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Saturday, October 11, 2014

Weekly Winners


Raven's Breath by Tish Thawer

Forged by Desire by Bec McMaster

Stone, At Your Service by Rie Warren


ARC Review: Loving You Always by Kennedy Ryan







Feature and Giveaway: 10 Rules to Sex Up a Blind Date by Heidi Rice

USA Today Bestselling author Heidi Rice goes the full sexy for her second Cosmopolitan Red Hot Read novella for Harlequin with a super-hot tale of sex, lies and Twitter etiquette.





Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |

Feature and Giveaway: Loving You Always by Kennedy Ryan

The man she can never have . . .




Friday, October 10, 2014

ARC Review: Misadventures in Seduction by Robyn DeHart

I think what made this book a three instead of a four is the fact that it was so short. It seemed rushed and forced and was over way too quickly. I really enjoyed it, it was a great story I just wish it could have been more and played with the sexual tension a bit more and the whole spy mystery. I always enjoy Robyn DeHart books they are well written and keep my attention, I just wish there was more to this story to emotionally tie me into the story and the characters.

Prudence Hixby was left in charge of all five of her siblings and will risk everything to take care of them. When Charles, the eldest boy and heir, decides that it is his duty to join the war effort. Prudence is scared that she will lose him so she submits to the advances of an old friend at a country house party only she walks in to the wrong room and sleeps with a the wrong man. Harrison Carlisle the Duke of Sutcliffe was then man in the wrong room. He found out why the one woman he has never allowed himself to feel feelings for snuck into his room and seduced him, did it to protect her brother. Harrison feels guilty that her plan backfired and her brother was being shipped to France so he recruits him for his spy network.

Charles Hixby died, and Prudence blames Harrison for his death. She confronts Harrison about it but of course picks a bad time to visit him. The person trying to frame Harrison as a traitor breaks into his house and causes Harrison to go into hiding taking Prudence and her siblings with him. With the help of Prudence and her close relationship with her brother they find out the needed information from his belongings to track down the real traitor. Prudence must pretend to be Harrison’s mistress which leads to some steamy lovin’ and the truth coming out. I really wish there was more to the story but other than that it was a good read.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |

ARC Review: Stirring Up Trouble by Kimberly Kincaid

Stirring Up Trouble is the third book in the Pine Mountain series by Kimberly Kincaid. These books can be read as standalones though with no problem understanding anything. I thought that this book was cute and enjoyable, and I liked the characters. Kimberly Kincaid is a great writer and I really enjoyed her style.

When Sloane Russo's editor tells her that her newest story isn't what they are looking for, she suggests that Sloane write a book featuring a Greek hero. Wanting to head to Greece in order to do research, Sloane starts looking for ways to make money so she can pay for the trip. When her friend's employee needs help caring for his 13 year old sister, Sloane reluctantly agrees to temporarily babysit and tutor her to make some money. The attraction between Gavin and Sloane is instant, but they get off on the wrong foot. Even though they see things differently, the chemistry between them is strong and they find it hard to fight. Can these two opposites find love together, or will they be too different for a chance at a relationship?

I liked both Sloane and Gavin, and I really loved that they were so different from one another. They were complete opposites with Sloane being more open and adventurous and Gavin being more collected and a little uptight. Gavin was pretty strict and tended to be stuck in his ways, so it was great seeing him loosen up a bit with Sloane. I thought that these two were really good for one another because of their differences, and I think that they really were able to bring out sides of each other that they didn't know they had before. Sloane was fun and I liked that she had done so many different things and traveled. She was different that most heroines I have read, and I found her refreshing. But I really liked her approach with Gavin's sister Bree, and I thought that it was great how she didn't treat her as though she was dumb or a child. Gavin and Sloane had a lot of chemistry, and I really enjoyed seeing them skirt around their attraction before finally giving in.

Overall, this was a cute contemporary read. There wasn't a lot new here as far as story went and it was predictable. But I still enjoyed it and thought that it was a really good story. It had some slow moments, and that was the main reason for a four star rating instead of five. But if you are looking for a well written and enjoyable contemporary read, I would recommend giving this one a chance. I look forward to reading more from Kimberly Kincaid in the future.

**ARC Provided by Kensington Publishing**


ARC Review: Slade by Adriane Leigh

I am a huge fan of Adriane Leigh's and have enjoyed every book of hers that I have read. Slade is the third book in her Wild series, and each book can be read as a standalone. You do miss out on some back story and getting to know the characters though, so I would recommend reading these in order if you can but its not necessary. That being said, while I did enjoy this story I didn't love this one like the other books I have read from Leigh. This one just didn't have the same feel to it, and I found myself losing interest and my attention wandering as I read it.

Slade and Dillon grew up together, but were always just acquaintances rather than friends. Until one night when every changes between them. Dillon and Slade begin a friends with benefits type relationship because Dillon doesn't do boyfriends. Slade wants more from Dillon and is determined to convince her to give them a chance. He knows that Dillon has secrets and that she is hiding things from him. Dillon has her reasons for not having relationships, and until Slade she has never wanted more. But the more that Dillon tries to keep things just physical, the more that Slade starts to get under her skin.

I liked Slade and Dillon together. They were super sexy, and I loved that they were compatible on a physical level. Slade liked control and was into some kink, but he didn't let it go to his head. He was protective and understanding, and he always took care of Dillon. He would never hurt her, and I liked that he was always trying to show her that they were more. He was interested in more than just sex with her, and it was clear how much he was growing to care for her. Dillon was hard to warm up to. She was a bit cold and didn't let others in. Slade tried so hard with her, and I started to feel bad for the way she treated him. I knew that Dillon had issues, but honestly they didn't excuse her actions for me. She made some bad choices, and I think she let her fears and insecurities rule her life. I was glad that Slade was able to get through to her and allow her to see that she could trust him.

Overall, this book was a good and enjoyable read. It was super sexy, and I loved the physical portions of this story. I thought that the sex was really hot and that the scenes were written well. But unfortunately for me, that seemed to be the majority of this book. The story line itself felt thin to me and as though it was only there to fill the space between sex scenes. I was hoping for more, and I really wanted to see Slade and Dillon develop a strong connection outside the bedroom as well as in. But I really felt that we only got a bit of that and that the focus was on the chemistry and sexual attraction between them. I think that Adriane Leigh is a great writer, but this wasn't my favorite of hers. I will still look for more from her in the future though, and am excited to see what she does next.

**ARC Provided by Between The Sheets Promotions**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |

Interview with Author Christina Lee and Giveaway

Meet Christina Lee, author of Promise Me This.


Find Christina at:

Feature and Giveaway: Stirring Up Trouble by Kimberly Kincaid




Thursday, October 9, 2014

ARC Review: Promise Me This by Christina Lee

Promise Me This is the fourth book in Christina Lee's Between Breaths series of standalones. This story features Nate and Jessie, and I really enjoyed this one. I liked Nate and Jessie a lot, and I thought that they were such an interesting couple because they were so different. This series is one that I have really enjoyed, and I think that NA fans will really like these books.

Nate doesn't do relationships. He only does casual and had developed a reputation of not only being a playboy, but of also never kissing those that he is with. Nate's childhood and family life has left him feeling as though he doesn't deserve to have the girl he really wants because he is afraid that he is too much like his abusive father. Not only does he believe he isn't worthy, but Nate isn't the type of guy that Jessie usually goes for. Jessie knows that Nate is a horn dog that can't keep it in his pants, but the two of them have developed a strong friendship until suddenly when Jessie catches him with a girl she starts to see him in a different light. When Jessie's feelings begin to change for Nate, she asks him to help her out with a school project and the two grow even closer. When the attraction the both feel explodes into a passion neither of them have ever felt before they are suddenly left to wonder if they have a chance at a relationship together.

I really liked Nate and Jessie. Jessie was strong and independent, and I loved her no-nonsense personality. She wasn't afraid to be who she was and she was comfortable in her own skin. I liked how secure she was, and I thought that she was exactly what Nate needed. She wasn't afraid to be an open book to him, and I think that helped him so much when dealing with his past. Nate was trying to find an escape through the many girls he was with, but he held back the most intimate parts of himself. He didn't know how to deal with what he had been raised around, and he was terrified of being like his father. I could really tell what a great guy he was though because of his constant fear of becoming that. He wouldn't have been worried if he was anything like his father. Jessie and Nate fit together so well emotionally and they had a really strong connection. But the chemistry between these two was so smoking hot, and I loved that they connected on such a physical level as well. Nate needed someone who could fulfill his desires and show him that his fantasies were fine as long as his partner was willing. Jessie was his perfect match outside the bedroom as well as in it.

Overall, I thought that this was a really great story. I loved the characters, and I loved seeing some of my favorites from the previous stories as well. I think that Nate and Jessie's story might be my favorite one so far, but it is really hard to choose because they are all so good. I really enjoy Christina Lee's writing style and always find it easy to lose myself in her books. My one complaint about this story and the reason for only four stars was that the hot and cold with Nate got a bit old. I understood where he was coming from and that he was struggling, but I also felt like there was enough drama outside of their relationship that it could have ended sooner. I really do recommend this series to all NA fans though, and I love that you can read them in order or as standalones. I think that this series is worth the read though, and would recommend starting at the beginning so you don't miss out on all these great characters. I can't wait to read more from Christina Lee in the future.

**ARC Provided by Penguin Berkley/Signet**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |

ARC Review: Echoes of Scotland Street by Samantha Young

Echoes of Scotland Street is the fifth book in Samantha Young's On Dublin Street series, and is the story of Cole Walker and Shannon MacLeod. I really enjoyed this book and could not have loved Cole more. He was amazing, and I could not get enough of his character. I did have a few issues with Shannon though, and that is why I couldn't give this one five stars. But I am really excited to see what is in store for Shannon's brother Logan next.

Shannon has always had bad luck with men, but her last boyfriend was the worst. He hurt her in unimaginable ways and also hurt her family. After having her world shattered, Shannon decides to start over and do away with bad boys for good. When she returns to the place that she once found comfort in, she ends up homeless and jobless until she stumbles upon a job at a tattoo shop. There one of the employees Rae also offers her a place to live. But when Shannon comes face to face with her boss, he also happens to be Cole the one guy she regrets walking away from years before. Cole is determined to get to know the girl that he once met years ago, but Shannon continues to push him away thinking that he is just another charming bad boy. But as Shannon gets to know Cole better, she starts to realize that she was wrong about Cole and thinks it might be time to give him a chance. But with Shannon's past, can Cole win her trust and have a real shot at a future with her?

I absolutely adored Cole. He could not have been more perfect. He was sweet and kind, and really determined when it came to winning Shannon's trust. He gave her so many chances, and was able to easily forgive her when she made countless mistakes. I loved his ability to see beyond the front that she put up, and he was the only one able to truly bring down her walls. He was great for her, and it was clear that he was exactly what she had needed. Shannon was hard for me to like though, and I never was able to fully warm up to her. She was judgmental and made a lot of assumptions, often assuming the worst in people. She had no reason to think what she did about Cole, and she repeatedly thought the worst of him. I hated that she constantly took one step forward and two steps back. Cole didn't deserve everything that she put him through and honestly I felt he deserved better. I thought that they had chemistry and I liked that they had met as teenagers, but I really thought that Cole was far better for Shannon than she was for him.

My other big issue with this book is that the secondary characters sort of took over the story a lot of the time, and I found myself finding it hard to care about Cole and Shannon's relationship because of it. It was great to get glimpses of the previous characters and to meet some new ones, and I really loved Cole and Shannon's relationships with the friends they worked with. But I just felt like it focused too much on others, and I really just found it hard to keep all of the characters straight while also trying to get over Shannon's many issues. I think that Cole definitely made this book worth the read, and I really wanted to see Shannon turn things around and win me over. Unfortunately I just never was able to really find any common ground with her, and I thought that her character was weak and unlikable. I am curious about her brother's book next though, and I look forward to seeing what happens for him after everything he has been through.

**ARC Provided by Penguin Group Berkley/Signet**


ARC Review: Sideswiped by Lia Riley

Sideswiped is the second Off the Map book by Lia Riley and is a continuation of Bran and Talia's story. This book is not a standalone and the series should be read in order. I couldn't wait to get more Bran and Talia after the first book. I really loved their characters and thought that they were so different. But honestly this book was a bit disappointing for me and the main reason was the characters. I will definitely be reading the next book, and I am hoping that it doesn't have the same problems that this one did for me.

Talia and Bran were facing a deadline for their relationship when Talia returned home to California. But a research assignment offered her the chance to return to Australia for a limited time. When Bran showed up at her door, Talia quickly forgave him and things seemed to be back on track. But as Talia and Bran face new obstacles, they both begin to wonder what is best for their future. Talia knows that they both need to pursue their dreams if they have any chance of being happy and having a successful relationship. But Bran vows to never do a long distance relationship again, and sees Talia's wanting to pursue her dream as her abandoning him. While Talia tries to convince Bran that she will love him no matter where they are, Bran struggles to see the love she has for him.

I loved Talia and Bran in the first book. Talia is strong and independent, and really mature despite her age. She has had to make some hard decisions and she has struggled through her pain. But she always chose what would not only be best for her but also for Bran. She loved him fiercely and wanted them both to be happy and fulfilled. She continues to struggle with her OCD, but in this book it was much more in control than the first. Bran was my biggest issue this time around. He was whiny and immature. He acted like a child and refused to open his eyes. He let his fears and insecurities get the best of him and held on so tight that he actually ended up making things worse. I really wanted him to get over his insecurities, and really see just how much the love he shared with Talia meant. But he just seemed to do the same things over and over and refused to wake up.

For me, this story felt so similar to the first book with the constant hot and cold. It drove me nuts because I really felt like this book was basically rehashing the same problems that they had already gone through. Bran continued to fall into the same behaviors and I didn't like the pattern that he was forming. Talia was so understanding and supportive, and I really felt like she deserved more from Bran. I wanted them to work things out and didn't stop rooting for them, but the whole time I couldn't stop wishing that Bran would just get his act together already. I am looking forward to reading the next book and seeing how things play out for these two. But I really don't think I can take much more of the push and pull between them. Bran has some serious making up to do, and I really hope that he is able to redeem himself. Talia deserves someone who will be loyal and understanding and support her dreams, I just hope that Bran can be that person.

**ARC Provided by Good Choice Reading and Forever (Grand Central Publishing)**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |


Ready or not, Christmas is right around the corner, which means shopping, food, family — and holiday romances! This season, award winning authors Jill Shalvis, Carolyn Brown, Grace BurrowesTerry Spear, and Sarah Morgan each have Christmas romances releasing. To get readers into the holiday spirit, the authors answer the following question: Ugly Christmas sweaters: Are your characters for or against?

Feature and Giveaway: Burying Water by K.A. Tucker






ARC Review: Wanting Forever by Diana Gardin

Going into Wanting Forever, I couldn't wait to read the story because the blurb sounded really good. But the blurb is actually very different from what the actual story was, and I felt like I was mislead into reading something completely different than I had expected. I had a lot of problems with this story because of that and because of how things played out. I think that I would have felt much differently had I known what I was getting myself into ahead of time.

After leaving his small town of Duck Creek and needing a place to lay low for awhile, Sam Waters finds himself working as a ranch hand in Nelson Island. He plans to return one day when things are safe, and views his current life as temporary until he can get back to be with his brother and girlfriend Ever. But when his boss's daughter Aston returns home from college, Sam finds himself attracted to her and unable to get her off his mind. As Sam grows apart from his old life and starts to embrace his new one, suddenly things change for him and he begins to get a new picture for his future. When Sam suddenly becomes single, he wants nothing more than to pursue things with Aston but he is convinced that he doesn't deserve her. Aston wants to see where things with Sam go, but she knows that there are things that he is keeping from her. Can Sam open up to Aston and have a chance at a future with her?

I found it really hard to get behind the relationship between Sam and Aston. When we first start this story, we see what has caused Sam to run and start a new life. Sam and Ever had grown up together and loved each other for as long as they remembered. Even though Sam left, they still communicated when they could and appeared to be as in love as ever. But then Sam meets Aston and all of a sudden he seems to pretty much forget about Ever and their relationship. He finds himself constantly thinking of Aston and wanting to act on his attraction to her. I am glad that there wasn't any physical cheating on his part, but I did feel as though he was emotionally connecting with her in a way that wasn't fair to Ever. Aston was strong and could take care of herself, yet she stayed with a boyfriend that treated her horribly for longer than I could understand. I didn't like that she felt like Ever wasn't good enough for Sam even though she didn't know her or their story. It just felt forced to me. I felt like Sam and Aston's relationship was wrong and that Ever had been made into the bad guy when Sam abandoned her when she needed him the most.

I also felt like Sam moved on far too quickly from Ever and made some pretty hasty decisions. If he had really loved Ever like he said he did, then I felt like he would have had a much tougher time moving forward as fast as he did. Everything that had happened with Ever that caused Sam to leave was largely glossed over, and I felt like that should have been a bigger part of this story. Besides the beginning and brief visit of Ever and Sam's brother Hunter to Nelson Island, they are basically not even a part of this story. When they were, Sam acted pretty childishly and didn't take any of the blame for the situation they were in. Sam wasn't completely to blame and I don't condone what happened, but Sam wasn't without his share of responsibility either. I felt like Ever kind of got the raw end of the deal, and it almost seemed as though the things that happened with her were uncharacteristic of her personality and only happened to drive the relationship between Sam and Aston forward. I was just left with a bad taste in my mouth after everything that happened, and I think that is why I never felt like Aston and Sam should have been together. I think if you are looking for a mostly clean NA story that involves a sort of love triangle, then you might give this one a shot. But for me this story just wasn't what I had been expecting. I am interested to get Ever's story though and would definitely give Diana Gardin another read in the future.



Wednesday, October 8, 2014

ARC Review: Indecent Proposal by Molly O'Keefe

Indecent Proposal is the fourth book in the Boys of Bishop series by Molly O'Keefe. I read this book as a standalone though, and had no problems understanding the story. While I really enjoyed the first half of this book, I felt like the second half lost me. Things started off really interesting and full of tension and it kept me turning the pages. I just wish that the second half had been able to keep my interest as well.

When Ryan Kaminski sees the same sexy man at her bar several nights in a row, she wonders what is behind the sad man drinking alone. One night she finally starts to talk to him to try and ease his pain, and the next thing she knows she is sharing a passionate night with him. Harry is gone the next morning leaving nothing but a note behind. Shortly after Ryan loses her bartending job when her one night stand is discovered, leaving her with no means to pay her bills. When she finds out that she is pregnant, her big brother decides to go to the man who knocked her up himself. Soon Ryan finds herself in the middle of a would be political scandal as her one night stand turns out to be Harrison Montgomery who is heir to a well known Georgia family with a tradition of politicians. Harrison can't afford to have a scandal with his congressional bid coming up and proposes to Ryan assuring her that she will be well taken care of as will their baby, no matter what happens in the future. But what happens when their fake marriage starts to feel real?

I liked Ryan and Harrison, but they both had their moments for me. Ryan was smart and independent, and I loved her quick thinking. She was able to think on her feet and help out just by being herself. She had screwed things up in her past, but I liked that she didn't let it stop her or drag her down. The fact that she didn't want Harrison for his money or what he could do for her really made me admire her. Harrison was sexy and smart as well. He was determined to take care of Ryan and their child, even when he considered them a mistake after finding out. He didn't want to take the same path as his father and set out to make things right. But Harrison and Ryan both ran hot and cold, and it got old quickly. They had great chemistry between them, and you could feel the tension as if you were there standing next to them. They had a connection as well and were able to reach one another in a way that no one else could.

Because of the connection and chemistry between these two, it drove me nuts to see them push and pull so much on one another. I wanted them to figure things out and face the world together. They had enough drama surrounding them that they didn't need issues between them to continue for so long. I wish that we had seen them figure things out sooner, because the second half of the book really suffered for me because of that. I also felt like we really didn't get to see much of these two actually together, and I missed out on what they were like really exploring their relationship. I would have liked to have seen them experiencing things as a couple and exploring the good parts of their relationship. I think that this book was good despite my issues with the story, but I think that it had a lot of potential that it just didn't deliver on. I haven't read the other books in the series, but I enjoyed Molly O'Keefe's writing style and would be interested in going back and reading those books as well. I will look for more from her in the future.

**ARC Provided by Random House Publishing Group-Bantam Dell**
