It's Monday and raining here - seems like the perfect ending to another rough weekend. There was one bright shining ray of light for me all weekend. I finally found an hour to jump back on the treadmill and read something from my "read me now" list. If you read my post two weeks ago I've been forced lately to mainly focus on Audible books due to lack of time for much else. On the audible note, I apologize for not posting last week on our book of the week. Lover at Last was three 8 hour books on Audible and just wasn't something I could get through by last monday. I will say it was a awesome book and if you are a fan of the series it is a must read with a bunch of development to the story lines. I did feel like I needed a history review several times and struggled to remember where the previous story had left off but all in all it was really, really good.
So back to my moment of bliss this weekend - I finally squeezed in a few moments to myself and of course my first choice to read was Bella Andre, specifically her stand alone One Perfect Night. It turns out that this is a bit of a spin off of her Sullivan Series. With the last of the main family of eight all getting their happily ever after's officially with her most recent release, Always on my Mind, it appears that she is expanding the series to include their extended family. In this story a Sullivan, I'm assuming a cousin of the eight from the original series, goes on a vacation with her best girl friends. One of her friends, Colbie, is not the experienced snow skier that the rest of the group is so she takes off down the less challenging trails and ends up falling hard when she tries to help a child that she mistakes for being in trouble. With her face covered in snow and red from embarrassment, she finds Mr. Tall, Dark and & Yummy stoping to help her up. Noah has spent most of his childhood on the slopes and eventually teaching others to ski. Although this day is meant to be a break from his demanding career he can't think of a better way to spend the day then to help Colbie learn to ski. With each fall she takes and with each time they touch as he helps her up they both realize that they are having more fun then they have ever had with anyone else. Colbie started the day out as a exercise in not giving up and challenging herself and in the end found herself having the best day of her life. But as the day winds down she can't bring herself to allow things to continue into the evening. She is here for the weekend to spend time with her girl friends and to lick her recent scars from a broken relationship. Unwilling to continue to push her luck she ends things with a simple thank you to Noah for a fabulous day and skis away without even telling him her last name. But as time goes by she realizes her mistake - even after a week has passed Noah is all she can think about. Noah is in just as bad of shape and eventually breaks down and hires a PI to find her. Ironically his best friend and PI is the brother of Colbie's best friend and the siblings quickly put two and two together. Now that they are brought back together they have the chance to turn One Perfect Day into One Perfect Night - if they both have the courage to believe in love at first sight and trust their feelings.
I don't want to give any more away. This is a very short story. As I said I knocked it out in a hour. But wow! It was awesome and just the pick me up I needed. You definitely don't need to have read any of the other books as this really stands alone without the back up. If you haven't tried Bella Andre before this would be a nice book to see if you like her style. If you have read the Sullivan series I would recommend going ahead and reading this one since it introduces several characters that should be making repeat performances as the series grows. All in all this is fun little short story with charming characters that are believable and make your day better for knowing their story.
RATING: Five Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
This book was given to us by Bella Andre. Many thanks.
Friday, April 26, 2013
At the dentist office is not where I want to spend this Friday but you gotta do what you gotta do and afterwards I can go enjoy the rest of my day as soon as I stop crying. It was one of those weeks that I care not to repeat but a beautiful full rainbow on Wednesday reminded me that life is good and when life gives you lemons pull out your bottle of raspberry vodka and make lemonade. Also on the list of things that are good check out this weeks read....
Lover at Last by J.R.Ward
Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....
Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young—just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.
Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one.
I'm going to have to agree with Tyra. There was so many things going on in this book. I had to think hard to remember what had happened with that story line in the previous books. But I got there and so much happens. As always there are my favorite story lines and ones I just want to read thru quickly so I can get back to my favorites. There are some big changes heading the Brother's way and I can't wait to see how the "updated" Laws changes affect things as well as the additions to the house and where our new little friends the Bastards come into play. There are many more books to come :)
I give this book 4 chocolate dipped strawberries and BIG yard crew for Fritz.
PEACE
Maya Banks writes in several sub-genres of romance. You can check out all her books on Goodreads. I've just read her most recent highlander book but it made me wonder if there's not any genre she couldn't write well. In my head, I began listing my favorites and that led me to this week's Thursday 13. At the end is my review for Highlander Most Wanted, an Ultimate Indulgence.
My Favorite 13 Books by Maya Banks
1. Sweet Surrender, Sweet, #1 2. Rush, Breathless, #1 3. Stay With Me 4. The Darkest Hour, KGI #1 5. Hidden Away, KGI, #3 6. Whispers in the Dark, KGI, #4 7. Four Play, Anthology 8. Colters' Woman, Colters' Legacy, #1 9. Colters' Daughter, Colters' Legacy, #3 10. In Bed with a Highlander, McCabe Trilogy, #1 11. Never Love a Highlander, McCabe Trilogy, #3 12. Never Seduce a Scot, The Montgomerys and Armstrongs, #1
My most recent read is... 13. Highlander Most Wanted, The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #2
In Highlander Most Wanted, a reclusive woman content to live in the shadows shows a Highland warrior the true meaning of love.
Genevieve McInnes is locked behind the fortified walls of McHugh Keep, captive of a cruel laird who takes great pleasure in ruining her for any other man. Yet when Bowen Montgomery storms the gates on a mission of clan warfare, Genevieve finds that her spirit is bent but not broken. Still, her path toward freedom remains uncertain. Unable to bear the shame of returning to a family that believes her dead or to abandon others at the keep to an imposing new laird, Genevieve opts for the peaceful life of an abbess. But Bowen’s rugged sensuality stirs something deep inside her that longs to be awakened by his patient, gentle caress—something warm, wicked, and tempting.
Bowen seizes his enemy’s keep, unprepared for the brooding and reclusive woman who captures his heart. He’s enchanted by her fierce determination, her unusual beauty, and her quiet, unfailing strength. But wooing her will take more than a seasoned seducer’s skill. For loving Genevieve, he discovers, means giving her back the freedom that was stolen from her—even if it means losing her forever.
Highlander Most Wanted has a powerful message about inner-strength and personal integrity. The struggles of the heroine solidify the idea that no one can take your soul -your inner self- away from you despite any abuse they might perform. You can give it to them but they can't take that one thing from you.
Banks, in her traditional ways, created two amazingly strong individuals. Bowen is loyal to his family/ clan and has an intense sense of honor - perfect for Genevieve. She finds hope in Bowen despite accepting her fate to be less than she wanted for her life. Still, they are characters of their time. Banks does well in keeping to the period culture in creating characters who hold the passion of the Highlands in their essence. But then she exposes their souls which are no different than the souls of those living in this time current time period. Banks shows through the love stories that romance and love -people at their very cores- are equal regardless of the time period. As usual, Banks provides an evocative love story that in the end makes the reader smile.
Lover at Last, J.R. Ward Black Dagger Brotherhood #11 Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....
Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young—just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.
Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one.
REVIEW
There are certain books in long running series that we are more excited for than others. We watch as the couple dances around each other the chemistry is palpable and the relationship sometimes volatile. Lover at Last was one of those books for me. Sometimes though we build it up so much in our minds that when it's not the EPIC story that we thought in our minds it should be we are disappointed. I have been let down by the Warden in the past so I was really trying not to over hype myself about this book. I have to say I was very happy, and while it wasn't everything I wanted it to be it was close.
There are soooo many story lines running through this book that you need a score card to keep track of everything. So I am going to give you a run down of the main stories and what I thought about each one.
The Old Laws
If ever a society needed some updating and revamping (pardon the pun) it would be this one. OMH they are so archaic, they make Rush Limbaugh look like a liberal! Saxton is going to make BANK re-writing those laws.
Havers
I just wanted to punch him!
Wrath and Beth
Oh Lord the King and Queen are getting ready to have a throw down! Maybe kids was something they should have talked about before the whole carving your name in someone's back ceremony??
Assail
So other than Qhuay this was the storyline that was the most intriguing to me. I was fascinated by the back and forth between Assail and Sola, and talk about a cliffhanger!!!
Band of Bastards
Ok, so I am starting to like them a little bit. Throe I think is the most interesting and I really want to know more about his back story. Is he maybe related to one of the Brothers??? Xcor might have a chance at redemption after all, cause let's face it he had the perfect opportunity to place a smackdown on the Brotherhood when they were all at the meeting with the Council and he didn't take it.
Layla/Xcor - Selena/Trez
Yeah...these relationships jut have trouble written all over them!
Lessers
I was happy to see a new Fore-Lesser come into power. And talk about power I think this one might be a bit of a badass himself. I think the war with the Lessers got bumped up a notch when he took over, and it's about time.
Blay & Qhuinn
Just about the time I wanted to scream at how juvenile these two were behaving I had to stop and remind myself that even after everything they have been through they are basically just out of puberty. And boy was it obvious SEVERAL times! I was annoyed with the way both of them treat Saxton and I really hope that he finds some loving soon. As far as the sex in this book, I only have one thing to say....LUBE. LOL I was glad that she didn't completely G rate the scenes but some stretching and some lube would have made it more realistic. I mean come on even straight people have anal sex and they need to be stretched and use some lube too.
BABIES
I am so excited at the thought of more babies in the mansion. I love to see these badass fighters get taken to their knees by the little cooing. I also have a feeling that Payne is going to have to reconcile somewhat with her mother to help with the pregnancies that I think are coming.
Overall I enjoyed the book and think that the Warden has set up the storyline for a LOT more books. I for one am looking forward to the next book The King! These are my thoughts, I would love to hear what you thought so leave a comment.
Oh Friday! I thought you were never coming back again. I missed you! It's been a fairly quiet week. Just the usual 2 or 3 sports practices each day. And a few more days closer to summer and tanning season. A sweet surprise mid week made my struggles disappear for awhile:) If your looking for something sweet might I suggest the following book.......
Lost in you by Lauren Dane
It hasn’t been easy for Joe Harris to live down his not-so-honorable past, but the military made him a better man. He’s determined to make up for past mistakes, starting with coming home to care for his ailing father.
Things are going as planned until his best friend’s little sister comes barreling into his life. Funny, quick talking, smart, beautiful, she’s a temptation he tries—and fails—to resist.
When Beth Murphy hears Joe is back in town, she makes sure she’s the first on his welcoming committee. Though he tries to pretend he’s gruff and unworthy of her, she sees the man who spoils his dog, who touches her like she’s precious. Cherished. But there’s one wall she can’t break down—the truth about what’s happening at home.
On the night the nature of his father’s illness becomes painfully, publicly apparent, Joe does the right thing—push Beth as far away as possible. But if he thought she’d go away quietly, he’s about to learn she’s made of sterner stuff....
Warning: Slow-talking, sexy mechanic with a drawl, looking to get a Murphy right out of her underpants. Quick-talking woman who knows what she wants and has a weak spot for the aforementioned slow-talking mechanic and his dancing dog. Bad words. Polly Chase behind the wheel again.
I'll admit I was hesitant. Would I like this book as much as I do my beloved Chase brothers??? The answer.... YES!!! I don't know what it is about Lauren Dane that makes me love her work but keep it up! I think it may have alot to do with the fact that it's believable. I live in a small town (sadly no one in my town looks like these men) and it's just good ol' fashion romance. No shifters or paranormal stuff going on just friends and family living life. I have to give Beth credit she has way more nerve than me. I could never be that straight forward when there is someone I would be interested in going out with. I stopped several times while reading and thought to myself, hey I can do that. Then reality sets in and I realize I lack the nerve and people skills to do or say those things LOL. In the meantime I will sit back and continue reading and waiting for the perfect man that knows to order extra dessert:)
I give this book 5 chocolate dipped strawberries and a piece of pie. By the way what is fried pie? Please tell me it's not deep fried!.
PEACE
Oh, to have a pup like Micah... oh, to have a master like Tackett. These men are perfect - you know, for each other. And for readers. But hey, when doesn't Peterson develop the perfect characters?
Micah “Pup” Slayde knows he wants Tackett Austin the moment he lays eyes on him in the Guards of Folsom. Micah wants to have purpose, to be taken care of, and to take care of his Dom—wants to trust him completely, live for him, belong to him. To become his everything. Micah is sure Tackett is the one. The problem is, in order to be the perfect sub, he needs to stay focused, and that’s not easy for Micah, who suffers from what he refers to as a “broken brain.” Focus and adult attention deficit disorder rarely coexist.
Ever since Ty Callahan and Blake Henderson’s collaring ceremony, Tackett’s been thinking too much about his own loneliness. Even though Ty introduces Micah and urges Tackett to give him a try, Tackett isn’t so easily convinced. He’s spent his life pursuing a successful business career, and the subs he dominates almost never enjoy the kiss of his leather twice. Twenty years Micah’s senior, Tackett has no interest in taking on and taming such a young and naughty sub—but it’s difficult to resist such an adorable pup when he begs.
This is the first official book in the Guards of Folsom series, even though readers heard about it in Ty's story, Riveted. Each book is going to focus on a different kink and a different coupling. But this couple -Micah and Tackett- seemed made for one another. Micah knew it from the start and as a sub, it was a bit awkward to bring Tackett around. Thank goodness for friends because it was Tackett's friends who bring him around.
I enjoyed the inclusion of all the secondary characters. Peterson has a way of building a family in her series that makes readers feel a connection. Regardless of the kink -though damn, does she write those sex scenes good- the stories of her men are engaging. I know when I pick up a book written by Peterson, it will be a story to savor.
Pup is an endearing story of two men forging their HEA. Micah sees in Tackett what he needs to overcome his ADD and Tackett proves himself the man for the job. The work they do to find balance is beautiful. Every scene has a clear purpose. The time and commitment Tackett puts into finding what works for Micah shows how well their connection serves both of them. Their pull towards one another is too great to deny and readers feel the compulsion. This was such a sexy and beautiful love story.
RATING: 5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries This book was given to us by Dreamspinner Press. Many thanks.
Pup, SJD Peterson, Dreamspinner Press Guards of Folsom #1 Micah “Pup” Slayde knows he wants Tackett Austin the moment he lays eyes on him in the Guards of Folsom. Micah wants to have purpose, to be taken care of, and to take care of his Dom—wants to trust him completely, live for him, belong to him. To become his everything. Micah is sure Tackett is the one. The problem is, in order to be the perfect sub, he needs to stay focused, and that’s not easy for Micah, who suffers from what he refers to as a “broken brain.” Focus and adult attention deficit disorder rarely coexist.
Ever since Ty Callahan and Blake Henderson’s collaring ceremony, Tackett’s been thinking too much about his own loneliness. Even though Ty introduces Micah and urges Tackett to give him a try, Tackett isn’t so easily convinced. He’s spent his life pursuing a successful business career, and the subs he dominates almost never enjoy the kiss of his leather twice. Twenty years Micah’s senior, Tackett has no interest in taking on and taming such a young and naughty sub—but it’s difficult to resist such an adorable pup when he begs.
REVIEW:
Okay, so by this point I have read what I thought was a pretty good sampling of BDSM books, but I have to thank Ms. Peterson for once again broadening my horizons. There were a couple of things mentioned in this book that I had to look up to see what she was talking about...and then had to immediately delete my browsing history. LOL
I fell in love with Micah (Pup) right away because of his flirtatious, naughty ways. I liked his smartass mouth and his stubborn determination to get the man he wanted no matter what. But his vulnerability and self doubt are what won him a place in my heart.
Tackett tried so hard to come off as the badass, hard-core Dom, and for the most part he was, but the fact that he didn't have a problem asking for help understanding Micah scored him big time points with me. Tackett's struggle with self doubt made him question if he could give Micah what he needed and that was a new and interesting twist to the D/s books I have read in the past. Of course there were several very un-Dom like situations in this book that I enjoyed immensely.
The relationship that develops between the two is not an easy one. Micah struggles with his inability to stay focused and Tackett has a hard time coming up with ways to correct the behavior and still give Micah the stability he craves. This book really delves into not joust the physical aspect of submission but the psychological. The trust that Tackett works to build with Micah is fragile but is also the foundation for their future.
This is a well written intense story whose characters will stay with you long after you finish the book. If you like BDSM and seeing strong men fall in love then Pup needs to be added to your library. I am excited to see where this series goes next...will Bobby and Rig find their perfect third or we will meet a new Dom and sub? All I know is that where ever Jo takes us I am so going to be there! BUY LINK Dreamspinner
RATING: 5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
This book was given to us by Dreamspinner Press. Many thanks.
It's monday and wow am I struggling to get going. But this book is so worth finding the energy to tell you about! If you caught our TBR week last week then you know that a bunch of us have this book on our TBR list. I snagged it from audible and once again really enjoyed the narrator that she has for this series. Enough said - let's get to the book.
Twice Tempted is the second in the Night Prince spin off series, of the Night Huntress series, by Jeaniene Frost. If you haven't read this series, the main character is none other than the infamous Dracula, otherwise known as Vlad Tepesh. He was first introduced in the Cat and Bones (Night Huntress) series and is a dear friend of Cat and a constant thorn in Bones' side. This relationship makes his character in the main series really interesting. He has a dry sense of humor and always seems to show up at just the right time to help Cat out and drive Bones crazy. So when this series was announced we all were very, very excited. I say all of that because if you go back and read my review on book one I was a bit let down. The other spins off books that she has done on the secondary males from the Cat and Bones stories have been stand-alone happily ever after tales - my favorite style. For Vlad, she chose to not have it wrap up in just one book but to be a full series. Which translates to mean that they most certainly do not get their happily ever after in book one. Which was beyond frustrating. In book one, his character was not the man we had grown to love in the main series and was instead a medieval dictator type. Don't get me wrong - book one is worth the read it just wasn't the quick closure I had expected or the dry, sarcastic hero that I had come to love from the main series. Given how much we all loved him in the main series and how it was his presence alone that made some of the main series books great (and book 4 tolerable) I decided to trudge on to book 2. And I am so glad I did!
The second book follows Ms. Frost's same story line development that she followed in the main series, having the characters eventually reach a impasse and break up. Frustrating and not original. BUT - in this case it finally helps bring a better explanation to what makes Vlad who he is and how the vampire society works. She tried in Book 4 of the Night Huntress series to describe the feudal society that vampires function under but for me it didn't come across so much as a explanation but instead as Bone's being a overbearing jerk. In this case, she does a much better job explaining how much the society they live in defines them. After thousands of years living in a feudal society, combined with the medieval world he existed in prior to becoming a vampire, Vlad has become what most would see as a monster and it is imperative that he continues to maintain that appearance. It is this need to maintain control of every aspect of his life that prevents Vlad from giving himself over fully to her. And when his distance becomes too much to take and she leaves him, it is this same need to have full unquestioned authority over everything that prevents him from asking her to stay. It isn't until word gets back to him that the carnival she works at has been attacked and she is presumed dead that he realizes the extent of his mistakes and failures.
Leila's character simply rocks in this book. She is completely devoted to Vlad but instead of allowing him to continue to push her away and just sit by, waiting for him to come around, she dusts herself off and moves on. She is strong and true to herself. Vlad's second in command and best friend was charged with the task of seeing her back home. So when her tour travel trailer is attacked he is still close and comes to her rescue. We she discovers that nothing remains of her trailer, including her beloved best friend, Leila sets out to find who is behind the attack and his murder. Fearing that Vlad may be trying to eliminate her to seek revenge for her dismissal, he tags along to protect her and help her find out who is behind the attacks. The trailer fire freed Leila's gifts that had been suppressed at the end of book one and it is through this return of her gifts that she accidentally contacts Vlad in her sleep and they begin to find their way back to each other. They have a long road to make it through - working to finally understand each other, find out who is behind the attacks, and where their future lies. But unlike Book 4 of the Night Huntress Series, it is clear that Vlad is not playing games with her head. He is fighting to find a way to make it work and is just as reluctant to get hurt emotionally as she is. He is finally the Vlad we all fell in love with in the main series. And all the strange behavior by his character for a book and a half finally make sense. This book makes the journey so worth the ride! Again - I did the audible version and really enjoyed it. There will definitely be a third book in this series, as the ending is yet another cliff hanger. But, thankfully, she is going to have a fresh plot based on his enemies and not rely on having them fight as something to write about.
RATING: Five Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries. Many thanks.
It's finally warm!!! I've been enjoying this week like you wouldn't believe. Warm weather makes me a whole other person. I can't wait to be by the pool or on the deck with a good book and some snacks. Here is what I'm going to be reading...
My to be read list is not in any certain order (kinda like my life)
* Lords of the Under World by Gena Showalter. I'm in the middle of this series right now. Love'n them!
* Atlantis series also by Gena Showalter. Haven't started these yet. They are on my Kindle mocking me everytime I turn it on.
* Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. I'm a couple books into this series now and they are super. This has been on my to be read list a couple of times but this is the last time you will see it because I'm going to finish them so my daughter will stop threating me.
*Dead Ever After by Charlain Harris. I don't want to talk about it.
* Twice Tempted by Jeaniene Frost. I adore her Cat and Bones series and if you've never read them then you need to put them at the top of your to be read list.
* My Big Fat Demon Slayer Wedding by Angie Fox. SQUEAL AND GIGGLE! I will drop everything when this books comes out!
* I am also going to be reading The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare. These are short stories that will be coming out about one a month. They tie into The Infernal Devices and Mortal Instruments sereies. I highly recommend all of the above.
* Inferno by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Wanted to drop everything and start this but my friend Wes ruined it. I don't know how he lives with himself! See above book.
* Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Comes out September 3rd. I will drop everything to read this. Take that Wes!
I did a bit of Spring cleaning this week. No, no, silly... not of my house... of my TBR pile. Electronic is great but sometimes books I really intended to read sooner get pushed down so I dusted off my list and found my MUST READS for the next few months. I also have a few books getting ready to be released that I am so excited for!
**I put the link to each book on Goodreads so you can add them to your TBR too!**
I've been leaning heavily to contemporary lately but there are some great paranormal romances out there too - Jenn mentioned quite a few yesterday. Now, don't worry about finding so many books that you won't know which to buy because your husband stopped by and said to get them all! ;) So, with no further ado, I present the Thirteen Books on my Spring TBR List...
1.Eyes Wide Open, Raine Miller (I am so, so excited about this book – it’s the third in a great series. Read them in order.)
Big surprises are on the horizon for Ethan and Brynne as they struggle to adjust to what life has thrown at them. Demons from the past are threatening to destroy the passionate bond they’ve forged despite their vow that nothing will ever keep them apart. A truly devastating loss coupled with the promise of a new hope opens their eyes to what is most important, but is it possible for the lovers to move on from the painful histories that continue to haunt them? A stalker is still lurking in the shadows, plotting evil amidst the distraction of the 2012 Olympic games in London. Brynne and Ethan are on the cusp of losing everything as the stakes rise. Will they yield to circumstances beyond their control or will they give every ounce of fight they have left to save each other and win the ultimate prize of a life together?
2.Forbidden Fruit, Eden Bradley (I know this is an older release from 2008 but I’ve never read it so now I’m going to. Hey, I said some books got pushed down on my TBR list. Thank goodness I dusted that list!)
For university professor Mia Rose Curry, it was all academic: her course in alternative sexuality was a safe, socially acceptable way for her to talk about the things she desired most—but had never let herself experience. And while students crammed into her class to learn about fetishes, bondage, voyeurism, and much more, Mia kept her own raging desires, and her most private fantasies, carefully under wraps . . . until one man dared to make her secret passions a brazen reality.
Jagger James is everything Mia wants, and everything taboo: he’s gorgeous, daring—and a student. Yet Mia can’t help imagining his hands, his lips, his skin . . . all the while drawing closer and closer to this forbidden fruit. She soon discovers how much Jagger wants her, demanding that she abandon every inhibition with him. Now they are about to take a dangerous step, tempting each other’s flesh, savoring every touch and breaking every rule—knowing that this dazzling sensual feast is only a taste of something more to come.
3.Walking Disaster, Jamie McGuire
(The first book was in her perspective. This one is from his. Can't wait!)
Finally, the highly anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster. Can you love someone too much? Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder. In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. But just when he thinks he is invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.
Every story has two sides. In Beautiful Disaster, Abby had her say. Now it’s time to see the story through Travis’s eyes.
4.Fever, Maya Banks
(I have to hurry and get this read because the next in the series comes out in August! And it's so ridiculous but every time I think about the book, I sing the song Fever.)
Jace, Ash, and Gabe: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to
getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Jace, it’s a woman whose allure takes him completely by surprise... Jace Crestwell, Ash McIntyre, and Gabe Hamilton have been best friends and successful business partners for years. They’re powerful, they’re imposing, they’re irresistibly sexy, and Jace and Ash share everything—including their women.
When they meet Bethany, Jace begins to feel things he’s never experienced before: jealousy, and a powerful obsession that threatens him, overwhelms him—and excites him beyond control.
Jace isn’t sharing Bethany—with anyone. He’s determined to be the only man in her life, and it’s jeopardizing a lifelong friendship with Ash. Bethany will be his and his alone. Even if it means turning his back on his best friend.
5.Entwined With You, Sylvia Day (Isn't everyone waiting for this?? Who doesn't just feel the love between these two palpitate from the pages. Haven't read the first two yet? *gasp* Read them first - that's a warning, not a hint!)
The worldwide phenomenon continues as Eva and Gideon face the demons of their pasts, and accept the consequences of their obsessive desires… From the moment I first met Gideon Cross, I recognized something in him that I needed. Something I couldn’t resist. I saw the dangerous and damaged soul inside–so much like my own. I was drawn to it. I needed him as surely as I needed my heart to beat. No one knows how much he risked for me. How much I’d been threatened, or just how dark and desperate the shadow of our pasts would become. Entwined by our secrets, we tried to defy the odds. We made our own rules and surrendered completely to the exquisite power of possession…
6.Claim Me, J. Kenner (This one is in the same vein as Eyes Wide Open and Entwined With You. Each of their couples are unique but no less consuming. Book one came out last year - read it first.)
For Damien, our obsession is a game. For me, it is fiercely, blindingly, real.
Damien Stark’s need is palpable—his need for pleasure, his need for control, his need for me. Beautiful and brilliant yet tortured at his core, he is in every way my match. I have agreed to be his alone, and now I want him to be fully mine. I want us to possess each other beyond the sweetest edge of our ecstasy, into the deepest desires of our souls. To let the fire that burns between us consume us both. But there are dark places within Damien that not even our wildest passion can touch. I yearn to know his secrets, yearn for him to surrender to me as I have surrendered to him. But our troubled pasts will either bind us close . . . or shatter us completely.
7.Beautiful Stranger, Christina Lauren (Sequel to Beautiful Bastard - I've been pacing waiting for this next book! This was my first book by this author and fell right into her writing.)
Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He's exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard.
Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family's massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who'd been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he's never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe's so tempting he's willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office. As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they're willing to lose in order to win each other.
8.Hold My Hand, Paloma Beck (First in what looks like a trilogy, this book has a gorgeous cover that first grabbed me. Then the blurb hooked me. Who doesn't love a little naughty spanking??)
A book about Aubrey and William. They are navigating through a relationship that may have too many
hurdles... or perhaps not, as long as she can hold his hand.
Aubrey has been hurt in the past, discouraged and degraded. Still, William sees something in her that won't allow him to walk away. Instantly drawn to her but intuitive enough to take it slowly, he courts her. Then he bargains, persuades and seduces until Aubrey becomes ensnared by his commanding nature. Despite the fight she puts up in accepting William's lifestyle, the bonds he places on Aubrey give her a freedom she desperately needs. And together, they heal old wounds and find their perfect love.
9.Beauty From Pain, Georgia Cates (Another new author for me but I've heard great things and the story line intrigues me.)
They agreed on three months...but their love knew no boundaries.
Jack McLachlan is a winemaking magnate and easily one of Australia’s most eligible bachelors. His success and wealth make him no stranger to the complications of romantic relationships and that’s why he goes to extreme measures to avoid the hassle. He prefers simplicity in the form of a beautiful female companion with no strings attached. He arranges relationships like business deals and they’re always the same. No long term relationships. No real names. It’s his game and his rules. He’s content to play as usual, but when Laurelyn Prescott enters his life, his strategy must change because this player is like none he's ever encountered. His world is turned on its head after he begins a three month affair with the beautiful American musician. Nothing goes according to plan and as he breaks more and more of his own rules for her, she’s exceptionally close to becoming something he never thought possible. His ultimate game changer.
10. The Education of Caroline, Jane Harvey-Berrick (This is the sequel to The Education of Sebastian which left me needing to know what happens next for this couple. Warning: in the first book he's underage and she's married.)
Ten years after their broken affair, Sebastian and Caroline meet again: this time in very different circumstances, against the background of the war in Afghanistan. Now a successful journalist, Caroline meets Chief Sebastian Hunter, US Marine. Will this chance encounter rekindle the erotic madness of her passionate affair with a younger man? 11.Dark Without You, Sue Lyndon (It was released in 2012 but it kept getting pushed to the bottom of my reading list. Not anymore! This is a Domestic Discipline spanking book that I have to read.)
Alice Grove owes her brother a lot. After all, he adopted her after their parents died and worked several jobs just to keep food on the table. When he asks for her help keeping a musician from the band he manages happy until the end of their tour, Alice is more than willing. She'll do just about anything to please the enigmatic drummer she's had a crush on since they were kids.
Andy Steel detests life in the limelight. Touring for weeks on end with no company besides his fellow band members, trashy girls, and an endless supply of booze doesn't suit his old-fashioned ideals. He aches to have a long-lasting relationship with just one woman--but not just any relationship. He expects obedience inside and outside of the bedroom, and he won't hesitate to enforce his rules by giving his woman a good spanking. When he meets up with his childhood friend Alice in Chicago, all grown up and aiming to please, Andy knows the heat they generate is something special. Until he hears about Alice's real reasons for joining the tour, and until she skips town without so much as a good-bye. Andy has no qualms about chasing after her, but he may not like what he discovers along the way.
12.This Is Who I Am, Cherise Sinclair (The next Masters of Shadowland book! I have been waiting a VERY LONG TIME for this.)
*no blurb available but it's release date is mate May*
13.Pup, SJD Peterson (*sigh* How I love all of Peterson's men... I can't even put it into words. If you like m/m, you are missing out by not reading her series. This newest series is off-the-charts HOT!)
Micah “Pup” Slayde knows he wants Tackett Austin the moment he lays eyes on him in the Guards of Folsom. Micah wants to have purpose, to be taken care of, and to take care of his Dom—wants to trust him completely, live for him, belong to him. To become his everything. Micah is sure Tackett is the one. The problem is, in order to be the perfect sub, he needs to stay focused, and that’s not easy for Micah, who suffers from what he refers to as a “broken brain.” Focus and adult attention deficit disorder rarely coexist.
Ever since Ty Callahan and Blake Henderson’s collaring ceremony, Tackett’s been thinking too much about his own loneliness. Even though Ty introduces Micah and urges Tackett to give him a try, Tackett isn’t so easily convinced. He’s spent his life pursuing a successful business career, and the subs he dominates almost never enjoy the kiss of his leather twice. Twenty years Micah’s senior, Tackett has no interest in taking on and taming such a young and naughty sub—but it’s difficult to resist such an adorable pup when he begs.
OKAY - that's my Spring TBR list. I showed you mine! Now you show me yours! COMMENT and share books you plan to read this Spring. - Rebecca
Howdy ho - humpday posse! Spring is in the air: the sun is shining, the air is warm and the pollen has me checking out my TBR pile and thinking "can do!" It's so exciting to think about all the fab books out there just waiting to dazzle and delight, terrorize and titillate. Before launching in however, I am a bit peckish - I think I need just a bite of everyone's favorite calorie free treat. Yumm-o eye candy! Woohoo!!
A quick shout out to my baby bro who is celebrating his birthday in Dakha, Bangladesh today - he's a world away but I am sure he will find time to enjoy a quick yoga session and maybe a good book! Ah well, a big sis can dream, right?
So, onward and upward - my collection is eclectic (did you expect any less?) and I'll try to keep it organized.
1) Spring means clean up time. I need to get back to my beloved Lara Adrian's Midnight Breed books - I am down a couple right now and Edge of Dawn was just released so it's the perfect time to catch up!
2) And let us not forget Charlene Harris has decided to wrap up her Sookie Stackhouse series with this spring's long awaited Dead Ever After. Will it be Bill or Eric or will Sookie be the proverbial cheese who stands alone????
3) Committed to the gritty urban fantasy world created by Jennifer Estep, I have tucked the latest Gin Blanco installment in my spring bin. Last left off, her relationship with sis was good, work was steady and her steady was??????
4) Speaking of series that I am committed to, I seem to be in a vampire vortex! Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake's 22nd (!) installment brings more Anita drama-lama and sexy shifterness! Rachel Caine's Morganville Vamps have a 14th (!) novel - a true guilty indulgence, this YA series is smart and sassy and totally sucks you in! Of course, Lynsay Sands's Argeneau family delivered number 18 this winter and 19 comes out at the end of summer - maybe too late for spring reads but it went with the long running vampy goodness theme!
5) If you haven't heard by now, we Ndulgent bloggers love us some Darynda Jones - adult or YA, print or audiobook, she grabs you by the shirt and tosses you down a rabbit hole that has you giggling and snorting the whole way! Thank god, for Charley Davidson (and Reyes Fallow - hottest son of Satan EVER!)
6) I snagged this new YA on one of the many FB boards advertising free daily reads - folks, this is an amazing way to get hooked on new authors. Daily emails alerting you to one day (or couple day) only specials that will have you snagging sequels like crazy! This one caught my fancy -
What if you knew when someone was going to die? For seventeen-year-old Ember, life is death. With a simple touch, she knows when someone will die. It's her curse and the reason she secludes herself from the world. The only person who knows her secret is her best friend Raven.
Then she meets Asher Morgan. He's gorgeous, mysterious, and is the only person Ember can't sense death from. So when he pushes into her life, she doesn't mind.
But when unexplained deaths start to haunt her town, Ember starts questioning why she can't sense Asher's death and what he may be hiding. 7) Kilty goodness - new Maya Banks. Sigh.... 'Nuff said.
8) Is there ever enough Katie MacAllister? My hero, having forged through personal tragedy to continue to provide me, a lowly fan (among millions) with yet another witty, quirky yet sexy romantic adventure, I simply cannot wait for her upcoming release, Time Thief!
9) Ms. Christy hooked me on the hilarious Molly Harper - she has quickly found out that we share a love of the lighter, funnier side of paranormal romance. And there is nothing funnier than hillbilly twang added in! My Bluegrass Baby should guarantee to please - and audio narrator Amanda Ronconi has become the voice of Molly Harper (like Loralei King/CJ Critt for Janet Evanovich!) so much that I hear her in my head when I read in print!
10) And, lastly, just because everything she write is fantasy chocolate for the soul - Gena Showalter has a new series. Yes, I think I was aware the first book came out last fall but I was swamped with reads and reviews and must have back burnered it out of sight/mind. So, with the release of Beauty Awakened - I will have a two-fer special, Wicked Nights and Beauty Awakened - new Angels of the Dark series to keep me firmly glued to a lounge chair and settled in for a long, spring day's read!
Hope you take some ideas with you - enjoy and indulge! What do you have planned this spring????
Okay so I know I am a little late and this was supposed to post on Tuesday but dang it life just keeps interrupting my personal time. The kids want dinner and clean clothes, all in the same week...what's up with that?? Baseball/softball season is upon us as well, so things are going to be crazy for the next couple of months and Lord knows I LOVE eating dinner at 8:00 o'clock at night. Of course all it's going to take is one more complaint about something I make and I will be going on a dinner strike again. Usually one week of them being responsible for dinner every night gets me a couple of months with no complaints.
Enough about dinner and baseball and kids...let's talk about BOOKS BABY! Here is what I am looking forward to in no particular order:
Elemental Series by Brigid Kemmerer Storm, Book 1 Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys; all the ones she doesn't want. Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They're powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.
And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.
Secrets are hard to keep when your life's at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who's hiding the most dangerous truth of all.
The storm is coming.
So I found this series as I was perusing B&N yesterday and it sounds really interesting. I am on a little bit of a YA kick right now thanks to Mr. Darynda Jones and her Darklight series. Can't wait to sink into this one.
Highlander Most Wanted by Maya Banks Montgomerys and Armstrongs #2 In Highlander Most Wanted, a reclusive woman content to live in the shadows shows a Highland warrior the true meaning of love.
Genevieve McInnes is locked behind the fortified walls of McHugh Keep, captive of a cruel laird who takes great pleasure in ruining her for any other man. Yet when Bowen Montgomery storms the gates on a mission of clan warfare, Genevieve finds that her spirit is bent but not broken. Still, her path toward freedom remains uncertain. Unable to bear the shame of returning to a family that believes her dead or to abandon others at the keep to an imposing new laird, Genevieve opts for the peaceful life of an abbess. But Bowen’s rugged sensuality stirs something deep inside her that longs to be awakened by his patient, gentle caress—something warm, wicked, and tempting.
Bowen seizes his enemy’s keep, unprepared for the brooding and reclusive woman who captures his heart. He’s enchanted by her fierce determination, her unusual beauty, and her quiet, unfailing strength. But wooing her will take more than a seasoned seducer’s skill. For loving Genevieve, he discovers, means giving her back the freedom that was stolen from her—even if it means losing her forever.
I know this one has been out for a while but other books kept jumping in front of it. I also know every time I read a Scottish historical that is all I want to read for a while so I am trying to stock pile them.
Which brings us to:
Seducing the Highlander, by Michele Sinclair
McTiernay's #5
Of the seven McTiernay brothers sworn to protect their Scottish Highlands, Craig is most willing to place duty before love—until he's enchanted by the last woman he expects...
Bound By Honor
Meriel Schellden knows that marrying Craig McTiernay will strengthen the ties between their clans. She insists she is motivated by duty and responsibility, nothing more. But when a mere formality becomes a kiss far from platonic, Meriel must question where her true intentions lie.
Tempted By Desire
Though Meriel entices him far more than she realizes, Craig's commitments have always kept his passions restrained. But no sense of duty to his clan can make Craig forget the way Meriel's touch left him teased, tantalized, and desperate for more. Now as a surprising rival contends for Meriel's affections, there has never been a better time to listen to what his heart has desired all along.
And:
The Hunter by Monica McCarty
Highland Guard #7
Prized for his unbeatable tracking skills, Ewen “Hunter” Lamont accepts a dangerous assignment: locate a missing undercover courier. But this is no ordinary target. Ewen has met his prey before as “Sister Genna,” a fiery, forbidden woman forever etched in his memory after one stolen, sinful kiss. Now that he knows her real identity, he’s more determined than ever to keep her safe. But without the protection of the veil between them, fighting the allure of the beautiful lass may be the toughest battle this extraordinary warrior has ever faced.
They have the power to hold you spellbound, to captivate your senses, and to keep you forever in their control. Forever enthralled…
#1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh returns to her sensual world of the Breeds…as one stubborn Breed meets her match, and can no longer deny her mate—or the fierce desires of her own heart.
New York Times bestselling author Alyssa Day introduces the League of the Black Swan…and the dangerous game one woman plays when her family’s curse dooms her to kill the man she loves.
New York Times bestselling author Meljean Brook delivers a new story in her steampunk world of the Iron Seas…as a man who’s lost everything returns home to find that not only is his marriage in jeopardy, but he must now fight air pirates who intend to steal his one remaining treasure—his wife.
And Lucy Monroe, national bestselling author of the Children of the Moon novels…unleashes the feral passions of a werewolf on the body, mind, and soul of his prey, his lover, his lifemate.
I think I am in Breed withdrawals so I am very excited about this book. I also think it might be Ely's book and LORD knows that Breed needs some loving!
Into This River I Drown by TJ Klune
At once an exploration of grief and faith, Into This River I Drown is one man's journey into the secrets of his father and discovering the strength to believe in the impossible.
Five years ago, Benji Green lost his beloved father, Big Eddie, who drowned when his truck crashed into a river. All called it an accident, but Benji thought it more. However, even years later, he is buried deep in his grief, throwing himself into taking over Big Eddie's convenience store in the small town of Roseland, Oregon. Surrounded by his mother and three aunts, he lives day by day, struggling to keep his head above water.
But Roseland is no ordinary place.
With ever-increasing dreams of his father's death and waking visions of feathers on the surface of a river, Benji's definition of reality is starting to bend. He thinks himself haunted, but whether by ghosts or memories, he can no longer tell. It's not until the impossible happens and a man falls from the sky and leaves the burning imprint of wings on the ground that he begins to understand that the world around him is more mysterious than he could have possibly imagined. It's also more dangerous, as forces beyond anyone's control are descending on Roseland, revealing long hidden truths about friends, family, and the man named Calliel who Benji is finding he can no longer live without.
I have been holding off on this one because I know it's going to make me cry big snotty wookie faces...even TJ's books that make me LMAO make me cry.
Ben by Toni Griffin
Atherton Pack #2
Still suffering from nightmares due to the abuse he endured at the hands of his previous Alpha, Tommy Morgan is trying to come to terms with life and a newly found mate. The last thing Benjamin Taylor, Panneath Alpha of Australia, expected to find was his other half, bloody and broken at the hands of another Alpha. Now months later Ben is more than happy just to sit at his mate’s side while he gets his life together again and begins to accept their mating. Threatening e-mails though, set to put a hold on their happiness as someone wants revenge for the death of Alpha Kegan Wallis.
LOVE Toni Griffin and her Were's. I already have this book pre-purchased!
So there is a small sampling of what I have planned for the next couple of months. Hopefully I have mentioned something that wasn't on your list but has piqued your interest.
Our assignment for this week is to give you a sampling of our To Be Read List. I have to say mine is quite extensive. Prior to the last 9 months I was able to find at least a hour a day to read and could knock out about 100 pages - now I'm lucky to get in a audible book once a week. But I hope to get back in my routine soon. At the top of my list is -
Teresa Morgan's stand-alone book, The Earl with the Dragon Tattoo. Her book, Strange Academy, is one of my all time favorites and I'm excited to get to this and review it as soon as possible.
In a dead tie for what to read next are the next in the Sullivan Series by Bella Andre, Always on my Mind, and her stand alone book, One Perfect Night.
These three - along with a book that a publisher sent us, which as of yet I don't know anything about, will be my next four "free day" reviews.
Of course that brings me to our book of the month for April. We are all very excited about the next in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, which is our April Book. I have never read a M/M book so I have no idea what to expect. It should be very interesting. I love the series and of course J. R. Ward is beyond talented. It will be fun to see what happens next. I just hope it is not quite as dark as the last two. They are very well done but a bit exhausting.
The remaining books that top my back log list of "I must read soon or my head is going to split in two" are Kerrelyn Sparks, Vampire with a Dragon Tattoo; Christine Feehan's most recent in both her Dark and Ghost Walker Series; Lyndsay Sands, One Lucky Vampire and of course Molly Harper's new stand alone - My Bluegrass Baby. Hopefully I will get to all of these soon. I may have to break down and purchase them on audible even though they have been auto-delivered already to my kindle. Sigh...
I just got caught up yesterday on Jeaniene Frost's newest, Twice Tempted! So check back next monday for my review on it.
Hope these give you some ideas to add to your TBR list. Enjoy and best wishes for a great monday!
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