Saturday, February 28, 2015

Review: Unblocked Episode One by Marni Mann

Unblocked - Episode One by Marni Mann

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Sultry Scale: 4 of 5 stars

Pub Date:  March 10, 2015

Derek Block seeks revenge. Frankie Jordan seeks professional dominance. He wants her, she wants him. Lines that can't cross begin to blur. Things start heating up as real estate gets real…

This is the first episode of a five-episode novella series.


This was a quick steamy read that you can knock out in an hour or so. It's a serial, and I have said enough how much I hate serials so I won't rant here. I will just say that it's hard to rate and review an incomplete story.

Derek is a ruggedly sexy environmentally conscious developer of real estate. Frankie is a classy uptight real estate agent. Both have secrets or dramas that we get hints of in this first episode... but the main aspect of the story was the building sexual tension between the two. And it was H-O-T. Frankie's dreams alone are enough to get your motor running. Frankie is insecure but Derek has enough confidence for them both. When they get together, I'm sure it will be explosive.

This storyline involving real estate development was a first for me. I had to go see what pink ivory looked like as I had never heard of it. But the longer I spend as a lawyer, the more I like reading stories about other professions. Hopefully that isn't saying something about my job satisfaction! This story kinda reminds me of Trust in Advertising by Victoria Michaels, which was a 5* read for me. This one has the same potential, it's just too early to tell. I look forward to when the serial is finished.

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In Memorial: Bertrice Small (1937 - 2015)


Bertrice Williams was born on December 9, 1937 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA, the daughter of Doris S. and David R. Williams, both broadcasters. She studied at Attended Western College for Women and Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School.

Published since 1947, Bertrice Small was the author of over 50 romance novels. A New York Times bestselling author, she also appeared on other best-seller lists including Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and the L.A. Times. She was the recipient of numerous awards including Career Achievement for Historical Romance; Best Historical Romance; Outstanding Historical Romance Series; Career Achievement for Historical Fantasy; a Golden Leaf from the New Jersey Romance Writers chapter of Romance Writers of America; an Author of the Year (2006) and Big Apple Award from the New York City Romance Writers chapter of RWA, and several Reviewers Choice awards from Romantic Times. She had a "Silver Pen" from Affair De Coeur, and an Honorable Mention from The West Coast Review of Books. In 2004 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by ROMANTIC TIMES magazine for her contributions to the Historical Romance genre. And in 2008 she was named by ROMANTIC TIMES along with her friends Jennifer Blake, Roberta Gellis and Janelle Taylor, a Pioneer of Romance. 

I was very sad to learn that Bertrice Small, author of some of my favorite series, died this week at the age of 77.  As stated above, she was truly a Pioneer of Romance.  


Although best known for her historical romance, Small was actually my introduction to the fantasy romance genre with her World of Hetar series.  This series is a fantastical story of love, loss, betrayal and adventure that made me laugh, cry, and fall in love with talking animals! 


Small writes strong and adventurous women in wonderfully sweeping sagas of romance and adventure.  She never failed to make me giggle at her prolific use of the word "manroot" and other colorful terms for intimate situations.  It is also not uncommon to find well-known historical figures playing a part in her books. Once I devoured the World of Hetar and was feeling bereft, I moved on to Small's Skye O'Malley series, then the Blaze Wyndham series, the Border Chronicles, the list goes on and on and on.  I have read just over half of Ms. Small's work... and feel like I will treasure these remaining unread works all the more. 

Last year Bertrice Small received the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award by the Romance Writers of America.  It couldn't have been more well-deserved. Watch a copy of the award presentation below.

Friday, February 27, 2015

Review: Wild Things by Chloe Neill


Wild Things by Chloe Neill
Series:  Chicagoland Vampires #9

My Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Sultry Scale: 2 of 5 flames


Since Merit was turned into a vampire, and the protector of Chicago’s Cadogan House, it’s been a wild ride. She and Master vampire Ethan Sullivan have helped make Cadogan’s vampires the strongest in North America, and forged ties with paranormal folk of all breeds and creeds, living or dead…or both.



But now those alliances are about to be tested. A strange and twisted magic has ripped through the North American Central Pack, and Merit’s closest friends are caught in the crosshairs. Gabriel Keene, the Pack Apex, looks to Merit and Ethan for help. But who—or what—could possibly be powerful enough to out-magic a shifter?


Merit is about to go toe to toe, and cold steel to cold heart, to find out. 



Gosh, it's hard to believe that after 9 books, the time in this series has only progressed 10 months. I can't imagine living the lives of these characters with this crazy stuff happening month after month. It's madness!

It seems like in each book of this series, we have a political drama and a supernatural drama. Same thing here. We are still dealing with a crazy mayor who has declared vampires the public enemy, domestic terrorists, or the big bad boogey man. At the same time, there is a new supernatural threat that is causing strife between the vamps, shifters and a caste of supernaturals that no one knew existed. Finally, in this installment, it looks like they get some leverage against the politically ambitious mayor. But while that obstacle may lessening, there is discussion and foreshadowing that the future political strife will be within the vampire community, rather than city of Chicago.

Merit has her same team that we love to help solve the problems of the day, and it seems like she and Mallory are finally getting back on good terms. Grandpa is healing from his injuries in the last book, and Cadogan is dealing with the fallout of killing a member of the council. I like the shifters in this series, and I was happy to see more Gabe and the sexy new shifter, Damien, who potentially is a new team member. We have more discussion about Gabriel's prophecy that Merit may have a child with green eyes like Ethan's. Finally! I have been so curious about this since the early books. And Ethan and Merit continue in their relationship, which gets stronger every book.

All-in-all this was a good, quick read that progresses the story by approx. one month. There was enough recap in this book that I didn't have to go back and read the earlier books (thank goodness - I'm behind in my reading). I like to save up a few of these books at a time to read b/c I am very impatient with the next books in the series being released. So, onward we go to Book 10.

I do have some casting for this series that I will post here since I haven't reviewed the earlier books on the blog (yet).

Matthew Gray Gubler as Jeff
Eliza Dushku as Merit
 
Eric Dane as Gabriel
Alexander Skarsgaard as Ethan

Joe Manganiello as Damien


Chicagoland Vamps Series:







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Promo & Giveaway: Consensual Series by Livia Jamerlan

Book One - Consensual



SYNOPSIS
Braelynn Wolf is focused on two things: work and law school.

That is how she’ll make a difference.
Until she meets HIM.

Peyton Haas is sexy, dangerous, and forbidden. The defense attorney on Braelynn’s first legal case is the only man who can cloud her judgment. Unable to stay away, she finds herself lying to everyone around her so she can spend time with the man who makes her feel things she never felt before—things she never dreamed possible.

With the legal case hanging on a thread, can Braelynn ignore the relationship she has built with Peyton? 


Or will she succumb to the man who has the power to throw away her future?


Consensual Purchase Links
Amazon: http://amzn.to/17utWvF
Barnes & Noble:  http://bit.ly/1rKiQai




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  Book Two - Coherent

SYNOPSIS
A tragic past. A forgotten week. A broken heart.

When Braelynn wakes up in a hospital bed with a week of her life missing, she turns to the darkness that she didn’t know she craved.

Lost and confused she’s left empty.

Addiction. Fear. A broken soul. 
Peyton Haas is self–assertive, determined to get what he wants, and for the first time in his life—in love.

But is he willing to face the demons that haunt Braelynn? 

Their love was like no other—steamy, heart–stopping… Beautiful. 

It was the first time the either of them had let someone in. But one week was all it took to change their lives forever Will their love be enough to keep them together?


Coherent Purchase Links
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/ZX1pMx

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Book Three - Contingent
COMING SOON - RELEASE MARCH 2015

Contingent_Front


SYNOPSIS

Braelynn and Peyton are finally headed down a path without torment—until he allows someone else to come between them.

With the remnants of her broken heart scattered, Braelynn begins to piece herself back together, piece by ragged piece.

Peyton has dark secrets of his own. Secrets that leave him no choice but to walk away from the only woman he’s ever loved.

But his desire for Braelynn has him fighting between what he wants, and what he needs to do to keep her safe.

Love can only withstand so much. The connection between Braelynn and Peyton has been tested before—could this be their breaking point?





EXCERPT

She lay naked on the white linen sheet, her golden blonde hair fanned out across her pillow. She had been my all, the one to come into my life, cause havoc, and claim my heart. She had been my everything. My greatest desire. The fuel that pumped through my veins.

The sun beamed down on her skin, glistening on her flawless fair body. Almost flawless anyway.

The marks from our recent times in the playroom were still visible, her wrists that were tucked under her chin revealing a crimson burn from her pulling on the restraints. Her plump breast scarred from the lashes of the flogger, and her upper thighs holding the same marks as her breast.

I was terrified at the pain I had caused her, but horrified that I wanted to cause more.

Braelynn had repeated over and over that she loved the marks and the pleasures they gave her. Since she had rejected my proposal, I began to feel that she was slipping away. The grasp I had over her was fading and my need for her had been replaced with rage and want. I needed to punish her for saying no, whip her flesh when I felt her slipping out of my hands. Though I was sickened once we were done, massaging the welts kissing them with my love, I reveled in her moans and her screams of pleasure made me hungry for more.

She had turned me into the monster I now was. Possessive, demanding, and hungrier for her than I had ever been. Her arousal when I slid deep inside her had me on the brink of losing myself. The way she came around me, choking my cock … it was indescribable. But when she bowed her head, her blonde hair covering her face as she submitted to me, that had my inner Dom crawling out of my body, wanting to take full reign over hers.

And I did.

For the past six weeks she’d spent every night with me, letting me have full possession of her weak body. But the nagging voice in my head kept saying that our time was limited.

“You’re doing it again,” she whispered, her voice filled with exhaustion. Her eyes peered open when she spoke.

I leaned forward, kissing the tip of her nose. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied.

“Yes, you do. You’re thinking so loud I can hear it in my sleep.”

“Lynn—”

“Stop it!” Her eyes flashed open, and a sea of green and brown specks pierced me. “You aren’t hurting me.”

I shook my head, completely disagreeing with her. “Look at the bruises on your skin.” I traced my hand over her soft breast.

“I have a safe word and I have yet to use it.” She pulled the cover over her blemished flesh and turned on her side.

She hadn’t used it yet…

But would she?

Teaser 2-2


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    About Livia Jamerlan
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Livia Jamerlan is the author of Divided. She is also a hopeless romantic who is always looking for her next love story to pop in her head. Though Livia kept a journal throughout her early life, she never thought about pursuing a career in writing. She always used it as form of therapy, pouring her heart out into words. It wasn’t until a story developed in her head that she decided maybe she could write a book. At first it was just an escape from reality, but now she uses it as a power to put all her feelings, hopes, and fears on paper. Deciding it was time to tell her story, she began to write. With each passing day the story grew, characters were formed, and what seemed like a hobby at first has now become a passion for Livia. She is a New Jersey Native who loves spending time with her husband and two dogs Buddy and Daisy. When she is not writing or hiding behind her Kindle, you can find her with outside, gardening, at a local shopping center enjoying some retail therapy, or enjoy a pepperoni pizza. 



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Thursday, February 26, 2015

Review: Seducing Destiny by Amelia Hutchins

Seducing Destiny by Amelia Hutchins

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Sultry Scale: 5 of 5 stars

Pub Date:  January 19, 2015

Less than six months ago my life was twisted and flipped on its side. Things have changed so much I barely recognize myself anymore. 

I am no longer an Enforcer. 

I am no longer a Witch. 

I no longer hate the Fae. (For the most part) 

And the sex-on-a-stick-gorgeous-Fae? He isn't really the Dark Prince. 

No, he is the father of my children and with the babies on the way, the land dying and the Mages closing in; alliances will have to be formed if we are all to make it through the war that is coming to our front door.

Between warring Gods and Goddesses, how are any of us supposed to win?


Gods and goddesses and babies, oh my! A LOT happened in this book, but I feel like I can't rant and rave about it without giving away spoilers. And because I'm writing this after I've just finished the book at 2:30am, I'm too lazy to try to include spoiler tags. So I will try to keep everything general.

Ryder finally stops being an ass in this book! Yay. Of course something has to happen to cause his shift in attitude, but isn't that always the case with thick-headed men? Seriously there were at least 5 huge events in this book. Syn has a big secret that she is keeping from everyone. We find out more about her heritage. We get to see just how sick Faolan really is. Babies come! New characters are introduced. There are some mini showdowns, but we're still moving toward the big mamajama (which I'm guessing will conclude the series).

I'm not sure how many books the author intends to have in the series... but with the new wrenches she has thrown in, she could keep it going for a while. And that does not displease me at all. The writing has improved as the series has progressed. Re-reading the first part of the series, I sometimes felt that the dialogue was bad between Syn and Ryder (mostly in Book 2). I did find myself skimming the sex scenes in this book... not because they were bad, but because I was anxious to get back to the story and find out what was going to happen next. Now I'm faced with an interminable wait for the next book. I HATE waits like this!

Other Books in Series:
1. Fighting Destiny
2. Taunting Destiny
4. Escaping Destiny

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Thrify Thursday: Spotlight on Kindle Unlimited

This week the spotlight is on Kindle Unlimited.  For only $9.99 per month, you get unlimited access to over 700,000 titles.  Being the one-click addict that I am, this is a great way to read some great books without breaking the bank.  And with covers like the ones below... don't you want to join?

Please support your authors that offer their books on Kindle Unlimited. Make sure to scroll to at least 10% of the book, or the author doesn't get paid.