people think.

Two people from different ends of the spectrum, brought together by an unfortunate circumstance.

How do you move forward from an abruptly broken relationship? A relationship you thought would last forever? 

You just do. You move ahead, letting time pass you by, not caring what people think, and avoiding anything that makes you think about your ex. But at the same time, you still have a hard time of finally letting them go. 

Eli and Gwen began with the same experience, which blossomed into something unexpected:

1.) They were strangers at a wedding, left at the alter and in the crowd by the people they loved. 

2.) They became enemies, hating how the other reminded them of their ex.

3.) They became friends, calling each other on their BS and truly understanding how the other feels. 

4.) They became lovers, finding comfort and opening up to the aspect of loving again.

Thoughts:

THE CONNECTION. That connection between Eli and Gwen was beautifully written. You do not only feel it between the characters. You also build it with the characters as they try to find a way to move forward. That connection was filled with banter that will make you smile, gestures that will make you swoon, and surprises that will make your heart hurt (in both ways, good and bad). And let's not forget about the steam. Although I did find couple parts a bit cliche, their romance was just as sweet as it was sexy. 

THE OTHER CHARACTERS. It's not only about the main characters! Eli and Gwen each have a unique set of relationships with their family and friends. Family who help you understanding of how Eli and Gwen become who they are. Friends will make you laugh and wish their stories can be told. Secondary characters just add a little something extra to the plot when you need it. 

THE STORY. It just flowed perfectly. From one scene to another, you want to keep reading until you reached the end. But when you do reach the end, you don't want it to end. You just wish J.J. McAvoy would write a sequel so you can read more about Eli and Gwen. 

5 STARS - I LOVED IT

Excerpt

Gwen

“Wow, she’s beautiful,” I whispered as the bride walked up the aisle, her makeup flawless to the point that her skin glowed. Her soft, honey-gold hair shined and her strapless heart-shaped dress clung to her every curve. Her blue eyes filled with unshed tears as she held her roses tightly, walking slow and steady. For a quick second I thought I saw her glance over to us.

I hope I look half as good as her on my wedding day, I thought, my eyes never off her as she made her way to the front.

It passed in a blur. One moment the pastor was saying something, and the next, Bash was no longer holding my hand.

“Hannah,” he called out, moving to the center of the aisle.

She looked toward him, looked to her groom, and then back at Bash.

My Bash. What…

“Don’t, Hannah.”

What…is…this…?

“Hannah,” Bash called to her.

Stop! My mind screamed.

But, to my horror, she let go of her groom’s hands and ran toward Bash.

I couldn’t breathe. I was up, knocking over my chair. “BASH!” I yelled.

But they were already running…hand in hand.

...

Eli

I stood in front of all our family and friends with Logan to my left. Finally the music started, and my gaze shot toward the doors of the mansion, waiting for them to open. I had known she would be beautiful, but she was absolutely radiant.

God, I’m so lucky.

With every step she took, the grin on my face grew, until her hand was in mine.

“You look beautiful,” I whispered.

She smiled, but didn’t say anything in return. In that instant, as the pastor began to speak, all the moments we’d ever shared together played in my mind: the very first time we met…our first operation together…first kiss…first night… Everything ran though my mind like a movie, the highlights of our life.

And this is just the beginning of so much more. Today is—

“Hannah,” someone called.

Hearing her name pulled me from thoughts. My head snapped to the man standing in the aisle with his hand outstretched to my soon-to-be-wife.

“Sebastian?” Logan questioned beside me.

Sebastian… The man calling out to my Hannah was Sebastian Evans, one of Logan’s closest friends. We weren’t close, but I knew of him.

“Hannah,” he called again.

Enough! My mind hollered as I took a step forward, but it was too late.

Hannah released my hand. She let go and never looked back as she ran toward him.

I stood there, too shocked to move or speak. That moment was hell on earth.

J. J. McAvoy first started working on Ruthless People during a Morality and Ethics lecture her freshman year of college. X number of years later, she is an insomniac who has changed her major three times, and is a master in the art of procrastination. If you ask her why she began writing, she will simply tell you “They wanted to get their story out.”

She is currently working on her next novel . . . so please bug her on Twitter @JJMcAvoy

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