Reviews

Books I’ve read and reviewed

I love a sequel NOW AND AGAIN…–Review and Giveaway

Now & Again banner copyHi there and welcome to my stop on the NOW AND AGAIN blog tour organized by YA Bound Book Tours.

If you’d like to check out other stops on the tour, click here.

NOW AND AGAIN is a steamy New Adult Romance by Brenda Rothert–and the follow-up to the delightful NOW AND THEN.
 

now and againSummary from Goodreads:
Once again, 26-year-old Layla Carson has the attention of a man eager to satisfy her. Ben Montrose, the hot, confident cop who gets off on frustrating her, is eager to show her just how arresting he can be. But as a reforming sexaholic, Layla’s sworn off casual hookups, and doesn’t miss the days of her early 20s –much.

Ben’s caught off-guard when the sexy, outspoken attorney turns him on and then turns him down. But the confident former Marine knows he can handle the simple seduction of a beautiful woman. He finds Layla’s weak spot – competition, which he happens to share – and challenges her to a game that could make them, or destroy them.

As they compete to crown the master of seduction, Ben and Layla discover there’s more to their game than power and foreplay. But as the stakes go up, they realize the game has changed, and they both stand to lose more than they bargained for.

My Review:
I wasn’t at all convinced I would like Layla. I knew from NOW AND THEN that she’s kinda not such a nice gal–conniving and manipulative and expects to get exactly what she wants pretty much describes her. Yet, her need to be assertive and strong actually isolates her from opportunities to build a stable relationship–at least with all the guys she knows. Sex is Layla’s way to find the intimacy she craves. And it isn’t working anymore. No, now she feels hollow and covets a relationship like sister Em’s more than ever.

After nine months of forced celibacy Layla encounters Ben Montrose. He’s big and burly and dominating and the exact opposite of what Layla usually finds attractive. He is, however, single–and she’s deprived, dammit. Ben thinks Layla’s a bit of alright, but he doesn’t want anything serious. He decides to woo her anyway, and can’t believe she doesn’t come to heel.

Guess Big Ben needed to ramp up his game. Good thing he does.

When Layla tells him she’s celibate that’s all the challenge Ben needs. He convinces Layla to spend four weeks together–the first two she dominates their ‘relationship’, the last two he will. While Layla keeps her vow, she and Ben spend a whole lot of time getting to know each other–building the intimacy she always sought. Meanwhile, Ben’s cool customer attitude is definitely overwhelmed by the vulnerability he finds in Layla.  It’s a fun and heartfelt tale of two strong people learning to give and receive love. In spite of the (almost total) celibacy, there’s plenty of sexual tension and some excellent heat nearer to the end.

Interested? You can find NOW AND AGAIN at Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

Curious about the first book in this series?  You can catch my full review here, but here’s a taste…

If you like realistic romances, NOW AND THEN is crammed to bursting with sibling rivalry, passion, family expectations,  now and thenand responsibility. There are no billionaires. There is no S & M, no flashy cars, no contracts.

However, that’s super cool. Makes me feel like I may run into Em or Cole whilst touring my fair Chicago. They breathe my air. They have fussy mothers and scheming sisters. They have skeletons that don’t involve molestation or neglect, only family business of a personal–not shameful or criminal–nature.

NOW AND THEN is available on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo.

brenda rethortAbout the Author

Brenda Rothert lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three sons. She was a daily print journalist for nine years, during which time she enjoyed writing a wide range of stories.

These days Brenda writes New Adult Romance in the Contemporary and Dystopian genres. You can find Brenda on Goodreads, Twitter and Facebook.

***GIVEAWAY***

10 ebook copies of Now and Again by Brenda Rothert (INT)

Click here for your chance to win!

Good luck and keep reading, my friends!

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Captivated by THE BUSINESSMAN’S TIE–a Review

I picked this one up as a freebie and, well, let’s just say this…I lost a LOT of sleep reading the other three books in the series. For those who read 50SOG and are looking for the next BDSM series, Deena Ward’s The Power To Please series absolutely will.

Please that is…

The Businessman's Tie (The Power to Please, #1)THE BUSINESSMAN’S TIE (The Power to Please Book 1)
by Deena Ward
Nonnie Crawford is nearing thirty and out celebrating her divorce with a group of girlfriends when she locks eyes on the man across the bar. He’s attractive, and intense. His suit is well cut and his collar’s open. The eye contact is broken, but, while freshening up, Nonnie talks herself into approaching him.

Guess this stranger had the same idea, because when she opens the lav door he’s in the hallway. And the things they get up to in that hall are deliciously naughty.

And involve a tie…which she finds tucked into her purse the next morning.

Nonnie is awakened in a way she cannot forget. To her shame she stalks the bar on other nights to find the anonymous man who makes her dreams go nuclear. He doesn’t show but she’s befriended by another young woman who convinces her to investigate a rumored sex club. They go, and there Nonnie meets Michael Weston–a swoony playboy-type who happens to be an avid Dom. Michael makes it clear he’d like to get to know Nonnie. Intimately.

And, of course, The Businessman–aka Gibson Reeves–shows up, too.

In the meantime Nonnie’s voyeuristic cherry is popped, and she has offers from both Michael and Gibson to be their submissive. It’s heady, and hot, and Nonnie’s not sure what her friends will think of this wild side. So she keeps it quiet…

Still, she knows the things that either of these men can do will turn her inside out and sideways–in a very good way. Big decisions ahead for this novice. And they all point toward OH! OH! OH!

I just fell into this series and loved the blend of mature woman/insecure submissive that is Nonnie. She wants so much to find that all-encompassing love any gal dreams of, and the sensory overload she experiences with both Michael and Gibson take her to a place she mistakes for love, in some ways.

After I finished THE BUSINESSMAN’S TIE I went back and bought the four-book set. Right there you know I loved it.

You can find it FREE at Goodreads,  AMAZON and Barnes & Noble.

Let me know in the comments if you check this one out–and how you liked it.

And, as always, keep reading my friends! 🙂

BOUND BY WISH AND MISTLETOE? Of course!–Review and Giveaway

Hi there and welcome to my stop on the Bound by Wish and Mistletoe Blog tour organized by AToMR Book Tours. If you’d like to see the other tour stops click here. Today’s feature is a double review of Kat Bastion’s recent works:  adult paranormal romance novella, BOUND BY WISH AND MISTLETOE, and also the preceeding novel–FORGED IN DREAMS AND MAGICK, released in September.

Let’s get started, shall we?

BBWAM Cover Bound by Wish and Mistletoe:
Desperate to honor a life-long promise, Susanna MacEalan escapes her abusive clan with the fierce determination of never falling under the power of a man. Ever.

Aggravated by shallow-hearted pursuing lasses, Robert Brodie, commander of his clan’s elite guard, has foresworn scheming women. Forever.

When magick transforms Brodie Castle into a Christmas wonderland, the two despondent souls find solace in a most unexpected place . . . each other’s arms.

Amid a whirlwind of escalating events, Susanna’s traumatic past threatens Robert’s ability to protect the one woman meant for him. In a harrowing moment, as her fears and demons coalesce, will hope, faith, and love be enough to save them?

My Review:

Susanna has been promised to a man she doesn’t desire in order to forge an alliance for her abusive, violent father. Unwilling to submit, she escapes. Only to come upon Robert Brodie while on a mission to acquire the perfect Christmas tree for Lady Isobel. Robert is taken by Susanna’s strong will and vulnerability, against his wishes.

When her unwanted suitor arrives, Robert and his men fight to save Susanna, only to trap her once again. The inhabitants of Castle Brodie do not leave their enchanted castle often, and Susanna’s hard-fought freedom must be surrendered if she is to remain with Robert.

Finally finding a place where she can be happy, she accepts Robert’s offer and love, but all is not settled and her father’s power is not to be forgotten.

This novella has heart and soul. I really enjoyed the banter between Robert and Susanna, and I enjoyed reconnecting with Isobel and Iain Brodie. It’s a lighthearted romance, and will appeal to any who enjoy Highlander love tales…
Interested? You can find BOUND BY WISH AND MISTLETOE at GOODREADS, AMAZON and Barnes & Noble

But what about the book that started it all?

Forged in Dreams and Magick:Forged in Dreams and Magick_Cover
Isobel MacInnes wakes up in present-day California, lunches in medieval Scotland, and by ten days’ end, falls in love with a man and his country, only to lose them in a heart-wrenching twist of fate . . .

Found in the arms of her second soul mate . . .

Forced to balance the delicate strands of time between two millennia . . .

Shocked by revelations rewriting the very foundations of history . . . of everything.

Isobel, a rising-star archaeology student, is dropped into two ancient worlds without warning . . . or her permission. Her fiery spirit resists the dependency thrust upon her. Amid frustration at her lack of control, she helplessly falls in love. Twice.

She struggles to adjust to the unimaginable demands of two leaders of men—a laird in the thirteenth-century Highlands and a Pict chieftain in a more ancient Scotland. Isobel transforms from an academic, hell-bent on obtaining archaeological recognition, to a woman striving to care for those she loves, and ultimately . . . into a fearless warrior risking everything to protect them.

My Review:
What woman wouldn’t want two insatiable lovers in two separate epochs?

Isobel may be a modern woman, but she’s not made of stone. When her connection to an ancient artifact tosses her to 13th century Scotland, Isobel does the best thing she can: marries the leader of Clan Brodie, Iain. Super swoony Iain is the whole of her existence…until she encounters that danged artifact again. Tossed back even farther, Isobel must survive with the Picts–and does so by mating the chieftain, Velloc.

Both men are fearsome fighters, courageous leaders, and tender lovers, but Isobel had given her heart to Iain first. Being with Velloc is heavenly, but shouldn’t she return to Iain if she can? How can a girl chose between sides of her heart?

She does, however, and is able to convince both her husbands that she should split time between them–why? Because she’s unsure if her time displacement will upset history, or cement it. Isobel returns to Iain and spends time with him–then returns with Iain’s help–to Velloc for a temporary visitation, only to find he is embroiled in the Roman conquest of Scotland. Now her knowledge of history is the only thing that can save Velloc and his Pict clan. Also, an angel…

Skorpius is a delicious treat who helps the Brodie, and Isobel, survive.

It’s a super fun read if you like time travel romance or Highland stories. Plenty of magic and mystery surround the artifact that whipsaws Isobel through time and love. As for the romance steam-factor: think warm and fuzzy, not melt your Kindle.

Interested?  Forged in Dreams and Magick is available via GOODREADS, AMAZON and Barnes & Noble. 

About the Author
Kat Bastion is an award-winning paranormal romance writer, poetic warrior, and eternal optimist who loves getting lost in the beauty of nature.

On a never-ending, wondrous path of self-discovery, Kat throws her characters into incredible situations with the hope that readers join her in learning more about the meaning of life and love. Her first published work, Utterly Loved, was shared with the world to benefit others. All proceeds from Utterly Loved, and a portion of the proceeds of all her other books, support charities who help those lost in this world.

Kat lives with her husband amid the beautiful Sonoran Desert of Arizona. Visit her blog, her website, or connect with her on Facebook, Goodreads or Twitter for more information on Kat and her works.

****GIVEAWAY****

(5) eBook copies of each title (5 of Bound by Wish and Mistletoe and 5 of Forged in Dreams and Magick) gifted from either Kindle, Nook, Kobo, or ARe (not Smashwords) – International

(5) Signed print copies of each title (5 of Bound by Wish and Mistletoe and 5 of Forged in Dreams and Magick) – International

(1) Pandora sterling silver and 14k gold Christmas Tree charm with Pandora sterling silver bracelet – International

Holy cow!  Click HERE to enter this STUNNING giveaway.

And, as always: Keep reading my friends!

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JUST ONCE? Not a chance! Review and Giveaway

Just-Once-Tour-Banner

Hi there! Welcome to my stop on the JUST ONCE blog tour organized by AToMR Book Tours. If you want to check out other stops on the tour, click here. JUST ONCE is an adult contemporary romance from debut author Julianna Keyes newly released by Omnific Publishing.

 JustOnce_cover_revBook Description:
Kate Burke is done making bad decisions. Thirty years old and belatedly determined to grow up, the successful travel writer and one-time party girl returns to work at the remote Ponderosa Pines Ranch to reassess her life.

Although her kitchen/cabin staff is lacking and the workload never relents, Kate’s main challenge is Shane Maddox, the ruggedly handsome and doggedly stubborn ranch foreman. Instantly at odds, they battle over everything from ceiling fans to bothersome bats—studiously ignoring the sparks they generate with each confrontation.

They can’t explain their explosive physical chemistry, but after a few frustrated weeks they can’t deny it either. Their solution? Just once. They’ll get past their inconvenient lust and move on.

Kate’s been trying to think with her head instead of her hormones, but is this just another bad decision in a lifetime of careless choices? Has she really changed at all?

Set in the striking and serene hills of southern Colorado, Julianna Keyes’ debut novel offers a sizzling and satisfying tale of unexpected chemistry and the power of second chances. Her characters will get under your skin and into your heart. Just once may not be enough for you either.

My Review:
This isn’t your typical downtrodden rich girl story. Kate’s always had it all, true, but after a brutal attack she finds her vapid life unsatisfying. Instead of being the globetrotter/writer she’s taken a managers job at Ponderosa Pines, the dude ranch she worked as a teen, believing spending three months in the same place will help her regain her lost bearings.

Quickly Kate’s high cleaning standards ruffles the unruly teenaged staff–who desert–and she’s agitated the ranch manager, the burly Shane Maddox. He’s not her type–too burly, too demanding–but she’s undeniably attracted. Not that she’s going to act on it. Risky, reckless, Eight-Shot Kate is a girl of the past. From now on, Kate’s the model of responsibility…

Sort of.

Seems Shane shares Kate’s attraction–even though she isn’t his type either. And he willing to trade one afternoon of passion to scratch that sexy itch.

Raowr!! That’s an offer Kate can’t refuse. Of course, one time isn’t enough, but keeping their trysts on the down-low is important, and besides, they’re just going to keep it casual, right? No strings.

Oh how I love when the best laid plans of bed buddies go HEA!

Shane is swoonworthy supreme, and Kate’s smart, sassy and strong-hearted. I adore them both, and this vanilla-tale is steamy enough to make Christian Grey sweat.

Interested? You can grab JUST ONCE at Goodreads or Amazon.

About the Author
Julianna Keyes is a Canadian writer who has lived on both coasts and several places in between. She’s been skydiving, bungee jumping, and white water rafting, but nothing thrills—or terrifies—her as much as the blank page. She has volunteered in Zambia, taught English in China, and dreams of seeing pink dolphins in the Amazon. This is her first book. Check her out on Twitter.

****GIVEAWAY****

Juliana and Omnific Publishing are giving away 5 ebooks, 1 Print Copy, 1 Swag Pack.

Click here for your chance to win!

And, as always, keep reading my friends!

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EVERYTHING YOU KNOW, is Staggering–Review and Giveaway

Everything You Know blog tour banner copy

Hi there! Welcome to my stop on the Everything You Know blog tour organized by A Bound Book Tours. If you want to check out other stops on the tour, click here. Today’s book is a recently released YA Fantasy by Mary Beth Bass.

3ba29-everythingyouknow_cover_wquote21Summary from Goodreads:

A dark forest, a screaming woman and blood. These are the images that haunt seventeen year old Emma from the moment she meets Joe Castlellaw. And so much more awaits.

Emma Mathews never believed she was like everyone else, but neither did she think herself crazy. Meeting Joe Castlellaw, Henry Dearborn High’s newest student, was like waking on a cold rock in a strange place, the world bathed in liquid moonlight. Everything is different now…and fraught. Visions of a dark forest, a screaming woman and blood have begun to haunt Emma’s dreams, and not only at night. But Joe’s lonely beauty makes her float on air, and she would follow him anywhere—out of high school and through the great tree, to a world of poetry and political savagery, of magic and murder, to a life that is entirely theirs and yet unlike anything they have ever known.

My Review:

This YA fantasy romance gets to the matter quickly. The second Emma and Joe touch, Emma falls into a trance and reveals Joe’s tragic history–a history he had no memory of.  The two of them are alternately attracted and repulsed, mainly because they feel so overwhelmingly attracted they think they need to stay apart, for their own good.

Joe’s a child with no history. His adoptive mother found him wandering and took him in, forging his identity. All he knows is he’s different, perhaps because as a small child he could fly. Emma’s the oddest of oddballs, in a family that is far from normal. Add telepathic to that mix and, well, even she thinks she’s cracking up.

At least, until she learns her older brother is telekinetic. And, when Joe and Emma kiss and hit the sky–literally–she knows she’s found sanctuary.See, their supernatural powers exist because they are not of earth they are gemynd refugees from the Commonworld–something nobody has bothered to tell Joe, and what Emma’s parents have actively hidden for her, and her four siblings, her whole life.

But this romance is doomed–Joe’s actual father is a hunted being in the Commonworld. Joe and Emma are both kidnapped, multiple times, in order to draw Joe’s father out of hiding so his immense power can be exploited by either of the warring political parties.

Through all of this, the bond between Joe and Emma becomes acutely strong. They are Soulmates, and the loss of either will result in certain misery for the other. Unfortunately, Joe’s father’s power is about to be usurped by an even more malevolent force that the politicians–and doing so will end all life, on earth and the Commonworld. Due to her telepathic nature, Emma knows she is the only one who can help Joe’s father–even if it means her life is lost.

It’s a quality YA romance, with so many fantasy elements, I was a bit overwhelmed myself. There is intrigue, deceit, danger, risk of self, first love, first loss, sacrifice and salvation. Emma’s family isn’t willing to go quietly, and they mount siege after siege to rescue their children who are alternately in danger. Romantically, Emma wants to take things very, very slow–she barely knows herself, she argues, how can she fully give herself to Joe? And the introspection is both fresh and honest. No agenda to be advanced as there are plenty of controversial plot elements to be had. I’d recommend it to upper YA readers.

Interested? You can find EVERYTHING YOU KNOW at Amazon  or  Barnes and Noble.

7c2d3-marybethbassAbout the Author

More than a little obsessed with Keats and MOBY DICK and fueled by loud music and cold grey days, Mary Beth Bass is the author of young adult fantasy and romantic women’s fiction. Her debut paranormal-women’s fiction hybrid, FOLLOW ME received the Book Buyers Best Award for Time Travel, Fantasy, and Paranormal Romance.
An occasional travel writer, Mary Beth has written about Paris, Bordeaux, and Yorkshire, where she hiked the moors to the legendary setting for WUTHERING HEIGHTS and stood breathless in the parsonage room where Charlotte, Anne, and Emily Bronte talked out their stories with each other.

And if she seem a little strange, well that’s because she is! <<<Her words, not mine…
Also loves octopuses. Wnat to knwo more? Find Mary Beth on Goodreads and Twitter.

***GIVEAWAY***

10 book subscription to Boroughs Publishing Group’s Lunchbox Romance service. (INT)

 So, if you’re interested, click here to enter!

And, as always, keep reading my friends!

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Waking up in NIGHTMARE CITY

nightmare city banner copy

Hi there! Welcome to my stop on the NIGHTMARE CITY blog tour organized by YA Bound Book Tours. To check out other stops on the tour, click here.  NIGHTMARE CITY is a YA thriller from acclaimed novelist and screenwriter Andrew Klavan coming out TOMORROW, but you can find out about it all today…

nightmare citySummary from Goodreads:

Tom Harding only wants the truth. But the truth is becoming more dangerous with every passing minute.

As a reporter for his high school newspaper, Tom Harding was tracking the best story of his life when, suddenly, his life turned very, very weird. He woke up one morning to find his house empty . . . his street empty . . . his whole town empty . . . empty except for an eerie, creeping fog and whatever creatures were slowly moving toward him through the fog.

Now Tom’s once-ordinary world has become something out of a horror movie. How did it happen? Is it real? Is he dreaming? Has there been a zombie apocalypse? Has he died and gone to hell?

Tom is a good reporter he knows how to look for answers but no one has ever covered a story like this before. With the fog closing in and the hungry creatures of the fog surrounding him, he has only a few hours to find out how he lost the world he knew. In this bizarre universe nothing is what it seems and everything including Tom’s life hangs in the balance.

My Review:

Seventeen y/o student reporter Tom Harding’s life is altered–perhaps forever–when he tries to answer his phone one morning. He can’t understand the staticy voice over the line, so he gets up and heads down to breakfast in his empty home.

After a few minutes he realizes his house is the only thing empty. The neighborhood is deserted. And he can’t hear the constant hum of freeway traffic anymore. Snatches of TV break through, but only one show, and the phones and Internet are no-go’s.

He heads into the foggy landscape sure he sees someone who can help him, and find only nightmare creatures who attack at will. Rushing back into his house, Tom hears his brother Burt’s voice warning him–encouraging him–to fight, but that can’t be. Burt’s been dead for six months.

Now, Tom must fight the nightmare creatures and discover the truth buried in his lost memories to survive. In this journey Tom gets help from his girlfriend Marie, his friend and editor Lisa, Burt–speaking from the grave, and the Lying Man who may or may not be lying. Learning which of these people to trust is an even more dangerous game, and may end up killing him.

OMG. I had no idea where this book was going for the first 50 pages. Was it Walking Dead for teens? Was it 28  Days Later reimagined?

It becomes clear that the battle Tom must win is a psychological one. That the escape he’s seeking isn’t to flee this scary life, but to hold onto it. See, Tom’s a stickler for the truth, and the truth is: he’s made some pretty powerful enemies. His bombshell story on the football team’s past steroid use has more that ruffled feathers–it’s turned Tom’s world inside-out.

Revealed in vignettes and mini-flashbacks we experience the disorientation and fear as Tom retraces his muddled memories to find the center of the truth. It’s a fantastic ride, full of twists and red herrings. I’m not a super fan of horror–and had to put this down the first night because I didn’t want my own personal nightmare city running through MY brain (I got ENOUGH trouble sleeping TYVM!) but in the light of day NIGHTMARE CITY is a fast, entertaining read. Definitely suitable for middle-to-upper YA readers. May specifically appeal to boys as the MC is male and it’s a very male tale…

Interested? You can get your very own NIGHTMARE CITY at Amazon,  Barnes and Noble,  Kobo,  or Book Depository.

andrew klavanAbout the Author

Andrew Klavan is a best-selling, award-winning thriller novelist whose books have been made into major motion pictures. He broke into the YA scene with the bestselling Homelanders series, starting with The Last Thing I Remember. He is also a screenwriter and scripted the innovative movie-in-an-app Haunting Melissa.

You can find him at Goodreads, on Twitter and Facebook.

***GIVEAWAY***

3 print copies of Nightmare City (US only)

Click HERE to enter the sweepstakes!

Good luck, and keep reading my friends!

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Double Double–SEDUCTIVE SECRECY–brings trouble! Two Reviews and Two Giveaways

Seductive-Secrecy-Tour-Banner

Hi there and welcome to my stop of the SEDUCTIVE SECRECY blog tour organized by AToMR book tours. For other stops on the tour, click here. Today’s book are a two-for by Marni Mann.

Two erotic romances, two reviews and two giveaways!

 
DOUBLE REVIEW
Seductive ShadowsSeductive Shadows (book #1)
Charlie is a passionate, sensually-inspired art student, seeking an escape from her abusive mother and the pain of a long lost friend. Scarred and unable to love, her yearning for physical pleasure leads her into a tantalizing, dangerous world of power and seduction in the Mansion. Here, she earns her financial freedom and the Madam is the mother figure she longs for.

But the thrill of the Mansion and its arousing dominance quickly fades when she meets renowned-artist-yet-mysterious Cameron Hardy. Cameron is sexy, and not in a subtle way. He stimulates Charlie’s art, her intellect, and her desires. As he breaks through her emotional boundaries, Charlie discovers her ability to love, and wants to leave the tawdry Mansion behind. Unfortunately, the powers there never intended Charlie to leave…alive. In a dramatic twist, Charlie’s escape is masterminded by the one man she never expected to help.
**This book is for mature audiences. It contains explicit language and sexual content.**

My review of Book 1:
SEDUCTIVE SHADOWS is a bit like a platypus. A bit erotic, a bit mystery, a bit tragic, and a bit suspenseful. There was a lot of teasing–some fulfilled, some not.  What comes through the page is a deep and unrelenting pain experienced by Charlie. She has never known her father. Her mother has been an irresponsible parent, one who thinks nothing of getting drunk or high and bringing home random men. Her one true friend was killed in a car wreck that Charlie survived. In fact, Charlie has been a survivor her whole life and now she is surviving her mother’s protracted demise to cancer.

Through it all she seeks escape for her pain in her art and in sex. Dallas, her sometime lover, wants more of a connection than she can give, but work as a call-girl for a well-paying fantasy brothel-the Mansion-is fit to the task. There are many trysts related, some rather satisfyingly, and Charlie is feeling like life may just turn out fine until She meets Cameron Hardy–a handsome and talented rising art scene star. Together they find comfort and Charlie would like to make it physical, but can’t knowing that she’s contracted to the Mansion.

She wants out, but these things aren’t that simple. In a horrifying twist we learn that the girls never leave the Mansion. Human trafficking is a common theme in many NA erotic stories, but this spin is far beyond what I had previously read. To say Charlie’s life is at risk is far too mild. We go cloak-and-dagger at the end, hoping that it will all turn out…which it does.

Because, hey, would you lookie here? By Jove, there’s a sequel!

Seductive Secrecy (book #2) Seductive Secrecy cover

Following the public airing of the Mansion’s nefarious activities, Charlie maintains a very low profile–fearing that the escaped Madam may one day find her. She takes to her art like never before fueled by the passion she, and the insatiable Cameron, make. Throughout this self-discovery Charlie struggles to forgive both herself and her savior–a man who, by all rights, is generally despicable.

Cameron’s acceptance of Charlie’s call-girl past assists her transition into an actual adulthood–one marked by companionship and affection like she has never known. It’s new for Cameron, too, having grown up in and out of foster care with his brother, Jared.

Can she and Cameron overcome the destruction of their pasts and rebuild their future? Or, will the revelation of painful, shocking secrets pull them back into the darkness?
**This book is for mature audiences. It contains explicit language and sexual content.**
My review:
SEDUCTIVE SECRECY is a book about forgiveness. In order to heal, Charlie has to to learn to forgive her mother’s abusive behavior, her father’s absence, and her own mistakes in life.  She wants to leave behind the shame of the Mansion, but it lingers in her reticence to give her love to Cameron. As their relationship grows stronger, Cameron’s possessiveness escalates. He wants every part of Charlie, including her battered heart, and makes all efforts to embrace her schizophrenic sexual desires. Just as that emotional breakthrough occurs, one of Charlie’s former Johns shows up, and he’s the last person Cameron can accept as a rival.

The way Charlie’s art changes throughout their rough patch really defines the emotional disarray she experiences. In this book I got a strong sense of hope, something Charlie had previously lacked, and that hope was conceived and nurtured in her acts of forgiveness. Where the first book teased emotionally and erotically, the second book delivered. We get all the rawness, all the passion–for good or bad–that comes with a fiery relationship. The love-triangle added sufficient tension and awkwardness without going past the limits. Of course, when we think the worst is past, we’re wrong. And, like any good horror flick the bad guy will rise at the end to do something nearly catastrophic to the main character. Same here, and there (thankfully) is no cliffhanger.

I favor SEDUCTIVE SECRECY, but I really think you need to read both novels in order to fully understand the second book.

Interested? You can find SEDUCTIVE SHADOWS on Goodreads or Amazon and likewise for SEDUCTIVE SECRECY  Goodreads   AMAZON
About the Author
A New Englander at heart, Marni Mann is now a Floridian inspired by the sandy beaches and hot pink sunsets of Sarasota. She taps mainstream appeal and shakes worldwide taboos, taking her readers on a dark and breathtaking journey. When she’s not nose deep in her laptop, she’s scouring for chocolate, traveling, reading, or walking her four-legged children.
Find her on Pinterest – Facebook –  Twitter –  Amazon

DOUBLE GIVEAWAYS!

(7) eBook copies of Seductive Secrecy – International

Click this Rafflecopter link to enter!

– Grand Prize:  $100 Victoria’s Secret eGift Card

– $50 Total Wine eGift Card

– 5 ebooks Seductive Shadows

Click this Rafflecopter link to enter!

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MY DATE FROM HELL–Review and Giveaway!

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Hi there, and welcome to my stop on the MY DATE FROM HELL blog tours, sponsored by AtoMR book tours. Check out other stops here. This YA paranormal romance, just released by best-selling author Tellulah Darling, is a perfect blend of snark, fantasy and swoon!

MyDateFromHellCoverBook Description:
Sophie Bloom’s junior year has been a bit of a train wreck. After the world’s greatest kiss re-awakened Sophie’s true identity as Persephone (Goddess of Spring and Savior of Humanity), she fought her dragon-lady guidance counselor to the death, navigated mean girl Bethany’s bitchy troublemaking, and dealt with the betrayal of her backstabbing ex, Kai (sexy Prince of Darkness). You’d think a girl could catch a break.

Yeah, right.

With Zeus stepping things up, it’s vital that Sophie retrieve Persephone’s memories and discover the location of the ritual to stop Zeus and Hades. So when Aphrodite strikes a deal that can unlock Sophie’s pre-mortal past, what choice does the teen goddess have but to accept?

The mission: stop media mogul Hermes from turning Bethany into a global mega-celebrity. The catch? Aphrodite partners Sophie and Kai to work together … and treat this suicide mission as a date. Which could work out for Sophie’s plan to force Kai to admit his feelings for her–if she doesn’t kill him first.

Add to that the fact that BFF Theo’s love life and other BFF Hannah’s actual life are in Sophie’s hands, and suddenly being a teenager—even a godlike one—seems a bit like … well, hell. Whatever happened to dinner and a movie?

The YA romantic comedy/Greek mythology fireworks continue to fly in My Date From Hell. Love meets comedy with a whole lot of sass in book two of this teen fantasy romance series. Breaking up is easy; dating is deadly.

My Review:
MY DATE FROM HELL begins where it should—with Sophie being tortured within an inch of her life by her dad, Zeus. Family, ain’t it grand?

Still Sophie—a reincarnation of Persephone—can’t reclaim the memories she’s being tortured to divulge. So she battles on. In the process she frees herself, and Kai—Kyrillos, son of Hades—who is likewise up for execution. Sophie returns to her Vancouver boarding school to learn her magically-enhanced-bully, Bethany, is poised to claim supreme star-status with the help of Hermes—god of tricksters.

Oh, and Sophie has less than two months to regain Persephone’s memories and fall in love with Kai, or humanity is doomed. But Sophie can’t seem to let go of her fears that Kai will only love her for Persephone’s sake, and not her own. And that’s kinda not so okay with Sophie.

Though Eros and Aphrodite toss in some magic, Sophie can’t overcome her own romantic notion that a person should be really in love, not simply faking it. Kai gets it, and he’d like to let her know his own feelings on the matter, but hey, gods have their pride.

In order to unravel Persephone’s memories, Sophie turns to master caster-Hephestus-also known by his hipster name, Festos. And, he’s game to help if Sophie can maybe sway Theo into looking his way again. Oh, and Eros volunteers to rescue the brain-drain, but it’s gonna hurt. So the merry bunch takes off after Hermes, on a date arranged by Aphrodite, to cut the cord on Bethany’s villainous popularity.

The date between Sophie and Kai soon becomes a Game of Death to rescue Hannah and gain Hermes’ cooperation. Along the way Sophie begins to see that Kai isn’t all bubbly over Persephone any longer. No, he’s realized that Sophie’s a pretty extraordinary gal—what with her snark and her magic powers and her saving the day. In fact, Sophie’s willingness to accept Kai is what returns Persephone’s memories. Now she knows who tried to kill her years ago in Hades.

And, sadly, that person is back to finish the job.

Interested? YOU ARE IN LUCK! Promo pricing (for Oct 31 and Nov 1 only) is $.99! So click the linky-links and enjoy your very own copy….  Amazon   Barnes & Noble

I reviewed the first book in the trilogy, MY EX FROM HELL, earlier this week. If it caught your eye, well, it’s available here! AMAZON   Barnes & Noble

TD photoAbout the Author
Tellulah Darling:  noun
1. YA romantic comedy author because her first kiss sucked and she’s compensating.
2. Alter ego of former screenwriter.
3. Sassy minx.
Geeks out over: cool tech.
Squees for: great storytelling.
Delights in: fabulous conversation.
Writes about: where love meets comedy. Awkwardness ensues.
Sassy girls. Swoony boys. What could go wrong?

Find the delightful Ms. Darling on Goodreads,  Twitter and Facebook

HEY!  Want to help an author? Tellulah’s names for Sopie’s super viney powers stink–Enter here to tell her YOUR IDEA for a power name and if yours wins, you’ll get a signed copy of My Date From Hell, a t-shirt featuring a design of one of Kai’s tattoos and will have their power name featured in the final book of the trilogy. Contest runs Oct 21-Nov 7.

GIVEAWAY:
2 signed copies (1)of My Ex From Hell and (1) of My Date From Hell – International,
(3) eBook copies in mobi or epub – International
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Chasing the DAUGHTER OF ISIS–Review and Giveaway

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Hi there, and welcome to my stop on the DAUGHTER OF ISIS blog tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours. For other stops on the tour, click here. Today’s Halloween SPOOKTACULAR feature is an UPPER YA Paranormal from debut author, Kelsey Ketch.

Daughter of Isis (Descendants of Isis, #1)

by Kelsey Ketch

Available NOW!
eee75-daughterisis_cvr_lrgSummary from Goodreads:
“Her mouth parted slightly, waiting for Seth to breathe life into her own body, just like in the story. She wanted him to awaken her senses.”

Their worlds collide in California’s high desert.

The last thing Natara “Natti” Stone wants to do is to start anew at Setemple High School. She wished she had never left London. Yet the brutal murder of her maternal grandmother has made her life very complicated. The only clue related to her murder is an ancient, encrypted necklace Natti discovered after her grandmother’s death. And if trying to adjust to American life is not enough, Natti is being stalked by a mysterious, charming high school senior, Seth O’Keefe, who is annoyingly persistent in his attempts at seduction.

Seth O’Keefe is secretly a member of the Sons of Set, an order that worships the Egyptian god of chaos. Seth’s blessing from Set, his “charm,” never failed, except with one person: Natti Stone. Her ability to elude him infatuates and infuriates him, and he becomes obsessed with the chase. But the closer he gets to her, the more his emotions take a dangerous turn, and he risks breaking one of the most valued covenants of his order. The punishment for which is a fate worse than death.

The adventure this unlikely couple becomes engulfed in could cost them their lives and their souls.

*Note: Content for Upper YA*<<<Reviewer note: This disclaimer is not to be taken lightly

My review:
See that disclaimer? Read it. Remember it. This book, for YA, contains content that raised my eyebrows. I am no prude. Yes, sex happens. Kids take drugs. Etc. etc.

The difference between those events and the fiction herein, is this: the male characters use drugging and mind control to avail themselves of any and every female they desire wherever and whenever they desire them. And they see no problem taking whatever they desire.

Why?

Seth and his buddies and their fathers are members, and priests, of a cult to Set, the Egyptian god of Disorder. Their belief that they should destroy what is good and pure in order to obtain riches for themselves is dangerous to everyone within their influence.

Natti arrives in their world when her father moves them to Setemple, a small California town, after Natti’s grandmother is murdered. Oh, and her mother had been murdered 12 years before. (Both women had their hearts torn out.) Natti’s half-Egyptian, and is only now learning her heritage in tribute to her mother and grandmother–unknown to her father whose heart still grieves.

In Setemple High, Seth meets Natti and is intrigued to find one female who isn’t susceptible to his, er, considerable charms. (Translation: Dude get’s more play than a little league field in June. Even in school.) Seth’s buddies can’t figure out why he can’t hit it and quit it, but Natti’s truth-sensing power resists Seth’s mystical compulsion again and again.

Though Seth ascends to being a Son of Set, he begins to recognize the compulsion he wields is not as satisfying after meeting Natti. He experiences his mother’s long battle with sadness and confusion as a vacuous vessel for Set, created and used by his high-priest father, and knows this isn’t what he really desires. In fact, he’s rather tired of his dad controlling his every step. And, when Seth’s father meets Natti, he decides he wants her for a concubine further enraging Seth. (Yes, there are concubines in the book. Disclaimer, remember?)

As Seth develops a deeper connection with Natti, he learns she isn’t just an ordinary girl–she descends from a long line of priestesses to Isis and is a mortal enemy to Set’s worshipers. In fact, her mother and grandmother were murdered by Set Disciples for this very reason. Now that the Set worshipers have found Natti, her fate is sealed. Except Seth is still pining for her, and he may just be willing to defy everything he has been raised to believe in order to save his enemy, and his love.

As far as the story–it was super interesting. Had to fire up the Google-ometer and figure out the Egyptian pantheon for my own good so I could get ahead of the narrative. It also has a metric ton of Holy-God-I-Freaking-Hope-Ain’t-Nobody-Like-These-Set-Dudes-In-The-World, because they are some nasty, nasty, freaky, callous gents, let me tell y’all.

Remember that line from Spider-man? That one about great power and, IDK, responsibility? Yeah. These guys have ULTIMATE power and NOOOOO responsibility. So….as a gal, I was a bit creeped out by Seth and his Set pals, at least initially. Watching Seth’s mind change in the face of all his fantastic power is a remarkable experience, and gives the story it’s heart.

Interested? You can find DAUGHTER OF ISIS at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo.

About the Author
d4281-kelseyketchDuring her high school years, Kelsey Ketch could always be found tucked away in a little corner of the hall or classroom, writing her fantasy worlds and creating illustrations and maps. Today is no different, except now she’s writing in the break room at her office building or at the tables of the Barnes and Noble Café in Cary, North Carolina. She is also an avid reader, a part-time book blogger at Ketch’s Book Nook, and lives with her two orange tabbies and awesome and humorous flat-mate. Daughter of Isis is her debut novel.

Want to know more? Find Kelsey on Goodreads, Twitter and Facebook.

GIVEAWAY: (2 giveaways)

2 E-copies of Daughter of Isis (mobi or epub) + Swag (INT) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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MY EX FROM HELL–A Review

Hi there! Got another YA paranormal to share in my pre-Halloween SPOOKTACULAR, this one a contemporary re-imagining of Greek mythology: MY EX FROM HELL by Tellulah Darling.

My Ex From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy, #1)Sixteen year old Sophie Bloom is an ordinary girl. She has two BFF’s, Hannah and Theo, and a bully—yoga-goddess-Bethany, and a mother who mostly can’t be bothered, which is why she lives at her Vancouver boarding school.

On Halloween Sophie pulls a laxative prank on the vile Bethany, then sneaks out to ruin Bethany’s rendezvous with a mysterious boy, Kai. If only high school hijinks were so simple. Sophie does meet Kai, but instead of humiliating Bethany, the kiss Sophie receives triggers an onslaught of memories from her prior life—as Persephone, goddess of Spring and Fertility. Turns out Kai is really Kyrillos, son of Hades, and Persephone’s jilted ex.

Kai’s about to reclaim his long-lost love when Theo—who is really Prometheus in disguise—intercedes, dragging Sophie back to the school grounds.

Kai enrolls himself in the school–that’s the only way he can get near Sophie/Persephone thanks to Theo’s magical wards—but Sophie’s not really that keen on him. I mean, he’s gorgeous but Sophie’s concerned that Kai only wants her for Persephone—and she can’t even remember that life. Of course, Bethany’s on a mission to win Kai for herself, and the spite is quintessential Mean Girl.

Yeah, and you thought your high school romances were complicated!

Classmate Cassie spouts earth-shattering prophesy only Persephone can avert—by hooking up with Kai—cementing the weird-factor. Oh, and Sophie develops defensive magic of her own, which is great now that Hades and Zeus have sent their lightning and fireball wielding minions to destroy her.

Desperate to reclaim her inner Persephone, Theo takes Sophie to the Underworld to find her magical sapphire—a gift from Persephone’s mother, Demeter. While there they are framed for poisoning Hades and barely escape. And, upon their return, they learn that Cassie and Bethany have gone missing—vanished by the new guidance counselor.

Sophie, Kai, Theo and Hannah brave the labyrinth to rescue Cassie from her dragon captor (oh, and Bethany, too, if it works out, you know) forcing previous foes to become allies. It’s a dangerous mission, and may be the end of all things humanity if they fail.

Homerun, Tellulah Darling!

This YA paranormal romance is a total hoot. The voice: teen-angst-plus-Greek-god-ennui makes for an acidic, deadpan wit that rides roughshod over all those weepy-weepy-poor-me coming-of-age tales. From the first I was struck with laughter. I was totally endeared to Sophie—all she wants is to be loved for her self without, you know, looking like she wants to be loved at all. Because, for a lot of teens, trying to be anything is trying too hard, and hence, so not cool. The puns are merciless—EX FROM HELL?—take it literally.

You can find this fan-tab tome here: GOODREADS   AMAZON or Barnes & Noble

If you have the chance to pick this one up, let me know what you think of it in the comments.

And, as always, keep reading my friends!