Love To Read For Fun

Review: Never a Hero by Marie Sexton

2013-05-23T09:21:00.002-04:00

Title: Never a Hero
Series: Tucker Springs, #5
Author: Marie Sexton
Published: May 13, 2013
Pages: 167
Genre: M/M romance
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Riptide
Rating: C
Reviewed by: Marq

summary from Goodreads
Everyone deserves a hero.

Owen Meade is desperately in need of a hero. Raised by a mother who made him ashamed of his stutter, his sexual orientation, and his congenitally amputated arm, Owen lives like a hermit in his Tucker Springs apartment. But then hunky veterinarian Nick Reynolds moves in downstairs.

Nick is sexy and confident, and makes Owen comfortable with himself in a way nobody ever has. He also introduces Owen to his firecracker of a little sister, who was born with a similar congenital amputation but never let it stand in her way. When she signs the two of them up for piano lessons—and insists that they play together in a recital—Owen can’t find a way to say no. Especially since it gives him a good excuse to spend more time with Nick.

Owen knows he’s falling hard for his neighbor, but every time he gets close, Nick inexplicably pulls away. Battling his mother’s scorn and Nick’s secrets, Owen soon realizes that instead of waiting for a hero, it’s time to be one—for himself and for Nick.

Marq's thoughts:
I really enjoy the Tucker Springs series. Never a Hero is a sweet story. Owen has a disability and has been living as a recluse. He is socially inept and stutters. He has a mother that verbally abuses him; puts him down because of his disability. But when Owen's new neighbor, Nick, moves in and treats him like a normal person, a relationship between the two starts to flourish. But Nick has his own demons and he doesn't want the relationship with Owen to be nothing more than a friendship. There's mutual attraction and Nick is desperately trying not to act on it.

Never a Hero is a great story about self-acceptance. Even though Owen can function with his disabled arm, he uses his disability as a crutch to be a hermit. He works from home. He doesn't socialize. Nick brings him out of his shell. I liked Owen and Nick and felt that their relationship and the ensuing conflict was real and genuine. I felt that Nick's sister being able to relate to Owen was too coincidental since Owen's disability is so rare. I would have preferred a different plot point for them to bond over. With that being said, an enjoyable story that can be read as a stand-alone.

Review: Tangled by Emma Chase

2013-05-21T13:30:00.000-04:00

Title: Tangled (The Tangled Series)
Series: Tangled, #1

Author: Emma Chase

Published: May 20, 2013

Pages: 254

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Source: Purchased

Publisher: Omnific

Rating: B+

Reviewed by: Marq

Favorite quote: "She talks like you. It's not every day you hear a four-year-old say Prince Charming is a douchebag who's only holding Cinderella back."

summary from Goodreads

Drew Evans is a winner. Handsome and arrogant, he makes multimillion dollar business deals and seduces New York’s most beautiful women with just a smile. He has loyal friends and an indulgent family. So why has he been shuttered in his apartment for seven days, miserable and depressed?

He’ll tell you he has the flu.

But we all know that’s not really true.

Katherine Brooks is brilliant, beautiful and ambitious. She refuses to let anything - or anyone - derail her path to success. When Kate is hired as the new associate at Drew’s father’s investment banking firm, every aspect of the dashing playboy’s life is thrown into a tailspin. The professional competition she brings is unnerving, his attraction to her is distracting, his failure to entice her into his bed is exasperating.

Then, just when Drew is on the cusp of having everything he wants, his overblown confidence threatens to ruin it all. Will he be able untangle his feelings of lust and tenderness, frustration and fulfillment? Will he rise to the most important challenge of his life?

Can Drew Evans win at love?

Tangled is not your mother’s romance novel. It is an outrageous, passionate, witty narrative about a man who knows a lot about women…just not as much as he thinks he knows. As he tells his story, Drew learns the one thing he never wanted in life, is the only thing he can’t live without.

Marq's thoughts:
It's rare when a romance book is told from the hero's POV. That's what made me buy Tangled. I read the blurb and skimmed a few reviews and decided to give Drew a chance. Let me just say I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Drew Evans is an asshole. He's a womanizer. He's good-looking and he knows it. He talks bad about women. Calls his older sister The Bitch and is an overall douche canoe. But I like him! I liked him so much. Sure some of the things he said made me cringe but then he also made me laugh. But his honesty and self-deprecating humor makes him likable even when he's being assholish.

Drew can have any woman he wants except for Kate Brooks. After coming onto her at a bar, Drew finds out the next day that Kate is the new employee at his dad's company. Drew has a rule: He doesn't fuck where he works. Plus Kate is engaged. So Kate is off-limits. But then they are forced to work together and their relationship becomes tense and competitive as they work to win an account. Their fighting is hilarious and reminds me of the movie "War of the Roses." The insults thrown and the attempts to sabotage the other adds some hilarious moments to the story. During all this, despite that Kate could be a threat to Drew professionally Drew is drawn to Kate even more. He's not only attracted to her physically but he's also attracted to her ambition, her mind and her work dedication.

Kate has been engaged to her high school sweetheart for 10 years. She is aware of Drew's reputation and knows to steer clear. But when her hatred of Drew turns into passion, Kate knows she must keep her distance. But Drew makes it impossible because he shows Kate a different kinder side when he's not annoying the hell out of her.

"I can take a joke," she tells me, sounding insulted.

"Yeah? When?"

"When it's not being delivered by a childish jackass who thinks he's God's gift to women."

"I am not childish."

God's gift on the other hand? My record speaks for itself.

The saying "there's a thin line between love and hate" definitely applies to Drew and Kate's relationship. Their fiery arguments consists of insults and passionate kissing. Kate is a smart woman. She's strong. She knows that Drew is no-good but there's something about him that she can't resist. Drew is unapologetic about who he is. He celebrates it. Brags about it. He's a douche. But he also loves his niece and this is one of his BIG redeeming qualities. When his niece, Mackenzie, tells him she wants to be a princess and wants to marry a prince, Drew quickly tells her she can be a CEO of her own company and doesn't need a prince to rescue her. I love that! And I totally agree with his stance on cats.

I hate cats. They're kind of evil-looking, don't you think? Like they're just waiting for you to fall asleep so they can smother you with their fur or piss in your ear.

Even though Drew is a womanizing asshole, I liked reading the story in his POV. He's entertaining and pulls no punches. He had me laughing when I probably shouldn't have and that made him even more likable. I felt like he was taking me on a journey and I enjoyed the ride.

I did have a love/hate relationship with Drew while reading Tangled but by the end of the book, I loved him. He falls in love - madly, deeply in love. He becomes the kind of man that he used to make fun of. Drew goes through great lengths to prove his love to Kate. Drew definitely redeems himself in the end. I highly recommend this book. If you can handle Drew asshole-ness knowing that he is redeemed in the end, I say go buy Tangled now!

Review: Sun, Sand, Sex by Linda Lael Miller, Jennifer Apodaca, Shelly Laurenston

2013-05-21T11:30:00.001-04:00

Title: Sun, Sand, Sex
Series: The Long Island Coven, #1
Authors: Linda Lael Miller, Jennifer Apodaca, Shelly Laureston
Published: April 30, 2013
Pages: 352
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher (Kensington)
Rating: B
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “And how would I call you, Nick? Look you up under one-night stands in the phone book?”

summary from Goodreads
What's better than a long, lazy day at the shore? Think beach-blanket bingo with a sizzling hottie (or three). So sit back, relax, and don't worry about tan lines, because in this scorching collection, swimsuits are definitely optional...

LINDA LAEL MILLER
One Last Weekend
College sweethearts Teague and Joanna Darby, once passionately in love, are on the brink of divorce. When a ferry strike leaves them stranded together at their beloved beach cottage, it could be the most awkward weekend ever. Or the perfect chance to fall for each other all over again-one steamy encounter at a time...

JENNIFER APODACA
You Give Love a Good Name
Lexie Rollins is a wedding planner on the lam. All she did was defend herself (with a staple gun) against a sleazy groom-who knew the Assault and Battery charges would stick? Now Lexie's "vacation" at an exclusive resort has put her at the top of gorgeous bounty hunter Nick Vardolous's list. And Nick always gets his woman-every which way imaginable...

SHELLY LAURENSTON
My Kind of Town (The Long Island Coven #1)
Deputy Kyle Treharne of seaside Smithville, North Carolina, hates Yankees-even exotically beautiful ones like Emma Lucchesi. The sexy New Yorker's got trouble written all over her, and she knows more than she's telling about the increasingly strange goings-on in his town. But if the lady's got a few tricks up her sleeve, so does the lawman. And it's high time for every wicked thing to be deliciously revealed...

Ellie's thoughts:
Sun, Sand, Sex is a collection of three novella/short stories by three amazing authors. I enjoyed the book as a whole but I would have bought it just to read My Kind of Town by Shelly Laurenston. All three stories are very fun and this is a great book for lying around by the pool or beach this summer.

One Last Weekend by Linda Lael Miller is the shortest story and revolves around a couple, Teague and Joanna, who are finalizing their divorce. Their lawyer, who happens to be a long time friend, insists they spend one last weekend together at their cottage before signing the divorce papers. I wish One Last Weekend had been a little longer but I still really enjoyed it. I found both of the characters to be adorable and I was so happy with everything that happened for them. Overall grade: B

You Give Love a Bad Name by Jennifer Apodaca takes place with wedding planner Lexie Rollins hiding away at a couples resort in San Diego. Lexie was charged with assault by a former groom and has skipped town because she knows someone is stalking her. Nick Vardolous is the bounty hunter charged with bringing her back but these two have a past and Nick will do everything he can to save the woman he cares for. This started out great and I loved the chemistry and banter between Lexie and Nick but the ending ruined the whole thing and I found myself really disappointed with how things turned out. Overall Grade: C

My Kind of Town by Shelly Laurenston was the whole reason I had to read Sun, Sand, Sex. I am a huge fan of her Pride series and while this book doesn’t involve any of the characters we know and love it does take place in Smithville and is filled with all types of crazy shifters. Kye Treharne is a deputy and in charge of taking care of the cute human Emma Lucchesi who has stumbled into the wrong town. Little does Kyle know there's much more to Emma and he soon can’t get enough of her. I devoured this story and am now wanting more! I love the spin off that might take place here with Emma and her friends and all I can say is PLEASE LET THIS HAPPEN! I loved Emma and Kyle plus all the new characters that are introduced and I really want to go back to Smithville and see what crazy things happen next. Overall Grade: A.

Sun, Sand, Sex is a good book even with the ups and downs of the three different stories. I think any romance or paranormal romance fan will find what they are looking for in this book and like I said before if you are a fan of Shelly Laurenston, her novella is worth buying the whole book.

Review: Come Undone by Jessica Hawkins

2013-05-20T11:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Come Undone (The Cityscape Series)
Series: Cityscape, #1
Author: Jessica Hawkins
Published: January 1, 2013
Pages: 288
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: NetGalley
Rating: D
Reviewed by: Marq

summary from Goodreads
Olivia Germaine has already found love. Devoted wife, loyal friend, determined career woman - she’s created the life she always envisioned.

But when Olivia locks eyes with a handsome stranger across a crowded room, he peers a little too closely and sees emotions she thought she’d buried long ago.

David Dylan, alleged playboy and eternal bachelor, challenges Olivia to confront the life she’s built and to make decisions that could either lead to happiness . . . or regret.

Will Olivia be able to draw the line between lust and love?

And can David respect that line?

Marq's thoughts:
I'm going to preface by saying that I have no problems with cheating in my romances. It happens in real life. Not everyone is happy in their relationship. No excuse to cheat but I'm not going to NOT read a book because the plot involves cheating. With that being said, I did not enjoy this book. Not because the heroine, Olivia, cheats on her husband. I did not enjoy it because I didn't like the characters at all. Not one of them was sympathetic except maybe Bill but I don't know enough about him to fully form an opinion. Come Undone is another story told in 1st person POV where I wanted to immediately be out of Olivia's head.

Olivia has been married to Bill for 3 years. He's a lawyer and she's an editorial assistant. Their marriage from all appearances is a good one. Olivia may not be thoroughly happy but she's content. Until she lays eyes on David Dylan. Renowned architect and womanizer, the sparks fly the moment they set eyes on each other. Their first encounter is across a crowded lobby at a theater. They don't speak. There are no introductions. Just staring. Which is why I had a problem with David becoming so obsessed with Olivia from that one encounter!

David comes off as stalkerish and a little crazy. He immediately thinks he owns Olivia and that she owes him something. Even though she tells him she's married, he doesn't let up. He shows up at her work, hires her friend to be his personal sylist. He does whatever it takes to entrench himself, someway, into Olivia's life.

A normal woman would be a little scared but Olivia is intrigued and attracted. She tries to keep their relationship strictly business. Even suggest that they try to be friends but of course, that doesn't work. In the meanwhile, Bill wants to do what every other married couple does -- start a family, buy a house in the suburbs. Olivia isn't sure she's ready for any of it. And this causes tension in their relationship.

I really didn't like Olivia. From the beginning, you could tell she didn't want to be married to Bill. She has issues because of her parents' divorce, so she isn't open emotionally with her husband. She makes him use condoms because she doesn't want to get pregnant. Doesn't want to take the pill cause a friend of hers gained 10 lbs while on the Pill. Really? Isn't the benefit of being in a monogamous relationship is not having to use condoms! That alone tells you how selfish she is.

What I found interesting and maybe this is a ploy by the author to make the reader be more sympathetic to Olivia's cheating, is that the sex scenes with Bill were short, non-descriptive and boring without Olivia being able to achieve orgasm. Ha! I guess all married sex is like that. meanwhile the sex scene with David is long, descriptive, hot and Olivia achieving multiple orgasms. So of course Olivia is gonna cheat with someone sexier, hotter and who can give her multiple O's.

I had no sympathy for Olivia at all. I feel like she put herself in the situation she's in. She's not open emotionally with her husband. She's constantly nitpicking about his appearance, his attitude, his job. Nothing Bill does works for her. I wouldn't be surprised if Bill isn't cheating on her because she is so closed off.

Come Undone was enjoyable enough where I was able to finish the book but I'm not sure if I'm going to read the second book. I honestly did not feel any chemistry between Olivia and David. David was more creepy than sexy. I want Bill to dump Olivia and for her friends to turn on her. I really didn't like this chick. And it had nothing to do with the cheating. Olivia as a person sucks. I am curious to find out how all of this plays out. We'll see.

Cover Reveal: Risk and Reward by Alisha Rai

2013-05-20T08:48:00.000-04:00

Risk and Reward is Book 2 in the Bedroom Games series, Wyatt and Tatiana's story continues. Expected publication late June/early July 2013.

Blurb currently not available.

Play With Me, book 1 of the series, is available now and it's really good.

Purchase links for Play With Me:
Amazon
B&N
Kobo

Winner!

2013-05-16T20:39:00.000-04:00

Thanks to everyone who entered my Box of Books giveaway.

The winner is:
gamistress66

Congratulations! Email has been sent. You have 72 hours to respond.

Early Review: Binding Agreement by Kyra Davis

2013-05-16T09:03:00.000-04:00

Title: Binding Agreement
Series: Just One Night, #3
Author: Kyra Davis
Release Date: May 20, 2013
Pages: 128
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher (Pocket Star)
Rating: D
Reviewed by: Marq

summary from Goodreads
As her affair threatens her job and the sexy billionaire Robert Dade becomes more controlling, Kasie has to figure out if her passion is leading her down a path she really wants. She’s seduced by his gifts of power, success, and adventure, she’s overwhelmed by what he can make her feel with a single touch, the way he can make her ache for him with just a look. But is the cost of absolute power and pleasure a price Kasie can afford? And does she truly know this man who says he can give her everything…or is he still a stranger after all?

Marq's thoughts:
Binding Agreement is the final installment of the Just One Night serial. After being slightly disappointed in Exposed, the second installment, I was hoping that Just One Night will go out with a bang but instead it ended with a whimper.

Kasie is settling into her new life with Mr. Dade. Thanks to his influence and machinations, Kasie is in a position of power. Anyone who dares to mess with her will be handled. At first Kasie, revels in this newfound power. It's seductive, being a power couple and being with a man who can give her anything that she wants. Kasie starts to question if she's headed in the right direction when Robert becomes more controlling.

Binding Agreement was a huge disappointment for me. Throughout the book, I really disliked Kasie and I think we're supposed to as she is drawn into Robert's seduction and manipulation and becomes just as seduced by power as he is. That's fine. But I didn't like the attempt to "redeem" both characters at the end. If they are going to be a power hungry couple who steps on anyone who gets in their way, then so be it. Own it. I would have liked the book more if that was the case.

Kasie's inner musings --which I've had a problem with since book 1-- are in full effect in Binding Agreement. This is when 1st person POV does not work for me because I want to get out of the character's head, especially when they are being annoying and too self-reflective.

I felt that Binding Agreement lacked the heat and intensity that made The Stranger so enjoyable. By the end, I disliked Robert, Kasie and everyone involved. The ending was too neat, anti-climatic and to be honest, pretty lame.

Review: Time Thief by Katie MacAlister

2013-05-15T13:30:00.000-04:00

Title: Time Thief
Series: Time Thief, #1
Author: Katie MacAlister
Published: May 7, 2013
Pages: 352
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: Publisher (Signet)
Rating: D
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “Unhand me, you deranged, if lovely, female!”

summary from Goodreads
Outcast due to their ability to manipulate time, shunned by the mortal and immortal worlds alike, a Traveller’s life is anything but easy.

Peter Faa is a member of the Watch tracking down a murderer, and unfortunately, all clues seem to point toward his own estranged family of Travellers. Any of his cousins could be guilty, but which one? They’re all experts in the art of stealing time...

After surviving a lightning strike, Kiya Mortenson is determined to get just one thing in her life right. And if that means taking a job as nanny to five pugs on a campsite in the Oregon wilderness, then so be it. It doesn’t hurt that the job comes with some spectacular male eye candy, including her new boss’s gorgeous grandson. If only she didn’t keep having this strange sense of deja vu...

When Peter discovers his own family is stealing time from Kiya, all bets are off. While she may drive him crazy at times, it’s clear that it’s not just lightning that’s creating some serious sparks between them. And he’s not going to let secrets, lies, or a devious murderer keep Kiya from where she belongs: at his side.

Ellie's thoughts:
Kiya Mortenson is not having a good day after being struck by lightning, for the second time, having her car breakdown in the middle of Oregon and losing the job she was covering for a friend. After meeting a friendly stranger, Kiya sets out to try to find work taking care of five rowdy pugs for an elderly Traveller woman. The Travellers are not very happy to have Kiya around but she needs the job to fix her car and get back to her life. The more time Kiya spends with the Travellers the more she learns about the supernatural world and her own past.

Peter Faa is a Traveller who was never accepted by his family and has spent his life as an outsider. Peter has devoted his life to being a member of The Watch, the supernatural cops, who are now investigating the Faa family for murder. Peter never expected to find an outsider living with his family and Kiya soon snags all of his attention. Peter knows someone in his family has committed murder but it will take Kiya’s help to discover the actual killer.

I am so disappointed in this book for so many reasons. I liked the beginning which is told by Kiya in first person but then the book switches to Peter’s point of view in second person. What??? I’ve never come across a book told like this and found it very distracting, confusing and annoying. This continues through the rest of the book and almost made me DNF the whole thing.

Kiya is one of the most annoying characters that I have ever read. She is flighty, ditzy and comes off as an idiot. She spends most of her time talking about her ego, id and superego or saying very inappropriate things that are supposed to come off as witty. I like my heroines to be strong, smart and sassy and Kiya was none of those things and just comes off as very immature thirty-two year old. Peter for some reason finds her adorable but spends his entire time yelling at her about bewitching him or how she is not smart. The two of them together drove me crazy.

As the book goes on and on it becomes even worse and again I have no idea why I kept reading. About halfway through we get one of the most awkward and unsexy sex scenes I’ve ever read. After this, Kiya and Peter made uncomfortably gross jokes about his ‘beefy cock’.For example: “Suddenly, he was there, beefy-filled condom and all, thrusting inside me in a manner that left me as the incoherent one.” I never want to read about a beefy-filled condom especially in a romance novel. Besides the bad sex these two are trying to solve a murder that is already solved but takes forever to wrap up.

Time Thief was a big fail in my opinion and I will not being reading anymore of this series.

Review: Game On by Tracy Solheim

2013-05-15T08:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Game On
Series: Out of Bounds, #1
Author: Tracy Solheim
Published: May 7, 2013
Pages: 304
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher (Berkley)
Rating: C
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “All you had to say was that you missed me, you idiot.”

summary from Goodreads
The only way to win is to score…

With a reputation for fast moves on the gridiron and even faster moves off the field, Shane Devlin was a player in every sense of the word. Unfortunately, his bad-boy persona has made him a risky prospect as a quarterback, and only the Baltimore Blaze are willing to give him a chance. And he’s about to take a hit he never expected.

Working for the Blaze, Carly March knows too well how jocks think—and what they think with—so she’s always made a point of keeping them at arm’s length. But when she shares a kiss with the devilishly handsome Shane, she finds it hard to play by her own rules—and even harder to resist him.

Can a football hero and a business-minded beauty take it all the way? Or will their mutual attraction cost them the big game?

Ellie's thoughts:
Carly March grew up known as “Darling Carly” after her mother’s death was made into a tv movie and things didn’t get better when her Italian soccer playing fiance left her right before the wedding for his pregnant mistress. Carly is happy to be back in the States getting to know her half sister Lisa and her family as well as working for her brother-in-law for the NFL Baltimore Blaze. Carly has sworn off athletes but the new Blaze quarterback Shane Devlin is too hot to be ignored and Carly finds herself once again in love with a jock.

Shane Devlin has one goal in life and that is to break all of the records his deadbeat father has in the NFL. Getting a job as the quarterback of the Baltimore Blaze is the perfect opportunity for Shane to reach his goal but he never expected Blaze employee (and head coach’s sister-in-law) Carly March to come into his life. Carly knocks Shane off his feet but he is determined to stick to his life of being alone and keeping everyone at arms distance. When tragedy strikes the Devlin family Shane soon realizes how important family is and how much he wants Carly to be part of his.

I really enjoyed the first half of Game On. I thought Carly is super cute and Shane is sexy as hell and I loved them together. These two have some very serious chemistry and I love how they tease each other when no one else is around. Carly brings out a much softer side of himself then he lets anyone else see and it’s easy to see how she starts to fall for him.These two both had rough childhoods and the bond they form over them makes their relationship so much better.

Half way through the book something happens that turns everything upside down in Shane’s life and he freaks out and goes back to being a Class A jerk. Shane keeps up this attitude for almost the entire rest of the book which made it very hard to read and to want him and Carly to end up together. I started to dislike Shane at this point and as the book goes on it turned to hatred. Shane is a selfish a-hole who deserves to be alone. Yes he redeems himself but by that point he had done so much damage and hurt so many people that I didn’t care. I actually got mad that everyone forgave him so easily.

I wanted to love this book and just came out kind of liking it. I felt that there was a lot thrown in (like the quarterback who gets hurt on his honeymoon and his new wife) that was talked about a lot and then never talked about again. I still have some questions about Shane and Carly and I’m hoping those get cleared up in the next book Foolish Games which I do want to read after reading the blurb about it. I’m hoping everything gets answered in this book and the hero isn’t a jerk like Shane.

Box of Books Giveaway

2013-05-13T15:36:00.001-04:00

It's that time again. Time to take my books! I'm going to do it differently this time. To save time and money, I'm going to do one giveaway. I have a USPS Large Flat Rate priority mail box and I'm gonna stuff them with books. However many books will fit, that's how many one winner will win. The books are April and May releases, new and unread. They are from the romance genre (contemporary, suspense, historical, PNR)

To enter, leave a comment telling me what you're looking forward to this summer. Please include a valid email address. Giveaway ends 5/16/13. Open to US Residents only.

Good luck!

Giveaway Policy

Review: Sworn to Protect by Jo Davis

2013-05-13T11:45:00.000-04:00

Title: Sworn to Protect
Series: Sugarland Blue, #1
Author: Jo Davis
Published: May 7, 2013
Pages: 320
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Source: Publisher (Signet)
Rating: D
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “Then it stands to reason that we’d make a super amazing couple that would have all of our friends bowing down in awe at our awesome mojo.”

summary from Goodreads
Sugarland loves their men in blue, especially Detective Shane Ford. But Shane’s mission to protect and to serve has just gotten personal…

Detective Shane Ford, Sugarland’s favorite cop, has been blindsided by the sudden death of his best friend, NFL star Brad Cooper, and becoming the legal guardian of Brad’s son, Drew—a bitter, angry sixteen-year-old with a dangerous secret. Shane is determined to pry the truth from Drew, but only manages to alienate him—and winds up going head to head with Juvenile Detective Daisy Callahan, whose job is to protect the teen’s best interests.

Shane has always been drawn to Daisy’s beauty and strength, but he’s determined not to allow their intense attraction to interfere with his duty ever again. It’s a vow that will prove difficult to keep, as the realities of Shane and Daisy’s blossoming love and their growing bond with the grieving teen propel Shane headlong into danger for the new family he’s sworn to protect.

Ellie's thoughts:
Shane Ford loves working as a detective for the Sugarland Police Department and he’s damn good as his job too. Where Shane has a problem is letting anyone, especially sexy juvenile detective Daisy Callahan, close to him. Shane knows he screwed up with Daisy and when she steps up and helps him after he becomes guardian to his god son Drew, Shane knows she’s the one for him. With Drew in Shane’s life everything is turned upside down and Shane soon realizes winning Daisy back is just the beginning of his problems.

Daisy Callahan is shocked when Shan Ford’s best friend dies and Shane becomes the guardian to sixteen year old Drew. As a juvenile detective Daisy knows how the loss of a parent can affect a child’s life and she cares too much about Shane to have Drew spiral out of control. When Shane starts pursuing her again Daisy is surprised and weary after getting her heartbroken the first time and this time Shane needs to prove he is the man that both Daisy and Drew need.

I struggled with Sworn to Protect and almost DNFed is several different times. I am not a fan of DNFing books so I sucked it up and finished it only to be disappointed for the majority of it. The book starts off strong with Shane and Daisy’s relationship off and Drew’s father dying but then things just get muddled together and it takes forever for things to get back on track. I had a lot of moments of pure annoyance, mostly at Daisy and Shane which I will get to later. Personally I felt that the plot line got lost a hundred pages or so and by the time everything got back on track the book was over.

Oh Daisy and Shane how you two annoyed me for three hundred pages. As I mentioned before a lot of things happened where I stopped and said “Seriously you have to be kidding.” Daisy decides that she is going to leave a highly lit area, after being harassed by drunk men in a bar, and check on a fight in a dark parking lot with no one around all by herself. I’m sorry but WHY would you do that? Later in the book Daisy is hurt and after leaving the hospital where she stayed overnight she goes to Shane’s house, can barely stay awake but has enough energy to give him a hand job because he needs to feel good. WHAT????? This is where I should have DNFed the book but kept reading. Shane also had way too many issues and could never seem to get his stuff together with Daisy or Drew.

The rest of the book just drags on until we finally figure out what Drew is hiding and how everything ties together. Usually I love books where there is a kid and he is taken in by a guardian but I didn’t even really like Drew and his attitude that he had for most of the book. Sadly Sworn to Protect missed a lot of marks for me and had to many WTF moments to keep me interested. I am not going to continue on with this series.

Review: The Princess and the Porn Star by Lauren Gallagher

2013-05-09T13:04:00.000-04:00

Title: The Princess and the Porn Star
Author: Lauren Gallagher
Published: May 7, 2013
Pages: 288
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased
Publisher: Samhain
Rating: B-
Reviewed by: Marq

summary from Goodreads
She’s got the moves. He’s got the heat. Will their hearts catch the rhythm?

Rachel Taylor’s manager has to be kidding. A porn star dancing beside her in her next music video? She didn’t claw her way back from near obscurity in the pop music world only to become a laughingstock all over again.

Yet the moment she meets Lee, a.k.a. the infamous Buck Harder, their chemistry sizzles. There’s much more to the man behind the stage name than the obvious attributes that make him so successful, and soon she’s fantasizing about sharing more than just a stage.

In only a few steps, they find a perfect, dance-floor groove hot enough to melt the camera lens. But when the video’s release blows up in their faces, her record label exercises an obscure but ironclad clause—stay away from each other. Or else.

Meeting in secret seems the most delicious solution. But they can’t hide this kind of heat for long…and when the paparazzi sniff them out, she realizes choosing to stay with the man she’s fallen for could cause her to fall off the pop music map—permanently.

Marq's thoughts:
I will admit that the title really intrigued me. I went into this thinking The Princess and the Porn Star was going to be on the campy side and I'd have a good laugh. Boy was I wrong. Never judge a book by its title.

Rachel is trying to get her career back on track. When her record label tells her that porn star Buck Harder will co-star in her new video, Rachel is not happy. How is this going to improve her image and help her career? But when Rachel steps on the set and sees porn star Buck Harder, she's instantly attracted.

Buck Harder is happy to have the opportunity to work with one of his favorite pop stars. He's always had a crush on Olivia (Rachel's stage name). What he hadn't counted on was the chemistry between them as they perform for the camera. He wants her but isn't sure that Rachel would want to be associated with a porn star away from the cameras.

I really liked this book. It was a pleasant surprise. I thought I was going to find Lee icky and kind of an anti-hero. I mean, who would think that a porn star is sexy and you want to root for him? Lee is a sweet and adorable guy. He knows what he is and what people say about him. Lee doesn't apologize for what he does for a living and actually likes his job. I loved that he owned what he did and didn't make excuses. But he also separates his personal life from his work life. And as I was reading, I was able to do the same. When Lee and Rachel are together, I wasn't thinking about Buck Harder at all. At times I forgot what he did for a living.

I thought I was going to be icked out when Rachel decides she wants to have a sexual relationship with him. I mean despite how nice Lee is, he's still a porn star and has sex on camera for a living. The sex scenes were well written that although it would briefly cross my mind, it didn't take me out of the moment. And one thing I really loved is that Rachel didn't have an orgasm the first time they had sex! Woo hoo!! Why am I so happy about this? I've been ranting about unrealistic sex scenes in romances so I was so happy to finally read a sex scene where the heroine didn't have the big O the first time cause you know, that stuff happens in real life. Especially with someone you just met.

Throughout the story, both Rachel and Lee are conflicted about their relationship. Rachel's record label doesn't want her to be with Lee because it's bad for her image. Lee doesn't want Rachel to lose her career because of what he does. But also, Lee is now more high-profile now that he's with Rachel. Some of his anonymity is gone and he's having a hard time dealing with that. I felt that their conflicts regarding their careers versus their relationship was really done well.

The Princess and the Porn Star is told from Lee and Rachel's 1st person POV. I liked that because you get inside both character's head. Despite their careers in the spotlight, Lee and Rachel are normal people. They are gamers and sci-fi geeks. They go to Comic-Con. These things made them so relatable and likable.

I loved Lee and Rachel and their story. The Princess and the Porn Star is a surprisingly sweet and adorable book. There are still hot sex scenes but in the end, it's about two people who have to decide if their relationship is worth fighting for despite the world being against it.

Review: Gone with the Wolf by Kristin Miller

2013-05-08T13:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Gone with the Wolf
Series: Seattle Wolf Pack, #1
Author: Kristin Miller
Published: April 21, 2013
Pages: 208
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Entangled (Covet)
Rating: B
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “Forget me tomorrow. Hell, forget me tonight. But Kiss me now.”

summary from Goodreads
CEO and alpha werewolf Drake Wilder has given up the search for his one true love. When he discovers that she’s a secretary in his company, Drake’s primal instincts kick into overdrive.

What he wouldn’t give to have her fingers rake over his body instead of the keyboard…

Free-spirited bartender Emelia Hudson wants nothing more than to make her Seattle-based bar succeed. But when profits decline, she slips into a dress suit and secures a nine-to-five. After learning that her bar has become property of Wilder Financial, Emelia is determined to get some answers.

Two can play the ruthless business game. If only her attraction to the boss wasn’t so intense…

When Drake’s twin brother senses that Drake has found his match—and now inherits their father’s billion dollar estate—he hatches a plan to take Emelia out. Drake vows to protect her at all costs, but he might have to pay with his own life.

Ellie's thoughts:
Emelia Hudson has worked herself to the bone to be able to buy her bar, The Knight Owl, and to make it successful in a not-so-nice area of Seattle. When Wilder Financial claims to own the building and not Emelia she does everything she can to get a meeting with CEO Drake Wilder and finally gets so desperate she takes a job as a secretary at his company. When Emelia finally meets Drake sparks fly and she soon realizes that there are much more important things going on than just saving her bar.

Drake Wilder had given up ever meeting his Luminary until he met Emelia Hudson. Drake knows immediately that she is the mate he had lost hope of ever finding and now that he has he won’t let her go. Drake knows now that he has found his mate he is the new alpha of his pack and his twin brother Silas will do everything in his power to stop that from happening. Drake must find a way to convince Emelia to be his mate and keep her alive in the process.

I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when I started Gone with the Wolf but I was highly entertained from the first page until the very last. I found myself multiple times laughing out loud at the hilarious banter that takes place between Emelia and Drake throughout the book. I found myself unable to put this book down and stayed up late into the night to finish it, which hasn’t happened in a very long time.

I wasn’t a big fan of Drake in the beginning but after awhile he really started to grow on me and towards the end I just adored him. Emelia was the saving grace of the entire book. She is smart, funny and is great at getting Drake to loosen up and live a little. I think these two are perfect for each other and really enjoyed everything from their chemistry to their bickering. There is a specific part in the book where Emelia explains that “the dog has already buried the bone” and it is one of the funniest lines in any book that I have heard about in awhile. Not many books make me laugh out loud but this one did on many occasions.

I really enjoyed Gone with the Wolf, much more than I anticipated. I can’t wait for the next installment of the series, even though I have no idea who’s book is next, and I think this may become one of my must read shifter series. This was a very fun, very funny, fast read that I really enjoyed.

Review: The Seduction Hypothesis by Delphine Dryden

2013-05-08T08:16:00.001-04:00

Title: The Seduction Hypothesis (The Science of Temptation)
Series: The Science of Temptation, #2
Author: Delphine Dryden
Published: May 6, 2013
Pages: 288
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Carina Press
Rating: C
Reviewed by: Marq

summary from Goodreads
(1 Curious Sub + 1 Dom in Denial) – Inhibitions = 4 Naughty Nights

Wildlife biologist Lindsey thought attending a fan convention with her new boyfriend Ben was a great idea—until their relationship fizzled. Lindsey still lusts after her ex—but if he wants her, he’s going to have to prove it.

Ben will do anything to win Lindsey back, and when he sees her in her skimpy black vinyl convention get-up, he realizes what she’s been craving all along. And he is inspired to finally give in to his own dark desire to take complete sexual control…

Lindsey is surprised by her reaction to Ben’s kinky new seduction techniques, and suddenly sees the brilliant but uptight code guru in a different light. After several erotic encounters in hotel rooms and stairwells, she’s falling for Ben all over again. And wondering if the intimate connection will last once they head home…

Marq's thoughts:
Ben and Lindsey recently broke up and now have to spend a long weekend together at Beast-Con. Ben and Lindsey had a good relationship but something was missing for Lindsey. When she timidly broached the subject of BDSM with Ben, he immediately rebuffs the idea and shortly thereafter, breaks up with her. Lindsey still wants Ben but she also knows that she needs more from their relationship and isn't sure that he's the one to give it to her.

There seriously needs to be more series about nerds and sex. Nerds are freaky and need love too. I enjoyed The Seduction Hypothesis even though I didn't like Ben and Lindsey as much as I liked Cami and Ivan from the first book of this series. With Ben and Lindsey, I felt that there was something missing especially Ben. Ivan had his social issues that made him quirky and adorable. Ben's thing is that he's impulsive and doesn't finish what he started but I didn't quite get a feel for that. We were told that Ben is this way instead of being shown. I also didn't fully believe that Ben all of a sudden became a Dom but raising his eyebrow and speaking with a firm voice. It takes more than that to be a Dom and didn't believe that he was a naturally a Dom.

I couldn't figure out why I should root for Ben and Lindsey to be together as a couple. The sex scenes were hot but I felt that the chemistry something was lacking. Overall I liked the book but it didn't have the oomph that I was hoping for.

Review: The Cursed by Alyssa Day

2013-05-07T09:20:00.002-04:00

Title: The Cursed (League of the Black Swan)
Series: League of the Black Swan, #1
Author: Alyssa Day
Published: May 7, 2013
Pages: 304
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: Publisher (Berkley)
Rating: B+
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “Luke, are you-and I mean this in the nicest way possible- are you nuts?”

“You were hurting, and I wanted to help, but I didn’t know how, so I blew something up.”

summary from Goodreads
Bordertown private investigator Luke Oliver’s beat is the dimensional fold in Manhattan between the human and supernatural realms. But now a secret from his past—the League of the Black Swan—has surfaced. Because Luke isn’t any ordinary P.I. He’s the Dark Wizard of Bordertown, and he never backs down from a fight.

But this time the fight threatens his life and his heart. Rio Jones, the only woman he loved, needs his help against a deadly menace. Luke pushed her away once before, so she’d never fall prey to the curse that threatens to destroy him. He swore he’d never let her go again.

Luke and Rio, with the help of the newly reformed League, must keep evil forces from taking over Bordertown—all the while battling a passion on the razor’s edge between danger and desire. And going to take everything they have just to stay alive.

Ellie's thoughts:
Rio Jones is just an ordinary bike messenger living in Bordertown, a small section of Manhattan occupied by all types of paranormals and humans with special gifts, who can sometimes read minds depending on how powerful the person is. Rio never expected that her twenty-fifth birthday would put her in so much danger as well as unlock the secrets of the parents that abandoned her. When private investigator Luke Oliver, Rio’s long time crush, asks for her help Rio jumps at the chance and soon sparks are flying between the two. With Luke’s help Rio can finally start to put the pieces together of her past and hopefully her future.

Luke Oliver is a the person people in Bordertown come to when there is a problem and as a powerful wizard he is the best for their jobs. Luke lives his life with everyone at arm distance due to a curse that was put on him as a child but all that changes when the beautiful Rio Jones falls into his lap. Luke knows he should stay away from Rio but when she is put in danger over and over again Luke just can’t walk away. When the League of the Black Swan starts sniffing around wanting information on Rio, Luke is determined to do everything he can to keep her away from danger and in his life forever.

I really had no idea what to expect from this newest series from Alyssa Day but I am happy to say that it blew me away! From the very first pages I was swept up into this new world of Bordertown and its supernatural residents of wizards, demons, goblins, fae and more. I found myself staying up late at night and sneaking away whenever I could to get back to this magical world and Luke and Rio.

Oh Luke and Rio you are everything that I want in a paranormal romance couple. Rio is smart, funny and fearless while still having a heart of gold. She sometimes does the silly thing of putting herself in harms ways to save others but she is great at making friends and not being annoying (very hard for female heroines I’ve found). Luke, Luke, Luke I just adore you and I love you are a very powerful wizard with no game and that you put your foot in you mouth so much when trying to woo Rio. Luke is so cute and awkward with Rio, something you don’t find very often, and he is now one of my favorite heroes in romance.

There are tons of side characters besides Luke and Rio that make this book so magical. Even though there was a lot going on it was never too much and it kept the story moving without getting boring. There are still a lot of secrets and mysteries to uncover in Bordertown and with the League of the Black Swan which I cannot wait to read more about. I fell in love with this world, the characters and I can’t wait to jump back into it. The Cursed is a great book for all urban fantasy and paranormal romance readers!

Early Review: Whisper's Review by Luann McLane

2013-05-06T14:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Whisper's Edge: A Cricket Creek Novel
Series: Cricket Creek, #4
Author: Luann McLane
Release date: May 7, 2013
Pages: 304
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher (Signet)
Rating: B
Reviewed by: Ellie

summary from Goodreads
Cricket Creek, Kentucky, is a sweet river town known for its theater, shopping, and cuisine. But tough times are affecting the residents of the local retirement community—until a handsome hero shows up

Savannah Perry loves her job as social director of Whisper’s Edge, a retirement community on the picturesque waterfront of Cricket Creek. Raised in foster care, twenty-nine-year-old Savannah feels treasured and loved by the retired residents, who treat her as their adopted granddaughter and rotate having her over for dinner. But the community is struggling to stay afloat financially—until Tristan McMillan swoops into town, rescues a dog, and, well, saves the day Business-minded Tristan bought Whisper’s Edge from his estranged grandfather to prove his worth to the curmudgeon and to turn a quick profit. He never expected to fall for the charms of a village of crafty retirees—or to fall hard for a small town girl like Savannah. Suddenly the man who knows all about making money finds himself needing lessons in love and what really matters in life.

Ellie's thoughts:
Savannah Perry grew up bouncing from one foster home to the next as a child. Until she stumbled into the retirement community of Whisper's Edge in Cricket Creek, Kentucky she never had a real home. Savannah’s boss Kate took one look at her and gave her the great job of social director for the community which Savannah loves almost as much as the residents. The only problem in Savannah’s life is her lack of a social life and interacting with people her own age but that changes when Tristan McMillan, Whisper’s Edge’s new owner, comes into her life and turns everything upside down.

Tristan McMillan has one goal after buying Whisper’s Edge from his grandfather and that is to make enough money so his mother can retire and to rub it in his grandfather’s face after the way he treated his mother when she found out she was pregnant with Tristan. What Tristan didn’t expect was to fall in love with the residents of Whisper’s Edge or the curvy, sexy social director Savannah. Tristan now has to decide which is more important revenge or true love?

I was a little weary about starting Whisper’s Edge just because I had such a hard time with Pitch Perfect, the last book in this series. I am very happy to say the series is back on track and Whisper’s Edge was very cute, funny and full of romance. This book moves away from the Cricket Creek Cougar baseball team that the other books have revolved around and moved on to Whisper’s Edge, Cricket Creek’s retirement community. I thought that not having the series revolve around the baseball team was a breath of much needed fresh air and it was fun to meet different people in the community.

Whisper’s Edge tells two different stories one of Savannah and Tristan but also of Kate, Savannah’s boss and Ben, a widower living in Whisper’s Edge. I liked the parallels of one couple finding love for the first time and the other couple finding it again after a lot of heartache and loss. I felt that both stories flowed together very nicely and neither took away from the other. I am usually not a fan of multiple plots being told at once but these two worked together and added instead of taking away from one another.

Whisper’s Edge is a very cute contemporary romance and is everything that Cricket Creek fans will want. I’m very excited to see where this series goes next and I hope that we get to continue to meet more the residents and explore more of Cricket Creek with future books. I’m so happy this series is back on track!

Review: Perfect Timing by Catherine Anderson

2013-05-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Perfect Timing: A Harrigan Family Novel
Series: Kendrick/Coulter/Harrigan, #11

Author: Catherine Anderson

Published: February 25, 2013

Pages: 432

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Source: Publisher (Signet)

Rating: B+

Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “Ceara O’Ceallaigh is precisely what she claims, Quincy, a woman from the fifteen hundreds who has come forward in time to save my life.”

summary from Goodreads
Tragedy has struck the Harrigans—Quincy’s beloved sister-in-law Loni is gravely ill and nearing death. Quincy, like his brothers, feels helpless to save her, and the clock is ticking. Then, with perfect timing, a winsome red-haired woman named Ceara O’Ceallaigh mysteriously appears on Quincy’s property and insists that Loni can be cured. Only Quincy, she says, as the sole remaining Harrigan bachelor, can make it happen—by marrying Ceara.

To Quincy, Ceara is a charming and quite likely deranged spinner of dreams who can’t prove she’s telling the truth. But how can he pass up any attempt to restore Loni to health? Against all better judgment, he decides to marry Ceara. Maybe he’s making the worst mistake of his life. Or maybe he’s opening himself up to possibilities that defy explanation...and will send him on a miraculous journey toward enough love to last forever.

Ellie's thoughts:
Ceara O’Ceallaigh knew what she had to do and if that meant leaving her family and everything she has ever know, so be it. Ceara is a Druid from fifteen hundreds Ireland and is determined to travel in time and save all of the first wives of the Harrigans from a curse that has haunted their family for centuries. Ceara knew she must marry the last single man of the family, Quincy, but she never expected to love her new life and her new husband. Ceara may not be in her own time period but she knows love when she feels it.

Quincy Harrigan is shocked to find a strange woman in his horse stalls claiming to be a Druid from the past who he must marry to save his sister’s life. Quincy is weary about marrying Ceara but he will do anything to help save Loni’s life and spare his brother burying his wife. The more time that passes the more Quincy starts to believe Ceara and her story of the past and he soon finds himself unable to live without his feisty Irish wife. Quincy’s true faith his wife is tested and only him believing in her can lead to them having a happily ever after.

I love when I stumble upon a book that just sweeps me off my feet. I have had Perfect Timing sitting on my nightstand for the entire month of March and I hesitated to read it all month simply due to the fact that it is over four hundred pages. I finally sucked it up late one night and was determined to finish the first fifty to see if I would like it or not. Since I usually don’t start a series with book nine I did not have high expectations at all. I started reading and just couldn’t stop! I was sucked in and when I finally tore myself away it was well after midnight and I had read over two hundred pages. I was hooked.

The next day I spent every waking free moment I could with this book and its amazing characters. I am a big fan of cowboys, people from Ireland and the paranormal and this has all three! I wasn’t a big fan of Quincy, except for the fact that he’s a rancher/cowboy, but he won my heart and I adored him by the end of the book. Whenever he and Ceara interacted my heart just melted and I couldn’t get enough of these two. Ceara could have been annoying but came off as adorable and she made the book so much fun.

My only issue with the book was the final fifty pages which I thought got a little crazy and out of hand. I didn’t hate the ending but I didn’t love it either.Other than that I loved this book and am kicking myself for taking so long to read it. I am now a huge fan of Catherine Anderson and am going to try to read as many of her books as possible. I loved that I could jump right into this big family and not feel lost and I feel like I found a buried treasure with these new characters.

What Ya Missed: Weekly Recap

2013-05-05T20:49:00.002-04:00

Ok so I keep forgetting to post my weekly recaps. Sorry y'all. My brain is a little mushy right now. I think I have Spring Fever. Anyways, here's what you missed last week.

What Ya Missed
Reviews:

His Risk to Take by Tessa Bailey - B-
Wild Ones by M. Leighton - C+

Other Stuff:

Book Blitz - Hitched by Erin Nicholas
Month in Reviews - Marq, Ellie
Ranty & Rambling: Ain't Nothing Wrong With KY Jelly
Blog Tour & Tour giveaway: Gone With the Wolf by Kristin Miller

Have a fantabulous week!

Blog Tour: Gone With the Wolf by Kirstin Miller

2013-05-03T10:00:00.000-04:00

CEO and alpha werewolf Drake Wilder has given up the search for his one true love. When he discovers that she’s a secretary in his company, Drake’s primal instincts kick into overdrive.

What he wouldn’t give to have her fingers rake over his body instead of the keyboard…

Free-spirited bartender Emelia Hudson wants nothing more than to make her Seattle-based bar succeed. But when profits decline, she slips into a dress suit and secures a nine-to-five. After learning that her bar has become property of Wilder Financial, Emelia is determined to get some answers.

Two can play the ruthless business game. If only her attraction to the boss wasn’t so intense…

When Drake’s twin brother senses that Drake has found his match—and now inherits their father’s billion dollar estate—he hatches a plan to take Emelia out. Drake vows to protect her at all costs, but he might have to pay with his own life.

Title: Gone with the Wolf
Author: Kristin Miller
Publisher: Entangled
Imprint: Covet
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: 207 pages
Release Date: April 23, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-62266-144-2

Purchase from Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/bss5bj9

Purchase from Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/btl8gj7

Add to GoodReads: http://tinyurl.com/ctww7m9

Author info:
Kristin Miller has had a passion for language and literature her whole life. Born and raised in northern California, she often made up stories about faraway places and edge-of-your-seat adventures. After graduating from Humboldt State University, Kristin taught high school and middle school English, married her college sweetheart, and had two beautiful munchkins. In 2008, she took time off from teaching to raise her children, and started writing while they napped.

Her first novel was published in 2011, and since then she has had seven other novels published (mostly paranormal romances). She is the author of Gone with the Wolf with Entangled Publishing, the dark and gritty Vampires of Crimson Bay series with Avon, and the short-but-steamy Isle of Feralon novellas with Harlequin Nocturne Cravings.

Author Website: www.kristinmiller.net
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristinMiller
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/KM_Miller
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/kristinmiller

Tour Giveaway

Kristin is giving away a Gone with the Wolf themed prize pack to one lucky winner! Prize pack includes:
● Gone with the Wolf swag including a custom made beaded bookmark
● Seattle’s Best coffee & Starbucks travel mug
● Ghiradelli chocolates
● Too Much of a Good Thing is... Wonderful! wine bottle charm

Enter using Rafflecopter widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt:

Emelia Hudson knew she shouldn’t be snooping through her boss’s wine cellar, but his secret stash was down here and damn it, he owed her a bottle. Or a box.

Slipping off her heels, Emelia kicked them into the corner of the spacious cellar, and jumped from the touch of the frosty granite floor against her bare feet. The cellar was bigger than her Seattle apartment, with a nasty draft sweeping through the wrought iron French doors behind her. The space felt more like a high-class smoking room than a cellar, with large, stone pillars, leather-wrapped seats and a pungent musk floating in the air. Chandeliers hung on either end of the ceiling, shedding amber auras of light over two barrels topped with stone slabs. Not a single wine box cluttered the floor, and not a single pigeon hole was deprived of a bottle.

“There you are, beautiful,” Emelia said, swiping a corked bottle of 1996 Chateau Lafite off one of the barrels.

She re-filled her glass—for the fifth time this evening—and swirled the dark liquid round and round. The mint and black currant aroma hit her nose, causing her eyes to roll back in her head. Taking a sip, Emelia moaned as the bold flavor of succulent silk hit her tongue.

“You,” she said, pinching her eyes shut, savoring the changing flavors, “are simply divine.”

“I’ll say,” someone said from the doorway.

Emelia started. Droplets of wine hurdled down her throat, catching like stones in her windpipe. She choked hard and bowled over as she tried to the get the damn silky stuff out of her lungs.

“That good, huh?” The man was beside her before she knew what was happening, massaging small circles across her back.

Emelia backed against the barrel and away from the stranger’s touch. From the few seconds he’d massaged her, Emelia’s skin had warmed, tingling with strange, electrically charged sensations.

“I’m fine,” she choked out, gaining her bearings.

The stranger radiated intimidation. Six-foot tall. Broad, flexing shoulders. His white cotton dress shirt was pulled taut, stretching over layers of rippling muscle. A square, hard set jaw with a shadow of stubble, and pressed-white lips gave him a downright stony appearance. But despite his hardened expression and daunting stature, mesmerizing chocolate-brown eyes bore into Emelia’s, chilling her body to match her bare feet.

Did this guy work for Wilder Financial? Was he a bouncer sent to drag her back upstairs? The Halloween office party had been monster-mashing for the last two hours and the cellar had been deemed off-limits. Solitude was the reason Emelia sought out the cellar in the first place. Well, that and her boss’s stash of fine wine.

“No one’s supposed to be down here,” she said, nerves kicking up a notch.

“I could tell you the same thing.” Folding his arms across his barrel-of-a-chest, the stranger backed away and leaned against the door frame. A slow smile spread across his full lips. “I don’t recall Little Red Riding Hood packing wine on her trip to Grandmother’s.”

“Yeah, well…” Emelia flicked at the cape brushing her knees and laughed. “I hate costume parties and didn’t think I was coming until the last minute. When I finally decided I had to be here, the costume store had two choices: Little Red Riding Slut or Sexy Feather-Dusting Maid. I went with Little Red.”

Why’d she just tell him all that? She shouldn’t have gulped down that last glass of wine. It had loosened her lips, affecting her more than it should’ve.

“I think the costume was a good choice.” The stranger strode into the cellar, his gait confident and powerful, and swept a thick-stemmed wine glass off the nearest barrel. “May I? Or were you planning on downing that bottle yourself?”

“No, no, please, help yourself.” With a tipsy bow and a giggle, Emelia swept her arm aside. “Where’s your costume?”

He glanced down at his slacks as if he just realized he wasn’t dressed for the party. “Maybe I’m the big bad wolf hiding in business attire instead of old lady pajamas.”

“You don’t look like a wolf.”

“No?”

Emelia leaned in close, squinting at his glinting white, and very human teeth, then laughed. “Nope. No fangs.”

He eyed her curiously, filled his glass and sipped on it like he’d never tasted anything like it before. He swished the wine in his cheeks before swallowing, all the while holding Emelia’s gaze. Intensity smoldered behind his eyes; Emelia swore someone kicked the thermostat up a few degrees.

“So,” he said, eyeing her wild mane of blonde hair that’d come loose from her hood, “why do you have to be here?”

Although Emelia knew the man wasn’t really a wolf—come on, those only existed in Paris-set horror movies, Twilight, and her wildest dreams—he gazed at her like he was insatiably hungry. Her body quivered beneath his gorgeous stare. Stunned by the man’s raw sexual appeal, Emelia shook cobwebs from her brain. “Excuse me?”

“You said you hate parties and that you have to be here. Did some crazed date make you come?”

“Oh, if you only knew.”

“Enlighten me.” He smiled slowly, twinging something in Emelia’s chest.

As much as she wanted to tell this stranger the truth, she couldn’t.

I’m here to seduce our boss. Chain him to his bed. Take some pictures. Instagram them to the Web. You know, the usual Halloween party antics.

Book Blast: Nameless by Claire Kent

2013-05-03T09:25:00.000-04:00

BLURB:

They named it anything but love.

After a failed marriage to a domineering man, Erin refuses to be controlled by anything or anyone. That includes Seth, the father of her baby—a man who was supposed to be only a one-night-stand, a man who’s used to always getting his way.

There’s a reason that Seth Thomas, a successful defense attorney, is often referred to as the Bulldozer. If something needs to happen, he makes it happen. That includes being part of his baby’s life—even if he never expected to be a father, even if Erin doesn’t really trust him.

They’ll work out an arrangement in the best interest of their baby—and if they occasionally have sex, well, that’s just an added perk—but they both agree on one thing.

What they have will never be love.

Excerpt:
She wandered back to the table to find Seth staring broodingly at his empty glass.

She watched him for a minute. Then, “Are you all right?”

He jerked his head toward her, as if he hadn’t realized she’d returned. “Yeah.”

Studying him closely, she decided she didn’t believe him. He was flushed from warmth and the Scotch, adorably rumpled in his wrinkled suit and loosened tie, and sprawled out on the booth seat. But he looked vulnerable somehow.

Wounded.

She sat down beside him, instead of in her chair. “I’m switching to water. If I drink any more, I might throw up.” This she said by way of explanation, so he wouldn’t think she was giving up on their evening.

“Very sensible of you.”

“Throwing up in front of you would be embarrassing.”

Seth nodded. “It wouldn’t be very pleasant for me either.”

Then he licked his lips the way he had before.

Erin watched his tongue slide across the supple line of each lip, moistening each as it went.

She moved toward him. Slid her hands up his chest until they settled on his shoulders. “I asked you to stop licking your lips.”

His mouth parted slightly, perhaps in surprise, but he didn’t have time to say anything.

Leaning her face toward his, she pressed her lips into his. He was warm and solid beneath her, and he made a little grunt in his throat.

He tasted and smelled like Scotch, and also something fainter, more masculine.

When she relaxed her mouth on his, he murmured against her lips, “What was that?”

“That,” she pronounced, pleased she was thinking so clearly, “was a kiss.”
___________________________________________________________________

Author Bio:
Claire has been writing romance novels since she was twelve years old. She has a PhD in British literature and, when she's not writing, she teaches English at the university level.

She also writes contemporary romance under the penname Noelle Adams.

Author Links:
Website: http://clairekent.com/
Facebook (under my other penname Noelle Adams): https://www.facebook.com/NoelleAdamsAuthor
Twitter (under my other penname Noelle Adams): https://twitter.com/NoelleAdams3
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/wTMd2TBKXVA

Purchase links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Claire-Kent/e/B00AY1M0F8/
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/claire-kent

Ellie's Month in Review: April 2013

2013-05-02T11:23:00.000-04:00

Well once again another month is gone and some great books have been read. With school finally ending I’m hoping to get more books read in May but for now I give you the good, okay and the bad books I reviewed in April.

The Good:
Thrill Ride, Black Knights, Inc. #4, by Julie Ann Walker. Another great installment of the military romance series. B+

Only Lycans Need Apply, Broken Hearts Vampires #9, by Michele Bradsley. This was my first experience with this series and I loved it so much. A must read for all PNR fans. B+

Perfect Timing, Kendrick/Coulter/Harrigan #11, by Catherine Anderson. Again first time reading the series and I loved the book. B (review to come)

The Okay:
Falling Blind by Shannon K. Butcher- as a big Sentinel fan I was disappointed with this installment of the series but I’m hoping the next book gets everything back on track. C

Wolf With Benefits by Shelly Laurenston. This is one of my favorite series but this installment fell short. C

The Wild Ones, The Wild Ones #1, by M. Leighton. I wasn’t a big fan of this new series and am still struggling with reading the second book. C

The Bad:
I actually didn’t read any really bad books this month which is shocking!

For Fun:
Yours to Keep by Shannon Stacey is by far my favorite of the Kowalski Series and I ended up rereading it because it was just too good. A

Night Blade by J.C. Daniels is one of my favorite UF series and a must read for me. Best book I read in April! A

Twice Tempted by Jeaniene Frost. I loved this book even better than the first in the series and can’t wait for the final book. Vlad just makes me swoon! B+

Hope everyone has a great May and is finally starting to thaw out. Happy reading!

Ranty and Rambling: Ain't Nothing Wrong with a Little KY Jelly

2013-05-01T19:45:00.001-04:00

I've been reading romance for almost 30 years. Harlequin and Silhouette romances were my crack. When I finally graduated to reading my first full-length romance novel, it was The Villa by Nora Roberts and I've been hooked ever since. What I like about contemporary romances is that the HEA (Happy Ever After) is guaranteed. When I read contemporary romance, I know what to expect.

-Boy Meets Girl (or vice versa)
-Boy/Girl hesitant to start relationship but gives in to the attraction
-Relationship goes smoothly until hiccup
-Big Misunderstanding causes boy and girl to breakup
-Boy or Girl realizes the error of their ways. Begs forgiveness
-Declaration of 'I love you'
*Possible marriage proposal after the ILU
*If there's an epilogue, the setting is the wedding or the couple blissfully married and it's revealed they are expecting a baby

Contemporary romance is pretty formulaic and I used to be okay with that until recently. I've slowly become tired of The Formula especially the sex scenes. I love the smex in my romance but lately they've all blurred into one big too perfect to be real sex scene. I've been skimming sex scenes in a lot of the romances I've read lately. As an admitted smut lover (and I'm not shameful about it), skimming sex scenes is blasphemous. They have become SO monotonous and instead of making me fan myself, I'm now more prone to eye roll and sigh.

Yes I know that it's fantasy and people don't want reality in their romance but can there be a touch of it in the sex scenes? Authors have no problems writing characters who have missing parents, dead parents, rough childhoods, abuse issues etc. But there is absolutely ZERO imperfection when the hero and heroine finally get down to business. Why is that? Do they think the readers can't handle it? Will it put a damper on the mood? I say chance it and find out!

There is no way that a man who is having sex with a woman for the very first time is going to hit all the 'right spots' and make her orgasm. It's not gonna happen. There's the getting to know you awkwardness. The bumping of the noses because you turned your head the wrong way. The hero can't quite work the clasp on a bra strap. But I get it. He's supposed to be a STUD so he won't have any of these issues. How about making the heroine more realistic? How about less virginal and owns her sexuality. Not timid but tells the hero what she wants instead of laying back and just taking it.

Let's add someone of the stuff that women deal with daily in life. Not every woman is prepared 24/7 to have sex. Maybe the heroine forgot to shave her legs and she has a little fuzz. She embarrassingly apologizes but the hero doesn't care because he's about to have SEX! Or maybe she forgot to wax. Maybe she's not wearing her "good" underwear. Why is none of this ever included in the build up to sexy times?

Also, there's no way that a woman is going to be dripping wet ALL THE DAMN TIME like a leaky faucet. Helloooo!!! It's called hormones. We have them. They interfere with our sex lives sometimes. Sometimes we're as dry as the Sahara Desert down there. And if a woman is on birth control, she is definitely not juicy down there. So why not introduce a little KY into the picture? Is lubricant only for erotic and m/m romances and back door action? Is it too taboo for the standard contemporary romance? There's no issue with the heroine having a vibrator. Why is KY getting the shaft? LEAVE KY ALONE!!!!!

Typical dialog during most of the sex scenes in the books I've read recently:

"You're so wet."
"You're too big. You won't fit."
"I'll fit. I got you." (this is where the hero goes down on the heroine with his Tongue of Fury)
Heroine orgasms. Hero prepares to launch.
"You're so wet. And so tight."
"I don't think I can take all of you."
"You're sooooooo tiiiiiiighttttttt."
And then hero shoves home in one fell swoop and the heroine's head magically does not hit the headboard nor does she curse him out for shoving into her like she's a blow-up doll.

What man has that good of an aim? They can't even get their pee into a toilet, pissing all on the seat and sometimes on the floor (especially if they wake up in the middle of the night). I remember many of times feeling like I was playing the Price Is Right Showcase Showdown. Too high. Too low. Nope too high again. Hey! That's my butthole! Do I need to show you where it is??

Once the h/h have established they are in a monogamous relationship, the condom talk happens.

"I want to feel you when I'm inside you. Skin to skin."
"I'm on the pill so I'm protected."
"I always use protection. This will be the first time I won't be using a condom. I'm clean."
"Okay. Me too."
"Thank goodness."
*cue the porno music. Bow-chicka-wow-wow*

THE END. They go at it raw dog. This always makes me shake my head. I'm sorry but I'm not trusting you after a week or two with my health. We aren't going condom free until I see your test results from the free clinic. Again, authors aren't afraid to touch on realistic issues in the characters' life but SEXUAL HEALTH AND RESPONSIBILITY is glossed over! It's not that easy and breezy. If they are using condoms at the beginning, then they need to use it throughout until they get tested. Period. This is done in erotic romances and m/m. Again, why does contemporary romance play loose and fancy free with which real life topics/issues will be addressed in their books?

What's the point of this post? I had insomnia the other night (drank a 20oz coffee at 8pm for some unknown reason) and this started swirling through my mind as I counted shirtless Charlie Hunnams to help me fall asleep. I'm tired of skimming over sex scenes. I'm tired of reading the same old, same old. I'm ready for romance to change it up. It's 2013. Surely we can have a little KY Jelly and some realism in a sex scene. Is that too much to ask?

What are your thoughts? Do you agree or do you think I should stop drinking coffee at 8pm? Let me know!

Winner!

2013-05-01T17:52:00.000-04:00

Winner of the Rules of Entanglement swag is:
erin

Congratulations! Email has been sent. You have 72 hours to respond.

Review: Wild Ones by M. Leighton

2013-05-01T13:00:00.000-04:00

Title: The Wild Ones (A WILD ONES NOVEL)
Series: Wild Ones, #1
Author: M. Leighton
Published: March 5, 2013
Pages: 330
Genre: New Adult
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Berkley
Rating: C+
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “I never work for kisses. But I’d be willing to make an exception.”

summary from Goodreads
Passion as hot as midnight in the South and love as wild as the horses they tame." The darling daughter of a champion Thoroughbred breeder, Camille "Cami" Hines has a pedigree that rivals some of her father's best horses. Other than feeling a little suffocated at times, Cami thought she was happy with her boyfriend, her life and her future--until she met Patrick Henley. "Trick" blurs the lines between what Cami wants and what is expected of her--and he just happens to be so sexy she can't keep her hands off him. While they both know that Trick would lose his much needed job on the ranch if anyone finds out, they can't resist the lure of their scorchingly hot encounters. But when Trick stumbles upon a note from his father, it triggers a series of revelations that could ruin what he and Cami have worked so hard to overcome. It turns out there's more to Trick's presence at the ranch than either of them knew, and secrets with the power to tear them apart...

Ellie's thoughts:
Patrick “Trick” Henley has always known he wants to work with horses ever since he was a little boy. When the life insurance policy on his late father runs out Trick is forced to quit school and take a job at the Hines Ranch to help support his mother and young sister. Trick loves working at the ranch and loves it even more when he meets the owner’s daughter Cami. Cai blows Tricks socks off the first moment he meets her and soon he is willing to risk everything to be with her but a secret from the past may have the power to destroy everything.

Camille “Cami” Hines thought she knew what she wanted: finish school, help her father with the family business and marry some nice boy her father approves of like her boyfriend Brent. What Cami didn’t plan on was meeting Trick Henley and getting swept off her feet. Cami tries to stay away from Trick but their chemistry is too much to deny and soon she is sneaking behind her parents back to see him. The more Cami and Trick spend together the more Cami is willing to risk everything to be with him even her own family.

I liked The Wild Ones but it was nothing that I expected in both good and bad ways. I liked the story a lot more than I thought I would and at first I loved Cami and Trick together. Their chemistry was so intense I found myself getting all hot and bothered but after awhile the story seemed to drag on. I felt like it took forever for these two to finally get together and I got really annoyed with Cami for keeping her boyfriend Brent around for as long as she did. By the time these two got together I had almost checked out and quit reading.

The second half of the book saves the first half mostly because actual things happen. There are a lot of twists and turns that take place and a big secret is revealed that I wasn’t expecting. I learned to like Cami and Trick a lot more during the second half and actually found myself cheering for them to have a happily ever after. I like that Cami starts to fight for what she wants and grows a backbone and that Trick realizes that Cami is everything that he needs in his life. I wish that these two hadn’t of taken so long to realize how much they love each other because it got a little annoying.

As much as I liked The Wild Ones it still had some big problems that bothered me. First the title and the disclaimer at the beginning of the book making it sound like this will be a very racy book and it does have some sex scenes but not what I was expecting. The title actually refers to horses which I really wasn’t expecting at all. All in all I don’t think I’ll be continuing on with the series mostly because I wasn’t a big fan of Jenna and I don’t think I can take another book that spend more than half of it going around and around and around with nothing happening.

Early Review: His Risk to Take by Tessa Bailey

2013-05-01T07:30:00.000-04:00

Title: His Risk to Take
Series: Line of Duty, #2
Author: Tessa Bailey
Release Date: May 13, 2013
Pages: 162
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher (Entangled Brazen)
Rating: B-
Reviewed by: Marq

Alpha Male Quote: "I just watched you bend over a pool table in those ridiculously tight jeans. Over. And over. You think I could stop at kissing?"

summary from Goodreads
The greater the risk, the hotter the reward…

Homicide cop Troy Bennett had a reputation on the Chicago PD for being fearless and in control—until the night his daredevil partner is killed during a raid. From that moment on, he swears he’ll never again be responsible for the loss of a loved one. To escape his demons, Troy transfers to the NYPD, bringing him up close and personal with Ruby Elliott, a beautiful, street-savvy pool hustler.

Reckless and stubbornly independent, Ruby embodies everything Troy’s avoiding, but when she walks into O’Hanlon’s Pub and blows his carefully laid plans to hell, Troy knows he has to have her—risks be damned. But there’s a connection between Ruby’s shadowed past and a case Troy’s working involving a notorious Brooklyn felon, throwing her safety into jeopardy. Confronted with his biggest fear, will Troy push Ruby away to keep her safe or fight to keep her in his arms where she belongs?

Marq's thoughts:
I absolutely love Entangled's Brazen line. It's romance with a little more heat than your standard contemporary romances. I'm also enjoying new author Tessa Bailey. Even though I've had issues with her heroines in her previous book and this one, I enjoy her books a lot. And her heroes are yummy, dirty talking alpha males. Bailey is an author to watch.

Troy has just transferred from Chicago PD to New York PD. After losing his partner in a raid gone wrong, Troy needed a change of scenery. While hanging out with his co-workers at the local watering hole, in walks Ruby. She immediately captures Troy's attention. Troy sees trouble written all over her but he can not resist.

Ruby can take care of herself and doesn't trust cops. Growing up hustling alongside her father, Ruby lives an unconventional life and makes money in a unconventional and sometimes dangerous, way. But she's trying to change all that. But she needs money to pay the bills so she resorts to her one skill -- pool hustling. When Troy rescues Ruby from an angry hustled the sparks are immediate. But Troy isn't sure he wants to get involved with a woman who lives life on the edge. And Ruby isn't sure she can give Troy everything that he wants.

I'm going to start off by saying I really liked His Risk to Take. I loved Troy. He is very forward about what he wants from Ruby but he's also very protective. She's not just a conquest for him. When Troy finds out that his case indirectly puts Ruby in the cross-hairs, he is willing to do everything to keep her safe even though Ruby doesn't appreciate it or follows his orders. And this is where I had a problem. Ruby is a very likable character. Even though she has a tough exterior, she is a compassionate person. Her toughness isn't harsh or a turn-off. You learn from the jump that there's more to Ruby than meets the eye. But I had a problem with her willfully ignoring Troy's request and putting not only herself in danger but Troy, his fellow officers and the entire case. And then Ruby gets angry when Troy blows up at her. So that ticked me off. Luckily this happens towards the end of the book during the big story arc so I already liked Ruby.

One minor thing bothered me as well -- Ruby's age. The heroine in Taking What's His is early 20s (1st book in the series) and so is Ruby. Can the next heroine be knocking on 30 at least?? Thankfully Ruby has a lot of real life experience to make up for her age so she does come off as more mature than your typical 24year old. But I'm over early 20 somethings in my adult contemporary romance. Yes I know they're adults but the I'm used to the heroines in CR being late 20s/early 30s. Of course all the heroes are close to 30 and over. Let's flip the script and have the woman be older and the man be younger. We don't have enough of those tropes in romance.

I highly recommend His Risk to Take and the Line of Duty series as a whole. The heroes are hunky and sexy. The plot flowed smoothly and kept me engaged. The sex scenes are sexy and well-written. Despite the few issues with the heroine, it was an overall good book.

Pre-order buy links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/His-Risk-to-Take-ebook/dp/B00CK51JT4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1367246278&sr=8-4&keywords=his+risk+to+take
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/his-risk-to-take-tessa-bailey/1115213930?ean=9781622661787