Bonded By Crimson

Bonded by Crimson by Zrinka Jelic caught my attention and held it all the way through with its vivid imagery, unique storyline and captivating characters. It read almost like a fairytale – the story simply revealing itself effortlessly throughout the book. I began first wishing I understood more but when I relaxed into the story, I enjoyed the telling. In fact, I enjoyed it enough to rate it high even though it had a high amount of grammatical errors. Those who read my reviews will understand how much this means… what’s my mantra… edit, edit, edit and then edit some more.

The characters are multi-dimensional; with a depth to make readers feel as if they’ve known them forever. First there’s Kate, rebuilding her life after a failed marriage, who takes a nanny position to three little boys. Kate is gentle, caring and nurturing with the boys. I dare anyone not to like her. She’s self-reliant, bright and strong. Given all those qualities and some trauma from her own past, she attaches to boys quickly – and they to her - though she’s rather nervous around their distant father, Matthias.

Matthias, a handsome (of course!) three-centuries-old immortal, lost his wife years ago right after the boys were born. He recognizes he’s not the father his wife would’ve wanted for the boys but seems lost as to how to parent. Actually, he seems lost all together and it’s great to see Kate bring him out of the gray fog he seems to live in. Kate works some magic in getting Matthias more involved in the boys’ daily lives as well as teaching the boys to be more self-sufficient. She endears herself to this family.

Now enter in the spirit who seems to be pushing Kate towards Matthias and his family. Though unsure of it, Kate finds herself compelled by the immediate attraction she feels for Matthias. For him though, the attraction is a betrayal of his dead wife. He’s tortured by letting her go and moving on but the connection with Kate is far deeper than readers will first believe. They are drawn together and it is incredibly romantic. Matthias is sweet to her, romantic, a true gentleman - so different from today's average hero.

Then add in the stranger now stalking Kate back and forth in their travels between their main house in Canada and their vacation home in their homeland of Croatia. Life as they once knew it shifts - the past crumbling and pushing them to create a new future. But as in all love stories, it comes down to trust. And for Matthias, he must also be willing to love again.

Nothing is rushed which means it feels very natural watching the two fall in love. Secondary characters add to the storyline, enhancing it, as does the book thread *I’ll let you read this part for yourself*. The graduated revealing of details may cause some readers to complain but I believe it added to the feel of the book. I’d recommend this to my friends. Well done.

RATING: 4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries 
This book was given to us by the author. Many thanks.

Feeling the Chill Friday!

You did it people! You survived the week - call it what you will: fantastic, frigid, formal, fabulous, frantic, freaky - it's Friday. TGIF! Kim has a mountain of things on her plate today with a Pampered Chef party, sports weekends and planning her spring tanning/exercising/home improvement projects so you'll have to suffer friday with me...c'est la vie! Take my advice - grab a frosty adult beverage, a good book and order pizza for the kiddos - it's weekend time. Indulge yourself!

Chill, Stephanie Rowe, Lovespell, February 2012

HE DISAPPEARED.

Alaskan bush pilot Luke Webber did not exist until eight years ago. His brutal history still haunts him, but no one will ever know who he used to be. It needs to stay that way, or more people will die.

SHE FOUND HIM.

Isabella Kopas is on the run, a bullet in her shoulder and a murderer on her tail. There's only one man who can help her, a man who has sworn he will never set foot in Isabella's world again.

ALL THEY HAVE IS EACH OTHER

The moment Isabella appears with her desperate brown eyes and courageous heart, Luke knows he can't walk away from this sensual stranger who has brought his past screaming back into his life. But to help her, he must risk everything, including his blackened soul, his heart and both their lives.

There are those books that seem to be written with a specific soundtrack that speaks to the writer - one that even the reader can hear. I don't know if Ms. Rowe likes the Fray or not, but it just seemed to run through my head as I read this intense romantic thriller (or maybe that was just my Pandora radio being ironic). Going beyond the usual story of boy (bush pilot) meets girl, boy loses girl, boy chucks it all to save girls - Chill spans the continent, hauling the reader on a intriguing cross country adventure that promises and delivers sexy romance along the way.

There is no denying that spontaneous combustion that occurs when Luke and Isabella meet. However, it is the skillfully crafted characters, dialogue and story that suck the reader in. Refreshingly, much of the angst and emotional turmoil belong to the hero, proving that even alpha males can suffer from the sins and betrayals of the past. Luke's return home to Boston, with it's affluence and urbanity prove diametrically opposite to the stark but harsh beauty of the Alaskan wilderness. It also provides the perfect backdrop for Rowe to explore the deconstruction of all Luke's pent up painful past. No easy journey, the fight this pair undergoes not only makes them stronger but their union that much sweeter.

Chill socks it to the reader straight from the start - murder, kidnapping, suspense, drama, intrigue - you name it. Oh, and a healthy dose of sexy tension between two strong but broken souls who somehow, some way, manage not only to find each other but save each other in the end, literally and figuratively.

The secondary characters are not as enjoyable in this second Alaskan Heat novel - perhaps because there was such a primary focus on Luke and Isa. The "bad guys" are really bad - not just crazy like the previous Alaskan Heat novel, Ice. The incorporation of the "history" of the jewelry provided a whole other layer and proves, once again, that Stephanie Rowe has imagination and the writing chops to back it up!

Catch it while there are still a few frosty nights left or save it for a cooling off when the weather gets too warm - either way, Chill guarantees a thrill ride with the promise of magic, the power of perseverance and the hope of happy ever afters.

RATING: 5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries and a tasteful martini to go with a gallery viewing somewhere around Beacon Hill....Hmmmmmm.

This book was given to us by the author for an unbiased review. Many thanks.

Wanted: Undead or Alive by Kerrelyn Sparks

Wanted: Undead or Alive by Kerrelyn Sparks So…what if you haven’t read any other book in the Love at Stake series? Will you like it? Will you be totally lost? Will you get yelled at by Tyra? Well I did just that. I wanted to read Wanted Undead or Alive without going back to the first book to see what I thought. So many times you go to the book store and start looking for a new series. Yes, you may buy it on your Nook or Kindle but we all get ideas by just walking up and down the romance section and pulling books off the shelf. I am notorious for just picking a book out that looks good and not caring where it falls in the series. If I like the book and think the characters have potential, then I will go back to the first in the series. Without reading any other in the series, I am here to tell you that you will still love Sparks’ book and you won’t be totally lost. But…Tyra will be mad at you so don’t tell her! Like any series, if you read from the beginning you get all of the little things that are going on. You won’t understand the importance of the Lost Boys or what is going on at the Dragon Nest Academy. You learn enough so that it doesn’t take away from the main story and it makes you want to go back and read the others to see what you’re missing. Stand alone, I give Wanted: Undead or Alive 4 chocolate dipped strawberries.Mind you, that is only because I jumped in to read the last in the series. For the book itself, I have to say that Brynley is the one that I fall in love with. She stood up to your sh** of a father and left your home and pack. She doesn’t become bitter. She spends her time helping out the lost boys (that in itself is what has me going back to the beginning). She doesn’t just fall for Phinneas, she makes sure that it is love. She is a kick butt gal who never stops fighting for what she believes it. The story has it all- humor, romance, and a lot of action. Never having read a book in the series I wasn’t even sure that there would be a happy ever after. I laughed out loud and I am sure that I would have laughed more if I had background on the other characters. This is a must read series now for me and I am sure when I go back to the beginning my ratings will be up to 5 but that is what you get when you don’t read in order. I am dying to find out about the lost boys but no more jumping for me. How to Marry A Millionaire Vampire here I come. RATING: 4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries This book was given to us by the author. Many thanks.

Humpday Hello to Kerrelyn Sparks!

Greetings and salutations Humpday Nation! You who have survived the gauntlet known as the month of Tyra and Jenn, we salute you! No seriously, we love having you here with us every week, sharing the books that we love with each of you. I feet it is my civic duty to remind you to make every day count: love freely, laugh loudly and indulge guilt free...because I am such a giver - I share my eye candy for the week. Inspired by our week's hero, Phineas, aka Dr. Phang, the Love Doctor. (This fella can make house calls to my place any day!)

So more of our featured week of Kerrelyn Sparks. Those who have read the blog over the past year know my penchant for all things a) paranormal, b) laugh out loud funny and c) sassy and sexy. If you find a series like that, you have me hook, line and sinker. Kerrelyn Sparks Love at Stake series has kept me entertained since the early days of Tyra's and my friendship - from the wacky girls' night out which always ended with us stumbling, a little tipsy, from the local Applebees across the lot to the local Books-a-Million where we sobered up checking out new books and spending more on them than the drinks and dinner before! At the risk of sounding like Tyra, I do encourage you to read this series in order - mostly because the stories build upon each other with new characters and evolving relationships all resulting from the wacky hijinks of book 1, How to Marry A Millionaire Vampire. (How can you not love a series that starts off with a millionaire CEO vampire, a freak fang accident and a blood phobic dentist in witness protection? Now, see? That's what I am talking about - you can't beat that combo with a stick, I tell ya!)

Wanted: Undead or Alive (Book 12, Love At Stake series), Kerrelyn Sparks, Avon Books, March 27, 2012

Now, some seven years later, we find ourselves finally getting to hear the story of the often mocked Phineas, aka self proclaimed Dr. Phang. Phineas started his early days with the bad vamps - the Malcontents - until he straightened up and chose to work with Angus McKay's security detail and join Roman's fight for the right way. It's been a pleasure to see his growth over the past 8 or 9 books. He is hilarious, always preening and pranking with the kilted warriors he works with. You almost forget there has to be more to the story and of course, as everyone around him is finding their soul mates, Phineas wants the same. Thankfully, our featured book – #12, Wanted Undead or Alive gives us that long awaited HEA for our favorite bad-assed newbie vamp and our new favorite bad-assed werewolf princess!

To say that Phineas never takes the easy path is the understatement of the century. High on his success as a new commercial actor on DVN, Phineas agrees to go undercover to help weed out the new Malcontent Diva Corky. His mission - to follow her anywhere. Which lands him in the middle of nowhere Wyoming and straight into the arms of his biggest obsession, best buddy's Phil's baby sister Brynley, the alpha were who wants nothing to do with the vamps and only to be left alone to care for the lost boys - young males ostracized from the pack but taken in by Roman's Otherworld School, Dragon Nest Academy, designed to cater to paranormal kids and their "extraordinary" needs.

She thinks he's hot. He thinks she's hot. Forces collide and they come together, get ripped apart and it goes to hell in a handbasket! I love these characters - they have me up late at night giggling in my bed, reading about escapades that leave me either cracking up, shaking my head or fanning my face. Still classically paranormal romance, Sparks is no slouch in the sexual tension building department. Her characters banter, flirt and finally come together with enough sparks (no pun intended) to generate some serious heat!

Like many of the books in this series, a great battle often ensues in the end with the balance of good and evil in peril. Some have some quite emotional impacts and no one is spared the possibility of death on the battlefield. Stop and take the time to give this series a chance - for those who enjoy paranormal, romance, chick lit or things that just make you feel good - this is one for your keeper shelves. Mine have been on almost constant loan for the past six years!!!!!

I give Wanted: Undead or Alive, five tasty chocolate covered strawberries and a glass of chocolood (the designed chocolate flavored blood) cause a girl can never have too much chocolate when she's in the right mood! My choice of drinks for this book would be a refreshing chocolatini - martini, chocolate - can't miss....Mmmmmmm. (Since that darn Tyra got to answer first and took my beloved Malbec!)

CONTEST ALERT: Be sure to leave a comment each day for a chance to win a signed copy from Kerrelyn Sparks back-list!!! We will give one copy away each day!!!!

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I'm Wanted.....Undead or Alive!!!!

Ok so this week we are spotlighting Kerrelyn Sparks and her tre fab Love at Stake series. Now Jenn and I have been in serious arm wrestling discussions about which one of us found this series first, and since I get to post before her....HA HA HA I win!!! I am totally taking credit for finding and suggesting this series!!! In all honesty this is probably one of those that we found together when we first started prowling the aisles of our Books A Million store after having had our toes done and partaking of some good red wine...you know the perfect girls night out! It doesn't matter who found it first all that matters is that we did and we couldn't be happier.

This series has all of the things that I love about paranormal romance, hot vamps, kick ass heroines, levitating ceiling sex and hilarious dialog. It's a little bit Food Network with the Vampire Fusion Cuisine, a little bit historical with your kilt wearing vamps, a little bit Matrix with the phone calls to teleport and a lot of interesting, fast paced storylines.


So I know that Phineas is usually described as Denzel looking...but in my head he will always be Shemar!!



Wanted: Undead or Alive, Kerrelyn Sparks, Love at Stake Series
He's a vampire from the big city . . .
Phineas McKinney thought New York City was tough, until he was attacked by Malcontents—evil vampires who consider mortals to be snacks. Saved by the good vampires, Phin swore to devote his now undead life to stopping the Malcontents. He's got his job cut out for him when word comes that their enemy may be hiding in Wyoming. What does a city boy like him know about horses and campfires? Good thing he's got Brynley Jones with him . . . if only she didn't hate every vampire on earth.

She's a werewolf princess . . .
Bryn believes vampires are seductive and charming, and that makes them dangerous. So she's more than a little annoyed about teaming up with Phin, even if he is the only bloodsucker able to make her inner wolf purr. But as they hunt down the new leader of the Malcontents, danger threatens . . . and Phineas and Brynley discover a passion that will rock the foundation of their supernatural world.

Phineas has been one of those character's whose book I have been hoping for since he first came on the scene. He has always been larger than life and has more charisma then any one man should be allowed. I, like a lot of people, thought that he would eventually win over LaToya but I have to say that I am more than happy with the way things turned out. Brynley Jones gives him a run for his money and because of her we get to see the softer side of Phineas.

We don't know much about Brynley at the beginning other than she is Phil's twin and is the reason that the "lost boys" found a home at the Dragon Nest Academy. But I have to say she is one of my favorite heroines since Emma. She may come in with a chip on her shoulder as far as the vamps are concerned but she comes around and doesn't hesitate to apologize when she needs to. Her ability to put everyone else's needs above her own makes her a very endearing person.

One of the many things that I like about this series is that Ms. Sparks doesn't dumb down her heroines after they meet their mate. They continue to be the smart, sassy, kick ass women that we meet in the beginning and I think that is one of the reasons the series has had the success it continues to have. I know it's one of the reasons I keep coming back.

Another reason I come back is the secondary characters...the ones that have already had the HEA's and the ones that haven't. I like the updates on the couples that we fell in love with originally but am always excited when a new vamp or shifter is introduced to see in what way they are going to enhance the world and story lines to come.

If you are looking for a series to sink you teeth into that might nibble back a bit then pick up How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire and become addicted like me!!

RATING: 5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries.  This book was given to us by the fabulous Kerrelyn Sparks. Many thanks.
CONTEST ALERT: Be sure to leave a comment each day for a chance to win a signed copy from Kerrelyn Sparks back-list!!! We will give one copy away each day!!!!


Enter the Drinking and Winning Blog Hop by clicking on the Blog Hop tab above!!
I would suggest a cold glass of Blubbly, or if you are like me and are a red person you can never go wrong with an Argentinian Malbec!(when are we going to get a red wine in the Vampire Fusion line?)

Wanted Dead or Alive – Kerrelyn Sparks

Tomorrow is the much-anticipated release of the latest in her Love at Stake Series. If you have not had the pleasure of reading this series kiss the gloomy winter blues away and give blissful thanks to the genius that is Kerrelyn Sparks. Her wonderful world is simply a joy. The series begins with Roman, a monk who is turned into a vampire after being attacked by an evil vampire named Casmir several hundred years ago. Set in modern day, Roman has developed a formula for synthetic blood – helping vampires to no longer have to feed from humans. Since Roman was turned Casmir has been building an army of evil vampires, the Malcontents, to help him take over the world and Roman has sought out other people that are good at heart to help him fight to protect the world against evil. Angus McKay, one of Roman’s children, creates a Security Company that helps to provide protection for the vampire population and basically leads the resistance movement. Each primary character in the series is somehow related back to Roman either having been sired by him, or sired by someone he created or works for the resistance that he started. Sounds simple enough but Ms. Sparks does an amazing job making each story in this series truly unique. As the conflict with the Malcontents grows the characters begin to spread out to fight evil on all fronts taking the stories all over the globe. The villain is ever changing and evolving keeping the reader constantly excited to see what is next. What is truly fun about these stories is that each has a strong plot and gripping story line but with a laugh out loud punch of humor. Each character has their own unique quirks that make them memorable and a joy to read. The diversity of the characters pulls all of our favorites in to one series – from vampires, highlanders, humans, shifters, demons and angels – this series has them all. But first and foremost these are beautifully written love stories with the characters perfectly matched and each couple coming together in a way that grabs the reader from the first page.

So on to our featured book – #13, Wanted Dead or Alive. For you series follower’s….Surprise, surprise, surprise – Phineas’s love is not LaToya. Big Bad Wolfie Girl, Brynley is the winner of his charming heart.

Phineas has long been one of the comic relief class clowns of the series – first appearing in book #4, Be Still My Vampire Heart. Phineas was raised by three strong women who taught him right from wrong but when their family came on hard times he secretly became a drug dealer to try to keep his family afloat. The leader at that time of the local Malcontent coven, caught him and turned him into a Vampire in the hopes that he would be a resource for the ingredients to make a powerful drug that immobilizes vampires. Soon after his turning he found Angus and was offered a chance to join the good side, he took it and has never looked back. Trying to appear strong, macho and charming he labeled himself the Love Doctor and has been charming readers and the ladies ever since with his own brand of humor. Unfortunately, the women found him only charming for one night and think he is a too much of a player to take seriously beyond that. Now he has grown weary of the game and is looking to settle down. Only he can’t stop thinking about Brynley who is the daughter of the most powerful Werewolf Pack Master in the country, a princess. He can’t believe that he would have any chance with her given his poor up bringing and sorted past. Not to mention her big bad scary brother, Phil, who regardless of their friendship, would surely tear him limb from limb if he knew what he wanted to do with his babysister.

Picking up where the previous story leaves off, Phineas enlists the help of his brother, Freemont, to go undercover and try to capture the new Malcontent leader and talk show Queen Diva Corky. When her capture goes horribly wrong Phineas’s brother goes to work for Angus to help with the search. Given that vampires can teleport anywhere that the sun is up Corky could be anywhere so the group splits up all over the globe to try to find her before she does something crazy in her quest for fame and power. Phineas receives a tip that she might be in the Wyoming area, smack dab in Brynley father’s backyard and where no body is looking. He is the closest person available to check out the lead but he needs someone familiar with the area to take him there. He is left with no choice but to ask Brynley for her help. Ms. Sparks does a wonderful job in this book making a return trip to Phil’s cabin in Wyoming an entirely new exciting adventure with the beautiful scenery of the area providing a magical backdrop for their budding romance.

Brynley is a feisty strong character. She has lived her life under the ruthless stern hand of her father’s rule. Following the example of her brother and trying to do right by her mother’s dying wish she fled the pack lands after her father unsuccessfully tried to force her to marry. She has been living with her brother and his wife, Vanda, at the Dragon Nest Academy that Roman founded. Secretly she finds Phineas to be gorgeous and the commercials that he stars in advertising Roman’s newest creation Blardonnay, synthetic blood and chardonnay, drool worthy. However, she resents vampires feeling that her brother initially chose living with them over being with her and because at their base level they are parasites – users. Or so she thought until Phineas.

Now their adventure begins. Phineas is forced to trust that Brynley won’t stake him in his death sleep or worse given her tendency for mischief, paint his toes pink like she did Connor….and of course try to hide his feelings for her. And Brynley is forced to admit that there is a charming, caring man behind the joking façade. In their quest to find Corky they must learn to trust each other. Brynley is taking a great risk at being captured again in her father’s backyard but is determined to help Phineas regardless. Their wounded souls recognize each other and are pulled together by a magnetic force neither can control. Regardless of how mismatched they might appear on the outside inside it’s a perfect match and the heat between them can’t help but win out in the end.

The secondary characters that they meet along the way are hysterical and hopefully we will get to see them again in books to come. They are forced to battle not only Corky but Brynley’s father and her past. Some of the series best loved characters play a crucial role and the ending is one that will have you cheering and crying all that the same time. This story is a keeper and will leave you making room in your bookshelf to keep it to read over and over again! If you are not a follower of this series this book is so well written that it could be read alone however I encourage you to read the entire series as it is well worth it!

RATING: I give this book 5 chocolate dipped strawberries and big slice of Brynley’s favorite 5 layer chocolate cake.

Special thanks to Ms. Sparks for sending us this great ARCcopy, for guest blogging with us and for offering readers this great contest. Please be sure to comment below to enter to win your very own copy of one of her fabulous books! Many Thanks!


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Kerrelyn Sparks Guest Interview

CONTEST ALERT!ment below to be entered for your chance to win!

Please join us in welcoming Kerrelyn Sparks and enjoy her guest interview!

Yay! I know the answer to this one! My favorite story theme, and the one I’m basically writing over and over, is Beauty and the Beast. The Beast can be a vampire, a werewolf, a were-panther, a demon, the “bad” boy in a small town, the Regency rake shunned by Polite Society, or the James Dean guy on a motorcycle. Whoever he is, he’s misunderstood, unloved, and unappreciated. Only the Beauty has the intelligence, warm heart, and discerning eye to recognize the prince hiding inside the Beast. While he’s saving her from the real bad guys, she is rescuing him. He maybe a bit naughty (or very naughty), but he’s always very sexy!

d why?

My favorite character is always changing, because it’s always the hero that I’m currently writing (and currently madly in love with).  I adore Phineas, the hero from Wanted: Undead or Alive, but I’ve been writing the next book in the series, so I’m madly in love with that hero right now. That would be Howard Barr, the were-bear. His book is Wild About You, and it releases at the end of November.What inspired your take on the vampire mythos?

I write romantic comedy and somehow vampires strike me as both romantic and funny. The romantic part comes from their mysterious allure, the hint of danger, and the fact that they’re wonderfully handsome. The funny part comes from the whole confusion over what they are. Are they alive or dead? What the heck is ‘undead?’ What happens if the vampire loses one of his fangs? (that happened to the hero from How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire) Will he be a lopsided eater for all eternity? Can he shave when he can’t see himself in a mirror? What happens if the heroine stumbles across him during the day when he’s dead? I’ve been having lots of fun with my vamps!

 for Vampire Fusion Cuisine come from? Are you a foodie yourself?

When I imagined being a vampire, it struck me that you could get awfully tired of the same dinner every night year after year. Living for centuries sounds great until you remember all the things you would have to give up. Like chocolate. Vampire Fusion Cuisine was my solution to that problem. The female Vamps can enjoy Chocolood, a drink that’s half-blood and half-chocolate. The Scottish Vamps love Blissky, which is half-blood and half-whisky. There’s Bleer (you can guess what that is!) and Bubbly Blood, which has champagne, for those special vampire occasions. And there’s Blood Lite, low in cholesterol and blood sugar, for those who over indulge with Chocolood.

In Wanted: Undead or Alive, Phineas has become famous for his commercials promoting Blardonnay (blood and Chardonnay). He’s known as the Blardonnay Guy. The commercials were inspired by the Old Spice Guy, and I had great fun writing them.

12 books in and the series is still going strong, you are introducing new character’s and new villain’s how many more Love at Stake books do we have to look forward to?

Wanted: Undead or Alive is book # 12 in the Love at Stake series. I’m currently under contract for 4 more, bringing the total to 16. I just finished writing book 13, Wild About You, which stars Howard, the were-bear.

When do you do the majority of your writing, during the day, at night?

I seem to do my best writing at night—either I’m more relaxed or my vampy friends are getting to me. But as my deadline approaches, I write every minute I can get.

What is your guilty indulgence?

Chocolate!! (not to be confused with Chocolood)

Read excerpts from the Love at Stake books here-- http://www.kerrelynsparks.com/books_excerpts.html

Will Kerrelyn be signing in your area? Check out her tour dates here—

http://www.kerrelynsparks.com/appearances.html

Want to play vampire games, watch videos, or join the forum? Checkout Kerrelyn’s Vampire World here—

http://www.kerrelynsparks.com/vworld_home.html




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For additional chances to win please visit Kerrelyn Sparks website and enter her contest there....
http://www.kerrelynsparks.com/contest.html


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So ready for Saturday!

What a fabulous first week of spring! The weather has been awesome in fact if it stays like this I'm gonna have to rearrange my tan schedule. I have a brand new bottle of lotion that sits on my desk and it's mocking me daily! Got some patio furniture that we've already got to use so I have no complaints here. This is also the weekend of Jenn. It's her birthday and Tyra and I have been up to no good and alot of it! Can't wait for Saturday to spend the evening with my girls. In between the weekend of Tyra last weekend and the weekend of Jenn this weekend and next week I'm hosting a Pampered Chef party and I need to get going on spring cleaning and planning all my fun summer activities this is what I read.....

Passion Unleashed by Larissa Ione

Forbidden Temptations…
Serena Kelley is an archaeologist and treasure hunter—and a woman with a secret. Since she was seven, she’s been the keeper of a powerful charm that grants her health and immortality . . . as long as she stays a virgin. But Serena isn’t all that innocent. And when a dangerously handsome stranger brings her to the brink of ecstasy, she wonders if she’s finally met the one man she cannot resist.
Fatal Desires…
Wraith is a Seminus demon with a death wish. But when an old enemy poisons him, he must find Serena and persuade her to give him the only known antidote in the universe—her charm. Yet, as she begins to surrender to his seductions, and Wraith senses the cure is within his grasp, he realizes a horrible truth: he’s falling for the woman whose life he must take in order to save his own.


Well, well ,well Wraith doesn't it suck to be you. The brother you tried to kill has got you by the balls so to speak. You can save yourself but you have to take the life of the one woman that you fell in love with. I totally enjoyed watching Wraith fall in love. His total lack of people skills made me feel better about my own lack of people skills. Fortunately Runa and Tayla gave him some tips. I depend on Jenn, Tyra and Paula to correct me lol! This story had an Indiana Jones feel to it. All the tomb raiding and searching for artifacts. I have to admit that I hated that Wraith had to endure Serena calling him Josh. I know Wraith is an ass and probably deserved the misery but I still felt bad for him. With all that said I still love this series and will be moving onto the next book that I plan on reading outside in this awesome weather:)

I give this book 4 chocolate dipped strawberries. I was asked this week to include a drink that would go along with this book and I choose a Mud Slide in honor of all the possible cave ins.
PEACE

BLOG TOUR: Illusions

Illusions (In the Arms of the Law, Book 1)

Author:  Kacey Hammell

Publisher:  Decadent Publishing

Length:  45,000 Words

Sub-Genres:  Contemporary, Erotic, Paranormal, Suspense

Protection. Adventure. Love.

It's all found within The Arms of the Law...

Detective Isabella Knowles, a tough-as-nails cop, lives by the law, and knows what she wants out of life. And it doesn't include marriage or all that comes with it. Everything Isabella has ever known seems like an illusion when a new relationship makes her feel more alive than ever before.  She isn’t happy about it and fights it every step of the way.

Burned by his fiancé years ago, seer and P.I., Brady Jacobs never wants another commitment in his life.  But his bachelorhood and heart are threatened when he has one of his visions and see a killer striking too close to the woman he has recently come to love.

Danger lurks close to home and neither Brady nor Isabella like that they can’t control every situation…especially matters of the heart.

REVIEW

Everyone will tell you: "you can’t judge a book by its cover" but I have to tell you that I usually do!  When I am picking up a book, even if it is one that was a recommended read, I look at the cover and decide if it is even worth my time to flip it over and read the blurb.  There is just so much to read that I feel like I have every right to be picky – so I am.  Illusions was no different. I looked at the cover and thought - the guy is hot and she looks like she doesn’t take any shit.  This is probably a great action book. I read the blurb and bingo – I am right J! 

Brady is a hot ex-military PI and Isabella is a tough as they come detective. Throw in a murder that needs to be solved and this becomes a definite read.  But this is just Book One in The Arms of the Law series and author Kacey Hammell is setting the stage for more to come. I myself am looking forward to Connor’s book – hint – hint! If you like action mixed in with your romance, this series is for you! 

RATING: 3 ½ chocolate dipped strawberries. Keep writing Kacey!!!!!!!!!!

-Shari, Ndulgent Blogger

EXCERPT #1:

“What’s this? A party and no one told me?”

At the newest addition to the conversation, Isabella’s pulse accelerated double-time. She looked toward the door

Man, I don’t need this today.

Brady Jacobs walked—no, sauntered—into the office and heading toward Ethan, spared her not a glance.

Black denim jeans encased his firm, shapely ass like a second skin and a black T-shirt with sleeves rolled over his beautiful biceps. He looked good enough to eat. A flood of heat coursed through her body. Brady was a man who was confident in himself and when he entered the room, there was a ripple effect. Everyone sat up to take notice of him and women practically swooned, eager to catch his eye. But Brady rarely gave any one woman the time of day. He was adamant about keeping his personal life private, and his no-commitment rule was always in full force. Something he was always upfront about with the ladies.

“Hey, pal. Great game this morning.” Brady slapped Ethan on the back.

“Shit, Jacobs. You kicked my ass and then some.” Ethan chuckled. “My head just wasn’t in it today.” Isabella could see Ethan’s gaze move again toward the newspaper on Alicia’s desk.

If it wouldn’t be obvious, I’d snatch it and run to burn it.

“Morning, Ms. Alicia. How’s my sugar-girl today?” Brady headed over to Alicia’s desk, ruffling her hair as he stepped behind her, as if she were his little sister.

Leave it to Brady. Always make the ladies feel special.

“Get lost, Jacobs. I’m sick of seeing you around here,” Alicia said flippantly.

She must really be pissed about the photo. Isabella let out a frustrated sigh, causing three sets of eyes to look her way.

“Morning, Brady.” Isabella smiled, hoping she looked like a woman with not a care in the world. “What brings you to the precinct this early in the morning?”

Brady’s gaze held hers for seconds longer than she would have liked.

“Actually, I came to see Alicia. I need to go over the Vaughn case with her. I had another vision last night.” He spoke without hesitation.

Trenton’s finest P.I. had become the city’s favorite after his first vision had saved the Walker twins eight years ago. The twins, then seven years old, had wandered off into the woods behind their family home one afternoon. When they didn’t return to the house for dinner that night, their frantic mother had called the police, begging someone to help her find her missing boys.

Within hours, an Amber Alert had been called and hundreds of citizens and every cop available had combed the Walkers’ woods, looking for the boys. After six hours without success, exhaustion had set in with many of the volunteers. Everyone had worked tirelessly, but when there seemed to be no hope in sight, Brady showed up, at a frantic near-run, and charged into the woods. Within thirty minutes, he came back out with a boy tucked under each arm.

Only after the Walkers had been calmed, the boys tucked into bed, did Isabella and Connor question Brady. With much resistance, Brady confessed to his ESP, the visions that had begun during his stint in the Marines.

Most times, out of nowhere—Brady could be sleeping, driving, taking a shower—and a vision would claim him. In the eight years since the Walker incident, Brady had probably saved more lives than most cops.

While he didn’t have visions for every beating, murder, kidnapping, or mugging in New Jersey, high-profile incidents seemed to find a channel in Brady.

With each high-profile case solved successfully, Trenton’s citizens claimed him as a favorite son. If a child ran away, parents would hire Brady to assist in bringing them home. If there were a murder, police at a dead end would call Brady in.

No one thought anything unkind about him or his visions.

It made his P.I. business a huge success and he took it all in stride. Isabella admired him for it.

“Damn, Brady. Why didn’t you call me immediately?” Alicia growled in a disgruntled voice.

“I am telling you, Alicia. I had to get the whole thing in order before contacting you.” Brady shook his head and headed for the window overlooking West Street, the one she had just moments ago been staring out of.

“Well? What have you got for me?” Alicia demanded.

With a chuckle, Brady turned back to Alicia. “Impatient damn woman, aren’t you? Just like your cousin. Always impatient for more.”

Isabella felt her cheeks burn and prayed Brady wasn’t being an ass on purpose to start further questions running through Alicia’s mind. She didn’t need them from her.

“If people would deliver, Brady, I wouldn’t need more,” Isabella declared with some satisfaction. His eyes turned a darker grey than their normal silver color.

Don’t mess me with me and think you’ll win, big guy.

EXCERPT #2:

Knowing she would soon run out of time before his arrival, and getting more aroused by the second, Isabella hurriedly reached for her bath sponge. Soaping it up, she cleansed her body with an eagerness she was growing accustomed to feeling whenever she had plans to see him.

Sponging all suds from her clean body, Isabella pulled the plug in the drain, and stood in the tub, reaching for a thick, blue towel from the shelf.

She rubbed vigorously at her body, drying it, and reached for the strawberry body lotion that went with her bubble bath. She poured a generous amount into her palm, rubbing her hands together to coat them in the sweet smell. Then she smoothed it over her arms, her breasts, stomach, and legs. The scent of strawberries made her smile.

Humming Destiny’s Child’s ancient hit Soldier to herself, Isabella wondered how many more minutes she’d have to wait before her soldier made an appearance.

She recapped the body lotion and tucked the towel loosely around her once again. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard the sound of the front door closing.

She hazarded a glance in the mirror. With the mussed, damp tendrils of hair around her shoulders, the towel haphazardly wrapped around her, she looked like a woman eager for a man’s—her man’s—touch.

The sound of a boot hitting the floor with a thud caused her to smile, and she moved to the doorway of the bathroom.

Hearing another boot drop and the sound of heavy breathing, Isabella peered into the hallway. When he finally came into view, she was already breathless, even though she had been expecting him.

Dressed in his usual black denim, form-fitting jeans, and dark hair damp as if he too had taken a few moments to clean up, he was a sight to behold.

Isabella’s heart thudded rapidly and her legs threatened to give out. She noticed his leather jacket, undone, over a naked torso. Obviously his zealousness to be with her had him forgetting a few things.

There they were. The abs, the washboard stomach had her literally teetering on the edge of orgasm already—and he hadn’t even touched her.

Finally lifting her gaze to his face, his smoldering silver-gray eyes captured hers. She had to lean against the doorjamb for support.

He always made her speechless. His beauty, his charm oozed from him with no effort at all. How she had gone so long, so many years as friends with him and never really noticed him in such a way before? Some detective she was, not seeing what was directly in front of her.

As he moved toward her, his pace slowed, as if he knew the effect he was having on her and wanted her to crave him more desperately than ever. His face broke into a sinful grin, telling her he knew exactly what he was playing at.

Never one to let anyone, least of all this man, have the upper hand, Isabella let go of the towel she was still holding around her. It slithered downed her body, pooling at her feet. Noting his small stumble mid-stride, she relished the power she had over him.

Naked and confident, she smiled at the man she needed to feel against her. Desperate to have his hands on her, she called to him.

“Brady….”

BUY LINKS:

Amazon (Kindle Edition) 

Decadent Publishing

Smashwords

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SIMPLY BECOME A FOLLOWER & COMMENT to WIN an "Author Goodie Pack" that includes a pen, magnets, and winner's choice of one Decadent Publishing eBook. CONTEST closes March 23, 11:59 pm. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Canadian-born author, Kacey Hammell is a self-proclaimed book-a-holic, who began reading romances at a young age and became easily addicted.  As a Mom of three, Kacey has made certain that each of her children know the value of the written word and the adventures they could escape on by becoming book-a-holics in their own right.

A decade ago, while working for multiple review sites, Kacey quickly discovered that she was developing the writing bug. Thanks to the encouragement of her own beloved hero husband, she decided to try her hand at writing. 

With a love of contemporary settings, modern day romances and the happily ever after, as well as the excitement of suspense, Kacey creates stories in genres she’s familiar with and that she loves most. She also loves vampires who nibble the necks of the heroines, ghosts who can't leave a loved one, shape-shifters who are sexier than hell and the thought of her very own werewolf or were-cat to tame makes her tremble!

CONTACT LINKS:

Website/Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Amazon

Email

Humpday Helloooooo! Sending some love Charlene Teglia's way!!!!

Greetings and salutations Humpday Nation -- once again on that down-hill slope....all the way to my birthday weekend. Now, I am not necessarily the hugest fan of aging and all that nonsense that goes with it (the old gray mare, ain't what she used to be!), however, I do love a good excuse to celebrate. We managed to squeeze a little celebration between the Week of T and the Week of Me for Ms. R's exciting new adventures...stay tuned to find out more (ooooh - see how I did that? Hooked you in with intrigue and drama? It's a gift known only to writers, bloggers and teenagers.....just kidding). So, having worked the weekend at the local hospital, I managed to have couple actual weekdays off - one spent travelling from one doctor's appointment to another (hey, I can walk again - back pain sufferers all commiserate here!) and the other spent cleaning the house that went on hiatus while the back was out (housework haters all commiserate here!) and in between managed to sneak in a bit of reading....some old stuff, some new stuff...lots of it all upcoming and I cant talk about it yet!!!! (more of that drama and intrigue crap! Man, I am getting sneaky in my old age!) So, in honor of gaining a year of wisdom, I would like to share my treat to self - some eye candy! (This one is for my mom, who reported to me that my half dressed candy was less appreciated than the fully clothed/unclothed variety!) I think they are all tasty!!!! Mmmmmmmm

Men of Action, Charlene Teglia, Smashwords/Amazon/Barnes and Noble, March 2011

Shoot to Thrill

Gabriel Everest had a simple plan; infiltrate, attack, exfiltrate. Unfortunately, he encountered a major complication in Dr. Miranda Gray. Blowing the target would have to wait until he could rescue the hostage, but saving the girl and getting away without alerting the opposition is harder than it sounds when she’s determined to take direct action of her own.

Third Time’s the Charm

Loving a cop isn’t easy. Faced with an emotional distance their physical attraction couldn’t bridge, Lynn Taylor walked away. Twice. But Nick Logan isn’t ready to let her go. When an elevator mishap leaves them trapped together in the dark, can two lovers find a way to make the third time the charm?


Even the A Team knows The Plan: get in, get it done, get out. Of course, sometimes you have to deviate from the plan.....Gabriel Everest almost has it made when he finds Dr. Miranda Gray. That she's as willing to die for her cause as he somehow makes them even more perfect for each other in their ill-timed, sexually charged escapade.  

 

Charli Teglia is one of my "IF YOU WRITE IT I WILL BUY IT" authors....her writing is always a hit for me - doesn't matter if it's contemporary, paranormal, erotica, long story, short story - you name it, I love it! She has a gift for setting scenes: descriptive, sensual and in the moment, as if you are the naughty voyeur watching the tale unfold, making the reader invest in each detail. Her heroines are frequently hot mess, flawed, totally normal average Jane types and her men are sublimely alpha! But my favorite part are the snippets of the author's inner voice, that sweet and sassy blend of the sarcastic and sexy that makes me laugh and fan myself while I revel in each read - regardless of length - her shorts are as satisfying as her full length novels (well not as satisfying - but certainly no less enjoyable!)

Classic example:

"...Since the total effect of the man overwhelmed her, Miranda broke it down into separate pieces. She noted the square jaw, the watchful gray eyes, the dark hair worn in a crew cut that looked regulation. Broad shoulders. Fatigues designed to help camouflage him in this jungle setting and did nothing to disguise the powerful body they covered. Hands that looked very capable gripped a weapon she couldn’t begin to identify, but it looked lethal and probably had a loud bang.   They sent GI Joe to rescue to rescue Dr. Barbie, Miranda thought. She hoped he had his Jeep handy. Or some kind of getaway machine."

"Third Time's The Charm" is another one of hers that hit a bulls eye. How anyone can make what is essentially every sane person's nightmare (trapped in dark elevator) seem sexy, exciting and romantic is a true miracle. Perhaps the miracle lies in the perfect vignette laid out by Teglia - a couple who seem to repel and collide, going through the break up and make up cycle until finally forced to confront each other -sensually, in the dark, where their issues can be faceless and their electric connection can be undeniable. Super short, uber sexy, Lynn and Nick's story proves that sometimes dessert IS the best part of the meal!


I strongly urge you to check out this and her other stories: she's got cowboys, shifters, race car drivers, thrill seekers, aliens and hot, hot men from in and out of this world!

 

I give The Men of Action a delish four chocolate dipped strawberries and a big fan girl squeal that Red Queen, the Sequel to Animal Attraction, Neuri Chronicles Books 2 should be out soon! Stay tuned dear readers!!!!

New York to Dallas - JD Robb

Ok I know I am a day late but the past week was very hard on me. I had a birthday which was fun but getting older is soooo not for wussies. I have been going through a lot of different medical tests and while they haven't found anything wrong....they still don't know what's wrong. LOL

Last week was also difficult for me because if you are a frequent reader of this blog than you know that I loved William Neale's books and considered him to be a friend. William passed away last week and I am still kind of reeling from the news. I had the great pleasure to meet William at AAD last year after corresponding with him for several months before that, he was one on the most genuine, caring people I have every met. He was always a big supporter of our blog and all of the bloggers here and we will all miss him terribly. The romance genre has lost a beautiful voice and we will be paying tribute to his works the week of May 17th during the Hop Against Homophobia. His partner Marty and his family are in our thoughts and prayers.

I started this weeks book on St. Patricks day because what better way to show some love for the Irish than curled up with Roarke!!! 33 books in and he is still the sexiest man in literature.


New York to Dallas - JD Robb
It was one of Eve Dallas's earliest takedowns, back in her uniform days. A monster named Isaac McQueen had been abducting young victims and leaving them scarred in both mind and body. Thanks to Eve, he wound up where he belonged, removed from civilized society in Rikers. But he's not behind bars anymore. After his escape, McQueen has two things in mind. One is to take up where he left off, preying on the young and innocent when necessary, with the help of a female partner all too willing to be manipulated and to aid and abet his crimes. His other goal: to get revenge on the woman who stopped him all those years ago, now a high-profile lieutenant in the NYPSD and married to one of the city's richest men.Commanding Eve's attention with a chilling and brazen crime, McQueen sets off the chase forcing Eve down a road marked with blood and tears, a road that eventually leads southwest to Dallas, Texas, the home Eve fled long ago. And each new twist brings her closer to the harrowing memory of when she wasn't a hardened detective but a vulnerable girl just like McQueen's innocent prey. As her husband, Roarke, tries to rescue her from the nightmares that claw at her mind, and her partner, Peabody, doggedly works to support her, Eve must confront and call upon the darkest parts of her own soul in order to survive.

This was a quick, fast paced, thrilling story. Which if you are a long time reader of the series you come to expect and I was not disappointed with this Eve and Roarke adventure.

Robb’s characters are strong, clever, intense and quirky. The action is descriptive and exciting while the intimate scenes are hot. The pieces are familiar; horrific crimes, a demented, brilliant criminal, Eve’s dedication, Roarke being all hot and helpful and a climatic finale. And even though I know exactly what to expect when I pick up the book, the character's never fail to completely engage me and keep me hooked until the very end.

You expect some predictability in a series that is 33 books in and that I would begin to wane in my reading enjoyment, but I love to revisit these people who have created a family and in their own dysfunctional way make it work. I look at these books as a sort of homecoming. So I will keep on reading and keep falling in love with the way that Eve and Roarke love each other.


RATING: 4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

Shadow's Stand - Hell's Eight, Sarah McCarty

Hell’s Eight is a historical Old West romance series set in the Texas territory and follows the lives of a group of Texas Rangers.  This series is based on a group of eight boys that years ago all found themselves orphaned after a Mexican invasion to their childhood town.  They could have easily become outlaws but thanks to an elderly woman taking them in they were given a home and taught love by her stern hand.  Now they live their lives by the same stern code of honor and with a fierce devotion to each other and their home. 

The series begins, in case you haven’t been following it, with the leader of Hell’s Eight, Caine.  Caine through rather unusual circumstances finds himself married to a women he just met named Desi.   Upon bringing her home to his ranch, which they call “Hell’s Eight”, he quickly learns that all is not as it seems and he, along with his family, has married her troubles along with her.  Of the five books I found Caine’s the hardest to get through mainly because I’m not a huge fan of period pieces in which the woman has to conform to the archaic times and therefore submit to her husbands wishes.  However, looking past that this book sets the stage for all to come and is a must read.  In the end it becomes known that Desi has a twin sister who is also in trouble and so the rest of the Hell’s Eight men set out to find her, which sets up the rest of the series.  Sam, Tucker, and Tracker’s books are all about the search for Desi’s sister, Ari.  With Sam and Tucker finding their mates along the way and Tracker finding his mate to be Ari herself.  All four of these books are action filled and just what you would expect in a historical western piece...beautiful sunsets, campfires, fun in the saddle, etc.   After Desi’s sister, Ari, is recued it becomes apparent that their trouble has not ended and the man behind it all is still after them so once again the men set out to make things right.   Tracker’s twin, Shadow, feel’s that it is his place since he is not married to rid them of the threat once and for all but in doing so he becomes an outlaw himself.  And so set’s the stage for his book.

Shadow’s book picks up more than a year later.  He has been on the run, lying low in Kansas and is growing tired of the hiding game.  There is a bounty on his head and he misses home but refuses to return because his love for his family and need to keep them safe is more important than his own homesickness.  Fei is a woman in need of a man to keep her safe.  In a time when women have no rights and can’t protect what is hers she is desperate for help.  So when Shadow finds himself about to be hung, unjustly convicted of horse thieving, he has no choice but to except Fei’s marriage proposal.  He soon learns just how much help Fei really needs but unfortunately they have a hard time admitting to their feelings for each other.  The sparks between them and the passion is undeniable.  But Shadow is half Indian, half Caucasian.  And Fei is half Asian, half Caucasian.  With both of them feeling unworthy of the other one due to their mixed heritage and not understanding each other’s cultures the misunderstandings between them keep them apart until it is almost too late.  Thankfully Fei is as strong as the dynamite that is her weapon of choice and the Hell’s Eight men finally catch up to Shadow and force him to see that running to protect those he loves doesn’t protect them but hurts both them and himself. 

This piece is masterfully written.  McCarty really out does herself and the amount of time and thought she put into each scene is clear in the flow and well thought out plot.  Both of these characters are memorable and pull you in from the first page.  This was a joy to read, or listen to since I have this one on audible.  The narrator, Savannah Richards, does a wonderful job and really brings the story to life. 

If you haven’t tried this series I highly suggest you do.  Again, although I enjoyed Caine’s book as a whole if you aren’t a historical piece fan then tough it out and don’t give up on the series.  Sam’s book (2^nd in series) is a close second to Shadow’s book and will have you hooked.  The series as a whole is really well written with a great overall plot and strong, proud honorable men that make you wish you were in a Texas valley curled up with one around a campfire!

RATING:  I give this book five chocolate dipped strawberries served with smores!

 Many thanks.

My review may be On Thin Ice

Silas Murdock, lion Pride leader of Ariel Estates, is on the trip of a lifetime, big game hunting with his entourage in Alaska. Everything had been perfect right up until a freak storm barreled into the area ruining their plans followed by an assassin’s bullet plummeting them into the frozen tundra.

Enter wolf shifter and former pack physician, Theodor Lucas. Returning from a trip to a nearby village, he witnesses the crash and finds the wreckage along with an unconscious and barely alive Silas. Theo’s ethical sense won’t allow him to walk away, leaving the male to suffer and freeze to death when there’s a chance he could be saved. Despite the personal risk and his vow to never be responsible for another soul, Theo takes the lone survivor back to his cabin to care for his injuries.

The stranger's unusual scent has Theo stumped. The gorgeous male is definitely not human, but exactly what is a mystery. But Theo’s unexpected guest is the only one with any answers as to who he is, and why their pilot ended up with a bullet to the back.

There’s just one problem: now that the male is awake, he doesn't have a clue. In fact, who, what, and where he is, is a total blank. But for Silas, there is one thing he does know for sure: when it comes to Theo, his hot-as-hell rescuer, a lifesaver has never looked more delicious.

I didn’t love On Thin Ice but it worked for me when I just wanted a light read. And it's crazy but I think I didn't love it because the characters were absolutely perfect. Read on - I will explain...

Recluse Dr. Theo gets pulled into saving the survivor of a plane crash though he wants nothing more than to stay away from people. Despite believing his doctoring abilities lack and harboring immense guilt, he does the right thing to help. And as the author slowly divulges his past, readers find compassion for this good man. There is nothing not to like about Theo.

Silas also is a good man. After he wakes in Theo’s cabin, his amnesia causes him to rely on another person as his memory slowly returns. Not his usual self-assured self, Silas opens himself to falling in love. And yet once he determines his identity, he does the right thing in returning to his home and caring for his people.

Though both men acknowledge their love for each other, they each choose to return to their people - doing the right thing – and work towards a HEA when they can be together. Okay, so maybe I need more angst or just something not so perfect about characters to make me love it... is that wrong??

This was a nice story but lacking too much depth and rather predictable – though scenes between a lion and a wolf can hardly be called predictable – so if you like shifter romance, this is a good quick read for you.

RATING: 3 Chocolate-dipped Strawberries
(I'd definitely give this HAWT COVER 5 Strawberries!!)

This book was given to us by Resplendence Publishing. Many thanks.

Sacred Surrender

Sacred Surrender by Ava Riley, Lazy Day Publishing

Rowan’s life had been perfect until his fiancé decided to seduce his best friend the night before their wedding and ultimately destroyed everything he’d dreamed of. After breaking off the wedding and the relationship, he vowed to never allow another woman to have that much control over his heart again. That is, until one morning when a knock on his door revealed beautiful, sexy Madison. Madison, having just moved to sunny California from a small town in Kansas, is in awe of the hunky doctor living next door, but her insecurities keep her from accepting his initial advances.

The connection Rowan and Madison experience after a night of hot sex cannot be denied, but will Madison’s insecurities be too much for their relationship to flourish? Will the relationship that Rowan is finally willing to accept end before it even gets a chance to start or can he convince Madison that her fears are unwarranted?

This book is sweet personified. There was nothing not to like about the characters, their actions so genuine and kind – they are the kind of people you’d want as friends. So it was impossible not to cheer them on as you read your way through this book. Both Rowan and Madison had obstacles they brought into their relationship but with honesty and respect, they flushed them out. Riley did a perfect job in characterization, creating depth by using secondary characters and their history.

What most struck me was Riley’s ability to describe the surroundings and set a scene for readers to nearly feel you are in it. The beach, the small pub, their homes – I had such vivid pictures of the scenes, it made the book more interesting. And it truly flew with an upbeat and continuously moving plot that didn’t leave time for the reader to get bored.

The adventurous spirit of the characters was also nice. Their dates were real dates. It wasn't all about the bedroom was a a true love story. This is a refreshing concept as so many books are straying in the opposite direction.

This book is a good read when you need a pick-me-up or just want to remember the goodness of true love.

RATING: 4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries – might I recommend enjoying them in those caves off the coast. Yep, that was one of my favorite scenes.

This book was given to us by the author in exchange for an unbiased review. Many thanks.

GUEST POST: Ava Riley

Welcome Guest Author AVA RILEY! Yesterday Jenn reviewed A Lifetime to Find Love and tomorrow Rebecca will review Sacred Surrender. But today is a real treat - we get to hear directly from the author herself... and she'll be around so "Comment" TODAY to ask any questions you have... the floor is all yours, Ava...

First I would like to take a moment to thank Indulgent Bloggers for giving me the opportunity to stop by today. I am honored to be here at such a wonderful site with all you wonderful people.

March is the month of the Irish and luck (and beer). I’m not Irish, I don’t really drink beer (I’m more a mixed drink kind of gal, so I’ll raise my Long Island Ice Tea to you in a toast), but I do partake in LUCK as often as that lady will hand it out to me. Merriam-Webster describes luck as: a force that brings good fortune or adversity, the events or circumstances that operate for or against an individual, or a favoring chance also success. I’m more fond of the latter of the definitions…a favoring chance~ also success. Lady Luck can keep the negative and give me all the positive she desires; I’m kind of stingy that way.

For as far back as my memory will allow me to venture, I have also wanted to write. Let me rephrase that. I’ve always wanted to see my stories in “print” and to have others enjoy the ups and downs and ups of the “people” who speak to me. That dream became a reality in April of 2011, when A Lifetime to Find Love was submitted to my publisher, Lazy Day Publishing. It wasn’t easy getting there, to the point where I was ready to submit my manuscript, but several things fell into place and I can honestly say that luck was truly on my side. People came into my life which opened more doors and before I knew it I saw my first novel in print.

Throughout my life I have had some pretty unpleasant jobs that took up so much of my time that I was unable to write as much as I would have liked. I am very lucky to have a husband who supports me and who told me a couple years ago to quit my job and go back to school. Because of that I am able to not only pursue a degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing, but also it frees me up to write more.

There are so many in this world who pass day to day with dreams in their hearts but who are unable to follow those dreams. I count my lucky stars every day that I am able to partake in the passion of my heart. When I sit down at my computer or put pen to paper, I know that I am extremely lucky to be doing what I love to do on a daily basis and I try not to take it for granted. I would say to you who are still chasing your dreams, “don’t stop reaching for those stars, there is one out there with your name on it and Lady Luck is waiting to hand it to you.”

Thank you again for allowing me to stop by!

Happy Reading!
Ava Riley

VISIT Ava's site and find her BUY LINKS at: http://avarileyromance.wordpress.com/about/