tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55906737156038009742024-03-14T01:24:09.903-07:00Romantic Book AffairsRomance reviews in the Historical, Paranormal, Contemporary, Urban Fantasy, and Erotica genres - with an emphasis on all things romantic!Letitiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418017232318227652noreply@blogger.comBlogger816125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-85206764911618068482014-05-31T06:59:00.000-07:002014-05-31T06:59:00.197-07:00Cover Reveal + Excerpt! For Fallon by Soraya Naomi<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DzqOqwdiFd0/U4fmHUJoSYI/AAAAAAAAAnE/YpUbSDVjNOY/s1600-h/Front_cover_ForFallon0.2-page0001%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Front_cover_ForFallon0.2-page0001" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Front_cover_ForFallon0.2-page0001" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bgCEUTYI33E/U4fmH9Rz2CI/AAAAAAAAAnM/MJJJn06CFPY/Front_cover_ForFallon0.2-page0001_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" height="412" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21941909-for-fallon" target="_blank">GOODREADS</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>For Fallon </b>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Soraya Naomi">Soraya Naomi</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Contemporary">Contemporary</a> <br />Soraya Naomi (July 26, 2014) </p> <p> </p> <p><b>Synopsis:</b> <br /><b></b></p> <p>We all have a façade, a concealed mask we wear to portray ourselves to the world. </p> <p>Fallon’s mask is real, what you see is what you get. Growing up with two loving parents in Chicago, graduating in Chicago, and now working a job she loves, she enjoys her life. </p> <p>Her untarnished world is shaken when Luca crosses her path. </p> <p>Luca’s mask is tightly controlled. Distrust, rivalry, and violence rule his life.</p> <p>When confronted with insecurities, when the one you love wears his mask perfectly, when your life unravels and you don’t know why, do you keep trusting the person you love?</p> <p>Everyone has a façade. Everyone has an ulterior motive.</p> <p> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0-rKZRNWoU4/U4fmIS1wP8I/AAAAAAAAAnU/tNztdtZSPvk/s1600-h/Jacketcover_ForFallon%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Jacketcover_ForFallon" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Jacketcover_ForFallon" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-F375X4ELqRY/U4fmI_TuRPI/AAAAAAAAAnY/nYxOqCwjE_o/Jacketcover_ForFallon_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="166" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p align="center"><strong><em><font size="3">Check out this excerpt from For Fallon by Soraya Naomi!</font></em></strong></p> <br /> <blockquote> <p>Her picture doesn’t do her any justice. That woman is stunningly beautiful. A trigger ignited when </p> <p>I supported her by the elbows. Observing her every move since we spotted her in the club, I saw a </p> <p>calmness in her attitude, an air of innocent mischief in the graceful way she poses herself. A woman </p> <p>intriguing enough to simply watch her dance with her loud friend. </p> <p>I instructed Matteo—one of the cabbies on our payroll—to inform me when they were home. She </p> <p>doesn’t give her address to strangers; she’s careful in her interactions, which could pose a problem for </p> <p>me. I need to gain her trust. </p> <p>Adriano comes barging out of the club. I lift my hand to signal him over. </p> <p>“What the fuck was that?” he practically yells.</p> <p>“Tone it down.”</p> <p>He steps closer to me. “What the hell was the kiss for?”</p> <p>I shrug him off. “I made contact, didn’t I?”</p> <p>Adriano perks a brow. “That was my job. Guess she wasn’t interested in my ugly face.”</p> <p>“I put her in one of our cabs. She’ll take some work, though. But she has made this night a lot </p> <p>more fun.” </p> <p>His expression contorts in comical disapproval. “Be careful with that one. You guys were eye </p> <p>fucking the shit out of each other.”</p> <p>“I would like to do more than eye fuck her,” I groan.</p> <p>“Just fuck someone tonight at the house. We have enough hot brunettes available for you.”</p> <p>“Not tonight. We have more work. Come on.”</p> <p> </p> </blockquote> <div align="center"> <table style="border-top: #ececec 1px solid; border-right: #ececec 1px solid; border-bottom: #ececec 1px solid; border-left: #ececec 1px solid" cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5" width="555" align="center"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="543"> <p align="center"><strong><em>About the Author</em></strong></p> <p align="justify">Soraya Naomi resides in Europe with her entrepreneur fiancé. She attended university in The Netherlands.</p> <p align="justify">Although she reads many genres, she favors intense, dark, seductive, and provocative novels where the male character loves fiercely without remorse or boundaries. </p> <p align="justify">She has a passionate obsession for the written word and indulges in chocolate pastries much too often. </p> <p align="justify"></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="543"><strong>Find Soraya Online:  <br /></strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sorayanaomi.author" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8153734.Soraya_Naomi" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-52336852960675631652014-04-29T08:05:00.001-07:002014-04-29T08:08:39.662-07:00Review & Giveaway! Take Me for Granted by K.A. Linde<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3_9ewvpHlrc/UzIhTfC9hzI/AAAAAAAAAgw/tmcUf6a8YVQ/s1600-h/TakeMeForGrantedeBookebook%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="TakeMeForGrantedeBookebook" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="TakeMeForGrantedeBookebook" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MOz9UtE0Evk/UzIhT1ZS9FI/AAAAAAAAAg0/QimfZRW1gWU/TakeMeForGrantedeBookebook_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" height="412" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20572758-take-me-for-granted?ac=1" target="_blank">GOODREADS</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JAIVN2W/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00JAIVN2W&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">KINDLE</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>Take Me for Granted (Take Me #1) </b>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/K.A. Linde">K.A. Linde</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Contemporary">Contemporary</a> <br />K.A. Linde Inc. (April 29, 2014)</p> <p><b>Rating:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/B">B-</a> <br /><b>Heat:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Warm">Warm</a></p> <p><strong>Heroine:</strong> Aribel Graham – Perfectionist, Princeton College Student <br /><b>Hero: </b>Grant McDermott – Manwhore, Lead Singer of Contraband</p> <p> <br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <a name='more'></a> <p><b>Review: </b></p> <p>Nineteen year old Aribel Graham majors in chemistry at Princeton University. She’s smart, feisty, and a perfectionists with a no nonsense attitude. She grew up rich and strives hard to meet her parent’s high society standards. The guys she has dated in the past have never worked out. They’ve never held her attention or attraction. So, she’s never been in love and is still holding onto her virginity, hoping to meet the right person one day. Due to her busy schedule in school, she doesn’t make time for a social life, despite living with two very outgoing, socially involved girls, who relentlessly try to get Aribel to go out with them. They succeeded one night and took her to a ContraBand show, where Aribel meets the lead singer/lead guitar player of the band, Grant. For the first time in her life, she finds herself undeniably attracted to someone. </p> <blockquote> <p><em> <br />”You saved me from myself. You’re my life raft in an endless ocean.” </em></p> </blockquote> <p>Grant McDermott is a manwhore. He’s unapologetic. He’s cocky. And he’s gorgeous. He lives his life the way he wants to. But his life hasn’t been easy. He has skeletons in his closet that have greatly affected his life, turning him into the bad boy rockstar, who carries around tons of emotional baggage, refusing to create emotional ties to any one woman, until meets the beautiful and mouthy Aribel. Meeting her turned his life inside out. And for the first time in Grant’s life, he was doing the chasing, when he’s used to girls dropping their panties for him at any time. Grant is charming and sexy and is a bad ass guitar player… What girl wouldn’t want him? But Aribel proved to be a challenge for him. She didn’t give him the time of day, determined to stay away from the bad boy. But Grant wears her down, and convinces her to go out with him. And the cat finally catches the mouse. </p> <p>As the story continues, Grant and Aribel start to get to know one another. What starts out as a few dates turns into a sweet and fun relationship. Grant starts to develop feelings for Aribel that goes beyond just wanting to have sex with her. He starts to truly care for her, respect her, love her. And Aribel has finally met someone that consumes her thoughts and feelings, making her toes curl when he kisses her. He may be the most unlikely person she thought she could fall for, but the fierce chemistry between, draws her to him emotionally and physically. As they grow closer, feelings start to develop, and things become serious between them. </p> <p>Meanwhile, ContraBand is being noticed by several record labels, which is a good thing for the band, but causes problems with our couple. A lot happens between them as they struggle with their new relationship; jealousy, insecurities, outside manipulation, frustration, anger, misunderstandings, sadness, and distance. All of these things cause quite a bit of drama and angst. </p> <p>These two are polar opposites, coming from two different worlds, growing up in two very different ways, but together, they are perfectly matched. Grant made Aribel her feel alive and happy, helped her free herself from a controlled life she’s created for her parents. In turn, Aribel gave Grant her trust and friendship. She helped him liberate himself from the secrets that weigh him down. They made each other better people. I really enjoyed watching as both these characters let down their guard and let each other in. But they still have a long road to get their happy ending. </p> <p>When I first started reading this story, I felt like some parts of this were written too young for me, especially when the guys in the band would discuss women. It was a bit immature. And, while that is my main complaint, there isn’t truly anything wrong with this story, like I said I enjoyed it, but this storyline where the bad boy rockstar falls in love with the good girl virgin has been done one too many times. It was nothing special that stood out and made me want to rave about it. </p> <p>So, while <i>Take me Granted</i> didn’t blow me away, it’s a solid beginning to K.A. Linde’s new adult romance series, Take Me. K.A. Linde is one of my favorite authors. I love how she writes, the character development, the emotion, the pace of her stories. With that said, I can honestly say I’m interested to see what’s next in this series, especially with the way this book ended. Is there a cliffhanger? Yes. But not one that will leave you feeling pheening for the next book, yet my curiosity has been piqued enough to see where this story is going. I am looking forward to the second book in the series. </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p> </p> <div align="center"> <table style="border-top: #ececec 1px solid; border-right: #ececec 1px solid; border-bottom: #ececec 1px solid; border-left: #ececec 1px solid" cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5" width="555" align="center"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="543"> <p align="center"><strong><em>About the Author</em></strong></p> <p align="justify">K.A. Linde graduated with her Masters in political science from the University of Georgia in 2012. She also has a bachelors in political science and philosophy. She wrote her the Avoiding Series while struggling through advanced statistical modeling and writing her thesis. She enjoys dancing and writing novels that keep you guessing until the very end.</p> <p align="justify">She currently resides in Georgia with her boyfriend and two puppies, Lucy and Riker.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="543"><strong>Find K.A. Online: <br /></strong><a href="http://www.kalinde.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/authorkalinde" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.facebook.com/authorkalinde" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5421050.K_A_Linde" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> <p> </p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#dd2f85" size="5">Tour-wide Giveaway!</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><a id="rc-fde687128" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/fde687128/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> <script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script></p> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-33071962377929973652014-04-23T00:46:00.000-07:002014-04-23T00:46:00.486-07:00Review & Giveaway! Veiled Innocence by Ella Frank<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; clear: left; margin-right: auto" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51f19DnQM%2BL._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51f19DnQM%2BL._SL500_.jpg" width="123" height="200" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JIV2YA6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00JIV2YA6&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">KINDLE</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>Veiled Innocence </b>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Ella Frank">Ella Frank</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Contemporary">Contemporary</a> <br />Ella Frank (April 6, 2014)</p> <p><b>Rating:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/A">A-</a> <br /><b>Heat:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Hot">Hot</a></p> <p><strong>Heroine:</strong> Addison Lancaster – High School Student, Bold <br /><b>Hero: </b>Grayson McKenrick – History Teacher, Protective</p> <p> </p> <p>  <br /></p> <br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a> <div id="spoiler"> <div> <strong>Synopsis:</strong><input name="button" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = ''; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' CLOSE '; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = 'none'; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' READ THE BLURB '; }" style="font-face: Dosis, Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; margin: 5px; padding: 2px;" type="button" value=" READ THE BLURB " /></div> <div id="show" style="border: 1px solid white; display: none; margin: 5px; padding: 2px; width: 98%;"> <div style="background: rgb(248, 248, 248); border: 1px solid rgb(230, 233, 235); color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 7px;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Tick, tick, tock. <br /><br /> Time. <br /><br /> That’s all I have now. <br /><br /> A small room, a photograph, and time. <br /><br /> They want me to trust them and confess my sins. <br /><br /> They told me they wouldn't judge me—they lied. <br /><br /> I thought we could convince the world that this wasn't a crime. <br /><br /> We were wrong. <br /><br /> Time doesn't stand still. <br /><br /> The clock keeps ticking, the world is unconvinced, and now… <br /><br /> Now he is gone. </div> </div> <div id="hide"> </div> </div> </div><br /> <br /> <p><b>Review: </b></p> <p>I am one of those readers who is always on the hunt for the one book that stands out among the rest. I love a story that owns me emotionally. I love a story that is thought-provoking. I love a book that thrills and excites me. I love book that awes me. I love a book that captivates me. And I love books that push through the norm, breaking boundaries in romance. <i>Veiled Innocence</i> deserves that type of praise and more. This is a book that needs to be read – period!</p> <blockquote> <p><i>“Temptation had come to visit, and her steely determination would likely destroy us both.”</i></p> </blockquote> <p>Addison Lancaster is eighteen years old and in high school. From the outside she seems to have it all: smart, star of the track team, gorgeous face, perfect body, and popular. But that’s what she wants everyone to see. On the inside, she’s hurt, broken… damaged. She’s experienced inexplicable tragedy that has left her wounded, consumed by her guilt and grief. And she has no idea how to let it all go. Addison is not the girl she once was. She’s now a young woman, with an old soul, who carries a lot of emotional baggage, living her life obsessively by the clock, and hiding her true self behind her perfect façade. The morning she showed up late to her history class and met Mr. Kendrick, was the morning her entire life changed. She knew upon meeting him that she would shamelessly set out to seduce her sexy teacher, making him hers. She became the predator and he her pray. </p> <p>Mr. McKenrick (Grayson) is Addison’s new history teacher. He’s in his early thirties, gorgeous (think Chris Hemsworth *sigh*), smart, well-traveled, and hip. He’s every girl or woman’s fantasy. He melted my panties then he stole my heart. He came back home after traveling around the world to take care of his ailing father. He took a teaching job at the local high school, until it was time for him to move on again. The last thing he expected was to meet Addison and become ruthlessly pursued by the brazen eighteen year-old. </p> <p>The moment they meet, there is an instant connection and electrifying spark of attraction. But Grayson does not give into the boldly sexy and persistent Addison… at first. There was nothing creepy about Grayson. He’s not a predator set out to seduce his student. No, the roles were reversed in this situation, which I found interesting. I admired Grayson for trying to stick to his morals, for fighting his sexual attraction to Addison. He questioned the situation, knowing how wrong the situation was. He truly wanted to do the right thing. But the lust and desire between them continued to burn and build, and Grayson soon realizes that resisting the walking temptation named Addison was impossible to fight. He decided to follow his heart. And eventually their teacher-student relationship turns into an illicit love affair full of passion and erotic sex.</p> <blockquote> <p><i> <br />“I’ll teach you how to come with a man inside you. Not a boy, Addison, a man.”</i></p> </blockquote> <p>If there is one thing I’ve learned about Ella Frank, her writing is lovely, but also oozes sex. She does not pull back from the erotic moments with these two. Not only did I feel the strong sexual tension between them but I wholly titillated by the provocative sex scenes. </p> <p>As much as the taboo nature of the relationship sets the stage for the story, this is not just a tale about a forbidden affair – this is a tale of true love, trust, heartache, healing, finding themselves, sacrifices and fulfillment. Addison is the one person who could destroy Grayson’s life. But he had a choice. And he made his choice to be with Addison. Grayson was good for Addison. He’s the one person she could find solace and safety in. Being with him, grounded her, and kept the emotional pain she felt at bay. Grayson is the one person who saw her for her. He loved her unconditionally. </p> <p>As the story smoothly jumps from the past to present, there is a bit of suspense and mystery layered into the storyline. You don’t know where the story is headed or how it’s all going to end. The mystery of it all kept me enthralled to the point that I just could not stop reading. I <i>had</i> to know how it all ends. </p> <p><i>Veiled Innocence</i> is a beautiful tale of forbidden love. I fell so hard for the hero and heroine they embedded themselves into my heart. The relationship between Addison and Grayson was fierce, sexy, raw, and edgy. It emotionally touched me on a visceral level. I think readers who love student-teacher romances won’t want to miss this one!</p> <p> </p> <div align="center"> <table style="border-top: #ececec 1px solid; border-right: #ececec 1px solid; border-bottom: #ececec 1px solid; border-left: #ececec 1px solid" cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5" width="555" align="center"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="543"> <p align="center"><strong><em>About the Author</em></strong></p> <p align="justify"><img style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1345997723p5/6451816.jpg" align="left" /></p> <p align="justify">I am happily married and mother to a crazy cat.</p> <p align="justify">I am the author of the Exquisite Series, which includes Exquisite, Entice (due in Feb) and Edible (due in Summer 2013).</p> <p align="justify">I am also set to release Blind Obsession in March/April 2013.</p> <p align="justify">I love chatting so stop by here or my site and say hi!</p> <p align="justify">Currently I reside in the Southern portion of the United States of America. </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="543"><strong>Find Ella Online:  <br /></strong><a href="http://ellafrank30.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/EllaFrank2012" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ella.frank.31" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6451816.Ella_Frank" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#d10786" size="5"></font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#d10786" size="5">Tour-wide Giveaway!</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><a id="rc-689c914" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/689c914/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> <script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script></p> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-73666158173892740352014-04-15T21:55:00.001-07:002014-04-15T21:55:35.240-07:00Review: Reasonable Doubt: Volume 1 by Whitney Gracia Williams<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; clear: left; margin-right: auto" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4154bXdvauL._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4154bXdvauL._SL500_.jpg" width="123" height="200" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JDYC5OI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00JDYC5OI&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">KINDLE</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>Reasonable Doubt: Volume 1 (Reasonable Doubt #1) </b>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Whitney Gracia Williams">Whitney Gracia Williams </a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Erotica">Erotica</a> <br />Whitney Gracia Williams (March 31, 2014) </p> <p><b>Rating:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/A">A-</a> <br /><b>Heat:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Sizzling">Sizzling</a></p> <p><strong>Heroine:</strong> Aubrey – Intern, Liar <br /><b>Hero: </b>Andrew – Lawyer, Hates Liars</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a> <div id="spoiler"> <div> <strong>Synopsis:</strong><input name="button" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = ''; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' CLOSE '; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = 'none'; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' READ THE BLURB '; }" style="font-face: Dosis, Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; margin: 5px; padding: 2px;" type="button" value=" READ THE BLURB " /></div> <div id="show" style="border: 1px solid white; display: none; margin: 5px; padding: 2px; width: 98%;"> <div style="background: rgb(248, 248, 248); border: 1px solid rgb(230, 233, 235); color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 7px;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> My cock has an appetite. <br /><br /> A huge and very particular appetite: Blonde, curvy, and preferably not a fucking liar...(Although, that's a story for another day.) <br /><br /> As a high profile lawyer, I don't have time to waste on relationships, so I fulfill my needs by anonymously chatting and sleeping with women I meet online. <br /><br /> My rules are simple: One dinner. One night. No repeats. <br /><br /> This is only casual sex. Nothing more. Nothing less. <br /><br /> At least it was , until "Alyssa"... <br /><br /> She was supposed to be a 27 year old lawyer, a book hoarder, and completely unattractive. She was supposed to be someone I shared law advice with late at night, someone I could trust with details of my weekly escapades. <br /><br /> But then she came into my firm for an interview--a college-intern interview, and everything fucking changed...</div> </div> <div id="hide"> </div> </div> </div><br /> <p><b>Review: </b></p> <p>Are you kidding me?! This really ended like THAT! Ahhhh! What a damn tease this was! I just want to say that I really dislike serial series. I hate cliffhangers. And I hate waiting. <i>However</i>, I really, <i>really</i> loved this very strong and sexy start to a fabulous new serial series that has me begging for more. </p> <p>In <i>Reasonable Doubt: Volume One</i> we meet Andrew Hamilton, a successful attorney. He’s sexy as fuck. He’s a jerk. He’s a manwhore. He’s brazen. He’s snarky. He oozes sex. And I fell hard for him. MmmHmm… I just can’t help myself. There is something about a man that wears a suit with a successful career and a filthy mouth that gets me all kinds of hot and bothered.</p> <p><strong><i></i></strong></p> <p>Andrew has one set of rules; <i>one dinner, one night, no repeats</i>. He has these rules for a reason. He doesn’t do relationships and refuses to build any kind of emotional attachment to anyone. Instead he meets women online for casual sex. He takes them out to dinner, has sex with them, and then moves on. </p> <p>Then he meets Alyssa in a lawyer’s only chat room. They form an unlikely friendship where they only talk on the phone and text, never meeting in person. They’re friendship is fun, flirty, full of snarky banter, and loaded with tons of sexual tension. Andrew may not have officially met Alyssa yet, he remains true to who he is on the phone and in his text messages.</p> <p>Eventually Andrew becomes intrigued by this woman, who goes by Alyssa on the phone. He wants to meet her but she refuses him every time he asks. Alyssa aka Aubrey has secrets. She’s not who Andrew thinks she is. And there is nothing Andrew hates more than liars. So when her secret comes out, he’s furious. But he can’t stop himself from being drawn to this woman. The only problem is that she makes him feel things he’s scared to feel. </p> <p>I adored Aubrey. She’s smart, witty, sexy, and not afraid to put Andrew in his place. Now that her secret is out in the open, the dynamic in their relationship has changed. There was sexual tension before but now there is sexual desire and a burning need to be with each other. And holy panty-melting hotness… these two are explosive together!</p> <p><i>Reasonable Doubt</i> consumed me right from the beginning all the way to the heart-stopping cliffhanger. I was wooed and wowed and schmoozed by this unforgettable first episode that I’m still thinking about days later. The characters are well-developed, the dialogue is witty and funny, and the storyline is smart and sexy. I absolutely recommend this serial series for anyone who loves a delicious alpha-hole, beautiful and smart heroine, addictive storyline, and an ending that will leave you salivating for more! And guess what? The second volume comes out on Thursday, April 17<sup>th</sup>! </p> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-41365747271730098042014-04-10T02:59:00.001-07:002014-04-10T02:59:19.660-07:00Review: Against All Odds by Angie McKeon<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_zrmeVhKdiU/UxeWp8LqR2I/AAAAAAAAAfg/l6O0KaMXs-I/s1600-h/Against%252520All%252520Odds_wrap-quote_high%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="Against All Odds_wrap-quote_high" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Against All Odds_wrap-quote_high" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cp_mBzkTSg0/UxeWquszOKI/AAAAAAAAAfo/DK_PWgeBhPk/Against%252520All%252520Odds_wrap-quote_high_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="123" height="183" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JFF5TH0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00JFF5TH0&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">AMAZON</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><strong>Against All Odds </strong>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Angie McKeon">Angie McKeon</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Contemporary">Contemporary</a>   <br />Angie McKeon (April 4, 2014)</p> <p><b>Rating:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/B">B</a> <br /><b>Heat:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Hot">Hot</a></p> <p><b>Heroine:</b> Kylie – Wife, Loves her husband deeply <br /><b>Hero:</b> Cooper – Husband, Fights for Wife</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <a name='more'></a> <p><strong>Review:</strong></p> <p>Two years ago, Kylie and Cooper lost their baby at birth. Before this happened, they were madly, deeply, crazily in love. They had an indescribable connection they thought they would never lose. But losing their child meant losing themselves to their grief. And their marriage shattered and broken under the all-consuming grief that burdens their hearts. </p> <p>Instead of divorcing, they stayed together, but the marriage had been damaged by the tragedy. Now there is a gaping hole between them they don’t know how to repair. Kylie misses her husband desperately. She misses his affection. She misses being wanted and needed. But Cooper was inconsolable. He couldn’t touch his wife. He couldn’t be near her. He wanted space. Which led to him ignoring Kylie for so long it left her feeling alone and so terribly sad. Unable to handle the emptiness any longer, Kyle proposes the unthinkable to Cooper… an open marriage. </p> <blockquote> <p><em>”I needed and craved his love and when he stopped giving it to me, I lost who I was. I felt stuck. Stuck with someone who owned me; heart, body and soul, but didn’t seem to want me anymore.”</em></p> </blockquote> <p>Their marriage is already damaged, but giving themselves to other people makes things even more complicated between Kylie and Cooper as they start to spiral out of control down a dark path; one full of deep pain, jealousy, sadness, all-consuming grief, guilt, and emptiness . They made a mistake – a mistake their not sure they can ever come back from. But Kylie is tired of the random men. She’s tired of the distance between her and Cooper. And now she wants her husband back desperately. She’s ready to fight for him. However, if he isn’t willing to fight for her in return, it might be time for Kylie to move on and move forward with her life. </p> <blockquote> <p><em>”If you don’t get your shit together, then I’m done. I’m not standing in the shadows anymore.”</em></p> </blockquote> <p>These two deeply damaged characters started out as a frustrating, irritating, crazy hot mess. And I couldn’t stand them. They kept making bad choices that were hard to understand. And I didn’t understand why they didn’t just get a divorce or at least couple’s therapy. I was pretty convinced they weren’t meant to be together. </p> <p>But then as I read on, the story showed me the intense love they have for each other. And I began to understand Kylie and Cooper better. So, rather than be angry at them for being so screwed up, I started rooting for them to *fix* things. It’s also when I got Cooper’s POV, which helped me understand him better. Because let me tell you… I couldn’t stand him at first. Then I started to embrace him, root for him, and love him when he finally pulled up his big boy pants and fought for his wife. He showed me the man he is underneath his grief; a strong, possessive, dominant man who loves his wife immensely. </p> <p>Beyond all the emotional turmoil between these two, there is so much love and passion between them, which came out full force when they made love for the first time after two years. And WOWZERS… these two are so incredibly hot and steamy together. *purrs with satisfaction*</p> <p>But things were not easy for them. They had to continue to fight every day for one another, even after they realized they weren’t ready to give up on each other. There are things between them that need to be reconciled, forgiven, and trust needed to be built again. It’s a difficult journey, but they persevere through it all, even when the odds are against them. </p> <blockquote> <p><em>“We’ve both learned that love is not perfect. It doesn’t come in pretty packages. Sometimes it dents and bruises and does things it regrets, but it also forgives, shows mercy, and supports. It soothes and fights to the death.”</em></p> </blockquote> <p>The first 70-75% of this story is emotionally intense. It made me feel so much - everything. But the last 25% is when I felt like the story lost its emotional edge. It felt long-winded and a little over-the-top mushy for my taste. There is a semi-love triangle, and I think Angie did a tasteful job with it. But I really didn’t care for Gray and all the drama that came with him. I thought he was way out of line with his actions. Cooper and Gray are best friends, and the fact that he tried to piss a circle around Kylie, claiming her as his, was just wrong, wrong, wrong.</p> <p>However, with that said, this is still an impressive, character driven, emotionally charged debut book by Angie McKeon. She does not pull punches with your emotions in the beginning. And she certainly does not pull any punches with all the angst. There is tons of angst. TONS. I felt such overwhelming frustration, heartache, and grief for these characters that they dug themselves into my heart. I also felt their passion and happiness. If you love reading stories like Arsen by Mia Asher or the Avoiding series by K.A. Linde, then this book is certainly for you. </p> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-49810099172063560592014-04-04T00:52:00.000-07:002014-04-04T00:52:00.301-07:00Release Blitz! Excerpt + Giveaway! Against All Odds by Angie McKeon<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_zrmeVhKdiU/UxeWp8LqR2I/AAAAAAAAAfg/l6O0KaMXs-I/s1600-h/Against%252520All%252520Odds_wrap-quote_high%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="Against All Odds_wrap-quote_high" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Against All Odds_wrap-quote_high" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cp_mBzkTSg0/UxeWquszOKI/AAAAAAAAAfo/DK_PWgeBhPk/Against%252520All%252520Odds_wrap-quote_high_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" height="410" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18803442-against-all-odds?ac=1" target="_blank">GOODREADS</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><strong>Against All Odds </strong>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Angie McKeon">Angie McKeon</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Contemporary">Contemporary</a>   <br />Angie McKeon (April 4, 2014)</p> <p> </p> <p><b>Synopsis:</b> </p> <p><i>Our lives shattered... Our hearts broken... Our souls torn to pieces...</i></p> <p>He was my world, my whole life. My reason for breathing. I had a perfect marriage, a baby on the way, and I felt fulfilled—almost invincible. </p> <p>Until the day life hit, leaving me broken, vulnerable, and alone.</p> <p>She was my life. My ray of hope on the cloudiest day. With her, I thought I had the ultimate safety. A love that would never hurt or betray me. I gave her my heart, my body, and my soul. </p> <p>Until she broke me, destroying every dream and illusion I had about life, love, and marriage.</p> <p>In our grief, we made a mistake. A mistake I'm not sure we can come back from.</p> <p> </p> <a name='more'></a> <p> </p> <p align="center"><strong><em><font size="4">Check out this excerpt from Against All Odds by Angie McKeon!</font></em></strong></p> <blockquote> <p>I step back and release a shaky breath. “I don’t know what to say. You know that we...” I flick my eyes to the other side of the room to collect my scattered thoughts. </p> <p>Erasing the distance I just tried to put between us, he lifts my face to his. Our eyes connect, and my pulse—already wild—intensifies. </p> <p>He looks straight through to the heart of me. “You don’t have to say anything right now. You don’t have to say anything ever. Just think about what I’m saying.” Gaze locked on mine, he places a tender kiss on my lips.</p> <p>When he pulls back, he clears his throat and pulls out his phone. “All right, get packed. I’ll call the pilot and let him know we’re ready to leave.” </p> <p>I nod numbly as he walks out of the room. I want to go home to my empty house. My empty bed. My empty life. I need some time away from everyone. I need to figure out what’s wrong with me. <i>What happened to the girl with morals? </i></p> <p>I close my eyes as all energy drains from my body. I slip to the ground, hugging my knees. I miss my life before Kayla died. Before all I felt was pain and hopelessness. Before all I saw was a nightmare. Before I shut down and started doing stupid things. </p> <p>I need to find the girl I used to be, but I’m not sure she’s in there anymore. I’m not sure she’s strong enough to come back. Because coming back means feeling the loss of her baby and confronting the problems in her marriage. It means facing pain, fear, and guilt. That is so terrifying that living in a state of numbness and denial might just be easier. </p> </blockquote> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Qmth0ZEk4k0/UxeWrArVFNI/AAAAAAAAAfw/d1mCinVHOes/s1600-h/Against%252520All%252520Odds_wrap-quote%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Against All Odds_wrap-quote" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Against All Odds_wrap-quote" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Ot8E90ow1DE/UxeWryCPyQI/AAAAAAAAAf0/lV-1zRRLobk/Against%252520All%252520Odds_wrap-quote_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="166" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><b></b></p> <br /> <div align="center"> <table style="border-top: #ececec 1px solid; border-right: #ececec 1px solid; border-bottom: #ececec 1px solid; border-left: #ececec 1px solid" cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5" width="555" align="center"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="543"> <p align="center"><strong><em>About the Author</em></strong></p> <p align="justify">A multi-tasker from birth—and now proudly able to add 'writer' to my resume—I'm a mother, wife and blogger. I love to read, write and drink copious amounts of iced coffee. <u></u><u></u></p> <p align="justify">All three aforementioned addictions are detrimental to my sanity <u></u><u></u></p> <p align="justify">I have a voracious appetite for dark, painful and twisted reads. I'm enamored with the concept of love and heart break. I believe life is a journey, a tale in its own for each of us. The road to happiness is sometimes paved with stones from hell, or glitters of satisfaction graced from the heavens above. <u></u><u></u></p> <p align="justify">In my upcoming debut novel, 'Against All Odds,' I strive to make you feel. I believe any emotion—whether painful or happy—is good. To me, the key to living is to go through life feeling it’s ups and downs. Love is dark and it can be painful but, at the end of the day, it can save the most lost of souls and the most broken of hearts.</p> <p align="justify"></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="543"><strong>Find Angie Online: <br /></strong><a href="http://angiemckeon.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Angie_McKeon" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/angiemckeonauthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7389718.Angie_McKeon" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> <p> </p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#d10786" size="5">Tour-wide Giveaway!</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><a id="rc-fde687134" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/fde687134/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> <script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script></p> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-81711042529782013782014-04-03T00:34:00.000-07:002014-04-03T00:34:00.596-07:00Review: Night Broken by Patricia Briggs<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; clear: left; margin-right: auto" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51wTSXWym6L._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51wTSXWym6L._SL500_.jpg" width="123" height="200" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/042525674X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=042525674X&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DMCV7WS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00DMCV7WS&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">KINDLE</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>Night Broken (Mercy Thompson #8) </b>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Patricia Briggs">Patricia Briggs </a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Urban Fantasy">Urban Fantasy</a> <br />Ace (March 11, 2014)</p> <p><b>Rating:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/A">A-</a> <br /><b>Heat:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Sweet">Sweet</a></p> <p><strong>Heroine:</strong> Mercy Thompson – Trouble Magnet, Coyote Shifter  <br /><strong>Hero: </strong>Adam Hauptman – Mate, Werewolf <br /></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a> <div id="spoiler"> <div> <strong>Synopsis:</strong><input name="button" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = ''; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' CLOSE '; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = 'none'; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' READ THE BLURB '; }" style="font-face: Dosis, Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; margin: 5px; padding: 2px;" type="button" value=" READ THE BLURB " /></div> <div id="show" style="border: 1px solid white; display: none; margin: 5px; padding: 2px; width: 98%;"> <div style="background: rgb(248, 248, 248); border: 1px solid rgb(230, 233, 235); color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 7px;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> An unexpected phone call heralds a new challenge for Mercy. Her mate Adam’s ex-wife is in trouble, on the run from her new boyfriend. Adam isn’t the kind of man to turn away a person in need—and Mercy knows it. But with Christy holed up in Adam’s house, Mercy can’t shake the feeling that something about the situation isn’t right. <br /><br /> Soon, her suspicions are confirmed when she learns that Christy has the farthest thing from good intentions. She wants Adam back and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen, including turning Adam’s pack against Mercy. <br /><br /> Mercy isn’t about to step down without a fight, but there’s a more dangerous threat circling. Christy’s ex is more than a bad man—in fact, he may not be human at all. As the bodies start piling up, Mercy must put her personal troubles aside to face a creature with the power to tear her whole world apart.</div> </div> <div id="hide"> </div> </div> </div><br /> <p><b>Review: </b></p> <p>Oh, Mercy, the trouble you get yourself into... </p> <p>Mercy, our smart, resilient, and caring heroine is a magnet for bad guys and villains. After the events of <em>Frost Burned</em>, you'd think Mercy, Adam and the gang could get more than a couple months break. Unfortunately for Mercy, there is never a break in the drama. Only, for once, I'd say the trouble is brought on by Christy, Adam’s ex wife. And when Christy brings the trouble, it’s a trouble like we've never seen.</p> <p>If you're reading this review, you know each book focuses on either the werewolves, the Fae, or the vampires—with some other odd supernatural baddies thrown in occasionally. <em>Night Broken</em> is definitely a werewolf book. And, besides the high octane action and the high emotions involved since the werewolves are Mercy's people, I liked that we once again get a better look at the pack and pack politics. Having Christy around, who usually only adds drama with her off-screen antics, really upset the tentative balance that's existed between Mercy and the majority of the pack.</p> <p>This time around things are gruesome—and I’m not even talking about the psycho supernatural stalker bad guy running around! No, the drama and the manipulation that Christy is capable of... it’s an art form. You can’t help but hate her. And the way the pack acts toward Christy? And Mercy? It was pretty gruesome. Oh how I wanted to kick Mary Jo’s behind. The only thing that kept me from growling constantly was Honey. The development there was a saving grace. </p> <p>Patty has such a knack for creating characters you really feel for. She writes characters that feel like friends. After reading (and rereading and rereading) this series, I feel so attached to them. I feel like they live next door or down the street instead of only in my head. Which is why I was ecstatic to see most of my favorites show up—Samuel and Stefan in particular. I’ve really missed Samuel. It hasn't felt the same since <em>Silver Borne</em>. I miss him and the dynamic he added to the stories. (Also, it'd be really nice if he could be Arianna-less for a minute or two when he does show up. Just saying.)</p> <p>Even though the romance is definitely on the sweet side, the bond between Mercy and Adam is solid and healthy. Which, let's be honest, there are a lot of unhealthy fictional romances out there. The way that Mercy and Adam’s relationship is written, we don't need to be privy to their intimate moments. Every moment between them is intimate. And I like that in this book we really get to see the strength in their bond. </p> <p>This murder-mystery takes us on a wild, highly imaginative ride. I may be a smidge biased, as the Mercy Thompson series is my favorite urban fantasy series, but <em>Night Broken</em> was well developed and flawlessly executed. And it had me staying up late, repeating to myself, “Just one more chapter. Just one more and I'll go to bed.” I didn't end up going to bed till there were no more chapters. Interesting things are afoot with both the fae and the vampires. I can't wait to see what happens next.</p> Letitiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418017232318227652noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-22574213834339020642014-03-31T02:50:00.001-07:002014-03-31T02:50:21.923-07:00Review: LoveLines by S. Walden<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; clear: left; margin-right: auto" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51OXsBuhVEL._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51OXsBuhVEL._SL500_.jpg" width="123" height="200" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1496129040/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1496129040&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J7ZCN8G/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00J7ZCN8G&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">KINDLE</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>LoveLines (The Wilmington Saga #1) </b>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/S. Walden">S. Walden </a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Contemporary">Contemporary</a> <br />Penny Press (March 23, 2014) </p> <p><b>Rating:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/B">B+</a> <br /><b>Heat:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Hot">Hot</a></p> <p><strong>Heroine:</strong> Bailey Mitchell – OCD, Fun <br /><b>Hero: </b>Reece Powell – Creative, Naughty</p> <p> </p> <p>  <br /> </p> <br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a> <p><b>Review: </b></p> <div id="spoiler"> <div> <strong>Synopsis:</strong><input name="button" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = ''; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' CLOSE '; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = 'none'; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' READ THE BLURB '; }" style="font-face: Dosis, Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; margin: 5px; padding: 2px;" type="button" value=" READ THE BLURB " /></div> <div id="show" style="border: 1px solid white; display: none; margin: 5px; padding: 2px; width: 98%;"> <div style="background: rgb(248, 248, 248); border: 1px solid rgb(230, 233, 235); color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 7px;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Arrive at work at 7:58 A.M. sharp. Check. Count forty-seven steps to cubicle. Check. Arrange pens in their red-blue-black-green-purple order of importance. Check. Apply hand sanitizer before opening email. Double check. <br /><br /> And that’s just the first few minutes of her work day. <br /><br /> Thirty-one-year-old proofreader Bailey Mitchell is a slave to her tics. She inherited Obsessive Compulsive Disorder from her father, and it’s done nothing but inhibit her love life. She’s run the gamut of boyfriends—none of them willing or able to cope with her condition. <br /><br /> Enter 32-year-old Reece Powell, her new coworker at Beach Elite Marketing Firm. He’s more than willing to cope. He finds her habits cute and quirky . . . for now. Reece wins her over, and life coasts along for them until Bailey experiences a devastating blow. Tragedy exacerbates her OCD, and Reece realizes her tics aren’t so cute and quirky anymore. Just like all the others, he has the choice to leave. <br /><br /> But Reece isn’t like all the others.</div> </div> <div id="hide"> </div> </div> </div><br /> <blockquote> <p><em>“Thirty-one rocks. Thirty-one disastrous relationships. Thirty-one years lonely.”</em> </p> </blockquote> <p>Bailey Mitchel, at 31, lives alone, works as a proofreader, and has been consumed by her OCD for most of her life. This isn’t just your average ‘I must eat my french fries before my burger’ OCD. Her OCD is real. It’s the kind that debilitates her – controls her. She counts her steps, counts her brush strokes, overly organized, and schedule-bound. She’s exhausted by these tics and these examples are just the tip of the ice burg. If Bailey gets too anxious, her tics come out full force. She has worked hard to keep her tics under control for years, but she still has a long ways to go. The worst part is how often she’s had her heart broken when her OCD becomes too much for the men she’s dated. So she has settled with being alone, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have hope to find that special someone who can love and accept her for all of her quirks and tics. </p> <p>Reece Powell just started his new advertising job when Bailey bops into his life with her cigarette pants and ‘just so’ ponytail. The moment he sees her he’s instantly smitten and sparks fly between them. Bailey finds Reece’s charm and rugged good looks irresistible but, at the same time, is hesitant to get involved with him, fearing he would not be able to handle her OCD. However, Reece isn’t like the other men Bailey has dated in the past. Reece actually finds Bailey’s tics to be sexy. </p> <p>As they start spending time with each other, the more Bailey realizes she can’t resist Reece anymore and they start dating. Together they form a beautiful, sweet, and steamy relationship that builds beautifully as the story continues. </p> <p>I loved Reece as our hero. He never tried to fix Bailey’s tics. He just wanted to love her. He has his own issues and insecurities because he grew up in foster homes. He wants someone who he can finally call ‘home.’ He sees ‘home’ in Bailey. Reece is such a GREAT guy. I mean, seriously, the man is nearly perfect. To say I was completely swooning over Reece is an understatement. I wanted to climb the man like a tree and kiss him for all of his patience and understanding and love for Bailey. *happy sigh*</p> <blockquote> <p><i>"I fell in love with you because of you. I like your quirky ways. You how many times I got myself off thinking about your ‘just so’ ponytail? You how fucking weird that is?”– Reece </i></p> </blockquote> <p>Bailey is such a loveable and fun heroine. Her OCD sets her apart from other heroines, which makes her such a captivating character. I couldn’t help but love all her tics and flaws. She’s so interesting and genuine and spunky. I totally understood why Reece fell head over heels in love with her. She’s a breath of fresh air. She does have her own insecurities. She doesn’t feel normal and fears Reece could leave her once he sees all the ugly that comes with OCD. But Reece shows Bailey exactly how much he loves her – tics and all. He makes her feel free and forget all about her OCD. Have I mentioned how much I love Reece!? *melts*</p> <blockquote> <p><i>“What was this man doing to me? He made forget that I was tic-bound, schedule-bound, urge-bound. He made me feel like I was breaking free, even as my hands were securely fastened to the headboard.” </i></p> </blockquote> <p>Bailey and Reece are freaking adorable together! They mesh well in such a way that they complement and complete each other perfectly. It was easy to connect with this relationship right from the start. Not to mention they have incredibly hot chemistry together. The first kiss between them made my insides all warm and tingly, but when Reece’s controlling and domineering naughty side comes out during the sexy times… holy smoldering hotness, I melted!</p> <p>Of course, this relationship was not perfect. Things become complicated between them when Bailey’s life suddenly changes and she starts to crumble. Which means Bailey and Reece’s relationship is put through the emotional wringer as their journey takes a turn they didn’t expect. But they do get their happy ending – a very happy ending that made me my heart smile.</p> <p>But aside from Bailey and Reece, I loved all of the secondary characters in this story. All of them are well-developed and brought more depth to the story. Bailey’s dad has a special place in my heart. </p> <p><em>Lovelines</em> is a smart, fun, sexy romantic comedy. This book made me laugh and smile so much I’m pretty sure I had a perma-grin for most of the story. Ah, and the romantic moments turned my insides to mush, especially with a swoon-worthy hero like Reece. There is some angst, some sadness, but mostly, this book made me feel good. Summer Walden has an incredible writing skill that is so different from the many books being released today. I love how she can go from writing a dark story about a teenage girl on a path of vengeance in <em>Going Under</em>, to writing about a forbidden student-teacher romance in <em>Good</em>, and then take us on a funny and romantic journey about a woman with OCD and a man who loves her no matter how flawed she may be in <em>Lovelines</em>. I truly had a good time reading this book from beginning to end. </p> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-66607535457770868262014-03-26T06:59:00.000-07:002014-03-26T06:59:00.576-07:00Cover Reveal + Giveaway! Take Me for Granted by K.A. Linde<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3_9ewvpHlrc/UzIhTfC9hzI/AAAAAAAAAgw/tmcUf6a8YVQ/s1600-h/TakeMeForGrantedeBookebook%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="TakeMeForGrantedeBookebook" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TakeMeForGrantedeBookebook" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MOz9UtE0Evk/UzIhT1ZS9FI/AAAAAAAAAg0/QimfZRW1gWU/TakeMeForGrantedeBookebook_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" height="412" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20572758-take-me-for-granted?ac=1" target="_blank">GOODREADS</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>Take Me for Granted (Take Me #1) </b>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/K.A. Linde">K.A. Linde</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Contemporary">Contemporary</a> <br />K.A. Linde Inc. (April 29, 2014)</p> <p> </p> <p><b>Synopsis:</b></p> <p><em>Grant</em></p> <p>Manwhore. Adrenaline junkie. Lead singer of ContraBand. What you see is what you get. I make no apologies for my actions, and by now no one expects any from me. I live my life the way I want and as long as it pushes the demons back, then I'm solid. I've never needed a chick for more than a good lay. Why would I need just one when I can have a different one every night?</p> <p>Until she walks into my world.</p> <p><em>Aribel</em></p> <p>Mouthy. Perfectionist. Princeton student. Chemistry major. Yes, that pretty much describes me. Oh, and virgin. But I'm only nineteen, and have more important things to concern myself with. What really matters is finishing my degree and getting a good job. I’ve worked hard for what I want, and do what’s expected of me. I don’t need anyone to get in my way.</p> <p>Until he opens up my world.</p> <p>But if I give you my world, whatever you do…don’t TAKE ME for granted.</p> <p> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--14TUAByjGY/UzIhURBMzzI/AAAAAAAAAhA/kZzzn8QWqS4/s1600-h/Take%252520Me%252520for%252520Granted.BookCover5x8_BW_380.v5%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Take Me for Granted.BookCover5x8_BW_380.v5" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Take Me for Granted.BookCover5x8_BW_380.v5" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JzpQmtX64_c/UzIhU7Tn1jI/AAAAAAAAAhE/hkRLSVCpNDY/Take%252520Me%252520for%252520Granted.BookCover5x8_BW_380.v5_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="179" /></a></p> <p> </p> <div align="center"> <table style="border-top: #ececec 1px solid; border-right: #ececec 1px solid; border-bottom: #ececec 1px solid; border-left: #ececec 1px solid" cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5" width="555" align="center"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="543"> <p align="center"><strong><em>About the Author</em></strong></p> <p align="justify">K.A. Linde graduated with her Masters in political science from the University of Georgia in 2012. She also has a bachelors in political science and philosophy. She wrote her the Avoiding Series while struggling through advanced statistical modeling and writing her thesis. She enjoys dancing and writing novels that keep you guessing until the very end.</p> <p align="justify">She currently resides in Georgia with her boyfriend and two puppies, Lucy and Riker.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="543"><strong>Find K.A. Online: <br /></strong><a href="http://www.kalinde.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/authorkalinde" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.facebook.com/authorkalinde" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5421050.K_A_Linde" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> <p> </p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#dd2f85" size="5">Tour-wide Giveaway!</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><a id="rc-fde687128" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/fde687128/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> <script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script></p> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-52661416788121601302014-03-25T01:11:00.000-07:002014-03-25T01:11:00.241-07:00Review: Unwound by Lorelei James<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; clear: left; margin-right: auto" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51J7Qgz8j6L._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51J7Qgz8j6L._SL500_.jpg" width="123" height="200" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451467310/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0451467310&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E8OLJ9U/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00E8OLJ9U&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">KINDLE</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>Unwound (Mastered #2) </b>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Lorelei James">Lorelei James</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Erotica">Erotica</a> <br />NAL (March 25, 2014)</p> <p><b>Rating:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/B">B</a> <br /><b>Heat:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Sizzling">Sizzling</a></p> <p><strong>Heroine:</strong> Amery Hardwick – Wholesome, Trusting <br /><b>Hero: </b>Ronin Black – Mysterious, Sensei  </p> <p> </p> <p> <br /> </p> <br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a> <div id="spoiler"> <div> <strong>Synopsis:</strong><input name="button" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = ''; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' CLOSE '; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = 'none'; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' READ THE BLURB '; }" style="font-face: Dosis, Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; margin: 5px; padding: 2px;" type="button" value=" READ THE BLURB " /></div> <div id="show" style="border: 1px solid white; display: none; margin: 5px; padding: 2px; width: 98%;"> <div style="background: rgb(248, 248, 248); border: 1px solid rgb(230, 233, 235); color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 7px;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In this conclusion to the Mastered series by New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James, a man’s need for control is tested by the one woman he’ll risk everything for <br /><br /> When sensei Ronin Black first encounters Amery Hardwick, the fire in her eyes ignites a sexual spark a thousand times better than the primal rush he used to get from mixed martial arts matches. She accepts his darker edges and admits to him that her desires aren’t as wholesome as he believed. And before long Ronin is grappling with emotions he’s never felt before . <br /><br /> Yet despite demanding Amery bare her body and soul to him, Ronin holds a part of himself back. When she learns Ronin’s secret and walks out, his life begins to unravel. To regain her trust he must let go of his pride and prove to her that it’s more than passion binding them together. But after their private pleasures are made public, Ronin is unsure if he’s the right man for Amery. Can they face the consequences together? Or will their differences rip them apart?</div> </div> <div id="hide"> </div> </div> </div><br /> <p><b>Review: </b></p> <p>When <em>Bound</em> ended, the tears were streaming down my face. The things we learned about Ronin, the way it made Amery feel... You just knew it wouldn't be easy for them to get back together. Ronin would need to make more than a few changes.</p> <p>And he does. Oh, he does. Our mysterious Master Black is well worth the trouble. Well worth the wait. I loved all that's revealed about him and the way he wins Amery back. If only it didn't come at his own expense. Not that Amery playing nurse didn't lead to some seriously sexy romps—because, let me tell you, it did. It also showed a vulnerable side of Ronin that we hadn't seen before.</p> <p>Which is the opposite of Amery. Now she's locked her feelings down tight and become as secretive as Ronin was. Which, though I understood why she’d be wary, it didn't make me like it. I’m not a fan of secrets or withholding things that would be better out in the open. Especially the silly things Amery decided not to share. The minute she didn’t tell Ronin, you knew it’d come back to bite her.</p> <p>Although I loved seeing a new side of Ronin, the first half of this one started slow. Lots of making up, lots of groveling. And a lot of Black Arts business deals. I can't say I was that interested in how Black Arts was going to expand, what classes they were going to add, or their new promotions business. It didn't really spark or capture my interest, which made the story’s pace drag as <em>a lot</em> of page time is dedicated to just that.</p> <p><em>Unwound</em> had the same intense chemistry as the first book, if a bit less kinky. I missed the fierceness of Ronin’s character but I loved all the new sides of him revealed. And, unlike with <em>Bound</em>, <em>Unwound </em>was full of drama outside of Ronin and Amery's relationship. These two attract the drama like lint on velvet. It was one thing after the next. Which did have me longing for the singular drama of the first book—how it focused solely on Ronin and Amery—but, at the same time, I loved getting to know the side characters better. I really hope Miz James plans on writing more books in this series for Shiori, Knox, Molly, and Deacon...</p> Letitiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418017232318227652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-77444597862254139662014-03-24T00:57:00.001-07:002014-03-24T00:57:50.100-07:00Review: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; clear: left; margin-right: auto" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CGxrkdesL._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CGxrkdesL._SL500_.jpg" width="123" height="200" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1476753164/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1476753164&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DPM7RJW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00DPM7RJW&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">KINDLE</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>Maybe Someday</b> by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Colleen Hoover">Colleen Hoover</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Contemporary">Contemporary</a> / <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/New Adult">New Adult</a> <br />Atria Books (March 18, 2014)</p> <p><b>Rating:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/C">C</a> <br /><b>Heat:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Warm">Warm</a></p> <p><strong>Heroine:</strong> Sydney Blake – College Student, Discovering Herself <br /><b>Hero: </b>Ridge Lawson – Musician, Loyal to a fault  <br /></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a> <div id="spoiler"> <div> <strong>Synopsis:</strong><input name="button" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = ''; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' CLOSE '; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = 'none'; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' READ THE BLURB '; }" style="font-face: Dosis, Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; margin: 5px; padding: 2px;" type="button" value=" READ THE BLURB " /></div> <div id="show" style="border: 1px solid white; display: none; margin: 5px; padding: 2px; width: 98%;"> <div style="background: rgb(248, 248, 248); border: 1px solid rgb(230, 233, 235); color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 7px;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> At twenty-two years old, aspiring musician Sydney Blake has a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her good friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter cheating on her with Tori—and she is left trying to decide what to do next. <br /><br /> Sydney becomes captivated by her mysterious neighbor, Ridge Lawson. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the daily guitar playing he does out on his balcony. She can feel the harmony and vibrations in his music. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either: He seems to have finally found his muse. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one…</div> </div> <div id="hide"> </div> </div> </div><br /> <p><b>Review: </b></p> <p>I felt like I couldn’t review this story without revealing <i>some</i> SPOILERS. It’s not my intent to spoil a story, but I do like to express my thoughts and feelings the best way possible. And I’m pretty sure I’m in the minority on how I feel about this book so it’s up to you if you decide to read on. <i></i>I would also like to mention that even though this book did not work for me, I’ve had wonderful experiences with Colleen Hoover’s books in the past. This book just wasn’t for me. </p> <p>Sydney Blake is in college, working a good job, loves her boyfriend, and rooming with her best friend. She thought she had it all, living the good life, until she discovered her boyfriend has been sleeping with her best friend. Angry and broken hearted, she packs her things and leaves her apartment, not knowing what to do next. But then Ridge Lawson, Sydney’s mysterious, guitar playing neighbor, who captivated Sydney with his music when playing on his balcony in the evening, gives her a place to stay until she can get back on her feet again. </p> <p>Ridge has hit a brick wall when it comes to creating music, until he meets Sydney, his muse. They create music together and form a close connection, which turns into more between them. However, Ridge, well… he has a girlfriend named Maggie, who he’s in love with. And because Ridge and Sydney are open and honest with each other about their feelings, they agree to remain friends no matter how strongly they feel for one another. Ridge is so loyal he would do anything to keep from compromising his relationship with Maggie. And Sydney doesn’t want to be like her cheating ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend. The problem is that Ridge’s heart has now been split in two. He loves Maggie but feels closely connected with Sydney through their music and friendship. </p> <p><i>Maybe Someday</i> had a strong start and I was really enjoying it. I even gushed about how much I was enjoying this book to other readers in the first 20-25%, especially when the first plot twist about Ridge was revealed. It was so very interesting and original. But then I started having many issues with this story. This is one of those books that I had such high hopes for and wanted to love so bad but ended up feeling disappointed by it. And that just sucks considering how much I loved <i>Slammed</i> and <i>Hopeless</i>. </p> <p>The build up to the story was interesting. I had butterfly feelings in my stomach when Ridge and Sydney first started writing and playing music together. By now, I knew this was going to be a love triangle and I was okay with that. You see, I do like love triangles if they’re done right. I like the intensity, the passion, the gut-wrenching heartache that comes with them. If I’m going to read a story with a love triangle, I want one that is going to impact me emotionally. And that is one of my main problems with this story. I just didn’t feel the emotional turmoil the author was trying to portray in this story. Oh, I will admit that Sydney and Ridge had great chemistry together. But for me it just kind of flat-lined when Ridge made it known that he will <i>always </i>choose Maggie over Sydney. And honestly, I liked Maggie more than Sydney.</p> <p>I couldn’t help but question why Sydney would even <i>want </i>to be with Ridge when he made it very clear who his choice would always be. I did like Sydney in the beginning. She starts out strong, but then I just grew more and more aggravated with her as the story continued. At times, she came across as a pushover, immature, and a bit selfish. She is nothing like the strong and independent heroines Colleen Hoover has written in the past. </p> <p>I did like Ridge. He’s a sexy and talented musician. I think the ladies will really like him, too. He really did try to do the right by Maggie and Sydney. But I was baffled by some of the bad choices he made that involved Sydney, especially when he would tell Sydney personal things that he never told his girlfriend of five years! I just threw up my hands by that point I was so over Ridge and his ‘amazing’ loyalty.</p> <p>I feel like no matter what I say I’m going to sound like a hypocrite since I’ve given some of the most screwed up stories with love triangles high rating in the past. But those stories made me FEEL so much! I guess if I felt emotionally attached to the characters a little more I would have felt more impacted by this love triangle. Instead, I actually just ended up feeling bad for Maggie the entire time because I just didn’t ‘get’ what Sydney and Ridge saw in one another besides the fact they created music together. The fact that Maggie was the one who had to put things in perspective for Ridge by the end was just pitiful. I think I liked Maggie the most in this love triangle. She seemed to be the only smart and rational one. </p> <p>The story is a bit long winded, especially the conversations between Sydney and Ridge. There is a whole lot of information dump during these conversations that did nothing for me. And sadly, by the time things come together at the end, I felt like there was nothing redeemable left in this relationship. No explanation or gestures of love could convince me otherwise. What it truly boils down to is that I just couldn’t connect with this story emotionally or romantically, unfortunately. </p> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-20910553877716827262014-03-19T00:16:00.000-07:002014-04-02T11:53:23.220-07:00Review: Unravel by Calia Read<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; clear: left; margin-right: auto" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51tA%2BkDjiNL._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51tA%2BkDjiNL._SL500_.jpg" width="123" height="200" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1495300978/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1495300978&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IHG0Y32/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00IHG0Y32&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">KINDLE</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>Unravel </b>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Calia Read">Calia Read</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Contemporary">Contemporary</a> <br />Calia Read (February 18, 2014)</p> <p><b>Rating:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/B">B+</a> <br /><b>Heat:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Hot">Hot</a></p> <p><strong>Heroine:</strong> Naomi Carradine – Possibly Crazy, Loves two men <br /><b>Hero: </b>Max – Successful, Loves Naomi <br /><strong>Hero: </strong>Lachlan – Loyal, Loves Naomi <br /></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a> <div id="spoiler"> <div> <strong>Synopsis:</strong><input name="button" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = ''; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' CLOSE '; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = 'none'; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' READ THE BLURB '; }" style="font-face: Dosis, Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; margin: 5px; padding: 2px;" type="button" value=" READ THE BLURB " /></div> <div id="show" style="border: 1px solid white; display: none; margin: 5px; padding: 2px; width: 98%;"> <div style="background: rgb(248, 248, 248); border: 1px solid rgb(230, 233, 235); color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 7px;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Six months ago, I was happy. I was simply Naomi Carradine. <br /><br /> One month ago, I was admitted into a psych ward. <br /><br /> Yesterday, Lachlan visited me. Kissed me. And told me that I’m starting to lose my mind. <br /><br /> Hours later, Max haunted my thoughts, reminding me I’m not crazy and that he needs my help. <br /><br /> A few minutes ago, I drifted further from reality, trying to unravel the past. <br /><br /> And now...everyone thinks I’m insane. But, I know he's real, and I know he needs me. <br /><br /> Do you believe me?</div> </div> <div id="hide"> </div> </div> </div><br /> <p><b>Review: </b></p> <p>What a fascinating, suspenseful, crazy book! It had me knots and made my head spin nearly the entire time. I do STRONGLY urge you not to skip to the last page or you’ll ruin the suspense and the buildup that leads to a shocking ending when the intricate storyline finally comes together.</p> <p>In the beginning of the story we meet Naomi Carradine, our heroine, who has been involuntarily committed in a mental institution. We don’t know why she’s there or what happened to her. What we do learn is that her world is unraveling around her. The doctors think Naomi is making up stories about the people in her life, that they aren’t real and only in her head. But she is adamant about the truth and wants her doctor to believe her, which led to a lot of unspoken questions swirling around in my head: Is this girl even sane? Why was she committed? What brought her to this point? These questions and other questions I had are answered as Naomi’s story is told. </p> <p>Naomi’s story alternates between the present, in the mental hospital, and the past. Naomi is in love with two men. Max is her current love interest. He’s the man who haunts her dreams and thoughts. And Lachlan is the boy next door she grew up with, forming a deep seeded connection with that turned into love. Then there is Lana, Naomi’s best friend, who is shy and meek. These best friends love each other something fierce and are always there for each other. Some bad things happen to Lana and Naomi tries to help. This sets things into motion that leads to Naomi being committed. </p> <p>I love both Max and Lachlan. Both of them are sexy, sweet, and loyal. Both of them came across as the epitome of perfect with the way they love and cherish Naomi. They are both different but alike at the same time. And they both own a piece of Naomi’s heart. Mine as well! But I won’t delve any further into the story. The less you know the better. </p> <p>The build up to the story was a slow but intense, suspenseful ride and totally addictive. There is nothing like the feeling of not knowing what is about to happen yet dying to know at the same time. My thoughts were spinning all around in my head. It did take me nearly the first half of the book to catch on to the mystery that drove the storyline. But the things I never caught on to shocked the hell out of me.</p> <p>The romance element in the story is complex and beautiful and strong. It’s also an integral part of the story. The sex scenes are seriously raging hot! And very well-done! You’re probably wondering by now if this is a love triangle. That question will be answered as you read the story. My lips are sealed. *wink wink* But I will leave you with this quote I love…</p> <blockquote> <p><em>My heart is stuck in my throat, as I look him over. I love him so much. I love him too much to be considered healthy. I know that.</em><i> <br /><em>"Someday, you're gonna get out of here." He utters the last of his words slowly. "And everything's going to be okay."</em> <br /><em>"Tell me what you're fighting and I'll fight with you."</em></i></p> </blockquote> <p>Now, I would be lying to say the subject matter in <i>Unravel </i>isn’t sensitive. Calia Read writes a raw and painful story that gutted me. I must warn you this story has a rape scene written in a discreet way but still very disturbing. If that type of dark content easily disturbs you, then this book isn’t for you. <em><b></b></em></p> <p>I loved <em>Unravel</em> because it was so different. It kept me engaged with the suspenseful and interesting storyline. There are a few questionable things about the story that seemed to be too easily resolved, but those things didn’t ruin the story for me. This book hooked immediately on the first page, making it impossible for me to put my Kindle down as I tried desperately to figure everything out. This book left an impression on me so much so that I continued to think about it for days after I was done with it. Go ahead and one-click this baby and get started because you don’t want to miss out on this one! </p> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-7727677172454876122014-03-17T01:15:00.000-07:002014-04-02T11:53:23.244-07:00Review: Transcendence by Shay Savage<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; clear: left; margin-right: auto" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TbhqkpmsL._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TbhqkpmsL._SL500_.jpg" width="123" height="200" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IFV9AXY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00IFV9AXY&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">KINDLE</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>Transcendence</b> by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Shay Savage">Shay Savage</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Fantasy">Fantasy</a> / <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Historical">Historical</a>  <br />Shay Savage, LLC (February 13, 2014)</p> <p><b>Rating:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/A">A-</a> <br /><b>Heat:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Hot">Hot</a></p> <p><strong>Heroine:</strong> Beh - Modern Woman, Talks A Lot <br /><b>Hero: </b>Ehd - Caveman, Simple <br /> </p> <br /> <br /><br /> <br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a> <div id="spoiler">
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<strong>Synopsis:</strong><input name="button" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = ''; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' CLOSE '; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = 'none'; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' READ THE BLURB '; }" style="font-face: Dosis, Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; margin: 5px; padding: 2px;" type="button" value=" READ THE BLURB " /></div>
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It’s said that women and men are from two different planets when it comes to communication, but how can they overcome the obstacles of prehistoric times when one of them simply doesn’t have the ability to comprehend language?
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Ehd’s a caveman living on his own in a harsh wilderness. He’s strong and intelligent, but completely alone. When he finds a beautiful young woman in his pit trap, it’s obvious to him that she is meant to be his mate. He doesn’t know where she came from; she’s wearing some pretty odd clothing, and she makes a lot of noises with her mouth that give him a headache. Still, he’s determined to fulfill his purpose in life – provide for her, protect her, and put a baby in her.
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Elizabeth doesn’t know where she is or exactly how she got there. She’s confused and distressed by her predicament, and there’s a caveman hauling her back to his cavehome. She’s not at all interested in Ehd’s primitive advances, and she just can’t seem to get him to listen. No matter what she tries, getting her point across to this primitive, but beautiful, man is a constant – and often hilarious – struggle.
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With only each other for company, they must rely on one another to fight the dangers of the wild and prepare for the winter months. As they struggle to coexist, theirs becomes a love story that transcends language and time.</div>
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</div><br /> <p><b>Review: </b></p> <p>If you’re like me, when you hear “caveman time travel romance,” you don’t automatically think, “sexy!” My first few thoughts were more along the lines of, “unwashed, grunting Neanderthal.” Which is a bit judgmental on my part, considering I love heroes who are undead, heroes who get a bit hairy on full moons, and even those rough and rugged highlanders who probably went a few days in between baths. Even with my doubts, I was more than a bit curious. And, after I sent a preview to my kindle, I went back immediately to 1-click this bad boy!</p> <p>Because I was immediately captivated by our hero and narrator, Ehd. Ehd is a simple kind of man. Er, caveman. One who has been alone for many seasons after his tribe was killed. He goes through the motions of surviving but that's all it is. Surviving. Until he finds a strange woman in his pit trap. A woman who makes strange sounds, dresses odd, and seems to have none of the skills the women in his tribe had. Still, as the only other person he's seen in years, he's not about to turn her down as his mate.</p> <blockquote> <p>“Elizabeth." <br />I feel my smile on my face as I understand what she is doing. Though it's a strange one, she has a name-sound just like I do, and she's telling me what it is. I try to make the same sounds. <br />"Ehh..beh." I frown. Why is her name-sound so difficult and so long? <br />She frowns right back at me and says it again. "Elizabeth." <br />"Beh-tah-babaa." <br />She sighs and her forehead wrinkles. <br />"Elizabeth. Eeee-lizzzz-ahh-beth." <br />"Laahh...baaay." <br />She taps her chest again. <br />"Beth!" <br />The sound is shorter but still very odd. <br />"Beh-bet." <br />"Beth," she repeats. <br />I've had enough. I reach out and touch her shoulder. <br />"Beh." <br />"Beth." <br />I tap her a little harder and growl. <br />"Beh", I repeat. I tap her again. "BEH!" <br />Her eyes widen a bit, and she inhales sharply. A moment later, her shoulders drop and she sighs. <br />"Beh," she says quietly.”</p> </blockquote> <p>Beh is obviously a modern woman transported back in time. And, because of that, she confuses the heck out of Ehd. He can never seem to please her. Not with shelter or food or protection. And she is <em>obsessed</em> with cleaning him. He tries so hard to prove he's an acceptable mate but nothing he does seems right. She’s constantly saying that “no” word that makes him flinch every time he hears it. When all his efforts and hard work do pay off, it's still not easy for Ehd and Beh. </p> <p>These two had me utterly enthralled the entire time. Watching Ehd try to figure Beh out was both sweet and endearing. The fact that they can’t communicate through words added a dimension to the story that I really loved. They both had to rely solely on body language and touch. And the touch part... that caveman stole my heart. </p> <p>Having Ehd as the narrator was both a blessing and a curse. At times, I loved seeing everything through his eyes. It’s simplified. His thoughts and actions are devoid of any ulterior motives. He doesn’t manipulate. He has basic needs and wants and once Beh is in his life, they all focus on her. At the same time, oh, how I wanted Beh’s point of view! I wanted to see Ehd through her eyes. Get a modern perspective on a prehistoric time. Get more depth of emotion. What I wouldn’t do for this to be told in alternating points of view. Or, what I wouldn’t do for a second book in Beh’s view.</p> <p><em>Transcendence</em> is a simple kind of story. There’s hardly any dialogue, or a detailed plot, but it still captivated me. Ehd and Beh have a complicated and transcendent kind of love. This book is like nothing else you will read this year--or any year, really. You don't want to miss this one. Trust me. </p> Letitiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418017232318227652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-24110491997616714842014-03-14T02:36:00.000-07:002014-03-14T02:36:00.182-07:00Fabulous Friday Recommendation: Night Owl by M. Pierce<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-a-2a-lAG4D4/UwTPcb_uNCI/AAAAAAAAAew/2ACfv1TYO3E/s1600-h/image%25255B4%25255D.png"><img title="image" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8B4W26Y4hkc/UwTPdPPzl6I/AAAAAAAAAe4/WqFGQe0lgHA/image_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="275" height="446" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HY070CU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00HY070CU&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank"><img title="image22" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="image22" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mgdqyb64k0w/UwTPduvdK8I/AAAAAAAAAe8/D-w0LWt7DhY/image22%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="75" height="16" /></a>       <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/night-owl-m-pierce/1117359288?ean=9781250058232" target="_blank"><img title="image21" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="image21" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Z2OsqvUomfI/UwTPdxgSsbI/AAAAAAAAAfI/MsWUwtnhcC8/image21%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="75" height="19" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>Night Owl (The Night Owl Trilogy #1) </b>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/M. Pierce">M. Pierce</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Contemporary">Contemporary</a> <br />St. Martin's Griffin (February 11, 2014)</p> <p><b>Synopsis:</b> </p> <p>Love is unstoppable...</p> <p>At twenty-eight, Matt Sky has the perfect life. He has a beautiful girlfriend, a massive inheritance, and four national bestsellers -- all penned under his airtight alias, M. Pierce.</p> <p>At twenty-seven, Hannah Catalano has a train wreck. Her boyfriend is a deadbeat and her job is abysmal.</p> <p>Matt and Hannah meet online as writing partners. Their relationship is safe, anonymous, and innocent...</p> <p>Until Matt sees a picture of Hannah. <br />Hannah's picture sparks an attraction Matt is powerless to ignore. When circumstance brings Matt and Hannah together, the strangers begin a love story that's passionate, poignant, unforgettable, and unstoppable.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Why We Recommend It:</strong></p> <p>I really didn’t know what I was getting into when I decided to read <i>Night Owl</i>. And what a fabulous surprise it was! This book was incredibly fun and deliciously hot – like the hero is bossy, rough around the edges, and has a very dirty mouth that made me fan myself HOT. What can I say? I love a bossy and sexy man with a dirty mouth. </p> <blockquote> <p><em>"In you go, little bird. Get on your hands and knees. I'm going to take you from behind."</em> </p> </blockquote> <p>The hero, Matt, is a famous author in hiding under his pen name. Sort of a recluse, but not really. You have to read the book to know why I say this. He and Hannah, the heroine, are writing a book together but they’ve never met before. They only communicate online. Then one day she sends him a chapter from her real gmail account with her real gmail picture. This made Matt angry but oh, so titillated by her. They eventually end up forming an all-consuming, sexy, and emotional relationship. And, of course, they have lots of blazing hot sex! Things get more complicated as the story goes on. Secrets are uncovered that make things get real intense and raw between the main characters. But I enjoyed the ride the entire time. </p> <blockquote> <p><i>“Always, Matt, always speaking to me from any mouth but your own. Don't you know that I love you? I see you under all your lies, and I always find you.”</i></p> </blockquote> <p><i>Night Owl</i> is hot and spicy with lots of twists and turns. There is passion, romance, humor, raw emotions, drama, and angst – it has it all. And the writing is amazing. The hero is so incredibly different from any other hero I’ve read. I loved Matt- he kind of stole the show. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. <i>Last Night</i> comes out summer 2014 – I’m waiting on pins and needles for this one!</p> <blockquote> </blockquote> <p> </p> <p align="center"><strong>Add <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20646604-night-owl" target="_blank"><em>Night Owl</em></a><em> </em>to your to-read shelf on Goodreads!</strong></p> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-79639685645089203192014-03-12T01:41:00.000-07:002014-03-12T01:41:00.414-07:00Guest Post + Giveaway! Undone by Rebecca Shea<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; clear: left; margin-right: auto" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51kW5%2BNMM0L._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51kW5%2BNMM0L._SL500_.jpg" width="275" height="447" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1494962772/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1494962772&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IJLLTNO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00IJLLTNO&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">KINDLE</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>Undone (Unbreakable #2) </b>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Rebecca Shea">Rebecca Shea</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Contemporary">Contemporary</a> <br />Rebecca Shea (February 19, 2014)</p> <p><b>Synopsis:</b>   </p> <div style="text-align: justify">I’ve found it’s easier to share my body but not my soul. I need no one, yet I crave her. <br /> <br />Self-assured and independent, she doesn’t need me—but she wants me, and undeniably I want her too. At war with myself as I battle the secrets of my past, I don’t know if I can allow her to see the darkest parts of me, the parts I’ve left untouched—undone. <br /> <br />As she chips away at the walls I’ve built for years, I fear those secrets will hold me hostage from love—forever.</div> <p> </p> <p> </p> <a name='more'></a> <div id="spoiler"> <p><strong>Do you have a favorite author who has influenced you as a writer?</strong></p> <p>Yes, I have two authors that have influenced me as a writer. First, Rebecca Donovan, and second, AL Jackson.</p> <p>Let me preface this by saying I learn something from every single book I read. I take something away from each book, each author, and every story. But without a doubt in my mind these two women, are on a pedestal for me.</p> <p>Rebecca Donovan was the very first author that I read in the New Adult genre. I hung onto every word of Reason To Breathe back in 2011 when I first read it. There was something in the way that she could weave tragedy, heartache, and yet promise into her novel that was so inspiring. When I was writing Unbreakable I remember trying to weave those familiar traits into my story. Obviously, they are 1000% different stories, but I wanted my story to connect with readers on the same type of level that Reason To Breathe connected with me. </p> <p>With AL Jackson, it’s a different influence. AL’s writing is poetic. Her word choices, her sentences are like that of no other author I’ve read before. I love reading and rereading AL’s books. Her mix of angst, steam, heartbreak, and forgiveness are the total package for me. I love that AL uses little words that are so unique, and consistently uses them in her novels. Now when I write, I look for something, a word, a symbolism, to identify me with my writing.</p> <p>From a business perspective, both of these women serve as someone I admire. I admire and love their positive personalities, how they interact with their readers, and their keen business sense. I truly believe these two women are here to stay in this ever-changing industry. I can’t wait to see what their future work looks like!</p> <p>Xoxo,</p> <p>Rebecca</p> </div> <p> </p> <div align="center"> <table style="border-top: #ececec 1px solid; border-right: #ececec 1px solid; border-bottom: #ececec 1px solid; border-left: #ececec 1px solid" cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5" width="555" align="center"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="543"> <p align="center"><strong><em>About the Author</em></strong></p> <p align="justify">Rebecca Shea is the USA Today Bestselling author of Unbreakable. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her family and her beagle, Miles. From the time Rebecca could read she has had a passion for books. Rebecca spends her days working full-time and her nights writing, bringing stories to life. Born and raised in Minnesota, Rebecca moved to Arizona in 1999 to escape the bitter winters. When not working or writing, she can be found on the sidelines of her sons football games, or watching her daughter at ballet class. Rebecca is fueled by insane amounts of coffee, margaritas, Laffy Taffy (except the banana ones), and happily ever afters.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="543"><strong>Find Rebecca Online:  <br /></strong><a href="https://twitter.com/beccasheaauthor" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rebeccasheaauthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6878970.Rebecca_Shea" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> <strong></strong> <p> </p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#dd2f85" size="5">Tour-wide Giveaway!</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><a id="rc-8032ce125" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/8032ce125/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> <script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script></p> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-82242246929901556812014-03-12T00:26:00.000-07:002014-03-12T00:26:00.032-07:00Review: Undone by Rebecca Shea<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; clear: left; margin-right: auto" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51kW5%2BNMM0L._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51kW5%2BNMM0L._SL500_.jpg" width="123" height="200" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1494962772/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1494962772&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IJLLTNO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00IJLLTNO&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">KINDLE</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>Undone (Unbreakable #2) </b>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Rebecca Shea">Rebecca Shea</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Contemporary">Contemporary</a> <br />Rebecca Shea (February 19, 2014)</p> <p><b>Rating:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/B">B</a> <br /><b>Heat:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Hot">Hot</a></p> <p><strong>Heroine:</strong> Reagan Sinclair – Doctor, Compassionate <br /><b>Hero: </b>Landon Christianson – Cop, Emotionally Wounded   <br /></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a> <div id="spoiler"> <div> <strong>Synopsis:</strong><input name="button" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = ''; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' CLOSE '; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = 'none'; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' READ THE BLURB '; }" style="font-face: Dosis, Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; margin: 5px; padding: 2px;" type="button" value=" READ THE BLURB " /></div> <div id="show" style="border: 1px solid white; display: none; margin: 5px; padding: 2px; width: 98%;"> <div style="background: rgb(248, 248, 248); border: 1px solid rgb(230, 233, 235); color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 7px;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I’ve found it’s easier to share my body but not my soul. I need no one, yet I crave her. <br /><br /> Self-assured and independent, she doesn’t need me—but she wants me, and undeniably I want her too. At war with myself as I battle the secrets of my past, I don’t know if I can allow her to see the darkest parts of me, the parts I’ve left untouched—undone. <br /><br /> As she chips away at the walls I’ve built for years, I fear those secrets will hold me hostage from love—forever.</div> </div> <div id="hide"> </div> </div> </div><br /> <p><b>Review: </b></p> <p>Landon was first introduced in the first book of the Unbreakable series, <i>Unbreakable</i>, where he becomes friends with Jess, the heroine, and helps her heal and mend herself back together again. I was sad for Landon at the end of <i>Unbreakable</i> but very happy to find out he was getting his own story. You can read both <i>Unbreakable</i> and <i>Undone</i> as a stand-alone. However, I personally think reading these books in order is a better reading experience. This story is told from both Landon and Reagan’s POV. </p> <p>Landon, our sexy and confident yet broken and complicated hero, works as a cop with his partner and best friend, Matt, in North Carolina. His goal is to work his way up to become a detective. He works hard and plays even harder. He loves women but he never sleeps with a woman more than once, never letting them kiss him, and definitely never making any emotional connection to them. Landon is a damaged, untrustful, emotional mess because of the horrible things he endured growing up. </p> <p>Besides Matt, his sister Lindsay is the only other person in his life he loves and trusts the most. He would do anything for her. They've only had each other for years and the bond they share is fiercely strong. I love these two. They made me laugh and smile and even cry. And I love how Lindsay is the voice of reason for Landon when he needs someone to keep him in line. </p> <p>But things change in one moment when Landon and Matt are sent out on a call to a bar called Mac’s where Landon sees a beautiful woman working as a waitress. The moment he saw her he was immediately drawn to her and he knew he must go back to the bar to meet this woman who makes his head spin with lust and desire. </p> <blockquote> <p><i>Something in the pit of my stomach is telling me this girl is dangerous-she's beautiful, confident, and smart-a dangerous combination.- Landon</i></p> </blockquote> <p>Reagan, our beautiful, feisty, and compassionate yet vulnerable heroine, works part-time at her uncle’s bar part-time, but she’s actually an OB/GYN doctor. Upon meeting Landon for the first time, she resists giving him her number or going out with him. We learn later it’s because Reagan has been badly hurt by someone in the past and she's just not ready to date anyone. She proves to be challenge for Landon but he's persistant and and ends up talking her into to having a breakfast date with him the next day. </p> <p>As they get to know one another, Reagan learns of Landon's rules about women. She refuses to be another notch on his bed post. So, even with the fiery and lusty chemistry between them, they both agree to be just friends. And end up developing a beautiful friendship with strong feelings towards each other. But they can't stop 'things' from happening between them. And Landon ends up breaking all his rules for Reagan, wanting and craving to be with her all the time. </p> <blockquote> <p><i>“I’m going to break my rules for you, Reagan,” I whisper in her ear. “Rule number one. I never fuck the same woman twice. Rule number two. I don’t kiss women,” I say, pressing a gentle kiss to the side of her cheek. I turn her around gently by the shoulders, positioning her in front of me. With the tilt of her chin, I kiss her. Softly and gently, I kiss her, succumbing to the feel of her soft lips on mine.</i></p> </blockquote> <p>Reagan and Landon’s journey is not an easy one. They both have dark secrets that make them afraid to love and trust. The things both of them went through in their lives are heart breaking. However, what Landon suffered growing up was more than just heart breaking is was soul-crushing. Landon struggles emotionally to let Reagan in for a good portion of the story. But meeting Reagan was exactly what he needed in his life to mend his wounded soul and find happiness. And I loved Reagan's willingness to never give up on Landon, even when he tries to push her away. </p> <blockquote> <p><i> <br />“Let me love you, let me care for you - let me love you.” - Lindsay</i></p> </blockquote> <p>Even with the darker themes of this story, there is also a lot sweet and fun times. There is some great banter between them that made me smile and laugh. They also have such great sexual chemistry together, which made for some incredibly hot sexy times. Landon has a dominant side to him that got me all hot and bothered as these two burned up the sheets. </p> <p>While I think this is a solid story, the amount of drama made the storyline feel busy and, at times, over-the-top. Plus, the inner dialogue felt a bit repetitive. But, with that said, the emotional connection between these two was enough oomph for me to really enjoy the book.</p> <p>Landon and Reagan’s love story is good one - but it certainly was one hell of an emotional rollercoaster as they struggle with love, emotional turmoil, secrets, and forgiveness. I rooted for this couple the entire way, especially as Rebecca Shea kept throwing big obstacles, making their happy ending something they must fight hard for. This author has a great writing voice and I’m looking forward to reading Lindsay’s story next in <i>Unforgiven</i>.</p> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-66675494244120603872014-03-11T02:50:00.000-07:002014-03-11T02:50:00.675-07:00Review: Off the Record by K.A. Linde<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; clear: left; margin-right: auto" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41S3QwqTd7L._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41S3QwqTd7L._SL500_.jpg" width="123" height="200" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1477817492/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1477817492&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F0SI3E2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00F0SI3E2&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">KINDLE</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>Off the Record (Record #1) </b>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/K.A. Linde">K.A. Linde</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Contemporary">Contemporary</a> <br />Montlake Romance (March 11, 2014)</p> <p><b>Rating:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/B">B+</a> <br /><b>Heat:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Hot">Hot</a></p> <p><strong>Heroine:</strong> Liz Dougherty – College Reporter, Good Girl <br /><b>Hero: </b>Brady Maxwell – State Senator, Charming Bad Boy  </p> <p> </p> <p> <br /> </p> <br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a> <div id="spoiler"> <div> <strong>Synopsis:</strong><input name="button" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = ''; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' CLOSE '; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = 'none'; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' READ THE BLURB '; }" style="font-face: Dosis, Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; margin: 5px; padding: 2px;" type="button" value=" READ THE BLURB " /></div> <div id="show" style="border: 1px solid white; display: none; margin: 5px; padding: 2px; width: 98%;"> <div style="background: rgb(248, 248, 248); border: 1px solid rgb(230, 233, 235); color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 7px;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Liz Dougherty has no idea a single question is about to change her life. <br /><br /> Her first big reporting assignment for her North Carolina college newspaper has her covering a state senator’s impromptu press conference. Brady Maxwell may have everything it takes to be a politician—a winning pedigree, devastating good looks, a body made to wear suits—but his politics rub Liz the wrong way. When Liz’s hard-hitting question catches the upstart senator off-guard, it impresses Hayden Lane, Liz’s editor who feels she’s headed for a promising career as a reporter. <br /><br /> But Liz is also headed into a secret romance with Brady that could destroy both their ambitions. Though he’s a bachelor, potential voters might frown on Brady cozying up to a reporter. And Liz isn’t sure sneaking around is enough for her—especially when things between her and Hayden might be less platonic than she thought. <br /><br /> Sleek, sexy, and smart, Off the Record ventures into a high-stakes campaign and an even higher-stakes affair to answer the question: When politics and love collide, can there ever be a winner?</div> </div> <div id="hide"> </div> </div> </div><br /> <p><b>Review: </b></p> <p>Forbidden love story between a politician and a college reporter written by K.A. Linde – it was a no brainer had to read it! And who knew a Senator could be so sexy. Brady Maxwell is delicious!</p> <p>Liz Dougherty dreams of being a big-time reporter one day. She is an upcoming junior at UNC, works at the newspaper, and finally getting her first shot at being a reporter while at a political press conference for NC’s state Senator Brady Maxwell. She’s there with her editor Hayden Lane, who she’s had a crush on for two years. While at the press conference, Liz gets a chance to prove her worth during the Q&A when the Senator selects her to ask him a question. The last thing she expected was to stump the Senator with her question and make such a big impression that he pursues Liz and asks her for a no-strings-attach relationship that will be kept a secret and completely on his terms. </p> <blockquote> <p><i>"This is almost whatever you want it to be. It's not public. It's not in the news. It's not a point the campaign can use against me. It's a woman and a man taking what they can in a world where it's not feasible for us to be together. I'm not promising you much, but I'm only asking for discretion. Everything else you give me is up to you." – Brady</i><em> </em></p> </blockquote> <p>Now Liz is a smart girl and she doesn’t even know if she likes Brady or if it was infatuation, but there is something about Brady that completely disarms her. She knows she shouldn’t see him and that it isn’t professional for her future career in journalism but she is allured by his sexiness and charm, finding it hard to say no to his proposition. </p> <blockquote> <p><i>“He had this pull on her, and their connection was like nothing she had ever experienced before. I might be wrong, but she wanted this to happen.”</i><em> </em></p> </blockquote> <p>State Senator Brady Maxwell III surprises everyone by announcing at the press conference he’s running for Congress. He’s gorgeous, ambitious, driven, and has been groomed for politics his whole life. At 27, he’s quite young to be running for The House of Rep, which is why image is everything to him. What he didn’t expect is to be thrown a curveball when a sexy and smart reporter asks him a question he was completely unprepared for and be drawn to her. Even though Brady has no time for relationships and knows sleeping with a reporter (who disagrees with him, mind you!) could destroy his career, he’s wants Liz in his bed. And the secret, forbidden affair begins.</p> <p>As their affair continues, secrets and lies start to pile on top of each other. It becomes more and more difficult for Liz to remain in the shadow of Brady’s life as her feelings grow stronger. She’s not sure if she can continue to be his secret girlfriend anymore. She wants more from Brady, even though he made it clear from the beginning his career comes first. She’s torn. She wants the charismatic man who consumes her thoughts, exhilarates her, and helps her grow as a person. But what happens when things become extremely serious between?</p> <blockquote> <p><i>“They were slipping away from their arrangement. The more he let her in, the more she craved from him.”</i><em> </em></p> </blockquote> <p>Brady and Liz are definitely hot and steamy together. The physical chemistry between them was intense. But because this story is told from Liz’s POV, it was hard to get a read on what Brady was feeling. He wanted her physically – that much was obvious, but he kept his feelings under wraps, never making declarations of love, or making any promises of the future. But then there were times when I would get a hint of Brady’s emotions when his campaign mask would come off. He was a different man – laid back, caring, fun-loving man who let Liz see inside his heart. And I <em>knew</em> deep down he wanted more with Liz when he started bending his own rules to be with her. Which is when the emotional connection snapped into place and the relationship becomes more real and very intense.</p> <p>I must admit I had many moments of frustration with the main characters. I didn’t always like the choices they made. I know image is everything in the political world but it saddened me and even pissed me off when Brady kept Liz at arm’s length and their relationship a secret. Liz could’ve always said no to him, but she didn’t, and it made her look like Brady’s door mat at times. But this is K.A. Linde and that's how she rolls. She makes you feel frustrated and heartbroken over the bad choices her character’s make. She makes you want to slap them silly yet, at the same time, she makes you root for her characters the entire way.</p> <p>These two have a long way to go before they get their happy ending. Does that mean there is a cliffhanger? Not really, but there is no resolution for this couple either. This is a trilogy. I mentioned Hayden above, who Liz has had a long-term crush on – does this mean there is a love triangle? Sort of… but not really. I despise love triangles sometimes but considering this isn’t a full fledge triangle it didn’t bother me. But Hayden does play an important role in the story.</p> <p>In true K.A. Linde fashion we have a forbidden love story, a love triangle, drama, and angst. Though I say that, this story is very different from her Avoiding series. I love the Avoiding series, despite the fact that I… ahem… didn’t read the last book for personal reasons. That didn’t keep me from wanting to read this book. In fact, I inhaled this book I enjoyed it so much. It was thought-provoking, sexy, frustrating, heartbreaking and enthralling. I’m looking forward to continuing this story with <em>On the Record</em>. I feel like we’ve barely scratched the surface with this couple and the next book will have a lot more emotional depth between Brady and Liz. </p> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-16836876734489840492014-03-10T02:33:00.000-07:002014-03-10T02:33:00.774-07:00Cover Reveal + Giveaway! Deciding Tomorrow by Renee Ericson<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><img style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=1664c12282&view=att&th=1448ddc21ced275b&attid=0.1.1&disp=emb&zw&atsh=1" width="275" height="431" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17792187-deciding-tomorrow" target="_blank">GOODREADS</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><strong>Deciding Tomorrow (These Days #2) </strong>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Renee Ericson">Renee Ericson</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Contemporary">Contemporary</a>   <br />Renee Ericson (Summer 2014)</p> <p> </p> <p><b>Synopsis:</b> </p> <p>What if a love, once lost, came around for a second chance? </p> <p>After a fated meeting with the one person who captured her heart many years ago, Ruby Miller is taking a leap of faith, right into the arms of her past. </p> <p>Four years have gone by since the tragedy that tore Ruby and Brent apart, setting them on different paths, battered and searching. Now, this couple divided by time and distance will have to fight for their love to survive in the present, as they try to deal with their past and the decisions that made them who they are today. </p> <p>Is their love worth it? The same love they gave up on once before?</p> <p>Can they put everything aside to see what's left of what they once shared?</p> <p>Following their hearts, their minds, and Deciding Tomorrow.</p> <p> </p> <p><img style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=1664c12282&view=att&th=1448ddc21ced275b&attid=0.1.2&disp=emb&zw&atsh=1" width="200" height="151" /></p> <p><b></b></p> <br /> <div align="center"> <table style="border-top: #ececec 1px solid; border-right: #ececec 1px solid; border-bottom: #ececec 1px solid; border-left: #ececec 1px solid" cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5" width="555" align="center"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="543"> <p align="center"><strong><em>About the Author</em></strong></p> <p align="justify">Renee loves to wear of hoodies, is fluent in Yoda speak, and likes to make videos with Lego figures. She is a long time insomniac, but doesn't have the energy to start an underground Fight Club so she settles for writing stories about the characters who plague her mind. She grew up in the Midwest and currently resides in the Boston area, but sounds nothing like Ben Affleck or Matt Damon.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="543"><strong>Find Renee Online: <br /></strong><a href="https://reneeericson.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/EricsonRenee" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6575770.Renee_Ericson" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#d10786" size="5">Tour-wide Giveaway!</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><a id="rc-6058e06" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/6058e06/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> <script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script></p> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-9456621192798561052014-03-06T07:59:00.001-08:002014-04-03T10:45:26.462-07:00Cover Reveal! Excerpt & Giveaway! Against All Odds by Angie McKeon<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_zrmeVhKdiU/UxeWp8LqR2I/AAAAAAAAAfg/l6O0KaMXs-I/s1600-h/Against%252520All%252520Odds_wrap-quote_high%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="Against All Odds_wrap-quote_high" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Against All Odds_wrap-quote_high" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cp_mBzkTSg0/UxeWquszOKI/AAAAAAAAAfo/DK_PWgeBhPk/Against%252520All%252520Odds_wrap-quote_high_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" height="410" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18803442-against-all-odds?ac=1" target="_blank">GOODREADS</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><strong>Against All Odds </strong>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Angie McKeon">Angie McKeon</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Contemporary">Contemporary</a>   <br />Angie McKeon (April 2014)</p> <p> </p> <p><b>Synopsis:</b> </p> <p><i>Our lives shattered... Our hearts broken... Our souls torn to pieces...</i></p> <p>He was my world, my whole life. My reason for breathing. I had a perfect marriage, a baby on the way, and I felt fulfilled—almost invincible. </p> <p>Until the day life hit, leaving me broken, vulnerable, and alone.</p> <p>She was my life. My ray of hope on the cloudiest day. With her, I thought I had the ultimate safety. A love that would never hurt or betray me. I gave her my heart, my body, and my soul. </p> <p>Until she broke me, destroying every dream and illusion I had about life, love, and marriage.</p> <p>In our grief, we made a mistake. A mistake I'm not sure we can come back from.</p> <p> </p> <a name='more'></a> <p> </p> <p align="center"><strong><em><font size="4">Check out this excerpt from Against All Odds by Angie McKeon!</font></em></strong></p> <blockquote> <p>I’m so cold. It’s the kind of cold that seeps into my bones and makes me feel as though I’m going to die. My body trembles from the drugs and sheer terror coursing through my veins.</p> <p>Why is this happening to me?</p> <p>What did I do to deserve this?</p> <p><i>Please, God! I can’t handle it.</i></p> <p>I open my mouth to scream, to cry, to do something, but nothing comes out. I’m aware of doctors and nurses surrounding me. They’ve placed Kayla on my chest. She’s still warm from being pulled from my body, but she's not moving.</p> <p>She’s lying there . . . lifeless. </p> <p>I’m in a state of disbelief as tears slide down my face. My world shatters when I look at my precious baby girl. She's everything I’ve always wanted, always dreamed of.</p> <p>Slowly, I run my fingers over her delicate lips; they’re so soft and small. An instant reminder of Cooper’s lips. He doesn’t have full and luscious lips like mine but small ones that almost disappear when he smiles. As I run the tips of my fingers across her puffy cheeks and closed eyes, I try to memorize every last detail of her dainty face. She’s so beautiful it takes my breath away. Her hair reminds me of caramel; it’s light brown and silky to the touch. It looks like mine did when I was a baby. Her face is peaceful, and for a single moment, I’m so thankful she’s not in pain. </p> <p>Looking at my little girl is a moment I’ve always dreamed of. I love her instantly, and I want to hold her forever. To breathe her into me. To never let her go. The realization that I’ll never hold my precious baby again sinks in, and I feel my stomach clench as pain rips through me. I’ll never get to see her smile, laugh, roll over, or take her first steps. I’ll miss it all.</p> <p>How do I move past this?</p> <p>Can I move past this?</p> <p>As grief consumes me, my sobs become brutal. I feel as though I’m dying. Like my heart is burning up and turning to ash. I’ll never ever be whole again.</p> <p>I pick her up and cradle her against my body, wanting to feel her skin against mine. She feels warm—soft and smooth, like velvet. As I curl my arms around her, my tears drip onto her perfect head. I feel an overwhelming urge to fix this, to bring her back. I don’t want to lose my sweet baby. Everything in my body, my soul is screaming to bring her back. </p> <p>Desperately looking up at Cooper’s green eyes, I will him to fix this, to make it better and help me. Help her. He’s always been my rock, my glue, the person who makes everything better. But all I see in his eyes is sadness, desperation, and helplessness that I know is killing him as much as it is me. He rubs his big, shaking hand gently over her tiny head. He looks as though he’s being tortured. Sobs rip through his body as he wraps his arms around me and our precious bundle while climbing into bed with us. I feel myself collapse against his chest as we sob over our loss.</p> <p>There’s nothing we can do.</p> <p>This is the end of a shattered dream.</p> <p>Our spirits are slowly dying, and I’m not sure we’ll ever be able to heal.</p> </blockquote> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Qmth0ZEk4k0/UxeWrArVFNI/AAAAAAAAAfw/d1mCinVHOes/s1600-h/Against%252520All%252520Odds_wrap-quote%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Against All Odds_wrap-quote" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Against All Odds_wrap-quote" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Ot8E90ow1DE/UxeWryCPyQI/AAAAAAAAAf0/lV-1zRRLobk/Against%252520All%252520Odds_wrap-quote_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="166" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><b></b></p> <br /> <div align="center"> <table style="border-top: #ececec 1px solid; border-right: #ececec 1px solid; border-bottom: #ececec 1px solid; border-left: #ececec 1px solid" cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5" width="555" align="center"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="543"> <p align="center"><strong><em>About the Author</em></strong></p> <p align="justify">A multi-tasker from birth—and now proudly able to add 'writer' to my resume—I'm a mother, wife and blogger. I love to read, write and drink copious amounts of iced coffee. <u></u><u></u></p> <p align="justify">All three aforementioned addictions are detrimental to my sanity <u></u><u></u></p> <p align="justify">I have a voracious appetite for dark, painful and twisted reads. I'm enamored with the concept of love and heart break. I believe life is a journey, a tale in its own for each of us. The road to happiness is sometimes paved with stones from hell, or glitters of satisfaction graced from the heavens above. <u></u><u></u></p> <p align="justify">In my upcoming debut novel, 'Against All Odds,' I strive to make you feel. I believe any emotion—whether painful or happy—is good. To me, the key to living is to go through life feeling it’s ups and downs. Love is dark and it can be painful but, at the end of the day, it can save the most lost of souls and the most broken of hearts.</p> <p align="justify"></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="543"><strong>Find Angie Online: <br /></strong><a href="http://angiemckeon.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Angie_McKeon" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/angiemckeonauthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7389718.Angie_McKeon" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> <p> </p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#d10786" size="5">Tour-wide Giveaway!</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><a id="rc-936ab0124" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/936ab0124/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> <script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script></p> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-38394235823025946162014-03-05T00:15:00.000-08:002014-03-05T00:15:00.687-08:00Review: Sweet Little Thing by Renee Carlino<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; clear: left; margin-right: auto" href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1391013883l/19507801.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1391013883l/19507801.jpg" width="123" height="200" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>Sweet Little Thing (Sweet Thing #1.5) </b>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Renee Carlino">Renee Carlino</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Contemporary">Contemporary</a> <br />Atria Books (March 4, 2014)</p> <p><b>Rating:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/B">B++</a> <br /><b>Heat:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Hot">Hot</a></p> <p><strong>Heroine:</strong> Mia Kelly-Ryan – Pianist, Happy <br /><b>Hero: </b>Will Ryan – Guitarist, Charming</p> <p> </p> <p>  <br /></p> <br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a> <div id="spoiler"> <div> <strong>Synopsis:</strong><input name="button" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = ''; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' CLOSE '; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = 'none'; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' READ THE BLURB '; }" style="font-face: Dosis, Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; margin: 5px; padding: 2px;" type="button" value=" READ THE BLURB " /></div> <div id="show" style="border: 1px solid white; display: none; margin: 5px; padding: 2px; width: 98%;"> <div style="background: rgb(248, 248, 248); border: 1px solid rgb(230, 233, 235); color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 7px;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Ever wonder what happened after the final pages of Sweet Thing? <br /><br /> From his candid and sometimes neurotic point of view, Will tells all in this musical and sexy follow-up novella to Renée Carlino’s USA Today Bestseller. <br /><br /> Life is pure bliss for Mia and Will. They have a puppy, a loft in Brooklyn, and a new music studio on the rise. It seems things couldn’t get any better for this talented couple when life decides to throw them a sweet little curve ball. <br /><br /> They quickly learn that things don't always go according to plan. Sometimes happily ever after is one giant leap of faith away. With the help of good music, good friends, and one eccentric old lady, they overcome a few of life’s little bumps to find the sweetest thing of all.</div> </div> <div id="hide"> </div> </div> </div><br /> <p><b>Review: </b></p> <p>In <i>Sweet Little Thing</i>, Will and Mia have come a long way since they <i>finally</i> got together in <i>Sweet Thing</i>. I say finally because Mia put us through the emotional wringer as she struggled with letting of her baggage. But alas, she does come to her senses. Mia is a still a tough cookie but is more carefree and shines with happiness these days. Will is still <i>my</i> charming, quirky, sweet, and sexy man and he is even happier now that he and Mia are solid. </p> <blockquote> <p><em>"I was convinced we had lived twenty thousand lives, and in each one, we had found each other, like two tiny magnets in a drawer the size of the universe. She and I fit and moved together with such ease, I couldn't imagine ever being with anyone else. " - Will</em></p> </blockquote> <p>Will has opened a recording studio where he and Mia write and sing music. Mia is still running the café her father left to her. They’re planning their wedding. And training they’re puppy, June. Without saying too much else, there is a sweet little twist in the story that made my heart smile. Things are about to cha cha change for them. With everything going on in their life, they continue to be happy and in love with one another, even as life throws them curveballs. </p> <p>Let me count thy ways I love our amazing hero, Will. *blows Will a kiss* I was on cloud nine reading this novella (almost entirely) from Will’s POV. I loved being inside his head. He has so much passion and love for Mia that I could feel it through Renee Carlino’s lovely words. Will, with his quirky sense of humor, kept me smiling or laughing almost entire time. He’s also super smart and stubborn when it comes to the music he creates. One of my favorite things about Will is that he remains true to himself. </p> <p>There are a few serious moments during the story but mostly it remains light without a whole lot of drama. The many heartfelt and adorable moments between Will and Mia made me feel all warm and gooey inside. I even got choked up a couple of times. And let me tell you… There are many, <i>many</i> delicious sexy times between Mia and Will. I remember fanning myself during one very memorable steamy scene when Will got his world rocked by Mia. Wow-wee! We also get to visit with Jenny, Tyler, and Martha, who all make an appearance in this story – which I thought was a lot of fun.</p> <p>This novella really was the <i>sweetest little thing</i>. Oh how I missed Will and Mia. It was good see where their life had taken them after <i>Sweet Thing</i> - which made my list of 2013 favorite books. For me, <i>Sweet Little Thing</i> is the perfect companion novella and perfect ending to Will and Mia’s amazing, magnificent love story. Really, just a fabulous short story you don’t want to miss. </p> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-33445924728408601632014-03-04T00:48:00.000-08:002014-03-04T00:48:00.753-08:00Review: Seduced By Fire by Tara Sue Me<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; clear: left; margin-right: auto" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41We0xfJgOL._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41We0xfJgOL._SL500_.jpg" width="123" height="200" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/045146625X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=045146625X&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DMCPQMU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00DMCPQMU&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">KINDLE</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>Seduced By Fire (Partners in Play #1) </b>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Tara Sue Me">Tara Sue Me</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Erotica">Erotica</a> <br />NAL (March 4, 2014)</b> </p> <p><b>Rating:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/C">C</a> <br /><b>Heat:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Hot">Hot</a></p> <p><strong>Heroine:</strong> Julie Masterson – Florist, Possibly Submissive <br /><b>Hero: </b>Daniel Covington – Billionaire, Dominant</p> <p> </p> <p> <br /> </p> <br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a> <div id="spoiler"> <div> <strong>Synopsis:</strong><input name="button" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = ''; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' CLOSE '; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = 'none'; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' READ THE BLURB '; }" style="font-face: Dosis, Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; margin: 5px; padding: 2px;" type="button" value=" READ THE BLURB " /></div> <div id="show" style="border: 1px solid white; display: none; margin: 5px; padding: 2px; width: 98%;"> <div style="background: rgb(248, 248, 248); border: 1px solid rgb(230, 233, 235); color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 7px;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Julie Masterson craves a taste of danger. <br /><br /> Despite being familiar with the different games people play in the bedroom, she’s never given in to her curiosity about putting her body in someone else’s power—until a chance meeting with Daniel Covington, the seductive Senior VP of Weston Bank, draws her into a titillating new world of sexual experience, one that she never knew she desperately needed. <br /><br /> Daniel is highly respected within his community, but he hasn’t had an exclusive relationship for over two years. Yet Julie’s eager innocence is driving him to the brink of ecstasy, making him rethink his feelings about commitment. <br /><br /> As their sizzling connection heats up, Daniel is ready to take Julie fully under his command. But when the dangerous side of their play rears its ugly head, Julie will have to decide if she trusts him enough to surrender completely—or if she should escape before she gets burned...</div> </div> <div id="hide"> </div> </div> </div><br /> <p><b>Review: </b></p> <p>Julie Masterson is a florist who owns her own shop with her best friend Sasha. Julie’s single but not really looking, since no one seems to do it for her. Sex has been pretty lackluster lately, so why bother. But when Daniel Covington walks in, in his sexy suit with those piercing eyes, to buy flowers for his niece... Well, that's an irresistible combination. Until Sasha warns Julie that Daniel really isn't her type.</p> <p>Daniel happens to disagree. Even though he's a Dom and an experienced one at that, who knows it wouldn't work long term with a vanilla woman, something about Julie draws him in.</p> <p>These two... Well, I'll be honest. I'm not a fan of the newbie sub heroine for one reason and one reason only: introducing her to bdsm is tedious and redundant. Anyone who picks this or a similar book up most likely knows the basics. If you don't want readers trying it at home without the proper safety precautions, put a disclaimer at the front of the book or something. I don't need or want a bdsm primer each time a new series starts.</p> <p>That made it hard for me to really engage in the story. The sex scenes between them felt similar each time and pretty basic at that. Which isn't to say I didn't like Julie or Daniel, or them together. Daniel is a Dom with a big heart and a lot of care for his sub. Julie and her safety always come first. And I did like that, while dominant, he was never disrespectful or domineering. Plus, all of the side characters were well written and engaging. (I hope that both Sasha and Dena get their own book.)</p> <p><em>Seduced by Fire</em> is sexy, if not adventurous. Though there is conflict and it felt realistic—and an issue that doesn't often come up in a bdsm romance, for the most part it felt tame. I would've also liked if Daniel wasn't quite that perfect of a hero. He could've at least snored or hogged the covers or something. That said, I think if our next couples are both experienced with bsdm, I'll enjoy their story more than this one.</p> Letitiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418017232318227652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-57062966772306668312014-02-28T00:02:00.000-08:002014-02-28T00:02:00.275-08:00Fabulous Friday Recommendation: Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-J4wGLS3_7yU/Uvp4EDRdvUI/AAAAAAAAAeU/-W7xwTZPYW8/s1600-h/image%25255B4%25255D.png"><img title="image" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kgU0oWOPd8c/Uvp4F9TL-UI/AAAAAAAAAec/VATQGxqHxVk/image_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="275" height="429" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Q80SQM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000Q80SQM&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank"><img title="image" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nzQK5MtaVQo/Uvp0_SaoGcI/AAAAAAAAAd8/nM_RLXetb1M/image%25255B22%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="75" height="16" /></a>       <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sugar-daddy-lisa-kleypas/1100038044?ean=9780312351632" target="_blank"><img title="image" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dAxxDPR0sUU/Uvp0_xfJjII/AAAAAAAAAeI/vt2rGIDNszI/image%25255B21%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="75" height="19" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>Sugar Daddy (Travis Family #1) </b>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Lisa Kleypas">Lisa Kleypas</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Contemporary">Contemporary</a> <br />St. Martin's Press (April 1, 2010)</p> <p><b>Synopsis:</b> </p> <p>SHE'S FROM THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS <br />Liberty Jones has dreams and determination that will take her far away from Welcome, Texas---if she can keep her wild heart from ruling her mind. Hardy Cates sees Liberty as completely off-limits. His own ambitions are bigger than Welcome, and Liberty Jones is a complication he doesn't need. But something magical and potent draws them to each other, in a dangerous attraction that is stronger than both of them. </p> <p>HE'S THE ONE MAN SHE CAN'T HAVE <br />When Hardy leaves town to pursue his plans, Liberty finds herself alone with a young sister to raise. Soon Liberty finds herself under the spell of a billionaire tycoon---a Sugar Daddy, one might say. But the relationship goes deeper than people think, and Liberty begins to discover secrets about her own family's past. </p> <p>WILL THEY FIND THEIR HEARTS' DESIRES OR WILL HEARTBREAK TEAR THEM APART? <br />Two men. One woman. A choice that can make her or break her. A woman you'll root for every step of the way. A love story you'll never forget.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Why We Recommend It:</strong></p> <p>I absolutely LOVE Sugar Daddy. Liberty Jone’s life-journey as she goes from rags to riches, finding love and happiness in the process, is a remarkable story I can’t recommend enough. It’s smartly written, thought-provoking, compelling, emotional, and sexy. This story has stayed with me for a long time. Two years to be exact. </p> <p>When I picked this book up to read, I had just devoured Miz Kleypas’ Wallflowers and Hathaways historical romances. Kleypas’ writing is so addictive I wanted MORE from this author, so I decided to read the first book in the Travises’ series. The woman can write and impressed me so much, I continued with the series: Blue-Eyed Devil, Smooth Talking Stranger. I ended up falling in love with the entire series. <br /></p> <blockquote> <p>Sometimes life has a cruel sense of humor, giving you the thing you always wanted at the worst time possible. The irony of it split my heart open, setting loose more bitter regret than I could bear.</p> </blockquote> <p> </p> <p align="center"><strong><em>Add <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/306364.Sugar_Daddy?bf=1000&from_search=true" target="_blank">Sugar Daddy</a> to your to-read shelf on Goodreads!</em></strong></p> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-86828335429481306122014-02-26T00:49:00.000-08:002014-02-26T00:49:00.032-08:00Review: Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; clear: left; margin-right: auto" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513Zjkvbc-L._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513Zjkvbc-L._SL500_.jpg" width="123" height="200" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/149539090X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=149539090X&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I29VGMC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00I29VGMC&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">KINDLE</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>Archer's Voice (A Sign of Love) </b>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Mia Sheridan">Mia Sheridan</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Contemporary">Contemporary</a> <br />Mia Sheridan (January 25, 2014 ) </p> <p><b>Rating:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/B">B+</a> <br /><b>Heat:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Hot">Hot</a></p> <p><strong>Heroine:</strong> Bree Prescott – Traumatized, Compassionate <br /><b>Hero: </b>Archer Hale – Mute, Recluse</p> <p> </p> <p> <br /> </p> <br /> <br /> <a name='more'></a> <div id="spoiler"> <div> <strong>Synopsis:</strong><input name="button" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = ''; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' CLOSE '; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = 'none'; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' READ THE BLURB '; }" style="font-face: Dosis, Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; margin: 5px; padding: 2px;" type="button" value=" READ THE BLURB " /></div> <div id="show" style="border: 1px solid white; display: none; margin: 5px; padding: 2px; width: 98%;"> <div style="background: rgb(248, 248, 248); border: 1px solid rgb(230, 233, 235); color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 7px;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> When Bree Prescott arrives in the sleepy, lakeside town of Pelion, Maine, she hopes against hope that this is the place where she will finally find the peace she so desperately seeks. On her first day there, her life collides with Archer Hale, an isolated man who holds a secret agony of his own. A man no one else sees. <br /><br /> Archer's Voice is the story of a woman chained to the memory of one horrifying night and the man whose love is the key to her freedom. It is the story of a silent man who lives with an excruciating wound and the woman who helps him find his voice. It is the story of suffering, fate, and the transformative power of love.</div> </div> <div id="hide"> </div> </div> </div><br /> <p><b>Review: </b></p> <p>This is my first book by Mia Sheridan and I’m highly impressed with her gorgeous, captivating writing style. The reason I picked up this book is because I had heard great things about it on some of my favorite blogs. Plus, I really just wanted to meet our wounded, reclusive, virgin hero, Archer. I do love virgin heroes. </p> <p>Bree Prescott has suffered a horrible tragedy and needed to get away. She impulsively jumped in her car, with her dog, and drove to a random small town in Maine where she rents a small cottage, gets a job at a local diner, and meets some friends. Going to a small town was her way of finding peace and the inner healing she desperately needed. Little did she know a man with spellbinding, whiskey colored eyes would change her life the day she drops her groceries on the ground and he helps her pick them up. </p> <p>Archer is mute, resulting from an incident that happened when he was just seven years old. Because he doesn’t speak and was raised by his uncle (now deceased), who was slightly crazy and suffering from PTSD, he became a loner and isolated himself from the world, living on his land and rarely coming to town. The town people view him as strange and ignorant, never making any attempt to get to know this beautiful and smart man. Archer is also harboring dark secrets from his childhood that haunt him every day. </p> <blockquote> <p><em>Something about Archer Hale intrigued me - something I couldn’t put my finger on. Something that went beyond the fact that he couldn’t hear or speak and that I was intimately acquainted with that particular disability. </em></p> </blockquote> <p>Archer is a mystery to Bree – a mystery she is intrigued by. Every day she goes to the lake to swim she stops by his house to hang out and every day Archer looks forward to her visits. Most of the story is Bree and Archer spending time getting to know one another. Bree knows sign language since someone close to her was deaf. Her ability to sign made it easier for her and Archer to connect and form a deep bond that grows and changes the more time they spend together. </p> <p>They are both very attracted to one another and the heat between them continues to ratchet up every day. And man, does Sheridan know how to write some fiery sexual tension. I couldn’t wait for these two to jump each other’s bones. But because of Archer’s inexperience with women, he was shy and timid when it came to feelings and sex. Bree is a straight-forward woman and wasn’t afraid to teach him how to be a good lover. </p> <blockquote> <p>“<em>I know you like my hands in your hair. Show me other ways you like to be touched. Teach me what you like,”</em> he said.</p> </blockquote> <p>Their sexual chemistry rages hot. I loved reading as Archer reacts to his lust and desire for Bree; discovering what pleases him and what pleases her was all new to him but he caught on quickly. *wink* What I loved the most is how the intimacy between them was not only hot but also deeply touching. </p> <p>Archer is one of the most beautifully wounded, complex, and memorable heroes I’ve read in a while. One of the things that stood out to me the most about him is his sensitivity and intense love for Bree. Not to mention he’s smoking hot with an understated alpha side. Archer made me weak in the knees. And Bree is a pretty darn awesome heroine. It was easy to fall in love with her. With her compassion, understanding, and patience she is the perfect heroine for Archer. She helps Archer with his transformation as he finds his voice in a world he thought he didn’t belong in. Archer, in turn, helps Bree liberate herself from the fears that made her afraid to live her life. These two together squeezed my heart. </p> <blockquote> <p><i>“I lost my heart to you. And, Bree, in case you're wondering, I don't ever want it back.”</i></p> </blockquote> <p>(*happy sigh*)</p> <p>The main conflict of the story is driven by the other Hales in the town. One of the characters introduced in the story is Archer’s cousin, Travis Hale. Archer and Travis have never had a close relationship. Travis thinks Archer is a freak and doesn’t understand him. Travis is the gorgeous playboy all the women want a piece of. But Bree didn’t want him. She wanted Archer. And this proved to be a challenge for Travis, so he caused drama through manipulating Archer. You also learn about Archer’s secrets and complicated past that include his mother, uncle, and father. This is a sad tale of jealousy, addiction, love, and abuse. </p> <p>I will have to admit there are some moments in the book I thought were overly mushy and the characters came across as a bit young and cheesy. However, I truly did love this highly emotional, thought-provoking, sweet and romantic story. It’s nothing like I’ve read before and it’s one of those books that will stay with you. I can’t wait to go back and start this series from the beginning. I highly recommend this one.</p> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-91482423408668418582014-02-24T00:07:00.000-08:002014-02-24T00:07:00.158-08:00Twice As Nice: Paula’s Take on Hostile Takeover by Joey W Hill<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; clear: left; margin-right: auto" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/418iNSKUdEL._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/418iNSKUdEL._SL500_.jpg" width="123" height="200" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1419965921/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1419965921&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0072HDPQ0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0072HDPQ0&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank">KINDLE</a></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>Hostile Takeover (Knights of the Board Room #5) </b>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Joey W. Hill">Joey W. Hill</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Contemporary">Contemporary</a> / <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Erotica">Erotica</a> <br />2012-06-20 (Ellora’s Cave) </p> <p><b>Rating:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/B">B</a> <br /><b>Heat:</b> <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Sizzling">Sizzling</a></p> <p><strong>Heroine:</strong> Marcie Moira – Life Long Crush, Submissive <br /><b>Hero: </b>Ben O’Callahan – Lawyer, Dominant</p> <p>  <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /></p> <a name='more'></a> <div id="spoiler"> <div> <strong>Synopsis:</strong><input name="button" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = ''; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' CLOSE '; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['show'].style.display = 'none'; this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')['hide'].style.display = ''; this.innerText = ''; this.value = ' READ THE BLURB '; }" style="font-face: Dosis, Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; margin: 5px; padding: 2px;" type="button" value=" READ THE BLURB " /></div> <div id="show" style="border: 1px solid white; display: none; margin: 5px; padding: 2px; width: 98%;"> <div style="background: rgb(248, 248, 248); border: 1px solid rgb(230, 233, 235); color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 7px;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Book V of the Knights of the Board Room series (can be read as standalone) <br /><br /> Ben is the last unattached member of the five-man executive team of K&A Associates. The other four, all Masters, have found the submissive of their dreams. That’s fine. The sharp-edged lawyer knows he’s the most hardcore of all of them, with extreme tastes as a Master he satisfies physically through experienced club submissives. He doesn’t really need anything more than that. <br /><br /> Marcie has loved Ben since she was sixteen. He’s never behaved as anything more than a protective big brother, a family friend. But now she’s twenty three and starting her career as a corporate investigator. She may be a blood-and-bone deep submissive, but she won’t hesitate to use her aggressive talents to prove she’s meant to be his. With a Master as tough as Ben, she’ll have to take whatever measures are needed—even if her deepest desire isn’t a hostile takeover of his heart, but an unconditional surrender to it. <br /><br /> Reader Advisory: Marcie’s sexual journey contains a group scene of female/female sexual exploration. The Masters also share her in a brief group scene. Both these beautifully erotic moments are essential to deepening Marcie’s bond with Ben.</div> </div> <div id="hide"> </div> </div> </div><br /> <p><b>Review: </b></p> <p>Warning…this book is not for the faint of heart. It’s dirty, dirty, and <i>very dirty.</i></p> <blockquote> <p><i>She’d heard the rumors about his size, but if that was a partial erection, there were monsters in Japan who would run screaming.</i></p> </blockquote> <p>This book put me through the wringer and nearly broke me. It might have even given me heartburn. But, once I pulled my thoughts together, I realized the reader was meant to see the good, the bad, and the extremely ugly these characters went through to make this story come full circle.</p> <p>I’m going to admit the first 40% of <i>Hostile Takeover</i> made me angry. Ben is very cold and harsh. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to continue on with the book if I didn’t start seeing a different side to Ben – a more vulnerable, softer side to him. But, once Ben’s walls started to come down, and he confided in Marcie about his past, I saw Ben for who he really was. This man had a rough childhood that broke my heart.</p> <p>I really liked how persistent Marcie was in getting Ben. But, honestly, it felt like the roles were switched at times. Marcie topped from the bottom and it felt like she was manipulating Ben into teaching her to be his Dominant. She kept claiming she was a true submissive but would argue and fight with Ben into making him believe that she is his submissive. </p> <p>Of course, I can understand that Marcie knew Ben only saw her as a little girl and not the woman she’d become. I think because Ben is such a hardcore sexual dominant, he needed someone like Marcie to break down his walls by topping from the bottom so he would open up and let someone in. By the end of the book, I realized that because Marcie never gave up on Ben, she is the perfect lover and submissive for Ben. </p> <p>For years, Marcie and Ben exchanged letters, texts, and emails, which gave a glimpse of the type of the relationship they had for many years. They were open with each other in these exchanges and you see a different side to Ben - a more caring and tender side. Someone who takes care of his own. I really, <i>really</i> enjoyed this part of the story. </p> <p>I loved Ben’s loyalty to the other Knights of the Boardroom. He sees them not only as friends, but brothers. The interactions with the characters from the previous books piqued my interest. </p> <p><i>Hostile Takeover</i> is a well written story that shook me to the core. This book is hardcore – more than I ever expected. It actually gave me the shivers during certain parts in the story. I actually had to put the book down I felt so out of my comfort zone with some of the things Ben did to Marcie. It may not have settled right with me as I was reading this story, but it did finally sink in that this book was truly good - it just took me all the way to the very end to ‘get it.’ This is my first book by Joey W. Hill and will not be my last. I do plan to go back to read this series from the beginning. </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Letitia’s Review: </strong><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/2012/08/marathon-hostile-takeover-by-joey-w-hill.html">Click here</a> for another take on <em>Hostile Takeover!</em></p> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5590673715603800974.post-8277143754578226172014-02-21T00:03:00.000-08:002014-02-21T00:03:00.179-08:00Fabulous Friday Recommendation: How to Kill a Rock Star by Tiffanie DeBartolo<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left; margin-right: 1em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ip8S0mv4SIM/Uvp0-bc1tcI/AAAAAAAAAdw/9pzPGzygIsw/s1600-h/image%25255B9%25255D.png"><img title="image" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UFCFsk-cCBg/Uvp0_An0bkI/AAAAAAAAAd4/qrTn7zHEXrU/image_thumb%25255B5%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="275" height="446" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003H29CJI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003H29CJI&linkCode=as2&tag=romabookaffa-20" target="_blank"><img title="image" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nzQK5MtaVQo/Uvp0_SaoGcI/AAAAAAAAAd8/nM_RLXetb1M/image%25255B22%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="75" height="16" /></a>       <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-kill-a-rock-star-tiffanie-debartolo/1100201563?ean=9781402205217" target="_blank"><img title="image" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dAxxDPR0sUU/Uvp0_xfJjII/AAAAAAAAAeI/vt2rGIDNszI/image%25255B21%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="75" height="19" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>How to Kill a Rock Star </b>by <a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Tiffanie DeBartolo">Tiffanie DeBartolo</a> <br /><a href="http://romanticbookaffairs.blogspot.com/search/label/Contemporary">Contemporary</a> <br />Sourcebooks Landmark (September 1, 2005)</p> <p><b>Synopsis:</b> </p> <p>Written in her wonderfully honest, edgy, passionate and often hilarious voice, Tiffanie DeBartolo tells the story of Eliza Caelum, a young music journalist, and Paul Hudson, a talented songwriter and lead singer of the band Bananafish. Eliza's reverence for rock is equaled only by Paul's, and the two fall wildly in love. </p> <p>When Bananafish is signed by a big corporate label, and Paul is on his way to becoming a major rock star, Eliza must make a heartbreaking decision that leads to Paul's sudden disappearance and a surprise knock-your-socks-off ending.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Why We Recommend It:</strong></p> <p>I picked up this book last year when I noticed it was on sale on Amazon. I had no idea I would be blown away by the honest, edgy, and poetic writing style. This book rocked my world!</p> <p>This story is about chasing dreams, falling in love, heartbreak, finding yourself, and making choices. This book emotionally crushed me and left me feeling emotionally raw. Yet the ending was awesome. </p> <p>Without a doubt, I loved Paul, the quirky, smart ass, intelligent, and sexy hero. The heroine is a bit frustrating, but I still have much love for her, even if she makes a whole lot of mistakes that will have you screaming at your Kindle. Paul and Eliza’s story is engaging. I was so captivated by their story I didn’t want this book to end. </p> <blockquote> <p>“Break my heart? Is that what you just said? I have news for you; you didn't break my heart. My heart's fine. My heart's in the best shape of its life. You know what you did to me? You took an AK-47 and blew my soul open.” </p> </blockquote> <p> </p> <p align="center"><strong><em>Add <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/113791.How_to_Kill_a_Rock_Star?bf=1000&from_search=true" target="_blank">How to Kill A Rockstar</a> to your to-read shelf on Goodreads!</em></strong></p> PaulaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17980238631733217740noreply@blogger.com0