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Sunday, June 3, 2012

Sunday Snippets #106

Devil's Punch

Author: Ann Aguirre

Corine Solomon Novels #4

Publisher: Roc

Released: April 3, 2012

REVIEW HERE

By the time Greydusk came back, we had tidied up, Butch was done eating and taking his stroll around the patio, and I was decently covered in Chance's shirt.

The demon paused on the threshold, sniffed, and sighed. "It reeks of copulation in here."

"Fire washed my cheeks. "Hi to you too."

"I suppose one must be thankful you have one another with whom to sate these urges. It would be disastrous if you succumbed to a Luren. Gilder or Lash, for instance."

"Disastrous for whom?"

"Everyone. If you take any native as your lover, you make him - or her - your consort here in Sheol, should you ascend."

"Anyone who tries to touch her comes through me," Chance bit out. "I need better weapons, demon."

His eyes were scary-fierce, primal in intensity; I'd seen the last of my hypercontrolled, calculating ex. That genie was out of the bottle for good. I suspected he'd always had these tendencies, carefully leashed, but something in Sheol - demon magick maybe - seemed to draw it out of him. Neither of us might be entirely ourselves, but I didn't regret what we'd done. Not when I felt so good.

Greydusk studied us for a moment longer and then shook its head. "I was afraid of this."

"What's wrong?"

"You've chosen him as your consort. That will affect his thinking. He can't help but respond to the ancient magick."

"Is there anything I can do to stop it?" I asked.

"No. Once chosen, the consort belongs to the queen until death."

"But I'm not the queen."

"Near enough."...

Labels: Ann Aguirre, Corine Solomon, Sunday Snippets |

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Friday, June 1, 2012

Review: About Last Night by Ruthie Knox

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About Last Night

Author: Ruthie Knox

Release Date: June 11, 2012

Publisher: Random House - Loveswept

ISBN: #978-034553516

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format(s): e-book

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

Cath Talarico knows a mistake when she makes it and God knows she’s made her share. So many, in fact, that this Chicago girl knows London is her last, best shot at starting over. But bad habits are hard to break, and soon Cath finds herself back where she has vowed never to go... in the bed of a man who is all kinds of wrong: too rich, too classy, too uptight for a free-spirited troublemaker like her.

Nev Chamberlain feels trapped and miserable in his family’s banking empire. But beneath his pinstripes is an artist and bohemian struggling to break free and lose control. Mary Catherine — even her name turns him on — with her tattoos, her secrets, and her gamine, sex-starved body, unleashes all kinds of fantasies.

When blue blood mixes with bad blood, can a couple that is definitely wrong for each other ever be perfectly right? And with a little luck and a lot of love, can they make last night last a lifetime?

What Nima’s talking about:

Like Ruthie Knox’s last novel, Ride with Me, I sat down to just “start” reading her latest, About Last Night. It was one the busiest days I’ve had in months and the first chapter was going to be my reward for meeting a major deadline. I was a full quarter into the book before real life came pounding down the door, and I had to pull myself out of the relationship quickly evolving between main characters Nev and Cath. I came back to it later that night after fixing dinner and told myself I was going to “just get comfortable at the computer” before starting the next project on my list. Naturally, I read the rest of the whole darn thing in that one sitting. I had no business blowing off so much work, but I was consumed. Three lousy hours of sleep was worth it to go to bed knowing how it all resolved.

The overall story arc is not overly complicated with subplots, and in this case, that’s a good thing. The narrowness and simplicity of the story serve to make it an intense experience. You have everything invested in the characters and what happens to this unlikely couple. Cath is a chronic mistake-maker. She has walls, thick walls, around her secrets and her heart. When Nev, prince charming—both British and insightful—comes into her life, he brings the one thing able to break down those walls, patience. (Which is to say nothing of the hot, hot chemistry between them. In my mind’s eye, he looked a whole lot like Jeremy Renner. I wonder who you would cast?) We all have skeletons in our mental closets, and we’re pretty sure if anyone knew them, they wouldn’t look at us the same way ever again. Cath is completely convinced of this. When she considers telling Nev about her secrets she can’t. She says, “It wasn’t about morality. It was about judgment. Specifically, it was about her lack of any. But how did you tell that to someone who seemed to have complete confidence in his own?” She lives very much inside her head and when I put a voice to it, it’s my own—only much, much funnier.

Ruthie Knox has a writing style that makes you feel like you’ve just had a slumber party with your best girlfriend. You stay up all night laughing hysterically, you compare notes on hot guys, and then sometime, in the wee hours of the morning when you’re tired and your guard is down, serious happens. It’s deep and meaningful and you know you will keep each other’s secrets when the sun comes up. Knox’s marketing plays up the fluffy, sexy, and fun aspects of her stories, but both books I’ve read are surprisingly poignant. There is a depth there that is unexpected and significant.

Reading this book is effortless. Let me recommend that you do it by the side of the pool or when your car is in the shop and you can’t go run any of those pressing errands. Once you start it, you WILL finish it before anything else happens in your life. It’s that good.

Can’t wait? You can read the first chapter from Ruthie Knox’s website here: http://www.ruthieknox.com/books/

Nima’s Rating:

Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)

Purchase Info:

About Last Night

Labels: 4.5 stars, contemporary romance, Loveswept, Nima Review, Random House, Ruthie Knox |

1 comments

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Review: Public Display of Affection by Emily Cale

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Public Display of Affection

Author: Emily Cale

Release Date: Jan. 18, 2012

Publisher: Decadent

1 Night Stand Series

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Lesbian, Novella

Format(s): e-book

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

After a heartbreaking end to her relationship with her girlfriend, Lucy Stark is looking to try something more adventurous. She turns to Madame Eve’s 1Night Stand service to help her find the perfect woman to push her boundaries and introduce her to the more daring side of a sexual encounter.

Samantha Taylor’s helped more than one woman explore her sexuality, but Lucy’s the first to really get to her. Keeping her walls up and the women she dates from getting inside is a skill she’s managed to master. After one night of unbridled passion, she has to decide whether to give up her hard exterior or let the woman of her dreams slip away.

What I’m talking about:

Once again I find myself drawn to Decadent Publishing’s 1 Night Stand Series. In this go around, we meet Lucy, a woman feeling a bit down on her luck and waiting for the other shoe to drop. She was dumped by her girlfriend for another and lost her job. Deciding to try and do something about it, Lucy hires Madame Eve’s service to help her find a woman who will break her out of her vanilla world. And as always, Madame Eve delivers more than Lucy expected.

I was immediately drawn into the story from the beginning. Ms. Cale is able to capture Lucy’s raw emotions on page so that I too was nervous and second guessing Lucy’s decision to utilize the services Madame Eve offered. Although Lucy tells herself that she wants to move beyond her vanilla nature, I think she really wants to break free of her ex, Kristen.

After a short while, Sam shows up at Lucy’s hotel room and takes charge right away. She orders Lucy to put on a butterfly vibrator under her clothing and then takes her out for dessert at the hotel restaurant. What happens next is delicious! Using a remote control, Sam stimulates Lucy off and on while engaging in polite dinner conversation. I enjoyed equal parts of Sam’s excitement to control the situation and Lucy's mixed emotions over wanting to orgasm and fear of doing so in public. The well comprised scene was extremely enjoyable for all!

Although I felt the first part of the story was well written and exciting, the coherency of characters seemed to fall away after the first two chapters. At once point later, Lucy demands the remote for the vibrator, and she pushes Sam. For me, the burst of confidence and aggression felt too sudden. Behavior isn’t modified overnight. In addition, the Dominatrix-lite, Sam, suddenly is willing to step out of character and play submissive. Again, I felt these changes should take time to develop.

Overall, Public Display of Affection is an enjoyable story, but I feel it suffered in its short length. I became engrossed and hoped for more. The personality roll-reversal of the last chapter may have worked with more character development, but in the novella length it felt too drastic. With that said, the story has some tender and smexy moments which make it worth the read!

My Rating:

Liked it - recommend (B+)

Purchase Info:

Public Display of Affection (1 Night Stand Series)

Labels: 1 Night Stand series, 3.5 stars, contemporary romance, Decadent Publishing, Emily Cale, GLBT, lesbian romance, New-to-Me Author 2012, Twimom Review |

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Review: Never Gonna Let You Go by Jessica Subject

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Never Gonna Let You Go

Author: Jessica Subject

Release Date: Jan 28, 2012

Publisher: Decadent

The Underground #1

Genre: Sci-fi Romance, m/f & f/f, Novella

Format(s): e-book

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

Caught in a tangle of lies, Calla Jacobs must sort through the truth to discover where she truly belongs. A biologist for Planet Core, she finds herself ensnared in a web of deceit. Sent to Airondelle, she must work with a team to prepare the newly discovered planet for colonists from Earth. But the mission does not go as she expected. Her former lover, Erik Edwards, shuns her, sending Calla into the arms of Melina Holloway, their commander, for the attention she craves and more. A confrontation among the trio leaves her with a broken heart, and fleeing from the two people she trusted most.

Attempting to break free from the lies that bind her, she discovers Planet Core has deceived everyone. And when she returns to Earth, Calla learns just how far Planet Core’s control reaches.

What I’m talking about:

Calla, Eric and Melina all work for Planet Core, a powerful firm that is investigating another planet as a possible place for human habitation. On this remote planet, sex is strictly forbidden between co-workers with the exception of married partners, but that doesn’t stop our trio! Calla is miserable because she is still in love with team member Erik, the man who left her to suddenly and very briefly marry their supervisor, Melina.

Okay, I have to put this out there... I felt like this story opened like a soft porn flick. Girl lusts after ex. Ex is an ass. Girl's female supervisor (and also ex of same guy) pulls her aside. Girl thinks she is in trouble, but instead of punishment supervisor shows a soft side and desires flare. I wanted to cue the "bow-chicka-wa-wa" music. However, the story moves past the “porn” stage pretty quickly.

When Melina shows compassion and interest in Calla, Calla becomes confused for she’d never been attracted to a female before. Calla carries this confusion with her as she heads to the field to study native animal life. While Calla's confusion over her attraction is understandable, as is her need to analyze the situation, the constant inner monologue over these matters while she is working paints Calla in an immature light. She's a respected scientist but acting like a teenager. I found this mildly annoying.

Melina uses her supervisory position of power to put Calla in a compromising situation. Calla enjoys it, but it feels cliche. As things progress, Calla continues to question her attraction, stating “But I’m not a lesbian.” This leads into a short discussion about how sex between women doesn’t mean one is a lesbian. The discussion felt like a PSA for the general reading audience.

I continued to struggle with Calla’s reaction to the situation. Although Calla's feelings and uncertainty about being with a woman are natural, I felt at times it gave the book a "dirty" feel. Here is an example of what I mean: "She wanted the experience to be quick, didn't want to get caught with a woman. No one on the mission would respect her if they found out." Statements like these took away from the story and degraded the romance aspect for me.

Now with that all said, the story quickly takes an interesting twist of events. We find out that things are not as they appear. The reader (and Calla) is uncertain who to believe. Conspiracies abound, and suddenly Erik, who was a MAJOR ASS in the first part of the book, is the hero. Of course, if Eric had just been a man and come clean about what happened with Melina there never would have been a problem.

Once the team returns home, we find out more hidden truths, and one really begins to question what the heck is Planet Core up to. This was when I really became engrossed. Unfortunately, it was only a minor part of the story. I wonder if we will get more - another novella or a full-length book?

In then end, I really wanted to like this story a lot, for I'm a sci fi junkie at heart, and this novella held a lot of promise with it’s conspiracy theories and the underground resistance movement. But in the end the book fell flat for me. There were too many open questions and story lines for a novella-length story. Erik going from ass to sweetheart was a little too rapid, and I just didn't feel the justification for his horrendous behavior. Once back on earth, I felt the part of the story with the most promise was rushed. We never find out why Calla and Erik were set up or what the whole underground movement is about. With that said, the premise of the story is interesting enough that I certainly would like to read the next story. I feel there is a lot of potential, and although a lot seemed to bug me about the book, I enjoyed reading it.

My Rating:

Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)

Purchase Info:

Never Gonna Let You Go (The Underground)

Labels: 3 stars, contemporary romance, Decadent Publishing, erotic romance, Jessica Subject, New-to-Me Author 2012, sci-fi/fantasy, The Underground Series, Twimom Review |

2 comments

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Review: Vengeance Moon by Lee Roland

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Vengeance Moon

Author: Lee Roland

Release Date: June 5, 2012

Publisher: Signet

Earth Witches #2

ISBN: #978-0451236432

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Format(s): Paperback (352 pgs), e-book

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

Revenge is unleashed under the light of the moon…

“On my seventeenth birthday, my mother’s last gift to me was a vision of death—and a curse…”

Madeline Corso can’t rest until she hunts down the three unknown assailants who killed her father and witch mother. Two of them are now dead by her hand. But the third eludes her while she serves time with the Sisters of Justice—a mysterious order of female warriors with ties to her mother.

The Sisters have tracked the last murderer to Duivel, Missouri, and the dark underworld of the Barrows. But Madeline’s release is contingent on her fulfillment of a mission for the Sisters. Madeline doesn’t question them, but once in the Barrows, she discovers that things aren’t what they seem.

Can she rely on Michael, a handsome and enigmatic local businessman, to help her navigate a world of men and beasts? Or will she lose her heart before the mission is complete?

What G & U are talking about:

Vengeance Moon is the riveting second novel in the new Earth Witches series. Lee Roland has crafted a dark and intriguing world, one that is as gripping in its action and suspense as it is in its passion. You do not have to read the first book in the series, Viper Moon, but it would give you better background on the mythology (not to mention, it was really good, review HERE and a snippet HERE).

In the previous novel, Viper Moon, the huntress, Cassandra, fulfills the purpose the Earth Mother has given her. In Vengeance Moon, we have a new heroine and hero. We were introduced to our hero, Michael, in the preceding novel. He is an unlikely hero, but we hope there is more to him than meets the eye.

Madeline, our heroine, is a very complicated character. A spell cast by her dead mother caused her to witness the final moments of her life and to be consumed to seek vengeance against her mother’s killers. Madeline’s personality has been tainted by the pursuit of her mother’s killers. The overwhelming drive for vengeance overshadows everything in poor Madeline’s life. She has been trained to become a perfect Sister of Justice – women who keep earth witches, who are blessed with great magic, from using it to do harm.

The Sisters of Justice send Madeline to the Barrows to retrieve an object of power that was taken from her mother’s corpse. She must return it to the Sisters and if she is able to kill the final murderer of her parents in the process, so be it. However, her mission turns out to be more complicated and dangerous than anyone suspected. Madeline’s journey to the Barrows allows us to revisit Cassandra and Abby as well as see more of Michael, who was a fascinating and complicate character in Viper Moon. For all of the complexities, hidden plots and such, Vengeance Moon is a nail-biting, edge of your seat read. It is astonishing how much is packed into this novel.

Alas, there is no snippet included for a third novel in this series at the end Vengeance Moon. Gikany and Una were unable to see anything on Ms. Roland’s website regarding a next novel. However, this is a well-written series so far and we eagerly anticipate a third novel in the Earth Witches series. If you haven’t started this series yet, you best hurry and catch up – it’s so worth it!

Their Rating:

Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)

Purchase Info:

Vengeance Moon: Earth Witches #2

Reviews of books in the series:

Viper Moon: Earth Witches #1

Labels: 4.5 stars, G-U Review, Lee Roland, Novel of the Earth Witches, Signet, urban fantasy |

0 comments

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Review: Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep

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Dark Frost

Author: Jennifer Estep

Release Date: May 29, 2012

Publisher: Kensington

Mythos Academy #3

ISBN: #978-0758266965

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

Format(s): Paperback (336 pgs), e-book

Book Source: Author

About the book:

I've seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I'm supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I'm just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me--again.

Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects--and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I'm also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me? It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can't use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me--and I'm in for the fight of my life.

What G & U are talking about:

Gikany and Una are happily stunned. We decided to read the previous two Mythos Academy books before reading Dark Frost. We are so glad we did. This is an outstanding series! Una started the first book and read through all three in a couple days... because it was too good to put down! Gikany did it in a day!

We recommend that you start from the beginning of the Mythos Academy series with Touch of Frost. It will help you connect with the characters and there is a build up through the first two books to the climax at the end of Dark Frost. There are two novellas, one is a prequel to Touch of Frost and the other is between Touch of Frost and Kiss of Frost, but they are not necessary to read. Gikany and Una did not feel we missed anything and we didn’t know about the novellas until we started our review.

Ms. Estep has created a stunning world in the Mythos Academy series. We loved the blending of the different mythologies and how seamlessly they are woven into the fabric of this young adult series. We think that this would be a great series for children (like Gikany and Una) who love ancient histories/mythologies. Not that we are experts, but we, too, were fascinated and enthralled by Clash of the Titians (the original) and can completely relate to the creation of this series. It is a fascinating urban fantasy that will entice the older generations who grew up with comics and superheroes.

Another aspect worth noting of the Mythos Academy series is the characters. Our main character, Gwen, is easy to relate to. She is a normal teenager with an exceptional talent. She must make the transition from one world where she felt she belonged to a new one where she feels like a complete outsider. The friends she makes along the way and the experiences of first love are easy to relate to. The varied personalities of the other characters are endearing and add to the complexities of the world and grounding of the novel. This is just a well-rounded series.

We seriously recommend this series and especially Dark Frost to readers ages junior high and older. In our opinion, adults may find the Mythos Academy series as endearing and enthralling, or more so, as the Twilight series or Hunger Games trilogy. This would be an especially great read for parents to share with their kids. We can’t wait for the next book, Crimson Frost, to arrive in December 2012.

Their Rating:

Personal favorite - a must read (A+)

Purchase Info:

Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy #1)

Kiss of Frost (Mythos Academy #2)
Dark Frost (Mythos Academy #3)

Labels: 5 stars, G-U Review, Jennifer Estep, Kensington Publishing, Mythos Academy series, paranormal YA, YA Literature |

2 comments

Monday, May 28, 2012

Review: Accidentally Beautiful by Deanna Wadsworth

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Accidentally Beautiful

Author: Deanna Wadsworth

Release Date: March 5, 2012

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

1 Night Stand Series

ISBN: #978-1613332399

Genre: Erotic Romance/GLBT

Format(s): e-book

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

Martin Baird is perfectly content in his safe, predictable job as head concierge for Castillo Resorts, but when a handsome stranger whisks him away for a night of tropical escapades—first visiting an isolated gay bar then to a secluded beach where erotic delights await—Martin’s world is thrown upside down. He’s never met a man like Garret Fisher, but it seems he has been waiting for a night like this all his life.

Could something truly beautiful come out of this accidental meeting? Or was it really not an accident at all?

What B is talking about:

One of the things that makes the 1 Night Stand Series so good is that, with different authors contributing different stories, there’s truly something for everyone. Some of the stories combine the romance between the key characters with a bigger plot, the new relationships providing an advantage in the ongoing struggle. In Accidentally Beautiful, however, the attraction between Martin and Garret is the crux of the story. Both men are searching for something, and Madam Eve, as usual, knows exactly what they need, even more so than they do themselves.

The Castillo Resort has been the backdrop for some of my favorite 1 Night Stand tales, so I anticipated another good read as soon as I recognized the familiar setting. I was not disappointed. Accidentally Beautiful has an added twist in that one of the men doesn’t even know he’s been set up on a date. It’s a device that’s been used before in the series, but I still think it played out especially sweetly here.

Garret and Martin are an excellent match for one another, Garret’s dominant tendencies attracting Martin’s submissive streak perfectly. Although Martin’s journey in Accidentally Beautiful is more of an epiphany, both men learn more about themselves than they expected to, and surprisingly discover something precious they’ll fight to keep.

Even within a series devoted to erotic explorations, these two are downright hot together. Wadsworth crafts some wonderfully explicit scenes, each rich in detail, yet still manages to keep the language naughtily romantic. Garret may be in charge, but the care he takes with Martin is endearing. Martin is a sweetheart, and the emotions he goes through as he realizes what he truly needs makes him one of my all-time favorite characters in the series.

Once again, the 1 Night Stand series delivers a quick, super-sexy read that should please many m/m fans. Garret and Martin make for a fun, sexy couple, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading their tale. Wadsworth makes good use of the limited timeframe, and gets to the point quickly, while still delivering a solid, enjoyable love story. This one is definitely going in my “keeper” stash!

B’s Rating:

Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)

Purchase Info:

Accidentally Beautiful (1 Night Stand Series)

Labels: 1 Night Stand series, 4 stars, Bs-review, Deanna Wadsworth, Decadent Publishing, erotic romance, GLBT, m/m romance, novella |

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Disclaimer

About our reviews: The reviews posted here are the writer's own honest opinion of the book, not a judgement on the subject matter or author. We read for pleasure and at the request of authors and publishers. We do not receive compensation for our reviews, other than the copy of the book to read for the review.

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