29 May 2013

Kissing the Maid of Honor by Robin Bielman

Kissing the Maid of Honor (Secret Wishes, #1)



4.5 Sweet Stars

Desperate times called for wishing wells.



Or so Sela thinks...

Sela Sullivan resolved to be the best maid of honor to her best friend's upcoming wedding even if it means tolerating the best man. The best man, by the way, is the bride's big brother who also happens to be her older brother's best friend.

Sela and Luke had a history in high school. No, they weren't high school sweethearts. Not even close. In fact, Luke figured in Sela's most embarrassing moment during that time, which included a kissing booth. He was a jock, she was a nerd. He was popular, she wasn't. She had a crush on him, he doesn't return the feeling. You need to read the book to get the whole story but you get the gist.

Hence, she vowed to stay away from him and to help her make that happen, she turned to the guardians of Cascade's own wishing well to help her. Tough luck! The guardians of the well wasn't up to helping her stay away. In fact, more and more, she and Luke seems to be gravitating towards each other.

This was my first book from Robin Bielman, and I may have found another author whose books I would keep an eye on. I really loved this one. I loved the premise of the book and it was set on a small town. I'm a sucker for those kinds of books.

I loved the family dynamics, the friendships and the rivalries in this kind of small town settings. And this book delivers on all counts. That said, I was a bit annoyed at their respective families for interfering. Yeah, Luke wasn't known for staying in one place for long and Sela might not be cut out for a fling but really! They are both consenting adults and they are both attracted to each other. They did change their tune in the end.

Another thing I loved about this book is the chemistry between Luke and Sela. The sexual tension was palpable but no graphic sex scenes here. Sorry, smut lovers. But as I said, the sexual tension was there and it was enough for me. This book is proof that you don't need to be overly graphic in order to achieve sexual tension.

Overall, this book did it for me. It was sweet, funny with the right amount tension to make it a very enjoyable read.

View all my reviews

28 May 2013

Trophy Husband by Lauren Blakely

Trophy Husband

4 sweet stars!!

This is the kind of books that led me to read the genre in the first place. This was another sweet and fun read from Lauren Blakely. I loved that this book wasn't just about a romance between the two main characters, it was also about friendship, forgiveness and letting go.

Mckenna seemingly perfect life was turned upside down when her fiance dumped her for someone younger whom he met during his bachelor's party. Heartbroken, Mckenna tried to pick up the pieces together and a year after, she was content. Her fashion blog is flourishing, she had great friends but deep inside she longs for something else.

After a chance meeting with her ex-fiance and his new wife, Mckenna resolved to find herself a man. No, strike that a boy toy. A kept man. A trophy husband. But of course, like most best laid plans, this one didn't quite pan out as expected.

From Dave Dybdahl to Steely Dan Duran (LoL!), Mckenna set out to find herself a trophy husband with hilarious results. An unexpected help came from Chris, a gamer who runs his video blog. Chris is handsome, gallant and yes, a geek! The attraction was there but alas, Chris is not Trophy Husband material. For one, he is older than Mckenna (TH is supposed to be younger) and he has a successful business.

So while Chris was "helping" her find her trophy husband, the attraction between grew until Mckenna had to make a decision to let go of her search and allow herself to fall for Chris.

I really liked the slow build up to their romance. It wasn't rushed. They started out as friends and it grew from there. Chris was a lovable character. I mean, come on! He is a geek who surfs and is super hot! What's not to love. But he is also very sweet!

I also liked the secondary characters especially Mckenna's sister Julia. Hmm, I wonder if we'll get to read her story too. Overall, a very solid read from Lauren Blakely.

Purchase Links: Amazon/B&N

27 May 2013

Femme Fatale Blog Tour Stop!!

Blog Tour: Top Ten
Femme Fatale by Cindy Dees


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Ever After Romance Book Blog welcomes Entangled Publishing author Cindy Dees!! Today, Cindy will share with us her book and her top 10 favorite music list!


He has three days to turn her into a sex goddess…

Former teen star Olivia Harper has a problem. If she can’t shake her girl-next-door image and become the femme fatale her latest role requires, her career will flop. But with her squeaky-clean reputation, Liv’s hardly been kissed, let alone had her world rocked between the sheets. There’s no way she’ll ask her playboy co-star for pointers, so she turns to the sexy new military consultant for some discreet…guidance.

Major Blake Ramsey is stuck babysitting actors who can’t even lace their combat boots until his boss can deal with the fallout from his last mission. When Liv propositions him, he can’t decide whether she’s the naïve girl she claims to be or a bombshell looking for another conquest. Getting involved with the actress could blow his cover, but as the lessons heat up, Blake can’t deny how badly he wants to stay in her bed—permanently. But catching the eye of the paparazzi might jeopardize both their lives…

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Grab your copy of the book: Amazon/B&N

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Top 10 Fave Music List

Loreena McKennit
Ed Sheeran
Kate Bush
Enigma
George Winston
Imagine Dragons
Adam Lambert
Lindsey Sterling
Coldplay
Elton John

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About the Author: 

Cindy Dees started flying airplanes while sitting in her dad’s lap at the age of three and got a pilot’s license before she got a driver’s license. At age fifteen, she dropped out of high school and left the horse farm in Michigan where she grew up to attend the University of Michigan.

After earning a degree in Russian and East European Studies, she joined the U.S. Air Force and became the youngest female pilot in its history. She flew supersonic jets, VIP airlift, and the C-5 Galaxy, one of the world’s largest cargo airplanes.

She also worked part-time gathering intelligence. During her military career, she traveled to forty-two countries on five continents, was detained by the KGB and East German secret police, got shot at, flew in the first Gulf War, met her husband, and amassed a lifetime’s worth of war stories. Cindy has turned many of her experiences into novels of military romance and suspense.

Cindy’s hobbies include professional Middle Eastern dancing, Japanese gardening, and medieval reenacting.

Winner of a Golden Heart and Holt Medallion for writing, Cindy is a two-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award for Romance Fiction, two-time winner of RT Book Review’s Best Harlequin Romantic Suspense Novel of the Year, is a Romantic Times Lifetime Career Achievement nominee, and a Waldenbooks best selling author.

Her 40th romance novel will be published in 2013, and she’s looking forward to the release of her first epic fantasy novel with co-author, Bill Flippin, in 2014.

Learn more about Cindy here...
Website / Facebook / Twitter

24 May 2013

Tangled by Emma Chase

Tangled (Tangled, #1)

5 Hilarious Stars!!

First of all, the cover of this book is HOT! It's tasteful just with a hint of naughtiness. So imagine my surprise at how raunchy and dirty (I meant that in a good way) and crass this book is. And the even bigger surprise? I.LOVED.IT.

Yes, I loved the crude humor in this book. It was just right and well written, plus the fact that we're reading it from a male perspective, worked. Like a charm. Being in Drew's head was fantastic.I laughed out loud so many times and cannot help but agree at some of the things that he said. Case in point.

If a guy who you just met at a club calls you baby, sweetheart, angel, or any other generic endearment? Don’t make the mistake of thinking he’s so into you, he’s already thinking up pet names. It’s because he can’t or doesn’t care to remember your actual name.

Or this...

How many wives have told their husbands, “I’m fine,” when they really mean, “I want to cut your balls off with a butcher knife”? How many men have told their girlfriends, “You look fine,” when they really mean, “You need to go back to the gym and work out—a lot.” It’s the universal way of saying we’re just peachy—when we’re really anything but.,

And this...

Closure is a made-up word that women invented so they can overanalyze something and talk about it—to death. And then, after it’s been blessed and buried, closure gives them the excuse to dig the poor fucker up and talk about it—some more.

See what I mean? He's can be real jerk, immature, tasteless, crude but he knows it and makes no apologies for it. And I liked that. But he can be a real sweetheart too, especially with Mackenzie and of course with Kate. LOL! I loved his interactions with his niece. His advice on Cinderella and Prince Charming is spot on! LMAO!

Here's my Drew, by the way...



And my Kate...



Kate is no slouch either. She take take it and she can dish it. Laughed out loud at their office competition. Really hilarious. Haha!

Moving along...

This book plays out like an episode of How I Met Your Mother, where Drew narrates the events that led to his "downfall" and once in a while he pulls out of the story and talks directly to the readers. Kind of a freeze frame moment, which totally has the HIMYM vibe to it. Again, it worked for me.

The secondary characters also contributed a lot to my love for this book. Alexandra aka The Bitch was hilarious and yes, totally believable as a big, bitchy sister. She's totally a noun, an Alexandra. Despite Drew moaning and groaning about Alexandra, I loved their relationship.

“I’m serious. I distinctly remember changing your diaper and seeing those cute little guys hanging there. What happened to them? Did they shrink? Disappear? Because that’s the only reason I can think of to explain why you would behave like such a pathetic no-balls coward.”

And then there's Mackenzie.



I wanted to adopt her. She's going to be rich and I'm just going to ride on her coattails into a lap of luxury. She would totally make a killing as an investment banker.

“Uncle Drew?”
“Yes?”
“Is you gonna die alone?”
I smirk. “I don’t plan on dying for a long time, honey.”
“Momma says you gonna die alone. She tol’ Daddy that you gonna die and it be days till a cleanin’ lady find your rottin’ corpse.”

“I don’t think Uncle Matthew can come, Momma. He been too busy bein’ pussy whipped. Wha’s pussy whipped, Daddy?”


And the sex in this book??



There is nothing hotter than reading a sex scene from a male POV, that's for sure.

Everyone should seriously read this book. It's safe to say that Tangled now has a permanent place on my favorites shelf.

Addendum: Oh, due to reading this book, I've now added two new words to my vocabulary: NILF and CPS. ;-))

Amazon

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23 May 2013

Picture Perfect New Cover Reveal




ABOUT PICTURE PERFECT:
Fashion design major Cat Mitchell has a closet full of gorgeous clothes - and not a single thing fits. After two years of runway modeling for easy cash, an accident shattered her lower leg bone and her self-esteem in just one swift fall. Ten months of no exercise, prescription steroids, comfort eating and yoga pants meant returning to campus as a size twelve instead of her former size two. When her gorgeous long-time friend with benefits sees her for the first time after her accident and snubs her in front of all her friends, Cat’s self-image hits rock bottom. Her sorority sisters all insist that she looks gorgeous, but all Cat sees is the roll of her stomach when she sits down, or the dimpling at the back of her thighs that wasn't there last year. Cat’s therapist prescribes something radical to stop the downward spiral - nude modeling for a nearby college's human form drawing classes. When Cat faces her fears and bares it all for the class, she realizes that she's posing naked in front the most gorgeous, buffest guy she's ever seen in her life. He asks her out after the class, and after one steamy night together, Cat's absolutely smitten.
Nate’s pretty close to perfect – he takes Cat rock climbing when he discovers that it makes her feel strong and becomes a great chef after he learns that the perfect pesto sauce makes her swoon. Cat starts to feel like her old self again - confident and beautiful - as long as Nate's around. Even when he discourages her from entering the Real Woman Project, a design competition for plus-sized apparel, she reasons that he's just trying to prevent old body image wounds from splitting wide open again. But when Cat goes home with Nate for Thanksgiving, she discovers something shocking from his recent past that proves that he hasn’t always been so encouraging of women of all shapes and sizes. Cat has no idea what to think, but she does know one thing - this might destroy their relationship before it's even had a chance to get off the ground.
Before Cat can figure out whether the real Nate is the sensitive, adoring guy she fell in love with, or an undercover asshole, she'll have to finally feel comfortable in her own skin - even if it means leaving him forever.
Goodreads      B&N     Amazon
 
ABOUT ALESSANDRA THOMAS:
Alessandra Thomas is a New Adult writer who swears she was in her twenties yesterday. Since she's not, she spends her time looking back on her college years fondly, and writing sexy stories about guys and
girls falling in love and really living life for the first time. When she's not writing, you can find her with a spoonful of ice cream in one hand and the newest New Adult release in the other.
Follow Alessandra on  Twitter  
Add her on  Facebook

Alessandra Thomas Subject to Change Cover Reveal



ABOUT SUBJECT TO CHANGE:
Joey made her dad a deathbed promise that she would become a doctor, and dedicate herself to fighting the very cancer that took his life. There’s just one problem -three years into her pre-med classes, she's struggling to stay on top of the curve, let alone prove she's dazzling enough to earn a spot in an Ivy League medical school. In a Hail Mary move, she throws a basic Business 101 class into her semester schedule, banking on a perfect score to boost her GPA.
That is, until she’s paired for a final project with Hawk, the bartending, motorbike-riding, gorgeously bedheaded loser who falls asleep in class and communicates in one-word sentences.
Hawk does whatever he wants, whenever he wants, which sets Joey on edge – in every possible way. As they get to know each other, her urge to scream at him is curbed only by her fantasies of tearing his clothes off. Soon those fantasies become reality, and Joey realizes Hawk makes her feel more fully herself than any of the rich boys her mother and sorority sisters approve of.
But the promise to her father hangs over her head, and the harder Joey tries to succeed in her chosen career, the faster everything falls into a hopeless tailspin of bad grades, broken promises and guilt. It doesn't help to have Hawk sitting like a devil on her shoulder, insisting she should be free to live however she wants to live - like he does.
The only thing Joey knows is that her neatly organized life is crushing her - and Hawk's bad attitude might be the only thing that can save her.


ABOUT ALESSANDRA THOMAS:
Alessandra Thomas is a New Adult writer who swears she was in her twenties yesterday. Since she's not, she spends her time looking back on her college years fondly, and writing sexy stories about guys and
girls falling in love and really living life for the first time. When she's not writing, you can find her with a spoonful of ice cream in one hand and the newest New Adult release in the other.
 Add Subject to Change on: Goodreads 

Allure (Spiral of Bliss #2) by Nina Lane

Allure (Spiral of Bliss, #2)

Blurb

After lies and betrayal almost destroy their marriage, Dean and Olivia West reignite their blissful passion. The medieval history professor and his lovely wife are determined to fix their mistakes, and Liv’s unexpected pregnancy intensifies their desire to fall madly in love all over again.

Then a family crisis forces Dean back into a feud with his parents and siblings, dredging up guilt over a painful family secret. Dean fights to shield Liv from the hostility, but for the first time, Liv resists her white knight’s defense. Her newfound resolve clashes with Dean’s desperate need to protect her.

Liv and Dean have battled obstacles together before, but bitter family conflicts now endanger their fragile intimacy. And when Dean’s career is suddenly threatened, he and Liv must struggle with events that could damage them in ways they had never imagined.

My Review

5 Beautiful Stars!!

In that place of us, Liv and Dean, love has its own poetry and language. Allure, quatrefoil, fleur-de-lis. Right here. PR9199.3 R5115 Y68. My white knight. I’m yours. Give me a kiss. Pie love you. I remember. Professor. Beauty.

Considering how much I loved Arouse, I had very high expectations for this book. And I am happy to say that this book did not disappoint. I never thought I could fall more in love with Dean and Liv's story but I did. This book delivered on all points--great main characters, steam, angst and of course, just overall enjoyment and then some.

Nina Lane, in my opinion, outdid herself in this book. It was raw, real, emotional, gripping, beautiful, tragic, heartbreaking. Some things hit too close to home, which is probably one of the reasons I loved it since I was able to really connect with it on a very personal level.

Our relationship, our love, cannot and will never be perfect. It will, however, always belong only to us in all its flawed, intense beauty. Perfect in its very imperfection.

Allure starts off hot. Real hot with Dean and Liv going at it in a coat closet. We knew that they separated briefly for three weeks and they are just getting back together and feeling each other out. You can feel the underlying tension between them, sexual or otherwise. Liv is pregnant and Dean is on the cusp of a career breakthrough but their new found togetherness is tested when Dean had to go back home to California for a family emergency and an accusation at work threatens Dean's career.

The Main Characters and the Story...

I've lost count how many times this guy had me melting. Dean West, gawd, there are no words to describe how wonderful he is in this book. He had me swooning from the first page until the last. And seriously, every time he calls Liv, Beauty, I melt. His love for Liv is so palpable and so fierce, it jumps off the page. He's overprotective but somehow I get his reasons for it.

Liv, I love her as much I love Dean. They're perfect for each other really. In the first book, her insecurities are almost too painful too read but here, she's definitely coming to her own as a woman, as a wife and more importantly as an equal partner to Dean. And I cannot wait for book three because I feel like Liv is going to seriously kick ass--or more accurately, kick someone's ass in that book. Yes, I'm talking about you Maggie.

Both characters are flawed, both with their own insecurities and fears but Dean and Liv are two of the strongest characters I've come across in a while. They have their moment of suspicion and doubt but all married spouses go through this at one point or another. This is one of the reasons why I love this book. It depicts very real situations and emotions married couples go through.

My heart broke for them when they lost the baby and it didn't feel contrived. I already had a sinking suspicion that it will happen but when it did, I seriously cried with them and was rooting for them to have that but I guess it wasn't meant to be yet.

This review would not be complete without mentioning the writing on this book. Let me tell you, the writing is phenomenal. I loved how Nina Lane was able to seamlessly switch from Dean's POV to Liv with the flashbacks. And the prose is just beautiful. I know. I sound like a broken record but it is what it is. Beautiful.

Final Thoughts

I cannot wait for Awaken to be release. I know something big is going to happen with the Maggie situation. I fear for Dean and Liv but I also cannot wait for them to face this together. Someone needs to seriously kick Maggie's ass. Seriously, the girl just pissed me off! I praying for some comeuppance coming her way in the third book. What she did with Liv in the first book and then Dean here is just unforgivable. Grr!

I'll end this review with some of my favorite quotes from the book...

“Girlfriend.” I rested my forehead against his chest. “I guess.” “Not the best word, but it’ll do in public.” He kissed my temple. “In private, you can just be my beauty.”

“You don’t need anyone to fix you, Olivia, least of all me.” Dean pulled me closer, his eyes never leaving mine. “Because you’re not broken.”

“Thanks for waiting,” I whispered. “My beauty,” he said, “I’d wait for you forever.”

He nodded. “And you told me you didn’t have a key.” “I think I do.” “What is it?” “You.”

“I was so glad you asked me.” I rub my hand over his leg. “I had a big crush on you.” “I know.” I raise an eyebrow. “You know?” “Why else would you knock the other girls aside whenever I walked in?” Dean looks rather pleased with himself. My mouth drops open. A flush scorches my cheeks. “I did not knock the—”
“You sure did. And you think I didn’t notice the chocolates or the extra cookie you’d put on my plate? Or the time you gave me a box of shortbread and told me it was a free sample?”

“No doubt about it, beauty.” I press my face against her sweet-smelling hair. “You’ll always be my allure.”

“Feel that?” he asked. “You’re the first woman who’s ever made my heart beat like that. You’re the first woman I’ve ever wanted to spend all my time with, the only one who could convince me to start a new life. You’re the first woman who’s ever made me genuinely happy. Who makes me glad to be alive, who makes me burn hotter than fire. You’re the first woman who’s ever made me afraid.”

“You know I’m not much of a romantic.” He looks at me. “But that semester, even I had to admit it was more than just a coincidence.” “What was?”
“The fact that I was studying the perfect harmony of the stars and planets at the exact same time I was falling in love with you.”





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21 May 2013

TROPHY HUSBAND BOOK BLITZ!!!



Here it is my lovelies, Lauren Blakely's hilarious new book, Trophy Husband! Read on and before you go don't forget to join our Rafflecopter Giveaway!


Synopsis:

Sometimes you can't help falling in love, even when you try to do the opposite...Successful fashion blogger McKenna Bell has spent far too long protecting herself after the way her ex-fiancé left her at the altar for a college chick he met the night of his bachelor party. Loving again, trusting again, well, that's just not in the cards. Especially now that her ex is back in town with his new woman, demanding custody of McKenna's favorite creature in the whole world--her dog. No effing way. McKenna's had enough of him, and she decides to even the score by finding her own hot young thing -- a Trophy Husband. Sure, she's only twenty-seven, but doesn't that make it even more fun -- and infuriating to her ex -- to pursue a younger man? When she declares her intentions on her daily blog, her quest quickly skyrockets in popularity, and that's when Chris enters the picture, and he’s got all the assets. He's handsome, successful, and turns her inside out with a kiss to end all kisses, the kind that makes you feel like a shooting star. But loving again could mean losing again, and it's so much easier to focus on getting even, isn't it? Unless, you just can't help falling in love. Which means McKenna will have to come face to face with what she really wants in life -- protecting her heart from hurt, or letting go of her fears of a new beginning.

Excerpt


My timing is impeccable.
    I do not want to miss a chance to see Chris walk across the sand, so there’s no reason for me to be on time when I can be early.
    I park on Taraval Street along Ocean Beach, get out of my car, and wait. I try my best to look busy, fiddling with my phone, and checking compartments in my purse, but when Chris appears on the horizon, surfboard in hand, wet suit tucked under his arm, I freeze.
    And then I blush, remembering what he did to me in my mere imagination yesterday. I’m sure he’ll be able to tell, to read it in my eyes. I really should pretend I’m not watching him. But it’s impossible not to. I didn’t look away during that scene in Casino Royale either when Daniel Craig emerged from the water. He wears board shorts, low on his hips, and a pair of flip flops. I watch him as he walks through the sand, closer, closer and there, now I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I would like to lick all those water droplets off his chest and his abs and then run a hand down his body to sear into my memory the feel of that kind of firm outline.
    He’s lickable. He’s kissable. He’s chat-up-able. He’s precisely the type of guy a girl can fall into some kind of crazy crush for. He catches my gaze, and I should be embarrassed, I should act as if I’m not staring, but there’s this fluttery feeling inside me, and I want to hold onto it, especially because he’s looking at me and not letting go either. Those green eyes of his are the definition of dreamy, and if I were a writer, I’d find a way to pen a song about them, how they draw me in, romance me, entice me.
    Soon, he’s mere feet from me, scratched-up surfboard by his side, in all his glistening, ocean-ed up glory. Neither one of us says anything for a few seconds, and it’s the kind of silence that’s filled with unsaid things.
    With wishes, with hopes.
    Mine at least.
    “Hey.”
    “Hi.”
    “Thanks for meeting me here,” he says, as a wet shock of hair falls across his forehead. He pushes it back.
    “Thanks for being a surfer,” I say, then I want to kick myself for sounding so goggly-eyed.
    He flashes me a grin and walks to his car, a sporty red car that I recognize as being one of the newest hybrids. He stows the wetsuit in the trunk, then slides the board into the rack on the roof, stretching his arms to lock the board in place. I picture myself slinking into the narrow space between Chris and the car, the look of surprise on his face, then wicked delight, as he closes the gap between our bodies. He’s warm and wet from surfing and sun, and I’m warm and wet from him, and I imagine him lazily tracing a finger down my arm, enjoying the way the slightest touch sets me ablaze. I’d shift closer, my hips inviting him to become a puzzle piece that locks into place with me.
    I force myself to shutter those images, because they have no bearing to reality.
    He opens the passenger door, reaches inside and hands me a bag with the camera in it.
    “Good as new,” he says.
    “How did you fix it?”
    “I can’t give away all my secrets now, can I?”
    I smile. “I suppose not.”
    “But maybe you’d be willing to tell me your last name now that I’ve fixed your camera.”
    Another smile. Another nervous laugh. “McKenna. McKenna Bell.”
    “Well, thank you for letting me fix the camera your friend’s cat peed on, McKenna Bell.”
    “Maybe if I’m lucky, the cat will pee on my router next.”
     He smiles, then runs a hand through his wet hair. There’s something so effortless about the way he moves, so natural, that I don’t even think he’s aware of the effect he has on women.
    Of the effect he has on me. I want to run my hands down his chiseled chest, exploring the lines between his muscles, the way his stomach is outlined so firmly. I want to know what those arms feel like wrapped around me, pulling me in close. I want his hands on my hips as he teases me and taunts me with sweet kisses on my cheeks, my eyelids, my forehead. Then his tongue flicks across my earlobe, and I gasp with pleasure. He pulls back, a satisfied little grin on his face before he returns to my neck, burning up my skin in an instant with those lips that were made to mark my body.

AMAZON   AMAZON UK    AMAZON CA   SMASHWORDS   BN   GOODREADS

AUTHOR BIO (no author picture)

Lauren Blakely is an unabashed fan of clever jokes, toast, and good guys in novels. Like the heroine in CAUGHT UP IN US, she thinks life should be filled with movie kisses and coffee drinks. Lauren lives in California with her husband and children, and spends her days writing both true stories and make-believe ones.

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17 May 2013

Unbeautifully by Madeline Sheehan

Unbeautifully (Undeniable, #2)


4 Crazy Stars!!

“All scars tell a story, beautiful girl,” he said, releasing me to trace the marks on my stomach. “Yours are tellin’ me how healthy and fuckin’ perfect my kid is gonna be.”


Crazy. Wild. Crass. Gritty. Uninhibited. Just a few words that come to mind when I think of this book. I couldn't put this book down. I forgot how many times I went, 'OMG, that didn't just happen,' to 'Oh no, he didn't,' during the course of reading this book. I would have rated it higher if not for some issues, which I will address later.

Ripper



Ripper is the sergeant-at-arms of the Hell's Horsemen MC. Physically and emotionally scarred after being attacked and almost killed by a psychopath in the previous book, Ripper didn't think anything beautiful could happen to him. That is until Danny.

Danny



Danny is the quintessential princess of the Hell's Horsemen, daughter of the MC president, a good girl whose life at home was slowly unraveling, saw something beautiful in Ripper. And after one passionate and intense night, Ripper and Danny's road to hell began.



After reading Undeniable, I've already mentally and emotionally prepared myself for this book. We are talking about Madeline Sheehan after and Ms. Sheehan doesn't do sweet and fluffy. I was prepared to get another Deuce-like behavior from Ripper, so I was pleasantly surprised that unlike Deuce, Ripper was actually very likable. Of course, he still yells and say fuck and bitch a lot but compared to Deuce, Ripper is a sweetheart. Danny had her TSTL moments but overall, she was more stable than Eva, in my opinion, and like Ripper, I actually really liked her.

My Two Cents

As I mentioned earlier, I would have given this book 5 stars if not for some issues I had with the story. I get the crazy in this book. In fact, I was entertained by all the craziness that went on. That said, I felt that all the drama and craziness that went down with Deuce and Eva, Jase and Dorothy and Hawk and Chrissy, Tegen and Cage overshadowed the story of Ripper and Danny. It was just too much and it contributed nothing to the development of the main characters. It was almost like all those things were written in for shock value. And I admit I was shocked and appalled but after that it left me with...nothing.



The sub-plots surrounding Nikki and the (view spoiler)[Danny's abortion (hide spoiler)] was like an afterthought and resolved too quickly. It wasn't explored as much and we are just basically told that Deuce knows everything and it was okay. That frustrated me a bit. I thought that was something that could have been great for both the characters but yeah, it was there and then it wasn't. Even the Mama Vi angle felt rushed. *shrugs*

Another problem for me was the timeline. Maybe I'm just slow on the uptake but I couldn't get my head around it especially with Deuce and Eva. I gave myself a headache trying to figure out how everything fits in the timeline from the first book to this and I couldn't. Doing math makes my brain hurt. It is known.

On the other hand, I was glad we got a lot Deuce and Eva on this book. But was it just me or was Deuce and Ripper started to sound alike after awhile. LOL! It must be a biker thing! Seriously, I had to double check whose POV I was reading because Deuce and Ripper, they could be the same guy with the way they talk and everything. But other than that I loved the multiple POVs.

I thought Cox and Kimi were outstanding. LOL! They brought so much comic relief to the story and Cox was pretty awesome in this book. I loved the wedding of Deuce and Eva. I thought that was pretty hilarious especially the interaction between Preacher and Deuce and the things that went on inside Deuce's head at that moment.

The Epilogue



I was hoping to get a glimpse of Ripper and Danny's wedding but I guess you can't have two weddings in one book. Otherwise, I liked the epilogue. I wasn't wowed by it but it was pretty sweet.

Overall, a solid four-star read. I enjoyed myself immensely. Definitely looking forward to Tegen and Cage's story.

*****DISCLAIMER*****

All images used in this review are not mine. I do not claim any ownership to them.

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15 May 2013

Wife In Name Only by Hayson Manning


Wife in Name Only

4 stars

Rory and Zoe Hughes are an estranged married couple living apart for year--Rory is in Los Angeles and Zoe in Tonga. She runs a successful honeymoon resort which sells happily ever after. The only problem was no one knows except Zoe that her marriage was a sham. And now, a famous honeymoon magazine wants to run a story about her and Rory.
So Zoe must convince her estranged husband to come to Tonga and pretend to be happily married to generate publicity for the resort.

This story started a little slow for me, and I wasn't feeling Rory or Zoe until about 20% to 30% when it was slowly revealed how their marriage unraveled and we get to see how these two people who were so much in love lost each other along the way.

Rory Hughes

“I fell in love with the young, ambitious, driven, but kind Rory. I fell out of love with the cutthroat businessman who’d sell his soul for a merger. The speak-or-shut-up guy.”

Rory Hughes was a business who came from the wrong side of the tracks. He literally had nothing except for a drive and ambition to succeed. This would be normal of course, but Rory took it to another level to the point where he had no more time for his wife. No time at all. And worse, became somewhat unscrupulous, sacrificing his relationships and caring for no one except the bottom line.

Don't get me wrong. I think he loved Zoe but it was his own interpretation of love. For him, love is giving Zoe everything even the things she didn't ask for. For him, being successful and rich would make him deserving of Zoe's love.

And while I disagree with him and thinks he's an ass, sometimes--well, most of the time actually, Rory's character was actually likable. He's funny, for one, brutally honest, and he did grow throughout the book which I really love. And in spite being estranged from his wife, he remained faithful to her the whole time they were apart. Yay! I loved this little nugget here...

A snort of disbelief tripped out of her mouth. “You haven’t had sex in a year?” She stared up into Rory’s heartbreak-blue eyes and nearly tripped over her feet. Mister I-Can-Have-Sex-Anytime-Anywhere-Just-Give-Me-Two-Seconds hadn't in twelve months? Impossible.
“Nope.” None of my business. Still, a man had needs. A quiver pulled low in her belly. And Rory had needs. She swallowed over a suddenly dry throat.
“But…”
“I take my vows seriously. As far as I’m concerned, we’re still married.” She blinked up at him, surprised at the ripple of emotion expanding outwards from her heart. Oh.
“But we’re only married on paper. We’ve, ah, we’ve moved on.”
“So it would seem.
“So you don’t have a Rudy?” The words squeaked out of her like Helium Barbie. Excellent. Just what she needed. She tried to lighten the mood as her insides went on a washing machine spin.
“I have a shower.”


LOL! Rudy, by the way, is Zoe's trusty vibrator, if anyone is asking. O_o

Zoe Hughes

Zoe loves ABBA. Like Rory, she has had a difficult life but unlike Rory, she knows who she is. And despite her rebel nipples, which always makes an appearance whenever Rory is around, I actually like her character. She's fun, sassy, and honest with herself. She left her life and successfully made her resort successful.

Another thing I enjoyed about her character was that she knows herself. She wasn't whiny, which I appreciated and when she realized she can't make her husband stay, she dealt with it and accepted it.



Overall, I really enjoyed the story. I was surprised by the depth of each character's development throughout the story. Although, the story started in the middle of the couple's separation, we see a glimpse of their life before it went sour. We also get to see where and why it went wrong.

And while this book is not perfect, it did a great job of depicting very real problems that married couples go through, which I really appreciate. The banter is light and fun and of course, we get to experience the Tonga through Ms.Manning's vivid description of the island.

So if you like your romance light, fun with plenty of heart, this would be a perfect book for you.

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12 May 2013

Mirror of My Soul by Joey Hill

Mirror of My Soul (Nature of Desire, #4)

 
5 Heart-wrenching stars!!

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars. --- Kahlil Gibran

Mirror of my Soul picked up right where Ice Queen left off. Tyler had just endured a brutal beating from the hands of Marguerite and the both of them had to deal with the aftermath. Will Marguerite be able to learn to let herself embrace Tyler's love for her? Will Tyler continue to endure in his devotion to the woman who is determined to shut him out?

“I’ll endure anything for you, angel. Anything.”

“You’re idealizing me.” “No. I’m telling you that I want you, light or dark, every shade in between. That’s the formulation of trust, unconditional acceptance.” He locked his gaze with hers. “Remember, I swore it to you. No matter what happens between us, I’ll always be there for you.”



This book is a continuation to Tyler and Marguerite's story, and it delved even deeper into Marguerite's and Tyler's past. The things that happened in this book will just break your heart. It certainly broke mine. I thought Ice Queen was already emotional. Boy, was I wrong. This book took emotions into a whole different level. You will feel love, anger, lust, joy, fear -- you name it, it's here.

“And I look in your eyes and see everything I could ever want. Trust in that, angel.”

Again, Joey Hill has crafted a magnificent tale of love and redemption without resorting to cliches. It could have gone down that route--a tragic heroine with a very dark past and a hero who is willing to save her but has his own darkness to deal with--but it never did. Thank God.



As I've said in this book we finally know the whole story about what happened to Marguerite, and it was even worst than I previously imagined. It.Was.Tragic. It was heartbreaking and it explained so much of why she is the way she is. It really did. OMG! The unspeakable tragedy that she went through would have destroyed a lesser person. Miraculously it didn't destroy her, at least not totally. But the emotional and psychological scars--and the guilt she carried were so enormous that I thought, maybe she was beyond saving. I won't go into the details, you have to read it for yourself.



Tyler's past wasn't so rosy either. He suffered from PTSD after serving as a covert CIA operative. It destroyed his marriage and drove his wife to commit suicide. He couldn't save her and he had blamed himself ever since. There were times in the book where Marguerite inadvertently caused Tyler so much pain by doing things that Tyler feared the most. My stomach was constantly in knots while reading the book and it didn't let up until about 85% in.

“When you jumped from that building, I died,” he said simply, his voice a whisper in her ear. “I was so certain that I was going to lose you that I haven’t known how to feel or think since, beyond the basic steps of caring for you. There’s this rage in me, this anger. Every time I touch you, I want to hold you so tightly that I’ll see pain in your face so it matches what’s raging inside of me. So I’m afraid to let it show. I don’t know what to do with it. I love you so much, Marguerite. There are no words for this kind of love. It’s not pretty or romantic, it’s as visceral as sex or breathing, something undeniable, necessary to go on living, for anything else to matter.”



Some wounds could only be healed by the touch of a soul mate, two broken pieces coming together to become a whole being again, so simple the jaded world would call it a cliché. The angels would call it one of God’s miracles, offered off the tips of His fingers like diamond raindrops, driving and cleaning away all that didn’t matter. That love was worth any torment, every disappointment. It couldn’t be explained or described.



I was finally able to breathe and smile again because after all that happened to them, there is actually an HEA for Tyler and Marguerite. It was magnificent. It was really moving especially the wedding scene and that letter and Marguerite's gift. Ah, it was beautiful. The anxiety that I felt melted away and I was in my happy place again. There was even an epilogue. Yes! Again, it was wonderful. (I know I sound like a broken record but that's truly how I felt, so apologies.)

It was a perfect ending.




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Ice Queen by Joey Hill

Ice Queen (Nature of Desire, #3)



5 Wonderful Stars

Darkness may hide the trees
and the flowers from the eyes
but it cannot hide
love from the soul.
Kahlil Gibran, Love Letters in the Sand: The Love Poems of Khalil Gibran

This is my second book from Joey Hill and I will say that this one just totally blew me away. It had everything I could have ever asked for in a book; it had great characters, captivating plot and brilliant writing. I know that this is marketed as hardcore BDSM book but honestly, it was really more than just a BDSM book.

Ice Queen tells the story of Marguerite and Tyler. Both are powerful and sought-after dominants of the Zone, an exclusive BDSM club. Due to computer error, Marguerite lacked the mentoring program required by the Zone where each Doms and Domme will undergo BDSM training from a submissive's perspective. For this, she approached Tyler Winterman to be her mentor.

But things aren't always what they seem, especially for Tyler and Marguerite. Because while Marguerite is known as a powerful Mistress, she is also a closet submissive. Her dual nature would play a big part in this book and the next book, Mirror of my Soul.



Marguerite is one of the most complex and the most intriguing characters I've read in a while. Her being a dominant mistress to other and a submissive to Tyler made this a very character-driven read. And Joey Hill was able to deftly add layers upon layers to Marguerite's character that is utterly fascinating albeit at times very painful to read but always real and always consistent.

You feel her pain, her struggles that in as much as I could have hated her for some of the things she did, I couldn't because I understand her character and know where's she's coming from. The things she did were always explained and her motivations were always clear to the readers.



Tyler Winterman is another wonderful character. He's a Southern gentleman, a Dom, a lover, a friend and he is fascinated by Marguerite and vice versa. The first time the reader meets him is through Marguerite's POV and he's utterly delicious.

As she moved out onto the floor, she saw him right away. He wore tan slacks and a perfectly ironed and fitted cream-colored Oxford shirt, open at the throat. His jacket was hooked on the point of the chair, and he wore brown, polished dress shoes, the casual elegance suiting Tea Leaves.

He didn’t blend though. Instead, he looked like an intrigued, benevolent god who walked among men. He emanated difference and yet something so familiar, as if she knew him like the touch of the sun.


Right off the bat, you see their attraction and fascination with each other and it goes deeper and deeper as the book progresses. You will learn how far Tyler will go to prove his love for Marguerite. Gah! You will fall in love with Tyler because despite his own private pain--and he has plenty, by the way--he never lost sight of his love for Marguerite.

“You are very important to me. It doesn’t matter if you never accept me or what lies between us. If you need me, I’m here for you. Tomorrow, ten years from now, it doesn’t matter. And you know me well enough to know I don’t make idle declarations of commitment.”

And then that final scene at the Zone where Tyler willingly gave himself to Marguerite as her submissive and what happened during that time was just terrible (view spoiler)[Marguerite beat him up (hide spoiler)]. Surprisingly enough, I wasn't angry at Marguerite because in a strange way, what she did to Tyler had hurt her too.



“Don’t you understand, when all is said and done, it’s the Master who’s the captive?”

I would recommend this book to everyone I know just for the story alone. BUT I also know that not everyone may have the same level of tolerance for BDSM and there are a couple of scenes in the book that might be a little too much for some. That said, it really didn't bother me at all, and I am not a BDSM reader. The genre has never appealed to me before but Joey Hill did it so beautiful with such knowledge and reverence for the lifestyle that it was easy to swallow. And all the BDSM elements in this book were always consistent with each of the characters' development. So for me, those scenes made sense.

Love this book and I can't wait to continue Tyler and Marguerite's story in Mirror of my Soul. Thank you, Baba for buddy reading this with me. I enjoyed it very much.




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11 May 2013

Cindi Madsen's Act Like You Love Me Cover Reveal




ACT LIKE YOU LOVE ME official Blurb:

All’s fair in acting and amore...

Brynn McAdams isn’t the awkward drama geek she was in high school—she’s grown up and confident, or at least she likes to think so. But when her old crush, the impossibly handsome and impossibly unattainable Sawyer Raines, comes back to town to direct her community play, Brynn finds herself determined to be someone other than the girl he doesn’t even recognize. Good thing she’s an excellent actress.

After his bad breakup in NYC, the last thing Sawyer wants is to get involved with another actress. But the glamorous and beautiful Brynn draws him in, even though as her director, he knows she’s off-limits. There’s just something about the woman that feels…familiar. Like home.

As Brynn’s lies start to snowball, she struggles to stop acting and come clean. But what if Sawyer is already falling for the fake Brynn, not the Brynn she truly is?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children. She is the author of YA novelsAll the Broken Pieces and Demons of the Sun, bestselling short romance Falling for Her Fiancé and the women's fiction novel Cinderella Screwed Me Over.

05 May 2013

Femme Fatale Blog Tour

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Board Resolution by Joey Hill

Blurb

Savannah was groomed from birth to take the reins of her father’s manufacturing empire. Her emotional armor is as tough as the steel used in her factories, and nobody is allowed past it. Business partner Matt realizes that the key to entry is to command her submission. Calling on the unique sensual talents of his four-man management team, he engineers an aggressive and erotic takeover, determined to rescue the woman he loves from the steel cage she’s manufactured around her heart. Masked and lost to the sensations the team arouses in her, Savannah is theirs, at least for this one night. 

My Review

4 Solid Stars

“Say it again,” she said softly. “Say it so my heart will hear it.” He had stilled within her to give her time to adjust, and he pressed his cheek to hers, his breath in her ear. “You’re mine, Savannah. Now and always.”

This is my first read from Joey Hill and my first foray into more hardcore erotica/BDSM. I went in with my eyes and mind wide open, and I'm glad I did because I would have done the genre a great disservice it had been otherwise.

That said, I did have a couple of jawdropping moments. LoL! And let me tell you, this book gave a whole new meaning to board resolution. As hot or as erotic the sex in this book was, it wasn't what made the book for me. It was actually the character of Savannah.

Savannah Tennyson was groomed at a very early age to takeover the family business. His father had these ridiculous rules that he drummed into Samantha, basically stripping her of her own identity in order to become the kind of daughter her father wants her to be. She was so successful at it that people call her Savannah Cyborg because she's literally untouchable and doesn't show much emotion. In order words, this girl has no life whatsoever.

Poor girl. I loved her tough exterior because you can clearly see that underneath that hardass CEO facade was a vulnerable woman who craved a connection with someone.

“Tell me the dream. Your fantasy.”
“To be held,” she whispered. “…Someone…comes to me, to my bed, and holds me.”

Of course, we know that she wasn't just talking about anyone. She wants Matthew Lord Kensington. I know. His sounds like a pompous ass but he's actually very sweet and very patient with Savannah. Unlike her father, Matthew sees the real Savannah and most importantly, he wants the real Savannah. He sees beyond the tough facade and recognized Savannah's loneliness.

The trick was getting Savannah to admit Matt was all she needs. Granted, his methods were a bit, ahem, unconventional, I did understand why. Savannah needs Matt, not just in business but on a personal level but being who she is, she would never admit that to herself much less Matt. So I did understand why Matt felt the need to push Savannah into admitting her need for him.

“That’s the thing. You’re teasing my men, but you’re challenging me. From the first moment we met, you’ve known you were mine. Every negotiation has been a dare, a taunt. You want me to prove I’ve got what it takes to make you submit, claim what’s been mine all along.”

I must admit, this was the part of the book that I had the most difficulty with especially during the first part of their, um, negotiations. But as I said, Ms. Hill did a great job of exposing the characters' motivations that you'll understand why it happened.

Personal thoughts...

There was an important element that I felt I need to address about some of the "scenes" of this book. I think some of the reviews have mentioned the (view spoiler)[boardroom scene between Matt and Savannah (hide spoiler)] and the question whether it consensual or not?

I actually had to reread that scene twice and my opinion is that it was consensual. This is from Savannah...

“Fine, then. You’re right, Matthew. We’re two adults. We have a sexual attraction. It’s obvious. Let’s relieve it. We’ll have sex, get it out of the way. I’m sure you’ve indulged the itch as often as I have on a boring Friday night.”

That said, I believe Savannah had a different idea than Matt as to the "how" part. Yes, there was a moment there when Savannah fought Matt but I felt it was part of their play, more like in keeping with Savannah's personality. Matt actually recognized this and called Savannah on it.

There was also a moment where Savannah said stop it. After rereading that scene, it was clear that Savannah was reacting to Matt's way of getting her to admit her feelings and not to the act itself because they haven't gotten to that far yet. And Matt did give her the chance to walk away. She stuck it out and that was it.

I must admit, this book and this whole series is not for everybody considering the topic but the prose, the characterization is superb.

Personally though...

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Looking forward to reading more from this series.

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03 May 2013

This Girl Review


5 Sweet-Swoony Stars

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It's tricky to write parallel POV books because you're basically just writing the same story, though just from a different perspective. Slammed was such a beautiful book that I was a bit apprehensive about This Girl. Can Ms. Hoover offer us something new aside from seeing the whole story from Will's perspective? Would I still love the characters when you see through the eyes of another person? The answer to those questions for me was RESOUNDING YES!

Will Cooper

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I never thought it would be possible to fall more in love with him but I really did. *sigh* Will is just as swoon-worthy as ever. Yes, I know. We all love our bad boys but Will...Will is someone you would be proud to introduce to your Mom and Dad. He's not only good-looking but he truly has the biggest heart ever. He's protective, sweet, responsible AND writes poetry. I mean, come on, what's not to love about that.

Lake Cohen

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She is as feisty and lovable as ever. She's probably one of the most likeable heroines out there. In most of these types of books, the heroines always ended up being unlikeable but not this time. Lake is as loveable as Will. And seeing her from Will's perspective made me love her and relate to her more. You can truly understand why Will fell for her. She is truly a wonderful character.

Love, sweet, love...



This book made me...









And...and...well, you get the picture. It made me feel a whole slew of emotions but in a good way. After reading it, I just wanted to hug everybody!



And the poetry...*sigh* It still gave me goosebumps. It was truly epic.



What an incredible ride this whole series has been. Reading this book made me incredibly happy but at the same time sad because the series is finally over. Thank you, Ms. Hoover for giving us Will and Layken's story.




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