Release Blitz & Review::: Talon by Carian Cole
Title: Talon
Series: Ashes & Embers #4
Author: Carian Cole
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: November 24, 2015
Blurb
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL PARTNER:
Caring. Hard-working. A devoted family man, loves kids.
Clean cut, funny, smart, quiet, but a good communicator.
~ Asia Jenson
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL PARTNER:
Independent. Tall, blonde, sexy. Outgoing. Intelligent,
neat. Unslutty. Confident. Loves to travel. Committed.
~ Talon Valentine
A SOCIAL EXPERIMENT.
The concept was scary but exciting...
Marry a total stranger.
Live together for six months.
Journal everything. (Feelings. Fights. All of it.)
After six months, we each get $50K in trade for our journals, whether we stay married or not. But the goal is to commit to the experience and see if the relationship experts could put together the perfect matches.
I have never been lucky in love. This was my chance to find my soulmate.
I couldn’t wait to meet the man the experts felt was perfect for me.
My hopes were immediately dashed when I saw him at the altar.
Shit. I married my worst nightmare.
Right?!
5 of 5 Hearts
First, I want to say that I LOVED THIS STORY SO DARN MUCH!! I WANTED TO CRY WHEN IT ENDED.
The originality of this story completely sucked me in and consumed me. For two very different people to think they want one thing in life only to realize that a social experiment proved they had no idea what they really wanted. The experiment was to marry and absolute stranger based on questions you answered honestly about yourself and be matched with who they thought your best partner in life would be.
Carian Cole’s writing was superb. I loved how she told the story from both Talon and Asia’s eyes. She would give us a little overlap of what we would really want to know about how the other felt but she kept this story moving forward. Never did I feel like I was rereading the same thing from the other character. She showed us just how amazing something could be if we just give life a chance and change up our daily routines. If we just look past what we think we want or need.
For her leads this was harder than what they thought it would be but over time learned they loved getting to know the other person. Yes, there are setbacks and struggles when you do not know the other person, but the reward of finding someone to love and accept you for you outnumbers the bad days.
The story starts off with Talon Valentine, a sexy tattooed rocker who is known just as much by his talents in the bedroom than he is by is skills on the stage. The only issue is he is sick and tired of the meaningless sex and wants something more. I adored Talon’s sweet side. He could be an absolute gentleman. Talon’s love for his family and friends really showed the true person he was and helped his new wife Asia understand him more.
I loved Talon so much!! Yes, he could be such a stubborn little sh*t. But he was so loving and caring when he wanted to be. He wanted what his parents and grandparents have, he just did not realize how much work it took to maintain that love and understanding. I swear to you Talon made me swoon constantly once he devoted his all to Asia.
Talon relied on input from his family. He really wanted their input and to know if what he was going through was normal. I loved how all the supporting characters weaved throughout the story. It made this story so much more enjoyable. The love and banter we see is perfect.
Talon’s nickname for Asia was so stinking cute. Every time he called her Jelly Bean I smiled. I could not help it. His description of her eyes was so sweet.
Here is a taste of how sweet Talon could be.
“No, but it changes who we are together,” I grab her hand to stop her fingers from nervously circling on her leg. “Together, we’re supposed to be better.’
What the fuck just came out of my mouth?
The first time Talon goes on tour after they are married showed just how far they had come. I loved their good bye.
“Be the spastic wife, baby. It f**kin’ rocks.”
Asia never knew what love was supposed to be or feel like. She had a terrible childhood. She did not want Talon to break her apart like her family had. She was the loner that no one ever wanted. Her struggle with loving Talon pulled on my heartstrings. This girl was freaking talented and so easy to love. It just took Talon awhile to get her to see how amazing she really was. When Asia finally let down her walls, I grinned like a fool. She learned what her and Talon needed.
I do not want to give away the ending of the story. But I love that Carian Cole added in some realistic issues that couple must deal with. Life is not always roses and butterflies. There are some serious things these two must work through and conquer together to survive their marriage. And it is hard to let people in when we are not used to doing it.
I will say that this book will go on my favorites forever. I need this baby on my bookshelf like yesterday. The next time I read this story, I want it to be in paperback.
5 out of 5 stars!!!!!!!!!
Romance! That’s the one word that best describes this novel! I read a lot - like 3 or more books a week on average - and lately it seems like the books are all about the sex and the billionaire flaunting everything for the girl, and not really about the love story or the connections the characters make. Ms. Cole did an amazing job of creating characters who were flawed and yet perfect. Asia was definitely from a different world than Talon and yet they found connections and traits in each other they didn’t know they needed -- or even wanted.
The way that they come together is a cool and unique (at least to me) concept and I think it flowed through the entire novel with doubts and strengths and coming together and pulling apart. This story was nowhere near long enough for me -- I could read forever about these two. I have a serious heart ache right now that their story is done and I won’t be able to keep up with them much.
I love that they are both new to relationships and both say some of the cutest things -- even if only in their heads. This quote from Talon’s POV made me laugh out loud:
Butterflies. I’m way beyond ****ing butterflies with her. I feel like I”ve got pterodactyls taking up residence inside me.
And Asia was no different. Her first encounter with Talon went something like this in her head:
This is not my dream man. This is like rock star hippie Tarzan.
Before this book, I read Lukas by Ms Cole, too. Talon is so swoon-worthy -- just like Lukas -- and he makes me want to read Vandel & Storm’s books, too. I need this whole collection and the chance to hug Ms Cole and tell her just how amazing I think her characters are. They definitely stick with me long after I finish the books.
Give this book a chance and I really, really don't think you’ll be disappointed.
Purchase Links
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1Icw8o5
Excerpt
At first she doesn't even know I'm there, and I have the pleasure of seeing her lying back, her eyes closed, one leg bent up and peeking out from the bubbles. And damn those fucking bubbles, they're covering everything else.
The universe is doing everything it can to prevent me from seeing my wife naked. I would laugh at that fact if it didn't bug me so damn much. I'm pretty sure karma is slapping me in the face for insulting her so many times, and karma is a bitch who has no fucks to give about my blue balls.
Her eyes suddenly snap open and she jumps when she sees me, water splashing around her.
"Tally, you scared the shit out of me. Why are you creeping around?" She crosses her arms over her chest and a few bubbles float up in the air. I love that my childhood nickname just slipped out of her mouth without her even realizing it. It sounded so intimate on her lips that I want to hear her say it again and again.
"I wasn't creeping; I just walked in. Should I wear a bell around my neck like the Princess?" I lean against the doorframe and gaze at her in the candlelight, her skin dewy from the moist heat, and I can't understand why she doesn't want me in that tub with her.
"What are you doing in here?"
I cross the room and kneel down next to the tub, taking in the way her eyes shift to my naked chest.
"I wanted to see your bath bomb in action." My eyes travel languidly down the length of her in the tub and catch glimpses of pink water under the bubbles.
"This one is actually a bubble bomb. See the bubbles?" She lifts her hand and blows the bubbles up over my head.
I grab her hand and bring it to my lips. "I see that. Pink water, too. Very pretty." I close my eyes as I kiss her hand, tasting the sweet water on her. "What flavor are you tonight? It's yummy."
She swallows and I can feel her hand trembling ever so slightly in mine. "It's cotton candy."
I nod my approval. "I like it. A lot."
She shifts in the water, lowering the leg that was up and raising the other, giving me a quick glimpse of her thigh as she does so.
"Do you think about me when you're in here?" I ask her, releasing her hand so I can dip my fingers into the warm water.
"I think about you all the time."
My heart does a funny lurch I'm pretty sure it ain't never done before. "Well, that's just about the best thing I've ever heard."
I let my hand slide farther into the water until it's gliding over her outer thigh under the bubbles. "The water feels slippery," I comment. "So does your skin."
"It's from the oils."
Stretching my other arm out along the edge of the tub, I lean toward her face. "I like how it feels. I should be in there with you, all slippery and wet."
"You're too big," she murmurs, locking her eyes on to mine.
Laughing, I kiss her vanilla flavored lips. "I'm gonna ignore that big comment, baby."
She smiles against my mouth. "You're so bad."
"I know… So, I'm going to have to do this the hard way, then. Since I can't get in there." I slide my hand farther down her leg, over her knee to her calf, squeezing gently.
"Do what?"
"Give you your first orgasm."
A small gasp of surprise comes out of her, and a seductive little grin graces her lips. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I've had orgasms before."
"Not from me." I rub my nose along hers, feeling her breath against my face. "And that's gonna change right now, Mrs. Valentine."
I cup the back of her head with one hand and press my mouth to hers, licking her lips while slowly dragging my other hand up the inside of her leg beneath the water to finally brush my fingers gently across her lower lips. I silently curse the water for not letting me feel her wetness.
Her mouth opens to mine and I delve my tongue inside, tasting the heat of her breath and catching the sweet moan she lets out when I push my finger into her warmth. Her thighs part and her hand comes up out of the water to caress my cheek as I let my hand own her, my thumb rubbing her pulsing clit while I slip my fingers in and out of her. My cock throbs like mad in my shorts, begging to get into her. Holy fuck, is she tight. Three years of no sex is very, very good.
Her thighs squeeze my hand and she grasps the side of my neck, her breath panting against my mouth, and I know she's there already. I really want to drag this out, tease her and make her crazy, but that seems cruel right now when she's writhing her hot little core all over my hand and devouring my lips. I like little horny Asia. A lot.
I want to pull her out of the tub and take her right here on the floor and put an end to this madness, but I'm hell-bent on sticking to my promise to her, even if my dick hates me.
Her walls clench and drench around my swirling fingers up inside her, while the rest of her body arches up, pressing against me, her muscles tightening and quivering. I kiss her softly as she recovers from the first of many sexual escapades I have planned for her now that the doors have been opened, so to speak.
"Who's my girl?" I whisper against her ear, moving my hand up to caress her stomach.
"Me," she answers breathlessly
"That's right."
The universe is doing everything it can to prevent me from seeing my wife naked. I would laugh at that fact if it didn't bug me so damn much. I'm pretty sure karma is slapping me in the face for insulting her so many times, and karma is a bitch who has no fucks to give about my blue balls.
Her eyes suddenly snap open and she jumps when she sees me, water splashing around her.
"Tally, you scared the shit out of me. Why are you creeping around?" She crosses her arms over her chest and a few bubbles float up in the air. I love that my childhood nickname just slipped out of her mouth without her even realizing it. It sounded so intimate on her lips that I want to hear her say it again and again.
"I wasn't creeping; I just walked in. Should I wear a bell around my neck like the Princess?" I lean against the doorframe and gaze at her in the candlelight, her skin dewy from the moist heat, and I can't understand why she doesn't want me in that tub with her.
"What are you doing in here?"
I cross the room and kneel down next to the tub, taking in the way her eyes shift to my naked chest.
"I wanted to see your bath bomb in action." My eyes travel languidly down the length of her in the tub and catch glimpses of pink water under the bubbles.
"This one is actually a bubble bomb. See the bubbles?" She lifts her hand and blows the bubbles up over my head.
I grab her hand and bring it to my lips. "I see that. Pink water, too. Very pretty." I close my eyes as I kiss her hand, tasting the sweet water on her. "What flavor are you tonight? It's yummy."
She swallows and I can feel her hand trembling ever so slightly in mine. "It's cotton candy."
I nod my approval. "I like it. A lot."
She shifts in the water, lowering the leg that was up and raising the other, giving me a quick glimpse of her thigh as she does so.
"Do you think about me when you're in here?" I ask her, releasing her hand so I can dip my fingers into the warm water.
"I think about you all the time."
My heart does a funny lurch I'm pretty sure it ain't never done before. "Well, that's just about the best thing I've ever heard."
I let my hand slide farther into the water until it's gliding over her outer thigh under the bubbles. "The water feels slippery," I comment. "So does your skin."
"It's from the oils."
Stretching my other arm out along the edge of the tub, I lean toward her face. "I like how it feels. I should be in there with you, all slippery and wet."
"You're too big," she murmurs, locking her eyes on to mine.
Laughing, I kiss her vanilla flavored lips. "I'm gonna ignore that big comment, baby."
She smiles against my mouth. "You're so bad."
"I know… So, I'm going to have to do this the hard way, then. Since I can't get in there." I slide my hand farther down her leg, over her knee to her calf, squeezing gently.
"Do what?"
"Give you your first orgasm."
A small gasp of surprise comes out of her, and a seductive little grin graces her lips. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I've had orgasms before."
"Not from me." I rub my nose along hers, feeling her breath against my face. "And that's gonna change right now, Mrs. Valentine."
I cup the back of her head with one hand and press my mouth to hers, licking her lips while slowly dragging my other hand up the inside of her leg beneath the water to finally brush my fingers gently across her lower lips. I silently curse the water for not letting me feel her wetness.
Her mouth opens to mine and I delve my tongue inside, tasting the heat of her breath and catching the sweet moan she lets out when I push my finger into her warmth. Her thighs part and her hand comes up out of the water to caress my cheek as I let my hand own her, my thumb rubbing her pulsing clit while I slip my fingers in and out of her. My cock throbs like mad in my shorts, begging to get into her. Holy fuck, is she tight. Three years of no sex is very, very good.
Her thighs squeeze my hand and she grasps the side of my neck, her breath panting against my mouth, and I know she's there already. I really want to drag this out, tease her and make her crazy, but that seems cruel right now when she's writhing her hot little core all over my hand and devouring my lips. I like little horny Asia. A lot.
I want to pull her out of the tub and take her right here on the floor and put an end to this madness, but I'm hell-bent on sticking to my promise to her, even if my dick hates me.
Her walls clench and drench around my swirling fingers up inside her, while the rest of her body arches up, pressing against me, her muscles tightening and quivering. I kiss her softly as she recovers from the first of many sexual escapades I have planned for her now that the doors have been opened, so to speak.
"Who's my girl?" I whisper against her ear, moving my hand up to caress her stomach.
"Me," she answers breathlessly
"That's right."
My girl. The last thing I thought I would ever want, and now, all I could ever want.
Also Available
99c
Author Bio
I have a passion for the bad boys, those covered in tattoos, sexy smirks, ripped jeans, fast cars, motorcycles and of course, the sweet girls that try to tame them and win their hearts. My debut series, Ashes & Embers, follows the lives of rock band members as they find, and sometimes lose, the loves of their lives.
Born and raised a Jersey girl, I now reside in beautiful New Hampshire with my husband and our multitude of furry pets and spend most of my time writing, reading, and vacuuming.
Author Links
Giveaway
0 comments