Humpday Hello - Have you Picked Your Pleasure today?

Humpday greetings my Indulgent friends.  Glad you're back for more of the July book club selection! Since Tyra already made the connection to Choose Your Own Adventure books, I don't know if I can come up with anything else to really explain this little treat!  I can honestly say this is a summer time read if ever there was one.   Even more fun was discussing this at bookclub - watching five women all come up with completely different story outcomes!  Now that was worth it!  Can't wait to hear Kim's opinion on Friday (soccer strikes again)!!!

Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of this book!

Pick Your Pleasure, Jayne Rylon 

PYP #1

Ever read a book and wish the heroine hadn’t done that, gone there, or slept with that guy? Well, now you’re in charge. The reader decides what happens here.

Tailor your perfect short story or be adventurous and read through all the different paths to see where life can take you…if you choose.

Go ahead, pick your pleasure.

…

Linley Lane, CEO of Lane Technologies, has had enough of blah dates. When she decides to shake things up with a visit to an underground sex club she’s heard rumors about, she realizes she’s way out of her league. This is no usual hookup spot.

Presented with two potential guides for the night—men who turn her on more in a matter of minutes than a year of lame dating in her high-class circles did—she’s got some tough decisions to make about how she wants to spend the rest of her evening and just how dirty she intends to get.

Will she choose to be romanced by a sexy gentleman? Or will she indulge the rare anonymity Underground affords to revel in wild excess with a like-minded rebel? And where will they go from there?

Everything is up to you.

Review:

Jayne Rylon - you naughty girl!  How'd you think of taking a kid's book concept and turning it into juicy grownup fun?  And even better, there are chances to go back and try different choices.  A reader can dip her toe in, or jump in the deep end....apparently I was the deep end girl of the group!  

Like Tyra, I'm a sucker for the bad boy.  Chase sounded like a lovely man, but way too vanilla for a woman who set off to indulge in a night of hot and anonymous sex!  For this girl, Ryder was just what the doctor ordered.  Like they say, go big or go home - so I went ALL the way to the Basement and found some very exciting adventures.  They were so much fun, I broke down and went up when I ran out of options! 

Well written, with interesting characters and very creative paths to wend through, Pick you Pleasure is the perfect length for a summer pool read - just don't forget to bring your ice water and a fan!  Then later on, you can try another path, another room, heck - another man!  Truly a Guilty Indulgence for your keeper shelf!

Please leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Pick Your Pleasure!!!

 RATING: 4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries. 

Pick Your Pleasure by Jayne Rylon

If you are my age, which I am not going to state here, but if you are you will remember the choose your own adventure books. If you have fond memories of these you will LOVE this book from Jayne Rylon. We met Jayne originally at Lora Leigh's RAW several years ago and ran into her again at RomFest this year and as soon as I heard the concept of this book I knew it would be a winner for book club. When you have 5-8 different women reading a book you are going to get that many opinions about what should have happened and who she should have picked. This way we all got the book we wanted and it was interesting to see how many different variations we ended up with.

Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of this book!

Pick Your Pleasure, Jayne Rylon 
PYP #1
Ever read a book and wish the heroine hadn’t done that, gone there, or slept with that guy? Well, now you’re in charge. The reader decides what happens here.

Tailor your perfect short story or be adventurous and read through all the different paths to see where life can take you…if you choose.

Go ahead, pick your pleasure.
…
Linley Lane, CEO of Lane Technologies, has had enough of blah dates. When she decides to shake things up with a visit to an underground sex club she’s heard rumors about, she realizes she’s way out of her league. This is no usual hookup spot.

Presented with two potential guides for the night—men who turn her on more in a matter of minutes than a year of lame dating in her high-class circles did—she’s got some tough decisions to make about how she wants to spend the rest of her evening and just how dirty she intends to get.

Will she choose to be romanced by a sexy gentleman? Or will she indulge the rare anonymity Underground affords to revel in wild excess with a like-minded rebel? And where will they go from there?
Everything is up to you.


Review:
This is such a great concept for a romance. Lots of fun and I have to say I went back and read several different versions.

I knew as soon as I met the boys that I was going to be choosing Ryder. Oh man, he just had Take Control Alpha Male written all over him. And he did not disappoint! I will admit to only going down one level on the first read, but then I went back and went ALL the way to the Basement and enjoyed every moment.

As soon as I was finished I went to see if there was another book and was very excited to see that Henry's book is next. He may have only had a few lines but I have to tell you that I was completely intrigued by him and needed to know more!

The book is very well written and you get a lot of story in just a few pages. If you are looking for a quick sexy read that you can change up again and again then Pick Your Pleasure needs to be in your library!

Please leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Pick Your Pleasure!!!

 RATING: 4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries. 

Pick your Pleasure and enjoy our book of the month!

For our book of the month we decided to shake things up a bit and try Jayne Rylon's Pick Your Pleasure!  

Ever read a book and wish the heroine hadn’t done that, gone there, or slept with that guy? Well, now you’re in charge. The reader decides what happens here.

Tailor your perfect short story or be adventurous and read through all the different paths to see where life can take you…if you choose.

Go ahead, pick your pleasure.

...

Linley Lane, CEO of Lane Technologies, has had enough of blah dates. When she decides to shake things up with a visit to an underground sex club she’s heard rumors about, she realizes she’s way out of her league. This is no usual hookup spot.

Presented with two potential guides for the night—men who turn her on more in a matter of minutes than a year of lame dating in her high-class circles did—she’s got some tough decisions to make about how she wants to spend the rest of her evening and just how dirty she intends to get.

Will she choose to be romanced by a sexy gentleman? Or will she indulge the rare anonymity Underground affords to revel in wild excess with a like-minded rebel? And where will they go from there?

Everything is up to you.
REVIEW:  We thought this book would make for a interesting book club meeting since with each person's tastes we would all choose a different path - wow, we were right! There weren't two people that even came close to choosing the same paths.  So please be sure and come back daily as each of us will have a very different take on the book since in essence we all read different stories.

Basically the story doesn't have much plot. Linley is wealthy and is having trouble meeting someone that she likes and doesn't just want her for her money.  After countless dates that don't stir her senses she longs for intimacy even if it just for one night.  Not wanting any trouble she asks her body guard for help getting into a exclusive club where she can get her fill without any risk of problems the next day.  Once she enters the club your opportunity to start making choices begins.  She can leave or go home.  If you choose to stay, then you get to choose between two men.  I chose the more "All American, Executive, Cultered, Good Boy" type.  He is your typical hero that is classy yet hot in the bedroom.  Her other choice was more of the bad boy, slightly biker type, which would have led onto the more wild paths.  Since I didn't choose him I can't speak to that part of the book.  On the path I choose she then had choices of what the next places in the club they visited together and how intense things got or which experiences she/the reader wanted to have.  All in all it was a fun and different type of book.  It was well written but at it's heart was really about sex.  There isn't much plot and for that reason I found the ending of the book irritating in that the author felt the need to give the couple a happily ever after.   There just wasn't enough dialogue to warrant the ending.  If you go back and read all of the different paths the book is a decent length but each path on it's own is relatively short.  This is a fun quick read and a nice way to shake things up a bit.

CONTEST:  Please post your comments below for your chance to win a copy!!!

RATING: Four Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

Many thanks.

Give Us Some Lovin... Bloglovin!

On July 1st, Google Reader left blogland. We don't know why Google Reader is gone. We cried over it, insisted it couldn't possibly be true but a fact is a fact. Once we finally accepted it though, we found another RSS reader to love.

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Indulgent #REVIEW of Mutual Release by Liz Crowe @beerwencha2

Mutual Release (Stewart Realty #7) by Liz Crowe is an epic love story about two dark souls creating light.

As president of her own distribution company, Julie Dawson has all she ever wanted -- money, power, and respect. But her carefully crafted façade conceals a torment of abuse and helplessness. After years remaining emotionally aloof, she is finally independent, but alone. Because she refuses to rely on anyone but herself ever again.

Evan Adams is no stranger to success, or personal demons. The horrific trauma that destroyed his twin sister, and tore his family apart, forced him to craft a new life from the ashes of the old. He's content enough, focusing ahead and not dwelling on his murky past. But something important is missing. He knows what that thing is but refuses to acknowledge it.

When a chance encounter brings these two strong-willed but damaged people together , what seems like a long, erotic journey through hell could lead them to a match made in heaven.

REVIEW
MUTUAL RELEASE is a coming of age novel about trust on the long road to love. It started out a bit like a New Adult Romance, morphed into BDSM Romance and then packed some punches and curves near the end. I admit to reading this out of order but... when I realized it, the author assured me herself that it would be okay. I actually got a peek at some of the characters from the series. Now I plan to go back and read the others.

So, anyway, Evan and Julie are complex characters who, on the surface, I couldn't imagine together. Then the author took her flawed characters wrought with guilt and mistrust and brought them together in such a way that had me nodding as it went along. Ms. Crowe creates people, not just book characters. Be prepared for the emotion that comes with it.

FAVORITE QUOTE
"So the things you need to know about me relative to this are," he held up fingers as he counted, "one. I like it rough. Two. I'm in control in the bedroom. I set the stage, I call the shots. You will have an orgasm-several of them, but only when I tell you too. Three. I don't share. You're mine. And four. You have to trust me. Completely. And that is going to be hard for you, I can tell."

RATING: 4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries 
This book was provided to us through NetGalley.

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Finding the truth Friday

It's birthday weekend! My little Jedi knight turns 8 today and my daughter will be 13 on Thursday. We have an awesome Harry Potter themed party scheduled for Sunday the 28th. Which according to J.K. herself is Harry's birthday. Hayden is getting his own Kindle and J has chosen a shopping trip to her happy place Dick's Sporting goods for a pair of shoes of her choice. That shopping trip will be one of the longest of my life. If you're looking for me I will be the one sitting in the shoe section with a book. LOL

The Darkest Lie by Gena Showalter

Forced to his knees in agony whenever he speaks the truth, Gideon can recognize any lie—until he captures Scarlet, a demon-possessed immortal who claims to be his long-lost wife. He doesn’t remember the beautiful female, much less wedding — or bedding — her. But he wants to . . . almost as much as he wants her.

But Scarlet is keeper of Nightmares, too dangerous to roam free, and a future with her could mean ultimate ruin. Especially as Gideon’s enemies draw closer . . . and the truth threatens to destroy all he’s come to love . . .

I thought I would have a hard time reading this book because of having to translate Gideon's lies. But surprisingly enough I didn't have a problem just a few times I had to re-read a sentence or two but that was probably reader error. LOL All in all I didn't mind reading this book. You get a peak into Aman's and Strider's books to come. As always my favorite part of these books is that the story moves along. New pieces of information always make an impression on the progress of the story. I must day that the introduction of Mnemosyne flipped Scarlet's and Gideon's world upside down!

I give this book 3 chocolate dipped strawberries and a nightlight because if you're going to have nightmares you're gonna need a nightlight!
PEACE

A REAL #REVIEW

REAL (Real, Raw & Ripped #1) by Katy Evans is freakin' hot.

A fallen boxer.
A woman with a broken dream.
A competition…

He even makes me forget my name. One night was all it took, and I forgot everything and anything except the sexy fighter in the ring who sets my mind ablaze and my body on fire with wanting…

Remington Tate is the strongest, most confusing man I’ve ever met in my life.

He’s the star of the dangerous underground fighting circuit, and I’m drawn to him as I’ve never been drawn to anything in my life. I forget who I am, what I want, with just one look from him. When he’s near, I need to remind myself that I am strong–but he is stronger. And now it’s my job to keep his body working like a perfect machine, his taut muscles primed and ready to break the bones of his next opponents . . .

But the one he’s most threatening to, now, is me. I want him. I want him without fear. Without reservations. If only I knew for sure what it is that he wants from me?

REVIEW
Remi is one of my new book boyfriends and Real has a coveted place on my favorites shelf. The story is powerful, the emotion authentic and some of the scenes are electric. Just imagine this: A boxer and his physical therapist. A Rubdown after every workout. It's freakin' hot!

The evolving relationship is undeniable and yet the fight these two characters put up in the denying is what nearly undoes them. When finally they're together -and it takes awhile- and readers think all is well, the story takes yet another turn.

There are some darker issues lying beneath that are portrayed without the clinical diagnosis in so many books - the understanding of the disorder given from the characters perspective was done well. As Remy learns to trust Brooke, he opens up to her and it seems as if her affection (or love) for him serves as a balm. It's really a beautiful thing.

I'm eagerly awaiting book two!






RATING
5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

FAVORITE QUOTE
“I don't want to be yours. I want to be your fucking REAL." -Remy

SERIES RELEASE DATES
REAL May 2013
MINE Nov 2013
REMY Nov 2013
RAW Feb 2014
RIPPED April 2014

A #REVIEW of Jet

Jet (Marked Men #2) by Jay Crownover is another story of Opposites Attract.

BLURB
With his tight leather pants and a sharp edge that makes him dangerous, Jet Keller is every girl’s rock and roll fantasy. But Ayden Cross is done walking on the wild side with bad boys. She doesn’t want to give in to the heat she sees in Jet’s dark, haunted eyes. She’s afraid of getting burned from the sparks of their spontaneous combustion, even as his touch sets her on fire.

Jet can’t resist the Southern Belle with mile-long legs in cowboy boots who defies his every expectation. Yet the closer he feels to Ayden, the less he seems to know her. While he’s tempted to get under her skin and undo her in every way, he knows firsthand what happens to two people with very different ideas about relationships.

Will the blaze burn into an enduring love. . . or will it consume their dreams and turn them to ashes?

REVIEW
This book is more than a story of a pierced, tattooed and gorgeous rocker falling in love with a sweet country girl. Ayden is a well-rounded heroine with depth. She's flawed, independent and determined to protect the people she loves. Jet *sigh* is a hot, hot, hot hero. He's a talented musician, self-sufficient and misunderstood. His broody and sensitive side make me want to hug him and, like Ayden, he's flawed and he's been hurt. He also gives up a lot to protect the people he loves.

It's when they both decide they're worth putting first that their love can explode. And speaking of explosions, the sex scenes are steamy. You have to read this book (hell, the whole series) if you like rockers, tattoos, piercings, new adult romance or any combination of the above.

RATING
5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

Fallen Angel Friday

I can't believe it's almost August already. I need to read faster so I ca;n complete my summer to be read list. I get all caught up (or at least as caught up as I can get) and I look at my calender and I'm behind again. With this series by Gena Showalter I'm so close to being caught up before the next book at the end of this month!I can't read fast enough!


The Darkest Passion by Gena Showalter

For weeks, the immortal warrior Aeron has sensed an invisible female presence. An angel--a demon-assassin--has been sent to kill him. Or has she? Olivia claims she fell from the heavens, giving up immortality because she couldn't bear to harm him. But trusting - and falling for - Olivia will endanger them all. So how has this 'mortal' with the huge blue eyes already unleashed Aeron's darkest passion?

Now, with an enemy hot on his trail and his faithful demon companion determined to remove Olivia from his life, Aeron is trapped between duty and consuming desire. Worse still, a new executioner has been sent to do the job Olivia wouldn't...

I'll admit that this was not my favorite book in this series. I was kinda bummed because Aeron is my favorite Lord. Don't get me wrong it wasn't horrible just not my favorite. I think it's because I wasn't a fan of Olivia. Although it was cool that Aeron falls in love with an angel it drove me crazy that she threw herself at him. But I have to say that she defiantly has more balls than I. I could never be that straight forward. My favorite thing about this series is that the plot moves along from book to book. Each book reveals new information needed in the struggle to bring peace. I also love how little bits of the other Lords lives seep in and give you a peek into what's in store for them. Lies Lies Lies!

I give this book 3 chocolate dipped strawberries and a gift card for Olivia to the ABC store. She likes to drink.
PEACE

A #REVIEW of Rule

Rule (Marked Men #1) by Jay Crownover is more than just a story of Opposites Attract. 

BLURB
Shaw Landon loved Rule Archer from the moment she laid eyes on him. Rule is everything a straight--A pre-med student like Shaw shouldn’t want--and the only person she’s never tried to please. She isn’t afraid of his scary piercings and tattoos or his wild attitude. Though she knows that Rule is wrong for her, her heart just won’t listen.

To a rebel like Rule Archer, Shaw Landon is a stuck-up, perfect princess-and his dead twin brother’s girl. She lives by other people’s rules; he makes his own. He doesn’t have time for a good girl like Shaw-even if she’s the only one who can see the person he truly is.

But a short skirt, too many birthday cocktails, and spilled secrets lead to a night neither can forget. Now, Shaw and Rule have to figure out how a girl like her and a guy like him are supposed to be together without destroying their love . . . or each other.

REVIEW
This book was recommended when a few of us attended RomFest 2013 and sat in on a session on tattoos and piercings. The session was good (and helped me to recognize the placement of Rule's piercings... lol) but this recommendation was even better. I loved this story, felt like I was among friends. The characters were warm and multi-dimensional, both the main characters and the secondary ones.

The love story was so good because it was more than the usual formula of the romance genre. These two jumped off the page and lived their own lives while coming together as a couple. They overcame obstacles both together and apart. I was cheering them on.

Marked Men is one of the top series in the New Adult sub-genre without a doubt.

RATING
5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

Yes, Sir by Ellis Carrington

Yes, Sir, Ellis Carrington
A New Orleans vacation takes an interesting turn when Grayson Harper lets a friend drag him along to see a voodoo priestess for a love spell. Suddenly he's having very vivid dreams about a mystery man that seem all too real, and doing things in them he never thought possible. But what will become of the man of his dreams once he leaves the magic of the French quarter?

O.M.H. hottest story I have read in forever. Ellis Carrington's voice grabbed me in the first paragraph and I just sat back and enjoyed the ride! Really interesting and unique storytelling technique with the dreams.

Gray is a workaholic who can't or won't let go. When his lifelong friend takes him to a voodoo shop in the Quarter he just laughs and doesn't take it seriously. Until the dreams start....dreams that take him to a place so far out of his comfort zone sexually that there is no way they can be real....right?

This book is sensual and erotic and so damn steamy that you will be fanning yourself hours after finishing it!

RATING: 5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries.
This book was given to us by the author. Many thanks.

Finding Ashlynn by Zoe Lynne

Finding Ashlynn, Zoe Lynne, Harmony Ink Press
Being True #1
Every Friday night, Jenna and her best friend, Stella, attend their local LGBTQ youth group meeting. It’s a great place for support and friendship, but Jenna wants to fall in love. In walks Ashlynn, a purple-haired girl who wants to know how bad coming out of the closet can be.

Living in two different worlds, Jenna and Ash have vastly different ideas about the difference between sex and love, the definition of virginity, and how to face a world out in the open where they can admit their true feelings… whatever they may be.

A Harmony Ink Press Young Adult Title.

Jenna is out and has the support and love of her family, what she doesn't have is someone special in her life. Until a certain pink haired, from the wrong side of the tracks, rocker chick comes into her life. Jenna is very attracted to Ashlynn but isn't sure how the shy girl feels about her.

Ashlynn is smitten from the moment she meets Jenna but after one visit to Jenna's house she is convinced that Jenna could never really like a poor girl from a broken home.

Can a girl from the wrong side of the tracks find happiness, love and most importantly acceptance?

LOVED LOVED LOVED Ashlynn. Her quite, shy personality especially around Jenna's parents was so sweet to read. Her embarrassment about where and how she lived read very true for someone of her age. 

A strong cast of secondary characters helped round out and add depth to the overall story. I am very interested in Stella's story but have a feeling it's going to break my heart. I am happy to see stories that are centered around a safe place where GLBTQ kids can go and make friends and wish something like this was available everywhere. 

 Zoe Lynne writes like she has tapped into the mind of a teenage girl so the dialogue and situations in the book don't feel contrived but could be happening in any high school anywhere. A great book for the young adult set and can't wait for the next in the series!

RATING: 4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries This book was given to us by Harmony Ink Press. Many thanks.

Open to the Past by Silvia Violet

Open to the Past, Silvia Violet, MLR Press
Mixed Tape Series
Can a high school crush become a happily ever after?

Twenty years ago, Paxton Marshall realized he liked boys, in particular his brother's best friend, Brad. In the intervening years, Pax accepted his sexuality and followed his dream of becoming a professional artist, but he's never found anyone who stirs his heart the way Brad did. Now Brad is back in their hometown for his twentieth reunion. He surprises Pax with the news that he's gay. When he asks Pax to the mock prom his reunion committee is hosting, Pax decides to see if opening up to the past will lead to love or heartbreak.

This story is also available in Mixed Tape Series Volume #3


Being a child of the 80's when I first heard about this collection of short stories based on prompts of songs from that decade I was THRILLED!! So, not only do I get to read yummy stories of men falling in love but I also get to have that particular song running through my mind while I read about said yummy goodness...SIGN ME UP!

This was a great story that fit it's song, Open Your Heart, perfectly. I loved Brad's" not taking no for an answer" attitude and the way that he finally coaxed Pax into opening his heart was sweet and thoughtful. It was interesting to see the reactions of the high school friends when they showed up at the mock prom but I have to say WORSE prom idea EVER. LOL

I would really like to see a follow up story with these two characters, but then I always want to know more about the couples I read about and fall in love with.

RATING: 5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries.  This book was given to us by the author. Many thanks.

Stranded with a Billionaire REVIEW

Stranded with a Billionaire (Billionaire Boys Club #1) by Jessica Clare was sparkling with chemistry.

The Billionaire Boys Club is a secret society of six men who have vowed success – at any cost. Not all of
them are old money, but all of them are incredibly wealthy. They’re just not always as successful when it comes to love…

Billionaire Logan Hawkings needs a vacation.
He’s had a rough time after the death of his father and the betrayal of his fiancée. But with a visit to a recent business acquisition—a private island resort in the Bahamas—he has a chance to mend his broken heart.
When a hurricane blows in, a misplaced passport and a stalled elevator bring Logan together with an unusual woman named Bronte. She’s unlike anyone he’s ever met—down to earth, incredibly sensual, and even quotes Plato. She also has no clue that he’s rich…

Bronte Dawson, a waitress from the Midwest, is stranded with the hotel’s domineering yet sexy manager Logan. What’s the harm in a little fling when it’s just the two of them, alone in paradise? But after several steamy island nights in Logan’s arms, Bronte’s ready to give her heart—and her body—to the man in charge.

But she soon discovers there’s more to Logan than he’s told her…a billion times more. Now, Bronte’s caught in a whirlwind affair with one of the world’s most powerful men. But can their love endure their differences or will it all just blow over?

REVIEW
This book was a feel good love story, a great beach read. It lacked any of that heart-stopping zing I crave but the lighter edge would delight any sweet romance readers. The premise was fun -being stuck in an elevator and then stranded on an island with a sexy stranger- but the overall uniqueness was absent. Characters were written well and were interesting, each with their own individual personalities. The introduction of secondary characters set the stage for future books in the series. Stranded with a Billionaire is a perfect blend between warm-hearted and sexy.

RATING
3 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
This book was provided to us through NetGalley.

Fear, Hope, and Bread Pudding by Marie Sexton

It's been a couple of weeks since I posted a review and for that I apologize. I went through a phase where I just couldn't read anything. I would start a book get a couple of paragraphs in and...nothing. After trying this with several different books I just assumed I needed a break and hoped it would last more than a couple of days, well it last for over two weeks with me and I just about went crazy during that time. Now I have heard of writers block but readers block??? Really??? Thankfully that has passed and I am starting to get caught up on all the books I have purchased over the last several weeks trying to break the drought.

Now I didn't purchase the book that I am about to review but I thought it would be a great way to get back into the swing of things. 

                                                         Fear, Hope, and Bread Pudding

Coda #6

Families should grow, not shrink. It’s been on Jon Kechter’s mind since before he tied the knot with his millionaire lover, Cole Fenton. Now hoping to adopt, Jon and Cole search for a mother-to-be willing to let them love her baby, but the interminable wait is wearing on them both.

Jon is close to his father, George, but until Cole, he didn’t have anyone else. Now George is pushing Cole to reconcile with his estranged mother. When the three of them spend Christmas with her in Munich, the results are disastrous. Jon and Cole resolve to stay positive, but no hope exists without a tinge of fear. Jon and Cole can’t help but wonder if their dream of being parents just wasn’t meant to be.




The Coda series is one of my favorite series of all time and I have loved Cole from book one. I didn't think I could get any happier than when he got his own book. Oh, but I was so wrong! This book is a bowl full of yummy goodness that I will read again and again. It's not all sunshine and rainbows, but it is beautifully written with real emotions that will take you from sadness to elation and everything in-between.

The intense and some what erratic  feelings that both men experienced during the wait to hopefully adopt a child were tangible, add in trying to reconcile with a parent and I am not sure how Cole survived and Jon didn't strangle him.  But reading the extra steps that they had to  take to make sure the child was protected if something happened to one of them made me sad.

I don't know if this is the last book in the series but if it is it was a beautiful way to end and if not I can't wait to see how baby Hope deals with two overprotective dads and all those doting Uncles!

RATING: 5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries This book was given to us by Dreamspinner Press. Many thanks.

Find the Possessed Family Member Friday

It's been another wonderful week of summer. I'm love'n this going home and not having any sports practices. It's gonna be rough getting back into the groove when school starts again. I have also been enjoying getting off at noon on Fridays. Getting here at 7:30 am hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. My kids have been giving me a terrible time this week, Thank Heavens I had this beyond awesome book to chill me out.......

My Big Fat Demon Slayer Wedding by Angie Fox

Lizzie Brown is about to have the destination wedding her dreams. But as this former preschool teacher knows, being a demon slayer makes everything more complicated. The vengeful Earl of Hell is still on her tail. And now it seems that one of the guests at the eccentric, seaside mansion is possessed and trying to kill her. Maybe she should just elope.

The groom, studly shape-shifting griffin Dimitri Kallinikos, vows to protect her at all costs. Yet even he is acting suspicously. And minions of the devil are popping up everywhere. Now Lizzie must protect her socialite mother, her Greek inlaws and her grandmother’s gang of biker witches – all of whom are convinced they know what’s best for her, and her big day. As the wedding draws closer, Lizzie has to learn who is behind the attacks – and fast – or risk losing everyone she loves.

I love this book SOOO MUCH! Read the whole thing in two evenings. Made for a long day at work but well worth it. Lizzie is such a lucky girl. Dimitri is such a catch. For those of us that read this series I believe we all knew this wedding would have some drama but I had no idea it would be so intense. Her buddy the Earl of Hell has possessed someone she loves and I thought I had an idea who it was but I was so wrong. Angie gives a an amazing description of biker witch tea party attire and it turns out that Ant Eater also enjoys using super glue as a threat as do I. I almost fell out of my pool chair when Lizzie's mom Hillary wanted to have the wedding in the garden but away from the fountain that has unicorns with penises! I guess I would avoid that too.

I give this book 10 chocolate dipped strawberries and a new dress for Lizzie. She deserves it.
PEACE

The Forever (Review) of Ella And Micha

The Forever of Ella and Micha (The Secret #2) by Jessica Sorensen

BLURB
Ella and Micha have survived tragedy and heartbreak. When they're together, anything seems possible. But now they are thousands of miles apart, and managing their long distance relationship will put their love to the test.

Ella is back at school, trying hard not worry so much about her future. But with her father in and out of rehab, she's having a hard time making it through the days. All she wants is Micha by her side, but she refuses to let her problems get in the way of his dreams.

Micha spends his days touring the country with his band, but deep down he knows something is missing. Being away from Ella is harder than he thought it would be. He wants her closer to him-needs her with him. But he won't ask her to leave college, just to be with him.

The few moments they do spend together are intense and passionate, but it only makes it more difficult when they have to part. They know they want to be together, but is wanting something enough to get them to their forever?

REVIEW
If you liked The Secret of Ella and Micha, you’ll love this sequel, The Forever of Ella and Micha. It's packed with so much emotion and angst that you won't be able to put it down. Their story flows right along and readers are swept into the pull of these incredibly dimensional characters.

Though Ella and Micha have come so far since the first book, there are still issues they need to overcome. True healing happens in this book and the characters find a way to move forward, stronger together than apart. We get more back story on Micha and this is Ella's chance to be there for him like he always is for her. There were tender moments that made me swoon and smile, and times where my heart clenched for them.

The Forever of Ella and Micha steps up the heat with more sensual love scenes which makes this best for adult audiences. The realistic portrayal of the sexual frustrations at this age are quite realistic. Micha's reactions to Ella when he wants to be intimate is just how guys his age act. The angst only cranks the heat higher but it's the friendship and love that's so strong and tender between them. This book will melt your heart.

**I'm so glad to discover that the two secondary characters (Lila & Ethan) have their story coming out next.**

RATING
5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

The Secret (Review) of Ella and Micha

The Secret of Ella and Micha (The Secret #1) by Jessica Sorensen is a story of a deep friendship and a complicated love.

BLURB
Ella and Micha have been best friends since they were kids. But one tragic night shatters their friendship and their lives forever.

Ella used to be a rule-breaker with fiery attitude who wore her heart on her sleeve. But she left everything behind when she went to college and transformed into someone that follows the rules, keeps everything together, and hides all her problems. But now it's summer break and she has nowhere else to go but home.

Ella fears everything she worked so hard to bury might resurface, especially with Micha living right next door. If Micha tries to tempt the old her back, she knows that it will be hard to resist.

Micha is sexy, smart, confident, and can get under Ella’s skin like no one else can. He knows everything about her, including her darkest secrets. And he’s determined to bring his best friend, and the girl he loves back, no matter what it takes.

New Adult Contemporary with *Mature Content* recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language.

REVIEW
The Secret of Ella And Micha tells the story of two young people with a lifelong friendship but an even more complicated love for one another. It's edgy and dark at times with mature themes that have your heart lurching for these two characters.

There's so much that can get in the way if they let it but Micha won't let Ella hide herself away. He's sexy and confident, and he gets Ella like no one else does. He knows everything about her, including the secret she keeps hidden away, but he’s determined to bring his best friend, and the girl he loves, back from where she hides. His commitment to her is the number one reason readers will fall for him.

The Secret of Ella & Micha pulled at my heart. The story is well crafted and I connected immediately with these young characters. Be warned though, this book isn't a light read. Both Ella and Micha have some serious family issues but the author does an incredible job working through them as the two work to create a life together. The growth and maturing of the characters throughout the book won me over.

RATING
4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

TRAILER

Female troubles Friday

Ahhh... mini vacations oh how I love the! Hope everyone had a safe and fun 4th of July and you're taking today to recuperate from your festivities. Speaking of recuperating, that's what I have to do right after a new release from Sherrilyn Kenyon. I just sit and read non stop. I forget to eat and my house becomes a disaster zone because my kids are left to fend for themselves.

Inferno by Sherrilyn Kenyon

The heat is on, and a new threat to humanity has risen…

Nick has his driver’s license and he’s not afraid to use it. But turning sixteen isn’t what he thought it would be. While other boys his age are worried about prom dates and applying for college, Nick is neck deep in enemies out to stop him from living another day. No longer sure if he can trust anyone, his only ally seems to be the one person he’s been told will ultimately kill him.

But life spent serving the undead is anything except ordinary. And those out to get him have summoned an ancient force so powerful even the gods fear it. As Nick learns to command and control the elements, the one he must master in order to combat his latest foe is the one most likely to destroy him. As the old proverb goes, fire knows nothing of mercy, and if Nick is to survive this latest round, he will have to sacrifice a part of himself. However, the best sacrifice is seldom the sanest move. Sometimes it’s the one that leaves your enemies confused, and you even more so.

And sometimes, you have to trust your enemy to save your friends. But what do you do when that enemy is you?

Not sure what it is about Sherrilyn Kenyon's books that make it impossible for me to put them down but who cares! Keep them coming! Each book gives you a peek into how much power Nick is destined to have and little by little he's learning how to deal with them. As always I feel so bad for Nick. He's a teen age boy trying to deal with the regular high school crap and deal with all the "things" trying to kill him plus there's that little Malachai issue. It's hard for Nick to find people he can trust so when he finds out the one he loves was sent to kill him he is devastated. Which opens the door for new people that want to be in his life. But are they friend or foe and how do you tell? As always I love seeing other character from the Dark Hunter series making an appearance and as you know I spent a stupid amount of time trying to pieces the two series together. If you've read the Dark Hunter series you have to read this one too. It's a must!

I give this book 5 chocolate dipped strawberries and a shout out to Miss Simi for the burn on Casey at the mall...."I thought men traded up not down."
PEACE

13 Reasons to love Entwined With You

Happy July 4th! I picked a book that set off some fireworks for me while I read it - I bet it will for you too! Entwined with You (Crossfire #3) by Sylvia Day was everything I hoped it would be and more. For today's Thursday13, I present my favorite 13 quotes from the book. They are swoon-worthy!

1. “If souls could be mated with wishes, ours would be inextricably entwined.” -Eva
2. “Day One of my life was the day I met you.” -Gideon to Eva (sigh)
3. “Angel, a crowd of millions couldn’t hide you from me. I found you once. I’ll always find you.” -Gideon
4. “There wasn't a second that passed when you weren't on my mind. You own me, Eva. Wherever I am, whatever I'm doing, I belong to you.” -Gideon
5. “I hate to freak you out,” I murmured between desperate kisses, “but you’ve got it real bad for me.” -Eva
6. “From the moment I first saw him— saw through his stunning and impossibly gorgeous exterior to the dark and dangerous man inside— I’d felt the pull that came from finding the other half of myself. I needed him like I needed my heart to beat..." -Eva
7. “The only way for a women to get my attention is to be you” -Gideon
8. “What the hell was I supposed to do, Eva? I didn’t know you existed.” Gideon’s voice deepened, roughened. “If I’d known you were out there, I would’ve hunted you down. I wouldn’t have waited a second to find you..." -Gideon
9. “Gideon was an untamed animal behind closed doors, a lover who bared me to the soul every time he made love to me.” -Eva
10. “More like Cross blew your circuits during one of his sexathons. Still can’t get over that man’s stamina. Wish he’d swing my way and wear me out.” -Cary
12. “I look at you, angel and I want you so badly. I want to be with you, listen to you, talk to you. I want to hear you 
13. laugh and hold you when you cry. I want to sit next to you, breathe the same air, share the same life. I want to 
14. wake up to you like this every day forever. I want you.” -Gideon
15. “Goddamn it. Wait for me, Eva. I waited my whole life for you.” -Gideon

I'm a total sucker for romantic lines (ask my husband - he was a master at them when we dated!) so this little exchange hooked me completely.

13. “I’d stop the world from spinning for you.”

That silly line oddly touched me. “I love you.”

“Liked that one, did you?”

BLURB
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…

REVIEW
I loved the book and (thank God) it's not the end of Eva and Gideon. There's so much going on, so much more to know about these two and their friends that I'm biting my nails as I wait for the next book. Write, Sylvia, write!

Eva and Gideon have captured me with their imperfections and their ability to make each other complete despite so many odds against them. These aren't two perfect people. They have real issues and we get to watch them deal and cope with them like regular people. I can't get enough of them because they give off such a sense of hope that in the end, despite all the BS life throws at us, its being with the one we love that makes life worth the struggles.

RATING
5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

The Education of Caroline #REVIEW

The Education of Caroline (The Education of... #2) by Jane Harvey-Berrick is an amazing, twisting adventure of this couple's journey to find their HEA.

BLURB
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?

REVIEW
I was devastated by the heartbreaking ending of The Education of Sebastian (book #1) and was so grateful I could read the second book immediately. I just knew Sebastian & Caroline were destined for an HEA and had to know how they found one another again. I was not disappointed at all - this book made the tears from the first book worth it.

Still, it was no easy road for this couple. The emotional vacation through Europe - the time spent on the front lines of the war - the home coming neither of them planned... none of it broke them. Stronger through it all, Sebastian & Caroline are one of  my new favorite book couples.

This is one of the rare times when book two is even better than book one. Readers will eat these two books up - just have some tissues handy.

RATING
5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

The Education of Sebastian #REVIEW

The Education of Sebastian (The Education of... #1) by Jane Harvey-Berrick is an unconventional love story that pushes social norms to consider the parameters of romantic love.

BLURB
A friendship between the lost and lonely Caroline, and the unhappy Sebastian, leads to an illicit love that threatens them both.

Caroline Wilson is trapped in a cold and loveless marriage with an older man. When her husband finally wins a long sought-after promotion, Caroline feels she has little choice but to follow him to a new home in San Diego. There she meets Sebastian, a young man of 17.

For an all too brief summer, their happiness blooms. But external pressures begin to bear down, not least from the overbearing David, and Sebastian’s parents begin to suspect that their son has a secret. Even Caroline’s new friend, Donna, realises that dark passions exist below the serene surface.

REVIEW
This book is an unconventional love story that pushes social norms to consider the parameters of romantic love. I adored the two main characters - Sebastian & Caroline - with all their faults and all. Their story was both joyful and painful, beautiful and heartbreaking. There were moments I wanted to scream, others when I couldn't hold back the tears. A story of forbidden love that will inspire some readers and has the potential to offend others but none the less, is so well told, I simply fell in love along with Sebastian & Caroline.

RATING
5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries