Reviews

Books I’ve read and reviewed

Not Comfortable IN HER SKIN–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a YA book from Trina Sotira, an author a met a few weeks ago at a book signing. IN HER SKIN introduces us to Tirzah/Troy a male-identifying transgender teen, who desperately wants to find love with his best friend, Heidi.

Now, please, I am no expert on transgender issues. If anything, I am sympathetic and wish to understand more. I admit naivete to transgender persons in my childhood, but watched BOYS DON’T CRY in my twenties. The poignancy of the pain of discrimination, the brutality, and the lack of connection chilled me.

Over the years, because I embrace human equality as a concept, I found myself without qualms whenever faced with transgender issues in the media and my own life. Earlier this year I watched the moving Youtube presentation of Ryland Whittington and began to realize that transitioning children seem to know very early on that they are in the WRONG body, and swift parents can be a real help to their kids–perhaps save their lives.

Last year one of the contestants for Miss Universe was a TG woman, and there is a rise in androgenous and TG fashion models, most recently Andreja Pejic came out as a TG woman. So, slowly, TG persons are finding a place in society–I hope that mainstream acceptance will become the new normal soon, before more lives are lost.

In Her Skin
About the book:
Tirzah would do anything to cover up her girl body: duct taping her chest, dressing like a guy at the skate park, even changing her name. But two things are holding her back from transitioning into an all-male body: her best friend Heidi and a full-ride soccer scholarship. And when Heidi’s family disapproves of Tirzah’s transition into Troy, Heidi disappears.

College instructor and former television journalist Trina Sotira challenges religious, gender, and social boundaries in this fast-paced adventure filled with love, friendship, and self-discovery.

My Review:
Tirzah/Troy is a male-identifying TG teen in his senior year of high school. (It is my understanding that TG persons wish to be addressed by gendered pronouns to which they identify, so I will use the male, throughout.) He is a star soccer goalie with dreams of college, these dreams shared by his involved father. His mother doesn’t understand Troy’s dress–he’s not into the frilly pink designer stuff she wishes to lavish on her “daughter” but Tirzah/Troy rarely visits his mother, who happens to be a TV news anchor in Chicago.

Tirzah/Troy has a deep love for his best friend, Heidi, who is a Bengali girl in a deeply traditional Muslim family in the suburbs of Chicago. Heidi has more than a passing affection for Tirzah/Troy, but prefers to date wild American boys–including the party boy JC–against her parent’s expressed wishes. In fact, Heidi uses Tirzah/Troy as a shield–her parents see that Tirzah/Troy is a girl, even if “she” dresses oddly, so Heidi is allowed to spend time with “her”…at first.

Soon, Heidi’s escapades with JC cause big problems, not just with her parents. Tirzah/Troy desperately wishes to be a romantic part of Heidi’s life. There are hints that this happens, but Tirzah/Troy also knows that it will only occur in private–as Heidi and all his friends still see him as a girl. JC even threatens to “out” Troy as a girl to some skateboarding friends they share, in order to ensure Tirzah/Troy’s cooperation in dating Heidi on the down-low.

Tirzah/Troy is not alone, however. His baffled father is supportive, to some degree. Girls on his soccer team are also cool with his transition–one is REALLY cool with it. Tirzah/Troy invests more of himself into transitioning, but his “maleness” begins to worry Heidi’s parents, and that–coupled with Heidi’s lies about JC–leads to some serious problems in their friendship.

Despite bullying, and complete separation from his mother, Tirzah/Troy aims to move forward in his transition, meeting other TG persons and allies along the way. He even tries to see if his college scholarship will apply if he plays for the men’s soccer team.

This is a deeply emotional story, with well-researched characters and moments of extreme anguish to which any teen (regardless of gender/sexuality issues) can relate. In the end, all people wish to find love and acceptance in their lives–and Tirzah/Troy is no different. His love for Heidi drives him to deny himself for a long time, and he is still an amazing friend to her. Heidi is, herself, very conflicted with her love for Tirzah/Troy and her culture-clash as a “traditional” Muslim girl in “modern” American society.

It’s a positive story that I think TG kids will really enjoy. It suffered a little from being, perhaps, too rushed at the end. I really wondered what happened to Heidi, and if Tirzah/Troy should have gone to see her that one last time, but it ends with a boatload of hope and acceptance for Tirzah/Troy’s transition, for which I think readers will be happy. There are some instances of drug use, self-mutilation, and sexual experimentation, but it’s done well, and should be no issue for older teen readers.

Interested? You can find IN HER SKIN on Goodreads and Amazon.

About the Author:
A former television news producer and long-time member of the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators, Trina Sotira has spent over a decade writing for large audiences. Her academic work and Creative Writing studies have been featured at the Illinois Reading Council, Association for the Study of African American Life and History, SCBWI-Illinois, and ABC-7’s “Chicagoing.” She teaches Fiction Writing, Creative Writing, and Composition as a faculty instructor at College of DuPage under her dinosaur name: Trina Sotirakopulos.

You can find Trina on her website and twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends! 🙂

They Unravel the PACK OF LIES–A Review

Hi all! Today I’m reviewing a new steamy paranormal mystery from Lucy Felthouse. PACK OF LIES has two werewolf brothers who live in a remote village in Derbyshire–and each man wants to keep his secrets safe….

Pack of Lies

Doncha love a sexy cover?

About the book:

Werewolf brothers Matthew and Isaac have lived in the peaceful village of Eyam all their lives. The villagers know what happens every full moon, and are happy to keep their secret. But their privacy comes at a cost—neither brother has taken a lover in almost four hundred years.

Then at the full moon, a sheep is slaughtered on Eyam Moor, by what could only be an animal. A large, vicious animal. Even the brothers’ staunchest supporters begin to have their doubts. Meanwhile Isaac is smitten by a handsome newcomer to the village, while a vivacious visitor is happy to offer Matthew her all.

As they indulge their lust, they must clear their names and convince their neighbours that they aren’t also letting their baser instincts out to play.

Inside Scoop: This book contains sizzling scenes of both M/M and M/F sex.

My Review:

Matthew and Issac Adams are 400 year old werewolves. They live in Eyam, a tiny town in Derbyshire, where they have spent their entire lives. Hundreds of years ago the residents of Eyam had experienced Plague, and Matthew and Issac had helped to protect the town, and its inhabitants, during the outbreak by nursing the sick, and burying the dead. To this day they protect the current residents and their livestock from harm. They change into wolves once-monthly, on the full moon, but remain trapped in caves underground in order to protect themselves and the villagers from harm.

Being that Eyam is a remote village filled mainly with generations of families who had survived the Plague there are many resident who know Matthew and Issac are werewolves. Both men live in harmony with the villagers; Matthew works at the local pub, and Issac is a doctor. Neither man will engage in a long-term relationship knowing that they have a secret to keep, and their longevity is troublesome in that they do not wish to watch their partner age and die while they do not. Matthew is heterosexual and Issac is gay, though he is not “out”.

At the point of the beginning, Matthew and Issac are emerging from their cave night, and learn that someone has slaughtered a sheep. This is a big problem, in that it was made to look as if a vicious animal had torn the sheep apart, and eyes begin to turn towards Matthew and Issac. They have allies on their sides, but they know that they are under scrutiny, and attempt to determine who had committed the crime, with little success. The next month’s full moon some villagers attempt to follow the brothers into the caves and witness their change. It is a foolish and dangerous enterprise, and still there is a gutted sheep and no proof it wasn’t Matthew and Issac.

During the next month, supporters plan out how to 1. verify Matthew and Issac’s innocence and 2. capture the culprit. This is imperative because both men know if the slaughters continue to recur soon the town will turn against them, and they will be “outed” to the world at large. The wait and the plan is too nerve-wracking for the brothers, and they argue with themselves a bit until they FINALLY begin to blow off steam in some very sexy ways.

Matthew finds a vacationer who appeals greatly, while Issac admits his interest in a newcomer to town–Nathaniel. There are some deliciously sensual interludes, of the Het and Homo variety, that bridge the mystery. When we finally learn who the sheep gutter is (well, I picked up on the WHO right away) it’s unfortunate that the WHY was unsatisfying. And, when I say unsatisfying, I mean I didn’t want it to be for the reasons explained (I had also thought there might be a bit more of a paranormal turn in the motive, but no…) because, dammit, I wanted both Adams brothers to have a happy ending, and it WASN’T for one of them.

Well, that is, it wasn’t a happy ending THEN. Because, as it turned out, both men end up finding their best partner not too long after.

It was a fun tale with some steamy scenes and emotional connections. Both Matthew and Issac take turns telling this story and there was a lot of well-considered characterization that surpassed the whole Alpha wolf dynamic of most shifter novels. The loneliness the men experience, of watching generation after generation pass, making friends they will later bury, was palpable. I was so glad to watch them really connect with lovers beyond the one night stand. The book is chock full of Eyam history, and I loved the colloquial speech.

Interested? You can find PACK OF LIES on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Lucy FelthouseAbout the Author:

Lucy Felthouse is a very busy woman! She writes erotica and erotic romance in a variety of subgenres and pairings, and has over 100 publications to her name, with many more in the pipeline. These include several editions of Best Bondage Erotica, Best Women’s Erotica 2013 and Best Erotic Romance 2014. Another string to her bow is editing, and she has edited and co-edited a number of anthologies, and also edits for a small publishing house.
She owns Erotica For All, and is book editor for Cliterati. Find out more at her website,  join her on Facebook and Twitter, or even subscribe to her newsletter.
Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

She’s Desperate to Not be a VIRGIN–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a New Adult romance from a debut novelist: VIRGIN by Radhika Sanghani. It’s all about a 21 year old gal who is *still* a virgin. And she isn’t happy about it…

VirginAbout the book:
Okay, I admit it…I didn’t do it.

Yet.

This is normal, right?  I mean, just because everyone I know has talked like they’ve already done it doesn’t mean that they’re telling the truth…right?

It’s not like I’m asking for that much. I don’t need the perfect guy. I don’t need candlelight or roses. Honestly, I don’t even need a real bed.

The guys I know complain that girls are always looking for Mr. Right—do I have to wear a sign that says I’m only looking for Mr. Right Now?

Sooooo…anyone out there want sex? Anyone? Hello? Just for fun?

I am not going to die a virgin. One way or another I am going to make this happen.

Hey, what have I got to lose? Besides the obvious.

My Review:

Elena “Ellie” Kolstakis is a 21 year old virgin. Some people would celebrate this as “strong moral character” but Ellie feels cursed. She’s been at uni in London three years now and has never had a boyfriend. She’s not hideous, or deformed. Mostly, she’s average–with an overdeveloped sense of self-loathing.

See, Ellie feels left out of the crowd whenever her buds start talking about hook-ups and beer goggles and embarrassing first times. She wants to have sex, dammit, and it becomes her mission. This, by the way, comes with a whole lot of pre-sex prep–including waxing, shaving, and plucking to cultivating the perfect lady garden.

I will, for the record, state this is the only book which made me laugh out loud over the use of the term: Hitler.

Ellie’s quest leads her to almost hooking up, having a huge fall out with her childhood BFF, fighting with her mom, making a new BF, making a gay best friend (who happens to also be virgin), starting a vlog, meeting a decent guy, having fairly decent snogs, gaining self-confidence, and experiencing epic fails at both scoring and pubic bareness.

I did have several moments of /facepalm laughs. Poor Ellie!

Spoiler–she does tear her V-card.

Not-so-spoiler–She has one heck of a time getting the deed done.

So, on a personal level, I totally sympathized with Ellie’s eagerness to be “just like everybody,” but I was also glad she found new connections. Her mother’s ham-handed effort to unite Ellie with Paul was so brilliantly handled. And, Ellie reaching out to Emma helped Ellie to grow out of her cautious shell. I truly adored Ellie’s adventurous spirit. She’s like that awkward cousin everyone likes but quietly pities because she’s so sweet and yet so socially clueless.

Ellie’s level of personal growth was excellent–she didn’t emerge from her shell-she burst forth and dove headlong into an active social experiment: Operation Fix Ellie. But, having finished her quest, with bittersweet results, Ellie took a moment to reflect on her self and realized that she wasn’t broken at the beginning of this journey. She was just fine being a virgin–even if she wasn’t a virgin any longer. I rather liked her more for that.

Now, be prepared for lots of vagina talk in this book. The amount of time devoted to pubic grooming is substantial, and forms many of the gags in this book. Imagine a hairy man being outraged by pubic hair, while a bare man is stunned to not find any? Yeah, poor Ellie just can’t win that battle.

I also liked VIRGIN’s commentary on porn in today’s society. The arguments about its prevalence and acceptability were sound and funny, and the expectations placed on women as a result of porn rang true. The setting was cool, because I like the London scene and lingo. The smexytimes were akin to THE FORTY YEAR OLD VIRGIN in scope and humor. Lots of fits and starts with cringe-worthy happenings that only made me love Ellie more for embarking on this personal journey. This book is NOT for kiddos. Lots and lots of frank discussions of sex, and how to get some…

Interested? You can find VIRGIN on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I obtained a copy of his book via NetGalley for review.

Radhika SanghaniAbout the author: (in Radhika’s words…)

I have just written my debut novel VIRGIN, which will be coming out in August in America, with Penguin, and September here in the UK with Harlequin.
I’m a women’s writer for The Daily Telegraph in London where I write on women’s issues.
I read constantly and love reviewing contemporary novels. Feel free to get in touch!

You can connect with Radhika on her website, Goodreads, and twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Their Love is… THE SILK TIE–A Review

Hi all! today I’m sharing a super sexy menage book newly released by Lily Harlem. I recently reviewed her book THE GLASS KNOT and couldn’t resist going back for a another steamy menage story.

It’s a complicated tale, and I think Hayley, the female lead describes her dilemma best:

TST_cover-1Back cover information

 Professional life in the City of London is tough going which is why my husband Gabe and I live by the motto: work hard and play hard. So when something, or rather someone, comes along that changes how he wants to play I’m intrigued by our sexy new game.

 But there’s always private sides to the ones you love, and in this case new thoughts and desires are stealing Gabe’s dreams. It’s not until I meet Brent—gorgeous and sophisticated yet soul-achingly alone—that I begin to understand the complex layers of Gabe’s needs and exactly what I have to do.

 But I’m not afraid; in fact the idea of two men turns me the hell on. In a whirlwind of romance, fear, desire and a new cresting wave of passion we open up to each other, testing the water for one weekend only. Or is it? Will we ever be the same again? Can Gabe and I survive our decision to let a third into our bed? Can Brent just walk away and, more importantly, will we let him?

My review:

Gabe and Hayley are a happily married couple. They are both professional lawyers who have worked hard to gain respect and prestige at their respective firms, but they find time to play some sexy games with each other. It seems that one of Gabe’s new clients, Brent, is having a rough time. And Gabe befriends him. It’s clear to Hayley that something is up with Gabe–he has a sudden fondness for Brent and, strangely, Hayley isn’t put off by the hungry looks she sees Gabe flashing. Is it because Brent is a man? Because, quite honestly, Brent seems to be extremely cozy with Gabe.

Okay, so the stage is set. The book is mostly told from Hayley’s POV though the prologue lets the reader know first, that Gabe finds Brent sexy–and Gabe has never had a gay thought prior–and second, that Brent is bisexual, or a closeted gay man, because he’s in the midst of a nasty divorce and the Ex is claiming infidelity on Brent’s part with a male lover….

Throughout, we see Hayley observing her husband’s desire for another. She remarks often how she’s confused why she feels arousal–rather than betrayal–about Gabe’s infatuation for Brent. It could be because she also finds Brent attractive. Or, maybe she recognizes that Gabe’s sudden bi-curiousness is not a reflection on their marriage. There’s a lot of introspection, and Hayley thinks it would be wise for Gabe to have a tryst with Brent and get it out of his system, but Brent is upset. He doesn’t want to come between Hayley and Gabe, and insists that any experiences be shared.

The resolution of this situation takes a bit of time to unfold–Gabe recognizes some distress from Hayley, and attraction from Brent. He’s insecure, fearing that somehow Brent will snatch Halyey away, but these three people come together in all the ways that matter.

Let’s just say the steam-factor on this book, on a scale of 1-5, is a 10. The dang thing mighta crashed my iPad it was so freaking hot. I loved every dirty second of it. Recommend to all lovers of M/M romance, and ménage. Disclaimer–this is NOT SAFE for the kiddo’s. Adults only, por favor.

How about a little excerpt?

I gathered my strength and refused to be intimidated by him. “You can’t deny you like Gabe.” I gave him a steely glare.

“That’s not the issue.” Brent narrowed his eyes.

“And he likes you,” I snapped back.

“All of that is irrelevant because he’s married…to you.”

“Which surely means, if there is one person who can give Gabe permission to fuck someone else, it’s me. His wife.”

His mouth opened slightly and he stared at me.

“What?” I asked. “It makes sense. Gabe’s got a crush on you, I suppose that is one way of describing it, and he wants you, badly, he—”

“He’s not even bloody gay.”

“No, but he must have elements of being bi for him to be feeling this way.”

Brent stepped away, turned and locked his fingers on the crown of his head with his elbows outstretched.

“Brent,” I said, pushing away from the wall. “Please don’t be mad.”

“I’m not mad…just…”

“What?”

“Confused, I suppose.” He dropped his hands and turned to me as he sighed. The hardness had gone from his face.

“Why?” I moved to my desk and leaned my behind on it, kept my arms at my sides in an effort to look open and available for him to express his feelings to. It was a tactic I used with clients. “Tell me, Brent. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

“Yes, we are.” He sat in one of the two chairs in front of my desk and sighed. “I like you, Hayley, a lot, and I like Gabe too. I care about him.”

“And do you fancy him?”

“I’m not gay either.” He paused and appeared to summon courage. “But I am bi. I have been with a man before.”

I nodded and kept my expression neutral even though there was something electrifying about his admission. No longer a rumor but a solid fact he was able to share with me.

“And would you want to be with Gabe that way?” I asked. Again words were coming out of my mouth that I wouldn’t believe I could utter. This time last month this conversation would be ludicrous.

“Do I want Gabe that way,” he repeated.

I waited for him to go on.

“Yes, in a word. He’s bloody gorgeous and damn sexy too, but I don’t need to tell you that, Hayley. Heck, you married him.”

I smiled. “He is gorgeous and sexy, and also the most passionate, loving person I’ve ever met.” I paused. “His happiness is also my responsibility and right now, him not being with you the way he wants to be is screwing with his mind.”

“Have you had a third person in your relationship before?”

“No, it’s always been just us. We’re strong, our bonds are tight, but…”

“And you’re willing to risk it all.”

“Perhaps it’s a risk for it not to happen.”

“Bloody hell…” He pressed his hands over his face and looked at me from over his fingertips. “You’re really are deadly serious.”

“Yes.” I sat on the seat at his side. “I am. He’s been on edge, preoccupied. I know he loves me, would die for me, we’ve been in each other’s lives for a long time now, there’s nothing that will tear us apart.”

“Except me. Maybe I will.”

“Do you really believe that?”

“It would be my worst nightmare to split you two up. Seeing you and Gabe together makes me very happy. You have something special, something I’ve hunted for, seen glimpses of, but never truly found.”

I reached out and rested my fingers on the sleeve of his gray suit jacket and rubbed my thumb on the smooth material. “Gabe and I are strong. Strong enough to cope with this.” I paused, hoping to hell that we were. “If you feel the same way about Gabe then this can happen. I don’t have a problem with it.”

He stared at me, long and hard, then, “You’re right, I do want to fuck him.”

My belly clenched and I squeezed my internal muscles. This might actually happen for Gabe.

“But I have one condition,” he said, leaning back and folding his arms. His suit jacket bunched at the lapels.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“You’re there. You watch us.”

Interested? You can find THE SILK KNOT on Goodreads and Amazon.

About the Author:

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

Before turning her hand to writing Lily Harlem worked as a trauma nurse and her latest HarperCollins release, Confessions of a Naughty Night Nurse, draws on her many experiences while nursing in London. Lily also self-publishes and The Glass Knot and Scored have been blessed with many 5* reviews since their release in 2012.

Her latest novel, Breathe You In, is a super-sexy romance with a twist that will not only heat you up but stay with you for years to come. Breathe You In was named a USA Today Reviewer’s Recommended Read of 2013.

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

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

You can catch up with Lily on her website, blog, twitter, and Facebook.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

She Had to Free Their TORTURED SOULS–Review and Giveaway

Hi all! Glad to be a part of the blog tour for Kimber Leigh Wheaton’s new YA paranormal romance, TORTURED SOULS. For other stops on the tour please click here. This rollicking ghost romp is a fun read and okay for the kiddos.
 

Tortured Souls
The Orion Circle #1
Kimber Leigh Wheaton
YA Paranormal Romance
Available now from Sea Dragon Press
Sometimes Rest in Peace isn’t an option.

Kacie Ramsey sees ghosts—and it’s ruining her life. Her mother left, her father blames her, and no matter how hard she tries, she can’t keep the ghosts away. Now a new power has emerged. Nightly visions of grisly murders and a relentless predator draw her to the brink of insanity.

When the phantom appears at a party, Kacie’s longtime crush, Logan, saves her. He invites her to join the Orion Circle, a group of supernatural hunters with chapters in schools all over the country. Through the Circle, Kacie learns to embrace her spiritual powers, and for the first time in her life she feels in control rather than a victim.

But the Foxblood Demon will not give up so easily. A demented serial killer in life who trapped the souls of the thirteen children he murdered, imprisoning them within the walls of his mansion. Now in death, he plots his return while drawing power from the pure souls of the children. He recognizes something in Kacie he’s never seen before—a medium powerful enough to provide a vessel for his tainted soul.

Kacie can’t ignore the tortured souls of the children crying out to her every night. With Logan at her side, she will fight the Foxblood Demon. But can they banish this powerful phantom, or will Kacie lose not only her body, but her eternal soul to the monster.

My Review:
Kassandra has had a rough life. She was born a psychic, and her parents were frustrated and angered by all of Kacie’s “imaginary friends.” Her mother left years ago, claiming she couldn’t deal with Kacie’s antics any longer. This left her father resentful to the point that Kacie has buried her psychic abilities so he won’t be reminded of his broken marriage.

One night at a party, Kacie senses a powerful spiritual presence–and she isn’t the only one! Logan, a boy from school that Kacie has admired from afar, actually approaches the spirit and forces it away, not before it scratches Kacie, however. Logan, it seems, is a psychic, too. In fact, he’s a member of the Orion Circle, a group of “talented” kids and adults who work against in it’s many forms–corporeal, and not.

Working with Logan is as empowering as it is enticing; Kacie is enamored, and the feelings are mutual. But, more than having a boyfriend, Kacie treasures being understood, being accepted for having her psychic powers. In fact, it soon becomes clear that Kacie’s nightmares are more than scary images, they are visions that hold the key to destroying the soul torture of thirteen murdered children.

With the help of Logan and the team of Orion Talents, Kacie has new friends she can depend upon when the evil Foxblood Demon spirit attempts to possess her. Even Kacie’s mother is in on the help–turns out she has some pretty awful reasons for abandoning Kacie all those years ago, and this Foxblood Demon threat has turned mom into an informant.

So, lots of changes for Kacie in a very short period. She embraces her psychic powers and learns to speak with the dead, releasing them to eternal rest, when possible. Logan is a great stand-by, offering whatever support Kacie needs, even if it’s just a soft shoulder to cry on. Kacie’s dad also recognizes that Kacie’s powers aren’t the insane nonsense he’d written them off as all those years ago, and her relationships (on the whole) become stronger and more healthy.

This was an interesting YA read, with well-developed primary and secondary characters and an intriguing plot line. It is the beginning of a series that will undoubtedly feature Kacie and Logan and the rest of the Orion paranormal hunter gang in new and exciting cases. I’d like to take a moment to note that the ebook was beautiful–well-edited and with great internal elements and chapter headings. I know this won’t matter to most readers, but when you read as many books as I do, I really appreciate formatting that goes above and beyond. So, bravo for writing a beautiful book as well as an interesting one. If I had one complaint, it would be that I thought the romance between Kacie and Logan blossomed a little two quickly. I had wished there was a bit more time between the meet-cute and the making out. Still, there was little more than kissing between the main love interests, so I’d go ahead and recommend for all YA readers.

Interested? You can find TORTURED SOULS on Amazon and Goodreads.
About the Author

Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a bestselling YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs, four cats, and lots of dragons. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!) She currently lives in San Antonio, TX but has been somewhat a rolling stone in life, having resided in several different cities and states.


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Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

How She Became A STATISTIC–Review

Hi all! I’m joining the lovefest for a newly-released contemporary romance/thriller, STATISTIC, from best-selling author Dawn Robertson. I nabbed this one early, and it kept me up too late at night.
statistic copySynopsis:
Love.
Betrayal.
Deception.
Attempted Murder.
Aurora Alexander is everything headlines are made of.Newly divorced single mother Aurora Alexander is trying to move on with her life.
After a string of unsuccessful blind dates, she turns to internet dating.
Everyone does it, so it has to be safe. Right?Wrong.
 
My Review:
Aurora has been unlucky in love. Colin, her high school sweetheart is now her ex-husband. She’s never had another lover, and now she’s online looking for either the RIGHT man, or the Man for RIGHT NOW.
She finds a great new friend (Brent), a suave lady’s man (Wesley), and the guy she thinks could be The One (Jackson)–but in the background there’s odd happenings. Men are finding her home. Packages arrive, in the guise of kindness, but Aurora is rattled. Especially when her home is invaded and the gift she received from one suitor, Wesley, was destroyed.
Was it retribution because she won’t go out with him again? How did he gain access to her home? Aurora is terrorized by thoughts that someone could harm herself, or worse–her four year old son. Unwilling to take chances, she leans on both Brent and Jackson–cutting Wesley out of her contacts.
Attempting to find some normalcy, Aurora begins building a relationship with Jackson, which shuts down her friendship with Brent–someone with whom she has become close. That is, until the latest gal Brent was dating turns up dead. She was also a member of the same online dating community that Aurora, Brent, Jackson, and Wesley belong to. And, now Aurora starts to wonder if the strange incidents in her life means she’s being targeted by a killer.
We learn pretty quickly that Jackson isn’t who he claims to be–and Aurora nearly can’t forgive his deception–one that lands Aurora in the hospital, with a dead serial killer upping the conflict.
The book moves pretty quickly. At first I was put off by how timid Aurora was–she seemed to barely be able to tie her own shoes after being jilted by Colin, but I relished her awakening and empowerment. Her ability to “throw caution to the wind” was refreshing, though we (both Aurora and I) clearly recognize that she has NO TASTE when it comes to men. Again, it harkens to her lack of experience in the men department. Still, the amount of growth Aurora makes was significant. She and Colin actually reach some understandings regarding the care of their child, and that’s to the good. Aurora was, throughout, very mature and grounded. She was a good mother and a cautious woman. I liked seeing her step out of her comfort zones, and was so glad to see her succeed in rebuilding her life twice; once after the divorce and again after her attack. She is a woman who makes sorbet out of her basket of lemons, and the book is all the more refreshing for it.
The final plot twist was, for me, unnecessary. But, then, I’m not a huge horror fan and it smacked (a bit) of that last gasp cut at the end of a screamer flick where you think the villain is dead only for the bloody corpse to make one last desperate stab at the MC. In short, I’d had enough tension to keep me awake and engaged late into the night and that confession didn’t help me any. Mostly, it made me wish Aurora had just closed her laptop on Page 2 and had a nice celibate life. But, that’s me, and I’m the Queen of Wishing For HEA…
statisticnew
Interested? You can find STATISTIC on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.
 
About the Author:
Dawn Robertson is a two-time bestselling, twenty-something indie author, and mother. She lives in sunny senior citizen packed Florida, where she wrangles her flock of kids and writes smut.

Dawn can normally be found swearing like a sailor, making late night drive-thru appearances, arguing with her kids (or being run over by their power wheels), reading a steamy romance while hiding in her bathroom, writing her little heart out on her laptop (or dragging her Macbook to the Genius bar praying they can save her latest work in progress), shopping for My Little Pony goodies, being the life of the party at a book signing, or sipping on a smoothie. She loves to hear from her fans, readers, and authors alike. Feel free to drop her a message.

Dawn rarely takes life seriously, so be sure to expect heavy sarcasm from her. She is also the life of the party, so be sure to meet up with her at one of the many author events she will be attending in the next couple months. Buy her a shot of whiskey, and she will love you for life.

Find Dawn Robertson on her website, Facebook, twitter, and Google Plus.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends! 🙂

Happy Book Birthday to DESIRED by Bianca Giovanni–Review and Giveaway

Hi all! So glad to bring a super HEA extraordinaire New Adult romance releasing TODAY!! DESIRED by Bianca Giovanni is the third installment of the VICE, VIRTUE AND VIDEO series featuring Lola and James. She’s a (relatively) innocent college grad, he’s a porn superstar and they’ve been BFF’s for years. Butnow? Now they are to-geth-er…and it’s HOTTT!

Desired (Vice, Virtue, & Video #3)About the book:

Porn superstar James Laird has devoted himself to a new romance with his lifelong best friend, Lola Caraway. James’s retirement has prompted the industry to honor him at the annual Adult Film Awards in Las Vegas. He’s up for the biggest prize of the night: Man of the Year. With the love of his life by his side and the recognition of his peers, it seems James has it all.

Lola is head-over-heels in love with James, but has no idea what to expect when she accompanies him to the biggest porn industry event of the year. She finds herself torn between being proud of James’s success and shaken by flaring insecurity as a result of her immersion in the world of porn.
She knew James’s former career would be a challenge, but nothing could prepare her for the epicenter of all things porn. Debauchery wars with devotion as they struggle to save their
relationship, their love, their hearts’ desire.

“Bianca has once again skillfully combined nail-biting angst with humor andenough sexual tension to fuel a small country to come up with one great series!”
-Autumn, Agents of Romance

How ’bout we break off a piece of James… ‘cuz he makes me swoon!

“Lo, look at me when I say this to you, okay?” I begin. “I 
like  being gentle with you. I like going slow and being 
tender. I like doing stuff just because it makes you happy, 
even if there’s no endgame for me. Maybe it’s vanilla sex, 
but I’ve found that vanilla sex can be more fun than crazy 
sex if the person you’re doing it with is someone you love.
You make me love vanilla, baby. It’s my favorite flavor now.”

My Review:

So, I’ve followed this series from the beginning. Lola and James are really fun, but a bit of an odd couple in terms of sex–he started young, and did well with all the ladies. So well, he’s now a world famous porn star. She’s only ever been with James–and that happened only recently. They’ve known each other nearly their whole lives and now that they are together, James says he’s done making porn. I have to love James for making this decision. Really–because he’s making bank on the movies, but he’s so over the moon for Lola he won’t even consider being with anyone else. Who COULDN’T love a guy like that? He has found love, and he shouts it from the rooftops.

Lola, on the other hand, is freaked. And with excellent cause. She “knows” James has had it all, and then some, but that’s such and abstract concept. The stark reality of his sexual exploits–both on and off camera–gives Lola a bit of the creeps. Really. She’s barely ever had sex–how can she possibly sate James’ hunger? What if he wants some of that crazy bondage stuff like in his films? Or, threesomes? Or….uh, yes, Lola’s vexed.

Attending the Awards, where James has been nominated for about seven thousand honors, is a peculiar challenge and Lola’s Fifth Circle of Hell–watching James on screen over and over and over, pleasuring one woman after the next, is…excruciating. and nearly sends that beautiful gal running back to the Hollywood Hills.

There’s some by-play with Lola, James and some of their rivals–imagine jealous porn stars still wanting a piece of James and trying to snatch a little of Lola’s virtue–but the end is as sweet as a ripe watermelon. Well, except for Lola’s mother calling to give James what-for on account of his most recent impetuous decision.  I had a great time with this book. Though it’s part of a series, it can stand alone. And the smexytimes are as sensual and generous as James’ third leg.

Interested? You can find DESIRED on Goodreads, Barnes & Noble and Amazon. This can be read as a standalone book, but if you’re interested in this steamer, you might want to check out REVEALED (Book 1) [Amazon eBook or Barnes and Noble] and CAPTURED (Book 2) [Amazon or Barnes and Noble].

Revealed (Vice, Virtue, & Video Book 1)

V3_Captured_Cover_alt2REVEALED introduces us to Lola and James just as Lola’s about to graduate high school, and James is outed to his parents as a porn star. He’s disowned and she’s his rock in the storm. Check out my review for more info.

CAPTURED brings us back to Lola and James when she’s graduated college. She’s in a relationship with a sleazebag who mistreats her for being friends with James, meanwhile James is locked into a bad contract with a sadistic director. These two cling together and learn their hearts are linked. Here’s my review.

***GIVEAWAY***

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win
One of TEN ecopies of DESIRED or
One of FIVE epacks of the VICE, VIRTUE and Video Trilogy
(courtesy of Omnific Publishing open internationally)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and keep reading my friends!

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.

You can connect with Bianca on her website, Facebook and twitter.

She Turned Out to be ONE SMART COOKIE–Review and Giveaway!

Hi all and welcome to my stop on the ONE SMART COOKIE blog tour hosted by AToMR Book Promotions. For other stops on the tour click here. Today’s book is a YA romance from newly published author, Kym Brunner.

In the interest of “keeping it real,” Kym and I met in a writer’s critique group years ago and have been friends ever since. I recently reviewed her debut novel WANTED: DEAD OR IN LOVE, where the spirits of Bonnie and Clyde come back. In THIS book, Kym went back ‘to her roots’ and wrote a contemporary romance about a first-generation Polish immigrant girl finding love and making peace in her family. I’m so excited to share this with all of you!

One Smart CookieAbout the book:
Sixteen year old Sophie Dumbrowski, is an adorably inept teen living above her family-owned Polish bakery with her man-hungry mother and her spirit-conjuring grandmother, who together, are determined to find Sophie the perfect boyfriend.

But when Sophie meets two hot guys on the same day, she wonders if  this a blessing or a curse. And is Sophie’s inability to choose part of the reason the bakery business is failing miserably? The three generations of women need to use their heads, along with their hearts, to figure things out…before it’s too late.

My Review:
Sophie Dumbrowski is a typical teenage girl. She wants to have a fun summer, meet a cool guy, and avoid working in her family bakery as much as possible. Her grandma, Busia, offers to help Sophie find a good boy–with a small “spell”. Not really, more of a bargain with Dola, a Polish spirit. Sophie thinks it’s just Busia’s usual eccentricity–her grams is always praying for something, and agrees to the charm, against her mother’s orders. See, Sophie’s mom things her mother’s Polish charms are a whole lot of hoo-ha.

Of course, in order to ask Dola to help Sophie, Sophie must agree to not fight with her mom. Which, if you are a teenaged girl, is next to impossible. Besides, her mom is total slave-driver! Almost immediately after the charm is cast, Sophie and her mom argue, to Busia’s (and Dola’s?) dismay. In fact, Sophie gets FIRED! How does a girl get fired from her own bakery?! Her mom doesn’t budge and Sophie’s on her way out to cool down/find a new job when she meets not one, but TWO! attractive boys. Giovanni is a landscaper working on a newly opened business down the block from her home, and Nick is a sales boy at the pet shop where Sophie gets hired.

What Would Dola Do? you may ask? Well, whatever Dola thinks, Sophie decides to try both guys on–to see which is the best fit for her. See, she’s only ever had three dates, and the prospect of two suitors is pretty enticing. Not that she wants to ruin a good thing, either. It’s kinda too soon to decide which guy would be better. One is kind, steadfast and fun, and the other is flashy and exciting–but not in a legal way.

One the other hand, Sophie’s new job is not working out, and her mom is spending money they don’t have to get new customers into the shop. A new International supermarket is stealing away their business, and Eliza, the girl she hired to replace Sophie, thinks transforming their Polish bakery into an organic eatery will bring in a whole new clientele. Still, the bakery is failing and, with all that drama and juggling two boys, it seems Sophie’s in big trouble.

Busia is sure Dola is to blame. Sophie breaking her word and arguing with her mother has caused a rift they need to repair–and having two boyfriends is also bad luck, according to Busia. It takes some hard work, and some serious apologizing, but Sophie manages to repair her relationships–and build better stronger ones moving forward.

I adored this book! The Polish immigrant backdrop is so lovely, and works beautifully with the Chicago environment. The war between American assimilation and cultural identity is so lovingly detailed. Sophie is a funny narrator–she has a potty mouth at times, but she sounds like “Anygirl,” to me. The mess she gets entangled with–between Gio and Nick–is realistic and well-considered. There are instances of teen experimentation–including alcohol and drug use–that also ring true, as well as frank discussions about sex, and sexual activity. I really liked how Sophie got her priorities together and made the best choices. In the end, I was so rooting for her, the bakery, and of course, Busia. Who doesn’t love a mystic-charming granny who bakes all day long?

So fun! Plenty of humorous moments–Sophie is a classic klutz with the bruises to prove it, and the brunt of more than a few cracks on her last name. I could so imagine her, out there in the north side of Chicago hawking kolatchkies, I almost lamented not getting a recipe. 😉

Interested? You can find ONE SMART COOKIE at Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Kym BrunnerAbout the Author
As the saying goes, I’m pretty much an open book. What do you want to know?

HOMELAND: I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois (Woo-hoo! Best city in the world!), but currently live in a northwest suburb that’s still close enough to get to the city in 40 minutes. Almost all of my stories take place in and around Chicago since it’s the only region where I’ve lived. I wish I could write a story that takes place in Greece, but I’d need to go there first. (Hint, hint, Husband)

SPARE TIME: I love to read and write obviously, but I also LOVE movies and reality TV. There, I said it. Point fingers all you want, laugh at me, but my brain wants what it wants and I’ve never been a good disciplinarian. Just ask my students or my lovely daughters, who laughed all the way out of the house after they did a few loads of laundry as “punishment.” 

FAMILY: I’ve been blessed with three beautiful daughters, a very tall, intelligent, and debonair husband (who might read this so I have to be really nice so I can get that trip to Greece), and two adorable dogs. Life’s pretty damn good, for which I am super thankful. 

WORK:Starting at the tender age of 14, I’ve been employed. First, as a hot dog wrangler (Sammie’s in the Portage Park area of Chicago), then an old-fashioned sign maker and cashier for PG Berland’s Paints, then in high school as an A-Accurate Answering Service operator (loved the job – hated the perverts who used to call and breathe heavy) and finally, for most of my life. . . a teacher. I’m teach 7th grade reading and writing all day long! And they pay me! What could be better than that?

Connect with Kym on her blog, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook.

***GIVEAWAY***
Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win
one of 3 ebooks of ONE SMART COOKIE
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and keep reading my friends!

AToMRTours_mdm

Cephalopod Coffeehouse July 2014–THE ART OF SECRETS

0ed81-coffeehouseHi 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.

I had a hard time choosing a book this month–there were a few that really got to me. My second choice was TORN AWAY by Jennifer Brown. It’s a story about a girl surviving a tornado and the destruction her life becomes in the aftermath. You can find my review here.

This month I chose THE ART OF SECRETS, a newly released YA mystery for two reasons. It’s set in my hometown–Chicago, and it tricked me! I lite really had to wait for the last three pages to learn who were the culprits. I had the great pleasure to meet the author, James Klise, at a local book signing and picked up an autographed dead-tree edition of this book. I’m so glad because I plan to pass it around faster than swine flu…

I’m not shy of my uber-love of mysteries. Confession time, my dad grounded me in third grade because I spent too much time reading Nancy Drew mysteries and too little time doing my schoolwork. #TrueStory So, this multi-POV, multicultural whodunit was a real treat for me.

The Art of SecretsAbout the book:
A Fire Destroys . . .
A Treasure Appears . . .
A Crime Unfolds . . .

When Saba Khan’s apartment burns in a mysterious fire, possibly a hate crime, her Chicago high school rallies around her. Her family moves rent-free into a luxury apartment, Saba’s Facebook page explodes, and she starts (secretly) dating a popular boy.

Then a quirky piece of art donated to a school fund-raising effort for the Khans is revealed to be an unknown work by a famous artist, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, and Saba’s life turns upside down again. Should Saba’s family have all that money? Or should it go to the students who found the art? Or to the school? And just what caused that fire?

Greed, jealousy, and suspicion create an increasingly tangled web as students and teachers alike debate who should get the money and begin to point fingers and make accusations. The true story of the fire that sets events in motion and what happens afterward gradually comes together in an innovative narrative made up of journal entries, interviews, articles, letters, text messages, and other documents.

My Review:

First of all, this book has, roughly, seven narrators. As noted in the blurb, the story itself is a collection of interviews, journal entries, newspaper articles, texts and emails. It’s bedlam, in the best way.

Saba’s family is from Pakistan. She was born and raised here, but her parents are traditional. They are, perhaps, more indulgent than other immigrant families allowing Saba to dress in modest Western clothing and compete on the school tennis team as long as her body is covered. We learn through Saba’s journal that her apartment is destroyed one day while she and her family are out at one of her tennis matches.

Her father reveals that he fears the fire was set by Saba’s 6 y/o brother, who has recently discovered matches. In the meantime, Saba’s high school community, most of which are affluent families, pitch in to stage an auction fundraiser headed up by Kendra and Kevin Spoon–two newcomers to the school. In fact, it is Kevin who discovers an undiscovered work of art from an “outsider” Chicago artist which he donates to the cause. The appraised value is $500,000, and Saba’s family is overwhelmed with the possible windfall.

In fact, people start to question if Saba’s family should benefit from this tragedy. Especially as the cause of the fire is suspicious. The high school principal, Dr. Stickman, thinks the money should go to the school which is in need of repairs.

The whole argument becomes moot, however, when the artwork goes missing two weeks before the auction. Then it’s a foot race to find the art. Teachers turn on teachers, accusing one another of theft. Was it Mr. Delacroix, the gay art teacher who needs capital to finance his fiber art projects? Or, Coach P, the retiring basketball/tennis coach who had easy access to the art as it was locked in her office? Students start accosting other students. Saba’s distraught that her family’s fortunes keep plummeting. Dr. Stickman was my choice for the thief, but, in the end I was completely, artfully, misdirected.

All I’m gonna say is: Best. Grift. Ever.

I wasn’t sure I’d like the story–I usually go for first-person traditional narratives in my YA. This is the exact opposite. There is (virtually) no romance. Surprisingly, the emotions shine through these third-person accounts. Humor is wry and abundant, with irreverent speech from Saba, incongruent speech from a Spanish exchange student (“in the kitchen, not the chicken” *snorts*) and the contrast between the humble laborer life of Saba’s father and the privileged pomposity of Dr. Stickman.

The story clips along, with devious reveals and backhanded breadcrumbs. I love being led on a merry chase, and enjoyed each moment of red herrings–once I finally saw them for what they were. Bravo.

Interested? You can find THE ART OF SECRETS on Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, Amazon and other local outlets, no doubt.

About the Author:

James Klise lives in Chicago. His short fiction has appeared in literary journals like StoryQuarterly, New Orleans Review, Ascent, Sou’wester and Southern Humanities Review. His essays and reviews have appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times, Booklist, the Readerville Journal and elsewhere.

By day, he works as a high school librarian in Chicago, where he also advises a teen book group, writing club, and the Gay-Straight Alliance.

You can connect with James on his website, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in. Please also take the hop on over to my fellow bloggers to find out which books they liked this month!

 

1. The Armchair Squid 2. mainewords
3. Stephanie Faris, Author 4. WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME
5. Cherdo on the Flipside 6. Trisha @ WORD STUFF
7. StrangePegs — Secrets 8. I Think; Therefore, I Yam
9. Life of a Writer 10. Katie @ Read, Write, Repeat
11. StrangePegs — The Shadow Lamp 12. Mock? MOCK!
13. Mina Burrows 14. V’s Reads
15. My Creatively Random LIfe 16. Life Before the Hereafter
17. Words Incorporated 18. Berriesandmore
19. Sally’s Scribble 20. Hub City

Shifting Into Menage–CLAIMED BY THE ALPHAS, A Review

Hi there! Thought I’d share an unconventional romance. Actually, it’s more like an unconventional arrangement that turns into a romance. CLAIMED BY THE ALPHAS, by Viola Rivard, is a serial now available in one box bundle. It a shifter book–wolf shifters mostly–who need human women to breed. And, this particular pack has two Alphas.

Claimed by the AlphasAbout the book:
She wanted to escape…

When Mila Foster stumbles across the opportunity to become an alpha wolf’s mate, she doesn’t think twice about casting aside her lackluster life among humans.

He wanted a mate…

His whole life, Asch has been denying himself a mate and a family. Now that his pack is stable and his territory is secure, he’s ready to stake his claim on Mila—even if it means he’ll have to fight his closest friend for the privilege of her fertile body.

He had no interest in human females…

Caim prefers the lean, taut females of his own kind—women who can handle the aggressive mating he enjoys. He has no desire for delicate human women with soft, curvaceous bodies—or so he thinks.

Claimed by the Alphas is the story of Mila Foster and her efforts to hold her new pack together by accepting the claim of both of its alphas. It contains sexual themes, ménage romance, and takes place beyond the confines of human society. It is not intended for readers under the age of eighteen.

My Review:
This “book” is a serial, with the first episode free. I downloaded that and enjoyed it, so I bought the second, just to see if it held my interest (sequel’s remorse, and all) and I found I STILL liked it–so I held out for the box set. And, I’m happy to say I really liked it!

Mila is, well, a bit of a goof. She’s an impulsive young woman lacking direction in life and love. She has few ties to her family and, when visiting her cousin learns of The Lottery–humans in their rural New York community are offering women to local shifter packs to secure truces, and protection from attack. The shifters in this book are wolves–and their females are infertile.

See, silly Mila read a “romance”/memoir of a woman who had been a wolf pack Alpha’s mate, and the whole thing sounds rather luxurious to her. Be treated like a queen, bearing the “royal” offspring, respected by all the pack, etc. She jumps into the lottery–to everyone’s surprise (remember she’s impulsive) offering herself as the Pack Bride. *V shakes her head*

Well, imagine Mila’s shock when she learns the pack she’s betrothed to has TWO Alphas. Oh, and they are great friends, and since only one of them will able to mate her they will have to battle each other to the death for the delight of her body. Mila is horrified. And the Pack is rather agonized. They don’t want to lose either Alpha and detest this competition. It’s really Asch’s fault; he wants pups, but he’s not as strong as Caim, who could care less about pups but won’t give up Pack control. All members of the pack fully expect Asch to be killed, forthwith.

Mila is attracted to Asch, and fearful of Caim, and quickly realizing how ridiculous she was to jump into this scenario. Oh, and deciding herself seven shades of foolish for packing necessities like, say, high heeled shoes and curling irons when she was going to be living in a cave. Yes, Mila realizes that she’s a dolt, which is charming. She also comes up with the solution to the Pack Battle Royale–that Asch and Caim should SHARE her!

It’s a pretty rocky road for this city slicker, especially as the she-wolves can get rather catty(?). Remember, both Asch and Caim have availed themselves of these women more times than Mila can count–and Mila’s insistence that they remain true to her seems…sheer lunacy. It all does work out, and the road to pregnancy sure is entertaining.

Interested? You can find CLAIMED BY THE ALPHAS (Box Set) on Goodreads and Amazon.  If you just want to try out the first serial it’s free (and spicy!) Amazon

viola_2014About the Author: (in Viola’s words)

I write paranormal romance with a dash of fantasy.

Last February, I was working in a call center, trying to save up enough money to go to college. I’d always liked to write in my spare time, but after a great deal of financial difficulties, I decided to try my hand at writing something that someone besides myself may want to read. So, in between calls at work, I penned the first part of Claimed by the Alphas. Not one to wait around for luck, I took my writing career into my own hands and self-published it that same month.

By the end of March, I went from being someone who’d never written much more than a high school essay to becoming a bestselling author. It’s been a bumpy road, but a very exhilarating ride. I still have a great deal to learn, and I appreciate all of the fans who have stuck with me on the journey.

I do my best to price my stories fairly, but there was a time, not too long ago, when even a few dollars was more than I could spare. If there’s ever a book in my catalog that you cannot purchase, send me an email and I’ll provide you with one, zero judgment.

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

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!