Page Princess: PUNCTURED, BRUISED, AND BARELY TATTOOED by Jade C. Jamison

Title: PUNCTURED, BRUISED, AND BARELY TATTOOED

Anthology: INKED

Series: not applicable

Anthology Authors: Jade C. Jamison, Jo-Anna Walker, Stacy Gail, Scarlett Metal, K. Pinson

Publish Date: 08.25.14

Publisher: Jade C. Jamison, Jo-Anna Walker, Stacy Gail, Scarlett Metal, K. Pinson

Category /Genre: Contemporary Romance

Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content

Received from: Jade C. Jamison (in exchange for an honest review)

Date completed: 07.31.14

Goodreads links: Inked; Punctured, Bruised and Barely Tattooed

Description from the publisher:

Five contemporary romance and erotica authors bring you the collection INKED--five full-length novels centering around all things tattoos.

PUNCTURED, BRUISED, AND BARELY TATTOOED – Jade C. Jamison

Kory McCallister has had her eyes on tattoo artist Stone Bowman for quite some time—so long, in fact, that no other guy will do. Stone pushes every turn on button Kory has—he’s tattooed from head to toe (well, at least she prays he’s tattooed on his lower half); he’s hot; he’s funny and charming; and he’s also mysterious. So when Kory’s friends dare her to ask Stone out on a date, she can’t believe she actually finds the guts to do it.

More surprising? He takes her up on the offer.

She discovers that, while his past might not be quite as dark or mysterious as she’d imagined, it’s bigger than she’d expected, and it’s something she will need to contend with if she decides she wants to keep him around to color her life for good.

SHATTERED STRINGS – JM Walker

Evancroft. This one word means everything to me. My band. My heart. My life. Without the music, I am nothing. I don’t exist. When we play, we are one. We are in control.

On stage I am a woman. Powerful. Dominating. Forcing the crowd to submit to my words. Off stage? I am the complete opposite. Innocent.

Jace Croft. He is the oil to my water. The darkness to my light. My band mate. My best friend.

One unexpected night together unleashes new feelings that we both try to ignore but the band comes first. It always comes first.

Or so I thought.

HOUSE OF PAYNE – Stacy Gail

Life is supposedly what you make of it, but that’s crap as far as 3D artist Becks Delgado is concerned. She never wanted her brother to die in a car accident… or to be the one who was behind the wheel. Her external scars are nothing compared to the raw wounds inside, and death seems to be the only way to find peace.

Sebestian Payne took the concept of a tattoo parlor and transformed it into a sophisticated gallery of living art. The House Of Payne now caters to the rich and infamous, has garnered a worldwide following, and is run by Sebastian with an iron fist. He knows Becks is exactly what The House Of Payne needs, but there’s a problem. The accident that changed her life left its mark on him as well, and whether he likes it or not, it’s time to put his House in order.

SUNNY AND 75 – Scarlett Metal

Julia had the perfect life...or so she thought. On the eve of her wedding, her world came crashing down on her. She escaped it all, heading out on the trip that was planned as a celebration.

Aiden was living the dream, working as the head bartender at a resort on Punta Cana. Every day, he fights the demons of his past as a Marine, even in the midst of paradise.

He comes to Julia's rescue one night and after numerous run in, start spending time together. Things get physical quickly, but is there more to their relationship? What happens when Julia has to head back to reality? Will Aiden join her or is he unable to get past the memories back home?

BETWEEN THE RAINDROPS – K. Pinson

Nevaeh Daniels isn't like your typical twenty-four year old. She doesn't have life all figured out and, frankly, she just doesn't give a damn.

She parties too hard, cusses too much and has no true direction in life.

Her parents gave up on her long before and focus solely on her identical twin sister, perfection at its finest, Heaven Daniels. Well, at least they did... until she commits suicide and puts the reputation of her family and herself at stake. Her parents refuse to go back to a life of squalor, so they devise a plan. A plan to give Nevaeh a life she never thought she'd have: fortune, fame and the love of fellow Hollywood hottie, Tate Monahugh.

But he isn't the only one interested in getting inside her head and discovering her true being. The past will be dredged back up, forcing Nevaeh to realize what is really important.

Are the lifestyles of the rich and famous all they are really cracked up to be or will Nevaeh succumb to her old life of solitude and forget-it-all attitude?

Walls will be taken down, lies will be washed away and the truth will be revealed Between the Raindrops

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My review is for Jade C. Jamison’s PUNCTURED, BRUISED, AND BARELY TATTOOED.

This is a stand-alone story developed for this anthology.

Kory has the hots for the local tattoo artist, Stone. She’s afraid of needles, so instead of tattoos she keeps returning for piercings. She won’t allow any other artist to work her body modifications. She’s running out of places to pierce without getting too intimate, but she wants to keep seeing Stone. Her friends talk her into asking him out. She is surprised when he agrees.

This is a story of survival. Both Kory and Stone have pasts that can cause nightmares. They are dealing with them differently, but those differences provide each with a strength that seems to shore up the other. There is a delicate, well-maintained balance between the dark of their past and the lightening hope for their future. I loved their interaction. It wasn’t always perfect, but it was so real. There is also the fun mystery of why Stone asked Kory to not Google him. What was sweet was that Kory didn’t. She allowed him time to decide to share his secret. Even more priceless was her reaction when his secret was accidentally revealed by another.

Final word: another fantastic read from Jade. Do not miss this anthology!

Grammar/editing: ungraded – book received as an unedited ARC / errors excused

Other Books from Jade C. Jamison:

MADversary
Then Kiss Me
Stating His Case
Fabric of Night
Worst Mother
Old House
Finger Bang
Substitute Boyfriend

Bullet series:

Bullet
Rock Bottom
Feverish
Fully Automatic
Slash & Burn (not yet released)

Nicki Sosebee Series:

1. Got the Life

2. Dead

3. No Place to Hide

4. Right Now

5. One More Time

6. Lost

7. Innocent Bystander

8. Blind

9. Fake

10. Lies (coming soon)

Tangled Web Series:

1. Tangled Web: A Steamy Heavy Metal Novella

2. Everything But

3. Seal All Exits (not yet released)

4. (not yet titled)

Wishes series:

Be Careful What You Wish For
Secret Wishes (not yet released)
Carnal Wishes (not yet released)
Dangerous Wishes (not yet released)

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE AUTHORS:

The authors of INKED are proud to announce that all sales from the book will go to benefit women in need of mastectomy tattoos and tattoos that cover scars. Award-winning, world-renowned tattoo artist Madame Lazonga specializes in tattooing women, particularly in beautifying women who have experienced the scars that surviving cancer can leave behind.

This art is not cheap, but it can be incredibly healing for women. Madame Lazonga has agreed to use all proceeds from the INKED anthology to benefit women who want these types of tattoos but perhaps cannot afford all or part of the procedure. Because our anthology revolves around tattoos and women, we couldn’t think of a better cause.

To see some of Madame Lazonga’s work, please visit her website: http://www.madamelazongastattoo.com/