Hey there! Just catching up on my reading. I have a bunch of new books waiting on my iPad, so I’m diving deep to figure out which ones will make for great posts next week.

In the meantime, I wanted to highlight recent posts that still have active giveaways.

First, I’m giving away a paperback ARC–that’s a REAL book–from Bella Andre (I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU) for anyone in the US and Canada. Just like my Facebook page and then click here to comment on the post for the giveaway. Open through March 21st.

A chance at three great prizes from Daisy Prescott for READY TO FALL.

A chance at Amazon cash and Faery wands from Susan Kaye Quinn for FAERY SWAP.

A chance at a KINDLE FIRE!! from Darkly Delicious YA in the Pot-o-Gold Giveaway.

A chance at Amazon cash from Susan Kaye Quinn for FIRST DAUGHTER.

Good luck and keep reading my friends!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

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A big thank you goes out to all the authors and bloggers who helped make this event possible! The authors at Darkly Delicious YA couldn’t have pulled this off without our amazing co-host, Book Nerd Tours, and everyone’s wonderful support. 

When I had a chance to get my hands on the ARC of REVEALED–I jumped. With both feet. Bianca Giavanni’s erotic series has been top-rated on Smashword’s Erotic fiction list for a bit.

Now I know why!

The Story:

James Laird and Lola Caraway have been next door neighbors and best friends since elementary school. James was always the ultimate player, and after graduation moves to LA and finds his place as a rising star in the porn industry. Lola, three years younger, is a studious overachiever and on track for graduation and success in college.

Lola knows about and accepts James and his debauchery; it’s never been a secret between the two friends. However, a hometown visit prompts James to face his evolving feelings for her, especially after his conservative family discovers his true profession and she comes to his rescue. Not wanting to seduce the innocent Lola, he returns to California, where he sets his sights on becoming a superstar in the industry.

While Lola is visiting James from college, they dance around their attraction to each other. After Lola admits she’s never had an orgasm, James offers to be her hands-on teacher. A lifetime of friendship with a manwhore tells Lola that she should not get attached to James as a lover, as tempting as his offer may be. Can she please her body while still protecting her heart?

My review:
This fast-paced tale isn’t a love story. It’s an “I-know-this-will-end-poorly-if-we-give-in” story.

20 y/o James “Langdon” Laird is a porn actor. He’s beautiful, big, and buff, and thoroughly loves sex with women–many women. Any women. This began in junior high, and never stopped–even as a teen he happily served the cougar-wives who employed his dad’s landscaping company. Why not, right? Everybody got a happy ending. In his movies the gals adore him for his attention and respect.

17 y/o Lola Caraway is bright and shiny and fresh. She has loved James like a brother ever since they met as kids. She knows about his sex films, but it doesn’t matter to her–that’s just a job. She’s rather asexual, asctually, despite having a pubertal Swan-Transformation. Case in point: she’s going to Prom as a beard to her semi-closeted gay friend.

James has returned to their small Midwestern town to visit Lola and attend her high school graduation. Between them the relationship has always been platonic–but this visit James sees the new Lola. And he’s interested. Not enough to approach her sexually, though, so don’t call the cops.

Lola and James spend a fantastic night after she ditches out of her prom–romantic dinner on a lovely vista–and cuddling throughout the night. When he returns the next morning his parents are enraged. They were alerted to his porn career via some friends and his father kicks him out. Having no where to go, he collapses on Lola’s doorstep, shaken by their anger and abandonment. Lola’s mother takes James in–temporarily. He stays two night. Two night in Lola’s arms, though nothing happens. Well, not nothing. Lola’s open heart and soft embrace soothes James’ broken spirit. He wants to be physical with her–but he also doesn’t. He knows he’s not a relationship guy. Not the guy a Forever Girl like Lola deserves. He heads back to Cali to pursue his career with alacrity.

Meanwhile, Lola’s confused about her new attraction to James. She has the summer to stew on it, but has promised to visit him over Labor Day, and does.

This time, the chemistry between them is fierce and yet playful. Lola meets some of his co-stars and friends in the industry. Some catty-gals who enjoy their James-playtoy, and some genuinely nice gay boys who helped James learn the business. Lola and James experiment a bit sexually–though doing the deed? Well…

It’s an interesting friendship. I struggled a bit with the age disparity, the old sanctimonious gal in me got riled initially. But the compassionate way James treats Lola–and her stalwart resistance to any shenanigans–put me at ease. The book is written in clear language–no “too deep” conversation. These are still kids/new adults, after all. So, they razz each other. Playful flirting is carefully balanced by mutual respect and admiration. I felt comfortable with the story and its ending. See, usually I’m all “Where’s the beef?” when it comes to my erotic romance; not so here. I’m looking forward to Book 2 and wondering how this relationship will change, yet again. Lola’s going back to college–and the admiring boys she’ll surely encounter. James is going back to starring in his on- and off-camera sex scenes. Will they be able to connect again?

Interested? You can find REVEALED on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

About the Author:

Bianca Giovanni is an indie author. Her erotic romance really took off with early versions of Vice, Virtue, and Video selling like gangbusters on Smashwords. Now working with Omnific Publishing, her five book series will reach an even bigger audience. You can find her on her website, twitter, and Facebook.

Let me know if you’ve read any of Bianca’s Smashwords submissions–and if you liked them!

And, as always, keep reading my friends!

I’d like to thank all those who’ve been following my blog over the past 7 months. I’ve made 153 posts–80% of those reviews of books I’ve read. I can’t honestly count the number of books I read this year–upwards of 200–in all flavors and genres. There are many I never blogged, but I’m posting my reviews in Goodreads and via links in my Facebook page. I’ll try to catch up! Please friend me in these locations if you’d like to catch all my non-blogworthy thoughts.

For me, it’s been an education. And not simply in the computer-IT sense.

I’ve read some great books, and some okay books, and I’ve learned to stop reading books that truly didn’t appeal. This was probably the hardest, actually, because I’m the kid who read cereal boxes at the breakfast table…

To recap some of my fave’s this year was difficult. But I’ve pulled out a few that I continually recommend to people when they ask what I read/enjoy.

Naughtiest Male:  Drew Evans of TANGLED by Emma Chase. He can put his dirty mouth on me any day!

Naughtiest Female: Letty of STRINGS by Kendall Grey. I have such colorful new hoo-ha terminology thanks to her sass.

Hottest Rock Series:  I’m torn here, but since both are from Olivia Cunning, just pick up Backstage Pass or Try Me to get started!

Fave BDSM-erotica:  Adored The Pleasure to Please collection from Deena Ward, which begins with The Businessman’s Tie–a freebie!

New Adult Romance:  Recently, I loved Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker. I also really liked Kate Evangelista’s Romancing the Bookworm. Expect to see many New Adult titles in the 2014 blog.

YA Romance–Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell took my breath away.

YA Paranormal Romance: Hold Tight by Cherie Colyer. Love square between a witch, a Fae prince and a Demon? I’m there.

YA Supernatural: My Boyfriend From Hell by Tellulah Darling. Cracked me right up. The sequel delivers as well.

Fave YA witch: Julie Richardson from Poltergeeks by Sean Cummings. That girl has some sass and kicks some @ss!

Contemporary romance: I really enjoyed so many, but I’ll recommend UNTIL NEXT TIME and ANIMATE ME. Both solid, with ‘ordinary’ male leads that made me swoon.

Adult paranormal romance series: The Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones. Begins with First Grave on the Right and ends with me falling in love with the son of Satan…Reyes Farrow.

Adult erotic paranormal series: The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward. First in the series is Dark Lover. Delicious. Fun. Hot. Made me consider moving to Caldwell, NY…

So many other books to recommend, but I’m always interested in what you folks out there found interesting. Do send me your recommendations, and I”ll be sure to check them out.

In the meantime, keep reading my friends!

Hi there! Welcome to my stop on the ENTER THE NIGHT blog tour sponsored by AToMR tours! You can find the rest of the tours tops here. This new YA paranormal is out now and a seriously spooky contemporary romance. Perfect for my pre-Halloween SPOOKTACULAR! Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!!

Enter the Night Book Description:

In Comes the Night, Alex Robbins, Brooke Saunders and Maryanne Hemlock, three troubled seniors at Streep Academy, learned to escape their pain — escape their very bodies — by casting a dark piece of themselves out through the stained glass window high in the attic of their dorm, Harvell House.

Casting has been the salvation of each of the girls, but particularly for Maryanne. The wholesome good girl of the trio, Maryanne nevertheless harbors a secret — and a darkness — unrivaled by tattooed scenester Alex or beautiful badass Brooke. Casting provides Maryanne a desperately needed reprieve from her guilt and pain, but it’s become like a drug. And as with any drug, it only masks the real problems … and brings dangers of its own.

When Maryanne starts dating Bryce Walker, son of the notorious “Heller” hunter Ira Walker, is it first love, or is there a darker, more self-destructive impulse at play? As the superstitious citizens of Mansbridge begin to mutter and scan the night skies for Hellers, can the hunted lie down with the hunter and emerge unscathed?

My Review:

Both of the Casters stories is a psychological chiller. The girls, Alex, Brooke and Maryanne, have each terrible, personal secrets. Secrets they still won’t share with each other. ENTER THE NIGHT is Maryanne’s story–a story of grief and guilt that nearly kills her.

How?

Maryanne feels personally responsible for her baby brother Jason’s death. She was babysitting him when he died and crucifies herself mentally for not checking on him just one last time. As a mother, I know this scenario would haunt me to my dying day–and that’s exactly how Marryanne feels. Except when she’s casting–separating from her body in a mystical trance. Her casted self–along with Brooke’s and Alex’s–feels a tenth of the guilt and suffering Maryanne experiences every waking hour.

But the townsfolk of Mansbridge scour the skies in fear of the shadowy casts they call Hellers, thinking them soul-stealing demons–this limits the girls casting activity. Even Bryce, the delish hunk of hockey godness who is smitten with Maryanne is a Heller hunter. THE Heller if it comes down to it. And, unfortunately, Maryanne is smitten with Bryce as well.

Plus, being with him helps to keep her guilt over Jason away.

Now she’s on half-alert to learn how Bryce will try to catch the Hellers, while keeping herself sane in the face of her grief. Alex and Brooke are by her side–most of the time. Maryanne specifically seems to put herself in danger–in order to punish herself for not caring for Jason when she should have. It’s a mind/heart wrencher, in truth. Though the danger ramps consistently the story feels organic, not melodramatic.

Like the first book, COMES THE NIGHT, there are valuable lessons on friendship and forgiveness–hard learned for these cast-away girls. Neither book has ended in a cliffhanger, but I’d still recommend reading COMES THE NIGHT first. (Disclaimer, first book deals with rape quite openly). Both are good reads and recommended for upper teens due to ‘normal’ teen illicit activity and rape.

Interested?  You can find ENTER THE NIGHT here:    AMAZON   Barnes & Noble

COMES THE NIGHT is also out. You can find it here:  GOODREADS    AMAZON   Barnes & Noble

About the Authors:

NORAH WILSON is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic suspense and paranormal romance. She lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, with her husband, two adult children, dog Chloe, and kitty Ruckus. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

HEATHER DOHERTY fell in love with writing while taking creative writing courses with Athabasca University. Motivated by her university success, and a life-long dream of becoming a novelist, she later enrolled in the Humber School for Writers under the mentorship of David Adams Richards. Her first literary novel was published in 2006. While still writing dark literary (as well as not-so-dark children’s lit), she is beyond thrilled to be writing paranormal/horror with Norah. Heather lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick with her family. (No pets, but I swear Norah’s dog, Chloe, calls me Aunt Heather).

Together, Heather and Norah write dark, edgy, frightening young adult paranormal/horror.

Giveaway!

The authors are giving out 2 – $10 Amazon gift cards
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Hi all!

Thanks so much for joining me on my book blogging adventure. I’ve had such a great time sharing my love of books with any, and every, person who is willing to listen–or read–my thoughts.

In truth, I read a lot more than I blog–and I’d love to share more, but can’t full-out-blog everything. If you’d like to catch mini-reviews, and freebies, or other general reading/writing quick posts…follow V’s Reads on Facebook!

There are a few giveaways still open. Hit the links and let fate decide…

OFF CHANCE by Sawyer Bennett–$50 Amazon card and 5 Swag Packs

WITHOUT YOU by Brooklyn Skye–$50 gift card to Amazon/B&N and signed book

HEARTBREAK RANCH by Anastasia Ryan–e-books and a $10 iTunes card

NOW AND THEN by Brenda Rothert–E-books

AND! If you comment on the NINETY EIGHT release (today) post you may just win a shiny e-book.

GOOD LUCK!

Keeping up with my HALLOWEEN theme I’m discussing a Hallow’s Eve staple:  Vampires!!

See, I’ve heard a lot about J.R. Ward’s multi-volume vampire romance series. Frankly I was a little leery–because TWILIGHT.

I mean, you love it or you hate it.

For me, well, I’m not TWI-HARD. I respect what it did for opening the YA bibliosphere, but it ain’t no fave. And, yes, I read all of them–more than once. Gotta study what sells, and all.

As such, I approached DARK LOVER with extreme caution.

How silly of me!

Delight–pure and simple.

The story opens with Damian, a Brother, asking his fellow Brother–and vampire king–Wrath, to watch over his halfling daughter Beth. She doesn’t know what she is, and Damian fears her change to a vampire will be dangerous. Wrath refuses. He detests halfbreeds. Then Damian is murdered by lessors, the mortal enemy of vampirekind, and Wrath knows he must honor Damian’s final wish.

Beth isn’t exactly what Wrath was expecting however. She’s gorgeous, and opinionated, and independent. She doesn’t know why Wrath is stalking her, but he does–and not only because Damian asked him. He’s obsessed.

Meanwhile the lessors are hatching plans to capture vampires using dead hookers as bait. The cops think Wrath is involved and the lead detective on the case, Butch O’Neill, is hot for a collar–and Beth.

By the time Beth’s change comes, Wrath has claimed her as his mate–and Butch gets caught in the crossfire. Good thing the other Brothers take a shine to Butch’s chivalrous streak and foul-mouth.

So much more happens, but suffice to say there is a real-world feel to this Urban Fantasy. The supernatural elements are well described and there is no world-building-info-dump. We are thrust into the action from the start and the story flows like blood from a vein…ahem.

The sex is just this side of panty-melting, absolutely right for a strong romance.

Another great thing about this book?

It’s been a big seller. Unfortunately that means it’s kinda pricey.

However…you *might* be able to get it at that old school freebie download site: your local library. Mine had it…maybe yours does too!

One more super great thing? Lots of libraries have eBook lending now via OverDrive. If you got an eReader and a library card, you might could get DARK LOVER that way. (I did!!!)

Otherwise: Bookstores–your fave. Goodreads. Amazon. Barnes&Noble.

Let me know if you’ve read any of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. I’d love to find out which were particular favorites. I’m into the series neck deep…

As always, keep reading my friends.

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