Death and the Girl Next Door

Death and the Girl Next Door is the first Young Adult novel from NYT bestselling author Darynda Jones. The publisher is St. Martin’s Press. From the back cover.~

Ten years ago, Lorelei's parents disappeared without a trace.  Raised by her grandparents and leaning on the support of her best friends, Lorelei is finally beginning to accept the fact that her parents are never coming home.  For Lorelei, life goes on.

High school is not quite as painful as she thinks it will be, and things are as normal as they can be.  Until the day the school's designated loner, Cameron Lusk, begins to stalk her, turning up where she least expects it,  standing outside her house in the dark, night after night.  Things get even more complicated when a new guy—terrifying, tough, sexy Jared Kovach—comes to school.  Cameron and Jared instantly despise each other and Lorelei seems to be the reason for their animosity.  What does Jared know about her parents?  Why does Cameron tell Jared he can't have Lorelei?  And what will any of them do when Death comes knocking for real?  Thrilling, sassy, sexy, and inventive, Darynda Jones's first foray into the world of teens will leave readers eager for the next installment.

I am a really big fan of Darynda Jones, and count her Charley Davidson series as one of my favorite series ever. I was really excited to see Death and the Girl Next Door was available from NetGalley. I also really enjoy reading YA books, and really wanted to see how Jones would do with that genre.

While I liked the idea behind this story, it really didn’t work well for me. I liked the main character Lorelei and her two best friends, Brooklyn and Glitch, but the story seemed to me a little all over the place. I was able to figure out some of what was going on before it was revealed, but still felt lost while reading much of the story. It was set up as the first book in the series, and necessary information for the series was explained, but not until late in the book.

While this book didn’t really work for me, I think there are others who will really enjoy it. The official release date for both print and digital is set for October 2, 2012 and can be purchased from your favorite online retailer or local bookstore.

JR Ward Rapture Book Signing

I wasn't lucky enough to get to be at the Rapture book signing in Cincinnati yesterday. However, my friend Mahlet was there and she posted all the details in Goodreads and told me I could copy and past the Q&A to my blog. You can click on the link in Goodreads to go directly to the post. Mahlet's post is at about comment #29.

Warning: There are a few Rapture spoilers in these Q&A deets. Also, no posting or commenting whatsoever about the Q&A content on JR’s Facebook page or her official board. (she didn’t say this....but it’s always been her policy for signing deets...I’m assuming they just forgot to give the warning). I didn’t catch everything, but there were other notetakers there - I’m sure whatever I’ve missed will pop up elsewhere. 

Barnes and Noble was extremely organized and efficient - NONE of the crazy drama from this past Spring. The had staff monitoring the “ticket line” from 7:45 a.m. onwards. Free coffee. Very calm. No one got cut! :) And their policy was your ticket guaranteed you a seat for Q&A. And they monitored and directed the flow from JR’s signing table directly to the seating area. So you couldn’t try to cut or sneak in and grab seats if you didn’t have the ticket. Hats off to them. Super appreciated - they are definitely ready for Qhuay. 

-There will be a NUMBER of signings for Lover At Last. They KNOW it will be huge. She would rather do 3 (400 people) signings than turn people away.

-from her assistant: No firm date for the Lover At Last Cincinnati signing yet, but it is anticipated it will be the week before Easter (on a Saturday).

-JR knows who’s next after Qhuay (BDB books) and she knows the title, but she wouldn’t reveal. She says she thinks she’s going to reveal that tidbid at the Cincinnati Lover At Last signing.

-Jim’s sacrifice at Rapture’s conclusion will pay off. Pretty clear where this story is going.

-Q: Why can’t Adrian fix his penis injury himself? He’s an angel. 
A: (funny stuff about impotence meds, dick pumps, etc) Parallels between how things go down with the SV and how things go down with the Angels. Must be balance...He can’t just “magically wank himself” out of his problems. Considering what JR knows about the forthcoming books, Adrian can’t go through the rest of the series “bangless”

-Angel eluded to in Rapture is Lassiter.

-Will the FA world and the BDB world have big collision? Yes. Once the books are again in-sync, timeline-wise. (Tohr’s book took us one year ahead)

-Jim lives in Bella’s outbuilding.

-Will BOB get their own series? A: Their future is tied to BDB’s future. The answer will play out in the BDB books. 

-Will Sissy’s sister play a future role in distracting Jim? Keep reading. And “keep reading” means you’re asking the right questions. 

-Dog can be whenever he wants, whenever he wants (unlike Devina). He goes where he is needed. JR wants to know if there can be multiple dogs. 

-Won’t answer question on whether she’ll start a wolfen series. 

-Q: BOB - When will they get their hoes? A: JR TOTALLY flips out gushing over some super hot scene in Lover At Last involving BOB. "They get A hoe." (she emphasized “A” when she said it...so they’re sharing? 3, 4 or 5-some??? Bring it!! :) 


-Bella’s needing didn’t trigger’s Beth’s needing because Beth is a halfbreed. 

-Dog is much more than just a dog. Boo is more than a cat...but she hasn’t figured out just yet.

-someone asked if she could see Butch and Marissa having kids? A: she could see them doing that. 

-Will we see more of Qhuinn’s brother in Lover At Least? BIG keep reading...the question made JR physically squirm and made her skin chafe. 

-She sees Eddie coming back. 

-Devina is like a virus, slowly taking over people. Adrian and Jim have had similar relationships with her, but Devina and Adrian’s contacts have been much longer. Devina thinks she’s in Adrian; and she thinks she’s influencing him. 

-someone asks about the characters JR relates to the most, and she says some hilarious shit, as if she’s talking to one of the Brothers: “I must relate to you...drop you pants” Classic :) JR most tied to Zsadist - by far, but also tied to Qhuinn, and Xcor, even though Xcor’s a dickhead, which you’ll see in Lover At Last. Xcor looks like Channing Tatum to JR!

-Q: how x-rated will the Qhuay love scenes get? A: JR was nervous. She had never read MM. She was concerned about how it was gonna work. So she fucked around on first 270 pages in her manuscript before she manned up and said they ok, need to bang. The scene goes on forever because Qhuinn can (tons of screaming followed OBVI!!!) She made the love scene really long!! :).....She was very concerned because she’d never written MM sex before, so she gave it to an MM reader for feedback. Then a hetero reader. Then someone that reads everything. Everyone was happy and gave the love scenes thumbs up. The Moderator steps in and adds, "You'll really like it if you read MM, but you also won’t be offended by it if you don’t read MM.” (that last comment drew some concerned whimpering from a few folks in the crowd...I was doing it internally....) But then the Moderator added: It is written exactly like the hetero love scenes with her other BDB couples. No difference at all. (Then we were all back to cheering again.) JR assures that she gave Qhuay the hardcover treatment - No closing door...unless someone’s getting banged against them (Hell yeah!) 

-Won’t answer if Layla is Xcor’s HEA.

-only 25 pgs left to write on Rhage/Mary novella. 

-Adrian/Devina - Will you tell us what the fuck happened? A: We’ll find out. 

-More Saxton info? Will he die? A: Keep reading. Then she talks about Qhuay. In Lover At Last, we’ll see how toxic unrequited love can be (B&Q). They’ve had years of it! 

-Murhdur will come back; she doesn’t know when. 

-Q: Adrian at crossroads - will Adrian be one of the souls in questions? A: JR plays deaf and dumb.. (we all cheer)

-We won’t have to wait very long before we see Throe “pretzel” a female again :)

-won’t answer whether Throe’s sister is alive. 

-Trez and iAm. She love them. Lots more of them in the future.

-JR is ALL about Assail and she couldn’t believe no one asked a question about him.

-There is another series JR wants to write. She assured someone there would be sex in it. That’s all she would say more, other than to clarify - it’s what she wants to write, not what she’s actuallywriting. 

-Q: A question based on your earlier answer. The Qhuay love scene. On the 2nd draft...Do they come sooner? A: On revisions, it usually gets longer (...It was kind of a jokey answer...I consider it no answer. I was doubtful I would get an answer to that question, but I had to try. So no clarification on whether the Qhuay love scene won’t come until 270 pgs in the later drafts)

-She’s not finishing writing Qhuay, but just some estimates - Lover At Last will be as long as Lover Eternal and Lover Unleashed, but maybe a little shorter than Tohr’s book (his was the longest).

-What other characters will we see in Lover At Last? We’ll see Layla, Saxton, Assail, the BOB, and NOT an inconsiderable amount of Wrath (she can’t say more about the Wrath stuff without getting spoilery...but it’s very interesting). Some BIG scene with Zsadist. She literally got teary eyed thinking about this amazing Zsadist scene. It does involve Bella. It was hard for her to write.

-3 FA books left.

- Question about the missing tear-drop tattoo. A: The is only so much they can do on the covers. The potential tats JR saw were fake looking. They got the eyes right, if you’re facing Qhuinn. She’s happy to have that cover mode. It’s how she sees Qhuinn - she loves it. 

-Qhuinn will put his piercing back eventually. 

-We will see ONE brotherhood induction in Lover At Last. (Someone’s hubby screamed “I bet it’s Channing Tatum”....Riotous laughter)

“based on Assail’s interactions with Xhex...is he a Sympath?”: A: Keep reading. 

-Qhuay will bond; “keep reading” on someone’s question on whether they will both emit scents....

-She won’t answer question on whether Layla will have difficult pregnancy moments, like Bella did. 

-Will Lash reappear? A: He’s definitely coming back.

-BDB series is still opened ended :) No conclusion in sight. 

The Angel

The Angel is the 2^nd book in the Original Sinners series from Tiffany Reisz. The publisher is Harlequin MIRA. From the back cover.~

No safe word can protect the heart

Infamous erotica author and accomplished dominatrix Nora Sutherlin is doing something utterly out of character: hiding. While her longtime lover, Søren—whose fetishes, if exposed, would be his ruin—is under scrutiny pending a major promotion, Nora's lying low and away from temptation in the lap of luxury.

Her host, the wealthy and uninhibited Griffin Fiske, is thrilled to have Nora stay at his country estate, especially once he meets her traveling companion. Young, inexperienced and angelically beautiful, Michael has become Nora's protégé, and this summer with Griffin is going to be his training, where the hazing never ends.

But while her flesh is willing, Nora's mind is wandering. To thoughts of Søren, her master, under investigation by a journalist with an ax to grind. And to another man from Nora's past, whose hold on her is less bruising, but whose secrets are no less painful. It's a summer that will prove the old adage: love hurts.

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of The Angel from NetGalley. The official release date is September 25, 2012. I had a rough start with The Siren, book one in the series. I’ve read BDSM books before, but have to say the Original Sinners series is a little more hardcore that I’d read in the past. I actually had put it down as a DNF, but after talking to some of my friends, I finished reading and even ended up liking The Siren. I had to keep reading this series so I could find out more about Nora, Søren, Kingsley, Griffin, Michael, and Wesley. While I really liked The Siren,  I absolutely loved The Angel! I can even say it is one of my favorite reads the entire year.

The Angel picks up about a year after The Siren. Honestly the entire book was filled with yumminess. I got to see how much Nora and Søren loved one another and how their relationship works. Nora must go away to train Michael to be a sub and the timing is perfect since a report has shown up to investigate Søren’s past. I loved Griffin when he first appeared in The Siren, and loved him even more as I watched him with both Nora and Michael.  We also learn a secret Wesley had kept from Nora in The Angel. Add in some super sexy scenes with Kingsley, and I had a book I couldn’t put down. I’ve come to love and want to know more about so many of the characters in this series.

While many people are Team Søren, Team Kingsley, Team Wesley, or Team Griffin, I totally admit I’m Team Nora. While I don’t totally understand the BDSM lifestyle, I am learning more with each book I read and even kind of fell for Søren a little bit with this book. While some of the scenes between Nora and Søren push my comfort levels, I’m completely hooked on this series.  I’m now counting down the days until The Prince comes out in November. I’m hoping we will finally get to see what will happen between Wesley and Nora, as well as learn more of the history between Søren and Kingsley. To find out more about the Original Sinners series or any other books from Tiffany Reisz, check out the author's website.

Never Seduce a Scot

Never Seduce a Scot: The Montgomerys and Armstrongs is the newest release from NYT bestselling author Maya Banks. From the back cover.~

This sinfully sexy new romance from Maya Banks features a remarkable woman whose rare gift teaches a gruff Scottish warrior how to listen with his heart.
 
Eveline Armstrong is fiercely loved and protected by her powerful clan, but outsiders consider her “touched.” Beautiful, fey, with a level, intent gaze, she doesn’t speak. No one, not even her family, knows that she cannot hear. Content with her life of seclusion, Eveline has taught herself to read lips and allows the outside world to view her as daft. But when an arranged marriage into a rival clan makes Graeme Montgomery her husband, Eveline accepts her duty—unprepared for the delights to come. Graeme is a rugged warrior with a voice so deep and powerful that his new bride can hear it, and hands and kisses so tender and skilled that he stirs her deepest passions.
 
Graeme is intrigued by the mysterious Eveline, whose silent lips are ripe with temptation and whose bright, intelligent eyes can see into his soul. As intimacy deepens, he learns her secret. But when clan rivalries and dark deeds threaten the wife he has only begun to cherish, the Scottish warrior will move heaven and earth to save the woman who has awakened his heart to the beautiful song of a rare and magical love.

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of Never Seduce a Scot from NetGalley. I’m a really big fan of Maya Banks and have already added this book to my keeper shelf.

I really loved the romance between Eveline and Graeme. They were force into marriage by the king to try and bring peace to their two clans, I saw a connection form quickly between them. While I found it a little unbelievable that no one in Eveline’s family had figured out in 3 years she couldn’t hear, I did like that she figured out a way to “hear” by learning to read lips.

Graeme is so sweet with Eveline. He married her believing he could never have a normal marriage because all thought she was daft. While attracted to her soon after meeting her, they don’t make love for the first time until he knows her secret. Their first time together was one of the sweetest love scenes I’ve read in a long time. Banks also gives her readers some pretty sexy love scenes between Graeme and Eveline.

When Eveline’s life is threatened, the Montgomery Clan and the Armstrong Clan must band together to ensure her safety.  Eveline’s family is finally told the truth about her hearing loss when the men in the two clans battle together against a common enemy. Loved seeing Eveline with her family again, but the sweetest moment is when both Eveline and Graeme share their true feelings with one another…and everyone within hearing distance.

I’m excited about this new series from Maya Banks. I look forward to reading more about each family in future books. The official release date for Never Seduce a Scot is September 25, 2012 and can be found at your favorite online retailer or local bookstore. For more information about this release or any of the author’s other books, check out Maya Banks’ website.

Fault Lines

Fault Lines is the newest Carina Press release from Rebecca Rogers Maher. From the Carina Press website.~

Sarah Murphy plans other people's weddings. She's gorgeous and successful, but she also carries a dark secret.

At one of her events, she meets Joe Sullivan, a sexy photographer with a difficult past of his own. When he snaps a rare unguarded photograph of her and captures the real person hiding behind the facade, she feels exposed. To restore the upper hand, she tries to do what she always does: use sex to defuse the situation.

While Joe is eager to deepen his relationship with Sarah, he's aware of her emotional shield and the way she disconnects from her body. Seeing her at her most vulnerable doesn't scare him off, but he needs to know what she's hiding.

Sarah has a tough decision to make. Does she want to go on living a lonely, emotionally frozen life? Or can she finally risk revealing the truth and move forward with Joe?

Fault Lines is the first book I’ve read from Rebecca Rogers Maher, but it won’t be the last as I really enjoyed the author’s voice. I was lucky enough to get an early copy from NetGalley.

I really liked Sarah and Joe as a couple. I could tell early in that Joe was willing to be whatever Sarah needed to ensure their relationship could be more than just sex. He even admitted to her early on to being an alcoholic so she knew he had issues from his past as well. Sarah’s secret from her past haunts her so that she even became a cutter to mask her pain. With the support and love from both Joe and Sarah’s best friend, she is finally able to speak to her mother about her past and start to move on with her life.

I figured out Sarah’s secret pretty early in the story, and felt Rebecca Rogers Maher did a fabulous job showing how it shaped Sarah’s life. I really did love Joe from early in the story. He wanted to be a part of Sarah’s life both before and after he learned her secret. He really did help her see how strong she was all along.

The official ebook release date is September 24, 2012 and can be ordered from Carina Press or your favorite online retailer.

Third Time's a Charm (Holland Springs)

Third Time’s a Charm is the 2^nd book in the Holland Springs series from Marquita Valentine. From the author’s website.~

Not even Holland Springs' Most Notorious Resident can stop this Love Spell.

Customers come to Rose Holland’s apothecary shop for three things: to hear her uncanny matchmaking advice, to buy the “magical” hair and skin products she sells, and to accuse her of trying to steal their men. For years Rose has been entirely innocent and almost content with that status quo. But that was before sexy, smooth-talking Sasha Romanov came to town and made her want to use her love potions on him… until he broke her heart. Now corrupt town officials want to seize her land and sell it to an industrial giant, and her only hope for help looks like the one man she can’t trust—or stop herself from falling under his spell. 

Alexander “Sasha” Romanov seems like every woman’s dream: charming, handsome and fabulously rich. But while the people of Holland Springs think he’s in town to generously invest in their economy (and possibly one of their daughters), Sasha struggles to save his sick mother from his vicious uncle’s plans by doing everything the greedy businessman wants. And Vlad Romanov wants Rose Holland’s land—at any cost. 

Despite Sasha’s vow to get the job done and keep his hands (and everything else!) off Rose, the blue-eyed witch enchants him. But his mother’s life remains in the balance. Sasha must find a way to protect his mother, sabotage his uncle’s plans, and win the woman who’s captured his heart without destroying everything she loves.

I was given a copy of Third Time’s a Charm by the author with a promise to give an honest review. This is the first book I’ve read from Marquita Valentine, but it won’t be my last. I like her voice and loved so many of the characters in the series.

I loved Rose Holland from the moment she first appeared on the page. She is such a strong woman and is the backbone of her family. She is the one who has always taken care of her family’s land and their heritage. She runs the apothecary shop in town that uses her family secret recipes for hair and skin products. She also is the one who always knows how to match couples up and send them to the Holland Springs when the time is right.

Sasha Romanov comes to town and turns her world upside down. He is being forced by his uncle Vlad to work with the local businessmen to steal Rose’s land from her and her family. Sasha only is working for his uncle to keep his sick mother. Sasha of course didn’t realize how hard it would be to keep his hands off of Rose…or her sweet baby girl Ivy. Sasha and Rose have the best chemistry together. They have some of the best making out scenes I’ve read in a long time. When they finally do make love, it was beautiful and filled with passion.

Of course, Rose and Sasha have many struggles before they can finally get a happily ever after. Sasha has to come clean with Rose about why he is really in town. Rose’s sister Summer, who is really Ivy’s mother comes back and takes Ivy away, and her little sister Skye leaves town to go away to school. Add in Sasha leaving town, and Rose is at a cross-roads in her life. Only after Ivy comes home does life start to seem normal again. The fact that Sasha is still gone from their lives is one thing that keeps Rose from being completely happy. With the help of Sasha’s cousin, Rose is able to finally tell Sasha how she feels and he can finally show Rose how much he loves her too.

I have to say a couple of times, I really wanted to kick Sasha, but really thought Valentine did a great job with the redemption of Sasha and showing the strength of Rose. While this book was the second in the series, I feel like it stands alone well. For more information about the author, please check out her blog.

Romantic Tales: Bedtime Stories Episode One

Romantic Tales: Bedtime Stories Episode One

Here’s the blurb.

By Author Ty Langston: CRAVE

As a reporter for the Wakefield Post, Harper Erkstine has seen everything. From robberies to shootings, all of her recent stories have ended with a loss so tragic, that she began to question if she made the right career choice for herself.

While her friends were off going to clubs, dating and having fun, she was off covering a drive-by shooting or a home invasion.
Not a bad career choice, but the hours of a Metro beat reporter began to descend her into burn out mode.

In the middle of working on a missing person’s story that has rocked her town to the core, Harper decides as a favor to her friend and colleague to do a feature on local up and coming rock band, called ‘Crave.’

It was a break from her routine, but Harper soon discovers that this band may have ties to the missing person, not only does she question why, but she also finds there is more to this band than just their music.
By Author Riley Ross: The Getaway

Juliet’s boyfriend Mike takes her on a two week vacation away from her family, drama, and job.
He has plenty of romantic surprises planned and some surprises that aren’t planned at all.
Can love overcome family obstacles?

By Author Tigris Eden: The Genesis Project

Old Earth has been deemed unsuitable for life, New Earth is home, with the Uni-War over, races have joined together in order to sustain their way of life. All life was deemed worth saving, but only once race failed to submit. Humans.
 

Now extinct, humans are a thing of the past, or at least their way of life. The people of New Earth won’t acknowledge their hand in the human’s eradication, but they have benefited from it. Dr. Vaggo Blackmore has found the answer, he’s restored his races way of life, sustenance through farming. Farming is the one thing that will give them back their long lives… Their product of choice, cloned humans.

Biologically engineered in a lab, Genesis Blackmore has always been different. Her father has told her it’s due to her enhancements, the Federated Council sees her as a genetic mutation, and her fellow peers see her as the shiny new toy. Gen has had better days.

Everyone on New Earth has milky white skin, platinum blonde hair, and electric blue eyes. It is the norm. Genesis’ glossy black hair, ice blue eyes ringed by gold, would have almost made her socially acceptable, if it wasn’t for her honey, almond skin and blue, gold veins. In a sea of milky white she alone is the dark anomaly. 

I was sent a copy of Romantic Tales: Bedtime Stories Episode One from the authors. I'm new to reading short episodes for books. However, each of the stories featured grabbed me pretty quickly and I'm looking forward to reading the next installment for each story. Currently only available from Amazon, but will be available from B&N starting in October. The order link from Amazon is here.

Blade Song on Sale

Everyone knows how much I loved Blade Song by J.C. Daniels, as I raved about it upon its release. For anyone who hasn't already picked up their copy, you have a chance this week only to pick it up for only $2.99!!!

Here is the link to get your copy http://jcdanielsblog.com/urban-fantasy/blade-song-2/. Don't miss out on this amazing deal on an amazing book!

The Great Gift

The Great Gift is the current contemporary release from author Misty Wright. From the author’s website.~

Alyssa is 26 and doesn't like the way all men mistreat her. She decides a change is needed and applies to be a jillaroo on a cattle station named The Oasis, which is located in outback Australia.

She meets a cowboy, Kent, who is a rodeo champion. They agree on a bet. Eventually both want out, but neither wants to be first.

Through a series of adventures that stretch from the city to a fast-flowing river in the outback where Kent must save Alyssa from drowning, love germinates in the middle of a storm.

In her heart, Alyssa is a woman who adores the city's nightlife, but as the sun sets on each day, the Australian outback becomes more enticing and the excitement of the city fades. Then she inadvertently saves The Oasis.

Love is growing between Alyssa and Kent, but then Brandt, Alyssa's obsessive ex-boyfriend, tracks her down. Can Kent save her one last time?

I was sent a copy of The Great Gift from the author with a promise for an honest review. This was my first book by Misty Wright, but I really enjoyed her voice and writing style, so I know if won’t be my last.

While I felt like the story started out a little slow, once it picked up, it was a really quick read. I liked Alyssa from the beginning. She has had lots of bad luck in the love department, but still wants to find the right man. However, she wants to take a bit of a break from men, so she takes temporary job as a jillaroo on a cattle station. The best laid plans are thrown out the window pretty soon after Alyssa meets Kent. Alyssa and Kent are attracted to one another from the moment they meet, but because of Alyssa’s past, she is very hesitant to trust Kent. As they spend more time together, it is apparent they are meant to be together. I loved the chemistry between Kent and Alyssa. I could tell Kent was a pretty wonderful man from the moment he appeared on the page. I thought Alyssa took way too long to see how wonderful Kent really was, but gave her the benefit of the doubt because of her past.

The Great Gift is a sweet contemporary romance. Misty Wright gives her readers fun characters with great chemistry.

All He Ever Needed

All He Ever Needed is the latest book in the Kowalski series from Shannon Stacey. The publisher is Carina Press. From the author’s website.~

He won't stay put for a woman, and she won't chase after any man...

Mitch Kowalski lives out of a suitcase—and he likes it that way. Traveling for work has the added bonus of scaring off women who would otherwise try to tie him down. But when he's called home to help with the family lodge, he's intrigued by the new girl in town and her insistence that she doesn't need a man. If there's one thing Mitch can't resist, it's a challenge.

After a nomadic childhood, Paige Sullivan is finally putting down roots. Determined to stand on her own two feet, she lives by the motto "Men are a luxury, not a necessity." But when Mr. Tall, Dark and Hot pulls up a stool in her diner and offers her six weeks of naughty fun with a built-in expiration date, she's tempted to indulge.

They're the perfect match for a no-strings fling. Until they realize their sexy affair has become anything but casual...

I was super lucky to get an ARC sent from the publisher of All He Ever Needed. I have mad love for the Kowalski family and was super excited to find out we would get the stories for the Kowalski cousins.

I loved All He Ever Needed so much! Mitch Kowalski has only come home to help his brother Josh out with the family’s Northern Star Lodge. Josh is recovering from a broken leg and needs some help around the lodge while he recovers. On Mitch’s first night back in his hometown she stops off at Paige’s diner for dinner and instantly is attracted to her. Paige is equally attracted to Mitch, but has finally found her home and doesn’t want to get involved with anyone who might take that life from her. However, the attraction between Mitch and Paige is so strong they both agree to a six weeks no strings attached affair. Since both have their lives set how they want it, an affair with a built-in sexpiration date is perfect.

Mitch and Paige have some of the best chemistry, whether they are making love or just having a conversation. I also loved how much fun Paige and Mitch were together. I have to say I’ve comes to expect a certain amount of sexy scenes from the Kowalski books and Stacey more than delivered with Mitch and Paige’s love scenes.  Many steamed up the screen on my kindle while others had me chuckling right along with the characters. Even knowing Mitch would eventually leave and Paige has found her home, I continued to cheer for them to be together forever.

I also enjoyed the interactions between Mitch, Ryan, and Josh. Josh, as the youngest kind of ended up being the one to take care of the Lodge by default. He has been doing everything possible to keep it going, but after being injured, he really doesn’t have it in him to go it alone any longer. When Josh finally shares his feelings with his brothers, they all work together to come up with a plan to help Josh out. When it’s time for Mitch to leave to go back to his company, Ryan schedules some time to come to the lodge to help with the major repairs the property needs.

The digital release for All He Ever Needed is set for September 10, 2012 with the print edition currently scheduled in December. Up next in the Kowalski series will be Ryan’s book All He Ever Desired and its estimated release date is set for November 19, 2012 in digital format. For more information about the Kowalski series or any other books by Shannon Stacey, check out the author's website.

Blaze of Winter

Blaze of Winter is the 2^nd book in the Star Harbor series by Elisabeth Barrett. The publisher is Loveswept. From the author’s website.~

Winter heats up in this hot new Star Harbor romance, as another sexy Grayson brother, a wickedly handsome writer, plots his happily ever after with a sweet stranger.
 
Frustrated with her job in Boston, social worker Avery Newbridge welcomes the opportunity to reassess her life when family asks her to help manage the Star Harbor Inn. Trying to figure out her future is overwhelming enough, but she doesn’t count on distraction in the form of one Theo Grayson, the gorgeous, green-eyed author who she knows is trouble from the moment he saunters into the inn.
 
Not only does he have a talent for writing swashbuckling adventures, but Theo also has a soft spot for big-hearted damsels in distress, especially a woman who’s great at helping everyone—except herself. Avery’s demons challenge him, but for desire this hot, he isn’t backing down. With every kiss and heated whisper Theo promises her his heart . . . if only Avery is willing to open up and accept it.

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of Blaze of Winter from NetGalley. I enjoyed meeting the Grayson brothers in Deep Autumn Heat and was excited that we were getting Theo’s book next.

Theo Grayson, also known as famous writer T.R. Grayson, comes home to Star Harbor to find a way around his writer’s block. Writing used to come easy for him, but lately he doesn’t have any luck when he sits down to his computer. Staying on his brother Val’s boat is no longer working, so he checks into the local bed and breakfast, where he meets Avery Newbridge, who is back in town to help her aunt run the Star Harbor Inn. Theo is immediately attracted to Avery and willing to do whatever it takes to make her want him too. Avery is equally attracted to Theo, but is at a major cross-road in her life and really doesn’t trust her own judgment anymore.

The chemistry was pretty strong between Theo and Avery from the beginning. I really liked how Theo was willing to move very slowly with Avery to make sure she was comfortable with every step they took. Avery needed a bit of an old-fashioned courtship and Theo totally delivered. I love when couples are full of sexy from the very beginning, but have to say the build-up between Theo and Avery was super sexy. I have to say I think the anticipation made their actually love scene that much hotter. The fact that Theo and Avery currently are living on different sides of the country could be a bit of a stumbling block in their new relationship, but Theo is willing to do anything to make sure they can go the distance.

We get to spend time with other characters from Star Harbor who only add to the story. I liked seeing Avery with her family and friends and Theo with his brothers. I have to say I love the town of Star Harbor every bit as much as I love the characters in the stories. I grew up in a small town, so I love books set in small towns.

The official release date for Blaze of Winter is September 10, 2012 and can be purchased from your favorite online retailers. For more information about Elisabeth Barrett or her books, please visit her website.

Let Me Be The One

Let Me Be the One is the 6th book in the Sullivan Family series from Bella Andre. From the author’s website.~

In LET ME BE THE ONE, the brand-new book in Bella Andre’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling series about the Sullivan family, an unexpected friends-to-lovers romance might not only turn out to be so much hotter than anything bad boy pro baseball player Ryan Sullivan has ever known...but much, much sweeter, too. 

When Vicki Bennett saved Ryan Sullivan’s life as a teenager, it was the beginning of a close friendship that never wavered despite her failed marriage to someone else and Ryan’s well-earned reputation as a ladies man. So when she suddenly needs a pretend boyfriend to protect herself and her career from a powerful man’s advances, he is the only person she can imagine asking.

Ryan will do anything to protect Vicki from harm, but when their “fake” kisses and caresses lead to an incredibly sensual night that neither of them can resist, will he have made the biggest mistake of all by irreparably jeopardizing their friendship? Or is it possible that what they’ve both been looking for has been right there the whole time…and the perfect combination of wicked and sweet, friendship and love, is finally within reach?

I love Bella Andre’s books and have mad love for the Sullivan family. I really wish I could marry one of the Sullivan brothers…at least they are all on my book boyfriend list. Just when I think I’ve found my favorite story in the series, Bella gives me another story to fall in love with. Ryan and Vicki’s story is another winner. I love the friends to lovers’ storyline, and think it was pulled off extremely well in Let Me Be the One. Ryan and Vicki were best friends from the moment they met one another in high school. The fact that each secretly loved the other only made their friendship even stronger. Their friendship has stayed strong even though they have been apart for years. Ryan will do anything to both protect and make Vicki happy. The attraction between Ryan and Vicki is obvious to everyone who is around them. It was kind of funny to watch them both fight said attraction for one another for so long. Will say when they finally give in to their attraction, they steamed up the screen on my kindle. I have to say Ryan and Vicki’s love scenes were much hotter than most of those from the earlier books in the series.

Ryan and Vicki were best friends first and I think that made them so much stronger as a couple. I also loved watching Vicki become a much stronger person as the story progressed. While she needed Ryan to help her hide from unwanted attention in the first of the book, she found the strength she always had within by the end of the story. I love watching couples fall in love in romances, and Ryan and Vicki’s story was one of my favorite stories I’ve read this year.

Up next for the Sullivan family series will be Come A Little Closer, which is Smith Sullivan’s story and should be released at some point this winter. For more information on the Sullivan Family series or any of the other books from Bella Andre, check out the author’s website.

Blaze of Winter Sneak Peek

BLAZE OF WINTER – book 2 in the Star Harbor series by Elisabeth Barrett – Scribd code here: BLAZE OF WINTER by Elisabeth Barrett Url link: http://www.scribd.com/doc/102873296/BLAZE-OF-WINTER-by-Elisabeth-Barrett PLUS the image & to buy link: https://www.randomhouse.com/book/217619/blaze-of-winter-by-elisabeth-barrett