Rock Romance

Discovering Love in ANYA AND THE SHY GUY

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Hi there! Today I’m sharing in the release day festivities for ANYA AND THE SHY GUY, the fourth book in the Backstage Pass series from Entangled Crush. I’ve already enjoyed MIA AND THE BAD BOY and DAISY AND THE FRONT MAN, so I jumped at the chance to catch this one! Anya and “Will” have a difficult road to love, but they persevere!

Anya and the Shy GuyAbout the book:
It’s always the quiet ones…
Anya Anderson doesn’t just need a big break, she needs any break. Living on the streets doesn’t leave a girl many options, so when she scores a gig reporting on the Seconds to Juliet tour, she jumps at the chance to earn enough money to sleep somewhere safe. And the paycheck will get bigger—and keep her off the streets for good—if she can dig up dirt on Will Fray, the irritatingly hot “shy guy” of the band.

Problem is, Will Fray isn’t who everyone thinks he is. In fact, he’s not Will at all. Matt, Will’s identical twin, is actually the guy onstage, reluctantly covering for his brother while he’s in rehab. To make matters worse, Matt’s being shadowed by a cute reporter with troubled eyes determined to get the scoop. On him. And he’s having trouble finding the willpower to keep his distance…

But if the secret gets out, it won’t just be his head on a platter—it’ll be the whole band’s.

This Entangled Teen Crush book contains steamy make out scenes, graphic language, and a love story so hot your copy may spontaneously burst into flames. You’ve been warned.

My Review:

This is the 4th book in the Backstage Pass series, but can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Anya is a homeless teen who has managed to bluff her way into a gig as a reporter covering a two week stint on the Seconds To Juliet tour. Her assignment is to interview Will, the “shy” one and make daily updates to her online ‘zine. Anya knows that if she uncovers a big, dark secret about the band, she can sell it and get the money to move off the Tulsa streets. She has had a few articles published, but has posed as a married woman to attain her freelance job, even though she is only 17.

Will Frey is in rehab after a pain pill addiction. In order to not be found in breach of his contract, his twin brother Matt has stepped into his shoes–only one member of the band knows Matt’s true identity, and Matt’s freaking out that Anya will discover his secret. In order to distract her, he attempts to seduce her–and ends up falling for her completely.

This is a fun one! Anya and Matt are both good people trapped in uncomfortable positions. Anya is so used to being on her own, she’s shell-shocked at the attention of the band, and the sheer number of people that are part of the tour. She makes friends with the make-up woman, and Natasha is her first confidante in probably 5 years; surely since before her schizo mother abandoned her 3 years ago. Matt is, by turns, aggressive and reticent. He’s on constant guard against letting his secret loose, but he doesn’t have all the knowledge he needs to be a complete changeling. Like, Will didn’t give him accurate lyrics. And, Will neglected to mention Natasha was his girlfriend on the down-low.

It’s a really clean read, with only the barest suggestion of anything beyond kissing ending in discomfort and giggles. Matt discovers that Anya has learned his secret, and he does the very worst thing possible, but he’s redeemed in the end–in church no less. I loved how the deception was resolved and really wanted to give Will a big smooch for fixing things, along with Matt. Plus, Anya gets a family of friends who are far better than any she could have been born to.

One snag for me: I’m very familiar with Briticisms, and I wonder why Suze Winegardner didn’t write Miles’ story–as he’s the Brit in the group and her expertise in the application of the Queen’s English would have been better used there. There were several times if I wondered how a boy from Florida would use colloquialisms common to a bloke from the North End…

Otherwise, it’s a light, fun read with some tender romantic elements and two HEA’s for readers to enjoy.

Interested? You can find ANYA AND THE SHY GUY on Goodreads, Amazon (US, UK, CA) Barnes & Noble, Kobo Books, and Googleplay.

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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

Suze WinegardnerAbout the Author
Suze Winegardner is an ex-pat Brit who quells her homesickness with Cadbury Flakes and Fray Bentos pies. She thinks her life is chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny. And if you get that reference, well, she already considers you kin.

She is represented by Laura Bradford, of the Laura Bradford Literary Agency,and writes for Entangled Publishing‘s Crush imprint. She’s lived in London, Paris and New York, and has settled, for the time being, in North Carolina.

When not writing, Suze loves to travel with her military husband, and take long walks with their Lab. Catch up with Suze online on her Website, Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook.

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Teaching Both MIA AND THE BAD BOY–Review and Giveaway

Mia and the Bad Boy tour banner
Hi there! Today, I’m sharing my review for a contemporary YA romance featuring a shy, smart girl and the bad boy musician she’s tutoring. MIA AND THE BAD BOY by Lisa Burstein is a fun, flirty romance for teens. Don’t forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway for a $25 Ticketmaster GC.

MiaAndTheBadBoy_FCAbout the Book:
This good girl’s about to meet her match…
Ryder Brooks is living the dream—he’s famous, loved by millions of girls, and miserable. All he really wants is to write his own music, not Seconds to Juliet’s sugary sweet pop. In order to do that, though, the “bad boy” of the band will have to play by the rules. And that includes behaving with his new—and super cute—über-good-girl tutor.

Mia Reyes is in fangirl heaven. Tutoring her favorite member of her favorite band? It’s a dream come true…until it turns into a complete nightmare. Ryder is nothing like she thought. He’s crude, arrogant, and pretty much a total jerk. And the worst part? She’s roped into pretending to be his girlfriend so that no one finds out he’s being tutored. Fake kisses, plenty of PDA, and even sharing his hotel room…

But sometimes even the baddest of bad boys needs a little redemption.

Note: This is the second book in the YA series Backstage Pass. It can be read as a standalone.

My Review:
Mia is a first generation Mexican-American whose parents want her to go to medical school. She has been groomed since birth to study, study, study, and never had a boyfriend. Check that: she’s never been allowed to have a boyfriend. At 16, her only kissing experience has been with her hand. In exchange for her help tutoring The Ryder Brooks for a month so he can pass his GED test, she will receive four years of tuition at UCLA paid in full. Not bad.

What is bad? Ryder.

He’s nasty, and that’s in the mean way, not the sexy way. Though he is sexy, too. If Ryder were a flavor of ice cream, he’d be burnt bacon. He’s abrasive, unkind, and rather stunned that his tutor is both younger and sexier than he’d anticipated. Since she can’t be hidden amongst the crew as a therapist or other talent help, he insists that she pretend to be his girlfriend–in front of the other four members of his band.

This is a difficult position for Mia, particularly because she wanted to like Ryder so much. She adores his music, only to learn that he hates the manufactured sound of it. She admires his performances, only to hear how he detests the boy band life. Ryder is a bit spoiled, actually, in his professional life. Personally though, he’s been abandoned time and again–first by his alcoholic mother and later by the foster system shuttling him from family to family without finding one stable home which wanted to keep him.

Mia is a temporary distraction, but she is a good tutor. Ryder finds himself not only engaging with the GED material, he’s slowly becoming obsessed with his fake girlfriend. And Mia is warming to the Ryder whose cool customer demeanor is beginning to slip.

This is a fun and flirty romance that has little conflict. The biggest obstacle to Ryder and Mia getting together is her desire to be ‘the good girl’ her parents adore. Ryder, despite being 17 y/o, is far more worldly and experienced–and he knows Mia is innocent. He doesn’t want to ruin her, but he does want her.

Expect a double-cross mishap that splits them up, and the epic grand gesture to reunite. I liked both Mia and Ryder. It took me longer to like Ryder, however. There were some issues for me, as an adult, that seemed glossed over–like how autonomous Mia was. Not many 16 y/o’s can decide their own fate, and her parents, who are described as smothering, certainly let her have a long free rein which wasn’t consistent. Still, for a teen book, it’s pretty breezy. Not a lot of drama.

Interested? You can find MIA AND THE BAD BOY on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo Books, and iBooks. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a $25 Ticketmaster gift card!
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

lisa bursteinAbout the Author:
Lisa Burstein is a tea seller by day and a writer by night. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from the Inland Northwest Center for Writers at Eastern Washington University and is glad to finally have it be worth more than the paper it was printed on. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her very patient husband, a neurotic dog and two cats.

She wrote her first story when she was in second grade. It was a Thanksgiving tale from the point of view of the turkey from freezer to oven to plate. It was scandalous.

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

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Cephalopod Coffeehouse April 2015–KISSING TED CALLAHAN (And Other Guys)–Review

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Hi there! Welcome one and all to the Cephalopod Coffeehouse, a cozy gathering of book lovers, meeting to discuss their thoughts regarding the tomes they enjoyed most over the previous month. Pull up a chair, order your cappuccino and join in the fun.

As part of the Coffeehouse I’m sharing the best book I read this month. In truth, the best book I read was part of a blog tour–CARRY THE OCEAN–and I had agreed to post that review on Monday. It’s about two young adults (they are 18 and 19 y/o boys) with depression and autism, respectively, who find love with each other. Frankly, it’s hands-down fantastic. Please check out that review–the book is a life-changer.

For my Coffehous post, however, I’d like to share my review of an irreverent contemporary teen romance, KISSING TED CALLAHAN (AND OTHER GUYS) released earlier this month from Amy Spalding. I highly recommend it to people who enjoy teen romance and rock band swooniness.

Kissing Ted Callahan (and Other Guys)My Review:
I really enjoyed this teen coming-of-age read.

Riley and Reid, both juniors at the same private high school in So Cal, decide to find willing kissing (or more!) partners upon learning that their fellow band mates Nathan and Lucy are “together.” Riley–who had been BFFs with Lucy–was really hurt that Lucy kept her messing around with Nathan a secret, and she leans on Reid a lot allowing a small distance between her and Lucy to grow canyon-sized.

Still, Riley and Reid are committed to the plan of finding the perfect boy/girlfriend, and they keep track of their romantic plans and forays in a notebook which they continually update. Riley is set on Ted Callahan a slightly awkward boy in their class who she’s secretly crushed on for a long time. Reid is interested in a girl who works in the local SPCA. They each try to make first (and second) contacts with their crushes, sometimes with good results. It’s a very interesting and self-deprecating read. The story is mostly told from Riley’s POV, but Reid’s journal entries are some excellent segues.

Along the path to finding the right guy/girl, there are mishaps. Riley finds her chem partner to be interested in more than their classroom experiments, and a fellow record store rat makes a lot of the right moves. Soon there are three guys who don’t mind kissing Riley, and she’s not sure if this is okay, but she’s rolling with it. Reid’s naked attempt to engage his dream girl (by feigning interest in a pet adoption) leads to troubles of the four-legged variety.

I think Riley was a very interesting character. The story is shamelessly honest–about fake ID’s, sneaking out, and finding the absolute right place for carnal activities. It felt very real and approachable in a way that teens will likely appreciate. Riley’s enthusiasm for life, her band and her boyfriend quest is engaging and fun. She doesn’t take herself too seriously, and she’s wiling to admit to her mistakes in love–especially when the journal is suddenly…missing. I thought the end was a bit sappy, but not too much. I was in the right mood for a feel-good read and this one hit the high notes very well. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.

Interested? You can find KISSING TED CALLAHAN (AND OTHER GUYS) on Goodreads, B&N, Amazon, or IndieBound.

Please take a trip to visit my fellow Coffehouse presenters. Their book reviews rock! And, as always, keep reading my friends!

1. The Armchair Squid 2. Life Before the Hereafter
3. V’s Reads 4. StrangePegs — Side Jobs
5. MOCK? MOCK! 6. StrangePegs — Empirical Evidence
7. StrangePegs — Ghost Story 8. StrangePegs — If Chins Could Kill

Can We Get a LAST SECOND CHANCE? A Review

Hi there! Way back when (last summer) I fell for a country-singer romance from an indie author, Caisey Quinn. GIRL WITH GUITAR really hit a lot of high notes for me and I’d recommend it. I also enjoyed KEEP ME STILL back around Thanksgiving. So, I was excited to come across LAST SECOND CHANCE, her most recent New Adult romance, on sale–and it’s a keeper.

Last Second Chance (Second Chance, #1)About the book:

When Stella Jo Chandler gets an offer to work at the Second Chance Ranch celebrity rehab facility right after graduating from Texas A&M, she’s tempted to turn it down. She wants to help real people with real problems, not spoiled celebrities going on vacation for publicity. But growing up on her family’s ranch left her with a love of horses that draws her to the opportunity. How bad can babysitting a bunch of strung out celebrities be?

What she didn’t count on was being roped into a tangled mess with infamous rocker and three-time rehab drop out Van Ransom on her first day. And she sure didn’t expect to feel the overwhelming attraction that pulls her to the man who has more issues than she can count on both hands. Like the hotel rooms and tour buses he’s famous for trashing, the havoc he could wreak on Stella’s heart would be irreparable.

Van isn’t at Second Chance for publicity or because he’s suffering from “exhaustion”. He’s on the brink of destruction, and he needs the kind of help Stella isn’t sure she can give. But without her, he’ll lose everything. Because he’s on his last second chance.

My Review:
Stella Jo used to compete as a show jumper. Growing up on her family ranch, her mother pushed Stella to be perfect–and Stella pushed herself, too, hoping to gain some acknowledgment from her father, a taciturn man. In fact, the only love Stella felt growing up was the love she experienced with her horse. Then, Stella fell while competing and broke her leg badly. Her beloved horse was too injured, and put down. Stella’s heart was broken, and she hadn’t returned to her family’s ranch since–she spent four years at college and just landed a job at a drug rehab facility in Dallas, a few hours from home.

On her first day there she meets “Mr. Walker” a celebrity client of the facility–one all the female staff are swooning for. Stella swoons, too, she’s just not capable of processing her attraction–too many years of shutting down her emotions.

Lead singer Van Ransom is plagued by the demons of his childhood: his drug addict mother and too-young death of his older sister, Valerie. He’s been in and out of rehab before, with no effect. But this time his record contract is on the line: he must shape up, or the band goes on. Without him.

He’s prepared to say all the right things to get through, but meeting the aloof Stella Jo turns his head. Van’s used to the attention of women–and some of the nurses at Second Chance Ranch aren’t averse to a little “private therapy”–but the enigmatic care coordinator seems impervious to Van’s charms. Or, is she….

This “rock romance” is unique in that, there is no rock–and the romance is rocky. I really enjoyed seeing Stella come to life. It seemed she was completely emotionally shut down–too busy looking for the next curve in her path to see the lush scenery in her view. She’s scarred from too little love, and isn’t sure she can even accept love from anyone. Yet, being around Van startles her into sensing her own passion.

Unfortunately she can’t act on it. Being intimate with a patient is grounds for immediate termination–which would send Stella back to her family home. And that’s a place she won’t even visit, let alone move back to live.

Van is, however, relentless in his pursuit. He volunteers to work in the horse stables so he can spend time with Stella–who continually brushes him off. His mind is driven to distraction, so much so, he actually connects with his therapist and begins confessing his long-secret horrors of growing up in an addict’s care, or lack thereof. While none of Van’s friends or band mates believe Van will get clean and sober, Van goes the extra distance to entice Stella.

For this broken rocker and emotionally-vacant woman, a superficial connection is all one would expect, but the attraction develops into a mutual compassion, a desire to fill the others’ needs. For the first time Van can remember, he acts unselfishly–both emotionally and as a lover. He doesn’t want a quick hit from Stella–he wants…more.

Add the complications of surveillance by Stella’s superiors and co-workers, a stalker ex-fiancé, and Van’s buddies popping in with drugs (just in case) and it seems both Stella’s job and Van’s contract are set to implode. Good thing Stella’s well-practiced at hiding her emotions and Van’s self-control can tolerate this rarely-exercised application.

Here’s what I loved about the book: it wasn’t glossy. Stella and Van don’t fall into bed the first day, or the first week. They stumble. They overreact. They blame and judge and make decisions ‘for the good’ of someone else.

Truly, I had a little trouble with the depth of their attraction following one chance encounter, but the romance was slow to develop, and the sexual tension was excruciating. Just when it looked like they were going to get it on, somebody would interrupt and complicate everything.

The writing is solid, and the romance steams. The progression of their relationship is well-paced and the smexytimes are stimulating, not sloppy. Van has a very filthy mouth, which makes for some fun dialogue. I really liked how Stella reconciled with her parents. Her newfound strength–acquired from beating off Van’s advances–was interesting. At times I thought the superficiality of Stella’s earlier relationships felt a bit exaggerated, but it was clear that she was making choices to connect with Van and new friends, Miranda and Jesse, in a way she never attempted before. The ‘horse therapy’ was a nice twist on the usual rehab tale.

Interested? You can find LAST SECOND CHANCE on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes &Noble. It is currently priced at $.99, but that’s gonna increase 5/13.

imageAbout the author:

Caisey Quinn lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband, daughter, and other assorted animals. She is the bestselling author of the Kylie Ryans series as well as several New Adult and Contemporary Romance novels featuring southern girls finding love in unexpected places. You can find her online at her website, GoodReads, Facebook, and Twitter.

Thanks for popping by, and keep reading my friends!

Join the SINNERS AT THE ALTAR! A Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for stopping by and keep reading my friends!

NOCTURNES–Dark and Delicious–A Review

Most people would agree that alcoholism and prostitution aren’t sexy.
Yet somehow Kendall Grey turns these two vices into romance.
Nocturnes (Hard Rock Harlots, #3)

NOCTURNES is the third installment of her Hard Rock Harlots series. I adored both STRINGS and BEATS, and couldn’t wait to find out what happened to Rax–self proclaimed Guitar God and Dom Deluxe.

Back in BEATS Rax was captivated by a stripper, Lola, and in despair of losing her he drank so much he ended up with alcohol poisoning. Rax’s battle with the bottle has only increased since then. Especially now that his wingman/lover, Toombs, is exclusive with Jinx, the drummer of their band Killer Buzz Float.

As the band records what may be their breakthrough album, Rax pulls away from the happy couples–he’s sure he’ll never find a true love. Drunk and stumbling through the strip club Nocturnes, Rax spots his Lola–aka Eve Belikov.

Eve has danced since she was a child. Her parents, Russian immigrants, were killed by a drunk driver when she was twelve and left her floundering in the foster care system. As a stripper Eve is sexy and untouchable, but as an angel in Heaven, Nocturnes’ super exclusive BDSM sub-club, Eve gets touched any way her customers desire. In truth, as a reader I was appalled and disgusted–and had to remind myself that fiction is not even as strange as real-life. Somewhere in this world humans are degraded/exploited far worse than Eve was. Still, it was unsettling. And I think that’s the genius of Kendall Grey. She didn’t try to make it fun or sexy. She made it real. It was a risk. A big risk, and creatively I think it paid off–at least for me.

Eve isn’t interested in Rax. He’s a drunk mess, and she’s committed by contract to have no sexual contacts outside of Heaven. Still, in Rax she sees her own loneliness, and feels an emotional connection she has lacked since her parents died. Rax, he’ll take Lola/Eve in any capacity. Being near her stirs more than his libido–his music is richer and more soulful, kinda like the Night Music of a nocturne. His alcoholism troubles more than Eve; his bandmates stage an unsuccessful intervention.

Unable to keep seeing each other, Rax hopes for one last connection, and in the process saves Eve from a brutal attack. Rax blames himself, his drunkenness, for not preventing Eve’s disfigurement, and Eve sends him away in her shame, and also for her own peace of mind. Though, their reunion? EPIC seems too small a word.

Ms. Grey turns this Leaving Las Vegas-tale into an HEA. Much love, girl. It’s a miraculous feat.

By turns, NOCTURNES is nasty, dirty, gritty, infuriating, sad, soulful, redeeming and sexy. It takes the filthiest sow’s ear of a storyline and fashions a silk purse romance fit for FLOTUS. I highly recommend it, even if you have to read the Heaven scene with only one half-closed squinty eye, like me. NOCTURNES was nothing like I thought it would be, and everything it needed to be. Rax isn’t a sap. Eve’s hardened and jaded. The two of them have to rub all their rough edges against each other to smooth each other out. And peeling back those layers exposes the soft vulnerability that underlies a true love.

Interested? You can find NOCTURNES at Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Make sure to come back and let me know if you liked NOCTURNES. And, as always, keep reading my friends!

Finally Got My BACKSTAGE PASS–A review

Now I’ve been extolling the prowess of Olivia Cunning’s e-ROCK-tica since July.

That’s when I met her One Night With Sole Regret novella series–and I have loved each one of them (in order: TRY ME, TEMPT ME, TAKE ME, SHARE ME, TOUCH ME, TIE ME and TELL ME) but–for some UNKNOWN reason (I’m going to blame solar flares for this one)–I never read the Sinners on Tour novels that came first.

Oh, what a goof am I.

Backstage Pass (Sinners on Tour, #1)BACKSTAGE PASS (Sinners #1) has the tagline: Sex, Love and Rock-n-Roll. It so delivers.

Myrna Evans is a sociology professor who specializes in human sensuality/sexual attraction research. Most of her findings involve the use of rock music as an aphrodisiac. While at a conference in my beloved Chi-town, Dr. Myrna comes into contact with a group of musicians–and not any musicians–Sinners, the band she has followed for years. Brian “Master” Sinclair’s lead guitar riffs have formed many of the test material to which her research subjects have responded. She approaches the band in awe, and soon realizes the object of her interest is, in fact, 3/4 wasted, nursing a busted heart with tequila…

The Sinners find sexy-sexologist Myrna a hoot and compete for her attention, but it’s Brian who gets her room number. Too bad he’s too plastered to do more than pass out on her bed. No worries–he makes up for it the next morning.

The chemistry between them is so intense Brian’s creative (and other) juices flow unabated. He’s half-mating/half-writing, new guitar licks spout forth whenever they get the heat on. And so they fire that burner right on up–for a weekend.

Then it’s back to ‘real life’, but the pull between them is strong. Brian’s distracted on tour and won’t take any of the groupies who throw themselves at his rock-god feet. He wants more of Myrna–the forever-kind of more. Meanwhile Myrna fears commitment, her ex-husband was controlling and abusive, and is sure that Brian can’t give her what she needs–a true love. Plus, she’s not willing to give up her career for a man–even if he is Master Sinclair.

Reuniting for a holiday, Myrna rides along with the band. Witnessing the groupies’ unconventional sexual behavior, Myrna’s struck by the research potential.  She gets a grant and tours with the band for the summer while conducting interviews of the lusty ladies at each tour stop. It’s maddening for her to see so many women after the man she desires, but this demonstrates the level of commitment Brian is willing to set for them; he never glances at the groupies.

And when Myrna needs him? He drops everything to get to her.

I loved the passion and the intimacy. One thing I can clearly count on with Olivia is a baseline of respect layered with a melody of smoking hot sex. Her characters talk to each other. They get to know one another, on at least a cursory level, before they plunge ahead. Growing up in the Motley Crue “Girls, GIrls, Girls”-era, I love seeing these tattooed rockers with a heart and a soul–one that is reachable by a strong woman.

Thanks Olivia for the BACKSTAGE PASS into a vibrant world of love, sex and music!

You can find BACKSTAGE PASS at some libraries (mine had an eBook for loan) or at Goodreads, Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Print editions can be ordered at your local bookstore.

Let me know if you’ve read any of Olivia’s work–or have a Rock Romance to recommend–in the comments. And, as always, keep reading my friends!  🙂

Can one girl BREAK IT UP? Review and Giveaway

Break-It-Up-Banner

Hi there, and welcome to my stop on the BREAK IT UP blog tour sponsored by AToMR Book Tours. If you’d like to stop by the other tour sites, click here. Today’s book, BREAK IT UP, is a YA Romance by E. M. Tippetts and it’s a solid read.

Break It UpWhat’s it all about?
Kyra Armijo is making a few changes in her life. One of them being, she’s no longer going to give it up to every guy who looks at her twice. And she’s putting her hopes and dreams for her future first. When the aspiring photojournalist gets the opportunity of a lifetime to tag along with international boy band sensation, Triple Cross, she can’t pass up the chance.

The only problem is that she’s in love with one band member, dodging the unwanted attention of another, and desperate to keep her turbulent past under wraps. Triple Cross have “nice guy” appeal, approved of by parents the world over, but have just let go their longtime manager, who controlled their clean image and media exposure with an iron fist. When Zach Wechsler, the object of Kyra’s affection, begins to show interest, she has to be careful.

Surely one girl can’t destroy a band that’s been together for ten years… only what if she can? Kyra knows she’s one bad decision away from ruining everything she’s worked for, and taking the hottest act of her generation down with her.

My Review:
I liked this one from the start. Kyra is a witty, savvy narrator who takes us on her redemption tale–only to have her whole life go up in tabloid. The low-down: Kyra’s mother abandoned her at birth and her father raised her. Despite his best intentions Kyra was a wild child. She carries the baggage of her promiscuous ways, and, at 18, is only just seeing the value in valuing herself.

She has a tremendously supportive family, including her step-mother Jen and her step-uncle, Jason Vanderholt–Jen’s twin and (also) a movie star. In fact her oblique celebrity through Jason is what gets Kyra and a couple friends invited for dinner with Triple Cross when they layover in Albuquerque. It’s problematic, in that Kyra’s a fangirl. She’s so nervous she’s unaccountably shy, which appeals to Zach, soulful center of the band. They sleep together–operative word SLEEP–and not long after Zach begins to text her up.

See, he’s kinda lonely. Now that his mother’s isolating influence is gone, Zach realizes he doesn’t know the first thing about managing his band–or his band mates, his brother Logan and cousin Ben. Kyra had been such a good listener over their night together, he continues to lean on her. It’s sweet and not at all sassy. In fact he’d really like Kyra to go on their new European tour to hang out and help out with the tour movie–if she’s interested.

Actually Kyra isn’t interested. She feels unable to control her attraction for Zach, and senses that he’d never consider her romantically if her knew her sordid sexual history–something Ben makes crystal-clear. Because Ben is all about the bad girls and want Kyra to get on board/on bed (?). It’s a twisted love triangle. In the face of Zach’s pleading, and against her better wishes, Kyra caves.

Each step along the way Kyra gets deeper into the murk. Zach clearly has an  attraction, and Ben isn’t even subtle about his desire. Triple Cross struggles as Ben goes AWOL and shows up late for concerts–only Kyra can rein him in. And the videographers are taking unlimited footage of the wheels coming off this wagon.  Meanwhile Kyra’s desperate to stay out of the limelight and tabloids. Unsuccessfully.

In truth, I loved the strength that Kyra exhibited in her trial-by-media. For someone so young she behaved in an admirable way. Throughout her redemption she made her boundaries clear, and kept her relationships professional–something few girls in her position might have even contemplated. It’s a story of self-love, and finding the strength to succeed when the whole world (quite literally–you should have seen the flame wars!) is against you. While the book is marketed for New Adult, I’d recommend it to older teens and above. It really felt YA to me.

Interested? You can find BREAK IT UP on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble—TOMORROW! (I will come back and update with the Live links…when they ARE live!)

Image of E. M. TippettsAbout the Author
Emily Mah Tippetts writes romance as E.M. Tippetts and science fiction and fantasy as Emily Mah. She is a former attorney with degrees in philosophy, politics and economics from Oxford University and business law from UCLA, and currently lives in her lifelong home state of New Mexico with her family. For more information or to sign up for updates on future book releases, visit her website, follow her on twitter or Facebook.

***GIVEAWAY***
(5) Print copies of Break It Up – International
(1) Swag pack including a temporary tattoo of Kyra’s tattoo from the book – International
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! and as always, keep reading, my friends!

AToMRTours_mdm

Sleepless night? TELL ME About it!

imageDamn you, Olivia Cunning!
I’m a working mother. I gotta be at work by 7am every morning come hell or crying children.
And, yet, I gave away my sleep for Gabe and Melanie. Again.
I am such a sucker.
But, I got a smile on my face.
In fact, I’m feeling bulletproof right now–and that’s not tequila talking. That’s the delicious afterglow of a great read, my friends.
Here’s what happened: the email came in that my pre-order of TELL ME had arrived at 2:37 am. I sparked up my iPad and boy howdy, I had me a piece of fantastic fiction to keep me solidly awake until my alarm, had I bothered to set one, would have blared.
Oh, wait…that’s what happened to me.
Here’s what happened in the story: Gabe and Melanie met way back when in TRY ME, which I reviewed in a week-long Sole Regret lovefest. In their world, it’s five days later and Gabe can’t wait another night to have Mel in his bed. Or the shower. Or wherever he doesn’t have to just phone-sex-her-up. He convinces her to join him a night early so they can have three nights together. Mel’s on board—the plane—when her bestie Nikki shows up even though she’s been completely disinvited from this rendezvous. Melanie’s pissed, but she can’t tell Nikki no—not while she’s in the plane, anyhow.
Still, the heat sizzles between Gabe and Mel. So much so that they practically meld with each other. They leave Nikki to enjoy Gabe’s empty suite in New Orleans while they visit his ranch in Austin for the weekend. Mel loves everything about her kinky drummer—his passion, his house, his dogs—even his parents who pop in unexpectedly.
Just when things really start to get emotional, Nikki calls for yet another rescue. And Gabe’s left in the cold. Quite literally. I nearly tossed my iPad (but I forged on!) and WOW. I’m over the moon—at daybreak, Ms. Cunning.
Some favors, if I may?
Write faster?
Or, maybe, get Amazon to release your preorders at a more human hour?
I’m desperate for TEASE ME, so if you could release it…soon?
Pretty please, with Owen on top?
Thanks. You’re a peach, dear.
You want a sleepless night, too?  TELL ME is live on AMAZON and B&N… Probably other places, but I’m too tired to track them down just now…

I Heart BEATS

I’ve had this talk with you folks before. About Kendall Grey and her erotica genius. STRINGS was a killer read.

And, the sequel BEATS released last week?

Lightning damn well struck twice.

It is not for the tame, nor timid–though it’s not nearly as down-n-dirty as STRINGS. Mostly because Jinx isn’t one-tenth the potty-mouth-sex-fiend that Letty was.

So, what happens?

If you’ve read STRINGS, you know Killer Buzz Float drummer Jinx Hardwick has it bad for bandmate Toombs Badcock (yes, the name is significant. Lord, the things men can do to embellish their, their…things!)

Problem? Toombs comes as a package deal with another member of the band, Rax Wrathbone. Yeah. Toombs is a sub to Rax’s Dom. Poor Jinx. But, Rax has an idea. A dastardly plan to let the rather-timid-Catholic-good-girl Jinx have a piece of Toombs–all she has to do is share him with Rax.

One night, two men, no inhibitions.

Jinx would never agree to such a plan, normally. But she knows her inability to write new songs is linked to her frustration over Toombs. The band is set to record it’s first demo for the record label but Jinx’s creative block is killing their chance. She won’t get paid if she can’t contribute, and her large family is counting on some money now that Mom lost her job. With her position in Killer Buzz Float on the line if she doesn’t get her beats down, Jinx opts for this one night. It’s hot and wet and Jinx nearly steals Rax’s lovely sub Toombs away. Nearly.

He and Rax have been together for a loooong time.

The heartbreak would have Jinx looking back through her rearview if only she had a place to go. Learning Jinx’s family is on the brink of bankruptcy Rax offers another exchange. Even more nasty than the first.

Jinx will do anything to help her family. Even trade her body out to Rax. Maybe.

Good thing, right? Nope. No upsides to this plan.

And, yet, it all turns out exactly as we’d want.

I’m so glad to say that I loved this sequel. It lives up to the promise of STRINGS yet sets it’s own tone, own pace. Jinx is a fantastic POV character.  We feel the anguish she lives each day, watching her love find pleasure in others, or hearing how her family is so close to the financial brink and knowing she just can’t help. BEATS is more of a deep-tissue erotic massage than it’s big sister, STRINGS, but just as captivating.

You can find BEATS in the usual spots…

photo B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpg  photo 111AD205-AA04-4F9E-A0F4-C1264C4E9F30-1855-000001A1E8CEB6D7_zps9b730b94.jpg

If you pick it up, let me know your thoughts in the comments!