The Bookish Babe

THANK YOU...

2014-11-06T07:27:00.001-08:00

In February of 2011, I joined twitter and inadvertently found a wonderful community there. The blogging community. For someone who loves to read, loves to talk about books, it was a joy. I was a stay-at-home mom with two little ones, and I was grateful for a connection. I made tons of them! It's a world of smart, insightful, passionate readers, and I'm so lucky to have the privilege of sharing thoughts with them.

In late March of that year , I took a deep breath and started my own blog . It was a wonderful experience. To be able to purge my feelings about the book I'd just read to people who actually cared? That was incredible feeling.

I've decided it's time for me to move on now. I still love to read. I've loved the friendships I've formed. You are amazing, intelligent, caring people and I'm so very lucky to call you my friends. I will continue to read your blogs, to chat with you. I'm just tired. And it's my fault. I've spent so much time in this wonderful world, too much honestly. And I don't want life to continually pass me by. I joke with my husband that it's weird to say, I need to read less. Like I said, I love to read still, but I think not blogging is making me love it more.

To slowly savor a book? To wallow in a thousand page story, and not worry about rushing onto the next? That had been a reawakening of sorts.

I was hesitant to even write this post, so thank you to Autumn for the encouragement. And thank you for becoming my best friend. I'm the person who mostly tries to avoid a lot of attention, and I don't want anyone to think I'm just looking for some. Nothing has "happened" to make me stop blogging. I will admit the cattiness and drama doesn't help things, but I've been decent about blocking it out.

So the point of this, is to say thank you. Thank you to the authors who valued my opinion, and even to those who didn't. Thank you to the fellow bloggers. You've been such a wonderful joy to me. And you always will be. Thank you to so the silent blog readers. We may not have ever interacted, but I thank you for giving me your time.

I'm still going to be around, probably being silly. And snarking at twitter. (In the nicest way!) I will still be hanging around Goodreads. And y'all know I'll be sharing my favorite quotes as I read. Especially when it comes to Jamie Fraser. (good lord that man!) I hope to see you around!

So I guess this is goodbye to the blog. But not to you. And THANK YOU. Truly.

Courtney Reviews: Love and Shenanigans by Zara Keane

2014-11-05T21:30:00.000-08:00

Series: Ballybag #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Beaverstone Press
Publication Date: 5/17/14
Source: Author

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Vows in Vegas...True Love in Ireland.

Three days before leaving Ireland on the adventure of a lifetime, Fiona Byrne returns to her small Irish hometown to attend the family wedding from hell. When she discovers the drunken vows she exchanged with the groom during a wild Las Vegas trip eight years previously mean they're legally married, her future plans ricochet out of control. Can she untangle herself from the man who broke her heart so long ago? Does she even want to?

Gavin Maguire's life is low on drama, high on stability, and free of pets. But Gavin hadn't reckoned on Fiona blasting back into his life and crashing his wedding. In the space of twenty-four hours, he loses a fiancée and a job, and gains a wife and a labradoodle. Can he salvage his bland-but-stable life? More importantly, can he resist losing his heart to Fiona all over again?

WARNING: This book features a crashed wedding, a labradoodle with attitude, sexy times, and love and laughter, Irish-style.

ROMANCE TROPES: Second Chance at Love; Marriage in Trouble; Vegas Wedding; Irish hero

Courtney's Review

Love and Shenanigans was everything I hoped it would be. It was hilarious, engaging, had a good, thick and juicy plot, but also had real life characters that made me smile and hurt with and for them.

We meet Fiona when her frenemy/cousin tries to make her wear a chartreuse (lime green, if you aren't married to a fishing fanatic that would make you know this color) bridesmaid gown that is too small for her curvaceous frame. We meet most of the people who are going to create the shenanigans in this scene including Wiggly Poo (the rambunctious Labradoodle puppy that Gavin wants to hate, but just can't!). It is clear that they somehow have some history, and of course we find this out in a grand, wow, wedding crashing fashion.

Gavin and Fiona realize *almost* too late (yikes, polygamy) that the wedding they thought was pretend was actually registered...and omigawd does Ireland REALLY make you wait FIVE YEARS for a divorce. Somebody needs to look that up for me, because OH WOW! O_O. Anyways, so, good thing her friend found out about this before the actual doomed-from-the-start wedding took place, so we could say hey look, maybe you should shag, because you're ALREADY married!

There are lots of love and shenanigans in this novel. And there are a lot of Irish slang (hello, love it!) that made the setting feel like a rich character as well. That is my favorite, and so are the secondary characters that we like, and even those we don't like! I really enjoyed it a lot, and can't wait to see what the rest of the characters stories unfold with because yep, there will be more books! (Probably are already more...but I need to go now, and look for them! Hah!) Check this one out.

Rating: 4 stars

Zara Keane grew up in Dublin, Ireland, but spent her summers in a small town very similar to the fictitious Ballybeg.

She currently lives in Switzerland with her family. When she’s not writing or wrestling small people, she drinks far too much coffee, and tries—with occasional success—to resist the siren call of Swiss chocolate.

Website | Mailing List | Twitter | Facebook | GoodReads

Short and Sweet Review: The Science of Attraction by Verity Jacobs

2014-11-03T21:58:00.000-08:00

Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self-Pub
Publication Date: 5/26/14
Format: ebook
Pages: 203
Source: Author
Rating: 4 stars

GoodReads | Amazon | B&N | Smashwords

Kate Ramsey is at the top of her game.She’s the hot new recruit at the most prestigious research institute in Germany, and she’s determined to live up to the hype — even if it means working day and night. Stress relief comes in the form of a no-nonsense affair with her neighbor, who also happens to be the director of the institute. Who says sex should be anything more than a contract between two people who have other things on their mind?

So when Tom Baker saunters into her life, Kate is understandably upset to see this well-oiled machine splutter and seize. Tom is young and smart, and far too pretty for his own good. Kate can’t help but be drawn to him, even if giving in to the attraction would mean risking everything she’s worked for.

My Short and Sweet...

Short and Sweet Review: Guarding Poppy (Men of Brahm Hill #2) by Christine Wenrick

2014-11-02T21:51:00.000-08:00

Series: Men of Brahm Hill #2

Category/Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Red Tree House Publishing
Publication Date: 8/1/14
Format: eARC
Pages: 318
Source: Author
Rating: 3.5 stars

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Someone Else's Sky (review)

One night . . . one violent, supernatural battle . . . and five stories of the men whose lives will be changed by it.

Alec Lambert was born to lead. He’s a ruling Elder of The Brethren, possessing steely confidence, natural smarts, and decisive problem solving abilities . . . and he’s not too bad on the eyes, either. Everything in his life has gone exactly according to plan—until the night of Brahm Hill. Alec loses his best friend at the hands of the uncle he trusted like a father, along with his previously unshakable faith to lead those with whom he’s charged. Despite this, he continues to press ahead, and for his next assignment he’s asked to protect a very beautiful but very clumsy Dhampir who’s being hunted by a powerful warlock. Suddenly, he finds his whole Brethren world is turned upside down . . . and he finds himself harboring a desire for her he can’t explain.

Poppy Honeywell knows she’s far from perfect. Bad things tend to happen when she’s around. She’s more than a little clumsy, with a phobia or two mixed in. Not to mention that her name is certainly unusual. But she doesn’t have time to worry about all that because she’s on the run and not about to back down from the arrogant Elder who’s just been assigned as her protector. The real problem, though . . . she’s irresistibly drawn to this man who faces constant danger and takes charge so naturally. But Poppy also sees that taking charge of others helps Alec mask his own very deep pain.

Will Alec find his way out of the darkness and surrender to his feelings for Poppy before the warlock chasing her catches up to them both?

My Short and Sweet

Short and Tweet Reviews: Spiral of Bliss Series / Break the Sky by Nina Lane

2014-10-30T21:49:00.000-07:00

Series: Spiral of Bliss #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Snow Queen Publishing
Publication Date: 12/24/12
Format: ebook
Pages: 394
Source: Purchase
Rating: 4.5 stars

GoodReads | Amazon | B&N

"One day I'm going to touch you in a thousand different ways and show you how to touch me," he said. And he did.

Struggling with a tormented past, undergraduate Olivia Winter once led a practical but isolated life. Then she met Professor Dean West, a brilliant scholar of medieval history who melted Liv's inhibitions and taught her the meaning of both love and erotic pleasure. But after three years of a blissful, lusty marriage, Liv and Dean now face a crisis that threatens everything they believe about each other. And when dark secrets and temptations rise to the surface, the fallout might break them apart forever.

Opening Lines - He didn't touch me. He could have -- he had the perfect reason to -- but he didn't.

Short and Tweet Reviews: Loving Him Off the Field / Final Lap / Hot as Hades / Stone, At Your Service

2014-10-29T21:48:00.000-07:00

I am in such a weird place right now, with blogging. A slump, I guess. So in an effort to keep me going, and less overwhelmed, I'm switching over to Short and Tweet reviews for a bit. We'll see how it goes!

Genre: Contemporary/Sports Romance

Publisher: Intermix

Publication Date: 6/17/14

Format: eARC

Source: Publisher

GoodReads | Amazon | BN

Sometimes the best defense is a good offense…

Aileen is a sports reporter trying to make a name for herself without relying on her looks, And what better way to do that than to break a scandal about one of the fastest rising stars on the Santa Fe Bobcats? Killian seems too good to be true, so she knows he must be hiding something…

It’s hard enough breaking into the NFL—even more so when you’re a single dad. Killian isn’t proud that he’s keeping his son a secret, but his ex has a reputation that could tarnish his squeaky clean image for good. So when Aileen starts sniffing around, Killian decides to distract her by any means necessary. But Aileen is more than capable of giving as good as she gets…

My review - One Night with a Quarterback

First Line "Sweet Christ." It was the last thing Killian Reeves remembered uttering before having a heavy, unfortunate smelling man slam him to the ground.

Reviews: Coming in From the Cold and Falling From the Sky (Gravity #1-2) by Sarina Bowen

2014-10-26T21:44:00.000-07:00

Series: Gravity #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Harlequin E
Publication Date: 5/1/14
Format: ebook
Pages: 193
Source: Author

GoodReads | Amazon | BN

Alpine ski champion Dane “Danger” Hollister does not do relationships, though he has an excellent reason. No woman would ever say “I do” to a guy whose faulty DNA will eventually cost him everything: his spot on the US Ski team, his endorsements, and the ability to fly downhill at 90mph.

While Willow Reade moved to rural Vermont to get back to the land, that wasn’t meant to include a night stranded in her vehicle during a blizzard. Luckily, the hot ski racer she practically ran off the road has granola bars and a sleeping bag, and is happy to share. Maybe it’s the close quarters, maybe it’s the snow, but soon the two are sharing a lot more than conversation.

Yet neither can guess how their spontaneous passion will uncork Dane’s ugly secret and Willow’s tentative peace with her own choices. Only their mutual trust and bravery can end the pain and give Willow and Dane a shot at hard won happines

First Line Willow needed to keep the old truck on the road and out of the snowy ditch for just one more mile.

Poor Willow. She doesn't keep her old truck on the road and inadvertently runs champion Dane Hollister off the road as well. But their loss is their-and our-gain because one snowy night in a Jeep is the beginning of a sexy, emotionally challenging, wonderful story.

Short and Tweet: Temptation in a Kilt by Victoria Roberts

2014-10-22T21:44:00.000-07:00

Series: Bad Boys of the Highlands #1
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casa
Publication Date: 9/4/12
Format: ebook
Pages: 323
Source: Purchase

GoodReads | Amazon | B&N

She's On Her Way to Safety

It's a sign of Lady Rosalia Armstrong's desperation that she's seeking refuge in a place as rugged and challenging as the Scottish Highlands. She doesn't care about hardship and discomfort, if only she can become master of her own life. Laird Ciaran MacGregor, however, is completely beyond her control...

He Redefines Dangerous...

Ciaran MacGregor knows it's perilous to get embroiled with a fiery Lowland lass, especially one as headstrong as Rosalia. Having made a rash promise to escort her all the way to Glengarry, now he's stuck with her, even though she challenges his legendary prowess at every opportunity. When temptation reaches its peak, he'll be ready to show her how he really is...on and off the battlefield.

First Line Sometimes being a Highland laird was a royal pain in the arse.

Short and Tweet...

A fun and slightly steamy historical set in early-17th century Scotland. Comes with many of the hallmarks of a fun HR: a laird bound by duty, a lady running from a distasteful marriage, thrown together by accident, held together by more. I didn't fully buy into Ciaran's reasons for hesitance in a marriage (an old oath to his father regarding the youngest brother), but in the end, I had a lot of fun with Temptation in a Kilt. Especially when the kilt, or what was under it, came into play!

Rating: 3.5 stars

Favorite Quotes

Seeing she was not going to relent, he bent closer, placing his lips so close to her ear that he was sure she could feel his breath. "The only reason I had discomfort was because I saw your bare, creamy bottom in front of my eyes. Ye are beautiful and ye almost unmanned me, lass." Ciaran kissed her lightly on her cheek before returning to his blanket.

Ciaran broke the silence and spoke quietly. "She means naught to me."
A tear fell down her cheek and she wiped it away. "It doesnae matter--truly," she whispered.
He reached out and gently brushed Rosalia's arms. When she closed her eyes to avoid his probing gaze, he raised her chin with his finger. He did not speak until she opened her eyes. "It matters to me," he said solemnly.

(covers lead to GoodReads pages)

Victoria Roberts writes sexy, award-winning Scottish historical romances about kilted heroes and warriors from the past. Prior to ever picking up a single romance novel, she penned her first young adult novella at 16 years old. Who knew her leather-studded motorcycle hero would trade in his ride and emerge as a kilt wearing Highlander wielding a broadsword? Victoria lives with her husband and their two beautiful children in western Pennsylvania.

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Excerpt and Giveaway: What to Do with a Bad Boy by Marie Harte

2014-10-20T21:48:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my stop on the What to Do With a Bad Boy Teaser Tour! I loved this book and highly encourage everyone to give the entire series a try. Thanks for stopping by!

Series: The McCauley Brothers #4

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casa

Publication Date: 11/4/14

GoodReads

Mike McCauley had his soul mate for a precious time before she died giving birth to their son. She left him with the best boy a guy could want, so why is everyone playing matchmaker? He's sick of it . . . until he meets Delilah Webster.

For some reason, the foul-mouthed, tattooed mechanic sets his motor running. He sees the loving woman buried within. But the closer they get, the more the pain of past wounds throws a monkey wrench into a future he's not sure he can handle...

“So, Mike, where’s your plus-one?” she asked, knowing it would set him off. She hadn’t forgotten Abby and the girls gossiping about Mike the last time they’d gotten together. Something about his mother constantly trying to set him up.

As predicted, Mike’s mouth flattened. “He’s over there with Brian.”

She followed his glance to Colin. “Uh-huh. Not that woman with your mom, the one who keeps eyeballing you?”

He followed her glance to his mother and the woman with her and moaned. “Oh hell. Not again. Abby, I thought I told you not to invite any single women.”

What am I? Chopped liver? Brody caught her eye and raised a pale brow, apparently thinking the same.

Abby tried unsuccessfully to hide a smile. “Hey, don’t blame me. I threw a party, but Beth wanted to bring a few people. The more the merrier, I say.”

“Dude.” Brody shook his head at Mike. “Maybe if you’d pretend to like people, Bitsy would ease up. You need a social life.”

“Bitsy?” Del asked, fascinated by the turn in discussion. Mike didn’t date?

“Oh, he calls Beth Bitsy and James Pop. Always has,” Abby explained.

“Right.” Whatever. Why didn’t Mike date?

“I like people. Well, the ones who aren’t desperate and clingy,” Mike muttered.

“What’s wrong, Mike? Problem finding a woman who doesn’t mind your macho attitude?” Del took a few munchies from the tray Maddie offered as she breezed by with a smile. The evening was turning out to be more entertaining than she’d thought.

“No, the problem is fending off my mother’s idea of what constitutes my ideal woman,” Mike said, his voice like the rumble of a purring engine. “Christ, I’m thirty-four. I can find my own dates.”

“Apparently not,” Brody disagreed. “Oh look. They’re coming this way.”

Del had no intention of leaving. Neither did Abby or Brody.

“Hell.”

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The McCauley Brothers Series

(covers lead to GoodReads page)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Date	Blog	URL	Notes
20-Oct	Romancing Rakes for the Love of Romance	http://romancingrakes4theluvofromance.blogspot.com/	Teaser 1
21-Oct	The Bookish Babe	http://thebookishbabes.blogspot.com/	Teaser 2
22-Oct	Books n Kisses	Chapters	Teaser 3
23-Oct	From the TBR Pile	IndieBound	Teaser 4
24-Oct	Bookhounds	http://www.bookhounds.net/	Teaser 5
Weekend
27-Oct	Romance Junkies	http://www.romancejunkies.com/	Teaser 6
28-Oct	Michelle and Leslie's Book Picks	http://booksandmakeup.blogspot.com/	Teaser 7
29-Oct	Love Romance Passion	http://www.loveromancepassion.com/	Teaser 8
30-Oct	Bitten By Love Reviews	http://www.bittenbylovereviews.com/	Teaser 9
31-Oct	The Reading Café	http://www.thereadingcafe.com/	Teaser 10

Marie Harte is an avid reader who loves all things paranormal and futuristic. Reading romances since she was twelve, she fell in love with romance and happy endings and knew writing was her calling. Years later after the Marine Corps, Information Technology, and 60 hour work weeks, her dream has finally come true.

Marie lives in Oregon with her family and is constantly reading and writing.

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Jessica Reviews: Sweet Fall (Sweet Home #3) by Tillie Cole

2014-10-19T21:51:00.000-07:00

Series: Sweet Home #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: 8/26/14
Pages: 440
Source: Purchase

GoodReads | Amazon | B&N

We all have secrets.

Secrets well buried.

Until we find the one soul who makes the burden of such secrets just that little bit easier to bear.

Lexington "Lexi" Hart is a senior at the University of Alabama. Surrounded by her best friends, her loving family and having fulfilled her life-long dream of making the Crimson Tide cheer squad, everything is going exactly as she always dreamed it would. But beneath her happy exterior, demons lurk, threatening to jeopardize everything Lexi has worked to achieve. When events in her life become too much to cope with, Lexi finds herself spiraling down into the realm of her biggest fear. Lexi falls hard, victim once again to the only thing that can destroy her and, on the way, finds herself falling straight into the dangerous tattooed arms of a guy from the wrong side of the tracks.

Austin Carillo, starting Wide Receiver for the Alabama Crimson Tide, must get picked in this year's NFL draft. He needs it. His brothers need it. Most importantly, his mother desperately needs it. Brought up in a world where the poor are forgotten, the sick are left to fend for themselves and no hero miraculously appears to pull you out of hell, Austin had no other choice but to make a living on the wrong side of the law—until football offered Austin the break to get his life back on track. But when a family tragedy drags him back into the clutches of the gang he believed he had left far behind, Austin finds himself falling. Falling back into criminal ways and falling deep into a suffocating darkness. Until a troubled yet kindred spirit stumbles across his path, where Austin quickly finds he is falling for a young woman, a young woman who might just have the power to save him from his worst enemy: himself.

Can two troubled souls find a lasting peace together? Or will they finally succumb to the demons threatening to destroy them?

New Adult/Contemporary Romance novel—contains adult content, sexual situations and mature topics. Suited for ages 18 and up.
Can be read as a stand-alone novel.

And he kissed me. Austin Carillo, the Italian boy from the wrong side of the tracks, kissed me. And it was magical. He made feel safe and, for one glorious night. He made me feel beautiful.

I’ve mentioned before, that it is VERY hard for my eyes to get misty, let alone cry. It’s not that I have a heart of stone or made out of ice (although some would argue this). It’s just that I have the emotion of a drill sergeant sometimes. You know the type: hard ass, tough cookies that take a bulldozer to break down her walls. Yeah, I’m one of those tough chicks. BUT, there are times where even I break down like a slobbery, babbling baby. And THIS book definitely did it for me. I WAS A BASKETCASE!

Lexi’s eyes filled with water and another understanding tear tumbled down her cheek. Leaning forward, I kissed the salty drop away.

And that’s how we fell.

Fell into sleep.

Fell into trust.

Fell for each other.

AUSTIN CARILLO.

Austin friggin Carillo. There are not enough adjectives in the English dictionary to describe how GORGEOUS this boy is. He is everything a girl could want in a guy: protective of his siblings, adores and loves his mother fiercely, loyal to his friends, athletic and talented on the football field. He is the full, tattooed package. On top of all that, he is committed to the girl he loves. What else could you ask for? Oh wait. One minor flaw though. He’s also in a very bad situation where it’s literally do or die to get out of. This situation and Lexi’s illness are what keeps these two broken souls apart for a bit, until the unthinkable happens…

As if feeling my eyes watching her, Lexi looked up at me through long black lashes, and I felt as though my chest had ripped open and my heart was on display. It was that moment people talk about. That moment where you look at the same set of eyes you’ve gazed upon thousands of times before, only this time, you see something more within their depths. This one time, it’s as if you are looking down the lens of a spyglass and you can see into another’s soul and it seems to solder itself to yours.

Lexington “Lexi” Hart.

Beautiful Lexi. Dark little Pixie. Not only did Austin fall head over heels in love with his little Pix, but so did I. I wanted to give her a really big bear hug every day she was feeling crappy and un-in love with herself. I wanted to write Post-It notes in her room, in her books, her bathroom, EVERYWHERE, so she knew how stunning and gorgeous she was. What a beautiful being she was to not only to her friends and family, but to Austin’s brothers and mother. I wanted to tell her that everything would be okay and to not worry and carry the world’s stresses on her shoulder. But alas, it’s not that simple. This illness takes over your whole life and your way of thinking. I had no idea that this disorder is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents. That it is the most common cause of death (up to 12 times higher than any other condition) among young women 15 to 24. Women are also much more likely than men to develop this illness. What Lexi was going through in life, was something she, and she alone, had to overcome. Yes, she had amazing support from her parents, doctors and friends, but it was the strength within herself that made her conquer this horrific disease. And of course, the love she and Austin had.

“What do you think of when you look up at the stars?”

“Sometimes I wonder what they must make of our world. Do we fascinate them or disgust them? Do they look down on us the same way we look up at them and wonder what we’re thinking too? Do they see all our problems? Watch our sorrowful excuses for lives with a growing sense of pity? Or do they envy us for just having a life, good or bad?”

“Ever look at them and feel inferior, feel small?”

“I don’t need to look up at the stars to feel inferior, Austin. All I have to do is open my eyes and look at myself in the mirror.”

You once said that you wondered if the stars were looking down on us. Did they pity mankind for the fuck-ups we are? But now I see the truth. I now pity the stars. For as much as humans mess up time and time again, we also get to fall in love. We get to be with the other half of our soul, the one that makes us complete. All the stars get to do is watch from above, wishing it was them feeling this crushing yet liberating emotion.

I had NO IDEA this book would affect me this much. I thought I was going into a run-of-the-mill NA book. The kind that are getting so repetitive it makes me want to go run and screaming for the hills because I can’t take them anymore. But this one…this one…was DIFFERENT. From the very beginning I was completely and utterly hooked. I could not put it down. I wanted to stop everything that was happening in my life and just keep reading. And once it was done, I wanted to read more. I wanted MORE Austin and Lexi. I wanted to know what happens after the Epilogue. I know we got a quick glimpse of them in SWEET HOME/SWEET ROME but I still wanted more. More damnit! I’m selfish like that. Ha! ;) (Sidenote: I am so, SO happy that I read this series backwards because had I read it in order, I don’t think I would have loved her so much. In the first and second book, she didn’t grab my attention. She was a secondary character that was more in the far background than anything else. I didn’t feel anything for her. I wanted to know more about Ally than I did her. But I am THRILLED that for once, reading a series out of order, worked out beautifully.) Once you read this book, you too will want more Austin and Lexi.

Rating: 5 stars

Favorite quotes/scenes:

“Pix, what I feel for you is fuckin’ scary. I thought you were gorgeous from the first time I saw you standing in the empty stadium like some dark pixie lost in a weird dream. But then what I felt for you quickly went to shit. I worried for weeks that you would destroy me, my family, the way my brothers made money…And you have destroyed me, Pix, but never how I thought. You destroyed the fence I’d built up to keep people out. You destroyed the hard-ass persona I wore like a shield. But even more than that, you destroyed any reluctance I had to find comfort in someone else. You fuckin’ bulldozed me, Pix. You, my tiny dark pixie, made all my defenses crumble to dust.”

“Ti amo, Pix. Ti amo tantissimo.”

“You…you love me?”

“More than the stars in the sky.”

P.S. I applaud the author for having the courage to write this. The strength she had to put pen to paper and write something that affected her so greatly, I know was not an easy task. It takes bravery of the highest order to open yourself up and bare your soul for all to see and read. And to that I say THANK YOU for being so honest and genuine and for giving the readers Lexi and her Austin.

The Sweet Home Series

(covers lead to GoodReads page)

Connect with Tillie Cole

Website | Twitter | GoodReads

Review: Carolina Blues (Dare Island #4) by Virginia Kantra

2014-10-15T21:52:00.000-07:00

Series: Dare Island #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: 10/7/14
Format: eARC
Pages: 304
Source: Publisher

GoodReads | Amazon | BN

Jack Rossi is Dare Island’s new police chief. The laid-back North Carolina community is just what he needs to recover from a rocky marriage and a big-city police department. He’s learned his lesson: no more high-profile women or high-pressure jobs. The last thing he wants is an unconventional alt girl rocking his world. Grad student Lauren Patterson made headlines when she kept a bank robbery from going bad. She’s fled to Dare Island to clear her head and focus on writing her story. However, sexy Jack Rossi is a distraction that’s too hot to ignore, and it’s igniting an affair too combustible to resist—or quit. But when their pasts come looking for them, Jack and Lauren find themselves fighting for the future they deserve, whatever the price.

My Reviews Caroline Home | Carolina Girl | Carolina Man

First Line Lauren Patterson entrenched herself in the corner table of Jane's Sweet Teas House, barricaded behind her laptop, a latte, and a Glorious Morning muffin.

Spotlight and Giveaway: Promise Me This by Christina Lee

2014-10-14T21:40:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to be participating in the Promise Me This blog tour. Today I'm sharing the book details and tour giveaway. Thanks for stopping by!

Series: Between Breaths #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Intermix
Publication Date: 10/4/14

GoodReads

A new love will test the boundaries of passion between a privileged boy next door and the tattooed, blue-haired girl who helps him embrace his wild side...

Nate has developed quite a playboy reputation around campus. It's not that he doesn't respect or trust women; he doesn't trust himself. The men in Nate’s family are prone to abusive behavior—a dirty secret that Nate’s been running from his entire life—so Nate doesn't do relationships. But he can’t help himself around one girl…

Jessie is strong, independent, and works at a tattoo parlor. Nate can’t resist getting close to her, even if it’s strictly a friendship. But it doesn't take long for Nate to admit that what he wants with Jessie is more than just friendly.

With Jessie, he can be himself and explore what he’s always felt was a terrifying darkness inside him. Even when Nate begins to crave her in a way that both shocks and horrifies him, Jessie still wants to know every part of him. Testing their boundaries together will take a trust that could render them inseparable… or tear them apart.

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Between Breaths Series

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Mother, wife, reader, dreamer. Christina lives in the Midwest with her husband and son--her two favorite guys. She's addicted to lip gloss, salted caramel everything, and believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.

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Reviews: Afternoon Delight by Ann Calhoun

2014-10-12T21:49:00.000-07:00

Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Intermix
Publication Date: 9/16/14
Format: eARC
Pages: 164
Source: Publisher

GoodReads | Amazon | BN

Sarah McCall, food truck co-owner and recent Manhattan transplant, savors each moment of her new job—whether it’s refining the truck's menu, learning the city, or spending afternoons in bed with the hot paramedic who's fast becoming her favorite customer.

Tim Cannon spends his days sprinting from one emergency to the next. He eats like he works—at top speed—somewhere along the line he lost his ability to enjoy life's simple pleasures. Hooking up with Sarah is just another way to cope with the stress of his job, until their afternoon trysts coax Tim into enjoying everything he's avoided. Can Tim learn to balance his job saving lives with the everyday delights that make life worth living? If anyone can teach him, it’s Sarah.

First Line - Lieutenant Tim Cannon sat in the ambulance's passenger seat, one elbow resting on the open window, eyes on the side mirror, as the newest EMT backed the bus into the bay.

Five Reasons to Read: Elysian Fields (Sentinels of New Orleans #3) by Suzanne Johnson

2014-10-08T21:54:00.000-07:00

Series: Sentinels of New Orleans #3

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Sentinels of New Orleans #3

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Torbooks

Publication Date: 8/13/13

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 352

Source: Received from publisher for review

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An undead serial killer comes for DJ in this thrilling third installment of Suzanne Johnson’s Sentinels of New Orleans series

The mer feud has been settled, but life in South Louisiana still has more twists and turns than the muddy Mississippi.

New Orleanians are under attack from a copycat killer mimicking the crimes of a 1918 serial murderer known as the Axeman of New Orleans. Thanks to a tip from the undead pirate Jean Lafitte, DJ Jaco knows the attacks aren’t random—an unknown necromancer has resurrected the original Axeman of New Orleans, and his ultimate target is a certain blonde wizard. Namely, DJ.

Combatting an undead serial killer as troubles pile up around her isn’t easy. Jake Warin’s loup-garou nature is spiraling downward, enigmatic neighbor Quince Randolph is acting weirder than ever, the Elders are insisting on lessons in elven magic from the world’s most annoying wizard, and former partner Alex Warin just turned up on DJ’s to-do list. Not to mention big maneuvers are afoot in the halls of preternatural power.

Suddenly, moving to the Beyond as Jean Lafitte’s pirate wench could be DJ’s best option.

My Reviews Royal Street | River Road

First Line - The scariest sound in New Orleans' French Quarter is silence.

Seven Reasons to Read: The Understatement of the Year (The Ivy Years #3) by Sarina Bowen

2014-10-07T21:44:00.000-07:00

Series: The Ivy Years #3
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Rennie Road Books
Publication Date: 9/29/14
Format: eARC
Pages: 281
Source: Author
Rating: 5 stars

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What happened in high school stayed in high school. Until now.

Five years ago, Michael Graham betrayed the only person who ever really knew him. Since then, he’s made an art of hiding his sexual preference from everyone. Including himself.

So it’s a shock when his past strolls right into the Harkness College locker room, sporting a bag of hockey gear and the same slow smile that had always rendered Graham defenseless. For Graham, there is only one possible reaction: total, debilitating panic. With one loose word, the team’s new left wing could destroy Graham’s life as he knows it.

John Rikker is stuck being the new guy. Again. And it’s worse than usual, because the media has latched onto the story of the only “out” player in Division One hockey. As the satellite trucks line the sidewalk outside the rink, his new teammates are not amused.

And one player in particular looks sick every time he enters the room.

Rikker didn’t exactly expect a warm welcome from Graham. But the guy won’t even meet his eyes. From the looks of it, his former… best friend / boyfriend / whatever isn’t doing so well. He drinks too much and can’t focus during practice.

Either the two loneliest guys on the team will self destruct from all the new pressures in their lives, or they can navigate the pain to find a way back to one another. To say that it won’t be easy is the Understatement of the Year.

Warning: unlike the other books in this series, this heartbreaking love story is about two guys. Contains sexual situations, dance music, snarky t-shirts and a poker-playing grandmother.

Opening Lines In all my favorite movies, when something bad was going to happen, the protagonist usually sensed it. He saw a sign, or felt a disturbance in the force. But that's not how my real life worked. And I'm no action hero. S o you can be sure that I didn't see it coming.

Six Reasons to Read: Ruining Mr. Perfect (The McCauley Brothers #3) by Marie Harte

2014-10-05T21:41:00.000-07:00

Series: The McCauley Brothers #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casa
Publication Date: 10/7/14
Format: ARC
Pages: 368
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4.5 stars

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It's Not Easy Being Right...

Vanessa Campbell is a CPA by day and a perfectionist by night. She's fit, successful...and decidedly lonely. She can't stop thinking about the youngest McCauley brother, Cameron. He's just like her: smart, attractive, and usually right—except when dealing with her.

...But Someone's Got To Do It.

Cameron McCauley likes Vanessa a little too well. She's a blond goddess with a razor-sharp tongue. She hates to be wrong, just like him. But she can hold a grudge and is stubborn to a fault—also like him.

A past misunderstanding has them rubbing each other the wrong way. Cam is dying to shake Vanessa up—get her to let loose. But if he succeeds, can his heart handle it?

Opening Lines "Hello?" Cam knocked as he opened the door. "Yo, Mike, you here?"

Jessica Reviews: Becoming Calder / Finding Eden by Mia Sheridan

2014-10-02T21:11:00.000-07:00

Series: A Sign of Love #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: 10/5/14

GoodReads | Amazon

There is a place in modern day America with no electricity, no plumbing, and no modern conveniences. In this place, there is no room for dreams, no space for self-expression, and no tolerance for ambition.

In this place, there is a boy with the body of a God and the heart of a warrior. He is strong and faithful and serves his family honorably. But he dares to dream of more.

In this place, there is a girl with the face of an angel and a heart full of courage. To her family, she is the vision of obedient perfection. But she dares to want that which she has been told can never be hers.
Becoming Calder is the story of good versus evil, fear versus bravery, and the truth that the light of love has always found its way into even the darkest of places... From the beginning of time, to the end of the world.

THIS IS THE FIRST PART IN A TWO-PART SIGN OF LOVE SERIES INSPIRED BY AQUARIUS. THE SECOND PART, FINDING EDEN, WILL RELEASE SIMULTANEOUSLY. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Jessica's Review

“I’ve wanted you for so long. So long. Every waking minute, in my dreams, too. I want to bury myself in you, drown in you, and never come up for air. I want you to be mine, and only mine.”

This was more than a book, more than a story. This was…this was poetry. This was live action, free flowing and heart wrenching poetry. It was like reading Shakespeare in modern time: star-crossed lovers aching to be together, but never being able to fully be with each other because of obstacles and resistance from other beings.

This was the journey of the Water Bearer, Calder Rayne, and finding his Garden of Paradise. His Eden.

“My lips had been on his, and it would probably never happen again. But I had lived it, even if only just once, and if that was all I ever had, I would hold it dearly, deep inside where no one else could ever take it from me.”

“He I stared at her. She was captivating, amazing. And gods help me, the seed of love that had taken root, the seed I had vowed not to nourish, started to grow anyway. I swore I could feel the velvety tendrils moving through me, wrapping around the vital parts of who I was. I was helpless to stop it. She had invaded me. I was the field and she was the morning glory. I had been overtaken. Just like that. Or maybe not just like that. Maybe it had been growing for years. But in that moment, I recognized it for what it was. was perfect. And I loved him. I loved him desperately.”

This is the tale of how a boy and a girl meet and fall in love. However, it wasn’t as simple as that. Actually, there was nothing simple about their voyage into love. It was quite turbulent and thunderous, like the rainstorm of a hurricane. They collided into each other like a bolt of lightning.

“My thoughts are only of you. I bathe in the morning, the water running down my skin is your fingertips, touching me everywhere. When I work in the fields, the feel of the velvety plant leaves reminds me of your skin. As I stand in my doorway, looking toward the main lodge and you, the deep blue twilight sky is your eyes. I burn for you, so intensely I feel like I could light every worker cabin, all fifty of them, and we’d no longer need candlelight. I’m going to take you away from here, to a place where my bed is your bed, and my home is your home. And in that place, I’ll never be more than an arm’s reach from you, my beautiful, brave Morning Glory.”

Even as children, both Calder and Eden knew they were a bit different from the other kids in the community. They had different thoughts, different beliefs, but most of all, they haddifferent dreams, REAL dreams. Dreams where Calder was able to speak his mind freely and be something more than a farmer, be an artist and immerse himself into a world away from his tiny home or the fields in which he worked in. But most of all, Calder dreamed about being with Eden, loving her withoutworries of being caught or being told how sinful and evil their love was. Since that very first time at the spring, they found their paradise amongst each other. Their love flourished and got stronger over the years. Anyone with two eyes could see the spark they had between them. They were destined for each other. However, the evil Hector would not let them be. He was determined to break them apart, any way he could, even if it meant everyone would go down doing it.

“Eden, I vow this. My heart is yours. My life is yours. My body is yours. My art, my dreams. You own each and every part of me.”

“And I vow this. Calder, my heart is yours, as is my life, my body, my dreams. You own each and every part of me, in this lifetime and any other.”

“I love you, Morning Glory.”

“I love you, too, Butterscotch.”

There were quite a few moments where I wanted to jump in the pages and physically be in Acadia, the community where Calder, Eden, Xander (their BFF and funny guy sidekick) and their friends and family resided in. I wanted to watch the development of Calder and Eden’s love flourish over the years, first as angelic children and later as budding teenagers noticing each other’s beauty and strength. I wanted to kick Hector (and Clive), the community leader and resident bad guy, straight in the balls and tell him to jump off the nearest cliff. I wanted to hug Maya (Calder’s sister) and take her away from all the bad stuff happening around her. And I wanted so badly to be there and save those hundreds of souls lost on that one fateful day. It was so sad to see innocent and good people, perish because of the beliefs they had in one crazy, koo-koo monster. The power that Hector had over these people was the same power he wanted to have over Calder and Eden. But alas, love prevailed. Love conquered all. Or did it?
“Eden. You’re killing me. I’m dying.”
“No. You’re living. We’re living. Right here, together. It’s been suggested dying would separate us forever, and I refuse to let you go.”

The Aquarius series is a two-parter: first is BECOMING CALDER followed by FINDING EDEN. And thank goodness they both come out simultaneously. Even though Calder’s book leaves in a bit of a cliffhanger –and you know the hero and heroine live happily ever after—you STILL want to know how and when they got there. I mean, who wants to be left in limbo wondering “So, did love conquer all or not?” I guess we will find out in the conclusion.

Rating: 5 stars

Favorite quotes and scenes:

“Do you know anything about morning glories? A morning glory is a beautiful flower, delicate-like. Blue, just like your eyes. But the thing about a morning glory? The thing about a morning glory is if you let it, it will totally take over your crops, because it’s not just a flower. It’s also a weed, totally invasive. Stronger than it looks. The point is, you don’t have to be just a flower or a weed. You can be both. I figure some people are both.”

Your mouth finds mine in the darkness and the taste of you makes every part of me ache with want—my body, my skin, and my heart. I know you in the dark, just as I know you under the bright daytime sun.

“Make love to me. I want you so much I ache.”
“I can’t. Not here. Not like this. I want to, believe me, I want to –more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. But I have to know you’re mine—“
“I am yours. I’ve always been yours. I’ll be yours here on earth, in Elysium. I’ll fight the gods if I have to. I’ll stand before them and declare it.”
“Where do you find your strength, Morning Glory?”
“From you.”

Series: A Sign of Love #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Self-Published

Publication Date: 10/5/14

GoodReads | Amazon

**Finding Eden is the continuation of Becoming Calder. Both books will release simultaneously, October 5, 2014**

Jessica's Review

“Isn’t it funny how we’re all just bouncing around in this crazy world, our own stories, our own hurts, all weaving together, changing outcomes, sometimes good, sometimes bad…”

“Treasure the second chance you’ve been given. Be proud of yourself. You don’t hold responsibility for any of it—not one piece. You were victims. But don’t live like victims. Live like survivors.”

We were left off in quite the chaotic cliffhanger in BECOMING CALDER. This is the sequel to Calder and Eden’s love affair. The conclusion of not only these two lovely souls, but it also delves a bit more into Calder and Xander’s friendship, and also the other people that cross them in their bumpy path. We find out how Calder, Eden and Xander dealt with the exodus of Acadia and the aftermath of dealing with the real world.

“Sometimes it seemed so much of the beauty in life resulted from the ugly. And how did you make sense of such things? How could you be thankful for something when so much suffering was necessary to bring it to you? Or was that the very thing that defined real beauty—light after darkness? And maybe that was the whole point. If you constantly sought beauty in the most obvious places, in only the brightest of circumstances, perhaps you weren’t really looking for it at all.”

We know these two books deal with the love story of the two main characters. However, there was another character that really touched my heart just as much. It’s Calder and Eden’s best friend, Xander. I’ve mentioned him a few times in previous paragraphs. What I didn’t mention is just how BEAUTIFUL the friendship between these three best friends, but especially that of the two boys. Xander is considered more the sidekick, or the joker of three. He was the comic relief of not only Calder, Eden and those around him, but also to the readers that needed the breather time to get through the story.

“By the way, ‘Throw Back Thursday’ was a big success. I got about a thousand likes.”
“It was an incredible painting.”
“It’s the subject that makes that painting great. God, I was even good-looking at ten.”

However, Xander was also the one person that could get Calder to come back to reality and keep him from jumping off the ledge. Literally. The love and devotion he had for Calder was the sort of friendship that is not seen even in real life nowadays. They loved each other as children and grew up loving each other as adults. They were true brothers in every sense of the word. My eyes got a bit misty in Xander’s way with Calder.

“You carried me for twenty miles on your back once. Twenty miles. And if you hadn’t, I would have been at Acadia that horrific day, too. I would probably be dead now. Would you have left me that day? Did you leave me that day?"
“No. Never.”
“Then take my hand. Let me carry you. It’s my turn. Don’t deny me that. Whatever I have…”
“I know.”

As time passes, each finds love in other people. Not to worry though. They don’t fall in ‘romantic’ love with other people. But they do find other loves: maternal love, paternal love, artistic love, love for music, and love thought to be lost forever. There is so much love coming from of the beloved characters, you know that love WILL conquer after all. And really, isn’t that what makes the world go round? (Sidenote: This was a bit of an ‘issue’ for me, if you even want to call it that. The declaration of too much outpouring love and the horny bunnies having sex all the time, made me a bit stand offish from this book. Don’t mind me. I have no idea when I become such a prude)

BECOMING CALDER/FINDING EDEN were much anticipated books for me. As soon as Ms. Sheridan announced that the Aquarius sign was the next novel in her zodiac series, I was UBER thrilled. (My sign is Aquarius!)And behold my excitement when I was able to get my hands on a pair of ARCs. I squeeled like a 14-year-old teenybopper. See, I’ve been reading Ms. Sheridan’s books since her very first one came out. *whispering* I think I may have emailed stalked her with my million questions since the very beginning as well. See, this author has captivated me with her writing, her story telling and her characters that even after you finish the book, stays with you in your heart and in your head. When you see Mia Sheridan is the author, you KNOW that you will be swept away to a land you don’t want to come from. Her writing is stunning. I not only recommend these books, but all her books in this series.

Rating: 4 stars

Favorite quote/scene: (Please not this is very spoilery and a bit longer than usual)

“I know what she was like at ten. She was brave, little dreamer, who had an unbreakable spirit. She was mighty enough to snatch my heart right from my chest…Fourteen was when she really started to glow and suddenly, I couldn’t look away. I wanted to. Because where we came from, it was a dangerous thing to notice. Anytime she was in the room, it was like the whole place was bathed in her warmth. Does that sound like an exaggeration? Maybe overly dramatic, poetic words from a boy who has loved her his whole life? They’re not. It’s just the truth. Eden blossomed into a woman before my very eyes, and although there wasn’t anyone there to help her do that, she did it with grace completely by herself. It’s her strength, her unwavering courage, the thing that makes her the most beautiful in my eyes…When she was sixteen, she had the power to take my very breath away. And she did it often. She made me miserable and blissful, and everything in between. I didn’t know a lot of the world at the time. And as it turns out, I knew even less that I thought I did. I led a simple life. I bathed in a river until I was eighteen years old…But what I did know was that I loved a girl. And I knew I loved her in a way I’d never, ever recover from. I knew I loved her to the very core of myself. And I knew she love me back…I also know what it feels like to lose her. I know what it feels like to have a piece of your heart missing. I know what it feels like when the person who’s your whole life is stolen from you and each day bleeds into the next in a blur of misery and longing. And I know what it feels like when your life is unexpectedly, miraculously returned to you. We lived through things so horrific and unfathomable that most of the time I can’t ever bear to re-tell it all to myself. But what I’ve been thinking about all day today is the beauty we experienced, the love, and the wonder. I needed so much just to sit with that because somehow in the midst of the immense grief, I’d blocked out all the light, and there was so much of it, wasn’t there?”

I’m Mia Sheridan and this is my blog! I’m an avid reader, and now writer! of romance and erotic novels. I live in Cincinnati, Ohio with my husband who is a police officer and my biggest fan (not necessarily in that order). We have four children here on earth and one in heaven. When I’m not sitting on my couch with my head buried in my Kindle, I can be found writing or doing anything creative from building a patio, to sewing pillows. The wild hairs I get know no bounds. Leo is my debut novel, but my head is swimming with more…

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Seven Reasons to Read Reaper's Stand (Reapers MC #4) by Joanna Wylde

2014-10-01T21:35:00.000-07:00

Series: Reapers MC #4

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Berkley Trade

Publication Date: 9/2/14
Format: ARC
Pages: 336
Source: Publisher
Rating: 5 stars

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As Reapers Motorcycle Club president, Reese “Picnic” Hayes has given his entire life to the club. After losing his wife, he knew he’d never love another woman. And with two daughters to raise and a club to manage, that was just fine with him. These days, Reese keeps his relationships free and easy—he definitely doesn’t want to waste his time on a glorified cleaning lady like London Armstrong.

Too bad he’s completely obsessed with her.

Besides running her own business, London’s got her junkie cousin’s daughter to look after—a more reckless than average eighteen-year-old. Sure she’s attracted to the Reapers’ president, but she’s not stupid. Reese Hayes is a criminal and a thug. But when her young cousin gets caught up with a ruthless drug cartel, Reese might be the only man who can help her. Now London has to make the hardest decision of her life—how far will she go to save her family?

First Line Should I look him in the eye when I killed him or just shoot him in the back?

Special Event: All Things Pretty by M. Leighton

2014-09-30T21:46:00.000-07:00

Please join us in celebrating the release of All Things Pretty, the third book in the Pretty Series, by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author M. Leighton!

What we have for you today is an excerpt. It's not just any excerpt, we want you to find the pretty in the excerpt. Your guess at what the pretty is, will be your entry for the giveaway!

Ex: My mile high Louboutin's were killing my feet.

Guess: shoes

Title: All Things Pretty (Pretty #3)

Author: M. Leighton

Age group: New Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: 9/30/14

Goodreads

Pretending to be something they’re not, afraid to trust anyone completely, destined to tear each other apart– this is the story of unlikely love and unbearable consequences.

Sig Locke is a cop. He was raised by a cop and all his brothers are cops. He bleeds blue, believes in right and wrong, and sees in black and white, never in shades of gray.

But that was before he met Tommi.

Tommi, with her long legs and bright green eyes, she captured Sig’s interest from the moment he saw her. Even after he discovered who she was–the girlfriend of a drug dealer, the beauty behind a criminal–he still found her utterly irresistible. What Sig doesn’t know, however, is that she has a secret even a cop can’t uncover.

Tommi Lawrence hasn’t had an easy life, and it only got more complicated the day she met Sig. She learned long ago that she can’t trust anyone. Her gut tells her that Sig is no exception, her heart tells her that he is. But that was before she found out his real identity.

Can love be forged in a fire of lies? Or will the truth destroy them both?

My body aches. Just at the thought of him.

I close my eyes, effortlessly conjuring Sig’s liquid brown eyes, his perfectly sculpted mouth, his big, slightly rough hands. God!

Almost of their own accord, my palms drift over my breasts, pausing to tease the throbbing nipples, just like Sig would do. Like he did. I recall the feel of his mouth there, hot and open. Riling my body into a flurry of want and need. My core responds to my thoughts, sending a gush of heat southward. I move my hands down. Farther and farther. Closer to the place where the ache is strongest, where the emptiness is deepest.

I cup my center as my mind elicits Sig’s fingers, his lips, his tongue, delving inside me. Filling yet not totally, satisfying yet not completely. Teasing. Toying. Making me crazy. He knew I needed more, craved more. He was just enjoying the rise, the climb, until he could drive his body into mine and quench this excruciating thirst.

But my touch isn’t Sig’s. No matter how tightly I close my eyes, no matter how much I concentrate, no matter how much I wish it were his, it’s not. It isn’t his hands or his mouth. His kiss or his scent. His laugh or his growl. I’m in my bathroom. In my home. Alone, for all intents and purposes. Exactly what I don’t want to be right now.

Frustrated, I pull the plug to drain the tub before stepping out and toweling off. Standing in the steamy room, I rub scented lotion over every inch of my hyper sensitive skin, groaning with my want of something more.

I wipe the moisture from the mirror and meet the wide eyes and flushed cheeks of my reflection. I’m startled by what’s written all over my face. Desire. Withering resistance. Increasing need.

I won’t be able to stop myself from giving in to him. I know it as sure as I’m standing here. He’s like an addiction that has crept up on me unawares and taken over. I’m smart enough to realize when I’m fighting a losing battle. I’m also smart enough to realize that if I go about this wisely, we can both put an end to the torture and move on. Just once. One and done. It’s the way it has to be.

Enjoy tonight. Move on tomorrow.

But we can have tonight.

Tonight will be for us.

Sig.

And me.

And all that’s between us.

Just one night.

I stare at the same face, reflected now with subtle changes. Eyes bright with resolution, lips trembling with anticipation.

Once my mind is made up, I’m nearly frantic. I throw on shorts and a tee shirt–nothing spectacular since I don’t plan to be wearing it long–stopping only long enough to scribble Travis a note for when he gets home, telling him not to wait up and to call if he needs me. He’ll assume that I’m with Lance.

I don’t even bother pulling my hair out of its loose topknot. I simply grab my purse, lock the door and run to the car. I can’t get to his house quickly enough.

I’m out of breath when I make it to his door, knocking with all the urgency that I suddenly feel. When Sig finally appears in front of me, only a few short seconds (that felt like lifetimes) later, his expression is wild, like he was expecting something else. Trouble maybe?

His eyes meet mine, and we stand perfectly still and silent. He frowns for a second and then scans my face. His gaze travels over my flushed cheeks, my parted lips, down to my heaving chest. And then, as though he can somehow read my body and its intent, they flick suddenly back up to mine and stop.

For thirty second or so, a million unspoken things pass between us. There is doubt, indecision, a touch of fear. All on my part. In this moment, it’s driven home what a huge mistake I could be making.

On his face, one thing. A question. A single query. Can I walk away?

Can I?

With my heart beating an ancient rhythm against my ribs, marking me with a tattoo that I will forever be left with, I bask in the richness of his eyes, the beauty of his face and the acceptance of my choice, whatever it is. It’s all here, right in front of me. Someone who wants only me, to please me, to be with me. Nothing else.

That is what I can’t walk away from. Not just yet.

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Series reading order

All the Pretty Lies

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All the Pretty Poses

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All Things Pretty

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding wild horses, skiing the slopes of Aspen or scuba diving with a hot rock star, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

About Michelle: I love coffee and chocolate, even more so when they are combined. I'm convinced that one day they could be the basis for world peace. I also love the color red and am seriously considering dying my hair.

Michelle loves to hear from readers! You can find her (and she will chat your ear off) here

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Books That Need More Attention Giveaway Hop

2014-09-30T18:24:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my stop on the Books that Need More Attention hop. This hop is hosted by Val at Stuck in Books. I'm always happy to recommend books, especially those gems that haven't hit the mainstream. Here are my recommendations.

If you're looking for dark, romantic, mysterious and sexy

If you want creepy, romantic, and intriguing paranormal tale - perfect for Fall

I'm giving one winner two ebooks of their choice from those listed above. Open Intl.

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Review and Giveaway: Bound by Night and Chained by Night by Larissa Ione

2014-09-29T21:42:00.000-07:00

Series: MoonBound Clan Vampire #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Pocket Books
Publication Date: 9/24/13
Format: Paperback
Pages: 400
Source: Publisher
Rating: 3.5 stars

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Larissa Ione's bestselling Demonica series has captivated fans with its sensual blend of dark passion and demonic fury. Now she takes you to another intoxicating world—where a dangerous clan of wild vampires rules the night...

A WOMAN OUT FOR BLOOD

Nicole Martin was only eight years old when the vampire slaves rose up in rebellion and killed her family. Now she devotes her life to finding a vaccine against vampirism, hoping to wipe out her memories—along with every bloodsucker on the planet. But there’s one thing she cannot destroy: her searing, undeniable attraction for the one man she should hate and fear the most . . .

A VAMPIRE OUT FOR REVENGE

A member of the renegade vampire MoonBound Clan, Riker is haunted by demons of his own. When he recognizes Nicole and remembers how her family enslaved his loved ones, his heart burns for vengeance. But when he kidnaps Nicole and holds her in a secret lair, his mortal enemy becomes his soul obsession, his greatest temptation, and, perhaps, his only salvation—a hot-blooded lover who could heal him with her touch . . . or bury him forever.

My Thoughts

First Line The vampires were behaving weird today. (big understatement!)

And so begins my journey with Larissa Ione's Bound by Night, the first book in her MoonBound Clan Vampire series. I've been itching to try a new paranormal series, and found Bound by Night to be sexy, unique, and slightly scary.

- Larissa Ione's mythology/world-building was very creative and read unique to me. Like a lot of readers, I devoured tons of vampire-related books for a few years, and finally tired out when they began to all feel the same. Here, we have a vampire race based on a Native American legend, which I've personally not found before.

- In addition to the history of the vampire race in general, we also have a heavy history between humans and vampires. Apparently, the vampires "came out" around eighty years prior, with the humans nearly taking them over twenty years after. When I say the humans took over, I mean the humans were horrific to the vampires. In the forty years since, the vampires have made some strides in gaining rights, but are still severely threatened in the present day. We readers learn this history along with heroine Nicole Martin, who only knew what her family presented to her.

- What if you fell in love with your worst nightmare? This is the question facing Riker and Nicole. This leading couple have a strained and complicated relationship that most book couples could only hope for. This isn't a case of having your feelings easily hurt, or simply looking for trouble. The issues between Riker and Nicole are huge. Such as: the fact she believes he killed his pregnant mate - her childhood nanny, her family's corporation has made a business and fortune off researching, terrorizing, brutalizing, and even enslaving vampires for decades. A practice Riker blames for killing his mate and unborn child. See? These are huge issues, ones that are virtually impossible to overcome right? Well, no, because....

- Ione gives us a couple that can believably overcome all the obstacles between them. I had no idea how Riker and Nicole could ever be together, given all that's between them. My gosh, I couldn't even see them being attracted to one another or even acting on it, but she sold it and she sold it completely. I loved them as a couple and if they can not be murdered by crazy rival vampires, or family, then I believe they can make a go of it.

- The world of the MoonBound Clan Vampire series is not for kids, guys. I've found that when I read Paranormal and Urban Fantasy, I want the world to be dark and dangerous. Ione doesn't play around. Her vampires aren't sweet and they aren't vegetarians. They are can be brutal and go half-crazed with blood lust and sexual lust. And speaking of lust, I loved how sensual these creatures were. I loved how the moon cycles got them all ramped up, and how sexy feeding could be. Good, good stuff.

- With a good start cast and a big cast of secondary characters, this series has so much potential with future installments. Clan leader Hunter's book is up next. He's knowledgeable in the oldest legends and customs of the world, and his story has been set up to be crazy intense. Myne, another vampire and close friend to Riker is another character whom I hope will receive a story.

So yeah. Bound by Night was excellent. It was sexy and intense and exactly what I was looking for.

Favorite Quotes

"Go fuck yourself."
Hunter, MoonBound clan's leader, leaned back in his chair and gave Riker an expectant look. "Go fuck yourself...?" He made a come on gesture with his fingers. "Finish the sentence." Riker rolled his eyes. "Go fuck yourself...sir."
Nodding his dark head in satisfaction, Hunter kicked his boots up onto the scarred oak conference table. "Better."

"It's true. You Os are lame. Too metallic-tasting. My favorite is B-positive. There's a spicy aftertaste I love." She frowned. " It's so rare, though."
"You need to be eating Asian people." Nicole checked on Grant's whereabouts-far across room, thank God. "Asians have the highest percentage of b-positive blood."
"Really?"[....]
"Um...you pretend I didn't say that?"
"Nope. I'm so taking a trip to Chinatown tomorrow."

Series: MoonBound Clan Vampire #2

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Pocket Books

Publication Date: 9/30/13

Format: Paperback

Pages: 400

Source: Publisher

Rating: 3 stars

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THE FUTURE OF HIS TRIBE

Leader of the vampire clan MoonBound, Hunter will do what he must to save his people from extinction—or worse, a torturous eternity as vampire slaves and subjects of human experimentation.To keep his enemies at bay, he has agreed to mate a rival clan leader’s daughter in return for peace between the clans and an ally in the looming war with the humans.

THE LOVER OF HIS SOUL

But survival comes at a price. First, Hunter must break an ancient curse by successfully negotiating three deadly tests. Then he must resist the searing passions of the gorgeous vampire warrior he despises but is bound to mate. Will Hunter stay true to his word? Or will he risk everything for the woman he really loves: the vampire seductress’s identical twin sister?

First Line In a secret club blaring rock music and laughter, raised shot glasses brimming with whiskey clinked together like death knells.

As I mentioned in my review of Bound by Night, I was anxious to read clan leader Hunter's story. Given that he is burdened by life as a ruler, and that he's set to mate with a woman he despises, I expected a lot of angst on his part, and there was. I liked Chained by Night, but I've found that by the time I finished it, I was ready to be. I left the story feeling that I was okay with the story, really liked some moments, and in the end, it was a good enough read.

What I liked about Chained by Night was the forbidden relationship between Hunter and Aylin. It doesn't get much more complicated than falling for your intended mate's twin, right? Right. It doesn't matter that Hunter needs the mating to go off to keep peace among the vampire clans. And it doesn't matter that Aylin has been promised to another clan leader, no matter how brutal he's rumored to be. The two have fantastic chemistry, with a lot of passion and understanding between them. The heart wants what it wants, and no matter how much they fight it, Hunter's and Aylin's choose each other.

I also like the quest that truly brings Hunter and Aylin together, and the premise behind it. In an effort to save Hunter's future firstborn child, he and Aylin must complete several tasks set in place by the demon who created the vampires. Oh, and there's the pesky detail that the two have to be naked and feeding off one another to get in and out of that realm. Not at all convenient to putting these two together, huh?

That convenience leads me to the couple of issues I had with the book. The many conveniences that come their way. Maybe I'm being nitpicky, but the fact that whatever it is these two need just happens to be handy, or that they suddenly develop the ability, annoyed me. They need a way out? Oh! Aylin can create portals! Like I said, I'm nitpicky. There was also the fact that the bad guys - Aylin's father, her twin, and another leader, were all so "bad" that they came across as caricatures. I like my baddies to by sly and slick, truly chilling. But these are personal preferences.

So overall, this seems to have had a lukewarm tone, which, yeah, I guess that is exactly how I felt about Chained by Night. I liked the two main characters, still enjoy the world Ione has created, and I liked the passionate chemistry. I didn't love the obstacles, and how easily some were overcome, and the action sequences sometimes felt overwhelming. I am curious to see if clan member Myne gets a story. I have a feeling his will be very interesting.

Favorite Quote

He gazed up at the endlessly gray clouds and wondered if they'd fill the sky on the other side of the portal. "We do this."
"And what, exactly, is this?"
"Mutual feeding." Just the thought of Aylin's fangs in his throat again made him, instantly, painfully, hard.
Aylin blinked. "Why?"
"Because demons are assholes," he muttered.

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Larissa Ione penned her first novel at the age of 13 and hasn't stopped writing since. She has been a U.S. Air Force meteorologist, an EMT, and a professional dog trainer, and you never know when one of those interests will pop into her novels.

She lives a nomadic existence with her U.S. Coast Guard husband and son, so her writing career has been a blessing -- a job that moves easily.

She writes dark paranormal romance for Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner Books,) and contemporary romance for Red Sage and Samhain. Under the pen name Sydney Croft, she writes erotic action adventure romance with partner Stephanie Tyler.

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Clearing My Shelves

2014-09-29T12:58:00.000-07:00

It's time to clear more space! I have 3 sets of books up for grabs, just fill out the rafflecopter to be entered. Good luck!

Set #1

Set #2

Set #3

Normal by Graeme Campbell (releases 2015)

Can enter more than once. Open to US only.

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Review: Hope Burns (Hope #3) by Jaci Burton

2014-09-28T21:43:00.000-07:00

Series: Hope #3

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Jove

Publication Date: 9/30/14

Format: eARC

Pages: 304

Source: Publisher

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Molly Burnett and Carter Richards share a painful past, one that sent Molly running out of town, vowing never to return. The only thing bringing her back is her sister’s wedding, and she doesn’t intend to stay long. But circumstances force her to remain in town, and within close distance of the one man who hurt her more than she’d ever been hurt before. Can the two of them face down the past and work together toward the possibility of love and happiness in Hope?

First Line This wedding was going to be a disaster.

The Friday Five - 9/26/14

2014-09-25T21:31:00.000-07:00

Hey. It's Friday again! And I have trivial bits to share with you.

1 - "Sex Things Men Don't Care About" I saw this Cosmo article over the weekend and have been dying to share it since. I disregard approximately 99.3% of whatever I see in that magazine, but this totally cracked me up. And according to my husband, it's pretty much accurate.

Here's my favorite line: "Even starfish have buttholes and they don't have anything."

2 - I meant to include this in last week's post. Last week's Apple update brought some cool new stuff (that's the technical term, right?) to users. I haven't played with everything yet, but am in love with the Kindle update. Here's an article with details and instructions. My two favorite aspects are

Today widget, which keeps your latest reads in the forefront

And the newest love of my life, the ability to copy and paste! Cos y'all know I love to share book quotes.

(Sorry the pics turned out so shitty. )

3 - I am in love, love, love with The ZigZag Stripe. I found this online clothing store on Facebook, and I feel like it's changed my life. I rarely even look at clothes anywhere else, which makes my husband happy when we hit the mall. On the other hand, I think he's started cringing when he checks the mail. And the credit card bill. The clothes are reasonably priced, fit well, look great, and are super stylish. They also have free shipping.

Here's an outfit I love. And of course, bought.

And here's an outfit I have my eye on. It WILL be mine.

4 - I'm officially calling bullshit on all the romance books and shows that make us believe all firefighters are hot. My daughter's Daisy Troop visited our local fire station yesterday, and there wasn't one damn studly firefighter to be found. I won't lie, I was dismayed.

5 - I'm not even going to get into the fact tomorrow is the mid-season finale of Outlander. I'll save my whining for next week. But I've started craving good television again, and need some recommendations. I'm a fan of shows like Outlander (duh), The Leftovers, True Detective, Girls. I guess, gritty or different. I'm thinking of trying Black Sails, even though friends say it's not all that. Do you have any recs?

I hope you have a happy weekend! It's supposed to be in the low-80s here. The girl and I are going to put up some Fall decorations.

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon - A Gif-Filled Reaction Post

2014-09-24T21:33:00.000-07:00

MY REVIEW IS SPOILER-FREE (FOR THE SERIES) BUT THE BOOK DESCRIPTION DOES HAVE SPOILERS

Series: Outlander #2
Genre: Historical Fic/Romance/Time Travel
Publisher: Bantam Dell
Publication Date: 10/9/01
Format: Audio/Print
Pages: 947
Source: Purchase

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From the author of Outlander... a magnificent epic that once again sweeps us back in time to the drama and passion of 18th-century Scotland...

For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland's majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones ...about a love that transcends the boundaries of time ...and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his ....

Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire's spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart ...in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising ...and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves....

SPOILER-FREE, for Outlander and Dragonfly in Amber

Opening Lines I woke three times in the dark predawn. First in sorrow, then in joy, and at last, in solitude. ~ prologue