First the Microwave then the Washing Machine

First my microwave decided it wanted to go to the appliance graveyard followed quickly by my washing machine. I really can't complain too much, since the washer was used and given to me for free and the microwave was 10 years old. However, having both happen within days of one another really was hard to take. Luckily, I found a great deal on a new microwave at Target last night. I went in ready to pay close to $100 for a new microwave and found the one I really wanted on clearance for only $41.00. Woohoo for me! Now hoping I find a great deal at the scratch & dent store for my washing machine. I'm not looking for a top of the line machine, just one with a delicate cycle and more than one water level for washing.

I will be posting a review about Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas soon. I finished it over the weekend and loved it, but with my washing machine drama, Titan's football drama, and visiting with friends, I haven't had a chance to post a review. Currently reading The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks and although it started slow, the story is starting to pick up.

Sweet Surrender

Sweet Surrender is an erotic romance by Maya Banks. From the back cover.~

Under Faith Malone’s deceptively soft exterior lies a woman who knows exactly what she wants: a strong man who’ll take without asking-because she’s willing to give him everything…

Dallas cop Gray Montgomery is on a mission: find the guy who killed his partner and bring him to justice. So far, he’s found a link between the killer and Faith-and if Gray has to get close to her to catch the killer, so be it.

Faith is sweet and feminine, everything Gray wants and desires in a woman, but he suspects she’s playing games. No way would she allow a man to call the shots in their relationship. Or would she?

Faith sees in Gray the strong, dominant man she needs, but he seems determined to keep her at a distance. So she takes matters into her own hands to prove to him it’s no game she’s playing. She’s willing to surrender to the right man. Gray would like to be that man. But catching his partner’s killer has to be his first priority-until Faith is threatened and Gray realizes he will do anything to protect her…

Sweet Surrender was a super hot and sexy story. The attraction between Gray and Faith is there from their first meeting. Of course, Gray tries as hard as he can to keep their relationship from becoming anything but a business one. However, when Faith gets herself into a sticky yet sexy situation, Gray steps in and moves their relationship to a whole new level. For Gray’s and Faith’s relationship to work long-term, Faith must be willing to surrender completely to Gray in every way. If Faith agrees to Gray’s conditions he promises her she will always be taken care of in every way. Sweet Surrender is classified as an erotic romance. I’ve really only read a few book classified as erotic before this one and really enjoy them. They are much steamier than regular romances, but the story is so well developed that the hotter sex just adds another layer to the story. There were a couple of the sexier scenes that were outside my comfort level in Sweet Surrender, but not so much that I couldn’t read them.

I really enjoyed Sweet Surrender and look forward to reading the other books in this series. Sweet Persuasion is currently out right now with Sweet Seduction scheduled for release in October 2009 and Sweet Temptation scheduled for release in April 2010.

Bad Moon Rising

Bad Moon Rising is the latest book in the Dark-Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. From the inside cover.~

A stunning and suspenseful new landscape emerges in the thrilling Dark-Hunter world-a world where nothing will ever be the same again…

Fang Kattalakis isn’t just a wolf. He is the brother of two of the most powerful members of the Omegrion, the ruling council that enforces the laws of the Were-Hunters, and when war erupts among the lycanthropes, sides must be chosen. Enemies are forced into shaky alliances. And when the woman Fang loves is accused of betraying her people, her only hope is that Fang believes in her. Yet in order to save her, Fang must break the law of his people and the faith of his brothers. That breech could very well spell the end of both their races and change their world forever.

The war is on and time is running out…

I really enjoyed Bad Moon Rising. I had been waiting for Fang and Aimee’s story from the moment they met. There is some re-telling from other books in the series, but I felt it worked since the re-telling was from either Fang’s or Aimee’s point of view. We also get to see the romance between Fang and Aimee from the very beginning. Since Fang is a wolf and Aimee is a bear, there is a little problem with them falling in love. They fight their attraction as long as possible, but eventually give in to their desires.

Between the romance of Fang and Aimee and the many cameo appearances from the various Dark-Hunters, especially Acheron who is my favorite, Bad Moon Rising is another winner in my book. Both One Silent Night and Bad Moon Rising give foreshadowing to a change in the war between the Dark-Hunters and the Daimon. I look forward to direction future books will take.

One Silent Night

One Silent Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon is another book in her Dark-Hunter series. From the back cover.~

Stryker has sent word and is gathering his forces.

While the world carries on unawares, Stryker, who leads an army of demons and vampires, is plotting an all-out onslaught against his enemies-which, unfortunately for us, includes the entire human race.

To avenge his sister, Stryker prepares to annihilate the Dark-Hunters. But things go awry when his oldest enemy returns. Enter his ex-wife Zephyra. Just when he thought nothing could stop him, he’s now embroiled in a century-old war with a shrew who gives new meaning to pain.

New battle lines are being drawn as the Dark-Hunters rally for a final showdown on One Silent Night.

I was so excited to finally get to read Stryker’s book. He is one of my favorite bad boys from this series and I can’t believe I waited this long to finally read his book. One Silent Night is filled with action and romance. Stryker has only loved one woman in his lifetime, his ex-wife Zephyra. However, his father made him give her up and she has never forgiven him. Stryker has also decided it is time to get rid of two of his biggest enemies, Acheron and Nick.

Sherrilyn Kenyon gives the readers another winner with One Silent Night. The romance between Stryker and Zephyra is so sweet, yet very passionate. We finally see how Stryker became the man he is and how the love of one woman, and a daughter he never knew he had, can really change him. Of course, Stryker being Stryker, he will never totally change, but that is one of the reasons I love him. He makes no excuses for who he is.

I also have finished Dream Warrior and hope to post about it in the next couple of days. I can say that I really liked it.

Update to Blog

I plan on posting about at least one of the books I've read over the last couple of weeks. I'm in the middle of Bad Moon Rising by Sherrilyn Kenyon(Fang & Aimee's story I've been waiting for forever), and plan on at least posting about One Silent Night, also by Sherrilyn Kenyon tonight. Will try to get a post up about Dream Warrior and Bad Moon Rising on Thursday. Of course, The Biggest Loser is back tonight on NBC, so all post must be done as soon as I get home. The Biggest Loser is pretty much the only reality show I watch any more and I'm so excited that it is back tonight.

Lack of time and blogging

So, I know it's been several days since my last post, but lack of time is getting in the way of my blogging. Work has been crazy from late last week up until today. Hopefully things will run more smoothly tomorrow, but with our newest software conversion, I'm not holding out much hope. I have been reading each night and even have 2 books to post about in the next couple of days. Luckily, some of the new tv shows will be back on this week(Woohoo for Gossip Girl).

I also hope to get back to posting on all my regular blog stops. I've been lurking more than anything lately and hope to get back to my daily post. I miss my blog friends when I don't get a chance to chat. Hope to get back to posting daily with all my friends.

Hard As Nails

Hard As Nails is an anthology with 3 stories by HelenKay Dimon. From the back cover.~

What's better than a man who's good with his hands? Try a trio of hard-bodied hunks who'll be happy to flip your house, your heart...and anything else you have in mind...

This Old House

Architect Cole Carruthers's mission is simple-visit his company's latest rehab project and cajole the sweet old lady who once owned it into vacating the premises. But the sultry, sledge-hammer-wielding woman he finds is far from old, nor particularly sweet. For reasons she won't reveal, Aubrey Matheson refuses to leave the house she claims is her birthright. As far as Cole's concerned, there's only one thing to do with this squatter:hunker down with her and discover every single one of her sexy secrets...

All About Adam

The last meeting tough-as-nails Becky Carter took with sharp-witted, wicked sexy lawyer and real estate rehabber Adam Thomas culminated in a scorching-hot game of kiss-and-run. Becky was the one running, and she's regretted it ever since. Now Adam's back to do some actual business...or so he says. If Becky has her way, this weekend of negotiation will speed from boardroom to bedroom-and stay there...

Man at the Door

After finding herself famous for all the wrong reasons, artist Erin McHugh just wants to fix up her house, open her art studio, and settle down out of the spotlight. Then job Foreman Ray Hammond walks through her door and Erin recognizes broad-shouldered trouble. Hot, young and always in the news, Ray is everything Erin wanted to avoid. The challenge is how to resist a guy who can build anything, fix anything-and make Erin feel everything...

I loved all three stories in this anthology. Cole, Adam, and Ray are all super sexy, while still being really smart. Aubrey, Becky, and Erin each have something to hide, but are all instantly attracted to their sexy heroes. Watching each couple fall for one another was so sweet, and when they finally did give in to their passion, super hot.

HelenKay gives readers another winner with these three sexy stories.

Practice Makes Perfect

Practice Makes Perfect is the second book to be released by Julie James. From the back cover.~

WHEN IT COMES TO THE LAWS OF ATTRACTION…

Payton Kendall and J.D. Jameson are lawyers who know the meaning of objection. A feminist to the bone, Payton has fought hard to succeed in a profession dominated by men. Born wealthy, privileged, and cocky, J.D. has fought hard to ignore her. Face-to-face, they’re perfectly civil. They have to be. For eight years they have kept a safe distance and tolerated each other as coworkers for one reason only: to make partner at the firm.

…THERE ARE NO RULES.

But all bets are off when they’re asked to join forces on a major case. Though apprehensive at first, they begin to appreciate each other’s dedication to the law-and the sparks between them quickly turn into attraction. But the increasingly hot connection does not last long when they discover that only one of them will be named partner. Now it’s an all out war. And the battle between the sexes is bound to make these lawyers hot under the collar…

I’ll admit I’ve had Practice Makes Perfect in my TBR pile for some time. However, when Stacy did her spotlight on Julie James, everyone made a comment about how much they loved Practice Makes Perfect, and especially J.D., so I had to move it up to the top of my list.

I loved Practice Makes Perfect! The chemistry between Payton and J.D. is amazing. They also were really funny, whether trying to beat each other to the office in the morning or pulling of the better prank against one another. The fireworks really ignite when they are forced to work on a case together that will guarantee one person makes partner and one person looks for another job. Working so close finally allows the chemistry that has always been between them to come to the surface.

I've loved both of Julie's books that I've read so far, and am really looking forward to her next release Something About You, which comes out in March 2010. Julie's books are smart, funny, and very sexy.

Shadowlight: A Novel of the Kyndred

Shadowlight: A Novel of the Kyndred is the first book in a new series by Lynn Viehl. I found this blurb on Shiloh Walker’s blog.

With a single touch, Jessa Bellamy can see anyone’s darkest secrets. She’s tried to hide her psychic ability from everyone, but a biotech company called GenHance has discovered her talent, and intends to take her, kill her and harvest her priceless DNA to sell it to the highest bidder.

A mysterious photographer named Gaven Matthias is also interested in Jessa; he’s been trying to find her for months. When GenHance makes their move, Gaven has no choice but to kidnap Jessa himself so he can protect her and convince her to join him in helping protect others like her. Jessa discovers that she can’t see any of Gaven’s secrets, so she doesn’t know if he’s telling the truth, but as a monstrous assassin created by GenHance’s experiments closes in on them, she must decide if the strong attraction they share is proof enough that Gaven is her greatest ally — or is a smokescreen hiding a terrible secret.

After Stay the Night (book 7 of the Darkyn), I was afraid we wouldn’t get any more books associated with the Darkyn. Luckily, the Kyndred books still have some of the characters from the Darkyn books. I was sent an eARC of Shadowlight and had to start reading it the minute I received the email. I loved all of the Darkyn books and was very excited to start reading the Kyndred series. Each member of the Kyndred, like the Darkyn, has a special ability. Jessa Bellamy can see anyone’s darkest secrets with just a touch. She tends to only trust her friends like her that she stays connected with over the internet. Gaven Matthias has been looking for Jessa for months. He knows because of her special ability, she is at risk. However, Jessa must first learn to trust Matthias and Rowen, Gaven’s assistant and friend, so she can learn more about the other Kyndred.Jessa has known for sometime there are others out there with special abilities, but until Matthias shows up, she has really only connected with others via the internet.

I really enjoyed Shadowlight, and look forward to more books in the Kyndred series in the future. I felt the book started out a little slow, only because it jumped around a bit. However, it picked up quickly and ended up being an action-packed read full of romance and adventure. I loved Jessa, Matthias and especially Rowen, who was really one of my favorite characters in the book. The release date for Shadowlight is currently scheduled for October 6, 2009.

Holiday Weekend

I've had the best holiday weekend. I took part of Friday off work to just relax(original plans to visit family fell through when swine flu hit their house). I took the best nap on Friday afternoon and was even able to get some reading in after my nap. I still have 3 books to post about, and really plan to do so tomorrow. On Saturday, college football season began in Tennessee. Went over to a friend's house to watch the awesome TN Vols game, only to get home in time to watch Vandy blow-out their first game of the season too. With the Titan's win at home on Thursday night for their final pre-season game, it is FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!

Today I got to see the play Wicked at TPAC in Nashville with some of my family. I love, love, love seeing Broadway plays, and have to say that Wicked is now one of my favorites ever! Must read the book the play is based on the play at some point in the future. Had a wonderful birthday dinner for Jenny(honorary aunt) at Kobe's and now I'm kicked back reading and watching The Sound of Music on ABC Family. The fact that I own the movie on dvd and could totally watch it without commercials is not lost on me, but it is just one of those movies I have to watch anytime it comes on tv.

I really haven't made any plans for my day off tomorrow, and really think the only plans I'm going to think about is spending my whole day reading. I haven't taken a day just to read in such a long time, and I'm looking forward to sleeping in and then spending the day reading in my pajamas. Hoping everyone else has had an awesome holiday weekend!