Reviews

Books I’ve read and reviewed

Captivated by BEAR, OTTER AND THE KID–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing the love for a M/M romance I’d had in my TBR for, well, TOO long. I get nervous about books not living up to their hype, and so many people loved BEAR, OTTER, AND THE KID…I was afraid I wouldn’t. Silly V!

Bear, Otter, and the Kid (Bear, Otter, and the Kid, #1)About the Book:

Three years ago, Bear McKenna’s mother took off for parts unknown with her new boyfriend, leaving Bear to raise his six-year-old brother Tyson, aka the Kid. Somehow they’ve muddled through, but since he’s totally devoted to the Kid, Bear isn’t actually doing much living—with a few exceptions, he’s retreated from the world, and he’s mostly okay with that. Until Otter comes home.

Otter is Bear’s best friend’s older brother, and as they’ve done for their whole lives, Bear and Otter crash and collide in ways neither expect. This time, though, there’s nowhere to run from the depth of emotion between them. Bear still believes his place is as the Kid’s guardian, but he can’t help thinking there could be something more for him in the world… something or someone.

My Review:

Bear McKenna is one day shy of his 18th birthday when his mother takes off with her latest loser of a boyfriend and 95% of his savings leaving Bear with $137.50 and a forged Power of Attorney so he’ll be able to manage the legalities of caring for his 6 y/o half-brother, Tyson. Mother Of The Year, right?

The story begins three years later. Bear has done a valiant job raising the Kid, as Ty Is called. Bear and his on-again, off-again girlfriend Anna and his elderly neighbor Mrs. Paquinn manage the care of Kid, but it’s nearly summer and Bear is looking forward to the return of his BFF, Creed, from college. What he doesn’t expect is the return of Oliver (Otter), Creed’s older brother, from his three year self-exile in San Diego. Otter is gay, and he and Bear shared a drunken kiss three years before, the very night Otter up and left for Cali.

Bear has always wondered why, but so many people have left him, he doesn’t expect any different.

But, things are. Otter is depressed and Creed wants Bear to find out why. Turns out Otter has silently loved Bear for a long, long time. He never did anything about it because Bear was straight, and a child, comparatively. There is an 8 year age difference.

The writing is so beautiful; we are in Bear’s head throughout and we see his slow changes, his gradual acceptance, his deep love for Kid, and Anna, and Creed….and Otter. Their summer of love is tender and tragic, by turns. It seems, this summer, all the chickens come home to roost. Some good, some vile. The absolute love that Bear has for Kid, the way his life is forfeit to caring for his wise, eccentric, ecoterrorist-in-training, 9-going-on-60 year old brother is spectacular, and humbling.

This book. THIS book. It is amazing. It is broken and tender and loving and lost and I am better for knowing Bear and Otter and the Kid’s story. I want to hug each of them, and make their sorrows cease, but I don’t have to because they can do that even better than I can.

This a romance, but it is also a story, an epic poem of love lost and gained and squandered and regained. I loved every one of the words. Even the bad words, even the hate, because it made the love that much more beautiful.

Interested? You can find BEAR, OTTER, AND THE KID on Goodreads, Dreamspinner Press, AllRomance, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

I’ve already bought the sequel. I’m gonna squeeze that one in just as soon as I can!

About the Author:

When TJ Klune was eight, he picked up a pen and paper and began to write his first story (which turned out to be his own sweeping epic version of the video game Super Metroid—he didn’t think the game ended very well and wanted to offer his own take on it. He never heard back from the video game company, much to his chagrin). Now, two decades later, the cast of characters in his head have only gotten louder, wondering why he has to go to work as a claims examiner for an insurance company during the day when he could just stay home and write.

He lives with a neurotic cat in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. It’s hot there, but he doesn’t mind. He dreams about one day standing at Stonehenge, just so he can say he did.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Ten Steps on HOW TO UNBREAKUP–Review and Giveaway

how to unbreakup tour banner

Hi there! Today I’m sharing in the blog tour for Rebekah Purdy’s HOW TO UNBREAKUP. This contemporary YA Romance is a fun, innocent romantic tale of one girl trying to fix a relationship, without all the Hollywood hijinks. Okay, okay there are a few hijinks.

How to UnbreakupAbout the Book:
First rule of breakups: There’s no going back.
For three years, seventeen-year-old Grace Evers has regretted breaking up with Sage Castle.

That day, she lost her boyfriend and best friend. And let’s be honest, it’s impossible to just be friends with the one person who gets you, faults and all, and loved you anyway. It’s impossible not to think about how it felt to be held by him, or the way he looked right before he was about to kiss you with the most perfectly yummy kiss goodnight.

And now that things are over between them, they’ve become strangers to one another. Sage won’t even look at Grace, let alone talk to her!

Breakup life sucks and Grace is utterly miserable, doing whatever she can to ease the pain of losing Sage. She’s spent the better part of high school pretending to be something she’s not and hanging out with people who probably wouldn’t notice if she wasn’t there. Crappy dates, backstabbing friends, and Sage’s cold shoulder have taken their toll.

So when her parents propose going away to their house on Lake Michigan for the summer, Grace is thrilled. No more massively bad dates with horrible kissers or lunch with frienemies. Just three months of swimming,
hiking, and relaxing before senior year starts.

But when Grace learns Sage and his family will be joining them, she readies herself for a totally awkward family vacation of disastrous proportions. How can it be anything but awful if Sage won’t even acknowledge she exists?

This is it, Grace’s last chance to get Sage back and unbreakup.

My Review:
Probably need to check for cavities now; this is a super sweet, innocent YA romance.

Grace and Sage were childhood friends, the best of friends, and each other’s first romance/kiss. They grew up together in wholesome Michigan, with parents who are BFFs and plan joint trips. In eighth grade Sage asked Grace to be his girlfriend, and she agreed, but it got a bit much for her to handle. Her friends complained that she was always with him, and she felt like she didn’t have an identity of her own. Plus, she didn’t really feel ready, anymore, to be in a relationship. And, I felt this was ALL AWESOME. I love when young girls are cool being alone. Grace wanted to maintain their strong friendship, but Sage never talked to her after that, and started skipping their joint family get-togethers.

Three years goes by and neither Grace nor Sage has ever dated anyone. Grace knows she’s still hung up on Sage, but he still holds a grudge. It’s the summer following junior year, and the big surprise vacation is again to link the two families for a summer long rental beach house in the UP (Upper Peninsula). Grace is anxious, seeing Sage again at close quarters, but Sage is hostile. Hell hath no fury like a scorned Sage, it seems.

Sage’s sister, Allie, can clearly see how Grace cares for Sage, however–and Allie knows how depressed Sage was after their break-up, so Allie decides to help Grace win him back. They devise a list of ten tasks that Grace should attempt to unfreeze Sage’s heart, and *hopefully* win him back. Of course this plan is destined to crash and burn…hijinks ensue.

In the meantime, while Grace works up the courage to check off Item 10 on her list (apologize for hurting Sage all those years ago, and confess her deep love), he finds a local girl who is very much interested in him. Lila is a pretty pin-up of a girl who shares none of Sage’s interests, but does captivate his attention. Her elder brother, Logan, is equally attractive, and interested in Grace. Allie insists that this may be helpful (Item 6: Make Sage jealous) but Grace isn’t the mercenary sort. She doesn’t discourage Logan, but she keeps everything friendly, even confiding her true feelings for Sage to a very understanding Logan.

Thing is, as the days and weeks pass, Grace realizes that Sage is happier now, and that he seems to get on well with Lila. Grace completes her task list, leaving it all up to Sage.

Well, this is YA romance, so we get an HEA, but we take the angsty-way around to it.

The story is well-told, with only a few slapstick elements, and a whole lotta good-natured ribbing and family bonding. The tension between Sage and Grace is always high, and this non-courtship is fun to experience. Sage and Grace have a lot of shared history, and rediscovering together it is touching. I like how level-headed Grace is, she doesn’t get catty, or plan sabotage missions against Lila; she simply tries to reconnect with her oldest friend, and hopes that he might see her for the girl who loves him now, not the one who broke his heart before.

Interested? You can find HOW TO UNBREAKUP on Goodreads, and Amazon.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link link below for your chance to win
a fun Star Wars-themed prize pack or ebooks!
a Rafflecopter giveaway.

Good luck, and keep reading my friends!

Rebekah L. PurdyAbout the Author
Rebekah Purdy grew up in Michigan, where she spent many late nights armed with a good book and a flashlight. When not hiding at her computer and getting lost in her stories, she enjoys reading, singing, soccer, swimming, football, camping, playing video games and hanging out with her kids. She loves the unexplainable like Bigfoot, the Dogman, and the Loch Ness Monster (lots of good story material)! She admits to still having all the books she bought throughout her
childhood and teen years, and she may or may not have an obsession with anything chocolate…
You can find Rebekah online on her website, Facebook, twitter and Goodreads.
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Hard Life For a SEEKER–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for the first book in a planned YA fantasy series. SEEKER, by Arwen Elys Dayton, is an interesting look at mystical power and the people who can wield it, but I’m not sure I’d recommend it.

Seeker (Seeker, #1)About the Book:

Quin Kincaid has been put through years of brutal training for what she thinks is the noble purpose of becoming a revered ‘Seeker’.

Only when it’s too late does she discover she will be using her new-found knowledge and training to become an assassin. Quin’s new role will take her around the globe, from a remote estate in Scotland to a bustling, futuristic Hong Kong where the past she thought she had escaped will finally catch up with her.

My Review:

The blurb indicates this is Quin’s story, but the POV is actually that of four teen-ish characters: Quin, John, Shinobu and Maud. Quin, John and Shinobu are all training to be Seekers, while Maud is a Dread. In this world are some futuristic weapons and old artifacts, most importantly the athame, a stone dagger which directs navigation through space.

The apprentice Seekers are told their role is to be defenders of humanity, but this is not the case under the current trainer: Briac, Quin’s father. Briac is a mercenary who uses his power to kill for pay. John already knows this–Briac had attacked his own mother years ago and stolen his family’s athame. It is John’s sworn duty to get it back.

Briac holds John apart in the training, however, neglecting to complete it. John is banished, and urges Quin to run away with him, as they are a clandestine couple. Quin won’t; she believes in her noble purpose as a Seeker and is elated to proceed and learn to work the athame, as is Shinobu–until they discover they will be compelled into murder-for-hire. There’s a whole lotta angst, what with being an assassin at age 15…

Maud is a different creature than a Seeker. As a Dread she is to oversee the Seekers, and make sure they use the athame for the good of humankind. She had been trained (for centuries) by her master, but he is resting between planes and his apprentice is overseeing her–with extreme brutality. She can help the fledgling Seekers, but isn’t sure if she should.

John returns to claim his athame, leaving Quin’s home and family in tatters and bleeding. The rest of the book is a chase through the space of their world for John to regain his athame, Quin to lose-then-regain her memories, Shinobu to become an opium addict then redeem himself, sorta, and Maud is finally able to make the proper choices to right the wrongs which occurred while her master slept.

In truth, I have a low threshold for liking fantasy, but this was a convoluted book. Many times I stopped to read something else, and I can’t say–even after finishing–that I’m glad I completed it. The threads of this book were woven too loosely for me to see the tapestry. Too many breadcrumbs leading toward later parts with no real cohesiveness. The end was cliffhangery, with a resolution that left the remaining players in pursuit of each other, which was frustrating after such a long read. I know there’s a sequel planned, but I’m not sure I’ll pick it up. There was nothing wrong with the writing, but the story never grabbed me. There was no trust between people who should have developed a rapport; every character was some awful shade of bad. Parents lie to their kids, knowing it will do them harm, because of a sworn oath? I call BS on that. Sorry. No oath is going to force me to make my kid a murderer. Not one of the adults in his story had one scrap of decency. And, the kids? Quin and Shinobu fall apart. John’s the only one with a backbone, and I’m still not sure if he’s capable of doing the right thing.

It’s just my opinion, but this book was more hype than story, for me.

If you’re interested, you can find out more about SEEKER on Goodreads and it’s for sale today on all the major retail outlets. I received a review copy via NetGalley.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends.

Now available! SEXY JUST GOT RICH–Reviews, Interview and Excerpt

tourbutton_SJGRHi there! Today I’m sharing reviews for SEXY JUST GOT RICH, a collection of erotic short stories from the best-selling Brit Babes, contemporary erotica authors. This, my friends, is an adult read.

sexyjustgotrichAbout the book:
Billionaires have it all but that doesn’t mean they don’t have to work hard to get what their hearts desire. In this brand new anthology of erotic BDSM stories the Brit Babes offer heroes and heroines who aren’t shy about taking what they want. From farmyards to luxury penthouses, wealth is all about sating needs, connecting souls and taking pleasure to new highs. Whether you’re looking for a coffee break read or something longer to curl up in bed with, you’ll find something to suit your needs in Sexy Just Got Rich.

What our authors think: If you suddenly became rich beyond measure what would your first purchase be?

Lucy Felthouse:
It’d be more of a project than a purchase. I’d have a custom-designed house built in the Peak District. I have tons of very specific requirements, like wanting amazing views, lots of land, a big house with a huge library, a sauna, a home cinema… the list goes on, and on. Like I said… a project! 😉

Natalie Dae:
A boob job.

Kay Jaybee:
I’d buy as much woodland/countryside as I could, so that no one could rip it up and build on it.

K D Grace:
A house big enough for all our kettle bells 😉

Victoria Blisse:
A house looking over the sea at Scarborough, preferably something with a turret but I can always get that added on at a later date if it’s not there. Enough room in it for a library and an office and I want one of those bay windows with a seat so I can sit, looking over the bay, reading.

Tabitha Rayne:
Oooh a holiday for me and all my friends (hey gals?) – possibly a lovely sauna in Holland – I went to one in the summer and it is like a village of pure and utter luxury – ahhhh.

Lily Harlem:
A yacht with private butler and a tap with an endless supply of champagne. Oh, chocolate too, lots of it – calorie free!

Lexie Bay:
A Porsche 911.

Ha, ha! OMG, I can’t even imagine what I’d buy. Probably spend the cash on a big trip for my family. I love to travel!

Excerpt from Wallflower by Victoria Blisse:

I shrugged and looked down to the table. When I looked back up he was beside me, his arm wrapped around my shoulders and his lips by my ear.

“I want to take you, Penny but I need to tell you something first.”

Crazily, I knew what he was going to say before he said it.

“If you come with me, I will be your master. I will expect you to obey my every command.” He paused but I wasn’t sure he wanted a response. It was merely for effect. “If you come with me I will expect obedience but I will give you ecstasy beyond your imagining. You will be mine and I will treasure you. So what do you think?”

What did I think? I was finding it hard to concentrate with his lean, powerful body beside me. His warmth enveloped me, the enticing musk and lime of his aftershave filled my lungs, and his presence overwhelmed me. It was crazy. This gorgeous man was propositioning me, not just suggesting sex but something far kinkier, far darker, far more tempting.

Where did that desire to accept come from? I’d had a few experiences of being playfully slapped or restrained by silly fluffy cuffs and I’d enjoyed them but I’d never thought of anything approaching what Leo was offering me. Like an exotic fruit that sounded at once terrifying and delicious I contemplated his offer and what it meant.

“You can stop it at any moment, Penny. With just one word. Choose a word, any word and if you utter it, I will stop.” His voice was like warm syrup, his breath gentle against my ear tickled. I wasn’t thinking about if I’d accept his offer any more, I was thinking of a word to say to stop it. I’d made my decision.

“Wallflower.”

Leo tipped my chin up with one finger, smiled and pressed that grin to my lips. I surrendered my mouth to his. Thought stopped and instinct took over. I was intoxicated by him. I slid a hand up inside his suit jacket and outlined his lithe frame until my palm rested against his heart which was pounding excitedly. A blast of arousal engulfed me. He could have pushed me back over the table and taken me right there and I wouldn’t have cared about the audience.

However he pulled away, licked his lips and smiled. His smile was electric, I couldn’t resist blasting it back at him. I felt alive and care free.

“Come on then Penny, let’s go.”

My Review:
This anthology of sexy romances has a wide range of stories to appeal to diverse readers. Plus, each story ranges is length from short vignette to novella-length. I also liked the range in heat and type of story.

There’s F/F BDSM, Femdom, vanilla, and the couples range from first-meet to long acquaintance. What is really fun, is seeing so many strong female leads–women who are wealthy and looking for a special someone, and find him, or her, as the case may be. We also had some billionaires in disguise–looking for a partner, and not wanting money to be the magnetic force in the attraction.

I definitely enjoyed the novella from KD Grace with the disenchanted city man who works hard for the farmer’s daughter. And I really enjoyed Lucy Felthouse’s tale of the best-selling erotica author who takes a fan as her sub. Lily Harlem and Lexie Bay had sizzling stories of diddling the help, which were very satisfying. Kay Jaybee’s cat-and-mouse friends-to-lovers story was also great, and the rest ranged through different layers of hotness.

Interested? SEXY JUST GOT RICH is promotionally priced $.99 for a limited time. You can find it on Goodreads, Amazon (US & UK), Barnes & Noble, AllRomance, iTunes, Smashwords and Kobo.

About The Brit Babes:
The Brit Babes are eight British erotica writers coming together to bring you the hottest romance to satisfy your cravings. So go on, indulge yourself and explore your kinky side!

Find the Brit Babes on their website, Facebook, and twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Love & Deception in RISE & FALL–Review, Excerpt and Giveaway

Hi all! Today I’m SO eager to share the latest installment of Charlie Cochet’s THIRD series. I’ve blogged about HELL & HIGH WATER and BLOOD & THUNDER and RACK & RUIN so I’m all in on this M/M Romance/Police/Shifter series. If I HAD a guilty pleasure this series might be it; but, since I feel no guilt, it’s really all about the pleasure….

Rise & Fall 

(THIRDS Series, Book #4) by Charlie Cochet 
About the book: 
After an attack by the Coalition leaves THIRDS Team Leader Sloane Brodie critically injured, agent Dexter J. Daley swears to make Beck Hogan pay for what he’s done. But Dex’s plans for retribution are short-lived. With Ash still on leave with his own injuries, Sloane in the hospital, and Destructive Delta in the Coalition’s crosshairs, Lieutenant Sparks isn’t taking any chances. Dex’s team is pulled from the case, with the investigation handed to Team Leader Sebastian Hobbs. Dex refuses to stand by while another team goes after Hogan, and decides to put his old HPF detective skills to work to find Hogan before Theta Destructive, no matter the cost.

With a lengthy and painful recovery ahead of him, the last thing Sloane needs is his partner out scouring the city, especially when the lies—however well intentioned—begin to spiral out of control. Sloane is all too familiar with the desire to retaliate, but some things are more important, like the man who’s pledged to stand beside him. As Dex starts down a dark path, it’s up to Sloane to show him what’s at stake, and finally put a name to what’s in his heart.

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Available for purchase at

   

How about a little taste?

Dex sorted out all of Sloane’s pillows, fluffing them up and arranging them before bringing the tray over. Once Sloane was settled, Dex placed the tray over his lap and kissed him, tasting a faint hint of minty freshness. Sloane stared down at the tray.

“Is it okay?” Dex asked. Had he forgotten something? “Eggs Benedict and pancakes are your favorite, right?”

Sloane nodded.

“What’s wrong?”

“You made heart-shaped pancakes.”

Dex held back a smile. “Are they too unmanly? Should I have made them grenade-shaped? I’m sure Letty’s got a mold for those.”

Sloane chuckled. “No, hearts are fine. It’s real sweet. Thank you.”

Dex sat down on the edge of the bed beside him. He ran his fingers through Sloane’s hair feeling guilty for having left him on his own last night. Sloane could take care of himself, even if he was injured, but his partner was drugged up and obviously feeling a little out of it, considering his reaction to the heart-shaped pancakes. Maybe it was time he took care of his partner like he’d promised he would.

“Why don’t you eat your breakfast while I shower, and we’ll watch a movie or something together?”

Sloane gave him a wide smile. “I’d like that.”

Dex left Sloane to his breakfast and went off to shower as quickly as he could. Showering wasn’t as much fun without his partner. As he lathered himself up, a naughty thought occurred to him. He’d also promised he’d make his partner purr. Finishing up, he could barely hold back his smile or the heat spreading through him. Easy there, Daley. Don’t get yourself worked up yet. He dressed in his comfy cotton pajama bottoms and a loose faded Back to the Future T-shirt before heading out into the bedroom.

Sloane was smiling, his plate devoid of any evidence food had ever been on there. Wow, his partner had been hungry. Really hungry. Starving. Sort of like after…“Please tell me you didn’t.”

Dex removed the tray and put it on the floor against the wall. He pulled the blanket back and tried to lift Sloane’s T-shirt, but his partner slapped his hand away. “Sloane, let me see, damn it.” He grabbed Sloane’s wrist with one hand and managed to pull up the cotton shirt, cursing under his breath at the tiny beads of blood seeping through the bandage. “For fuck’s sake, did you try to shift?” When Sloane looked away, Dex had his answer. No wonder his partner was out of it. It wasn’t just the meds. Sloane hadn’t recuperated from postshift. Dex opened the minifridge and found it empty.“When?” He slammed the fridge door shut.

“Last night. After you called,” Sloane mumbled.

“Last night?” Dex put a hand to his head. Veggies and hummus were all well and good for Sloane’s Human side, but not for the Felid inside him. He needed meat, protein, and more than the packet of sliced chicken Dex had left him in the fridge. “Fuck. Sloane, you know you’re not supposed to attempt shifting. The doctor said so, and it’s in the packet. To make matters worse, you do it when there’s no one here to perform postshift trauma care? With no access to the right foods? What were you thinking?”

“I’m thinking I need to fucking heal, and if that’s the quickest way to do it, then it’s a risk I’m willing to take!”

Sloane’s ferocity surprised Dex, and he took a step back. His partner’s pupils were dilated and his fangs slightly elongated. Fuck, what the hell was going on? It was like Sloane was having trouble controlling his feral side. Dex could see it. He could see the Felid inside Sloane staring back at him from behind glowing amber eyes. Could the meds be doing this? The recovery packet the doctor had given them specifically instructed Sloane to not shift while he was healing, especially while on his meds.

“Okay, take it easy. It’s me.” Dex held his hands up in front of him and swallowed hard, aware of the telltale signs. “There’s no hurry for you to heal, Sloane. It’s okay.”

“It’s not okay,” Sloane snarled, his fingers flexing against the sheets and his nails starting to grow.

Fuck. Oh fuck.

“Sloane, you need to breathe. Calm down.” Dex slowly edged away from the bed. Why was this happening? Sloane had never lost his grip on his Felid side. Not to mention he’d yet to fully recover from his first attempt. “Please, Sloane. Your body’s not healed from the first try. Who knows what a second attempt will do?”

There was no reply from Sloane. He was gritting his teeth, his face red, and his muscles straining.

“Sloane, you need to stop.”

“I can’t.” Sloane lowered his head, his fierce gaze on Dex.

“Why?”

“To protect you!”

Dex gasped as Sloane let out a roar, his body starting to shift. What the hell was Dex supposed to do? He’d never faced a Therian who’d lost control of his Human side, much less an Apex predator. Quickly, he backed up against the far wall, cringing as Sloane’s cries of agony filled the room. Sloane tore at his clothes, pulling his T-shirt and pajama bottoms off before his mass shifted, bones popped, and fur pierced his skin. Dex reached into his pocket and with shaky hands placed a call.

A gruff voice answered. “What do you want?”

“Ash, you have to help me.” The panic in his voice must have been clear, because Ash’s tone instantly transformed from its usual gruffness to concern.

“What’s going on, Dex? Talk to me.”

“It’s Sloane. He’s shifting, but it’s not… not normal. He tried last night but couldn’t complete the transformation. Then we got into an argument, and it’s like he’s lost it. I don’t think he’s in control. How is that possible?”

“Hide.”

“What?”

“Hide somewhere he can’t get to you. I’m on my way. I’ve still got my key to your place.”

Ash hung up, and Dex shoved his phone in his pocket. Where the fuck was he supposed to hide? When he moved his gaze to the bed, he stilled. There was no time for hiding. The huge black jaguar lay in the center of the bed, his tail thumping against the headboard. He sniffed the sheets, then the air before his gaze landed on Dex.

Wow! I can tell you, reading that passage had my heart racing!

My Review:
OMG. I’ve just… Well… Where to start?

*takes a deep breath* *remembers how Dex had to be assertive to win Sloane* *channels her inner Dex*

Okay. This is the fourth book in the THIRDS series. And at the end of the previous one, Sloane Brodie was injured by a car bomb explosion. It was (perhaps) fatal and we waited on pins and needles, praying alongside Dex, his partner in their job–and in bed (though THIS is a down-low issue)–to hope that his heart (and Sloane) will make it through the night.

I’m not spoiling this part. I will say that it is tense, and the feels are heart-wrecking.

Ash has been left to care for/tail Dex as Dex begins the revenge mission to end all revenge missions. Beck Hogan, chief of the Ikelos Coalition and person responsible for Sloane’s injuries, is Dex’s target–but Dex doesn’t know that he is Beck’s target. He and Cael are the prime targets for Ikelos operatives who consider Therian THIRDS operatives to be traitors to their race–and knowing that Cael is precious to Ash, who had recently infiltrated then double-crossed the Coalition.

Problem with Dex’s vengeance plan? Destructive Delta is put on leave. With Ash and Sloane severely injured, they can’t go on patrol, and the brass is determined to keep the unit on ice until Hogan is in custody, or dead.

Dex works on the side, however, setting up a shadow office and calling in favors from Delta and Alpha agents–all to take Hogan out. It’s dangerous, from a real life and a professional standpoint. There are set-ups and double crosses, and Hogan gets the best of Dex time and again.

Plus, Dex’s really walking a very very thin line of dishonesty–one that could very well cost him his job, and Sloane.

The pace never lets up. There is loving that THIRDS fans have been clamoring for (cough, cough CALVIN & HOBBS!!!) and Cael and Ash reach an understanding, if nothing else.

The intricate web of this world is being tightened and the relationships are becoming strong, more open, and trust is a conscious element within the Destructive Delta group. Plus, all the side characters are more fleshed out, filling roles as POV characters and humor elements.

I didn’t read this book, I inhaled it. Can’t wait for the next chapter in this series.

About the Author
Charlie Cochet is an author by day and artist by night. Always quick to succumb to the whispers of her wayward muse, no star is out of reach when following her passion. From Historical to Fantasy, Contemporary to Science Fiction, there’s bound to be plenty of mischief for her heroes to find themselves in, and plenty of romance, too!
Currently residing in South Florida, Charlie looks forward to migrating to a land where the weather includes seasons other than hot, hotter, and boy, it’s hot! When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading, drawing, or watching movies. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.  You can find Charlie at
                  
Giveaway
Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win
a $25 Amazon GC and a THIRDS swag pack.
Good luck, and keep reading my friends!
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She Learned HOW (not) TO FALL IN LOVE–Review and Giveaway!

How(not)to-fall-in-love_tour copy
Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a YA contemporary romance by Lisa Brown Roberts along with YA Bound Book Tours. HOW (not) TO FALL IN LOVE is a compassionate look at a rich girl whose life has gone bad, real quick.

HOWNOTTOFALL_1600pxAbout the book:
Finding true love on the other side of the tracks was never so much fun in this heartfelt and hilarious contemporary novel.

Seventeen-year-old Darcy Covington doesn’t know the difference between a pawn shop and a thrift shop. Even her dog eats gourmet food, so she’s totally unprepared when her car is repossessed from the parking lot of her elite private school. Turns out her father, a semi-famous motivational speaker, has skipped town, abandoning his family while his business collapses. Even David Letterman comes up with ten reasons why her father won’t ever return home.

Desperate to sell her expensive jewelry for much-needed cash, Darcy discovers that her dad’s brother runs a funky thrift shop on a street full of eccentric characters, including a coffee shop owner named Liz and one supremely hot fix-it guy named Lucas.

Darcy finds some solace hanging out with her uncle and Lucas in the thrift shop and working in Liz’s coffee shop, while the rest of her life falls apart. The time she spends with the uber hot Lucas helps takes her mind off her family’s troubles, even though she’s sure he’s only nice to her because he works for her uncle, especially when she meets the cover girl beauty she thinks he’s dating.

Can Darcy find the courage she needs to adapt to the necessary changes brought about by her family’s drastically reduced lifestyle? And will she open her eyes to the amazing realization that Lucas wants much more than friendship from her?

How about a tiny taste?

“Truth, Darcy,” Lucas said. “How’s everything going? For real.”

I stumbled and he put out a hand to steady me, which didn’t help since the sudden warmth of his touch made me even more klutzy.

“I’m okay,” I said, once I’d figured how to walk again.

“You’re lying,” he said conversationally, like he’d asked me about the weather. He tossed his long dark hair out of his eyes and I swallowed, trying to maintain my composure. “You’re worried about something. More than usual, I mean.”

My lips parted in surprise. “How can you tell?”

He shrugged. “I just can.” I gazed down at Toby, whose tail wagged at warp speed. “It might help to talk about it,” Lucas said, his voice soft.

I glanced at him, startled at the intensity I saw in his eyes. I turned away, pretending to be interested in the jumble of model airplane kits in the window of the run-down hobby store.

His hand brushed mine, lacing our fingers briefly, but before I could catch my breath, he released my hand and took hold of Toby’s leash. He cleared his throat. “That’s what friends are for, right?”

Friends. Right. Of course. I let go of the leash, letting Lucas take over. “Yeah,” I said, my voice a little wobbly. We walked in silence and I wondered if I’d hallucinated the whole almost-held-my-hand thing.

“If you don’t tell me what’s up, I’ll just ask Charlie.”

I took a deep breath. Inhale calm. Exhale obsessive need to analyze potential hand-holding event.

My Review:
Darcy is a girl in a serious bind. Her car is repossessed, her mother is distraught and her father, uber-positive celebrity life coach and motivational speaker Ty Covington, is gone. AWOL. Radio silent. The first few days are terrifying, but that doesn’t even compare to the terror of realization when his postcards begin to arrive: Dad my never return.

The family assets are frozen while Darcy’s father’s company Harvest Industries refunds thousands of tickets for upcoming Harvest shows on his speaking schedule. Without Ty Covington, Harvest Industries is…well, bankrupt. See, HE is the product, his endless hope and uplifting platitudes, and without him to share his good will with the people who attend his event, Darcy’s family is flat-busted financially.

Thing is, Darcy doesn’t care about the money. She sees how her mother drinks herself to sleep every night, and the ugliness of the media who speculate that her father took off with Harvest’s money to an island in the sun. Darcy wants her dad back.

In the meantime, however, Darcy bucks up and gets a job. She reconnects with her Uncle Charlie–her dad’s brother who’d been locked out of her life a long time ago–and learns more about relationships that MEAN SOMETHING. Plus, she meets Lucas, the college engineering student who fixes all the gadgets that arrive in Charlie’s thrift store.

Lucas has a broken family, too, but he’s past the initial grief and is able to give Darcy some perspective. They develop a bit of a tender romance, though this is secondary to Darcy’s life missions: 1. Survive 2. Get her mother sober 3. Find dad.

See, she thinks she’s found a pattern to the random postcards that arrive every few weeks. They originate in areas near Stonehenge replicas and Henge tourists stops all along America. As she plots the course, she begins to suspect where he may be, at a given time.

Darcy wants to find her dad more than anything. But hunting him down could nearly cost her everything.

It’s a heart-felt story with excellent pacing and realistic plot. Darcy moves from mouse to lioness as she claws her way through the morass of bankruptcy, estate sales, eviction and starting over. Throughout Darcy hears echoes of her dad’s many talks–the words she always felt were hollow and barren–and realizes that the hope in them is what she always found lacking. Now, when all Darcy only has hope to her name, she embraces the power of these positive thoughts and changes her life into something that works–even if it’s a far cry from her previously posh life. The life lessons abound, but they aren’t preachy. The book deals with alcoholism in a frank way, and touches upon mental illness near the end. The romance is wholly innocent, which was a source of humor in the book. Especially when Darcy’s mom attempts what she believes is a “belated” sex talk.

Interested? You can find HOW (not) TO FALL IN LOVE on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo Books, iBooks.
Grand Prize

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win one of FOUR prize packs that may include a signed hardcover copy of HOW (not) TO FALL IN LOVE, Ninja salt & pepper shakers, a necklace a mini-Stonehenge
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

LBRAbout the Author:
Lisa Brown Roberts still hasn’t recovered from the teenage trauma of nearly tweezing off both eyebrows and having to pencil them in for an entire school year. This and other angst-filled memories inspire her to write YA books about navigating life’s painful and funny dramas, and falling in love along the way.

Her almost forever home is Colorado, though she occasionally pines for the days when she lived within walking distance of the Pacific Ocean. Her house is full of books, boys, several four-legged prima donnas, and lots of laughter.

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

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They Connect In a PULSE–Review and Giveaway


Hi there! Today I’m reviewing the second book in a New Adult series from Amity Cross. PULSE is the sequel to BEAT–(click here for my review)–and features two Australian ultimate fighters–Ash and Renee. It’s a sexy, passionate, gritty tale that packs an emotional (and physical) punch!


About the book:
Ren Miller never dreamed her life would turn out quite like this.

On the cusp of qualifying for the brand new woman’s UFC league, she’s finally found the thing that makes her tick. She finally has a whole new life before her, but it’s one that doesn’t include Ash Fuller.

No one has seen or heard from Beat’s Golden Boy in six months, not even Ren. He’s disappeared off the face of the earth and he’s just another person who’s ended up abandoning her when she needed him the most. He broke her heart, but he took the one thing that was hers. Her spirit.

When someone unexpected turns up at Beat with an ultimatum, Ren must make a decision. Go after Ash and her own heart or make her Dad’s dream of winning a Championship come true.

Will Ren choose to fight?
Or sacrifice everything to save the man she loves?
18+ due to mature sexual content

My Review:
Ren has had a rough year. Her mother died, she had to seek out the father who abandoned her at the age of five, for his other family, and he’s not so keen to see her again. Nor is his daughter, Monica. Relegated to closet bedroom at her father’s gym, Ren learns to channel her rage by training in mixed martial arts. She strikes up an uneasy friendship/sex buddy relationship with Ash, the disgraced boxer her father once trained. The more they interact, the more Ren begins to trust that she won’t always be alone.

Banned from the UFC, Ash fights in an underground fight club, and Ren joins him. Well, until Thunder, a title contender, tries to take out Ren. Ash and Thunder both disappeared that night six months ago, leaving a bloody mess of the training gym, and Ren with a broken heart.

In PULSE, Ren is fighting in both the UFC qualifiers, and the underground, needing the brutality of the ring to dull he sense of loss. Then she learns what truly happened between Ash and Thunder, and she’s initially furious. She suspected Ash had killed Thunder, and he’s currently under house arrest, but the story is more complicated.

Thunder is rotten to the core, and there’s only one way Ash and Ren can take him down…in the underground cage fighting championship. Ren and Ash both get the chance to step into the legitimate ring, as UFC fighters, but to do so would scrap their plans for revenge.

It’s a well-told erotic romance, though the romance is a bit back-burnered for the vengeance plot. Thunder makes a perfect villain, antagonizing Ren during her matches, taunting Ash every chance he gets, but he’s not the only problem. Secrets are being kept that could influence the rest of their lives, and no doubt cause a good bit of conflict.

Interested? You can find PULSE on Goodreads, Amazon (US, UK, AU), B&N, iBOOKS.

Also Available

Renee “Ren” Miller was five when her Dad left to go to the shops and never came back.

Left to grow up with a cancer riddled mother, things have never been easy for a teenager who had to be wise beyond her years. Then one day they lose the battle and she’s all alone.

Now twenty-two, Ren reluctantly goes to find her estranged father. He owns the down and out boxing studio, Beat, and Ren finds herself drawn to the ring. She thrives on learning a new way of fighting a life that kept kicking her down…instead of struggling against the current, she kicks it right between the legs.

Then one day, Ash Fuller, her Dad’s star fighter comes back to town. Mysterious, handsome… Dangerous… Everything Ren doesn’t need.

But he’s got other ideas…and so does she.

AMAZON US / UK / AU
SMASHWORDS
****GIVEAWAY***
Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a
$20 Amazon gift card.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:

Amity Cross isn’t her real name. That’s no secret.
She is the author of wicked stories about rock stars looking for redemption, gritty romances featuring MMA fighters and dark tales of forbidden romance. She loves to write about screwed up relationships and kick ass female leads that don’t take s**t lying down.
Amity lives in a leafy country town in southern Australia and can be found chained to her desk, held at ransom by her characters.

Don’t send help. She likes it.

Author Links

Fall In Love with THE LAST THING-Review

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Hi there! I’m sharing the LOVE for a New Adult series from Briana Gaitan. The Hollywood Timelines series books are contemporary romances with broken characters who heal themselves, and each other

The Last ThingAbout THE LAST THING:
Plagued by past mistakes in both love and life, Quinn Bardot is in a bad place. With nowhere else to turn, she escapes to LA clinging to the promise of a fresh start.

Chase Crowley is known for being selfish and unbelievably persistent. All he’s ever wanted is to become a successful actor. But now that he is about to have it all, he finds that something is still missing. Money and fame isn’t what he expected.

After a fervent encounter, the two of them are thrown into a situation that neither is prepared for. Can Quinn extinguish her fears and let Chase in? Can Chase learn to put someone else’s needs before his own?

The Last Thing is a novel all about love, Hollywood, and accepting what life throws at you even if it is the last thing you want.
(This is a New Adult Romance novel & contains language & adult situations. Not recommended for readers younger than 17)
***The Last Thing is a stand alone book with NO cliff hanger ending. It is book one in the series.***

My Review:
Quinn suffers depression. When she was young she dated a manic-depressive, Bash, who was the star quarterback of their high school. He was extremely dependent upon Quinn, and suffered more and more depressive events when he went to college–away from her. She did the best she could to visit, but Bash became worse, and worse. Then, one night when she collected him for a home trip they fought, and the car went over a bridge. Quinn survived, and Bash did not. Quinn carries this guilt, and she’s leaving her home town to stay with her cousin Ginger in LA to avoid the hateful people who believe she should have died instead of Bash–including Quinn’s own parents.

Her first night in town, Ginger takes Quinn to a party of fellow actors where she meets Chase. Chase is a rising star in Hollywood, and loves Quinn’s off-attitude, and the challenge of meeting a woman who isn’t actually interested in his fame or contacts. They hit it, hard, each looking for a night of comfort.

This turns out to be a problem three weeks later. A problem of the “two pink line” sort. Chase doesn’t know what to make of this situation. He’d called Quinn many times, with no replies, only to learn she’s prego? Sounds like a set-up. The more he investigates, the more he learns and likes Quinn, however. And, the more he wants to make a go of it. On the flip-side, Quinn wants no part of fame. She wants no part of the constantly catty starlets who hound Chase, and are willing to sell any story to push their agendas.

It’s a solid New Adult romance, with added drama from the Hollywood set. Quinn learns to trust Chase, and to face the memories of her time with Bash–to reassess her role in Bash’s disease and see this new relationship as more healthy. Chase learns that chasing women isn’t the most fulfilling enterprise, and having one woman to love, who also loves you, is a valuable commodity in Tinsel Town. One worth cherishing.

Interested? You can find THE LAST THING on Goodreads and Amazon.

The One Thing (Hollywood Timelines #2)About THE ONE THING:
When everything falls apart, he’s the one thing that holds me together.
Ginger Teague may seem like your typical Hollywood actress with the famous boyfriend, designer clothes, money, and hit TV show, but constantly being in the public eye has its downside.

People seem more interested in her chaotic relationship with her on again/ off again boyfriend than her acting career,and Ginger isn’t dealing with her new found fame in a way she always envisioned. She masks her unhappiness with too many parties and an unhealthy habit of binge drinking. As much as she wants love, men find her as a pretty amusement, not the type of girl you take home to mom and dad.

When she meets Caspian Norwood, they quickly begin a regimen of flirty emails. He’s a struggling musician that doesn’t quite fit her idea of the perfect boyfriend. He’s older, mysterious, cultured, knows exactly what to say and do in all the right situations, and Ginger can’t help falling for him. But the world is against them, pushing them apart, and it’s beginning to feel as if they are only meant to be friends.

I have yet to read this one, but I’m anxious to dive in. Ginger’s got a pretty hard deal going with her crappy BF–who does’t want her exclusively, but won’t let her wander either–and I want to see her kick that dude to the curb. For real! She deserves far better, and I hope that Caspian is a forever guy.

Interested? You can find THE ONE THING on Goodreads, Amazon, Kobo, iTunes and Smashwords.

About the Author:
Briana Gaitan grew up in the South, but calls herself a geek at heart. She is a blogger,author,and fangirl who loves Star Wars, Star Trek, and Jewelry (bet you never thought you’d hear those three things in a sentence together)

For fun, she loves watching any show on the SyFy channel, relaxing with her family, reading, and listening to indie music (sometimes all at the same time). Briana loves to write stories where there are no limits to the imagination. She is the co-author of the fantasy Ethereal Underground series and author of the Hollywood Timelines Series.

Connect with Briana on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Teen Love in PAPER OR PLASTIC–Review and Giveaway

paper or plastic tour bannerHi all! Today I’m sharing in the blog tour for for Vivi Barnes’ new YA romance, PAPER OR PLASTIC. It’s a sweet tale of love, loyalty and friendship. For other stops on the tour, click here. And don’t forget to enter the giveaway below!

Paper or PlasticAbout the book:
Welcome to SmartMart, where crime pays minimum wage…

Busted. Alexis Dubois just got caught shoplifting a cheap tube of lipstick at the local SmartMart. She doesn’t know what’s worse—disappointing her overbearing beauty-pageant-obsessed mother for the zillionth time…or her punishment. Because Lex is forced to spend her summer working at the store, where the only thing stranger than the staff is the customers.

Now Lex is stuck in the bizarro world of big-box retail. Coupon cutters, jerk customers, and learning exactly what a “Code B” really is (ew). And for added awkwardness, her new supervisor is the totally cute—and completely below her social sphere—Noah Grayson. Trying to balance her out-of-control mother, her starting spot on the school softball team, and her secret crush on the school geek makes for one crazy summer. But ultimately, could the worst store in the world be the best thing that ever happened to her?

My Review:
Lex, as she likes to be called, is a 16 y/o girl growing up near Tampa, Florida. She’s pretty, and popular and the star pitcher on her softball team. She has some close friends, among them Sydney, Courtney and Bryce. Bryce is a star baseball player and he’s helped Lex with her pitching for years. They even volunteer together at a baseball camp for needy youth. Despite having plenty of cash, Lex is caught shoplifting.

She knows it’s dumb, but can’t help rebelling a little. Her mother is preoccupied with her 7 y/o sister Aurora who easily conforms to Mama’s ideal beauty pageant child, unlike Lex. And, Lex’s grandma is rapidly declining with Alzheimer’s disease…so things are bit out of control. Taking the lipstick seemed a harmless prank, until her mother got involved. Now, instead of whiling away her summer, Lex is working at the SmartMart (think WalMart) on the condition that she does a good job, the police will not be notified. It’s, well, mortifying.

Mean girls come in to taunt the Princess of SmartMart, and Lex is missing softball practice due to schedule conflicts, prompting pushback from her coach. And worst/best of all? One of Lex’s managers is a senior at her high school–Noah–who is a categorical NOBODY after turning Bryce in for a vandalism episode two years prior.

Thing is, Noah is nice. And, cute. And, Lex is determined to show up her mother, by being responsible–for a change. In the meantime, Lex learns the truth behind appearances. Maybe Bryce is petty for holding a grudge so long. Maybe the goofy greeter lady at SmartMart is the most positive, loving girl Lex’s ever met. And maybe Noah’s the sweetest, most forgiving person in the whole wide world–someone she shouldn’t cast aside on a misplaced loyalty.

I really liked this one. Lex is a human girl, with human feelings of inadequacy and fear. Her Grandma is slipping away, and she and her mother don’t connect well. She’s losing her dominance in softball, and feeling very disloyal to a good friend. But she sees the best in people, and she works hard, and refuses to give up. The romance between Noah and Lex blooms slowly, with Lex alternately dependent upon (and frustrated with) Friend Zone status. The closer she and Noah get, the more guilty she feels on Bryce’s behalf, but in the end Lex makes the choice that is right for her, not anyone else.

This is a sweet book, with an interesting and well-paced plot. There are elements of domestic violence which may be a trigger for some. The innocent romance is age-appropriate to teen readers and the life-lessons Lex learns are suitable for everybody on the face of the Earth.

Interested? You can find PAPER OR PLASTIC on Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Kobo.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win
one of 2 Prize Packs (US only) containing a $15 Target gift card, PAPER OR PLASTIC journal and tote bag
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Vivi BarnesAbout the Author:
Vivi Barnes is the author of Olivia Twisted and the upcoming release, Paper or Plastic. She was raised on a farm in East Texas where her theater-loving mom and cowboy dad gave her a unique perspective on life. Now living in the magic and sunshine of Orlando, Florida, she divides her time writing, working, goofing off with her husband and three kids, and avoiding dirty dishes.

You can catch up with Vivi online on her website, Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook.
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Cephalopod Coffeehouse Jan 2015 They Had To THINK OF ENGLAND–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.

Hi all! Happy new year to my fellow Coffeehousers! I”m eager to see what books you loved best this month!

For me, I read some cool YA, some hot erotica and some sweet romance. But, most of those were to be reviewed on a deadline, and I couldn’t hold them for this post. Still, THINK OF ENGLAND was a shining spot in my winter reads. It’s a M/M romance, which I loooove. This is historical fiction which explored many of the societal mores of 1900’s, not only homosexuality–which was a hanging offense–but also antisemitism and xenophobia.

Think of EnglandAbout the book:
Lie back and think of England…

England, 1904. Two years ago, Captain Archie Curtis lost his friends, fingers, and future to a terrible military accident. Alone, purposeless and angry, Curtis is determined to discover if he and his comrades were the victims of fate, or of sabotage.

Curtis’s search takes him to an isolated, ultra-modern country house, where he meets and instantly clashes with fellow guest Daniel da Silva. Effete, decadent, foreign, and all-too-obviously queer, the sophisticated poet is everything the straightforward British officer fears and distrusts.

As events unfold, Curtis realizes that Daniel has his own secret intentions. And there’s something else they share—a mounting sexual tension that leaves Curtis reeling.

As the house party’s elegant facade cracks to reveal treachery, blackmail and murder, Curtis finds himself needing clever, dark-eyed Daniel as he has never needed a man before…

Warning: Contains explicit male/male encounters, ghastly historical attitudes, and some extremely stiff upper lips.

My Review:
I adored this historical M/M mystery/thriller romance.

Captain Archie Curtis is a survivor of a horrific injury while serving in the British army–not even in battle. While inspecting a shipment of weapons, Archie and his platoon were maimed and fatally wounded when their rifles exploded in their hands. Archie lost three fingers and has a limp from a misfired round that caught him in the knee. He dwells in misery, feeling half-a-man due to his loss of fingers, livelihood, and companions.

Acting on a tip, from the faulty gunmaker no less, Archie accepts the invitation of an old family friend Sir Hubert Armstrong, for a two-week stay at his remote country house. Sir Hubert is an industrialist, and his lavish home is a marvel of electric feats. It seems that Sir Hubert has been accused of tampering with the very weapons which destroyed Archie’s compatriots. The house company is interesting, but Capt. Curtis is rather annoyed with Daniel da Silva, a flamboyantly effeminate “poet” who is not only Portuguese, he’s a Jew.

The other male guests take thinly veiled jabs at Daniel, but Archie’s most frustrated that da Silva’s always underfoot when he’s investigating Sir Hubert’s private files. They men strike up a tenuous partnership when it seems that they are both seeking Sir Hubert’s dark secrets.

Meanwhile, they’re captured in a compromising position–one in which they could be prosecuted–or fall under Sir Hubert’s more dark enterprise: blackmail.

Daniel is quite comfortable with his ‘invert’ sexuality, but Archie hasn’t ever considered himself gay. Still, Archie can’t deny the strange attraction he’s beginning to experience for the wily da Silva.

There’s a whole lotta intrigue in this book. And a quietly developing tender romance. The stakes are death if da Silva and Archie are caught by Sir Hubert, and I’ll just say, the book ends with quite a few deaths. Super high tension, mostly on the intrigue-side, however.

I loved the fervor Archie had in pursuit of da Silva, and protecting him from the very dangerous tenants of Sir Hubert’s abode. There was such biting humor, and such valiant gallantry. I swooned. The end was really, just, all I hoped it would be.

Interested? You can find THINK OF ENGLAND on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Please take a minute to pop in on my fellow bloggers, to see what book tickled their fancy this month! And, as always, keep reading my friends!

1. The Armchair Squid 2. WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME
3. A Creative Exercise 4. Trisha @ WORD STUFF
5. Nan @ Hungry Enough To Eat Six! 6. Stephanie Faris
7. Life Before the Hereafter 8. mainewords
9. Words Incorporated 10. StrangePegs – A Shot in the Light
11. V’s Reads