Book Review: Exposing the Heiress by Jennifer Apodaca

Exposing the Heiress
(Once a Marine Series, Bk #3)
by Jennifer Apodaca

Blurb:
This Marine will protect her at all costs...

When wealthy heiress Alyssa Brooks finds out her stepfather has been paying her fiancé to marry her, she's humiliated and betrayed. She quickly breaks the engagement, only to be blackmailed by her now ex-fiancé, who threatens both Alyssa and the son she gave up for adoption. With nowhere to go, she turns to the one man she can trust.

Former Marine sniper Hunter Reece's lethal skills could save Alyssa's life. But his little sister's best friend has turned into a woman, who is an irresistible mix of secrets and sexiness. And while Hunter can trust himself to protect her, he can't trust himself to keep his attraction hidden...or even pretend to be the man that Alyssa remembers.

Because the only way to keep the lovely heiress safe is to become the one thing he knows she could never love...a killer.

Available for purchase at

         

Viviana's Review:
Though this is the third book in the "Once A Marine" series, it can be read as a standalone. Always a good thing in the event this one catches your eye first! However, you will not want to miss out on the previous installments as they are awesome!

There are several tropes in this one story.... the "girl having a crush on the friend's older brother" or the other way around "Hero has crush on little sister's BFF", "child given up for adoption", "ex blackmailing Heroine", and "the man set to protect the heroine falls for her" are just a few of them. There are one ore two more, but don't want to give you any spoilers. These tropes make the story a tad predictable. A bit of a shame because I've eagerly awaiting the next installment for what seemed like forever!

With that said, this is where Jennifer's writing style shines through.... Hunter is man still working through the darkness that was his past job. The job that saved countless lives is now costing him a life of his own. He uses his art as a way to cope with the darkness but doesn't let anyone see this side of himself.  Alyssa has blamed herself for the death of her mother years ago and in an effort to make amens, continues to work for the company her mother built even if that isn't what she wants to do. As the blurb says she finds out that her stepfather has paid her fiancé to marry her, she breaks off the engagement and the ex is now blackmailing her, but there is more to that story you find out towards the end of the book. As the story continues, you find out more about Alyssa's past and what her true passions are (work wise). In between all this, Hunter and Alyssa are fighting the attraction they obviously feel for each other. However, you know how that is going to turn out, this is a romance novel after all. I really did enjoy them opening up to each other and the parts where they are becoming friends and learning more about one another.

I would have enjoyed the story more if the last trope (not going to tell you) would not have been included. I don't think it was necessary. Also his reaction wasn't one that I thought he would have had, not after everything that had gone on between them.

This is definitely still a great series and on that I'm going to continue to read. Aside from the tropes that made the story predictable,  Jennifer's writing of the character's struggle and their interactions makes you want to read this story!

 Rating; 3.5 Stars - I Liked It A Lot

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Entangled Publishing,  Entangled Ignite via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

Guest Post: Exposing the Heiress by Jennifer Apodaca

I'm extremely excited to have author Jennifer Apodaca with us today talking about her latest release EXPOSING THE HEIRESS! Welcome!! 

Audio Book Lovin' Presents: Guest Post with Jennifer Lyon + Giveaway

Kelly, from Books-n-Kisses and I are extremely excited to have Jennifer Lyon aka Jennifer Apodaca with us today! 

Choosing A Narrator

Thank you to Viviana and Kelly for having me here today! I’m excited to share with you my

experience of putting the three books in my Plus One Chronicles Series, The Proposition,

Possession and Obsession into audio books.

For me, second only to the story and writing, the most important component of an audio book is
the narrator. Through Audible.com I had several narrators audition using a short excerpt from my
manuscript. I chose a sexy scene with dialogue from both the hero and heroine so that I could

1) How does the narrator handle male and female voices?  This can be tricky – some
narrators switch with natural ease. But for others, doing the opposite sex voice can sound harsh and unnatural, jarring the listener out of the experience.

2) These books are erotic and I wanted to make sure the narrator sounded natural in the sex scenes and using the language. I needed to feel like I was in the character’s head, not being read a script. Just as important, I needed to be able to work with the narrator on erotic material with professionalism. I had one narrator who auditioned also contact me through social media with some adolescent type comments about how hot my book was for him to read. I crossed that narrator of my potential list immediately.

3) Performance Quality. The narrator I chose, Ryan Hudson, is an actor who has appeared in movies and done voiceovers for commercials (under another name). He did a good job of interpreting the story while in the character’s point of view. It really felt to me like I was experiencing it with the character.

4) Someone who will do corrections and work with me on any issues that come up. Ryan was fantastic about that, very professional. I actually only had a few corrections for him, and he did them promptly. I really appreciated that. After about ten auditions in total, it came down to two narrators. But ultimately it was Ryan’s voice and talent made the choice very easy for me. He ticked all the boxes and frankly, has one of the sexiest voices I’ve heard yet. I really had a good experience working with him.

But like all things, this was a learning curve for me. The one thing I wish I’d done better was to have all three books recorded and released at the same time, or at least closer together. I started slow, having Ryan do only the first book to see how well we worked together. In retrospect that was a mistake, as the first two books in the series, The Proposition and Possession end on cliffhangers and that really frustrated listeners. By the time I contracted Ryan to do the next two books and he could get them in his schedule, I ended up with a time lag of months between the books. That really wasn’t fair to listeners chomping at the bit to get the next book. But I learned from the experience, and if I ever put a cliffhanger-type series in audio again, I will absolutely release the books as close together as possible.

One fun note about my experience with audio books: I discovered that listening to my sex scenes is a vastly different experience from reading them. Whoa, it feels a lot more personal and intimate. While Ryan handled the scenes wonderfully, I had a hard time listening to them to proof for mistakes. My husband thought it was hilarious that I can write the scene but blushed when I listened to them in an audio book.

THANK YOU Jennifer for being part of our Audio Book Lovin' series and sharing with us your experience with selecting a narrator!! Friends, you can learn more about Jennifer below and that includes where to find her and she has a fabulous giveaway for you all! Kelly and I also have a giveaway that is running throughout the month of June! Make sure to enter by scrolling below! 

About The Author

Jennifer Lyon, who also writes as Jennifer Apodaca, lives in Southern California where she continually plots ways to convince her husband that they should get a dog. After all, they met at the dog pound, fell in love, married and had three wonderful sons. So far, however, she has failed in her doggy endeavor. She consoles herself by pouring her passion into writing books. To date, Jen has published more than fifteen books and novellas, including a fun and sexy mystery series and a variety of contemporary romances under the name Jennifer Apodaca. As Jennifer Lyon she created a dark, sizzling paranormal series, and The Plus Once Chronicles, an emotionally sensual adult contemporary series. Jen’s won numerous awards and had her books translated into multiple languages, but she still hasn’t come up with a way to persuade her husband that they need a dog.

You can find Jennifer at 

            

Author Giveaway

Today I’m giving away one full set of the three audio books in my Plus One Chronicles series, The Proposition, Possession and Obsession, and a bonus audio book of The Baby Bargain under my other name of Jennifer Apodaca. (Please note, I must be able to deliver the audio books to the winner through Audible.com. You may have to sign up to pick up your audiobooks.) To enter, just tell me if like listening to audio books.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal Blitz: Exposing the Heiress by Jennifer Apodaca

Exposing the Heiress 

(Once a Marine series, Bk #3)
by Jennifer Apodaca

Blurb:

This Marine will protect her at all costs…

When wealthy heiress Alyssa Brooks finds out her stepfather has been paying her fiancé to marry her, she's humiliated and betrayed. She quickly breaks the engagement, only to be blackmailed by her now ex-fiancé, who threatens both Alyssa and the son she gave up for adoption. With nowhere to go, she turns to the one man she can trust.

Former Marine sniper Hunter Reece's lethal skills could save Alyssa's life. But his little sister's best friend has turned into a woman, who is an irresistible mix of secrets and sexiness. And while Hunter can trust himself to protect her, he can't trust himself to keep his attraction hidden...or even pretend to be the man that Alyssa remembers. 

Because the only way to keep the lovely heiress safe is to become the one thing he knows she could never love...a killer.

Release Date: 

August 8th 2015 

Published by Entangled Publishing: Ignite

Once a Marine Series

Available for purchase at 

            

Available for purchase at 

          

About the Author 

Award winning author Jennifer Apodaca grew up in Southern California and met her very own hero at the dog pound. She worked there, he came in on business, and it was puppy love. They married and had three wonderful sons.

While her husband worked on his master’s degree, Jen did the mom thing by day and went to college at night with the intention of pursuing a marketing degree. But her true passion was writing. With time at a premium, she had to make a choice.

Choosing writing, and with the full support of her husband, she poured herself into her dream. A mere eight years later, she published her first book DATING CAN BE MURDER. In her career, Jen has written a fun and sexy mystery series and a variety of contemporary romances. Taking the pen name of Jennifer Lyon, she also created a dark, sizzling paranormal series, and most recently, The Plus One Chronicles, an emotional and sexy adult contemporary series.

Jen has achieved many of her dreams except for attaining a self-cleaning house, a latte delivery service, and finding the holy grail of nonfattening wine and chocolate. She can live with those disappointments as long as she can keep writing the stories she loves to share with readers.

Find Jen at:

    

Coffee Shop Talks #64: Guest Post

What a great start to the week as I get to hang out with the fabulous ladies of the Coffee Shop Talk Series:  Danielle (Coffee and Characters) and Cat and Jamie (Addicted 2 Heroines) and Traci (Mad Hatter Reads)! Let me start by saying these are fantastic peers who I highly recommend you follow (via their blog or social medias) and get to know!! A little about COFFEE SHOP TALKS... the inspiration came to Daniel from Giselle at Xpresso Reads's meme Book Girls Don't Cry...They Vent, and from this Coffee Shop Talks was born and occurs every Monday!!! They get together and chat about books (surprised? LOL) and bloggish related topics! I'm excited to be their guest for this week!

This week topic:

Favorite book I read in July

Ohh Man! That is a tough question!! I'm currently rereading the Mageri Series by Dannika Dark via audio books... Does that count? LOL This series is AWESOME and so a "reread" one! The narrator has done a fantastic job of giving each character their own unique voice and allowing their personality to shine! 

LOVE IT!!!

If it doesn't, then as for a favorite in the month of July.... I'd have to say "Her Temporary Hero" by Jennifer Apodaca! You can see why here!

Your Turn!! Tell me which book was your favorite that you read in July!
I'm off to find out what Danielle's, Cat, Jamie and Traci's favorite reads for July were. 

Check them out below!

      

Blog Tour & Review: Her Temporary Hero by Jennifer Apodaca

Her Temporary Hero 

(Once A Marine Series, Bk #2)

by Jennifer Apodaca

Blurb: 
Former beauty queen Becky Holmes and her baby are on the run from her dangerous ex. With her dreams of love and marriage destroyed, she’ll do anything to protect her child…even agree to hide out in her boss’s cousin’s house while he’s away.   Wealthy, sexy, and emotionally haunted Logan Knight needs a temporary wife to get his land, per his dad’s rules. No wife, no inheritance. But when that wife lands on his doorstep and comes with a baby, his darkest memories are triggered. He tries to keep his distance, but his efforts are shattered when he starts to have real feelings for his fake wife and child.   Just as Logan begins to think he may have a future with Becky, his attempt to have it all backfires into a betrayal that forces Becky into a heart-wrenching choice no woman should ever have to make.

Available for purchase at 

   

About the Author 

Jennifer Apodaca is an award-winning author and an unrepentant coffee-and-book addict. She’s written mysteries, romances, paranormals and grocery lists under the names of Jennifer Lyon and Jennifer Apodaca. She loves creating powerfully sexy alpha heroes and the heroines who tame them.

Find Jen at:

         

Viviana's Review: 
I have been waiting for the next book in the "Once A Marine Series" for a while and oh so worth the wait! Couldn't put it down. It had me intrigued the entire time! Jennifer does a fantastic job of writing characters you are not only going to fall in love with but root for them! This is a great series that I highly recommend!

Logan is oh so yummy and to die for! He is just enough Alpha Male without coming across as an ass! LOL He fought for his country and now as a continues to protect and serve. He suffers from PTSD but works through it, acknowledges that he has it and wants to help other soldiers as well. This makes me love him even more!

Becky is a single mother who would do anything to keep her daughter safe! She has put her dreams on hold to raise her daughter as any good mother would do! Unfortunately, she has had a string of bad luck up until meeting Logan.

The two make a great couple! While the time they spend together is short, they do get to know each other and do fall into that "we're friends" mode but you know there's more. Each take the time to learn one another and find out whats important.

Overall a great and quick read! Looking forward to reading more in the series.

Rating: 4 Stars - I LOVED IT! 

Giveaway

$100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card   

a Rafflecopter giveaway