Month: February 2015

Cephalopod Coffeehouse February 2015–THE LEGACY HUMAN-A Review

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Hi there! Welcome one and all to the Cephalopod Coffeehouse, a cozy gathering of book lovers, meeting to discuss their thoughts regarding the tomes they enjoyed most over the previous month. Pull up a chair, order your cappuccino and join in the fun.

As part of the Coffeehouse I’m obligated to share the best book I read this month. A few of my Coffeehouse friends are familiar with Susan Kaye Quinn, but this is a NEW, so I am eager to share a YA dystopian-future gem. Oh, and scroll down to enter the KINDLE GIVEAWAY!!

The Legacy Human (Singularity #1)About the book:
When transcending humanity is the prize, winning the Game is all that matters.

Seventeen-year-old Elijah Brighton wants to become an ascender—a post-Singularity human/machine hybrid—after all, they’re smarter, more enlightened, more compassionate, and above all, achingly beautiful. But Eli is a legacy human, preserved and cherished for his unaltered genetic code, just like the rainforest he paints. When a fugue state possesses him and creates great art, Eli miraculously lands a sponsor for the creative Olympics. If he could just master the fugue, he could take the gold and win the right to ascend, bringing everything he’s yearned for within reach… including his beautiful ascender patron. But once Eli arrives at the Games, he finds the ascenders are playing games of their own. Everything he knows about the ascenders and the legacies they keep starts to unravel… until he’s running for his life and wondering who he truly is.

The Legacy Human is the first in a new young adult science fiction series that explores the intersection of mind, body, and soul… and how technology will challenge us to remember what it means to be human.

My Review:
This is a sci-fi YA story set in a richly described dystopian future. More than one hundred years ago, Earth had a catastrophic population event, called the Singularity. At that time, there were serious issues with population and shortages, but a new technology allowed the conscious of a human to be uploaded into a computer mainframe called Orion. This collective was then able to “download” the experiences of each “Ascender” into discrete automaton bodies. Ascenders had not only their own knowledge, but access to the minds of the billions who likewise ascended.  Those who chose not to Ascend–Legacy Humans–Have been treated like museum pieces to some extent. They are now little more than entertainment for the Ascenders, existing in small Ascender-monitored communities where they have all the “basic” needs met, or off the grid in Believer/rebel colonies.

What is celebrated by Ascenders is the creativity of the Legacy mind. The ability to create–life, art–is venerated. As Legacies are meant to live, and die, the technology that Ascenders use on a daily basis to extend and improve life is denied to the Legacies.

At the time of the Singularity, any human could choose to Ascend, however that avenue is now closed. Currently, the only way for a Legacy to join Orion’s collective is to win one of four coveted, annual spaces in the Art Olympics. Each year the best Legacy (under age 18) in Art, Drama, Writing or Music is selected in the Agon Games–and each winner plus his/her immediate family is ascended.  With the prospect of virtual immortality on the line, winning is difficult, if not downright deadly.

Eli is a 17 y/o Legacy Human who wants nothing more than to get his mother well. She suffers leukemia, a disease that Ascender gene tech can easily cure, but she is denied this treatment because, well, humans die. No point healing them if they are only going to die anyway, in the Ascender viewpoint. Eli is also a talented artist, and he is selling his art for illegal “chits” to buy the forbidden treatment. Eli has an Ascender patron, Lenora, who is helping him to improve his craft, and also assisting with the sales of his work.

Eli wishes to Ascend not only to save his mother, but also to be worthy of an equal relationship with Lenora–while Ascenders and Legacies can have “relations” this is highly frowned upon. Plus, Eli wants to be more than a domestic. He wants immortality, but Lenora will not sponsor him for the Agon Games. And, Eli’s mother doesn’t actually WANT to Ascend. She believes, as do many Legacies, that Ascending destroys the human soul.

Turns out, Lenora’s second (read: boyfriend/partner), Marcus, will. As Eli enters the Games, however, it turns out to be far harder for him than he imagined. Two “Agonites” are already dead, and the likelihood is high for another fatality. Eli is assisted by his dearest friend, Cyrus, and makes a few rebellious friends: Kamali, Basha and Delphina, all who do not actually wish to ascend. Eli is mystified; who wouldn’t wish to be perfection? Still, he hears their arguments against–the most incredible being this “soul” issue.

Eli’s art suffers from an inability to connect to his creative genius. It sometimes peeks out in a “fugue” state–he gets angry or upset and the art…happens. He wakes from this (almost) trance to find amazingly detailed paintings, the kind that could clearly win the Gold, but he cannot harness his fugue. It is transient, though seems to be happening with greater frequency. Kamali seems to be able to draw Eli into the fugue, however, and they pair up often to facilitate Eli’s chance.

As Eli and Kamali talk, Eli comes to realize that the Legacy and Ascender life are not all they seem. Eli recognizes that his true goal, to Ascend and save his mother and become Lenora’s second, are perhaps not the best goals. Well, he’s dead set on saving his mother, but perhaps being Ascended isn’t the perfection he craves after all…

THE LEGACY HUMAN is beautifully rendered with a lush world and the kind of moral dilemmas that are core issues in our own time. Do we have souls? What are the permanent effects of childhood decisions? Can we truly harness power for good, or will power always corrupt? Eli’s fight to save his mother extend throughout the Games and afterward–when he learns he’s been (perhaps) double/triple crossed. He is a strong, likable character and his plight is sympathetic. He competes for love–for his mother’s life and the woman he desires. That he is an inadvertent hero of a cause he didn’t know existed? Well, that’s for the next book.

INTERESTED? You can find THE LEGACY HUMAN on Goodreads and Amazon. It’s an interesting new series that I jumped into because, well, Sue is a dear writing friend at this point.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win
A Kindle Fire and other goodies!
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Thanks for popping in, and feel free to check out what were the best reads of my fellow Coffeehouse bloggers:

1. The Armchair Squid 2. WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME
3. Stephanie Faris, Author 4. Trisha @ WORD STUFF
5. Cherdo on the Flipside 6. mainewords
7. StrangePegs — Just Exactly How Life Looks 8. StrangePegs — Changes
9. A Creative Exercise 10. Life Before the Hereafter
11. V’s Reads 12. Two Square Dogs

They Shared A FORBIDDEN RUMSPRINGA–A Review

Hi there! Here’s a sub-genre I never thought I’d read: Gay Amish Romance. But, I’ve been a fan of Keira Andrews for a bit now and I thought I’d give it a go. WOW!!! FYI:  This is an adult read.
A Forbidden Rumspringa (Gay Amish Romance #1)

About the book:
When two young Amish men find love, will they risk losing everything?

In a world where every detail of life—down to the width of a hat brim—is dictated by God and the all-powerful rules of the community, two men dare to imagine a different way. At 18, Isaac Byler knows little outside the strict Amish settlement of Zebulon, Minnesota, where there is no rumspringa for exploration beyond the boundaries of their insular world. Isaac knows he’ll have to officially join the church and find a wife before too long, but he yearns for something else—something he can’t name.

Dark tragedy has left carpenter David Lantz alone to support his mother and sisters, and he can’t put off joining the church any longer. But when he takes on Isaac as an apprentice, their attraction grows amid the sweat and sawdust. David shares his sinful secrets, and he and Isaac struggle to reconcile their shocking desires with their commitment to faith, family and community.

Now that they’ve found each other, are they willing to lose it all?

Note: Contains explicit sexual situations and graphic language. This is not an inspirational/Christian romance.

My Review:
I never thought I could get so beat up by forbidden Amish love. As a kid I remember seeing WITNESS and being blown away with this quiet, idyllic life–or so I thought!

Issac is 18 and due to begin Church in his sheltered devout Amish community in Zebulon, Minnesota. He has lived here for the past seven years, ever since his sect had broken from a more “worldly” Amish community in Ohio. This community breach occurred because three Amish teens drowned while intoxicated in the period of rumspringa, a time of youthful experimentation (rebellion) in Amish communities that precedes adulthood and marriage. Rumspringa is forbidden in their new community.

In this new community, Issac’s family is less well-off. In Ohio they were allowed to have English jobs and sell their handicrafts openly. Their new locale is far more remote and restrictive. The families must subsist off the land by farming, and minimal sales of wares to tourists. Issac is unsure how to live in this life–he’s not interested in farming–and he also misses his older brother, Aaron, who ran away.

Isaac’s father arranges for Isaac to become an apprentice carpenter, to David a man the community is questioning. David is 22 and unwed. This is strange, and Isaac wonders why David, who is industrious and attractive, is unmarried. He also feels shame for finding David attractive–especially as David’s sister, Mary, makes no secret of her interest in Isaac. All of Isaac’s friends are beginning “dating”, and Isaac has no interest in the women of their community.

Working with David becomes a torture–Isaac is so incredibly, shamefully, aroused by David. The best/worst thing? It seems David reciprocates.

Okay, David TOTALLY reciprocates. And David has a secret life in the “English” world that Isaac never could have dreamed. Together, David and Issac find love, but is it meant to be? There is no homosexuality in the Amish community, and especially not in their even more restrictive sect. Their time together becomes a forbidden rumspringa, and the longer it continues, the more dangerous their feelings become. If they are caught, they will be shunned, leaving David’s widowed mother and five sisters without a provider. Isaac fears his family will also suffer, having two sons who are shunned.

Still, as David takes steps to begin a family life, Isaac realizes that he cannot stay in Zebulon. His heart is David’s and he can’t go on pretending that he’ll one day marry. Isaac finds the courage to make his future outside–and his love is soon rewarded.

This is, without question, an HEA. And the Amish life was so detailed and well-described, I could feel the constriction around my heart for Isaac and David. I had never imagined the Amish life would be so interesting, or complicated. Even Isaac’s siblings feels stifled in this new life. His younger brother, Ephraim, begins to strike out against the many rules of their world. Meanwhile, David’s family is under constant scrutiny–and yet he finds his path rightly. The end is quick and satisfying, with a sequel published and a third book in the offing.

Interested? You can find A FORBIDDEN RUMSPRINGA on Goodreads, All Romance, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

Keira AndrewsAbout the Author:
After writing for years yet never really finding the right inspiration, Keira discovered her voice in gay romance, which has become a passion. She writes contemporary, historical, paranormal and fantasy fiction, and—although she loves delicious angst along the way—Keira firmly believes in happy endings. For as Oscar Wilde once said, “The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means.”

You can catch up with Keira on her website, Facebook, twitter, and Goodreads.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

UNMAKING MARCHANT Requires Love–A Review, and a FREE BOOK!

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a sexy New Adult romance from best-selling author Ella James. I read the first book in this series, SELLING SCARLETT, which features a strong independent woman selling her “carnal treasure” to help a friend in dire need. It was a steamer I enjoyed, so I thought I’d give the latest Love Inc book a look-see. UNMAKING MARCHANT has a story built on the power of addiction and mental illness.

Unmaking Marchant (Love Inc., #3)About the book:

Marchant Radcliffe, owner of the exclusive Love Inc. brothel, is no stranger to darkness. He lost his parents in a plane crash and since college has harbored a secret almost too terrible to bear. He keeps his head above water by pouring his energy into his business—and he’s thrived, despite the dark blot on his soul.

Then, after ten years of good fortune, Marchant’s skeletons start to peek out of the closet, tossing him down a trail of ruin that begins with arson and could end with murder. Because he’s kept his struggles private, he has no one to pull him back from the brink.

After a breakup with her longtime fiancé, Suri Dalton, daughter of one of Silicon Valley’s tech tycoons, has nowhere to go except her BFF’s new penthouse in Las Vegas. The last thing Suri is looking for is a man, but after drowning her woes in wine on the flight over, she stumbles into a torrid make out session with a beautiful stranger—who just so happens to be Marchant Radcliffe, playboy and literal pimp.

Despite an immediate attraction, Suri writes Marchant off as exactly the sort of guy she should avoid. Until Love Inc. goes up in flames, Marchant winds up at the bottom of a swimming pool, and Suri is the only one around to pull him out.

What happens when what you see isn’t what you get? What do you do when destiny is too alluring to resist and too dangerous to survive?

My Review:

This was an interesting steamy read. Suri is a smart woman engaged to an abusive alcoholic, Adam. He’s the only man she’s ever been with–they are high school sweethearts, but Adam’s continued alcoholism is a major stumbling block to their relationship. One night he’s way-too-handsy and ends up hurting Suri–which sends Suri from her Napa estate to Vegas to meet up with her BFF, Lizzy.

Lizzy is engaged to a billionaire, and has friends in quite low places: particularly a high-class brothel, owned by Marchant. Suri’s woefully prudish, perhaps, but she’s not interested in anything to do with a pimp. Well, at least not until Marchant ends up (inadvertently) saving her from an assailant and they have a brief tryst–Suri’s first-ever anonymous hook-up. She’s rather mortified to discover Mr. Love Inc is the sex-god who drew out her elusive orgasm like a bee finds pollen.

Still, there’s something vulnerable about Marchant, and Suri’s the Patron Saint of Lost Men, or something. She can tell Marchant is messed up, but she thinks he’s on drugs (Spoiler: yep) but that’s only a small part of the story. He suffers bipolar disorder and is on a mania high when they first meet, which later collapses into suicidal depression.

So, Marchant saved her, and she returns the favor. These two have a magnetic attraction–even before Marchant seeks treatment for his illness. He blames himself for ruining a good woman years before and doesn’t want Suri (or any woman) to get her heart broken. Guess what, Marchant? YOU are not the boss of WOMANKIND. We will have a broken heart if we WANT one, dangit!

Expect sex. Lots of it. Expect some brief domestic violence, and some drawn-out mania and many many bad decisions. It takes Marchant a LONG time to reveal his dark secret, but the end comes quickly after that–though this book ends with a cliffhanger.

Interested? You can find UNMAKING MARCHANT on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

You can grab the first book in this series, SELLING SCARLETT for FREE on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Like MARCHANT, this is an ADULT read. Click here for my review.

This story introduces Lizzy, Cross and Suri. Lizzy attempts to sell her virginity in order to raise money to pay for Cross’ medical care after his parents cut him off and he’s injured in a bike crash. (There’s an argument for universal healthcare in this premise, methinks!)

About the Author:

Ella James is a USA Today bestselling author who writes teen and adult romance. She is happily married to a man who knows how to wield a red pen, and together they are raising a feisty two-year-old who will probably grow up believing everyone’s parents go to war over the placement of a comma.

Ella’s books have been listed on numerous Amazon bestseller lists, including the Movers & Shakers list and the Amazon Top 100; two were listed among Amazon’s Top 100 Young Adult Ebooks of 2012.

To find out more about Ella’s projects and get dates on upcoming releases, find her on Facebook, follow her blog, or twitter feed.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

 

Happy Book Birthday to LOSING AT LOVE! with Giveaway

L@L RDL BannerHi there! Today I’m sharing in the festivities for Jenifer Iacopelli’s new release: LOSING AT LOVE. This is a sequel to the (smash!) hit GAME. SET. MATCH. and definitely set to be a winner.  (My lame tennis puns will now cease…)

book2-publicity-frontAbout the book:

Grass courts, tennis whites and the fiercest competition in the world. Wimbledon. After two crazy weeks in Paris, the girls of the Outer Banks Tennis Academy are headed to London with just one thing on their minds: winning.

Indiana Gaffney is fresh off a surprise win at the French Open junior tournament. Sponsors are clamoring for her attention, but what she wants more than anything—aside from a wild card to Wimbledon—is to be with Jack Harrison, but international fame and a secret relationship rarely mix well.

When Penny Harrison dreamed of playing at Wimbledon she never imagined agonizing pain shooting through her ankle with every step. With just a month until the tournament and the whole world expecting her to win, she’s determined to play, with or without the support of her coach or the love of her life, Alex Russell.

For the first time ever, no one expects anything from Jasmine Randazzo. After a crushing first-round defeat in the French Open juniors, the tennis world has given up on her, but worse than that, so have her parents, her best friend Teddy and maybe even her coach. With everyone writing her off, can she find it within herself to go after her dreams?

How about a little taste?

La Metropolian Hotel

Paris, France

Indiana Gaffney gasped, her eyes flying open and locking on the glistening object across the hotel room. It reflected the muted television behind her, the French Open final, the red of the court, blurry in the polished silver. A large, round plate, innocuous to the untrained eye, with the sizeable laser carved logo of Roland Garros at the center, was braced against the mirror hanging on the hotel room wall. The mirror reflected the match clearly, the broad steps and fierce rallies of two men battling it out for the French Open Men’s title. But those men were mere afterthoughts as her eye caught a set of shoulders stretching the material of his t-shirt thin, not a mere image from the television, but broad and warm and real. Strong hands slid down her back, fingers twining into the ends of her long blonde hair, tugging on it gently, drawing her gaze away from the mirror and back to the green eyes of the man in her bed.

He kissed her soundly, sending shivers down her spine and making her hips rock against his and her legs tighten around his waist. “It’s not gonna disappear if you take your eyes off it,” Jack Harrison muttered into the skin of her neck, nipping at it lightly with his teeth.

“Feels like it will,” she whispered back, tilting her head to give him better access. Most of her mind was focused on what he was doing with his hands and mouth, but that plate, the one that declared in no uncertain terms that she was the new French Open junior champion, would not be ignored. Not even for the guy who made her heart pound like no one else ever had before, the guy who, up until a few days ago, could barely look at her without his shoulders slumping with guilt. Their age gap hadn’t shrunk in the days full of soft kisses and nights far more intense — though perhaps not as intense as she’d like — but he wasn’t fighting their attraction anymore. She hadn’t chased him, not really, but he’d known she wanted him, almost from the moment they first met. Then he’d found out how old she was and he started treating her like a flashing red SEVENTEEN was stamped across her forehead, every year between them creating an accompanying foot of distance. In the end, the attraction had been too much, even for someone as painfully good as Jack Harrison.

“Hey, Champ, you in there?” Jack’s voice brought her back, his lips spelling out the words against her shoulder.

“Champ?” Indy hummed and smiled. “I like the sound of that.” In fact, she liked the sound of it so much she planned on winning again the next chance she got, on the grass courts at Wimbledon.

“I bet you do. Get used to it, baby,” Jack said, his whole face lighting up as he shifted his weight forward, tilting her back onto the bed. A shriek bubbled up through her throat and the giggles followed as he leaned over her, bracing himself on his elbows and then smothering her laughter with the press of his mouth. As his tongue slid against hers, she turned herself over to it, letting herself revel in the dreams of future victories and the celebrations that would follow.

Interested? You can find Losing at Love on Amazon, BN, iTunes, Kobo and Goodreads.

book1-publicity-frontAnd the previous book in this series, Game. Set. Match. is also available on Amazon, BN, iTunes, Kobo and Goodreads.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a $50 GC, Signed copies of Game. Set. Match. and Losing at Love or SWAG!
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Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Screen Shot 2014-08-07 at 3.09.39 PM copyAbout the Author:
Jennifer Iacopelli was born in New York and has no plans to leave…ever. Growing up, she read everything she could get her hands on, but her favorite authors were Laura Ingalls Wilder, L.M. Montgomery and Frances Hodgson Burnett all of whom wrote about kick-ass girls before it was cool for girls to be kick-ass. She got a Bachelor’s degree in Adolescence Education and English Literature quickly followed up by a Master’s in Library Science, which lets her frolic all day with her books and computers, leaving plenty of time in the evenings to write and yell at the Yankees, Giants and her favorite tennis players through the TV.

Catch up with Jennifer online on her newsletter, twitter, Facebook, website, Goodreads, Instagram, and Amazon Author Page.

Inkslinger

They Were CAUGHT ON CAMERA–Reviews! (And, a FREE book!)

Hi there! Today I’m sharing reviews for Lily Harlem’s scorching new M/M serial, CAUGHT ON CAMERA. This five-part romance is erotic and sensual, following a love affair that develops between two porn stars. THIS is an ADULT read.

About the Books:

When Reece Carter is caught on camera canoodling with hunky gardener Cade Davenport, a new, super-sexy opportunity presents itself that he just can’t walk away from.

Reece Carter is working hard and feeling the heat. It’s a scorching hot day and he’s slaving away indoors. But at least he has a nice view from the window—sexy gardener Cade Davenport—no job too big or too small—who is mowing the lawn minus his shirt.

Soon thirst overcomes Reece and he finds himself swimming, kissing and getting frisky in the hot tub with the super-confident, seize-the-moment Cade, whose wit, humour and cocky smile is irresistible.

What Reece doesn’t know is that the walls have ears and the trees have eyes. His every moan, gasp and erotic move is being recorded in fine and shocking detail.

But what does that mean? And what about the intriguing offer Cade puts to him? Shouldn’t he just punch his lights out for filming him without permission? And will Reece’s life ever be the same again after being caught on camera?

My Review:

This series follows two Brit men, Reece–a painter–and Cade–a gardener, as they embark on new careers as porn stars, together.  Reece never suspected what Cade was setting him up for, when Cade suggested a break from the work they were doing at the same country mansion.

Their illicit tryst in the pool/hot tub was a calculated maneuver, but the end result is…love.

Okay, it takes a bit of the long way ’round, but yes, there’s a lot of love to go with the sex. And, there’s a LOT of sex. See, Cade has a plan when he first sees the painter doing a room refresh at the mansion where he also works. Cade knows Tom, the homeowner, makes gay porn movies, well, because Cade has done a couple smaller shoots for his production company. Cade is attracted to Reece and is able to tempt him into some au natural attention–which happens to be recorded by hidden camera. Cade sends Reece a teaser of “their” movie, and, though Reece is mortified, he’s also turned on.

Tom gets a look at their movie and he likes what he sees. He offers Reece some cash for a simple scene, and Reece is swayed not just by the cash, but also by Cade’s insistence on doing the scene with Reece. Reece doesn’t want to read to much into it, but he’s intrigued by Cade’s interest. He’s also quite excited by his scene partner.

Their first scene goes great, and a contract is offered for a feature because Cade and Reece have fantastic chemistry. Each novella in the series is a separate scene for the film and the growing relationship. Expect menage and scripted BDSM fun. Reece tells the whole story, but Cade is especially candid. He likes Reece, a lot, and wants more than just the scripted sex.

Still, once the cameras stop rolling, can these two find room in their lives for a…boyfriend?

Each episode is incendiary, but sensual, too. I latched on to this series from the start and looked forward to each release, but now the whole thing is available and a must-read for lovers of M/M erotic romance. I’m a total sucker for Brit men, and these guys are positively edible. Sweet and sassy, and insatiable and courageous sexually. The ending is perfect, and horribly wrong–because I absolutely didn’t want this book to end!

Interested? You can grab Caught on Camera: PART ONE for FREE on Amazon,  Amazon UK, ARe and Totally Bound.

Each of the other episodes are $.99 apiece. You can find them here:

Part TWO: Totally Bound  Amazon Amazon UK ARe

Part THREE:  Totally Bound  Amazon Amazon UK ARe

Part FOUR:  Totally Bound Amazon Amazon UK  ARe

and Part FIVE: Totally Bound Amazon Amazon UK ARe

About the Author:
Lily Harlem lives in the UK and is an award-winning author of contemporary erotic romance. She writes for publishers on both sides of the Atlantic including Ellora’s Cave, HarperCollins, Totally Bound, Xcite and Sweetmeats Press. Her HOT ICE series regularly receives high praise and industry nominations.

Before turning her hand to writing Lily Harlem worked as a trauma nurse and her latest HarperCollins release, Confessions of a Naughty Night Nurse, draws on her many experiences while nursing in London. Lily also self-publishes and The Glass Knot, The Silk Tie, Breathe You In (USA Today Reviewer’s Recommended Read of 2013) and Scored have been blessed with many 5* reviews since their release.

Lily also co-authors with Natalie Dae and publishes under the name Harlem Dae – check out the Sexy as Hell Box Set Trilogy available exclusively on Amazon – The Novice, The Player and The Vixen – and That Filthy Book which has been hailed as a novel ‘every woman should read’.

One thing you can be sure of, whatever book you pick up by Ms Harlem, is it will be wildly romantic and down-and-dirty sexy. Enjoy!

You can catch Lily on her website, blog, Twitter, Facebook, Author Page, Pinterest. She’s also got a newsletter, Goodreads and Google +.

Check out her blogs on Raw Talent, BritBabes, and Hockey Romance!

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Happy Book Birthday to CONFESSIONS OF A REFORMED TOM CAT–Review and Giveaway

COARTC FB RD banner
Hi there! Today I’m sharing the release day launch for Daisy Prescott’s Confessions of a Reformed Tom Cat!! This steamy contemporary romance is a fun ride through a confirmed bachelor’s eyes—and showcases how his head gets turned by exact right woman. I really enjoyed another of Daisy’s romances, READY TO FALL, and had to grab this one up, too. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway below!

CoaTTC Amazon (1)
About the book:
I, Thomas Clifford Donnely, am a manwhore.

I’ve been told I’m irresistible to women. Like catnip for a different type of pussy-cat. I guess you could call me a Tom Cat.

This is the story about how I lost my wingman, broke all my own rules, and found myself falling in love.

Tom Donnely isn’t the marrying kind, or the dating kind. Even after losing his #1 wingman to love, he doesn’t see the point in relationships. When his sister’s best friend returns to Whidbey Island and propositions Donnely for a one-night stand, he breaks one of his biggest rules—no fooling around with his sisters’ friends. It’s just sex, nothing more. That’s what Tom does and does well.

What happens when “just sex” isn’t enough?

Hailey King is more than a match for Tom’s flirtations. She’s known him most of her life and has heard the rumors about his “skills” for years. When her perfectly planned future falls apart, will the last man she should ever fall for turn out to be more than a one-night stand?

My Review:
Tom Donnely is a self-affirmed bachelor and ladies’ man. He doesn’t do dating or relationships. He’s always ready with a killer smile, witty banter and a Magnum condom. He’s perturbed with his best friend, John, who has found a woman–THE woman–and now Tom has no wingman.

Tom has more than enough money to suit his needs, which are simple. He has a kind and loving family who figures he’ll never settle down, but life changes quickly. His younger sister’s BFF, Hailey, has returned to Whidbey Island, and she’s a far cry from the scarecrow he teased decades ago. Hailey is a strong woman, able to carry her own against the brutes who work in Tom’s family’s shipyard–which Tom respects. He also considers Hailey off-limits due to her friendship with his sis, and the fact that she’s engaged. Until she’s not.

TC teaser protectiveIt’s Hailey who makes the first move, and while Tom doesn’t think it’s the right one, who is he to argue with a single attractive woman? They engage is a friends-with-benefits experience, but it’s clear that both Tom and Hailey are feeling more than friendly. Tom loses a dear relative and Hailey is his comfort, but misunderstandings arise, not the least of which is Hailey’s ex who’s causing upset throughout their tight island community.

tom cat teaser 1.6I really enjoyed Tom. He’s a suave, honest, “manwhore” who revels in his oat-sowing. He’s also respectful and tender to the women he satisfies. Hailey’s only complaint is being Tom’s “friend,” when she really wants so much more. And, surprisingly, Tom does too. It doesn’t take Tom that long, in fact, to recognize how very lonely he is, and how much he desires the more settled life of John; as long as Hailey is the woman with whom he gets to share his life.

Expect drunken hook-ups, hot sex, and a (temporarily) sad, sad Tom Cat, with an HEA all lovers of ‘bad boys’ and beards will enjoy.

Interested? You can find Confessions of a Reformed Tom Cat on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iBooks.

Also, on sale is READY TO FALL–the story of John, Tom’s BFF, falling for the girl next-door. It’s a delicious mix of love found, lost and found again–featuring a sexy lumberjack! Check out my review…
RTF 99 cent square ad

****GIVEAWAY!!!****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win copies of Tom Cat, and more goodies!
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Good luck, and keep reading my friends!

Daisy Prescott bw
About the Author:
Before writing bestselling contemporary adult romances, I dreamed of being an author while doing a lot of other things. Antiques dealer, baker, blue ribbon pie-maker, fangirl, freelance writer, gardener, pet mom and wife are a few of the other titles I’ve acquired over the years.

Born and raised in San Diego, I currently live in a real life Stars Hollow in the Boston suburbs with my husband, our dog Hubbell, and an imaginary house goat.

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He Found Himself IN DARKEST PERU–Review and Giveaway!

peru-640 copy
Hi there! Today I’m sharing in the blog tour for Louise Lyons‘ IN DARKEST PERU, a contemporary M/M romance novella where one jilted young man must get lost in the wilds of the Peruvian jungle in order to find himself.

IndarkestPeru-WAYWARDINKPUBLISHING-smallpreviewAbout the book:
Shy and geeky Rhys White, has recently been ditched by his boyfriend of five years. On top of that he’s been made redundant from his job as a computer programmer.

Tired of being boring and unadventurous, he throws caution to the winds and buys a plane ticket to Peru.
Rhys’ adventure in Peru starts out well, but then disaster strikes. All of his belongings are stolen. Everything is gone—passport, wallet, phone, clothing, the lot.

Stranded in Cuzco, not too far from the famous Machu Picchu, Rhys tries to find someone to help him. He’s about to give up, when a sexy Brazilian named Rafael, comes to his rescue…

My Review:
Rhys is a newly-single computer programmer who has just been let go by his employer. Rhys has always felt that his ex, Jonathan, was a good guy who loved him, but it turns out Jon was a cheater and a user, and Rhys is a bit shattered over it. His self-confidence is pretty low. He’s super down on his luck, but decides to make lemonade of all his lemons by booking a trip to Peru to explore a bit while waiting for a new job to surface.

Arriving in Peru is exciting. Rhys is finally starting to gain some confidence in his ability to navigate around when his bus to Cuzco is held up and the bandits take his bag containing all his cash and his passport. He’s several days travel from the British Consulate and has nothing to his name. Rhys is In Deepest Despair…

A young man, Rafael, hears of Rhys’ plight and offers to be his guide throughout Cuzco, and to take him to Lima–all in exchange for deferred payment. Rafael is in Peru to make money as a guide, but he isn’t certified–he needs some good recommendations before that can happen.

Thing is, Rafael is GORGEOUS. So lean and well-built, friendly and kind. Rhys is In Deepest Lust. Good thing it’s an attraction returned…

Rhys hadn’t missed the searching looks Rafael had been giving him ever since, whenever they weren’t hiking in single file. He remembered how Rafael had grabbed his hand to assist him on steep parts of the track, and how afterward he had held on a little longer than necessary, as if he enjoyed the contact and wanted an excuse for it to continue. Could this gorgeous, sexy, Latin man actually like Rhys?
“You like girls… or boys?” Rafael whispered.
“Boys,” Rhys answered breathlessly. Oh God, he does like me.
“You have a boyfriend?”
“No. I did have a boyfriend. He broke up with me a few weeks ago.”

The novella is well-paced and has delightful British humor, which always charms me. I was so happy for Rhys’ fortune to change and for him to find the love for himself that he’d lacked. (I did enjoy the steamy bits, too!) Rafael is a good soul, and the kind of guide I’d hope would rescue me if I was stranded In Darkest Peru…. 😉

Interested? You can find IN DARKEST PERU on Goodreads, Amazon (US, UK and AU), Wayward Ink Publishing, AllRomance, and Barnes & Noble.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win
$20 Wayward Ink Publishing Gift Card
$5 Amazon Gift Card
1 x eBook copy of In Darkest Peru
1 x eBook copy of Conflicted or Second Bite of the Cherry (winner’s choice)
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the author
Louise Lyons comes from a family of writers. Her mother has a number of poems published in poetry anthologies, her aunt wrote poems for the Church, and her grandmother sparked her inspiration with tales of fantasy. Louise first ventured into writing short stories at the grand old age of eight, mostly about little girls and ponies. She branched into romance in her teens, and MM romance a few years later, but none of her work saw the light of day until she discovered Fan Fiction in her late twenties.

Posting stories based on some of her favorite movies, provoked a surprisingly positive response from readers. This gave Louise the confidence to submit some of her work to publishers, and made her take her writing “hobby” more seriously.

Louise lives in the UK, about an hour north of London, with a mad Doberman, and a collection of tropical fish and tarantulas. She works in the insurance industry by day, and spends every spare minute writing. She is a keen horse-rider, and loves to run long distance. Some of her best writing inspiration comes to her, when her feet are pounding the open road. She often races into the house afterward, and grabs pen and paper to make notes.

Louise has always been a bit of a tomboy, and one of her other great loves is cars and motorcycles. Her car and bike are her pride and joy, and she loves to exhibit the car at shows, and take off for long days out on the bike, with no one for company but herself.

Catch up with Louise online on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

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The Spy Life Is All WAISTCOATS & WEAPONRY-A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for Gail Carriger’s third Finishing School novel, WAISTCOATS & WEAPONRY. I just adore this steampunk world! I have read and enjoyed both Etiquette & Espionage and Curtsies & Conspiracies, which tended to be more “tween” in tone. With this third installment the storyline has taken a decidedly YA turn. Yay!

Waistcoats & Weaponry (Finishing School, #3)About the book:
Sophronia continues second year finishing school in style — with a steel-bladed fan secreted in the folds of her ball gown. She, best friend Dimity, sweet sootie Soap, and charming Lord Felix Mersey stow away on train to return classmate Sidheag to her werewolf pack in Scotland. No one suspects what or who would be aboard the suspiciously empty train.

My Review:
This is the third book in the YA steampunk Finishing School series. It is best to read these books in order.

World note: the story takes place in a steampunk setting, in 1850’s England, where vampire and werewolves are a part of society.

Sophronia is a 16 y/o student at Mlle. Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies–which is in truth a training school for female spies. This year, Sophronia’s education includes lessons in seduction…

“Seduction in its purest form is a never-ending acquisition of knowledge about another individual. Every male is a new challenge, every occasion warrants a different approach Take the greatest of care when applying these techniques, for they can be more dangerous than actual weaponry.”

The girls all straightened. Lady Linette’s lessons were always interesting, but seduction was supposed to be the best. What young lady didn’t want to know how to manipulate a man? This was what finishing school was all about!

Sophronia has a BF, Dimity who is more interested in a normal life after school, but Sophronia knows she has several options in front of her. She has an unknown (but she suspects royal) patron who pays her schooling. Plus, she receives regular gifts from a rogue vampire Lord Akeldama high in London society. She has a bosom friend in Lady Kingair “Sidheag” whose family is a pack of werewolves in Scotland.

It is when Sidheag receives notice that her beloved pack is in disarray and her great-great-grandfather has challenged for Alpha of a London pack, that life goes wonky. Sidheag flees to London to intercept Lord Kingair accompanied by the werewolf arms training teacher, Captain Niall–which will absolutely ruin Sidheag.

Meanwhile, Sophronia and Dimity are released from school to attend the engagement ball of Sophronia’s brother. Who also has garnered invitations? Dimity’s brother Pillover, and Felix– Lord Mersey–both of whom attend the companion school, Bunson’s School for Evil Geniuses. Pillover isn’t much of a fan of Felix, and neither is Sophronia’s (inappropriately close) acquaintance Soap. Soap is a black boy who works as a sootie at Mlle Geraldine’s, tending the boilers and boys who also work below decks.

It seems that Soap and Felix have a bit of a tendresse for Sophronia, thought Sophronia’s of mixed opinion on them. She knows Soap is an unsuitable mate; he has no family, and even worse prospects. But Felix, despite being son of an Earl, is also allied with the Picklemen–a secret society which despises the supernaturals in society and wishes to control communication across the nation. As a friend to Sidheag, and receiving aid from a vampire, Sophronia is not opposed to the supernatural, and the Picklem tried to kill her and Dimity in previous books, so she’s decidedly against Picklemen.

Felix, on the other hand…

And then he was bending down, looking as if he might actually kiss her–in the back of an open cart!

Turns out that this love triangle intensifies as Soap stows away to keep Sophronia from falling into Felix’s affection. Pillover settles this rather succinctly:

He addressed Soap, “Although I respect the courage of a man who wears satin breeches THAT tight, but in the end you’ll have to cede to Lord Mersey. He’s too much of a peer, you understand? And a bit of a prick, as well.”

Interruption of the engagement ball by Sidheag and two werewolves is almost a welcome distraction. Especially when all the mechanicals of the house go absolutely bonkers. Sophronia, Dimity, Sidheag, Felix and Soap depart to bring Sidheag to Scotland, so she can help her uncles in the pack who are likely to be slaughtered now that they have no Alpha and are accused of treason. The ladies dress as boys (scandalous!) to ease travel, and stowaway aboard a train. The trip is entirely eventful.

There are two gunshot victims, two vampire drones tossed over, and three females trained for espionage who pretty much save the day. Felix is “rescued” by his father, the Duke and upstanding Picklemen, but not before declaring himself…

“Ouch, darling, must you be so rough?”
“Just stoppering up your silly mouth.”
“I know a better way.” He pursed his lips at her.

Soap isn’t quite as lucky. Though he does live to see another day.

This series is a hoot, for real. I love the wit, and the banter. It’s truly fun, and the new advent of more teen-speak is welcome. Sophronia’s world is one of strict social mores, but what does one do when confronted by a naked aristocratic werewolf in all his hairy…dangly, glory?

How on earth was Dimity going to react to dangly bits? Will she faint? She’ll probably faint.

Spoiler alert: She didn’t faint.

Still, the book ends with the love triangle slightly bent, Sophronia with a direct patron, and a lot of ‘splainin’ for Felix, Lord Mersey. Can’t wait to find out more…

Interested? You can find WAISTCOATS & WEAPONRY on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and your library shelves.

Gail Carriger
About the Author:
Ms. Carriger writes steampunk urbane fantasy comedies of manners to cope with being raised in obscurity by an expatriate Brit and an incurable curmudgeon. She escaped small town life and inadvertently acquired several degrees in Higher Learning. She then traveled the historic cities of Europe, subsisting entirely on biscuits secreted in her handbag. She now resides in the Colonies, surrounded by a harem of shoes, where she insists on tea imported directly from London and cats that pee into toilets. Her books are all New York Times Bestsellers.

You can find her on her website, Goodreads and twitter. Gail has a fun newsletter the Monthly Chirrup, and you can sign up here.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

A Socialite Becomes THE ACCIDENTAL NEW YORKER–Review and Giveaway


Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for Stephanie Wahlstrom’s THE ACCIDENTAL NEW YORKER. This New Adult romance is a charming sequel to THE ACCIDENTAL SOCIALITE, following this intrepid Paige Crawford across the pond to NYC, and still not quite home…

About the Book:
Paige Crawford, former accidental socialite, has managed to shed her Z-list celebrity status and pull her life into a semblance of normalcy. But more importantly, she’s close to proving to her family and herself that she can make it on her own. That is, until she’s fired from her job and left with no choice but to leave London behind for good.

She hops on a plane headed home to Canada, only to decide to give herself one more chance to make it before hers becomes a life of “I told you so’s.” So instead of walking onto her connecting flight, she leaves JFK Airport and steps into the wilds of New York City, where she soon learns her misadventures have only just begun.

And while she juggles writing a popular blog, locating a missing male model, and a sexy new boss who reminds her a little too much of home, Paige is about to learn that “making it” has nothing to do with where you end up, but everything to do with how you get there.


Excerpt:

Just as I was stuffing a large nacho in my mouth, Kelly decided it would be a good time to engage me in conversation.

“So, what’s your plan? Tyler said something about trying to work for a Canadian magazine?”

I nodded and swallowed the chip that I definitely hadn’t chewed enough. I was pretty sure my larynx was bleeding. “Hopefully. {cough} I had some responses today, people asking for work samples and stuff. Fingers crossed.” I smiled and had a sip of margarita, which stung the gash in my throat.

“Cassie is a journalist, maybe she can help you?” offered Kelly.

Cassie looked embarrassed. “I’m a reporter for The Telegraph Online, it’s not print, but I can see if there is anything.”

“That would be amazing.”
People who said New Yorkers were mean obviously hadn’t been to the same New York as I had. But, then I remembered that I needed a dollar tomorrow to make sure Stabby McStabberson outside my apartment didn’t cut me tomorrow.

My Review:
Paige Crawford is all about serendipity. She is impetuous and spontaneous and always looking at life in a “glass half full” sort of way. She stumbled into a journalist job, quite literally, while staying in London, and now that she’s let go, she has to return to Canada. But, en route to Edmonton, she gets a happy curve ball.

Paige meets the attractive Tyler Shaw on her trans-Atlantic flight. Tyler happens to be rather wealthy, and he is enchanted by Paige’s self-deprecating stories of her time in London. She also wins bonus points for not approaching him like a gold digger, and Tyler invites Paige to look him up up if she stays in NYC. It’s a sign, Paige is certain.

She decides to extend her two-hour layover…indefinitely. This savvy traveler lands a room in an apartment in Spanish Harlem and sets down some immediate roots by way of an air mattress and a blog detailing her 182 days as an “Accidental Immigrant”. Paige and Tyler connect and have some laughs, pretty much the same life as her previous London one–hitting odd clubs and enjoying inebriated shenanigans.

Thing is, as the days dwindle and Paige’s prospects for a visa dry up one by one, she has some tough choices to make regarding her future. Can she convince a man to marry her? Could she PAY a man to marry her? Is living in NYC, ultimately, the life she wants? It’s a fun romp with some deep soul-searching and a bit of heartbreak. Don’t expect any steamy scenes, but Paige is a fun MC and her life is just outrageous enough to be entertaining.

Interested? You can find THE ACCIDENTAL NEW YORKER on Goodreads, Amazon (US, and UK).


You can also check out the first book in this series. I found THE ACCIDENTAL SOCIALITE to be pretty charming—especially as I love all things Brit. Click here for my review.

And click the links below for more info and purchase.
Goodreads, Amazon (US, and UK) and iBOOKS.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win

one of 5 ebooks sets of THE ACCITDENTAL SOCIALITE & THE ACCIDENTAL NEW YORKER!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and keep reading my friends!


About the Author:
Growing up in Edmonton, Canada, a significant amount of Stephanie’s time was spent making up and acting out stories. She was studying to be an actress when she realized there weren’t any parts for women being written. So, Stephanie wrote herself a short screenplay just to be in it and quickly realized that writing was her true passion. She graduated from the University of Alberta with an English and Sociology degree and she also has a Bachelor of Motion Picture Arts from Red Deer College. She moved to New York on a whim after University and has written a variety of TV shows including an environmentally-friendly lifestyle series and a tween magazine style show about celebrities. Stephanie moved to London in 2008 and aside from being obsessed with Eggs Benedict, shoes, Fruit Roll Ups and traveling, she also works in Children’s Television.

You can catch up with Stephanie online on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

For Them It Was TOUCH & GO–Review and Giveaway


Hit there! Today I’m celebrating in the release of TOUCH & Go, a sexy contemporary romance from USA Today Bestselling author, Mira Lyn Kelly. This book is a heart-tugging friends-to-lovers tale that had me tied up in knots!

About the Book:
USA Today bestselling author Mira Lyn Kelly cranks up the heat for two lifelong friends whose most secret longings come true in every delectable way.

Vivacious and successful, Ava Meyers is living her dream life, except for one thing: Ever since childhood, she’s been in love with her best friend…and she’s never admitted it. Back then, Sam Farrow was a damaged young man with a tough past. Now he’s supremely confident, super-sexy, and totally untouchable—until the night when Sam pretends to be Ava’s boyfriend to save her from some unwanted attention. In a moment of weakness, Ava finds out that a long friendship is no match for blistering sexual chemistry.

After years of denying his own feelings, Sam finds that one amazing night with Ava isn’t enough to chase away all the pent-up fantasies. So he proposes they spend a few weeks driving each other wild, exhausting their every desire, and then return to their perfect platonic relationship like nothing ever happened. But Sam’s plan has one fatal flaw: the part where they give each other up. Because the more they let go of their inhibitions, the more they’re tempted to never go back.


My Review:
This friends-to-lovers tale is the second in a series, but can be read as a standalone.

Ava has been in love with Sam since childhood, since she discovered him lonely and thin, hiding near her backyard and she and her brother Ford brought him home. Sam became a regular fixture in Ava’s life, long before she knew of his absent mother and abusive father, and his eventual (pseudo) adoption by her parents.

Sam has been Ava’s protector since childhood, and his best friend, too. He’s never had any serious relationships with women, well, excepting the close comfort of his extreme friendship with Ava. They hang out a lot, and even when he chases a random hook-up, it’s Ava’s cozy couch on which he reclines, watching movies in her apartment directly above his own.

Sam accompanies Ava to a work function as her “boyfriend” in order to keep an unwanted suitor at bay, but everything short-circuits when their charade goes too far. A kiss, then a grope, then a mad dash back to her place for the one thing they’d denied for two decades–physicality.

Ava knows she loves Sam, and she’s too weak to resist the opportunity to have one night with him. Trouble is, one night isn’t enough–for either of them. Sam wants more of the intimacy he’d never felt with his random hook-ups, and Ava struggles with her desire for Sam, and more than the physical release he can give her. Plus, each of them know they need to keep this FWB-thing secret from their close cadre of friends…

Still, they connect again and again, and it’s Ava who finally calls it quits. She’s too overwhelmed loving completely a man who doesn’t quite love her THAT way. She makes the decision to put serious space between them, hoping that distance = separation, but she’s miserable, and Sam’s a mess. Expect unannounced reunions, unwelcome career moves, angry sex, epic declarations, heartbreak, puppies, and an HEA that wet my eyes and spilled a few tears. For real.

The sexytimes are delicious, and Ava and Sam felt so real in their world. I liked their friends and family, and can see this is a series I’d continue reading. The book is self-contained, no cliffhangers just a story I breezed through so quickly I was surprised, and a little deflated, when the end came…I wanted more time with these new imaginary friends! Looks like there will be another book in the series, though I expect it will be the story of another couple. Still, I’m sure Ava and Sam will have cameos. Yay!

Interested? You can find TOUCH & GO on Goodreads, Amazon (US, & UK) B&N, KOBO, and iBOOKS.

TRUTH OR DARE is the first book in this series following the budding romance between Tyler and Ava’s BFF, Maggie.

No doubt it’s a heart/panty melter, like its sequel. While I haven’t read it, I’m sure to add it to my TBR.

Interested? You can find TRUTH OR DARE on Goodreads, Amazon (US, and UK) B&N, KOBO, and iBOOKS.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and keep reading my friends!


About the Author:
USA Today Bestselling Author Mira Lyn Kelly grew up in the Chicago area and earned her degree in Fine Arts from Loyola University. She met the love of her life while studying abroad in Rome, Italy, only to discover he’d been living right around the corner from her back home. Having spent her twenties working and playing in the Windy City, she’s now settled with her husband in rural Minnesota, where their four beautiful children provide an excess of action and entertainment. When she isn’t reading, writing, or running to keep up with the kids, she loves watching movies, blabbing with the girls, and cooking with her husband and friends.

Catch up with Mira Lyn online on Facebook, Twitter,
Goodreads, and her website.