Barefoot in the Sand

Barefoot in the Sand is the 1^st book in the Barefoot Bay series by Roxanne St. Claire. From the author’s website.~

When all you hold dear is taken away . . . 

When a hurricane roars through Lacey Armstrong's home on the coast of Barefoot Bay, she decides all that remains in the rubble is opportunity. A new hotel is just what Mimosa Key needs, and Lacey and her teenage daughter are due for a fresh start. And nothing, especially not a hot, younger architect, is going to distract Lacey from finally making her dreams a reality. 

A second chance is the only thing you have left.

Love has already cost Clay Walker everything. And if he's going to have any chance of picking up the pieces of his life, he needs the job as Lacey Armstrong's architect. What's not in the plans is falling for the headstrong beauty. Her vision of the future is more appealing than anything he could have ever drafted for himself. Will Clay's designs on Lacey's heart be more than she can handle, or will she trust him to build something that will last forever?

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of Barefoot in the Sand from NetGalley. I’m a huge fan of Roxanne St. Claire’s books and was super excited to read her new book early. I love Rocki’s romantic suspense books, but might just love her contemporary romances even more. The official release date for Barefoot in the Sand was April 24, 2012.

I’ve never been through a hurricane, but did lose everything in a house fire when I was a pre-teen, so I totally understood what Lacey and Ashley were feeling when they lost their home. I loved Lacey’s plan to rebuild and make a home for her daughter. When Lacey’s 3 best friends show up to help following the hurricane, I felt like I could be reading about me and my friends. I loved the connection between Lacey, Zoe, Tessa, and Jocelyn. I too have several best friends I met in college and we are always there for one another just as Lacey and her friends.

Clay was a bit of a surprise to me. Although Lacey was older than him, and technically a “cougar”, he seemed older than his years. I absolutely loved watching them fall for one another. Their chemistry was amazing and it only got stronger the longer they were together. Many smexy scenes between Lacey and Clay for all to enjoy. Not that their relationship was without issues. Lacey’s ex-boyfriend and Ashley’s dad shows back up trying to start back up a relationship, Clay isn’t totally honest about his past, and some townspeople of Mimosa Key are trying to stop Lacey and Clay before they can get her new hotel off the ground.

I loved Barefoot in the Sand so much! I suggest you either run to your favorite bookstore or online retailer today to get your copy. I’m already counting down until the October 30, 2012 release of book 2 in the Barefoot Bay series, Barefoot in the Rain.

Sunrise Point

Sunrise Point is the newest book in Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series. From the back cover.~

Former marine Tom Cavanaugh has come home to Virgin River, ready to take over his family's apple orchard and settle down. He knows just what the perfect woman will be like: sweet, decent, maybe a little naive. The marrying kind.

Nothing like Nora Crane. So why can't he keep his eyes off the striking single mother?

Nora may not have finished college, but she graduated with honors from the school of hard knocks. She's been through tough times and she'll do whatever it takes to support her family, including helping with harvest time at the Cavanaughs' orchard. She's always kept a single-minded focus on staying afloat…but suddenly her thoughts keep drifting back to rugged, opinionated Tom Cavanaugh.

Both Nora and Tom have their own ideas of what family means. But they're about to prove each other completely wrong.…

I was lucky enough to get an early copy from NetGalley. Of course, this means I have almost a year to wait for the next Virgin River book (hoping we get more), but I was super excited to read Sunrise Point early.

Sunrise Point was another winner from Carr. In fact, this is one of my favorite in the series. I’ve been waiting for Nora’s story since she showed up in Virgin River with her little girls. I loved not only getting to spend more time with Nora, but also learning about her family. Nora’s life starts to change for the better once she secures a job working at the Cavanaughs’ orchard…thanks to Tom’s grandmother Maxie.

Tom is hesitant to hire Nora to work at the orchard. She really isn’t built for picking apples, but Maxie tells him he has to give her a chance. Tom is looking to settle down with what he thinks is the right woman. He thinks he wants an educated sophisticated woman, yet the single mother of 2 precious little girls is the only person he can think about. Nora has lived a tough life, and doesn’t think she is good enough for someone like Tom.

Luckily, both realize their feelings for each other before things can get too messed up. Tom and Nora have the best chemistry together. I felt like their friendship only helped them to when they took the steps to take their relationship to the next level. I loved how sweet and hot they were when they finally made love.

I love the relationships that grow with each book in the Virgin River series. The town has always felt like a family to me and I loved watching the family grow once again. The official release date for Sunrise Point is April 24, 2012 and can be purchased from your favorite online retailer or local bookstore.

Grimm Tidings

Grimm Tidings… Grimm # 6

April 2012



Never fear the pain. Fear what lies behind it…



Grimm’s Circle, Book 6



In his mortal life, the only thing Jacob liked better than money as a good brawl—until he stuck his fist into the wrong fight, and a demon sent him spinning into a new life as a Grimm. The only thing he liked better than money as a good brawl—until he stuck his fist into the wrong fight, and a demon sent him spinning into a new life as a Grimm.


Now, a hundred years later, he’s been called to protect someone too much like himself. A woman who could let the chains of her past drag her down unless she learns to let go. A woman who fights like there’s no tomorrow, because she clearly doesn’t want a tomorrow.


Celine thought her second chance at life would be an opportunity to fix some of her worst mistakes, to set things straight. She couldn’t have been more wrong. She’s trapped by the past and her regrets, and nothing—not even her darkly sexy new trainer, Jacob—has a blade sharp enough to cut her loose.


Chains are Jacob’s specialty, but his help comes with a price. To her, the cost is her heart. To Jacob…something much more.


Warning: Contains a heroine with enough fight in her to put the 300 to shame. And a hero who knows how to take a punch.

I was sent a copy of Grimm Tidings from the author with a promise to do an honest review. I'll preface anything else with the fact I'm a huge fan of Shiloh Walker's work. I realized before I started reading Grimm Tidings, I haven't read all of the Grimm books, but had no trouble keeping up with the storyline and think it read well as a stand-alone. I do plan on going back and reading the couple I missed.

Shiloh gives her readers strong and emotional characters with each story. Celine's past and how she became a Grimm broke my heart. I totally got her anger through much of the story and really liked watching her grow and change as she accepted who and what she had become.

Not sure I can really say enough about Jacob. I liked him at first and really started to love him as I watched how much it hurt him to force Celine to move on. Liked getting more of his back story and even laughed a good bit about the story that was written about him long ago. I think one of the reasons he understands Celine's ability to move on is because he made the same mistake when he was a young Grimm.

I loved watching the changes that happened over the course of the story to both Celine and Jacob. I could see them growing closer, even when both seemed to be in the dark. I felt like together they each became stronger. Didn't love the fact that Jacob pushed Celine away at times, but loved them together once they both got their heads on straight.

The Grimm leader (guess that's the right term for him), Will scares me a bit. I know we haven't seen all his power yet and I'm hesitant to give my feelings on him unitl I know more. However, Rob, another one of the Grimm totally intrigues me. I know I should be scared of him, but there is just something about him that makes me believe there is more to him than meets the eye.

The official release date for Grimm Tidings is April 24, 2012. You can currently pre-order your purchase  from Amazon, B&N, and Samhain Publishing and it will be waiting on your e-reader on the release date. I enjoyed this latest installment in the Grimm Circle series a great deal and look forward to future books in this series.

A Perfect Storm

A Perfect Storm is the newest book in the Edge of Honor series by Lori Foster. From the back cover.~

He never saw her coming…

Spencer Lark already knows too many secrets about Arizona Storm, including the nightmare she survived and her resulting trust issues. But in order to expose a smuggling ring—and continue avenging his own tragic past—the bounty hunter reluctantly agrees to make Arizona a decoy. Yet nothing has equipped him for her hypnotic blend of fragility and bravery, or for the protective instincts she stirs in him.

Arizona wants to reclaim her life, which means acting as bait to lure the enemy into a trap. Sure it's dangerous, especially with a partner as distractingly appealing as Spencer. But as their plan—and their chemistry—shifts into high gear, Arizona may discover there's an even greater risk in surrendering her heart to a hero….

I received an early copy from NetGalley and was very excited to read the next book in this series. I loved the first trilogy of heroes and was excited to get Arizona and Spencer’s story.

I love Arizona so much. She has lived through hell and come out the other side stronger than ever. Of course, she has some lingering issues from her past, but she tries to keep the past buried and move forward. Moving forward means helping others escape from the life she has survived. As Spencer and Arizona work together, they grow closer to one another with each passing day.

Spencer is the perfect man to help protect her and help Arizona move on with her life. Spencer’s attraction to Arizona only grows the more time they spend together. With Arizona’s past, they have to tread carefully for her to be comfortable. When Arizona and Spencer finally decide to make love, the chemistry between them is super hot. Although both are hesitant to admit their feelings for one another, it was so obvious how much they loved one another.

The mystery of the smuggling ring leader surprised me a bit at first, but as I thought back to the story, the clues were there all along, and I missed them. Loved seeing all the guys from the first trilogy again and especially loved watching them interact with Arizona and Spencer.

The release date for A Perfect Storm was March 24, 2012 and is available in your favorite local bookstore and your favorite online retailers.

Brook Street: Fortune Hunter

Brook Street

: Fortune Hunter is the 2^nd book in the Brook Street Trilogy from Ava March. From the Carina Press website.~

London, 1822

Impoverished Julian Parker returns to London with one goal: marry an heiress. He'll do whatever it takes, even if it means denying his desire for men. After all, with a fortune comes happiness and social acceptance--which have eluded Julian his entire life.

The only things a vast fortune has brought Oscar Woodhaven are greedy relatives and loneliness. At twenty-one years of age, he has everything a man could possibly want--except someone to love him. When he meets devastatingly handsome Julian Parker, he believes his luck has turned.

Between Oscar's lavish gifts and their searing-hot nights, Julian is caught between what he thinks he needs and what his heart truly desires. But when a betrayal threatens to tear them apart, Julian discovers he'll do whatever it takes to convince Oscar the greatest fortune of all is love.

I received an early copy thanks to NetGalley. I really loved the first book in this series and was excited to get a chance to read the 2^nd book early. I enjoyed this book, but didn’t love it as much as I did the first book.

I loved Oscar so much. He really is one of my favorite characters from the series. I liked Julian, but it took me a bit to connect to his character and see who he really was. I guess because although he had come to London looking for an heiress to marry to secure his future, once he met Oscar, I never really saw him as a fortune hunter. He seemed to settle down once he met Oscar, and I started to really like him. Of course the path to love seems to always come with bumps and mistakes, and Julian makes a couple of really bad choices that ends up hurting Oscar. It also helps that Julian finally learns from his mistakes and  realizes his true feelings and sees himself for who and what he really is.

As much as I love all the M/M sexy scenes together, I loved the cuddling scenes between Oscar and Julian after they made love just as much. I totally felt the romance that was there between them in both instances, but loved the sweet every bit as much as the spicy.

Fortune Hunter was a very fast read and I did end up enjoying the story. The release date for Fortune Hunter was April 9, 2012 and is available from your favorite e-book retailer. The 3^rd book in the series, Rogues, comes out in May and I can’t wait to finally get Radcliffe’s story.

Lover Reborn Book Signing

****Lover Reborn Signing 3/31/12****

***This post contains multiple spoiler for the BDB world, and especially Lover Reborn. You will see information from late in the book in this post. Stop reading now if you want to avoid spoilers. You have been warned.***

I went the Lover Reborn signing in Cincinnati on Saturday with some friends and while I live tweeted all the details from the Q&A, my friends were good enough to take great notes so I could post everything here. 

The next book in the series is Blay & Qhuinn’s. Team Qhuay for the win!!! A massive roar and thunderous applause went up when she made this announcement. Book will be released in 2013, but wasn’t told an exact month. However, we usually get a new BDB book in March, so I’m guessing we have about a 1 year wait.

Why was there no mention of the bonding scent in Tohr’s book? Males only have bonding scent with one female. Tohr bonded with Wellsie first, so that is who he released his bonding scent for. Tohr’s bonding scent went away when Wellsie died. Even without the bonding scent, males can still love another and have a happy life with another female.

Asked about graphic novels and said she has no plans for them, but that would be up to her publisher.

Muhrder will be coming back. May or may not be in Qhuay’s book.

Sympaths will take more active role in the battle in the future.

When asked if there would be a threeway between Blay, Qhuinn and Layla she said hell f’in no! Would be afraid the fans might try to take her out if she did so.

Wrath has his shit together.

Assail is a mystery in itself.

Not sure if we will ever meet Butch and Manny’s father. He is a non-tran vampire who is probably still working in hospitals spreading his seed across the country.

We will get books about the Shadows (Trez and iAM). There will be controversy over who Trez ends up with.

JM will be inducted, but she didn’t say when. Another induction will happen “very soon”, but she wouldn’t say who would be inducted. (pretty sure will be Qhuinn once laws are changed)

Rhage & Mary’s novella is almost finished. She still needs to write Wrath & Beth’s novella. Believe she said they wouldn’t be published until after Qhuay’s book.

Will Saxton get his HEA (happily ever after)? She looked down and then said no comment for now.

Lassiter will get his own book. Not sure if it will be in the BDB series or the Fallen Angel series.

2^nd Insiders Guide will come out when enough new books have been out since the 1^st guide. She thinks it will be after another 3-4 books.

The Scribe Virgin (SV) is in her own kind of hell right now. WARDen trying to figure out what it will take to get her back down. Believes it will take Wrath being in peril to help her get her shit straight.

We will see Eddie from the Fallen Angel series again, but will take an extraordinary event. Ward loves Eddie and really was sad to see him die in Envy.

The next Fallen Angel book is called Rapture and will be published in hardback on September 25, 2012.

Releasing hardcover collector’s edition of Lover Eternal on November 6, 2012.

Wouldn’t answer if we would get another Fade ceremony. (Hello, someone else has to die for this to happen)

She wonders when de la Cruz will figure out the brothers, too. Kinda said it might happen in one of the Fallen Angel books. She would love to see him run into Butch again and not have his memory wiped.

Butch can still absorb the Lessers, but there are major consequences. Won’t endanger self or brothers to do this until the battle is more stable.

Where is Qhuinn’s brother? We will see him in Qhuay’s book. She isn't sure what Qhuinn's brother is now. The term Lesser has been tossed around in the past.

Wrath & Butch being cousins is something to do with the bloodlines. Butch part of original bloodline.

No meaningful blood relations between Wrath & Xcor.

Lots of sex in Qhuay’s book. May have sub-plot with Z in their book as well. (makes me very happy as I’ve missed Z over the last few books)

Coffins in the garage may be the original brothers from the old country.

Ahgony, Phury and Cormia’s son is born 5 years after Nalla, so we have to wait a while to meet him. WARDen said he is awesome.

She is dreading writing Blay and Qhuinn’s story due to overly high reader expectations. Beginning will have a tearjerker that will change world. Story will start soon after Lover Reborn ended. She would not tell us the name of Qhuay’s book.

Michael, from Story of Son – was asked if he or any of his children will show up in BDB world and she said she can’t answer.

Any new unmentioned characters coming up? In B.O.B. (Band of Bastards) era right now. Doesn’t want things to get too big and lose focus right now. Does see more new characters after this era.

Layla & Xcor  & Qhuinn dynamic will not work well. Layla is attracted to Xcor yet pregnant with Qhuinn’s baby. Qhuinn will be very protective of Layla. Situation will be world changing for all.

She also said Throe and Xcor will have some stuff to deal with since they both have a bond with Layla now. Another crappy dynamic to deal with.

Has many favorite scenes in LR – Lassiter behind the bar screaming orgasm, Autumn – field of snow/shadow. Many of the pants down moments.

Bawled her eyes out during book, especially at scene with Wellsie’s dress and the Fade ceremony.

Will Lash come back? Because he was stabbed instead of inhaled, yes he will return.

Vishous  being mad at Ward is because she lied about him in his book. She will not explain further and has been asked about it at almost every book signing.

Since Layla is pregnant, will we see other Chosen? There are still Chosen, and others will have to step up to feed since Layla can’t while pregnant.

Layla is still trying to learn who she is. There is a bit of “brain wash” to the Chosen, so she is just starting to explore who she can become.

Tohr and the Fade ceremony was required to help Wellsie and their son to go into the Fade. You don’t have to have an actual Fade ceremony for the person to go into the Fade. It was different with Wellsie and her son because Tohr was holding on to them and not allowing them to move on. Throe’s sister, who’s ashes Xcor had been keeping, could go into the Fade without the ceremony. The actual Fade ceremony is really for those left behind as a way to let go.

Will we see more of Marissa in the future? She will appear in Mary and Rhage’s novella. We all joked that Rhampage would be a great name for Mary & Rhage’s son, but she doesn’t know his name yet. (Wish I had remembered she told us they would have a daughter at an earlier signing)

Was asked if Payne could ever restore Wrath’s eyesight. Wrath will never get his eyesight back. In fact the first question he will have when his baby is born is about the eye color. Also, it takes a lot out of Payne to heal people, so she doesn’t do it all the time. Even when Wrath was seriously injured in Lover Reborn, Manny and Jane performed surgery on him rather than having Payne heal him. Also, WARDen glad Payne can keep George alive forever.

What is the name of Layla and Qhuinn’s baby? She doesn’t know the name yet.

Will Qhuinn have more visions? Yes

Will JM, Qhuinn, and Blay be inducted into the BDB together? Keep reading

Do all the vamps get their mate’s name carved in their back? Yes, just not seen. She said there is so much going on it is hard to fit it all into the books. One of the reasons she is enjoying writing the novellas. She likes revisiting the couples. FYI to all V fans. He and Jane have had their bonding ceremony and he does have her name on his back.

Did Tohr and No’One (Autumn) love each other before Wellsie? He cared for her and if she hadn’t killed herself, they might have ended up together.

Will Brothers be on the boards in the future? It takes time away from books, so unless really big news, no.

Will Qhuinn and Blay have a mating ceremony where they carve each other’s names onto their backs? You have to wait for the book to find out. Didn’t want to give everything away.

Score is still 2 to 1 in the Fallen Angel series.

Saxton is in love with Blay, but he will have to write the laws that will allow Qhuinn and Blay to not only be together, but be inducted into the BDB.

To my understanding, Layla is the only female to be pregnant at the end of LR. Mary getting pregnant will require the help of Payne and I'm not sure how soon Beth will get pregnant.

She will have 2 local book signings for both Rapture and Qhuay’s books. They should be on back to back weekends with more information closer to release dates for each book. This was the first signing of hers I’d been to where she didn’t get to finish signing books for everyone who came to the signing. Also couldn’t leave any signed stock behind as every JR Ward book was sold out by the end of the signing.

This covers everything I had in my notes. I didn't go back and check my twitter feed to see if I had missed anything. However, I used the #BDBTohr tag on twitter during the signing. If you are on twitter, you can search by that tag to see any other information I might have left out.

BTW, I thought I was a pretty hardcore BDB fan. However, there was a pregnant lady sitting next to me who was in labor during the signing. Seriously, she wins the award for biggest BDB fan ever!!!

Louisa Edwards Winner

Sorry for posting a little late. I was in Cincinnati this weekend for the J.R. Ward book signing and Q&A and didn't get a chance to post until I got home.

*****Winner****

The winner is Maria D! Congrats and I'll be sending you an email today to find out kindle or nook for your copy of Hot Under Pressure. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to read my review and entered.