Author: Veronica Rundell

Veronica Rundellhttps://vsreads.wordpress.comMother, Scientist, Teacher, Pre-published fiction author, Wisher-of-well to all humankind (even drivers who turn without signalling...)
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They are HOT AND BOTHERED–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m featuring a contemporary romance that combines romance, family, and cooking–all set in Chicago, my hometown. Kate Meader’s HOT AND BOTHERED, the third book in her Hot in the Kitchen series, is D-Lish.

Hot and Bothered (Hot in the Kitchen, #3)
About the book:

Although her baby boy keeps her plate full, Jules Kilroy is ready to take her love life off the back burner. Despite a bevy of eligible bachelors, it’s her best friend, Taddeo DeLuca, who’s fueling her hormones with generous servings of his mouth-watering Italian sexiness. But Jules learned her lesson once before when she went in for a kiss, only to have Tad reject her. She’s vowed never to blur the lines again . . .

After a lifetime of excuses and false starts, Tad has finally opened a wine bar, a deal made even sweeter when Jules joins his staff. Lovers come and go, and he’s had his share, but friendships like theirs last forever. Still, ever since he tasted her luscious lips, he can’t stop fantasizing about what could be. Then she signs up for an online dating site—and the thought of his Jules with another man makes Tad’s blood boil. Even if he gets burned, Tad can’t stop himself from turning up the heat this time.

My Review:
Two years ago Juliet ‘Jules’ Kilroy left England bound for Chicago. She was young, upset, and pregnant. Her brother Jack, renown chef and restauranteur, took her in not only to his home but to his new extended family–his wife Lili hails from a close-knit Italian family. Among them, Tad DeLuca, Lili’s cousin and a single man with tragic secrets.

Being the odd people out, Jules and Tad strike up a friendship. He’s the rock she can lean on when Jack’s busy working. Tad even takes birthing classes with Jules and attends the delivery of little Evan. Jules knows Tad’s no good for her–he’s rarely with the same woman twice–but she’s been celibate since conception and lays a sloppy kiss on Tad one night, one he quickly rebuffs.

See, Tad knows he can’t lose his heart to Jules–he doesn’t have one to give. Not since his parents died in a car wreck ten years ago that was his fault. They remain friends, nonetheless. Fast-forward a year and Jules is helping out cooking at Tad’s new wine bar. She’s also ready to get “out there”. A dating Jules is one facet of her Tad has no will to witness, however. His attraction to her begins to get the better of him–he even offers his “services” when he learns she’s looking for a fling…

And, she turns him down. Their lives a so intertwined; his aunts babysit little Evan and his cousins are her closest gal pals–she doesn’t want to tip the boat.

Still, they manage to seal the deal, leaving only awkwardness and hunger in its prime form. Tad even disrupts some of Jules’ dates, that rascal.

In the end there’s a lot of break-up-to-make-up. Evan’s father learns of his existence and wants to meet his son–something Jules and Jack want to prevent. Yet, Tad’s the voice of reason, even if it clashes with Jules’ gut instinct. And, when the anniversary of Tad’s parents’ death rolls around, Jules is there to love him out of his drunken stupor.

I liked this one. A solid breeze-read. I generally like a little more conflict, the biggest obstacle to Jules and Tad getting together is their insecurity, but the friends-to-lovers trope was well-handled here. Jules is fun gal to get into. Tad is really a great guy–and head over heels for both Jules and Evan, but at times his “voice” rang more Brit than Chicago-Italian. (I’m probably most sensitive being that I am from Chicago, and of Italian descent.) I enjoyed how cooking was such a big part of the book–family meals are the lifeblood of Italians–and how it eventually brought Jules and Tad together.

Interested? You can find HOT AND BOTHERED at Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

Kate MeaderAbout the Author:

Kate writes sexy contemporary romance that serves up to-die-for heroes and heroines with a dash of sass. Originally from Ireland, she cut her romance reader teeth on Catherine Cookson and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Mills & Boons thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron, and she’s there. She has a bachelor’s in law (useless), a master’s in history (not as useless), and another master’s in library and information science (yay, using). When not writing about sexy men and the women who can match them quip for quip, she works in an academic library in Chicago.

You can find Kate at all these fancy locations…

Email | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

Thanks for stopping by, and keep reading my friends! 🙂

WANTED: DEAD OR IN LOVE–A Review and Giveaway

Hi there! Today it’s my great pleasure to review a book for a good friend and fellow critique partner: Kym Brunner. I’ve known Kym for four years–so I had some sneak peeks into her debut novel, WANTED:  DEAD OR IN LOVE, as it was being conceived.

Wanted: Dead Or In LoveAbout the book:

Impulsive high school senior Monroe Baker is on probation for a recent crime, but strives to stay out of trouble by working as a flapper at her father’s Roaring 20’s dinner show theater. When she cuts herself on one of the spent bullets from her father’s gangster memorabilia collection, she unwittingly awakens Bonnie Parker’s spirit, who begins speaking to Monroe from inside her head.

Later that evening, Monroe shows the slugs to Jack, a boy she meets at a party. He unknowingly becomes infected by Clyde, who soon commits a crime using Jack’s body. The teens learn that they have less than twenty-four hours to ditch the criminals or they’ll share their bodies with the deadly outlaws indefinitely.

My Review:
This contemporary YA romance is tension-packed. Monroe is a troubled high school senior. Her mother died just over a year ago and she’s having issues with impulsive behavior. She’s got two strikes–one for shoplifting and one for vandalism–any more run-in’s and she’ll break probation and go to jail. Oh, and she can kiss her scholarship to NYU Buh-Bye.

Though she knows better, Monroe can’t resist touching the newest piece of memorabilia her father has collected for his Gangster Gallery–spent slugs that were used to gun down notorious killers and lovers Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. Who could have guessed doing so would rouse these two spirits from the Great Beyond. Unable to return the slugs immediately, Monroe takes them along to a party intending to return them the next morning when her dad isn’t watching.

Meeting Jack Hale at the party sets the plot into motion. Monroe doesn’t feel a connection to the cute boy, but he’s so attentive she can’t help chat with him about the slugs. Touching them allows Clyde’s spirit access to Jack, while Bonnie’s spirit inhabits Monroe.

Neither Jack nor Monroe really understands what has happened, at first. Monroe starts hearing a voice in her head, and any time she touches the slugs or other personal effects of Bonnie Parker she goes into a trance–seeing Bonnie’s memories as if they were her own. Yeah, Monroe’s losing it.

‘Course Jack isn’t having a great time either–any time he gets scared Clyde’s dominant and charismatic personality erupts. And Clyde’s not a reformed man. He knows one surefire way to make some quick cash–and it involves the words: Smash and Grab. Pretty soon Jack’s wanted by the police…

Aided by the Half-Dead Society, Monroe and Jack learn that their only hope to ridding their bodies of Bonnie and Clyde’s spirits is to complete their final wish and lay them to rest–together this time–on the anniversary of their deaths.

Big problem? That anniversary is twenty hours away.

Bigger problem? Their eternal resting place is in Gibsland, Louisiana, and Monroe and Jack are in Chicago–a 16 hour drive.

Biggest problem? The cops are on their heels and they just impounded Jack’s car.

Monroe is all for rushing off on the trip south, but Jack’s sure Monroe’s plan is cracked. He wants to turn himself in–perhaps get off easy for it being “his” first offense. This is something neither Monroe nor Clyde will accept–Monroe can’t become a three-time offender and Clyde had, and will, kill to stay away from ‘the laws’.

The story unfolds in alternating point-of-view–with Monroe and Clyde telling their parts. Clyde’s a bit swept away by the feisty Monroe, and as they drive toward the deadline he attempts to determine which woman he’d want to spend his ‘new’ life with: Bonnie, or Monroe. Still, it’s only a hunch that the spirits can be laid to rest, and Clyde’s itching to take Jack’s body over–for good. Nonetheless, Monroe and Clyde can’t avoid chatting on the trip, and Monroe finally feels a connection to someone–shame it’s a long-dead killer.

Throughout the journey, Jack and Clyde alternate possession of Jack’s body–and Bonnie’s jealousy and hurt over Clyde’s infatuation with Monroe leads her to cause Monroe some grave discomfort.

I adored the realistic setting, even in the face of the potent magical elements. More than just laying Bonnie to rest, Monroe wants to stop running from all her troubles. She recognizes her troubles result from her own impulsive behavior and wants to do the right thing.  Part of that is rescuing Jack, even if it means sacrificing Clyde. Like any getaway road trip, there are almost more obstacles than they can overcome. The pace is fast and the stakes are high: only two spirits might remain past the deadline, and Clyde’s desperate to be one of them.

When the resolution comes the ending is satisfying, while leaving the door open for another tale.

Interested? The ebook for WANTED: DEAD OR IN LOVE goes on sale in late May, but the hardcover can be pre-ordered through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

About the author:

Kym Brunner’s a lifelong Chicagoan. She teaches middle school reading and has been writing for more than ten years. She’s a member of SCBWI and a mentor to many writers in both in-person and online writer’s critique groups.

She’s addicted to reality TV, and reads books across all genres. You can find Kym on her blog, twitter and Facebook.

Wanted: Dead or in Love is her first novel, but she has a second (unrelated) book, ONE SMART COOKIE, coming out this July.

***GIVEAWAY***

Kym is giving away two paperback copies of WANTED:  DEAD OR IN LOVE via Goodreads.

Click here to enter.

Good luck and keep reading my friends! 🙂

The Darkness Series by K. F. Breene–Reviews and KINDLE Giveaway

Darkness-Series-Tour-BannerHi there! And welcome to my stop on the ON A RAZOR’S EDGE blog tour. For other stops on the tour click here. Author K.F. Breene is sharing an excerpt from the Darkness Novella Series, has a Kindle Fire HDX up for grabs, and wants to remind you that INTO THE DARKNESS (Book #1) is FREE!

Into the Darkness coverINTO THE DARKNESS (Darkness #1)
I’d always been different. I saw objects in the night where others saw emptiness. Large, human shaped shadows, fierce yet beautiful, melting into the darkness. I collected secrets like other women collected bells; afraid to fully trust lest my oddities be exposed.

Until I saw him. He’d been gliding down the street, unshakable confidence in every step. It wasn’t just that he was breathtakingly handsome with perfect features. Something about him drew me. Sucked my focus to him and then tugged at my body. As his eyes met mine, I was entrapped.

No one had noticed him. He’d been right there, just beyond the light, but only I had perceived.

I had to know if he was real. Or maybe I really was crazy. And even when my secret box was blasted wide open, dangers hurled at me like throwing knives, I couldn’t stop until I unraveled his true identity.

I just had to know.

New Adult (18 +) due to sexual content and not for the faint of heart.

You can get INTO THE DARKNESS free on Amazon or Barnes and Noble so go on and clickity-click. What are you waiting for?

Oh, you’d like a little taste?

He stepped closer, not hearing me, or not caring that I spoke. His eyes looked at me like I was a life-sized riddle. They delved, searching. He took another step, forcing me to retreat two steps to keep distance between our bodies. Another step back had my back to the wall.

A small smile curved his lips. “I exude pleasure, you run. I exude fear, you come calling. You want me, I can smell it. I can feel it, almost like a palpable thing. Give in to it. Yield to me.”

Oh God I wanted to. His body was mere inches from mine, his intense eyes looking down into my soul from a face out of a Renaissance painting. The power of him, the sheer strength, had strange, primal fantasies running amok through my head. My core tingled, my chest surged, and my nipples were so hard they could cut this stone wall.

Why had I come here, again?

Whoa! I can tell you the sexual tension is pretty high here. Click to catch my full review.

Braving the Elements coverBRAVING THE ELEMENTS (Darkness #2)
Sasha has always known she was different, but now she also knows that the shadow men she’s seen all her life, are real. With a life goal of fitting in, Sasha hopes her strange abilities will finally make true friendship a possibility. Unfortunately, her magic doesn’t function like everyone else’s. What she thought would make her belong, sets her apart now more than ever.

Stefan, all but promised to a different woman, has tried to keep his mind on his duties instead of the irresistible and free-spirited human. But when she is threatened, he can’t keep his distance anymore. He realizes he’ll stop at nothing to keep her safe, and more importantly, make her his.

Just when one thing clicks into place, another spirals out of control. Stefan’s clan isn’t the only group that would benefit from an extremely rare type of magic. And their enemies will stop at nothing to get what they want.

Braving the Elements is the second novella in K.F.Breene’s long awaited Darkness series. Sasha’s story is one of discovery, awareness, and understanding, and is jam packed with action, humor, sexual tension, and an overwhelming desire for final acceptance.

Let me tell you: the steam between Sasha and Stefan is hot. Even knowing his clan will not accept her, Stefan can’t help marking in the ancient–and nearly forgotten–custom. And, Charles is a bigger and more fun part of this segment. Check out my full review here.

You can find BRAVING THE ELEMENTS on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000032_00011]ON A RAZOR’S EDGE (Darkness #3) Releasing April 22, 2014

Life for Sasha isn’t getting easier. She has survived run-in’s with monstrous Dulcha, lived through an abduction, and even made it passed Charles’ constant badgering for sex. But if she thought the hurdles of this new life would simmer down, she was dead wrong.

When the Regional comes to visit Stefan’s clan, the pressure increases. Sasha finds herself on a giant scale, assessed for her magic and held in the balance. If she doesn’t have the magic Stefan hopes, she could find herself on the street while still in grave danger. Even with a favorable outcome, however, her inability to use her magic presents a road block not easily crossed.

No, life is not getting easier.

Stefan feels the heat, too. He must finally declare a mate, and admitting to desiring a human is the worst form of taboo. He could jeopardize not only his place as leader, but his and Sasha’s life. His decision is like walking on a razor’s edge.

My Review:
This is my fave installment in the series. Sasha and Stefan are–without question–attached. Stefan has sent for a Council elder to verify Sasha’s superior magical rank, and to have a Mage come to train her. For some reason, Sasha’s magic doesn’t seem to work the way Stefan’s people are accustomed.

Every time she tries to cast a spell, it ends in a fiery disaster. Hopefully Toa, the White Mage, can help her sort out the trouble because Sasha is being sent as Stefan’s emissary to the nearby shifter population to help secure an alliance against their mortal enemy, Trek, and his minions.  If Sasha is successful she will elevated to the rank of full Mage and will be considered a worthy match for a clan leader–namely Stefan–so she is determined to work hard toward this goal.

Sasha is accompanied by her stalwart–and horny–protector Charles, and Jonas–a good friend of Stefan but someone who had sworn to get revenge against Sasha in the first book. Neither Sasha, nor Charles are certain where Jonas’ loyalty lies, however, and they both have serious reason to believe he will not protect Sashs should Trek turn up in the shifter camp.

And, of course, Sasha’s confidence is shattered when her rival for Stefan’s affection, Darla, arrives as “back up”. Sasha is sure this is a “No Confidence” vote on Stefan’s part and begins to doubt that she will complete her mission–to gain the shifter alliance–which will mean that she and Stefan cannot be linked.

As it happens, Trek hits the shifter camp hot and hard. A supposed protector is truly a traitor and Sasha must choose between leaving the shifter camp in full battle to protect herself, or turning back to help her new friends. As this is an adventure/erotic romance you can guess the choice she makes.

It’s a satisfying end, with an epic battle that proves Sasha’s true worth as both a human and a Mage. The resolution hints at further installments, but the series is fairly well-wrapped. Had a great time with Charles–Sasha always seems to get the better of him, Watch Captain or no. I think the best part of the book was the uncertainty surrounding Jonas and Darla. Both had good reason to want Sasha in harms way, but one did the right thing and proved his/herself the supreme protector.

It’s a fun spicy adventure, but there was far less spice and far more adventure which seemed to be the right mix for me this go-round. Again, not recommending this for young readers. Whole lotta lovin’ goin’ down…

Interested?  You can find ON A RAZOR’S EDGE on Goodreads and Amazon.

About the Author

A wine country native, she moved to San Francisco for college just shy of a decade ago to pursue a lifelong interest in film. As she settled into the vibrant city, it quickly became apparent that, while she thought making films was great fun, she lacked cinematic genius. For that reason, her career path quickly changed direction. Her next goal was a strange childhood interest, conjured at the dining room table while filling out a form. For some reason, her young self wanted to be an accountant. Thinking on it now, she wonders how she had any friends. Regardless, it was the direction she finally took.

While she could wrangle numbers with the best of ’em, and even though she wore the crown as the most outspoken, belligerent accountant in the world, her mind got as stuffy as her daily routine. It was here that she dusted off her creative hat and began writing. Now she makes movies in her head, and then writes them down. Way easier than dealing with actors–she should know, she’s been one!

You can find find Ms. Breene in the usual places: Website | Facebook | Twitter

***GIVEAWAY***
KF Breene is offering up a KINDLE FIRE HDX (US only) in her super raffle. Click on the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and keep reading my friends!
AToMRTours_mdm

KNOWING THE SCORE–A Review and Giveaway

Hi there! Can’t wait to share more rugby love from Kat Latham. I reviewed her book PLAYING IT CLOSE a few weeks back. What a hoot that was! Now I’ve turned back to read her first book in her London Legends series: KNOWING THE SCORE. That, right there, tells you I love an author’s work–I seek out other books from the same writer…

Knowing the Score (London Legends #1)About the book:

Rugby player Spencer Bailey is determined to win a spot on England’s World Cup team. But with a month break before the selectors start watching him, he’s eager to have fun with a woman who knows the score: the relationship will end when rugby season begins. The lovely American Caitlyn Sweeney seems perfect for the role of temporary lover, since her visa will run out soon anyway.

Caitlyn works for an international disaster relief organization and can handle the world’s worst crises, but she flinches from her own. Her past has left her with a fear of intimacy so deep that she has trouble getting close to anyone—until she meets sexy Spencer. His hot body and easygoing nature are too much for even her to resist.

Neither Caitlyn nor Spencer expects to fall hard for each other. But with their relationship deadline approaching, the old rules of the game seem less important than before…until past secrets surface, challenging everything they thought they knew about each other.

My Review:

First things first, tell me you do not want to lick that cover. Okay, now tell me like you mean it. Mmm-Hmm. Thought so.

Spencer Bailey is as delicious a character as that cover portrays. For. Real.

Spencer never takes lovers when he’s in season–he got burned bad by a groupie-turned-complainant when he was 19, and he’s still a bit shell-shocked. A man doesn’t “get over” an accusation of statutory rape all that easily.

While on his season break, Spencer’s looking for a discreet partner–preferably a woman who doesn’t know him as an athlete. His plans get derailed when his grandfather, and only living relative, suffers a heart attack during a walk. Thankfully, a beautiful (single) woman–Caitlyn–happened by and began CPR. Caitlyn’s used to rescue work; she works for an international aide organization and makes a living teaching women how to build proper latrines in refugee camps.

Both Spencer and his grandfather are smitten with Caitlyn. And, Spencer loves that she’s neither local, nor a rugby fan. This American is a refreshing breath, except for her little quirks–like biting him the first time he kisses her. Oh, and head butting him the second.

It seems Caitlyn’s not such a suave would-be lover. She’s got her reasons; mainly an unpunched V-card. Usually I get frustrated when I read a story about a late-20’s gal with no sexual experience, but Caitlyn’s backstory is so good I actually cheer it on. Especially seeing how this changes Spencer–for the better. Who says a 30ish prime athlete can’t be celibate?

Uh, nobody V! This is a romance!

Fear not, friends. We got a scorcher of a romance, here. It simply takes a bit more time to fully develop. And, when it does the developments are extreme. In a very good, and very bad way. Caitlyn tries to protect her heart from the devastating Englishman, but becoming a part of his world means embracing a part of her history she’s tried hard to forget: violence.

See, Caitlyn wasn’t always a bystander to domestic abuse. And there’s a five fingered reason why Big ‘Ol Spencer gives her the shakes for the first part of the book. I absolutely adored Spencer’s compassion, and his restraint. Still, seeing the brutality of rugby sends Caitlyn to the loo–and it’s not the only major discovery she makes at the rugby stadium. There’s something so completely endearing in this fledgling relationship. Spencer’s ready to move this to a whole new level–and gets the perfect excuse to do so–only to have his own past blow up in his face.

Ugh. I just wanted to cry when they left the registrar’s office without that marriage license!

Good thing? Caitlyn comes to terms with the horror of her past, and it’s the breakthrough she needed. We get a super satisfying HEA…

I loved the Brit lingo. I loved the slowly developed romance. I cringed in agony with Spencer each time Caitlyn pulled back, or left. And, I cherished the stand-up guy he was throughout. In real life there’s a sex scandal a week with athletes; while most are well-deserved, it’s true that some are not. I enjoyed the perspective of a falsely-accused man dealing with the aftermath YEARS after his accuser recanted. Plus, the circumspect way Spencer lived his life following that incident really showed his determination to be a better man–definitely a trait to admire.

Caitlyn was a real treat for a late-20’s ingenue. A complete character with real issues, and she dealt with them heroically. Loved her.

Interested? You can find KNOWING THE SCORE at Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble–and likely other places. It’s been out a year now…

Kat LathamAbout Kat Latham: 

Kat Latham writes sexy contemporary romance, including the London Legends rugby series.

She’s a California girl who moved to Europe the day after graduating from UCLA, ditching her tank tops for raincoats. She spent several years teaching English in Prague followed by several more working for a humanitarian organization in London. She now lives with her British husband and baby girl in a small town in the rural Netherlands surrounded by miles and miles of green pasture, canals and Shetland ponies. Kat’s slowly adjusting to life in a place where bicycles and cows seem to outnumber people.

With degrees in English lit and human rights, she loves reading and writing stories that reflect the depth, humor and emotion of real life. She’s been fortunate enough to win some contests, including the Golden Pen and Ignite the Flame, though her Mom is most proud of Kat winning the sex-scene contest, Between the Sheets.

Through her British husband (Dr Smarty Pants, PhD), Kat’s gained a keen appreciation for rugby, cricket, and the sound of a pucka English accent saying words ending in ‘-er’. He inspired her to write a series about hot rugby players with incredibly sexy voices. The first in the series, Knowing the Score, was published by Carina Press in summer 2013.

Kat’s other career involves writing and editing for charities, and she’s had the privilege of traveling to Kenya, Ethiopia and Northern Ireland to write about the heroic people helping their communities survive poverty, inequality and hunger.

When she’s not traveling, reading or writing, Kat can be found sharing overly personal things on her blog, Twitter and Facebook.

****GIVEAWAY***

You can click onto Kat Latham’s site for a chance to win

a $50 gift card to an eRetailer of your choice,

a handmade bracelet and

a London Legends messenger bag

Good Luck!

 

I’m always telling you to keep reading my friends–Well here’s your chance for TWO FREE contemporary erotic romance titles: Click on my review of Bianca Giovanni’s CAPTURED and comment to win the first two books in that series…

Now you can keep reading my friends!

Telling the Truth Means DESTRUCTION–A Review

Newly Released!


Introducing a new dark wizard family drama, Destruction by Sharon Bayliss, Book One in The December People Series.
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David Vandergraff wants to be a good man. He goes to church every Sunday, keeps his lawn trim and green, and loves his wife and kids more than anything. Unfortunately, being a dark wizard isn’t a choice.
Eleven years ago, David’s secret second family went missing. When his two lost children are finally found, he learns they suffered years of unthinkable abuse. Ready to make things right, David brings the kids home even though it could mean losing the wife he can’t imagine living without. 

Keeping his life together becomes harder when the new children claim to be dark wizards. David believes they use this fantasy to cope with their trauma. Until, David’s wife admits a secret of her own—she is a dark wizard too, as is David, and all of their children.  

Now, David must parent two hurting children from a dark world he doesn’t understand and keep his family from falling apart. All while dealing with the realization that everyone he loves, including himself, may be evil.

Destruction (Book One of The December People Series)

My Review:
I didn’t know I’d like this book so much! I mean, it starts out with an adulterous husband, David, learning that his teenage kids have been found. Kids he hadn’t known–not since their mother had disappeared. And, I mean that literally. She was a witch. Now dead, their children Evangeline and Xavier were recovered, not completely intact. Part of their wizard stepfather’s rituals had included rape…of both of them.

Bringing his lover’s kids home is sure to destroy his marriage–and it does. Amanda is furious, but takes the children in knowing they have no other prospects. David’s other children–Jude, Patrick, and Emmy–want nothing to do with David or their strange half-siblings. Evangeline believes herself a witch, for crying out loud! And Xavier says virtually nothing to anyone.

This family has more than just infidelity issues, however. Because, it turns out Evangeline is right–she is a witch. In fact, the whole family is magical–and not in a good way. Amanda had long ago, without David’s knowledge, stripped the painful memories of his childhood–including his knowledge of magic.

Amanda knew they were dark witches, and wanted to keep her family safe from the destructive magic they controlled by ensuring no one ever practiced. Not so easy when you bring home two magical children. Now all David’s children are practicing, on the down-low against Amanda’s wishes.

But it seems here’s a lot more going on in this family. The darkness is taking over Jude, and pitting brother against brother–particularly when Jude attacks Patrick’s girlfriend. To save his family, David must embrace the magic within and surrounding him. And, when he learns Evangeline and Xavier’s stepfather may not have been killed, well, it kicks off the biggest crisis of the book.

I must say, I was captivated by the story. The magic within is very subtle, and bears plenty of repercussions–being Winter People, David’s family can’t help but channel the destructive type of magic. Even simple spells with good intentions turn out to be horrible. You want to help someone? They get helped, but at another’s expense.

It’s diabolical, really. I wanted to hate David. He’s a weak man who carried on an affair for years–and yet, it’s impossible to hate him. His personal and professional lives are crumbling. Many men might walk away–and he refuses. He does his best to be the stand-up guy and strikes a bargain with Amanda to co-habitate and raise the kids together–even when all the magic becomes real and he’s completely rudderless.

Amanda is not a great person, because she’s so damned real. She’s a harried, frustrated, angry woman in a situation she never expected to be: supporting a man and his five children, though she only gave birth to three of them. Oh, and practicing magic again to contain her magic-infused charges–something she swore she would never do. Her whole world bottomed out the day those kids showed up at her doorstep, but she fought hard to keep her self, and her family, together. I had to love her passion for those kids and really respected how she handled David’s betrayal.

The book just kept moving, the plot getting darker and murkier–much like the magic. Don’t expect to see a lot of binding spells or fire incantations. This is a subtle magic, which I think made it more approachable. It’s a standalone book, and the first in a series. Several directions for other books to pick up this families trials, however.

Clearly Jude’s burgeoning darkness will be a huge part of future stories. And the day-to-day trials of choosing to use, or not use, magic will play out. The family clearly is divided on that issue. I look forward to other books in the series.


The Author

Sharon Bayliss is the author of The December People Series and The Charge. When she’s not writing, she enjoys living happily-ever-after with her husband and two young sons. She can be found eating Tex-Mex on patios, wearing flip-flops, and playing in the mud (which she calls gardening). She only practices magic in emergencies.

Hail to THE KING–A Review

Hi there! Perhaps you have noticed the Black Dagger Brotherhood series? That erotic vampire-lovefest written by author/juggernaut JR Ward?

I got THE KING last weekend–which partially explains my recent insomnia.

The King (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #12)This is the twelfth book in the series, and it’s main story centers around Wrath, naturally. He is, after all, the king.

About the book:

After turning his back on the throne for centuries, Wrath, son of Wrath, finally assumed his father’s mantle–with the help of his beloved mate. But the crown sets heavily on his head. As the war with the Lessening Society rages on, and the threat from the Band of Bastards truly hits home, he is forced to make choices that put everything–and everyone–at risk.

Beth Randall thought she knew what she was getting into when she mated the last pure blooded vampire on the planet: An easy ride was not it. But when she decides she wants a child, she’s unprepared for Wrath’s response–or the distance it creates between them.

The question is, will true love win out… or tortured legacy take over?

My Review:
At this point in the series there are many plot lines that are in various degrees of conflict/convergence. The book centers on the ousting of Wrath as King by the glymera, the aristocracy of vampirekind. See they have another person in mind–Ichan, a distant cousin of Wrath’s and through him the warrior Xcor plans to rule. The legal mumbo-jumbo of long forgotten vamp lore states that kings must be of pure blood–and any progeny of Wrath and his Queen, Beth, would be 1/4 human.

Wrath is more than willing to not be King. He’s tired of the constant pressure. And now he’s terrified that Beth is planning to bring on her own needing, or time of fertility. Wrath abhors the idea of risking Beth’s life in pregnancy. It sparks such a rift that Beth actually walks out.

Now, Wrath has to figure out how to deal, and he’s gotta get it handled quickly because there’s a lotta hormones in the air. That’s right. Beth needs, and Wrath caves. It’s all good, though. And Wrath tears out his hair in worry–about his wife and unborn, as well as the throne. At least, he doesn’t have to worry about the kingship for long, he’s deposed by the usurper. For roughly a day. Won’t tell you how he got his crown back but it was NEARLY bloodless. Funny how someone taking away what one didn’t want makes a person want it all the more.

80’s hair-band Cinderella had a song about it….

Fear not! The HEA is freaking stupendous. So much love for Wrath, even if he was kinda King Prick for a few chapters.

Side plots: Assail is punch-drunk in love with the cat burglar Marisol. So much so that he destroys a good bit of his drug pipeline to recover her from the deadly possession of Benloise. Their connection is fierce, and needy. It is rough watching their unfinished business. Will be seeing more of them, for sure–not only because Assail’s using Lessers to sell his drugs on the street.

Via flashback, we get a lot of Wrath’s father’s story in this one. I really enjoyed learning more about that short-lived reign–and gaining a possible reason for Wrath’s blindness–an in utero injury. Fascinating how the intrigues of that court played out in Wrath’s own timeline.

Let’s not forget the Chosen Layla and Xcor have a serious attraction. Will she commit treason to be with him? Or, are her overtures the key to peace between the Black Dagger Brotherhood and the rival Band of Bastards? Let’s say this: I’m looking forward to Xcor getting his. Next book, maybe.

And finally, Trez still hasn’t submitted to the s’Hibhe to take his place as stud to the Queen’s daughter. He’s over the nameless sex–focused, unfortunately, on the Chosen Selena. Selena returns his interest, but at what price? His impurity will not keep him from being extracted, and iAm can only keep the executioner at bay so long. In typical Trez fashion, he sweet-talks and sexes his way out of the most dire parts of his predicament. For now.

Still a lot of plot to build the next episode on. And, we had virtually NO Lesser involvement in this book. Would not expect that trend to bear out much longer.

It’s a satisfying read for BDB fans. Some excellent romance mixed in with the political intrigue and harrowing captures. Plot moves on the trademark Ward pace: fast. If only her next books came out as quickly… 🙂

Interested? You can find THE KING at Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or any bookshop or library in creation probably. I saw it on the shelves at Target…so, access is easy.

You’ll need to have read the other eleven books in the series for this to make sense, obviously. If you haven’t read any JR Ward, allow me to pique your interest in the first book in the series: Dark Lover. This is the tale of how Beth and Wrath first met, and mated. “Hot” does not begin to describe it!

Thanks for popping in. Don’t forget to get in on the TWO giveaways my blog is running this week. LOVE, LEX and CAPTURED.

Couldn’t end this post without an homage to a movie from my childhood–a Bruce Campbell cult classic guaranteed to make boys titter and gals roll their eyes…ARMY OF DARKNESS.

Hail to the king, baby!

As always, keep reading my friends!

 

You Will Be CAPTURED! Review and Giveaway!

CAPTURED  VICE, VIRTUE, AND VIDEO (BOOK, #2)

BY BIANCA GIOVANNI and OMNIFIC PUBLISHING

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New Adult Erotic Romance (very mature content for 17 +)

Available NOW!

Lifelong best friends James Laird and Lola Caraway are reunited when Lola moves to LA after college. Lola is starting her new life, new job, and a new romance with a successful lawyer–a relationship which forces James to question the nature of his feelings for Lola.

Meanwhile James’ agent has him making BDSM films, though to him it’s all an act. Unfortunately, these films have brought him the attention of hardcore producer Eva Satana, who wants James to be a ruthless Dominant -for real- in her brutal and extreme scenes. James soon finds himself caught in a contract he cannot break and compelled by threats to the girl who’s stood by him through everything.

James can’t stand the thought of anyone else with his sweet, virginal best friend. But they are just friends…aren’t they? Can their friendship survive so much desire and deception?

Their decisions will decide who will be free and who will be CAPTURED.

How about a little taste?
“Honestly, I just don’t think I’d ever want to spice it up like that.” My voice has taken on a timid edge, and I realize that all the guys are staring at me. “I just always envision someone being gentle with me. I want something loving and intimate. I think I’d freak out if somebody came at me with handcuffs or a butt plug.” I can’t help but giggle on the last part of the sentence, not even able to describe the tools of the trade without blushing.

“Shit, I think I’d freak out if someone came at you with handcuffs or a butt plug! I’d beat the shit out of somebody if they ever tried that shit with you!” James says as he puts the finishing touches on his homemade guacamole. “You deserve gentle. You deserve to have your first time be sweet and intimate. You should have something perfect, you know?”

I notice Chad and Alejandro giving each other knowing looks.

“I picture something romantic for you—like in front of a fireplace, or maybe on some big bed with a canopy and candles all around the room,” he continues.

“I think you’ve thought about this even more than I have,” I tease, trying to hide how much I appreciate his ideal scenario.

“All I’m saying is I think it should be beautiful for you,” he says dismissively, turning back to the food and obviously trying to avoid eye contact with me.

Chad and Alejandro both glance at me, giving me subtle, almost pleading looks, but I’m not quite sure how to read their reactions.

protector

My Review:
I read REVEALED and I wan’t sure what to expect out of the sequel–I knew Lola and James had a real connection. Best friends into lovers are some of my fave romances, but it seemed like these two had far too much baggage to make that transition.

I mean, really, a virgin and a porn star? Even James knows it’s nuts. This story picks up after Lola’s graduated college and moved to LA to be near her BFF, and take a job at a law firm. Of course, Lola and James are as close as ever. And, that bears unintended consequences for Lola. See, when people find out she’s super close with a pornstar, they connect the two as lovers. As if! Trust me it gets kinda ugly–for both of them. Plus, they each have more-than-friendly feelings for the other, but are too timid to act and ruin the friendship.

James has been contracted to do ten scenes for notorious director and dominatrix Eva Satana–and it’s not good. Eva has James practically brutalizing his co-star the waif-like Stacey. He’s so overcome after his first scene, he hides away for days which worries Lola.

Lola tries to help James get out of his contract, and in the process ends up meeting Stacey. A bit awkward meeting the gal your friend/would-be-lover just banged on camera, especially seeing the bruises left behind. Appalled, Lola realizes she has to help Stacey in order to help James.

Of course, James has an alternate plan. Eva will voluntarily release James from his contract…for a tape of he and Lola having sex. Eva’s clientele love virgin tapes, apparently. If he doesn’t, well, it seems Eva’s willing to unleash some unsavory associates who might just deflower Lola by force.

I’ll just say the tension here was incredible. James is not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but his mistakes don’t ravage his friendship with Lola TOO much. Good thing Lola knows how to use those brains of hers. I liked the first book a lot, but this one REALLY blew me away. The level of intimacy and care these two have for each other is so clear. From the start I was screaming at Lola to stay away, but by the end I just couldn’t help it; I fell for James, too. He’s a good guy, really, and his love for Lola is something special. Can’t wait to read more of their love story.

Interested? You can find CAPTURED on Goodreads and Amazon.

I also loved REVEALED–the first book in the series. You can find my review here.

About the Author

Bianca Giovanni was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado. She grew up with a single mother and Italian grandmother, who was an avid reader. She has had a love of writing since childhood, but self-published her first short stories in 2012. Bianca’s strong female characters and witty dialogue have struck a chord with readers and lead to her popularity on self-publishing platforms.

In 2013, Bianca signed with Omnific Publishing to bring the ‘Vice, Virtue & Video’ series to readers. The series contains First Dance (free introductory short story), Revealed (book #1), Letting Go (book #1.5), and four more novels to be released in 2014.

She currently resides in Denver, Colorado, where she can often be found jotting down story ideas in a notebook.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

***GIVEAWAY***
I get to give away eBooks of both REVEALED and CAPTURED to a happy reader who comments on this blog post! Just tell me if you think YOU could date a porn star….and I’ll pick a random commenter to get his/her own copies of these sizzlers! Comment by HUMP DAY April 23rd! (Giveaway courtesy of OmniFic Publishing)

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Fancy Being an ACCIDENTAL SOCIALITE? Review and Giveaway

The Accidental Socialite-tour banner copyHi there and welcome to my stop on the blog tour for THE ACCIDENTAL SOCIALITE hosted by YA Bound Blog Tours. For other stops on the tour click here. This fun, New Adult romance by debut author Stephanie Wahlstrom will have you re-thinking all those tabloid headlines!

the accidental socialite coverSummary from Goodreads:

Quirky and clumsy twenty-two-year-old Paige Crawford arrives in London on a cold Saturday in January. Just when Paige starts to think that moving thousands of miles away from home with no real plan was a bad idea, Jason Frost appears. Confident and classy, Jason is the complete opposite of Paige and just what she needs in her life, or so she thinks.

But before their romance has time to blossom, Paige trips and falls into the arms of a mysterious man on a drunken night out. She’s snapped by paparazzi, and newspaper headlines the next day suggest that she’s having an affair with a married footballer.

Paige finds herself instantly elevated to tabloid celebrity status which isn’t exactly a picnic, particularly when trying to juggle her new job at Fashionista magazine, a catalog of dating disasters and a nagging doubt that she maybe she can’t conquer London after all.

When a trip back to Canada for Christmas reminds Paige why she left her old life behind, she returns to London with renewed vigor realizing that while jobs, flats and men may come and go, friends in London are forever.

My Review:

I’ve been reading a bit of Brit-Lit these days–and lurving it!–so this book caught me at a very good time. Paige is a total mess. She arrives in London with two suitcases and a rental room in a (practically) condemned building. Her four flatmates are all several degrees from normal and she knows NO ONE in town.

She meets her first Londoner–Jason–when her suitcases bursts on the sidewalk, unfortunately he’s from the US! But Jason is super hot, and invites her to an exclusive club the next night. She shows, bringing along Lucinda, the South African gal she met at breakfast. After too much free booze, she trips outside of the club, stumbling into a super-famous football (er, soccer to the USers) star whose marriage is purportedly on the rocks. The compromising photos make the front page of the tabloids, catapulting Paige into Z-list celebrity.

The book moves at a breakneck pace–not the least of which because Paige is forever getting drunk and falling down. And the dissolution of said-footballer’s marriage only increases Paige’s notoriety. She meets a fantastically cute doctor, Alex–after a pseudo-sex-injury debacle–who asks her out-only to ditch her when the paparazzi turn up.

Throughout, Paige’s luck seems to magnify–both good and bad. She gets a job writing ads for a fashion magazine and makes abso friends with Carlos and Lucinda, but her love life? Utter crap.

Guys are only into her for the minor celebrity she seems to cultivate. In fact, Jason–her somewhat steady guy–has a nasty habit of showing her off everywhere he takes her. Even to his PARENTS! Ugh. Enough of that D-bag, fo sho. Paige tries to meet different guys, branching out of her social scene and only comes up with duds and schmucks. Kinda sounds like regular hot girl problems.

Carlos and Luc take her on some continental excursions, so we get more than just the London social scene, but even the new locales don’t bring Paige good luck with the men.

It’s a cute book, lots of fun and vodka and champagne. Paige only has one drunken bender landing her in bed with Mr. Wrong (Jason the fame hound), but through it all she seems to come up smelling like, well…if a rose was watered with day-old beer and ran through the Tube at rush hour it might smell like Paige. It reminded me, a lot, of Bridget Jones–which is cool, as I liked that. Paige does end up on her own two Louboutin-clad feet in the end–with the men STILL clamoring for her. Surprisingly, the book is terrifyingly innocent. No smexytimes…but that’s cool.

Interested? You can find THE ACCIDENTAL SOCIALITE at Goodreads and Amazon.

stephanie wAbout 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. After a fateful trip to Mexico in 2006, Stephanie decided to move to New York City to work in film development. A year later she went back home to write My Green House, a factual TV series. Stephanie moved to London in 2008 and aside from being obsessed with eggs benedict, fruit roll- ups and travelling, she also works in children’s television. The Accidental Socialite is her first novel.

You can find Stephanie on Goodreads, twitter, her blog, Facebook or riding in the Swoon Romance author stable….

***GIVEAWAY***
Click the Raffle copter link below for your chance to win
1 ebook of The Accidental Socialite & $10 Amazon gift card (INT)
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!
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Book Blitz and Giveaway! LOVE, LEX by @AveryAster

LoveLexBlitzBanner1-1 copyHi there and welcome to the BOOK BLITZ for LOVE, LEX sponsored by Xpresso Book Tours. This is a New Adult release from an up-and-coming author, Avery Aster, about a gal who’s ready to cast off the negativity of her over-privileged childhood.

LoveLexcoverLet Lex tell you ’bout the book:

This summer, I’d planned to celebrate my eighteenth birthday in Europe with my fellow Manhattanites—Taddy Brill, Blake Morgan, and Vive Farnworth—until I caught my boyfriend screwing my mother. According to the police report, this vomit-inducing incident happened around the same time I’d supposedly blown-up my mother’s penthouse. Like I’m walking around Soho with a stick of dynamite in my Louis Vuitton purse—not! Now, my besties and I are in jail.

Officer Ford Gotti, the Harley-wheelin’ biker cop who arrested us, keeps sticking his perfectly-sculpted nose into my case. His inked body is jacked like a superhero, and he says I can trust him. He wants me to fess up. I won’t. Not again. Why should I? My friends and I had a previous stint in juvie that nearly destroyed us. I gotta protect them and keep my mouth shut. Right? —Lex Easton, women’s studies major, motorcycle enthusiast, and virgin.

The Undergrad Years is a New Adult contemporary miniseries about first loves, independence, and everlasting friendships.

Reader warning: Contains mature content intended for readers 17 and up.

Think your childhood was rotten? Here’s a little taste of what Lex was dealing with….

Top Ten Fears & Worst Moments of My So-Called Life

by Lex Easton

  1. Puberty advice to pad my bra, or not wear one at all. I was nine then.
  2. A locked refrigerator. No parent should starve their child. Birdie had called it food monitoring.
  3. Paparazzi which has tormented and snapped photos of me (usually when I was at my worst) my entire life. Such as…when I’d eaten a chocolate and vanilla twist cone, dipped in a raspberry hard shell and dusted with rainbow sprinkles. Purchased from a Mister Softee truck, parked on Madison Avenue—while standing outside in one hundred degree weather with one hundred percent humidity, in a horizontal-striped-sheer-stretchy poly-blend sun dress—which had ridden itself almost entirely up my bum. How I knew it had ridden up my bum? See number 5.
  4. A Vicodin, given to me by Dad to stop my hysteria, instead of a band-aid or a hug, after I’d fallen and scratched my knee on Madison Avenue while running from the Paparazzi. I was like eleven.
  5. The photos of my backside, at the ice cream truck, appearing on the cover of The Manhattanite Times the very next day. The headline had read, “Alexandra the Great Swallows for Mr. Softee.”
  6. A mother who has and forever will have a hotter body, prettier face, and better hair than I do. Even when I’m seventy years old and she’s like dead.
  7. A father who was never around. Years have passed without him walking through our front door. I’m not sure he even knows Birdie sold the Central Park West mansion and moved to Soho last year. I should probably give him the new address.
  8. The fear I’ll never meet or exceed my parent’s financial or professional success, regardless of what industry I work in. According to the economics class Vive and I took our senior year, I have less than a five percent chance to make it as an adult without riding my folks’ coattails to maintain this lifestyle. Poor Vive, her family is the second richest in North America. She has less than half a percent.
  9. Infamy! I’ll forever be associated with the Easton’s.
  10. Birdie and her full-on, balls-to-the wall sex with my high school sweet-heart. I had loved Kelle Sterling Dolley. Or at least, I thought I had.

OMG. Soooo glad my parents were…normal. Don’t think Lex doesn’t get through ok…it’s a ROMANCE! She meets a D-Lish hunka man…Ford Gotti. Here’s what he has to say:

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Interested? You can find LOVE, LEX  (currently &.99!) on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

About Avery Aster:

New York Times, USA Today bestselling author Avery Aster pens The Manhattanites, a modern romance series of juicy melodramas multilayered on love, friendship, scandal, and drama to the hilt. As a resident of New York’s Upper East Side and a graduate from New York University, Avery gives readers an inside look at the city’s glitzy nightlife, socialite sexcapades and tall tales of the über-rich and ultra-famous. “I write about what I see in my metropolis that never sleeps–beautiful people on the quest for a passionate thrill,” Avery says. By and large, Avery’s characters are ripped straight from the headlines, speak their minds and always get what they want.

Undressed #1 (Lex & Massimo) launched The Manhattanites series. Unscrupulous #2 (Taddy & Warner) is the prequel. Also, stay tuned for the sequel with Unsaid #3 (Blake & Miguel) coming summer 2014.

The Manhattanites is for fans who miss TV shows like Sex & The City or watch Girls (HBO), Revenge (ABC), and The Bold & the Beautiful (CBS) . Avery’s characters are over the top. They have cray-cray fun, speak their minds and always get what they want. Each novel may be read as a stand alone.

You can hook up with Avery via her blog, newsletter, Instagram, Facebook, twitter, Tumblr, Goodreads, and Pinterest.

***GIVEAWAY(S)***
Click the Rafflecopter link for your chance to win
a $25 Amazon Gift Card!
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ALSO!!! Avery Aster is giving ME one Paperback copy to share with a reader!

So hit this Rafflecopter for you chance to get LOVE, LEX in your hands

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Good luck and keep reading my friends!
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Join the SINNERS AT THE ALTAR! A Review

Hi there! I’m not shy about admitting my Olivia Cunning Fangirl status. I must have written 10 posts about her books this past year. If you like sexy romance, and sexy rock stars, and off-the-charts sexy-sex, well, you would have already read all Olivia’s Sinners books–or maybe even her Sole Regret books.

If not, today’s post might just turn you into a fan, like me.

For those who have followed the Sinners series, there have been 5 books, one for each member of the band. Each full-length novel explored the tumultuous process of these delicious rock stars finding–and wooing–the woman of his dreams. Sinners’ lead guitarist Brian “Master” Sinclair got the first (Backstage Pass), vocalist Sed Lionheart got the second (Rock Hard), masochistic bassist Jace Seymour found love in the third (Hot Ticket) deliciously pervy drummer Eric Sticks had the fourth (Wicked Beat) and bisexual rhythm guitarist Trey Mills found two lovers in the final novel (Double Time).

Sinners at the Altar (Sinners on Tour, #6)And now the Sinners are back!

Sinners at the Altar is exactly what it claims to be:  a encore of epilogues, four of them, that focus on the weddings of Brian, Sed, Eric and Jace. It’s a fun look into the couples–each receiving a short novella surrounding their nuptials.

First up? Mr. And Mrs. “Master” Sinclair. As we all remember, Brian and Myrna are absolutely insatiable. And Myrna has a bag of tricks (literally!) all ready to use on our sexy guitarist. Of course, just when things get REALLY hot…well, Trey is hospitalized. In this up-close look we get to feel all Brian’s love, and all Myrna’s angst. Getting remarried isn’t her desire. And she’s still scared that Brian will leave her…for Trey. It’s an interesting dance, trying to ask if your husband wants to have relations with his lifelong bestie–without ACTUALLY asking…

Next, we get Mr. And Mrs. Eric Sticks. OMG, I really thing Eric is my fave Sinner. He’s so delightfully awkward and shameless! He and Rebekah can’t even wait a day after her big doctor’s appointment to get hitched. NOPE! As soon as Reb gets her good news they head for the courthouse. With a few sexy sidetracks. Hey, it wouldn’t be Eric and Reb without costumes, right? And, Eric plans the most romantic, perfect, wedding day Rebekah could have wished, all on his own. God. I hope they fill that gorgeous house with 20 foster kids, they have that much love…. *swoon*

Third in line, but first in disaster we have Mr. And Mrs. Sedric Lionheart. Yep. With a bun in the Jessica, Sed is finally able to tie down his fiery lover. The big To-do is what neither of them wanted, and the beachfront fiasco is nothing but spectacular–even if Johnny Depp didn’t make it. In true Sed fashion there’s some outdoor sex to be had, and a delicious ending that showcases just how head-over-heels these two are for one another. Literally.

And bringing up the rear, is Mr. and Mrs. Jace Seymour. Oy vay! Didn’t expect a paranormal vibe to crash into my Sinners read, but hey, it was a fun departure! Aggie isn’t keen on being a wife. The Domme is just not feeling the whole submissive stereotype, thank you very much. At least until she learns exactly what Jace thinks of the term. If my heart didn’t already belong to Eric, I’d snap Jace up. Well, at least until my whip hand got tired. I dug the Halloween theme and the ghostly visitations. Glad Jace could lead those lost souls to peace, just as Aggie soothed his heartache.

So, what’s next? Well, there’s a hint about a Sinners honeymoon book. But we got some unfinished business with Trey and his lovers–Ethan and Reagan. Will there be some sort of commitment ceremony? And Dare Mills, Trey’s older bro and Reagan’s band mate seems to be a regular feature in this series–maybe he’ll get his own book down the road. So many possibilities! And I’m eagerly awaiting the FOUR Sole Regret novels Ms. Cunning promised….

Interested? You can find SINNERS AT THE ALTAR at Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

If you decide to become a Cunning SuperFan, check out her blog (features Friday giveaways and Wednesday Hot Shots) or find her on Twitter.

Thanks for stopping by and keep reading my friends!