Review & Giveaway: Beauty and the Biker by Beth Ciotta
Beauty
and the Biker
Impossible
Dream Series, Book One
By:
Beth Ciotta
Releasing
Nov 3rd,
2014
Blurb
A
new contemporary series—Impossible Dream—celebrating hope, love,
and the magic of the human spirit!
Five long-time girlfriends—known as The Inseparables—find themselves in their thirties and battling disillusion. Tangled up in real-life troubles and stifled aspirations, they’re ready to ditch their deepest desires .. until they stumble upon the peculiar matchmaking company, “Impossible Dream,” where they each find the rare opportunity to make seemingly impossible dreams come true.
Five long-time girlfriends—known as The Inseparables—find themselves in their thirties and battling disillusion. Tangled up in real-life troubles and stifled aspirations, they’re ready to ditch their deepest desires .. until they stumble upon the peculiar matchmaking company, “Impossible Dream,” where they each find the rare opportunity to make seemingly impossible dreams come true.
A
series of modern-day fairytales beginning with . . . Beauty & the
Biker
PRINCE
CHARMING IS OUT THERE. SOMEWHERE.
Miracles
happen every day. Even in Nowhere, Nebraska. That’s Bella Mooney’s
philosophy and she’s sticking to it! A children’s librarian who
writes fairy tales on the side, Bella has earned the reputation of
fanciful Pollyanna. No surprise that she applied for her “ideal
man” via ImpossibleDream.com, an Internet company designed to make
dreams come true. However, even whimsical Bella has real-life issues,
forcing her to take drastic actions in order to spin her dad’s life
(and in turn her own) for the better. As fate draws her into the
troubling world of her new neighbor—a cynical biker with a scarred
soul and checkered past—Bella finds herself falling for the most
unlikely man, twisting her perceptions of true love and testing her
faith in dreams.
FATE
LANDED HIM IN NOWHERE.
Expect
nothing. Anticipate the worst. As a detective with the Chicago Police
Department, Joe Savage witnessed heinous crimes and acts of cruelty
on a daily basis, obliterating his faith in humanity. When a personal
vendetta cost him his job and a quirky inheritance offered escape,
Joe packed it in and steered his Harley toward a small town bordering
Tornado Alley and the Twilight Zone. Where better to lose himself
than Nowhere? Resigned to a dark and lonely existence, Joe’s life
is suddenly shoved into the sunshine when his eccentric neighbor
offers him a chance he can't refuse, especially after her kiss of
hope rekindles his dead heart. Inspired and challenged by Bella’s
infectious optimism, Joe dares to make the impossible come true.
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Excerpt
“Here’s
the deal,” Bella said, bursting with anticipation. Is he or is
he not a magical kisser? Because if he was, that was her sign.
“Carson—that’s my ex, except he hasn’t accepted that
fact—thinks he’s perfect for me.”
“What
do you think?”
She
didn’t want to detail her history with Carson. Admitting the
reasons behind her poor judgment and bemoaning his manipulative
pursuit were too personal. She’d glossed over the emotional aspects
with her closest friends. Why in God’s name would she share them
with a stranger?
Oddly
enough, she didn’t feel the same when it came to citing their less
than magical physical relations. Which only affirmed how impersonal
those relations were. Her cheeks burned, but the words flowed.
“Carson
doesn’t inspire earthquakes and fireworks, if you catch my drift.
Then again no one ever has. Not that there’ve been that many,”
she added. “I need to know it’s not me. That I’m not, I don’t
know, broken somehow. That I’m not expecting too much. That
there’s…hope. Don’t get a swelled head or any kinky thoughts,
but I think you’re gorgeous—in a menacing kind of way—and
fascinating. Like a tortured hero in a gothic novel. You make my
insides squishy. That’s a first. In real life anyway—as opposed
to going all soft for a fictional guy in film or literature. If you
can’t shake my world then, well…maybe I should settle for
Carson.”
“Are
you done?”
Blushing
profusely, Bella shied away. So much for derring-do.
Savage
caught her elbow and pulled her close. “Don’t get a swelled head
or any kinky ideas, but I think you’re beautiful—in an irritating
angelic way.” He stroked her cheek then threaded his hands through
her hair. “How old are you anyway?”
“Twenty-nine.”
“You
seem younger.”
“How
old are you?” she asked.
“Thirty-five.”
“You
seem older.”
His
mouth crooked, implying a sense of humor. Ideal quality #1. “Do
you want the earth to tilt?” he asked. “Or spin?”
It was
the kind of arrogance Carson flaunted every day. Only Bella suspected
Savage would make good on his offer. “You can do that?”
He
held her gaze, weaving a seductive spell with spine-tingling silence.
“Spin,
please,” she managed before the universe shimmied and glittered.
His
embrace was tender yet possessive. His mouth soft and teasing then
hard and demanding. This kiss… This. Kiss. Was
overwhelming. All consuming. It buzzed through her body, head to toe,
heart to soul.
Lost.
In a
magical kiss.
Bewitched.
Forever
and always.
She
curled her fingers into his shoulders, his hair. Holding tight as the
world spun off its axis.
She
responded to his touch, his heat, his need.
She
pressed against his body. Wanting more. Needing more.
His
desire was evident and pushed Bella over the edge. She imploded,
trembling with an aftermath of erotic sensations.
Orgasmic
nirvana.
Compliments
of a kiss.
Savage’s
kiss.
“You’re
not broken.”
His
words cut through her sensual haze. Bella grappled for reality and
balance. Heat suffused her cheeks as she bolstered her noodly limbs
and met his intoxicating gaze. Assaulted by physical yearning and a
riot of emotions, she could scarcely breathe. “Good. Great. Thank
you.”
She
backed out of his lethal embrace, willed dignity, and channeled the
Inseparables. Any one of her friends was worldlier than her. Try as
she might Bella couldn’t manage casual. Not when her heart and head
pounded with a united thought.
He’s
the one.
After
months of sadness and unrest, in the midst of multiple personal
trials, something good was happening. Unexpected and magical and
charmingly improbable.
Savage
dragged his hands over his face, through his hair. He looked sinfully
handsome, dark and dangerous, and absolutely miserable.
Probably
because her heart was in her eyes.
“I’ll
taint your world,” he said.
“I’ll
take my chances.”
Author
Info
Storytelling
comes naturally to award-winning author Beth Ciotta. Dubbed "fun
and sexy" by Publisher's Weekly, Beth specializes in writing
Romantic Comedy with a Twist of Suspense and is published in
contemporary, historical, steampunk, and paranormal romantic
fiction.
Beth
lives in NJ with her husband, two zany dogs, and a crazy cat. A
veteran professional performer, Beth now pours her artistic passion
into her writing. To learn more about her colorful life, visit her
website at www.bethciotta.com
Author
Links
Review
As a huge fan of Beth Ciotta's Cupcake Lover's series I was both really delighted and saddened that she was starting a new series. I love her Cupcake Lover's Series (you really should read them) and hated reading something new of hers. I shouldn't have worried, being the wonderful writer that she is, I was able to fall in love with a whole new series by her. Her Impossible Dreams Series has everything you've come to love about Ciotta's writing. Beauty & the Biker is well-written, with likable characters. You won't be able to help falling for both Bella and Joe. They both really need each other to balance out. Bella needs to feel like she's able to ride in and rescue her prince charming, and Joe is in need of rescuing. This is a wonderful start to a series I think you all going to love! Happy reading!
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Thank you for the wonderful review and feature, Ann!
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ReplyDeleteA good review. She is one of my favorite authors!
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