Ramblings of a Book Bitch

The Auction - Review

2011-10-06T12:40:00.000+01:00

Belle Walker lives in a strict society where women are treated as property, sold to the highest bidder soon after their eighteenth birthday. But the auction isn't the only danger. Though she's never seen them, she knows monsters live outside the city. These creatures have allowed the humans a small area to inhabit with the promise to leave them in peace as long as they never cross the boundary. On the day Belle is sold, one of the monsters breaks that promise and enters the city, intent on having her as his own.
**This book is intended for an adult audience and contains master/slave, multiple partners, girl on girl, alien sex, and oral play.**

**Summary taken from Goodreads*
Disclaimer: Provided by author for honest review

I don't know what kind of hocus pocus magic Kitty Thomas performs, but she has me falling over in love with everything she writes! The Auction is no exception. Belle lives in a world where it is the norm for females to be sold into slavery.

With no many options awarded to her or any of the women in the small community since leaving town is a no no, it's well known monsters live there and the threat is enough to keep Belle in lock down, giving out oral pleasures to the rich boy of the city in hopes he will buy her and give her her freedom. Wrong. She's bought by a monster, an enigmatic red creature who buys her for his mate while freely sharing her with his blue brother. (Yeah!!)

So here is where a regular run of the mill erotic story turns into a fabulous Kitty Thomas dark erotica tale. The author gives a great take on Master Slave dynamics with an alien orgy twist. (heh)

Master (red monster) and Sir (blue monster) are very different in character, Sir is warm and kind, and Belle is attracted to him but it is Master who revs her engine more, despite her being scared and having little to no control of what happens to her, she yields to Master's rough exterior quite quickly.

For a novella, The Auction is well rounded and packs a lot of heat into it, the author as always handles the non consensual aspects with great care and detail and delivers a wonderful view on the D/s world with enough kink and spice to satisfy all those dark erotic needs you want from a book.

I loved this story, Belle was a very likeable character and i'm kind of crushing on Master. (sorry Sir, you weren't rough and growly enough for me. heh)

Favourite Quote:

“Why did you stop? I want to see more of these tears. I like them.”

I may be de-sensitised to the dark erotic world Ms Thomas evokes in her books because nothing shocked me this time (hah!) I just wanted to keep reading more from Belle and her aliens. Great read!

I give The Auction by Kitty Thomas 4.5 sparkles out of 5!

PS. I want a red alien please n thank you.

Crushed Seraphim - Review

2011-10-03T10:39:00.000+01:00

How does a foul-mouthed angel end up as the last hope for all of Heaven and Earth? When Seraph Emma is maimed and tossed from Heaven by a rogue angel who’s taken charge, she fears she’ll never be allowed to return. Tasked with the impossible job of showing the self-loathing (and not even human!) Jason his worth, Emma is sure she’s doomed to fail. Meanwhile, having wormed his way into Heaven, the corrupt Everett has trapped God in Hell and has designs on unleashing evil everywhere. Fortunately, if there’s one thing Emma can’t do (in addition to minding her language), it’s give up. Determined to save Jason and get back to Heaven—even if it means going to Hell—Emma’s plan is simple yet impossible: trick the Devil to save God. What she doesn’t count on is the devotion and, well, humanity she finds in Jason; the spirit, hidden compassion, and raw sex appeal within the Devil; and the vulnerability of her own heart. With the help of two unlikely allies, she’ll wage the battle for Heaven. But will Emma be sidetracked by a new sort of heaven along the way? What’s truly more dangerous? Falling from Heaven, or falling in love? Debra Anastasia has twisted a fast-paced tale of intimate relationships with literally universal impact. Rich with humor and electrified by attraction, this novel offers a playfully off-beat take on the good and evil that make up the world

**Summary taken from Goodreads**
Disclaimer: Provided by publisher for honest review

What does a angel do when she's tossed out of heaven and God is trapped in Hell? She teams up with a vampire to show him his humanity and to save the world from evil, of course! Crushed Seraphim by Debra Anastasia is a really good tale, and i love her take on angels, good v evil.

Characters really jump off the page and demand attention. Emma is nothing like the angel's you'd imagine, Such a fiercely determined character with her own strong opinions and foul mouth (hah) she was so fun to read and not at all like most of the heroines you read about in books today.

Such terrific writing from a debut novel, i love the world the author weaves, even if jumping from dimensions did get me a little dizzy and confused at time, but it doesn't spoil from the entire book. Jason the vampire and Jack the Devil (love him!) were so lovely to read and go on their journey with. Who knew the Devil would have so much sex appeal?! (Unf!)

Favourite Quote:

She traced his waistband while biting her bottom lip. “Think about me then, and don’t stop thinking until you’re inside me.” She hugged him closer and spoke into his chest. “Take my mind away, Jason. I don’t want to be in my head anymore.”

If you love fast paced stories with many twists, humour, romance and snark with enough innuendo's to please even the minxiest of flirts, then you have to read this book.

I give Crushed Seraphim by Debra Anastasia 4 Sparkles out of 5! - I look forward to the sequel!

Predators of Darkness - Review

2011-08-23T18:19:00.000+01:00

Fear What Lurks In The Shadows The desolate streets of downtown Pittsburgh in 2073 are a reminder of the missile attack that forever changed the lives of the surviving scientists and students hidden in the fallout shelter of Helmsby's Genetic Research Center. Believing themselves to be the only survivors, they station themselves inside the center until food supplies near depletion. Thinking the fallout has lessened, they emerge three years later to discover strange creatures patrolling the streets in search of human flesh and blood. The creatures possess the ability to shift their genomes and alter their appearances by realigning their genetic sequences. Daniel Hutchinson, their leader, teams with Lucas Ridale and together they set out to scavenge the area for food and supplies with the hope to find other survivors. But Daniel's most recent journey uncovers mysteries more frightening than the shifters. He discovers the tip of Pittsburgh has been fenced off from the rest of the area. Low-flying helicopters observe the streets, making him ponder the question: Were the shifters released as simply part of a military experiment with humans being their prey?

**Summary taken from Goodreads**
Disclaimer: Provided by author for honest review.

A sci fi book is never my first choice of reading material. I'm a girl who likes a lot of romance mixed in with her demons and creatures that go bump in the night and i find Sci Fi doesn't deliver that for my needs. Yet i was intensely intrigued by the synopsis of Predators of Darkness when the author wrote and asked me for a review. So i hiked up my big girl pants and ventured into waters i rarely went into.

And was pleasantly surprised with Predators of Darkness by Leonard D Hilley. The characters held my attention. Fully rounded and had such great depth to them, i particularly liked Daniel the lead character. Some are more complex than others, but he stood out for me with his take charge air about him.

While not everything i found engaging, some of the plot left me with a "huh" face, and some points i just thought not quite believable for the context of the story. Not having read anything post apocalyptic before i thought the author weaved an interesting tale giving real depth to each character even the secondary ones. It was an interesting premise on shifters i hadn't seen before, not wanting to give too much away to spoil the plot it's a kind of "you have to read it to understand" but you know if i liked a sci fi book then it has to be good since i have ADD with anything that's not predominantly in the romance genre.

Lots of gore and scary moments, some a little too gory for my liking, but for a die hard sci fi fan they will love it.

Overall an enjoyable read, a book that makes you think "WTF, i hope this doesn't really happen!" hah.

I give Predators of Darkness by Leonard D Hilley 3.5 Sparkles out of 5!
Smooch!

Caressed by Moonlight - Review

2011-08-22T10:37:00.000+01:00

Dorian Vlakhos is no ordinary aristocrat. He is a vampire king, who will do anything to save his clan from complete annihilation, before an ancient curse can claim his immortal life. Penniless and orphaned, Victoria Kingston has nothing to bring to a marriage, yet she must shackle an unsuspecting gentleman into marriage by the end of the month or forfeit her rights as guardian of her younger sister. With the help of her dearest friend, Victoria begins her hunt, and vows to stay far away from the dark, mysterious, Prince Vlakhos.
After meeting the beautifully innocent Miss Kingston, Dorian had to have her. He would do absolutely anything to make Victoria his. One sweet stolen kiss would bring them together while a force, more powerful than any vampire would bind them for all eternity. But treachery, war, and death rule Dorian’s dark world and Victoria would be fortunate to survive.

**Summary taken from Goodreads**

Disclaimer: Provided by author for honest review.

Such a gorgeous cover!

Not really a fan of historical books, i went into reading Caressed by Moonlight with some

trepidation. The fact that its hero was vampire swayed me. And am i glad it did sway me, because the debut novel from Amanda J Greene is a wonderful piece of work. Caressed by Moonlight, the first book in the Rulers of Darkness series centres around Victoria, who having lost both parents, penniless and with a young sister to care for is told by a crabby old aunt that if she wishes to continue being in her younger sisters life she must marry within the month.

And so Victoria's search among the local gentleman begins. Enter Vampire Dorian stage left. He wants her right from the moment of seeing her, he's not without problems of his own, from witches and hunters trying to destroy his clan, making him travel to London to deter the hunters and there he meets the lovely and pure Victoria. She's put off from considering him as a husband contender hearing of his reputation as a ladies man but drawn to him, even she can't resist for long before she's smooching him in the library (scandalous!)

I liked these characters, not your average paranormal tale, i thought for the time period they worked well together, the chemistry and sexual tension was palpable and fraught with tension at times that kept me reading page after page.

I know what i like in a vampire, i want him to have an air of menace about him, to be mysterious and about as sexy as sexy gets, and when he goes fanged i want it to be described in a way that makes me want to <cue the "Wanna do bad things with you" song> and i have to say, Dorian Vlakhos has all that and more. OhmyGawd, i really really liked him!

With this debut novel, the author ticks all the right boxes, So much so i look forward to the next book.

Favourite Quotes:

"Dorian panted, dropping his head to her shoulder, he
whispered, his voice gruff, “Will you be mine for all eternity?"

"He could not remember the last time he had wanted anything so badly. It was the hardest thing he had ever done, chaining his passion, when his body demanded that he take her. The beast within him roared for her"

Those quotes give me the Swoon!

I give Caressed by Moonlight by Amanda J Greene 4.5 sparkles out of 5!

Smooch!

Feeding the Vampire - Review

2011-08-20T11:26:00.000+01:00

Through good luck and healthy cowardice, Misty has survived the earthquakes that have torn the world apart, but has no skills to speak of. Or so she thinks. She does have blood, and someone must feed the vampire who has offered his protection and strength in exchange for sustenance. Feeding Ivan is a priority, and Misty finally serves a purpose. But when she awakens tied to his bed, an unwilling gift to Ivan from the townspeople, she discovers he has hungers other than blood. Hungers he expects her to satisfy in the most carnal manner. Under his seductive persuasion Misty discovers she has the power to sustain Ivan in all ways, while experiencing unspeakable pleasure herself.

**Summary taken from Author website**
Disclaimer: Provided by Author for honest review.

I knew soon as i began to read Feeding the Vampire by Jeffe Kennedy that it was my kind of book. First the vampire had an old style vampire name: Ivan. Something about that i just love. You give a vampire a name like Harry or Todd and it's Huh, i don't even wanna see his fangs! But Ivan, yeah now that IS a vampire name.
The second clue to my liking this book was a line from the heroine Misty:

At least I knew how to make blood. You could say I was a natural

You have to give the girl kudos for that! She's walking to uncertain doom, feeding a vampire under the pressure of her entire town, wanting to keep safe and not be tossed out of the fraught community and she shows signs of spunk and humour. I liked that about her. Misty wasn't a wilting wallflower, she had gumption, she was fearful of this new vampire offering protection to her town in the wake of the earthquake that changed everything, yet it didn't stop her giving him her vein, not knowing if she'd live or die.

You have to love a vampire who gives good fang AND sex. Within the space of a night he changes Misty's life for good. The ending had me wanting to yell out "you go girl"

Favourite Quotes:

“No—that is non-negotiable. I will have all of you. I’ll give you health, security, safety. Happiness, possibly. Everything in my power to give. But in return, I’ll have everything—your pain, your desire. Every last shuddering gasp and drop of you.”

“Besides…” He caressed my heated flesh, steely eyes boring into mine while I shuddered under his touch. “You love the bonds, I think. They make you mine. You want that as much as I do. See? Your body knows.”

Feeding the Vampire is a novella, and a hot fanged read, a must read for all who love their vamps with a side order of UNF!

I give Feeding the Vampire by Jeffe Kennedy 4 Sparkles out of 5! - Bitetastic!

Smooch!

His Darkest Salvation - Review

2011-07-24T15:23:00.000+01:00

In a world on the brink of chaos, passion and vengeance collide …

After six months in hell, Julian Castille has returned to the world a changed man. No longer the calm, powerful CEO, but a shifter fully embraced by the blood of his clan. Julian has one goal: find the key to the portal that stands between the human realm and unprecedented darkness—and win back the pieces of his soul. The last thing he needs is a distraction like the beautiful, enigmatic Jaden DaCosta.
Three years ago, a forbidden night of passion left Jaden forever altered: mated to Julian Castille–bound to a man who despises her. But the temptation to trust this darker, more savage—and more captivating—Julian is overwhelming. And as they fight for their immortal souls, their insatiable desire for each other may prove their fatal undoing…

**Summary taken from Goodreads**
Disclaimer: Provided from Publisher via Netgalley for honest review.

There aren't many book series that can hold my attention these days. Too many choices that once a book is read, it's cast aside and onto the next. Sad to say really, but true. I only have a handful of book series i do come back to if i want an enjoyable read, for it to keep me interested.
And Juliana Stone's Jaguar Warriors series is one of them. How i love those Jaguars
His Darkest Salvation, is a raw gritty action packed book and tells the story of Julian and Jaden. Better known as a CEO, more comfortable in armani suits than his own Jaguar fur, Julian is now a changed man after being trapped in hell having his soul carved out.

What is it about a tortured hero that appeals to me? Julian is the epitome of tortured. He's not a Warrior, but wow does Juliana Stone weave an awesome tale for this Jaguar as he struggles and fights to regain the pieces of his soul that was taken from him. While in previous books "alpha male" wasn't what i'd have used to describe him, in Salvation he brought IT. Mister GQ CEO now fully embraces his animal side and woe anyone who gets in the way of what he wants.

This author writes heroines that i don't automatically hate. And that is a great thing! Most female leads irritate the hell out of me, but i liked Jaden. I felt sorry for the dilemma she was in, torn between her family name and the man she has bonded with. Right from the beginning the heat between characters is apparent, they have wonderful chemistry that kept me reading page after page.

Favourite Quotes:

He was edgy, dark -- the word sinister came to mind - Jaden's description of Julian

In that moment, nothing existed but the two of them. And even though it was all wrong and dark and humiliating, deep inside, the cat began to purr.

Another aspect of Salvation i loved was Declan! Oh the man of magic, Love! He featured along with Julian to regain his soul too, and it's his book Wicked Road to Hell up next in Juliana Stone's new series "League of Guardians" Finally! i've waited a long time for Declan's story. Cannot.Wait!

Anyone new to the Jaguar Warrior series, i'd say go and read book one first, you really wont regret it. Heroes to enjoy in all their alpha status, action packed intense and sexy stories. Truly wonderful.

I give His Darkest Salvation by Juliana Stone 4.5 Sparkles out of 5. TEAM JAGUAR!
His Darkest Salvation is released July 26th,2011

Smooch!

Provoke Me - Review

2011-07-17T12:07:00.003+01:00

Sometimes extreme provocation can lead to exactly what you need… Attracted.  Kelly's focus is the bookstore she manages. Sex is relegated to a list of candidates on her PDA. Only one man pushes all her buttons―her boss. Fascinated. Spencer is determined to fight his desire for Kelly. For years they’ve bumped heads over the store they both love. But there's more than one reason their getting together is complicated.    Provoked. When Kelly and Spencer unexpectedly meet up at a sex club, all the rules go out the window. Suddenly there’s only way this match of wills can end―naked, preferably all night long. In this battle for sexual supremacy, there are two winners—and two losers when their stubbornness leads to the very thing each dreads most.
Readers’ Advisory: In a couple of scenes, Kelly and Spencer test “the more the merrier” theory.

**Summary taken from Goodreads**
Disclaimer: Provided by author for an honest review.

From past reviews, you know that i think Cari Quinn's writing skills is up there with awesome. She writes some of the most evocative, sexy, down right delicious tales of love and romance with a modern twist of Naughty. I truly have enjoyed everything she's written so was a little (a lot) excited to receive Provoke Me for review.

Second in the Unveiled series. I first encountered this series with Reveal Me. Read my review HERE and ohMy did Cari Quinn pack a lot of heat into that short tale. It left me wanting more, and more she served up. A full length book, Provoke me tells the story of Kelly and Spencer. Work colleagues who finally give in to their mutual attraction when they surprisingly encounter each other at the same sex club.

Oh wow, i didn't think i could love a book more than i did Reveal Me. Cari Quinn truly brought her A+ game to this one. LOVED! It had all the things i enjoy reading about. Two wonderful characters, each dedicated to their career, which makes the erotic draw to each other all the more intriguing to watch as it becomes stronger with every sexual act.

Im a girl who likes brilliantly written sexy time scenes, you could call me a snob, because not all sex scenes will do. I know what i like, and this book delivers! There is some truly heavenly sensual scenes when Kelly and Spencer are at the sex club. Spencer pushes Kelly's novice boundaries that include moresomes at times, and OhMyWow, if you like your books this side of HOT then Provoke Me is for you.

I can't praise it enough, a lovely delicious sexy and swoonable romantic read this summer.

Favourite Quote:

She’d broken his resolve, cracked his focus in two. Work didn’t matter anymore, and there was no tomorrow. There was just shoving up her flimsy little skirt and fumbling for the condom he’d tucked in his back pocket at the club.

Now i'm all twitchy waiting for book three in this series!

I give Provoke Me by Cari Quinn 4.5 Sparkles out of 5! A book made of Nom!

Smooch!

Her Temptress - Review

2011-07-07T13:39:00.001+01:00

After enduring fourteen years of thankless, mind-numbing, backbreaking work, disgruntled employee, Meredith Hartman, is about to be fired…and knows it.
Her young, sexy boss has no qualms about letting her go, but Meredith hopes to change her mind. It'll take a nasty category two hurricane, a Saturday at the office, and one mean panther to pull this off. Meredith just might be able to save her job, but how far is she willing to go to accomplish that goal?

**Summary taken from Goodreads**

Disclaimer: Provided by author for an honest review.

Picture the scene, it was a nice rainy (i love rain!) afternoon, and into my inbox jumps a book review request, those always give me a thrill to be asked by an author, so in my glee i almost missed that it said it was female/female. Ut Oh. Anyone who has chatted books with me, or read my tweets knows im strictly a boy lovens kinda girl. While i have nothing against an all female book, it just doesn't toast my oats, you know?

So i wrote the author back, saying i would read it, but it wasn't my favourite genre and i had no idea how i'd rate it (i wanted to be fair and let her know in a subtle kind of way that i'd probably score it low. and i hate to do that..) and if she wanted to retract the request that was absolutely okay.

Yet the author of crazy still wanted my review..

Oookay.. so i forged ahead, going into territories unknown to me, i pulled up my big girl pants and began to read my very first f/f book.

Her Temptress by TK Turner begins with Meredith, she seems like a down trodden mother and wife, with her career about to spiral down the drain too. We don't see much of her home life, but she eludes to it being not so happy any more, no love and attention from her busy husband.

It's on a Saturday morning, a hurricane heading to town that Meredith has to go into work, the bitch of a boss Lakeisha, who everyone calls 'The Panther' has gave the degrading task to Meredith to train her own replacement. It's at work that Meredith encounters the Panther and things soon escalate down an erotic road she has never been before.

I was pleasantly surprised that i liked this novella, it not being something i'd ordinarily read (i do like seeing man nipples in my books! heh) but i couldn't help being drawn in with these characters.

The Panther is this fierce power driven passionate ball busting character, her actions and decisions seem quite harsh and cold, she takes what she wants when she wants it, and on that Saturday stormy day she sees something in Meredith and unlocks hidden desires. On top of her desk. cough.

What i had a hard time finding realistic was Meredith hated her boss, hated the fact that Lakeisha was the one who was ending her hard working career, yet she was stood in her office, seething with fury over the bad treatment she'd had to endure from a company she'd put X number of years into, having thoughts on her the bosses nipples. Erm. okay, that seemed a bit left field to me.

But, towards the end of the novella, after all the steamy play... and there was a lot packed in, you begin to see both women are strong in their own ways, and both have vulnerabilities and needs that for that one afternoon the other answered to those needs.

I wondered how the author would end this tale of girl love, would Meredith leave her husband for the panther, would the panther show a softer side and change her evil power hungry ways..I wont spoil it but i was pleased how it finished, it seemed a realistic way to end.

Pleasantly surprised, and happy that TK Turner on this occasion with her well written all female tale could hold my attention and make me like a story i would have otherwise overlooked.

I give Her Temptress by TK Turner 3.5 sparkles out of 5.

For author/release info go HERE

Smooch!

Reign of Pleasure - Review

2011-07-06T13:52:00.000+01:00

Deposed queen Rhiannon’s sexual proclivities have finally gotten her into trouble. After Rhiannon took a pleasure slave who didn’t belong to her, the courtesan’s master is asking the ultimate price for the trespass—not Rhiannon’s life, but her body…and complete submission for three days. Rhiannon is determined to submit only her body, but Lord Ignius Sebastian, her new master, will settle for nothing less than her soul.

**Summary taken from Goodreads**
Disclaimer: Provided by author for an honest review.

On Nom Nom, smexen warrior man.

Queen Rhiannon is not a favourite of her court since she married a human some 200 years ago. Since his death she hadn't taken a lover, instead chose to feed her sexual hunger pleasuring female slaves. When she was tricked into taking another's slave, her own council punished her into the care of Lord Ignius for five days to do anything he wanted no rejection allowed or her punishment would be doubled.

Okay, i have to start by saying, Reign of Pleasure by Emma Petersen, I loved loved LOVED! I knew i'd like it soon as it's opening sentence grabbed me:

As a deposed queen used to the treachery that lay around every corner at court, you’d think I’d be a little more vigilant, a little more apt to look a gift whore in the mouth

Rhiannon and Ignius together were made of heat lust love sensual and most definitely made of erotic, scorching hot erotic! The story is told in Rhiannon's POV, she was a great female lead, but you still get a feel for what Ignius is thinking, you certainly know he wants and always has wanted her for his own for a long time. He is the stuff great book boyfriends are made of, all powerful, dark, moody, and has an air of sensual sex about him that could make your panties squeal from a hundred paces away! I loved him. swoon.

Without words, he demanded my submission as he brought me to the edge again and again, only to deny me. I lost track of the time, of why I couldn’t, wouldn’t say what he needed me to say until, sobbing, I could take no more.“Please, Master, can I come?” Sweat and tears ran down my cheeks. “Please, can I come?”“So now you know my name?” He rammed into me and I cried out with the pleasure-pain of it.

Not only is this a tale of seductive submission, surrender, the sexiest of all BDSM, it is intertwined with a beautiful romance, of longing and letting go of a past love to allow a new love in your life. It makes for a wonderful read, one i know i will read again.

Favourite Quotes from Rhiannon:

I didn’t need to know her name and, though I knew I should ask who sent her and why, I walked farther into my chamber and went directly to my toy chest. There would be time for idle chitchat later.

I needed something to break the tension that had been riding me harder than a two-dollar harlot at a poor man’s convention.

Sidenote: I'm intrigued by brother Dante. please let him have his story too!

I loved this novella. I give Reign of Pleasure by Emma Petersen 4.5 Sparkles out of 5!

For Author/Release info go HERE

Smooch
Sparklybearsy

Heir to the Underworld - Review

2011-07-05T11:43:00.000+01:00

Frederica always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even a bit boring. Then a hottie dressed as a reject from Gladiator, almost ran her down on the sidewalk. With his horse. The weird keeps coming from there: zombie dogs running around the suburbs, insane crows stalking her, and said hottie asking her on a date. But the cute stranger has secrets he isn’t sharing. Trouble follows him like his shadow. The closer they grow, the weirder life gets, until Freddy discovers something about her own past that changes everything she ever thought she knew about herself. And her world.

**Summary taken from Goodreads**
Disclaimer: Provided by author for an honest review

Really like this book cover.

Both book and author were new to me, so i was excited to read Heir to the Underworld by E.D. Walker. A YA tale of other worldly legends and mythologies.

Freddy is a typical teenager, bizarre things happen around her and in a typical teenage fashion she takes it all on board in a quite blase fashion, her focus being on the "boy" (he's quite old) Deg she's taken a fancy to.

What i really liked about Freddy, while her attitude was fairly teenager-ish she was well trained in martial arts, and can wield a mean sword, all taught from her father, who right from the beginning when you see her parents you know something is just...not right.

While i liked the characters, Deg's olden day manners i found endearing, and charming and at times his humour was sweet, and Freddy was a nice likeable witty girl, the story did lose my interest a little. It took a good while to actually get into the heart of it.

I really enjoyed all the mythologies, the different pantheons brought forward to modern day, the author mixed them all in very well.

For my own personal tastes, a YA has to really grab me right from the beginning to hold my interests, i am a romance book kind of girl, so to step out of my genre preference the book has to be awesome, very few YA has done this for me, and while i did like parts of Heir to the Underworld, it didn't grab me up, shake me down and stay with me for days afterwards like i would have wanted.

A stand alone book you will enjoy if you like mythology and gods, goodies, baddies and a smattering of teenage wit thrown in too.

I give Heir to the Underworld by E.D Walker 3 sparkles out of 5.

Smooch!
Sparklybearsy

Safeword:Rainbow/Storm clouds - Double Review

2011-06-07T09:09:00.000+01:00

Tyler and Vivian have found each other again after a three day fling three years ago. They think they are ideally suited for each other and go forward to try to make a relationship work. And then they realize that Tyler was expecting a 24/7 total power exchange relationship and Vivian will never be a 24/7 submissive. They want to make a relationship work, but how can they get past this? As they try to find a compromise Vivian must deal with what a Total Power Exchange means, even if it is only a part time power exchange. And Tyler must decide if he can be okay with a sometimes Master and sometimes boyfriend relationship. Will they find their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?

**Summary taken from Goodreads**
Disclaimer: provided by author for an honest review

As a fan of erotica and BDSM stories, there isn't a flogger or candle i haven't liked (in my stories! hah) so i was excited to read something from an author new to me. Safeword: Rainbow by Candace Blevins.
It begins with quite a harsh BDSM scene, too harsh even for my tastes and i've read some pretty out there erotica. The harsh i can deal with, but it felt like a "how to" manual for BDSM, there was no sexy to it, no heat, very clinical. With any erotica and BDSM in particular, the logistics have to include it being sensual for me the reader to enjoy it, to want to read it again.
I'd like to say it improved, but i don't know, i couldn't get past the first few chapters and i really wanted to but when a book fails for you it's just easier to put it down than to suffer through.

While it wasn't for me, i always leave a review with the option for other readers to try it for themselves, what isn't for me me, isn't necessarily the same for everyone. This just wasn't my cuppa tea. I like my cuppa tea sexy kinky not just kinky.

I rate Safeword: Rainbow DNF.

=================================

Kendra has lived as a vampire for thousands of years, and she’s been a Domme for the past thousand years. But then she falls for a human man who happens to be wired as a Dom. Neither is interested in a switch relationship, but neither is willing to give up their Dom side, either. They have strong feelings for each other, can they make it work? As Eric learns about the world of vampires and decides whether he can deal with it or not, the other vampires have to figure out whether they can deal with Kendra, their third in command, submitting to a human who some of them feel is so far beneath them on the evolutionary ladder. Can Kendra and Eric battle all of this to find happiness

**Summary taken from Goodreads**
Disclaimer: Provided by author for an honest review.

After not finishing Safeword:Rainbow, i went into reading Safeword:Storm Clouds with fresh eyes and im glad i did. It was more up my street, about vampires for one, who doesn't love a good vampire tale with some erotica thrown in too?

Kendra, a domme from way back wants human Eric as her blood source. Its a sign of weakness in the vampire community to let a mere human dominate you... Cue Eric's alpha status and the vampire chick has a problem since she's attracted to Eric and wants him for her own.

Eric, adrenalin junkie gamer geek takes easily to the life of vampires, too easy in my opinion, he gets flooded with all this vampire law of do's and don'ts and readily accepts Kendra (although later has a few doubts, that are gotten past)

While this book i enjoyed the erotic BDSM side, i didn't think it felt very paranormal, the vampires were too human. i don't know, perhaps i'm used to scarier creatures that go bump in the night. So in that respect i mostly concentrated on the BDSM parts of the book which were intense and sexy and well written, very inventive too. The struggle both characters had with submission, giving power over to the other was intriguing to read, two dominants in the same relationship, that has to cause some trouble!

For fans of the erotica this is a pleasant read.
I give Safeword: Storm Clouds by Candice Blevins 3 Sparkles out of 5.

For author/ release info. go HERE

Smooch
Sparklybearsy

Darkness Within Giveaway WINNER!!

2011-06-06T15:27:00.000+01:00

Thank you SO Much to the awesome author Jennifer Turner

for giving TWO PRINT Books of her Darkness Within series to one winner.

Using Random.Org a winner was chosen...

and they are....

MAR!!!

I will contact you shortly about your prize.

Thanks to all who commented!

Smooch!

Sparklybearsy

Eternal Hearts - Review, Author Interview and GIVEAWAY!

2011-06-02T12:25:00.002+01:00

Toni Tutoro just wants to go home. Banned from Chicago's vampiric society after cutting a swath of violence through the city, she must now successfully complete an investigation for the Lord of Chicago to regain the right to live in her hometown again.To ensure Toni's safety during her probationary period, Drake Black, a feared assassin, is secretly contracted to protect her. Even with direct orders to keep his relationship professional, and his own personal vow to never get involved with a female vampire again, Drake finds himself drawn to Toni in ways he can't explain. But unbeknownst to him...he's tied to one of the people who drove Toni to her night of destruction.
Drake's legendary heritage holds the key to Toni's survival and success, but will she be able to forgive his connection to the brutal night that robbed her of those she loved most? Will Drake be able to forget the betrayals in his past and risk taking one more chance? But most of all - can they find a way to reach each other in the darkness?

**Summary taken from Goodreads**

Eternal Hearts by Jennifer Turner is the second book in her Darkness Within series. Book One Eternal Seduction i fell in complete love with, such a different premise to the vampire world and characters that were not your typical hero/heroine. Very outside of the box and i loved it. So i was super excited for book two to finally be here.

Eternal Hearts does not disappoint. Here we meet Toni and Drake, an assassin and a fledgling in need of protection. I was intrigued with Drake from ES and although i would have liked him to be a bit more badass assassin like, he was a lovely character, page after page he was funny, charming heart warming, a man's man and just the man for broken Toni who had a past full of horror angst and pain.

While i did feel bad for Toni, her constant mood changing made me a little dizzy and a lot more irritated, i wanted to yell "pick a mood and stick with it for at least 6 pages!" She reminded me of a stroppy teenager at times, or a toddler hyped up on sugar, I wasn't invested in her as i was in Logan from ES but i liked her.

My Odin made an appearance again, if you read my review for the previous book you know i loved the God of War, i really hope he gets a book!

The plot moves along nicely, I was more interested in the character building though, there's a few characters for the future im hoping, some of the world politics lost me, nonetheless Eternal Hearts delivers a great tale, I love the characters Ms Turner has given us so far, everyone should read this series, the writing is brilliance, dragging you into a world of good and bad and the most unusual heroes and heroines that you can't help be charmed by.

Im already anxious for book three.

Favourite Quotes:

Unfortunately for her, he’d left his heart in a different shirt and his give-a-shit was broken.

And a funny quote from my Odin, God Of War. Lurrrve him!

Odin snorted behind Drake, so loud, he was sure the people in the next state heard it. “Undead slut of the night. That’s awesome. I’m so gonna use that the next time I see his mom.”Jake let out a sigh as a look of complete resignation washed over his face. “Are we gonna start with the mom jokes again? Because, se-riously, like I told you the last time, my mom’s dead. She’s been dead for over three hundred years. You need to get some new material.”

The last thing she needed to be doing was ogling some hot guy who had…the most depressing set of blue eyes she’d ever seen.

I give Eternal Hearts 4 sparkles out of 5 - a sheer ride of awesome.

======================

And now, i'm happy to welcome to Bear's talk corner, Author of the Darkness Within Series, Jennifer Turner.

Hello Jennifer, thank you so much for stopping by Sparkly's today..

Thanks so much for having me, Sparkly! I’m absolutely thrilled to be here. :)

1: For someone who hasn't read your Darkness Within series yet (silly people!) can you tell us a little about it, its world, politics, characters?

You know, I think the series blurb I had to write for my agent probably sums up the Darkness Within world better than anything I could come up with right now. And I think it’d be fun to share it here because it’s not something readers would normally see. This is actually the blurb that editors at major publishing houses see when my series goes out on submission. :)

The Darkness Within series is more than just a place where immortal things go bump in the night. It’s a world darker and sexier than anything you know, filled with more mystery and intrigue than you’ve ever dreamed of. Why should a Fledgling vampire sit in the dark, brooding over his cursed condition, when he can live in the lap of luxury by manipulating the humans around him? Why should an Ancient vampiress settle for influencing a few mundane humans, when she can raise an army of Fledglings to carry out her darkest whims?
The denizens of this world don’t want your pity – they want your blood.
Cursed to forever war against each other, vampires now stalk the night beside their prey, hidden behind a veil of deceit and manipulation. And while the Fledglings scramble to earn power and prestige by secretly influencing select humans, it’s the Ancients who move the Fledglings as pawns, building empires, deepening age old rivalries, and crushing opponents with moves centuries in the making. However, in the eternal shadow war that is supernatural society, even the Ancients dance under the twisted strings of a bitter feud that began well before their time.
But Fledgling to Ancient, only one thing lightens the darkness and calms the beast that rages within. Even more for the damned – love – is the highest prize. With it, anything is possible and even the darkest of monsters can be redeemed. Without it, their connection to humanity severs and even trusted friends become expendable once they’ve outlived their usefulness.   
Everything is sacred and nothing is forgotten when immortality lies at your feet…

2: Eternal Seduction was one of my favourite books of last year, how did the idea of making your heroine a homeless drug addict come to you, and was the shock factor for your readers a big part of making her that way?

The idea for Logan actually came to me while I was standing in the bookstore. I kept picking up book after book where the beautiful heroine had a high paying job/fancy house/college education, and I wondered what would happen if a heroine didn’t have any of those things. I wondered, what if she didn’t have a job, or a high school diploma…or even a home? Then I wondered, what if she isn’t what most people would consider pretty? What if, since she lives on the streets, she isn’t able to shower regularly and is really skinny because she isn’t eating the way she should be? Believe it or not, a lot of my ideas actually come from a good “What if?” session. And that’s exactly how Logan was born. :)

As for the shock factor, I wasn’t really going for that response – but more for the opportunity to present readers with the story of an overlooked character. I think a lot of times in the paranormal romance/urban fantasy genre, you get a heroine who’s had some sort of intense trauma in her past, which lends a strength and a toughness to the character that makes her seem emotionally untouchable. But, most of those stories begin with a heroine who, even if things aren’t going very well for her at that moment, still has a basic education, a home of some sort, and a job, or at least a way to get money. Very rarely do you open a book and see the heroine at what most would consider rock bottom, on the very first page…and that’s what I love about Logan. To the world at large, she probably couldn’t get any lower – but to her, she’s just living another day the best way she knows how.

3: Kerestyan, now Drake and Odin (I don't need his book to add him to my list already!) are all my new book boyfriends (i thank you greatly!) was one easier to write than the others? who gives you the best lines?

You’re very welcome. ;)

Hmmm. I’m not sure any one character is necessarily easier to write than another is, but I think each definitely shines in their own special place while I’m writing.

For example, Kerestyan is always a challenge for me to write because he’s such an odd mix of ancient and modern. He tends to stick with a fairly anachronistic speech pattern and always uses big words, so when he breaks the formality and says something crazy like, “Because that’s how I roll.” I practically die laughing at my computer. As does Odin, who happens to be in the scene when Kerestyan makes that comment. ;)

Drake, on the other hand, is just plain fun to write. He’s a younger character, and he has a charming arrogance about him that makes him very playful. He’s always trying to slip humor into scenes where I least expect it, and what’s worse is – he’s damn good at it. So yeah, Drake definitely wins the fun award. :)

And Odin…dear, sweet, misunderstood Odin…he’s practically a comedy machine on steroids. He always has something to say, and usually whatever comes out of his mouth is laugh out loud funny. To be honest, I never really know what he’s going to say until he finally says it…and more often than not, I either end up sitting at my computer shaking my head or drying my eyes because I’ve been laughing so hard. He’s just plain crazy. And yes, without a doubt, he always gives me the best lines. ;)

4: Eternal Hearts, the second in your Darkness Within series sees a very tormented Toni meet Assassin Drake, can you share a little about these two characters?

At its core, I think Eternal Hearts is a story about two people who are afraid they don’t deserve to be loved. Toni and Drake have both made mistakes in the past that they aren’t proud of, but each is constantly striving to be better in their own way. Even though she’s a young vampire, Toni holds tight to the people she cares for and never lets an opportunity slip by to show someone how much they mean to her. Whereas Drake has been supernatural since birth, and while his friends aren’t always the most humane beings on the face of the planet - he never asks them to be anything more than themselves.

I can also tell you that in every book I’ve written thus far, there’s always been the potential for the hero or heroine to end up with someone other than who I originally thought they would. And twice now, it’s actually happened to me. ;) But never once over the course of writing Drake & Toni’s story did either one of them ever glance in another direction. For me, they’re a perfect representation of a couple that was just meant to be together.

5: Each city has a Lord, does it always have to be an ancient, or can a Fledgling fight their way to the top of the food chain, so to speak?

It’s definitely possible for a smart Fledgling to fight their way into becoming the Lord of a city. However, nine times out of ten, it will only happen if said Fledgling has the backing of an Ancient or another powerful supernatural.

6: I liked the idea of Servios, is there ever a time they would be turned to full vampire? (this is where i step forward and volunteer for Odin *cough*)

LOL! And I’m very sure Odin would have you. After all, he’s a sucker for a lady with a British accent. ;) *Insert very BRIT sounding squee here*

Servios have and often do become full-fledged vampires, but the decision regarding when and why usually depends on the Master. Some vampires won’t create a Child unless they’ve served as a Servio for a specific and usually extended amount of time. Think of it almost like an internship, where you work to learn all the rules and hazards, and then come out more prepared to take the big step into true immortality. Other vampires will tell you, “Once a servant – always a servant.” They tend to see Servios as second-class citizens and can’t imagine one of them actually earning fangs, let alone passing their curse to one of them.

To be honest, at least the way I see it, the decision to turn a Servio into a Child gets more complicated the older a vampire is. If you’re a 10,000 year old vampire, and your personal Servio has been with you the majority of that time, chances are they’re more of a friend to you than a servant. You’ve probably come to depend on them during the day, will most likely listen to their council for better or worse, and you might even love them in some ways (and/or vice versa). Turning that beloved friend into a vampire can be a risky gambit. Vampires are constantly in competition with each other for food, power, and prestige. Is it really a good idea to put someone who knows you so well on even ground with you? What if the new relationship between Sire and Child sours? Your former Servio, now Child, probably knows your deepest, darkest secrets…and more importantly, there’s a damn good chance they know when and where you sleep.

7: Now for the question that's been burning in my mind just waiting to be asked: WHEN is My Odin getting his book? *grins* Is it book three? *crosses all crossable parts*

Odin’s book, Eternal Embers, is book #5 in the series. And if I get everything I want in the next few months or so (unless my agent sells the series to a major publisher for a bazillion dollars – which I do want – but that’s besides the point ;) you should have Odin in your hands in October of 2012. :D

8: If book three isn't Odin's *insert sad face here* can you tell us who is next, and what to look forward to plot wise? Is it Vouclade? *crosses fingers again*

The answer to who gets the next series book is below. ;) However, Vouclade & Kasey’s story will be told via the Ascension novella trilogy. And the first novella, Ascension: The Revelation, will actually release sometime this summer. I’m thinking mid to late August. The novellas run parallel to the Darkness Within series, but don’t fall into the overall plot arc connecting the series books. Plus, Vouclade’s a darker character, being an immortal mad scientist and all, and his story is too long to be told in one book – so he gets three very long novellas. :)

The image for Tober on Jen's Website is the Diesel man!
Umm.. HAI Oktober!!

9: Oktober, i was really intrigued with, he's a character that demands attention, and although not a conventional hero *laughs* i'm sure if you can turn a drug addict into a worthy heroine, you can do the same for Tober, will we see him again?

Oh, you’ll definitely see Oktober again – and rather soon too. Book #3, Eternal Embrace, belongs to him and Lydia. And as for what you can look forward to plot wise, here’s the back cover blurb:

Lydia Vincent finds little worth in anyone or anything, save herself and her ability to see the truth in everything. At least, what she perceives to be true. She's not looking for love, not looking for acceptance, and she certainly doesn't need some man messing up her life.
Forced to endure a malevolent ritual thousands of years ago, Oktober sees the world through the jaded eyes of a predator. He's a cold-blooded killer, whose only use for humans is food. But he’s about to get the shock of his immortal life – because the one human who won't fall to the curse of his blood – is the one woman who doesn't want a damn thing to do with him.
When the rise of an Ancient enemy lures Oktober and Lydia together, can Oktober ignore the dark instincts urging him to kill her? Can Lydia put her past behind her and find a way to accept Oktober as he is? Can destiny withstand two people who'll fight it to the bitter end...even if it means dying?

10: And finally, Which of your characters do you love the best? Is it Odin? it's Odin isn't it? *laughs*

I do love Odin…I admit that freely and with great pride. ;) However, if I had to pick a favorite right now, I’d have to go with Oktober. There’s just something so jaded and totally unapologetic about him that I can’t help but to love him. I don’t want to give any spoilers or too much info away about him, especially since his book in next…but I’ve never written a character that blatantly refuses to change the way he does. He is who he is, and makes no excuses for the way he sees the world. I just love everything about him…even his frequent need to eat people…and not in a good way. :D

He REALLY eats people, folks! bones and all! yet you will love him! Squee!

Thank you so much for talking to me today, Jennifer, as a rabid fan of your Darkness Within series i am waiting with bated breath for Odin.. i mean Book Three!

Thanks so much for having me, Sparkly. :) I really do appreciate how hard you work to bring authors and readers together! I wholeheartedly believe one of the main reasons I have so many awesome readers is because of blogs like yours. So THANK YOU! :)

Jen has so kindly offered TWO PRINT Books for an International Giveaway. One prize will win a PRINT book of Eternal Seduction and Eternal Hearts! Thank you SO much Jen, you're made of the awesome!

To Win is SIMPLE! Best comment/question left for Jen about VAMPIRES wins!

NOW CLOSED!!!! So HURRY!! Please leave a means of contacting you.

Find Jen:

|Website|Twitter|Goodreads|

Smooch!

Sparklybearsy

Expectations - Review

2011-05-17T12:11:00.000+01:00

EXPECTATIONS depicts the struggle between what we desire forourselves and our familial obligations. The struggle is personified by Chris and Matt Taylor, identical twins, who are trying to win their overbearing father's approval and acquire their trust funds. Love, money, and desire collide as Matt and Chris decide what's really important to them.

**Summary taken from Goodreads**
Disclaimer: Provided by author for an honest review.

Epectations by Liz Borino follows the lives of three main Characters. Twins, Chris and Matt and their friend Aiden (who is Irish! Nom) Secrets and conforming to parents expectations are tinged through the whole story, each character fighting with their own desires and wants in conjunction with what's expected of them.

I liked these characters, from the first chapter they all had their own voice, i usually find it difficult keeping track of multiple protagonists but Ms Borino sets them all out beautifully drawing you into their lives, sympathising with them, smiling with them, wanting to follow their journey.
Heavily character based with lots of dialogue, something i enjoy reading, Expectations see Matt struggle with alcoholism, the original party boy, his twin Chris and Aiden falling in love, Aiden dealing with his past secrets.

Whilst i would say this is a romance, of sorts, there's no heavy love scenes, something for me i missed. I adore M/M reading of a burgeoning relationship and manlove, i felt that was missing from this book, there wasn't enough heat. While the plot moved along nicely, the character growth good to read, i missed the spice.

An enjoyable read for those cool spring nights,
I give Expectations by Liz Borino 3 Sparkles out of 5.
An author to watch out for!

For Author/ release info go HERE

Smooch
Sparklybearsy

Tender Mercies - Review

2011-05-14T11:29:00.000+01:00

“Grace. That word that finally meant something again. Mercy. Favor. Good will.” Fed up with play kink, Grace Warner moves to an island that embraces erotic slavery to be with a man she met online. Within hours of her arrival, everything is ripped from her, and she quickly learns play is preferable to the realities of actual enslavement. Asher Collins has spent the past year mourning and blaming himself for the death of his slave, Darcy. When Grace catches his eye at a showing, obviously abused, he becomes obsessed with buying her and finding a way to atone for his own past sins.

**Summary taken from Goodreads**
Disclaimer: Provided by author for an honest review.

Beautiful cover!

For an entire year, Lucas groomed Grace long distance into becoming his slave on an exclusive island where Master is ruler over all and slaves have little to no rights. Smart, funny charming he seems to be everything Grace wants from the kink lifestyle but soon lives to regret her decision. Tender Mercies by Kitty Thomas picks up Eight month after Grace arrived on the Island and she's in a living nightmare. Lucas is the Master from Hell putting Grace through the most unimaginable torture, sick twisted things all trying to break her spirit so he can own her completely.

Several times this book was turned on its head with its plot twists, just when you think it's going one way Kitty Thomas takes a 180 and blows your mind. Lucas was a character i hated. I hated him with a fiery vengeance, he's the kind of character you would happily see burn in Hell and not feel regret over it. He was truly evil with the things he did to Grace, and thankfully we didn't get in depth details because just the hint of things was enough. I'd wondered how the story would go if he was the hero, and then Asher appeared.

Asher the antithesis to Lucas and suddenly this story had the kind of Master Slave relationship i'd been waiting for. We see Asher at the beginning of the book when an 'Omg' moment happens, something i had not expected (the first of Kitty Thomas' 180 moves!) he's living with what happened, when he sees the rough treatment Grace is having to endure, wants her instantly. Buys her from Lucas.

And that's when the story finally has some heat to it. He's not a soft Master, but as he tells Grace he will never harm her. He punishes, he makes the frightened broken Grace whole again and it was beautiful to read. It was almost like reading a romance with extreme BDSM tossed into the mix. Asher was just lovely and when another twist is thrown in he made me swoon with what he did for Grace.

I can't ever praise Kitty Thomas enough for the books she writes, she isn't afraid to "go there" i love that she blows my mind with her subject matter, she twists the sexy with erotic and makes you question morals beliefs of what is consensual and non consensual. While this is yet another of her books that wont be for everyone, if you reach for the smelling salts easily then it's probably not something you'll want to read.

I for one will read Tender Mercies again, the story is strong, characters you will love or hate equally, enough erotic content to keep even the kinkiest of bitches happy and a.. dare i say it...romance to satisfy you with the swoon.

Did i mention i love Asher? i do!

Favourite Quotes:

“Sweet, little Grace. I like slaves who are careful, who agonize over the decision. You’re the one I had to fight hardest to acquire. I found several potentials to replace my last slave, but they were all too stupid. After a week they were ready to come here. But you . . . you were different. You were a prize worth owning.” - Lucas

“I take care of what’s mine.” - Asher

A wonderful read. I give Tender Mercies by Kitty Thomas 4 Sparkles out of 5!

For Author/release info go HERE

Smooch!

Sparklybearsy

PS. i hear rumours of Sci-fi and Mermaids for Kitty's next books. Cannot Wait to see how she kinks them up!

Reveal Me - Review

2011-04-04T13:32:00.001+01:00

Alana MacGregor craves excitement, but when her sometimes lover dumps her at a popular sex club, she wonders if she’s outgrown her live-fast-and-recover-later lifestyle. The last thing she expects is to run into the nerdy guy she rebuffed in high school—or for him to rock her world in ways no other man ever has. Hot on the trail of a story, Carter Nicholas can’t believe his luck at encountering the one woman he’s never forgotten. He’s come a long way from being a wall-hugging geek. Now he gets all A’s between the sheets. But can he convince Alana he’s her sure ticket to an unforgettable night—and maybe much more?

**Summary taken from Goodreads**
Disclaimer: Provided by Author for an honest review

I'm always excited to read a fresh Cari Quinn novella. No one packs as much into one as this author does. And Reveal Me was no exception.
Alana and Nicky were the kind of characters i love to read about. Alana is a fun time girl, she loves excitement and partying and sex, Nicky, is gorgeous! (sooo!) sweet, caring with a heart of gold and yet he has the right touch of Dom about him that i just loved! It's at a sex club Alana happens upon a guy she thinks may be the geeky boy from back at school, but pushes it from her mind when the now hunk is self assured and very much into letting Alana know he wants her.

How can you not adore an erotic romance tale of old school friends coming together (pun intended. ha!) and having something explosive between them. This was a hot story from beginning to end, and for a novella it was everything i wanted and more.

I love how Cari Quinn books never fall short despite the page number. They always have great well rounded characters, a storyline to keep you invested and the hottest, steamiest page turner love scenes. I've said it before, but i will say it again, this author and all her hot tales are a must MUST read. If you haven't yet, go and read everything she's written. Now!

Favourite Quote:

“You’re coming home with me, Mac. And this time, I’m going to make you beg.”

A sexy fun fast read for those warm spring night!

I give Reveal Me by Cari Quinn 4 Sparakles out of 5! A smuttastic read!

For Author/release info go HERE

Smooch!

Guilty Pleasures - Review

2011-03-29T11:38:00.001+01:00

Vivian Delaney leads a life of privilege, but behind closed doors she feels isolated and trapped in a gilded cage. Unable to achieve sexual pleasure with her husband, she finds herself in the capable hands of Anton, a massage therapist intent on awakening her to her full sexual potential. By any means necessary. As their secret meetings progress, she falls farther down a rabbit hole where the line between rape and illicit affair grows increasingly blurred. Anton will accept nothing short of her complete surrender as he molds and shapes her to be sold to the highest bidder

**Summary taken from Goodreads**

Last year, one of my top 5 books was Comfort Food by Kitty Thomas. This author took all my morals, my fantasies, my beliefs, my right and wrongs and tossed them the hell up until i was addicted to her Master. (i still miss him! ahh!) So you can imagine i was colour me happy to read her second book Guilty Pleasures. While it's not a follow on sequel book, it is on the same lines of Comfort Food, non-consensual pleasure. A woman forced to face her inner most sexual desires, whether she wants to or not.

Now, as a good little slave girl (Master trained me well in Comfort Food) my mind was already accepting of this concept, I didn't find anything shocking with the leading lady Vivian being blackmailed into having her sexual pleasures awakened by a therapist. I didn't even find it shocking when she's basically kidnapped and put into a house, to be trained in all the ways of a submissive sex slave to be sold off at a later time. Does this say something about my inner desires? *laughs* who knows, i just think it's the fantastic writing of Kitty Thomas, she draws you in from word one, delving into the unknown taboo subjects most authors shy away from, and i love that about her.

To talk briefly of the characters, Vivian a bored housewife who to my eyes can barely tolerate her husbands touch or even him, she seemed pampered and spoiled and i couldn't relate to her at all. There was times i wanted to slap her hard, tell her to stop being so self involved and whiny. I don't know if she was deliberately written so we the reader wouldn't like her, but that was my feeling. As the book progressed and she was broken down layer by layer she does evolve, but still by the last page she wasn't my favourite person.

Favourite Quote:

This was the devil. This was what temptation was. Gorgeous evil wrapped in a mask of innocence and consent. And she found herself falling to his seduction.

There was several male leads, the husband, the sex therapist and the slave trainers. Two to look out for are Anton and Gabe (swoon!) Oh, i loved Gabe, i wouldn't mind him giving me a weekend of training (SayWhat?!) cough. Anyway, moving along. What i found weak in the story was, the actual trainers, i'm still a girl who despite being kink wired loves a good connection with characters, With Emily and Master, however some people might think their relationship was wrong (these are what i call crazy people!) they had a deep connection that had me living their story with them. I didn't feel that in Guilty Pleasures, and it may be because i didn't like Vivian, or the fact that the trainers were running a business and couldn't get attached to the slaves.
I just felt it lacked something.

Having said that, if you like something darker with your erotica, if you can embrace something a lot different to what you've read before, if you don't mind that 'uncomfortable yet turned on at the same time oh i shouldn't like this but damn that is sexy' feeling then you should give Guilty Pleasures a read.
While these kind of books aren't for everyone, i do love the dark delicious tale Kitty Thomas spins. I can't wait for her new one 'Tender Mercies'

I give Guilty Pleasures 4 Sparkles out of 5!
For author/release info, go HERE

Smooch!

Lisa Sanchez Giveaway - WINNERS

2011-02-26T18:49:00.001Z

Courtesy of Omnific Publishing, who offered TWO SETS of ebooks (Eve of Samhain and Pleasures Untold) by the Awesome Lisa Sanchez.

The Winners are.....

using random.org

AsianCocoa

Sarah

your emails have been passed on, prizes will arrive shortly!

Thank you to all who entered!

Smooch.

Lisa Sanchez GIVEAWAY - Last 24 hours to Enter!

2011-02-23T19:17:00.001Z

**CLOSED**

WIN TWO E COPIES!: Eve of Samhain && Pleasures Untold. TWO WINNERS!

Courtesy of Omnific Publishing.

ENDS THURSDAY 24th 6PM UK TIME. Click HERE to Enter.

Wrapped around your Finger - Review

2011-02-21T13:29:00.002Z

Plus-sized fetish model and aspiring chef Indigo Hartley has plenty of tattoos and a fiery attitude to match. When she's offered a job as a sushi model for one of Miami's trendiest restaurants, she jumps at the chance. Little does this country-mouse-turned-city-vixen know that what starts out as a modeling job will end up the answer to all of her kinkiest fantasies. Three days serving as a sub to this hot chef is too tempting an offer to refuse. Banner Faust has worked his ass off and sacrificed his love life to become a rock star in the culinary world. On what should be the biggest night of his career, he realizes something is missing from his life-the submissive woman he's always craved. The curvy new model with the blue-streaked hair and innate submissive nature just might be the one he's been waiting for. And when he gets her home-and in his bed-he soon realizes three days will never be enough.

**Summary taken from Goodreads**
Disclaimer: Provided by Author for an honest review.

Spending three days as a submissive to a sexy chef in his beautiful secluded house is the offer fetish Model Indigo is given while working as a sushi model and feeling that draw of chemistry she accepts.
I loved Wrapped around your Finger by Fallon Blake. It delivers everything you want in an erotic novella. Engaging unique characters, great dialogue and a whole barrage of hotness to keep the pages turning.
Indigo is not your typical heroine, she was a fuller figured girl, and happy with her body, which i loved, she has the most awesome body ink and blue hair, i always wanted blue hair, so i loved her! (heh)

Banner in a word is devine. His whole subtle dominant demeanour draws you in and he held my attention throughout, i loved the erotic play between him and Indigo, how he took her from her comfort zone and presented her with new situations, and their chemistry was just sizzling. Ms Blake knows good erotica! I was transfixed and would have happily read 100 more pages of these characters.

If you're looking for a quick yet highly enjoyable sexy read, then this is the book for you. Reading so much, it's hard to find authors with a stand out voice, ones that will stay with you, but i know Fallon Blake will, with her unique spin on her characters, the fun erotic story and very entertaining page turner, makes me excited to read more from this author.

There was also a sub/dom house Banner took Indigo to, im hoping that appears in future books!

I give Wrapped around your Finger by Fallon Blake 4 Sparkles out of 5! A delicious read!

For Author/Release info go HERE

Smooch

Pleasures Untold - Review and Giveaway

2011-02-19T17:38:00.002Z

Hell hath no fury like a witch done wrong. Pissed off and packing an arsenal of witchy mojo, Martha is on the warpath. Determined to avenge the murder of her mother and grandmother, her mission is simple: kill every vampire, demon and underworld bastard she comes across, because one of those hell beasts might be the monster that stole her childhood from her. But when a sexy Latin vamp literally falls from the sky, saving her from becoming an undead Happy Meal, she has no choice but to reassess everything she thinks she knows. Xan is an anomaly --a vampire born, not turned. A powerful warlock who walks in daylight, Xan spends his days, and nights, watching over Martha, protecting her from Lucian, the blood-sucking monstrosity whose sole mission in death is to drain her dry. Undeniable attraction and the promise of pleasures untold draw the two lovers into a frustrating dance of one step forward, two steps back. When Lucian throws down a deadly ultimatum, Martha is forced to choose between relying on her own mystical woo woo to save the lives of her stolen friends or succumbing to the lure of dark, voodoo magic. Xan and Martha must work together to save those closest to her and put an end to Lucian's reign of terror before it's too late.

**Summary taken from Goodreads**
Disclaimer:Provided by Publisher for an honest review.

Pleasures Untold by Lisa Sanchez, the follow on book from the Wonderful Eve of Samhain tells Martha's story. A powerful gothic witch out for revenge on the Vampire who killed her family. She uses glamours to alter her appearance to blend into the under belly world of the demons, vamps, ghouls and spooks, hunting down the Vampire Lucian.
I was so excited to finally read Pleasures Untold, i was a huge fan of EOS to the point of obsession (ha) Lisa Sanchez writes characters that draw you in right away, I was intrigued by the glimpses we got of Martha in book one, she has changed somewhat in PU, more open, more friends, i kind of missed the gloomy mysterious goth girl but her development was needed, i couldn't see the pissed off witch from EOS falling for the Deliciousness that is Xan (insert swoon noises here)

Xan, oh Lisa Sanchez gave me another book boyfriend! right from the first time he appeared i was in crushville, i loved the chemistry with Martha and Xan, it felt real and believable.

Although it had a slower pace, i was right in the story, this is a book of "must read" variety, Lisa Sanchez writes characters with depth, humour, kick ass skills, sexiness and with great dialogue, and enough action to keep you turning page after page. I highly recommend this book, this series and this author. Love!

Favourite Quotes:

One minute Xan was standing in the center of my room, the next he was on my bed. Literally on top of me, his body pressed against mine, while his hands braced against the wall on either side of me. He lowered his head, gently grazing his lips along the column of my neck as he inhaled my scent.

“I can smell your desire for me, cariño. You crave me, the way a junkie craves his next fix. I have but to snap my fingers and you would be naked beneath me, begging me to bite you, begging me to take you."

Yet another wonderful engaging read, can't wait for the next book!

I give Pleasures Untold by Lisa Sanchez 4 Sparkles out of 5! Vampilicious!

For Author/Release info go HERE

***GIVEAWAY***

The great people over at Omnific Publishing are offering you TWO SETS - E-Books 1 & 2 for TWO WINNERS.

All you have to do is comment and answer: Which of the characters from both books (Eve of Samhain and Pleasure Untold) is your favourite and why.

Contest ends Thursday 24th 6pm UK TIME
***CLOSED***

Smooch!

Slave to Pleasure - Review

2011-01-07T12:57:00.001Z

Living in exile with her mother, Nissa a half human half fae, trains with the hope to one day become a hunter. When she goes into her first sexual heat six years too soon, she is kidnapped and sold to the highest bidder at the slave auction. Unwilling to give up her freedom for slavery, even if it is to two rugged and virile hunters, she takes desperate steps to escape. She should have known she couldn’t outrun the inevitable. Roane and Erik have shared everything in life and plan for Nissa to be no exception. The steely innocence they recognize in her matches up to everything they’ve been looking for. Purchasing her at auction should have sealed the deal, but neither of them bargained on her ruthless determination or the secret she harbored. Forced to face her weakness, Nissa agrees to a bargain. Seven days and nights of total submission, no questions asked and freedom is hers. Nissa is certain in the end she will want to leave and Roane and Erik are certain she wont

**Summary taken from Goodreads**
Disclaimer: Provided by Author for an honest review.

My attention is always caught when a book is based on M/F/M so i was intrigued to review Slave to Pleasure by Eliza Gayle. While the plot somewhat lost me in this book, (im not big on fae and their world. just a personal choice, no reflection on the book) i did however love the magical aspects of these characters, Nissa, Roane and Erik were engaging to read about, two strong alpha males and a heroine who wouldn't just let them have all their own way.
Heavily laden with the erotica this is a great read for those cold winter nights when you want something to heat you up, sexily written, lots of inter play with all three characters, including boy on boy love! Nissa is taken on a sexual journey with the two lead males and it was one i enjoyed reading about. hot hot hot!

Favourite hot Quote:

"there’s a good chance you’ll pass out before I’m done with you.”

A fast read that transports you to a magical world full of sexy delicious people! Well worth a read.

I give Slave to Pleasure by Eliza Gayle 3 Sparkles out of 5! Bondilicious!

For Author/release info go HERE

Smooch!

Touched by an Alien - Review

2011-01-06T12:19:00.001Z

How can a sexy marketing manager join forces with an Alpha Centauri male in Armani to save the planet-using hairspray, a Mont Blanc pen, and rock n' roll?

Easy...

She's Touched by an Alien

Marketing manager Katherine "Kitty" Katt steps into the middle of what appears to be a domestic dispute turned ugly. And it only gets uglier when the man turns into a winged monster, straight out of a grade-Z horror movie, and goes on a killing spree. Though Kitty should probably run away, she springs into action to take the monster down.

In the middle of the chaos a handsome hunk named Jeff Martini appears, sent by the "agency" to perform crowd control. He's Kitty's kind of guy, no matter what planet he's from. And from now on, for Kitty, things are going to be sexy, dangerous, wild, and out of this world.

**Summary taken from Goodreads**

I'm not the biggest fan of Urban Fantasy, i'm too much of a romance girl to be patient for the mushy things to come up in an UF, so to toss me into a SCI-FI book and expect me to like it was an unthinkable thing...HOWEVER i'd heard around Twitter and the Blogverse about this book Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch, i'd read many reviews and like all kids i wanted in with the IN crowd so i bought it, and i have a big thank you to Bells for bigging it up hugely on her blog, i never would have taken the push to dive into a genre that had previously not interested me because paint me pink and colour me excited i LOVED this book, no that's too weak a word, i ADORED this book!

While not everything held my attention, i loved the characters, it takes a lot A LOT for a heroine for me to like her, most are too whiny, too butch, too prissy, too wimpy that it takes all my effort not to want to smack them in the face repeatedly with many blunt objects, but Kitty, i loved her! she's so smart, and funny that i kind of wanted to be her *laughs* She doesn't hide away from the enormity of the situation, and it is a hell of a situation for a human to grasp, she just gets on and deals with it.

You wouldn't expect a sci fi book to be funny (or is that just my thinking?) but right from the beginning this book had me giggling and then laughing out loud, i have to give much kudos to Koch she writes some funny things for her characters! Along with the humour, there's snark, oh i love snark! Give me a sarcastic character and i swoon. Koch had me hooked in fully with the wonderful dialogue and the plot is fast paced so you never feel like it's dragging.

Quotes i loved:

"My crazy's working a lot better than your sanity."

"I'll marry you before any tree on Earth."

Whilst there is a lot of characters to keep up with, a first book you expect this, the main three, Kitty, Martini (swoon!) and Christopher are all wonderful to read and get to know, I'm already a Martini girl (love his name!) he had me right from the start, he's so charming and funny and hella gorgeous that you'd have to be made out of stone not to get a little excited in the panties area when he comes on the page. He engaged my attention like any great book boyfriend can, but i have to say, Christopher has his own charms too and i am intrigued with this love triangle scenario i see brewing.

If you're looking for an action packed, funny, snarky book full of kick ass heroes and a heroine who carries lethal weapons in her purse, sex scenes to make your eyes steam over and aliens that look like they stepped off the pages of GQ then you HAVE to read Touched by an Alien. Put it on your TBR right now!

The second book in the series "Alien Tango" is sat patiently waiting for me to pick it up, i can't wait to see these characters again.

I give Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch 4 Sparkles out of 5! An out of this world Read!

For Author/Release info go HERE

Smooch!

Just Call Me...Rita Book 1984 - Review

2010-11-02T15:37:00.001Z

Just call me...Rita BOOK 1984 Who could be so careless as to lose their diaries in a park of all places? Who could be so callous as to find and print them for anyone to read? Planning and scheming, quite the squalid lifestyle to be ashamed of. If you think this is another once upon a time? Bah-bye. If youre expecting a sugarcoated memoir, check the next aisle over. If you want reality in its most raw, potent form, then take a peek inside the life of a lecherous, dissipated twenty-year old. Come see what makes Rita, a buxom, brunette tick. Read all about a life of relentless debauchery in the 80's. Follow her sordid journey from Toronto to Los Angeles . Yah, trust me, theres never a dull moment.

Disclaimer: Received for Review.

I didn't know what to expect when i received Just call me..Rita Book 1984. Having never heard of author or book, but i was excited to dive in and find out all about this disturbed young girl Rita and read about her life.
I wish i could say i loved it. I can't even tell you much about it, since i only managed to read thirty some pages and just had to give up. I found the myriad of characters on the first few pages and the constant slang terms off putting.
Set in the 80's it shows Rita's decadent lifestyle, i wished i could have stuck with it, i've subsequently read some good reviews on it, but it's just one book that wasn't for me. I'd never not recommend a book, i think it's always up to the individual reader to make their own choices, if you like the synopsis then give it a go.

Rated: DNF.

Indulgence in Death

2010-10-28T14:43:00.000+01:00

I'm guest reviewing J D ROBBS Indulgence in Death at Smexybooks today.
Stop by and see what i thought of Eve, Roarke and the gang.

&& the Winner is.....

2010-10-24T19:48:00.001+01:00

THANKS to all who entered my 'His Darkest Embrace' Release Contest! i have WINNERS!!

All Winners were chosen at random using RANDOM.ORG Multiple entries from same person were counted individually.

First Prize: Copy of His Darkest Embrace (on release. Sent via Book Depository)

&& Author signed cover flat!

Winner is....SARAH!!!!!

her comment was:

Sarah said...Last but not least who can resist a sexy vamp? Give me Zsadist from the BDB any day (or any of the other brothers for that matter LOL!). I'd be happy to take any of the Midnight Breed warriors either - I got my breedmate tat but not found my warrior yet :o(

2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Prizes:

Author Signed Cover Flat!

Winners are:

shame

Stephanie G

INCiDeNT (Kayleigh)

jeanette8042

CONGRATULATIONS!

I will be contacting you all shortly for your mailing address!

Arctic Shift - Review

2010-10-18T15:38:00.001+01:00

She believes in myths…can she believe in destiny? Unlike her adventurous sister, Ruby is perfectly content to let her mind be the wanderlust while her body stays safely in Chicago. Melanie wouldn’t be out of touch this long without a damned good reason, though. Which means it’s time for a giant step outside her comfort zone. While Denali National Park is like another planet, the myths and legends that saturate this wild land are right up her alley. The wilderness guide waiting for her—naked in her bed—looks about as safe as a polar bear. Carson’s people are kin to the great beast, right down to the white hair. Before Ruby ever set foot in Alaska, his inner bear knew that Melanie’s little sister was his mate. He’s doing his level best not to let his primal needs scare her, but everything about her sends his urge to possess her into overdrive. To his surprise, revealing he’s a shifter only stimulates her innate curiosity. Warming her with the perfect fire of their lovemaking, easy. Convincing her that real love isn’t a myth—and making her want to stay in his home, his bed, his heart—now, that’s a problem…

**Summary taken from Goodreads**

Book One in Lissa Matthews Denali Heat series, Arctic Shift takes place in the cold depths of Alaska, a perfect setting for the heat that happens when Carson and Ruby are on the page together.
Ruby is a Mythologist and takes to the idea of Shifters quite easily. She travels to Alaska to locate her missing sister, not knowing her sister is living and in love with another shifter and is about to meet the Bear shifter who believes she is his mate.

My Thoughts:
I LOVED Arctic Shift like WOAH! When a book comes with a warning that says: "cozy flannel PJs, a naked shifter, incredible food and some fireside sex hot enough to melt the polar ice caps…" you know it is going to be good!
I love when a man just knows what he wants and who he wants. Carson has been dreaming of his mate ever since he saw her picture, just knowing she is the one and is determined to keep her. He is a wonderful character, Alpha but without the boorish dominant tendencies. He loves his family, is very protective over them and he isn't afraid to show his woman how he feels. And he cooks! actually makes meals, not just nukes it. Oh it had me swooning, how can you resist a man who can cook?!

Lovely paced, beautifully written, the author sets up the book well so you don't feel it is rushed in any way. There is some fabulous scenes, my favourite being Ruby waking up to find a huge gorgeous naked man in her bed. You need to read it for that alone and i loved her reaction. Ruby is an awesome character!
I can't not tell you about the sexy time. oh goodness! Carson is so so sooo delicious you will be as anxious as i was for the lovin' to begin, and when it does...HAWT! Lissa Matthews never leaves a sexy time scene missing of anything, I think i'd love her for that reason alone heh! I do like when an author doesn't skimp on details.
Favourite Quote:

"he kissed like a starving man afraid he’d never eat again"

I am so happy this is the beginning of a series, i am anxious to get onto the next Bear brother and back into the Denali world. This is a wonderful start to a series. For anyone wanting a great character based story full of growly Bears, fantastic romantic scenes and a delve into a world giving a different aspect into Shifters, Arctic Shift is for you.
I loved it and will happily read it again. Carson is now stacked safely on my book boyfriend shelf...and did i mention he cooks? swoon!

I give Arctic Shift by Lissa Matthews 4 Sparkles out of 5!
For Author/release info go HERE

Smooch!

Juliana Stone 'His Darkest Embrace' Giveaway!!

2010-10-10T14:11:00.001+01:00

Bearsy's Giveaway

Hello Peoples! Want some free Loot? I have something awesome for you!

His Darkest Embrace by Juliana Stone is released 26th October (a few days later in the UK) and Jules kindly has given me five SIGNED cover flats for my Give away! (Thanks Jules, i heart on you!)

Plus i will be giving the first prize winner a copy of His Darkest Embrace!

(If Book Depository delivers to your country)

Prizes:

1st Prize: Copy of His Darkest Embrace and Signed by author Cover Flat

2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Prize: Signed by author Cover Flat.

RULES:

Nothing complicated people. Just answer the question in a comment. And that's it! You can enter as many times as you want. Only Comments answering the Question will be counted. (so change your answer up for each comment. heh!)

Please leave me a way to contact you: Twitter screen-name/and or Email Address!

QUESTION: What kind of supernatural book boyfriend do you like to read about?

CLOSING DATE: 22nd October 1pm. UK time.

This is an awesome book you need to read. See my ARC Review HERE

Smooch!

Coming Undone - Review

2010-10-09T15:51:00.001+01:00

KEEPING IT TOGETHER Brody Brown has always been responsible for others. After his parents’ death, he gave up a promising artistic career to care for his younger brother and sister. Now, with his siblings grown, Brody owns his own business, has a nice house, makes a nice living, and for the first time in years he’s on his own. Elise Sorenson has come to Seattle with her young daughter to find peace. After years as a world-famous ballerina—(and just as many years in a marriage-gone-bad)—she’s looking for neither love nor attention. But she finds both in the handsome, honest man who befriends her with no strings attached. More than friends, Brody and Elise discover in each other what they need—wild, physical passion without commitment. But it’ll take a shadow from Elise’s past to make them look beyond what they need—to what they truly desire.

**Summary taken from Goodreads**

Coming Undone by Lauren Dane is the second book in the Brown Siblings Series. it follows on from the brilliant 'Laid Bare' What i know about a Dane book is, she will draw you quickly into the story and make you care about the characters. Brody and Elise together were so engaging.
It took a hit and run accident involving Brody for the pair to have their first connection, and they soon fall into an intense passionate friends with benefits relationship. Elise trying to get over her bad marriage and subsequent fraught continuing relationship with her ex in-laws she is gun shy of getting into any kind of relationship with a man, she's closed herself off from love and romance but she wants Brody in the most primal of ways.
When these two come together (yes, pun intended ha!) it is explosive and hot. Dane sure does know how to write sexy scenes, and darn if she's not invented! There is several sexy scenes that takes place at Elise's dance studio that will make your eyes steam over. Dane brings it hardcore! I love this author, and not just 'cause she gives me good smut! he!
I really liked Elise, she is fiercely protective of her little girl and will do anything to keep her safe, and yet she's not so tough that she becomes un-likeable. Her relationship with her parents is so sweet, i loved them too and her daughter is too cute for words.

But what i love best about this series is the Brown family. Brody is a wonderful Alpha Male. Loving and caring, he looks after everyone like a papa bear but has a bad boy exterior. RAWR and is hella sex on legs. Seriously the man exudes a raw sexual heat that would melt and will melt you. And! if you really appreciate a dirty talker, Brody is your man! wow is all i can say. He isn't shy in saying what he wants when he wants it.
Favourite Quote:

"Like I need to play on the Wii when you're there willing to fuck me. Video games are what men invented to fill the sex void. Any man who chooses video games over sex deserves to live in his mother's basement with his mint-condition, in box Star Wars figurines and his real doll."

Along with Brody, we see Erin again (from Laid Bare) and her delicious Husbands Ben and Todd, oh my! i was excited to see them again, i adored LB and to see their progression in life was so nice. And then there is Adrian Brown, rock star, brother and my new obsession! I want! I have an excited trepidation for his book, because i have a feeling who his gal will be, someone from this book who i wanted to bitch slap and then bitch slap again just for the hell of it. If it is her, i know if anyone can make me change my opinion on a character the Dane can!
Coming Undone is a book you will want on your bookshelves. it is beautifully written, drawing you into the lives of Brody and Elise, it wraps you in family, love, romance, heated passion and leaves you smiling at its last word. I can't say enough how much i loved this book!
'Loved it. Buy it. read it. the end!'
I give Coming Undone by Lauren Dane 4 Sparkles out of 5! An unforgettable Love Story!
For author/release info go HERE

Smooch!

No Mercy - Review

2010-09-28T15:56:00.001+01:00

Dev Peltier thought he knew it all. But one night when not just a Dark-Hunter, but an official member of the Dogs of War sashays into his bar, he realizes that he might have met his match. Sam was one the fiercest Amazon warrior in her tribe. But when an act of brutal betrayal made her a Dark-Hunter, she's been pissed ever since. Life fast, fight hard and enjoy the night. That's her credo. But as old enemies and new move into New Orleans, she realizes that Dev just might be the only hope she and mankind have to save the world.

**Summary taken from Goodreads**

It's not enough that the Daimons suck human souls to live, they can now walk in the sun, further threatening the Dark Hunters, Were Hunters and the human world. Dev Peltier, a Were Bear, bouncer at Sanctuary a former safe place for all things were meets sexy Amazon Dark Hunter Samia, chemistry is in the air and the two, plus were and dark hunter colleagues must battle to stop the Daimons before the world literally goes to hell.

My Thoughts:
Oh.My.Goodness!! Sherrilyn Kenyon Brought IT with No Mercy. I'd never been a fan of the Peltiers in any of the previous books, they were there but not really on my radar. i was too enamoured by the wolves (VANE!!) but wow did Dev explode onto the page and demand my attention! You can't help but love him and his humour and sarcasm that rolls out of his mouth naturally. I loved Dev and Sam together, they have to deal with a lot of issues, past and present but the connection between then both never wavered or got lost in the myriad of other things going on.
Sam is one fierce determined Amazon. loved her! I wasn't sure i would, a female Dark Hunter, i assumed she'd be too far on the fierce side she'd be un-likeable, but her vulnerable side she kept hidden was so endearing and it was awesome to see she wasn't pushed to the sidelines to be rescued by a male. That girl had it in hand!

Lots of other things going on in Kenyon's Dark Hunter world. I know for some there is too much detail, but i don't know if it's the authors writing style or just because i am so submerged in the characters that i didn't mind the additional repeated information or new characters being tossed into the mix.

For any Dark Hunter fanatic (raises hand here) there are a few moments in No Mercy that made my heart hurt and i don't see any resolution to it for a long time. Characters are going down roads that just in a word make me eek. I don't want to watch but i must because these are characters i've fallen in love with. Even the ones i love to hate.

No Mercy has everything you'd expect from a Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark Hunter novel, some of the best dialogue you'll ever read in any book, humour, sarcasm, goodies, baddies, goodies that are now baddies, baddies that can be goodies too, sex, romance, kick ass fight scenes, old characters, new characters, laugh out loud moments, tug at your heart strings moments, and much more! You're going to fall hard for Dev, you wont be able to stop yourself. I couldn't. And i even got a little girl crush on Samia.
I can't wait to see more of the Dogs of War.
Oh...and Savitar...was never much on my radar either. He is now. S'all i'm saying!
Favourite Quotes:

"Boy, you knock on the devil's door and he will head slam you through the wall."

"Living was okay,but it wasn't the breaths people took that measured a life. It was the moments that took those breaths away that mattered the most. And Dev did that every time he looked at her. Naked or not."

Such a wonderful enjoyable read, i can't gush enough about this series and where Kenyon is taking it. She is my Goddess and i will worship at her feets (ShutUP! heh!)

The next book is Jesse Sundown in 'Redemption' due for release Aug 2011. Xcited!! I've waited for this cowboy for eons it seems!
I give No Mercy by Sherilyn Kenyon 4.5 sparkles out of 5! A Bear-rific read!
For author/release info go HERE
Smooch!

Personal Research - Review

2010-09-19T15:57:00.001+01:00

Briefs are Elena Thomas’s life, whether they’re legal at her day job or on the men in the erotic novels she writes. She’s just fine with saving her imagination for her books until temptation appears in the form of Nunzio, the smokin’-hot office IT guy. When he discovers one of her scorching books shooting out of the printer, Elena’s not sure if he wants her because she’s inventive or because he thinks she’s desperate. That doesn’t stop her from taking advantage of his “services”. On her desk. On the copier. And, oh yeah—in her boss’s chair. Nunzio’s shocked to learn Elena’s wall-hugging persona hides a wildcat of a woman with delicious fantasies and an enticing wit. She’s exactly what he’s been looking for in an adventurous lover—and girlfriend. He knows she enjoys their sexual research. Now he just has to convince her that sizzling sex is only the first chapter of their blazing-hot romance.

**Summary taken from Goodreads**
To Buy go HERE

My Thoughts:

If for no other reason than to see the best opening line ever, you are going to want to go and read Personal Research by Cari Quinn. Over the last week i'd anticipated this book, a twitter frenzy about 'desk smex' had built my excitement for it. I already love this author's work, she writes some of the hottest stories out there, and who can resist reading about desk smex?

Elena seems to be a contradiction to the hot books she writes, she's not out every night getting herself some hot sex with a hunk, all of her sexual needs goes into writing steamy characters while she works at a law firm. It's there Nunzio, the IT guy reads some of her work and the chemistry ensues!
Oh wow, the heat the author builds between Nunzio and Elena is really sizzling. Nunzio is my kind of delicious, as i wrote in my notes 'he had me at 'Bella'' the pet name he calls Elena *swoon* Half Italian half Irish he was just perfect! i loved him! The things that man says and does would make any girl blush/pant/and drop to the floor on all fours.

How often does an author give us readers desk smex? not often enough! Cari Quinn has become an auto buy author for me, because she brings it and then some! Oh My! the desk! i'm going to be thinking of it all day.
A delicious sexy hot read, perfect for any day ending in a Y. Now I'm eager to see what the author gives us next.
Favourite quote:

Just perfect. Now she had very tight nipples to go with her very wet pussy. Did her hormones have to betray her at every turn

I give Personal Research by Cari Quinn 4 Sparkles out of 5! A desk-tastic read!
For Author/Release info go HERE
Smooch!

Black Opal Series - Double Review

2010-09-15T13:35:00.002+01:00

Frankie Black is a woman in need of a mission- a Black Opal, a warrior woman whose sole purpose in life is to time shift either backward or forward in order to, well, save the world. For someone who is used to working with little or no time to spare, the last six months have been a lazy blur. But that's no longer the case. She has been summoned home rather abruptly, and charged with a mission to save the life of Dekkar James, an infamous rock god living three hundred years into the past. There are forces working against her. The New Order, her family's archenemies, would love nothing more than to wipe out the Black Opals. They're operatives who manipulate time with no regard for consequence. What she doesn't know is that they've found a way to seek out the predestined mates of all the Black Opals, and unless she can save Dekkar's life, her future will be the first casualty in a battle that could destroy humankind forever.

**Summary taken from Goodreads**

My thoughts:

The synopsis explains the book well, so i will jump right into what i thought of Black Legacy by Juliana Stone. In a word, i was hooked! Right from the first page until the very last. It is rare for a novella to catch my attention so deeply and engross me in the lives of two characters as i was with Frankie and Dekkar.
Frankie doesn't know when she meets the described 'rock God' Dekkar that he is her destined mate, all she knows is she's protecting him from her enemies The New Order (I love that name for the baddies) and when she lays eyes on him she's in instant lust. You can't blame her, i was lost when he was described as having blue black hair and "His incredible torso was covered in an elaborate array of colorful tattoos that snaked up, caressing the hard abs" oh yeah! i could understand Frankie's reaction to him too! She is such a cool character to read, tough as nails, a warrior protecting all of the galaxies and the girl likes sex! When we first see her she is getting major tongue action of the south variety, so you can guarantee the smexy time with Frankie and Dekkar is SMOKIN'! Juliana Stone brought it!
Favourite Quote:

Frankie had never in her life experienced such a kiss. It was both passionate and brutal in its intensity. She knew she was lost. There would never again be such a first kiss. Not ever.

This is an awesome beginning to a great Novella Series. Hot, erotic, fast paced, adventurous, with one of the sexiest men i've ever read! You're going to want to pick this book up and devour it as i did.
i give Black Legacy by Juliana Stone 4.5 Sparkles out of 5!

============================================

She will protect him at all costs, even if it means her life. Undercover, deep in the heart of enemy territory, Lily Black has been charged with a mission: guard the life of Kerr Strome. Like her warrior sisters, the Black Opals, Lily is a time traveller who shifts wherever she’s needed. She’ll do whatever it takes to foil an assassination attempt on Kerr by The New Order. There’s only one way to fly under his radar: pose as a man. Kerr Strome is a warrior with his back to the wall. His planet is in chaos, his life threatened at every turn. The safe evacuation of his people from their war-ravaged planet depends entirely on his team of elite soldiers—and their ability to lie low for the next few days. The holding pattern might make him crazy, except for the intriguing new team member. A small soldier with big-time fighting skills, and something extra Kerr can’t quite figure out. When Lily intercepts a New Order assassin—and a bullet meant for Kerr—her cover isn’t all that’s blown. Their pent-up desire reveals a bitter truth. The reason Kerr is marked for death? He is Lily’s destined mate. And the only way to save his life is to give her own.

**Summary taken from Goodreads**

My thoughts:
Black Destiny is Book two in the Black Opal Series and it packs a delicious punch just as Black Legacy did. For a novella it contains lots of action, and enough character descriptions and dialogue to feel you know Lily and Kerr.
Pretending to be a male soldier, Lily is fighting side by side with the delicious Kerr, trying to make sure he gets off planet to save him, by whatever means necessary. I felt duped with Lily pretending to be a guy, i wanted more hot smex that i'd come to expect from this series, Kerr wasn't going to get hip bummage with 'him' (i had a moment of 'Ohhh maybe he will! manlove! squee! hah!) but phew, her pretense didn't last long. There is lots of angst and growls and scowls when Kerr thinks Lily has betrayed him, i loved that section, will they, wont they, will he go back for her, will she catch up with him. Oh i loved it! And yes, i can tell you Juliana didn't disappoint in the romance parts at all. This author gives me exactly what i love to read about!
So far, we've met Frankie and Lily in the Black family, i look forward to meeting the other sisters, these girls kick ass and look gorgeous doing it!
Again i tell you, if you're looking for something short but gives you a wonderful adventurous sexy romance you can't go wrong with these books, i am now ravenously awaiting book three in the series.
Favourite Quote:

Lily cracked her neck and prepared to fight. Looks like her shit day had just taken a header directly into the toilet.

Last Bear thoughts:
~I wonder where i'm going to fit Kerr and Dekkar in my book boyfriend harem.
~How soon can i bug Juliana Stone on when book three is released? I'm thinking a few hours, that seems a good number heh!
~Seriously! where in my harem can i put my new menz?!

I give Black Destiny by Juliana Stone 4.5 Sparkles out of 5!
For Author/release info go HERE
Smooch!

To Collar and Keep - Review

2010-09-13T14:52:00.002+01:00

Book two in the American Satyrs Series

A surrender to the unknown has never been sexier.

Olanis, the summer holiday is upon the Satyr clans once more and it is the time for Harlequin, prince of the Rummer clan, to claim his first and only female, the Grecian Satyr princess Arabella, sight unseen.Unsure of what kind of woman his clan had brokered for him, he is both interested in the woman that would wear his collar, and nervous that she won’t meet his standards. His female has to rival him in all things, and his hopes of that coming true are slim and none. Arabella craves two things, finishing her education, and being claimed by her Satyr. An anomaly in the Satyr world, Arabella was afforded opportunities other princesses weren’t. Now, in a foreign land she is given over to the Prince she was promised to, and she couldn’t be more nervous. What's a girl to do when you’re being gifted to a man you have never seen? Harley is a commodity to the Rummer clan, one that his father plans to exploit regardless of his son’s wishes. When he gives Harley an ultimatum, Harley and Bella have two choices-agree to the terms or rebel.When sparks fly and new alliances are forged in the Satyr ranks, both Harley and Bella have to decide what it is they want and what kind of future they wish to have. Only together will they succeed, if they can suffer the slings and arrows.

Buy Here

Read my Of Crimson and Collars book One review HERE
Disclaimer: Received from Author for an honest review.

I've been waiting for 'To Collar and Keep' by Stella and Audra Price ever since i was hooked into their Satyr world with 'Of Crimson and Collars' this one is Harley's story and within the first few paragraphs there is a line that says

Who had time to fuck when they were trying to create the perfect future?

I just knew i was going to love him! He's your typical Satyr, but then not. there's something more to Harley that i just loved. He's kinda cocky but not in an overly way that makes you want to smack him, he's a delicious cocky.

In amongst family business, clans and whose side to be on, trying to please his family, continue to expand his mind (he's so smart! like a sexy geek satyr! rawr!) he is to take his beloved, Bella, sight unseen and it has him (and her) anxious to see her. Satyrs are all about the smex, so if you're not attracted to who is gifted to you, you're kind of up shit creek with no paddle.

I liked Bella's determination to see her Prince before officially being given over to him, she had balls, and wasn't afraid to embrace all her sexual needs.

I really enjoyed reading To Collar and Keep, we learn more of the Satyr world Stella and Audra Price are building, more characters introduced, Corbin and Sebastian, two i will be keeping an eye out for in the future. As i said in my review for book one, this too is a book for all lovers of great written smut. Harley made my eyes steam over more than once.

Some aspects of the book didn't appeal to me, girl on girl play, it's just a personal preference, what can i say, i'm all about the peen heh! but when the authors do give girl play it's greatly written. it's just not for me. With a complicated world the Satyrs live in, it is inevitable there has to be a lot of information, places, names, etc, packed in there. Again another personal preference i like just a little less, but it doesn't take anything away from enjoying a great read.

After reading book one, i was sure Ben owned me, i was willing to even wear his Collar, but darn now i've met Harley i think i need a second collar...at least a wrist collar heh! this was a wonderful read, perfect if you have a few hours and you want a hot book to drool over.

I give To Collar and Keep by Stella and Audra Price 4 Sparkles out of 5! Petilicious!

Head over to the Eververse Blog HARLEY is there answering questions and generally being sex on legs for you to drool over!!

Smooch!

Author Zoe Winters Takes over Sparklys!

2010-09-03T13:13:00.001+01:00

Blood Lust Blog Tour!!

Hello Lovelies, im honoured today to have author Zoe Winters take over Sparklys, to tell you all about her latest release 'Blood Lust' I LOVE this series!

My reviews:

Kept

Claimed

Mated

Without further ado, please welcome Zoe to Sparkly's! And read careful for her awesome Giveaway!

Blog Takeover... and Giveaways!

Hi, I'm Greta Lawson. I'm a werecat (though we prefer the term "therian"), and a character from Zoe Winters' book, Blood Lust. Zoe has a big blog tour schedule this week and she's being a prima donna. So she left me in charge here. She's such a stupid girl. Apparently she's not clear on the fact that I have a slight issue with her. It's not wise for her to leave me in charge of any portion of her promo right now.

You see, Dayne, my man... is jealous that she likes her other male characters better than him. And to that I say... so? She's not all that. He's ignored me all week obsessing over this issue. Sure, he says: "Oh you know I love you, honey". But he makes sure Zoe isn't nearby when he says it.

So I'm just going to get this out now. Zoe Winters is the meanest author I know. She didn't have to write Kept with me trapped in Cary Town and dependent on a sorcerer with a bad reputation to save me. And she also didn't have to make me look like such a schizophrenic psycho.

I mean, I was in heat. I can't help the mood swings. I hadn't had my pill. So yeah, I'm going to be brave, then scared, then snarky, then angry. I'm going to be all over the place. Haven't you ever seen a hormonal woman? We become completely irrational.

And before you tell me I sound pretty insane right now, let me just say... I haven't had my pill. I'm letting the heat happen again. Zoe is no competition against my magic pheromones. I intend to keep Dayne in the house all weekend reminding him why he likes kitties so much.

Oh yeah, I was supposed to promo the stupid contest. Zoe is giving away a newest generation Amazon Kindle with 3G wireless. You can go to her blog to check out the details. The contest is almost over, but there's still time to enter if you hurry.

She'll also be giving away a signed copy of Blood Lust to one commenter here. I bet you're overjoyed about that.

Here are the details about the book:

It’s all about the blood...

Comprised of three novellas, Blood Lust gives readers a snapshot look at the world of the Preternaturals Series. (Future installments of the series will be novels.)

KEPT:

As a cat therian (shifter), Greta's blood is already sought after to enhance spells and potions, but due to a quirk of her birth, her blood is potent enough to kill for. When her tribe plans to sacrifice her, Greta must ally herself with Dayne, the dangerous local sorcerer, and the only person strong enough to protect her.

CLAIMED:

For a vampire, Anthony isn't a picky eater, but he's drawn to Charlee's blood more than any other. Like a fine wine saved for a special occasion, he's denied himself this pleasure. But one night, high from the potent magical blood of another, he claims his prize and loses control. Ashamed of almost killing the one woman who means anything to him, he wipes her memory of the event. When Charlee awakens with complete amnesia, Anthony is the only one who can clean up the mess he's made.

MATED:

Because of the vampiric blood that has run through her veins since birth, Jane has been a target for vampires who resent a human being "kindred." She's forced to disguise herself as a vampire groupie to appease them and safeguard her life. When she's abruptly given to Cole, the leader of the werewolf pack, to satisfy a gambling debt, she discovers the blood running through her veins has a far greater impact on her destiny than she ever imagined.

Print and ebook copies are available at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. (other retailers coming soon.)

Buy links are available from Zoe's blog (The top stickied Amazon contest post.)

You can find her here:

|Author Website|Author Blog|Twitter|

No Mercy is Coming!

2010-08-31T14:12:00.000+01:00

It seems like EONS since we had a new Dark Hunter Book. And Oh my Gosh, NO MERCY is almost here!
Due for release on SEPTEMBER 7TH!
Here is the Trailer Promo for it. It's so Awesome, i love the trailers they make for Sherrilyn Kenyon books.

Synopsis: Live fast, fight hard and, if you have to die, then take as many of your enemies with you as you can. That is the Amazon credo and it was one Samia lived and died by. Now in contemporary New Orleans, the immortal Amazon warrior is about to learn that there’s a worse evil coming to slaughter mankind than she’s ever faced before. Shapeshifter Dev Peltier has stood guard at the front of Sanctuary for almost two hundred years and in that time, he’s seen it all. Or so he thought. Now their enemies have discovered a new source of power--one that makes a mockery of anything faced to date. The war is on and Dev and Sam are guarding ground zero. But in order to win, they will have to break the most cardinal of all rules and pray it doesn’t unravel the universe as we know it.

I love that it's an Amazon Dark Hunter taking centre stage. I can't wait!

Mated - Review

2010-08-30T15:40:00.002+01:00

Because of the vampiric blood in her veins, Jane has been a target for vampires who resent a human being “kindred.” She’s forced to disguise herself as a vampire groupie to appease them and safeguard her life. When she’s abruptly given to Cole, the leader of the werewolf pack, to satisfy a gambling debt, she discovers the blood running through her veins has a far greater impact on her destiny than she ever imagined.

**Summary taken from Goodreads**

My fave cover in this series. check out Coles tat!
Nom!

Mated by Zoe Winters is Cole and Jane's story. Cole is an alpha to his wolf pack and Jane a human who is able to see the true face of vampires. Having had to pretend to be a vampire groupie to stay safe, she is taken by Cole in lieu of the debt vampire Paul owes him.
When i first initially saw Paul and Jane in 'Claimed' i really liked him, i thought this book would be their story, his character took a 180 from cheeky cocky likeable vamp to abusive and ready to pimp out his girlfriend to the highest bidder. i was kind of sad about the character change for Paul, but then i met Cole and it was Paul Who?

Cole is everything you want in an Alpha Male. Loyal, Protective, Gentle when needed, strong and with an alluring pull that will leave you wanting more from this wolf. (can you tell i kind of like him? ha!)
Unsure of why he is keeping a tight hold on human Jane, he's almost prepared to go to war with the Vampires over her, he shows the girl kindness and a gentle strength she hasn't had before. Always having been afraid of the vamps Jane is also confused when the merest of touches of Cole has her aroused (the girl aint stupid, Cole is hot!)

Sounds pretty much like a typical werewolf story meets girl falls in love..right? nope! toss into the mix a wolf pack member murdering humans, portals that lead to the demon realm, meeting a very interesting demon by the name of Cain (Need to see more of him!) a jealous omega, sizzling tension, scorching sexy times and a wolf that can tear jeans clean from your body before you can even blink, and what you get is another engaging read from the supernatural world Zoe Winters has built.

I really enjoyed 'Mated' just enough tension, intrigued and romance to whet my appetite for more of this series.
I give Mated by Zoe Winters 4 Sparkles out of 5! - A growl-tastic read!
For Author/release info go HERE

Smooch!

For the Love of Molly - Review

2010-08-29T13:21:00.001+01:00

Mollie McGree is on a mission to seduce her best friend, the sexy masseuse Juan-Carlos. But she wants to lose a few extra pounds first. She joins a gym run by self-made millionaire and personal trainer, Conner Bean. Conner thinks Mollie doesn't need to lose any weight, and is perfect just the way she is. He plans to seduce the curvy Mollie by giving her his own special training sessions in passion and desire. Soon Mollie is enjoying a no-holds-barred love affair with the vibrant and skilled Conner. But self-esteem issues on her part, as well as her unresolved feelings for Juan-Carlos, cause her to second guess Conner's motives. Conner will stop at nothing until he claims Mollie's heart for his own

**Summary taken from Author website**
Disclaimer: Provided by author for an honest review.

Molly is a character every woman will be able to relate to when they read For the Love of Molly by KT Grant. She has worries over her body, just like most women. Wanting to get fit and attract her crush JC Mollie takes to the gym and it's there she meets Conner who unbeknown to her has secretly crushed her from afar for a while. Cue love triangle! I do love the girl likes boy, boy likes other girl, new boy likes girl but girl doesn't like him back right away stories.

I really liked Conner, you can't help swoon over this physically delicious guy who is surrounded by barbie wannabe women all day long at his gym and it is the curvy voluptuous woman with no self confidence in her own body that he lusts for. A man who can see the entire woman and not just her packaging is swoon worthy in my eyes!

Things heat up pretty quickly between Molly and Conner and when they do you're going to need a bucket of ice afterwards because KT Grant BRINGS IT! It's not to be missed.

This is a sweet contemporary romance story with enough heat and smex to satisfy the hungriest of readers.
I give For the Love of Molly 3 Sparkles out of 5 - Coconut Oil Yumminess!
For Author/release info go HERE

Smooch!

Claimed - Review

2010-08-27T18:11:00.001+01:00

For a vampire, Anthony isn’t a picky eater, but he’s drawn to Charlee’s blood more than any other. Like a fine wine saved for a special occasion, he’s denied himself this pleasure. But one night, high from the potent magical blood of another, he claims his prize and loses control. Ashamed of almost killing the one woman who means anything to him, he wipes her memory of the event. When Charlee awakens with complete amnesia, Anthony is the only one who can clean up the mess he’s made

**Summary taken from Goodreads**

I really enjoyed reading Claimed by Zoe Winters. Second book in the Blood Lust Series (scroll down to read my review of book one 'Kept') Anthony was first seen in Kept and i was so intrigued and hoped we'd see him again (what can i say, i am a vampire junkie!) Anthony, a contender for king of vampires, has lusted for Charlee for a long time, has wanted to feed from her but always held back, it's only when he's under the influence of drugged blood that he's unable to stop himself from attacking and drinking from her almost killing her. Having to wipe her memory, he does a bad job of it and wipes her entire memory and is left with the task of having her around to fix his mistake.

I liked Charlee, she was an interesting character, especially since she had amnesia, i liked the glimpses of her 'real' self when she was talking with Anthony. She was conflicted in knowing what he was and yet she couldn't help the deep sexual chemistry she had to the vampire, there is lots of humorous banter between the pair.
Loving vampires as i do (i'd so be a vampire groupie!) i couldn't help but fall for Anthony a little bit, i was fascinated with his vampire world, they have as many politics and rules as the human world, the glimpses of his demon face when he looked in the mirror was interesting, Zoe Winters painted a vivid image of not only him but the entire world.

So you have, human and vampire two species not meant to be together but cant help the pull, a girl who cant even remember her own name, a vampire who is sex on legs, and amid all that is a tournament to see who will rule the vampire realm.

It is a great read, and again Winters packs a lot into a novella, surprisingly so! I give Claimed by Zoe Winters 4 Sparkles out of 5!
For Author/Release info go HERE

Smooch!

Kept - Review

2010-08-26T16:30:00.001+01:00

As a cat therian (shifter), Greta’s blood is already sought after to enhance spells and potions, but due to a quirk of her birth, her blood is potent enough to kill for. When her tribe plans to sacrifice her, Greta must ally herself with Dayne, the dangerous local sorcerer, and the only person strong enough to protect her.

**Summary from Goodreads**

Dayne...RAWR!!!!

Kept by Zoe Winters is a free read on her site (link at the bottom) It's book one in the Blood Lust Series and what a great start to a series. Being a novella it is pretty packed full of story, and an intense sexual entanglement between Greta and Dayne. Greta is on the run from her Tribe of Therian's after discovering she is to be a sacrifice on the full moon of her twenty eighth birthday. Dayne, a mean moody sorcerer with a bad reputation reluctantly takes her in, in exchange for her blood to use in his spells. He doesn't want her around and she is wary to be around him but has no other choice.
I loved these characters! Greta is smart and fiesty with a touch of vulnerability about her and Dayne is not your typical hero, but the more you see them together the more you understand why they're both as they are and want them to have a happy ending.
I really enjoyed seeing into the world Zoe Winters has created, there is lots of other worldly characters to meet and love as much as i loved Greta and Dayne, i really enjoyed the magic and shifter aspects and the passionate chemistry pulsed on the page between them, the sex scenes are deliciously scrumptious!

A great well rounded read that will leave you wanting to get right back to this world. And you can with 'Claimed' book two in the Blood Lust series. (review for that to follow)

I give Kept by Zoe Winters 4 Sparkles out of 5! a Purrr-fic read!
For Author/release info go HERE

Smooch!

✰✰LINGER CONTEST WINNER✰✰

2010-08-21T17:14:00.000+01:00

Prizes: Copy of Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Signed bookmark by Maggie Stiefvater

Thank you to everyone who entered my first contest!!

I used Random.Org to generate a winner, If you entered multiple times then you had more chances to win!

Drum Roll please.....

The Winner is.....

Stella (Ex Libris)!!!!!!!!!

Her comment said:

Because everyone knows that werewolves are passionate and cuddly! Who wouldn't want a boyfriend who isn't afraid of a little PDA?

CONGRATULATIONS!

I will be emailing you shortly.

Lets BLOG HOP into the Weekend! #5

2010-08-20T12:02:00.002+01:00

Woots Friday has Finally arrived! The weekend starts here!

Lots of reading and reviewing for me hopefully

Now you can go and Network your blog!

I love Fridays for discovering new and exciting blogs to follow.

Go forth and Network!

First go to Parajunkee's View and sign up for her awesome Follow Friday

Another option to Network your blog is to head over to Jennifer's at Crazy for Books amazing Book Blogger Hop.

Make sure to read the rules before participating in both. And have fun Networking!

Jennnifer's Question this week:

How many blogs do you follow?

Right now i am following 168 blogs! it will be more once i go browsing via the blog hop. I try to read as many blogs as i can per day, real life permitting, the majority of my reading material all comes from reading reviews, i am a sucker for book recs. he!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! If you stop by, don't forget to say HELLO and i can skip by your blog too.

Smooch!

Life after Joe - Review

2010-08-18T16:03:00.001+01:00

It's not the breaking up that kills you, it's the aftermath. Ever since his longtime lover decided he'd seen the "heterosexual light," Matt's life has been in a nosedive. Six months of too many missed shifts at the hospital, too much booze, too many men. Matt knows he's on the verge of losing everything, but he's finding it hard to care. Then Matt meets Aaron. He's gorgeous, intelligent and apparently not interested in being picked up. Still, even after seeing Matt at his worst, he doesn't turn away. Aaron's kindness and respect have Matt almost believing he's worth it-and that there could be life after Joe. But his newfound happiness is threatened when Matt begins to suspect Aaron is hiding something, or someone...

**Summary taken from Goodreads**

Disclaimer: Provided by NetGalley

The break up of any relationship is always difficult, it was especially hard on Matt. We meet him six months after the break up of the love of his life, Joe. together since they were kids Matt doesn't know how to have a life without him, he spirals into drinking, drugs and casual sex with man after man. Studying to become a doctor, he skips classes, and slowly little by little tries to destroy what life he has, not caring if he is beaten up, or raped, not caring how many pills he swallows. Until he meets Aaron.

Life after Joe by Harper Fox is told in the first person, from Matt's POV, his anguish at being left alone by his lover Joe comes through the pages clearly, not only was he dumped, he was dumped so Joe could live as he sees it a normal life, with a woman he'd secretly been having an affair with for two years. It was for that reason i felt Matt lacked a backbone. His lover cheats on him, systematically building a life with someone else while he still came home to matt's bed every night, and yet matt wasn't pissed off at him at all, wasn't angry or unforgiving. I wanted to yell at him to stop snivelling and grow a pair of balls, Joe didn't deserve him and yet he grieved badly for him.

Not much was learned about Aaron, he seems to come into Matt's life and quickly the forge a relationship, each of them holding onto baggage that eventually catches up with them both. He had a calm quiet quality about him that as a reader appealed to me, he seemed to be the ying to Matt's yang.

While this book isn't all sweetness and roses, it has a romance mixed into the raw gritty and darkness of Matt's depression and despair that i found endearing, Aaron is a sweetheart albeit two dimensional, i wished we'd gotten to know more about him.

Sidenote: i found it amusing that the book was set in a part of the UK not so far from me, i was easily able to hear the accents, it added a nice dimension for me and gave me a chuckle with the accent spellings.

For any m/m romance fans this is an intense read, I was happy to have taken the journey with Matt to find his HEA. I give Life after Joe by Harper Fox 3.5 Sparkles out of 5.

For Author/release info go HERE

Smooch!

Pride - Review

2010-08-15T15:06:00.001+01:00

I'm on trial for my life. Falsely accused of infecting my human ex-boyfriend—and killing him to cover up the crime. Infecting a human is one of three capital offenses recognized by the Pride—along with murder and disclosure of our existence to a human. I'm two for three. A goner. Now we've discovered a rogue stray terrorizing the mountainside, hunting a wild teenage tabbycat. It's up to us to find and stop him before a human discovers us. With my lover Marc's help, I think I can protect the vulnerable girl from both the ambitious rogue and the scheming of the territorial council. If I survive my own trial…

**Summary taken from Goodreads**

If you've read my previous reviews for this Rachel Vincent Shifter series you know i have mixed feelings about it. Pride is book three and sees Faythe growing up a lot, she still has her spontaneous streak that sometimes lands her in hot water but overall her maturity was nice to see. Faythe is dealing with the fall out of 'Rogue' killing her ex boyfriend in defence has her before the council on charges of murder, if she can't prove she didn't deliberately change him and then kill him on purpose to cover it up she will face the death penalty. This was an exciting storyline, mixed into that was an emotional roller coasted for Faythe and Marc, Strays causing trouble, humans going missing, and a runaway teenage shifter.

For me this is the best book in the series so far, what irritated me about Faythe is previous books wasn't present in this one, i finally see the progression Vincent is taking her on.

While the books are still a bit on the 'too long' side for me, some things stretch out so much i become bored and want them resolved, i did however enjoy Pride and want to dive right into 'Prey' to continue on with Faythe and Marc, their arc is heart achingly sad right now, i hope it gets better in the next book.

Vincent really delved into Pride laws with this one, and dished up a gripping tale of loyalty, sadness, maturity, and strength. All leading to a great crescendo of a finale. Can't Wait!

I give Pride 3.5 Sparkles out of 5!

For Author/Release Info go HERE

Smooch!

Simple Need - Review

2010-08-14T15:37:00.001+01:00

Vinter is not your typical businessman. Tattoos, piercings and not a suit and tie in sight. One-third owner of a bar and a tattoo parlor along with being a bassist in a band, Vinter comes and goes as he pleases. He likes his beer cold, his music hard and his women scorching hot. Until he’s knocked off his game by a suburban doll he can’t stop wanting. Elise needs a change. In men. The buttoned-up businessmen she’s been dating leave a lot to be desired—in romance, in respect and most definitely in sex. A recent text message from her now ex-lover drives Elise into a popular bar on the outside of town, where she meets one of its owners. He’s just the kind of man she’s never had and definitely the kind she’s always fantasized about. Big, bad and oh so naughty. Unexpected tenderness. Unimaginable lust. Being dumped has never felt so damn good

**Summary taken from Goodreads**

I am in love with this cover! NOM!

Picture the scene, girl dumped horribly by her married boyfriend via text, devastated that she didn't realise he was already married, after having full access to him, (when you have a guys digits and address, you assume he has nothing to hide) she hadn't even suspected. Girl is sat at a bar drowning her sorrows swearing off men for good, cue hotter than hell guy approaches, asks to buy her a drink, lust sparks fly between them, guy offers a night of wild sex to make her forget her troubles, girl's fantasy come to life she gets everything sexually she's always repressed....and more. Simple Need by Lissa Matthews has to be one of the best erotica stories i've read this year, it's certainly going on my best reads list.
Holy wow, the author packs a lot of steam in this novella, and it doesn't feel at all rushed even though Elise and Vinter form a closeness in just over a day.

If you're looking for a quick sexy sizzling read you can't go wrong with this one. Vinter is all that and a bag of crisps! Do you like your men with tats, piercings in all those yummy places, a bad boy with a soft centre? then check check check and check for Vinter! Goodness the sexy scenes are SEXAY and the sweet scenes will melt your heart.
This a must Summer Read! (Winter, Spring and Autum too!) I loved 'Simple Need' and will happy re-read it again and again just to have another Vinter Fix. NOM!

I give Simple Need by Lissa Matthews 4.5 Sparkles out of 5! Tatt-tastically Delicious!
For Author/Release info go HERE

Smooch!

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater GIVEAWAY!!!!

2010-08-13T15:28:00.001+01:00

******** CLOSED********

I wanted to do this contest when LINGER was released last month but had to wait until it was back in stock on Book Depository,
Anyhoo! to the GIVEAWAY! it is for ONE WINNER and you can enter as many times as you want.

The Prizes:
A copy of LINGER by Maggie Stiefvater (depending if book depository delivers to your country)
A signed LINGER bookmark

RULES:
1. you have to be a follower of my blog.
2. you can enter as many times as you want.
3. Answer the following question:
Why would you like a wolf for a boyfriend?

4. And that's it!

CLOSING DATE: 20th AUGUST 2010 6PM UK TIME.
A winner will be randomly selected using random.org. Winner will be posted on Blog && Twitter (make sure you follow me there too)
PLEASE LEAVE A WAY FOR ME TO CONTACT YOU
(email or twitter name) If i can't contact you another name will be drawn.

Thank you for taking part in my first SPARKLYs contest. Comment Away!

Smooch!

Unholy Magic - Review

2010-08-13T11:29:00.000+01:00

ENEMIES DON’T NEED TO BE ALIVE TO BE DEADLY.For Chess Putnam, finding herself near-fatally poisoned by a con psychic and then stopping a murderous ghost is just another day on the job. As an agent of the Church of Real Truth, Chess must expose those looking to profit from the world’s unpleasant little poltergeist problem—humans filing false claims of hauntings—all while staving off any undead who really are looking for a kill. But Chess has been extra busy these days, coping with a new “celebrity” assignment while trying on her own time to help some desperate prostitutes.Someone’s taking out the hookers of Downside in the most gruesome way, and Chess is sure the rumors that it’s the work of a ghost are way off base. But proving herself right means walking in the path of a maniac, not to mention standing between the two men in her life just as they—along with their ruthless employers—are moving closer to a catastrophic showdown. Someone is dealing in murder, sex, and the supernatural, and once again Chess finds herself right in the crossfire

**Summary taken from Goodreads**
Read my 'Unholy Ghosts' Reviews HERE

I only read this book for one reason only, because i already had bought it :P After having rated the first book 2 out of 5 i wasn't looking forward to Unholy Magic by Stacia Kane at all. For two reasons i am glad i did read it. One: the plot really improved on this one, It didn't feel to be all over the place. It was centred on a famous guys house, Chess had to investigate to see if his house really was haunted or he was trying to swindle money from the church of truth. The secondary storyline was Chess again working for Bump her drug dealer, his prostitutes are being killed and it looks like its a ghost with a human sidekick doing the slicing and dicing.

The second reason i am glad i read this one: Terrible. No, i wont be adding him to book boyfriend status any time soon, he's not someone that would make me swoon or have the panties squeal. BUT i found myself liking his sections of the book. He is this really tough brutal enforcer, he does what needs to be done, if that means snapping someone's neck so be it. But Stacia Kane gave him another dimension i was not expecting, a sweet gentle man who has feelings and emotions enough to feel sad for him when his feelings got hurt, i'm just going to put it out there, Chess doesn't deserve him. Walk away Terrible! All that sucking face with Terrible then the next thing Chess is climbing into bed with Lex. Im all for a heroine being all powerful and free and having what she wants, who she wants, but don't tell the poor mutton chops you're digging him to them slink yourself over Lex to use him 'cause you're frustrated over Terrible, there's names for girls like that.

While i saw vast improvements from book one 'Unholy Ghosts' this could have easily read the same. Chess got assignments from both the church and Bump. Chess had ongoing drug issues, Chess had conflicts with both Lex and Terrible. It just felt too 'samey' from book one. And if i had to turn the page to again see Chess off her face on drugs, or going cold turkey 'cause she couldn't have drugs i was going to strangle something. Her drug use felt like the star of the book sometimes, and yes i get she's had a bad life previously, but her drugs grate on me, it is the reason for everything she does.

Still not liking the 'down speak' although i was prepared for it this time, but what i did like was Kane's writing style (minus the down speak) she weaves things in and out and just gives the perfect description to objects and people, it doesn't need any effort at all to picture the world she is creating, that is rare for an author to do, some do too little descriptions, others do too much. I'd definitely read this author again if she has any other books/series out.

I'm unlikely to read City of Ghosts i have to be honest, if i was, it would be for the reason only to see how things progressed with Terrible and Chess, will they, wont they. That has always been a hook to grab me into a story. While i don't fancy the mutton chops off Terrible (That means there's more of him for the 'Terrible Crew') I do like where his character is going, he is intriguing.

I give Unholy Magic 3 Sparkles out of 5.
For author/release info go HERE

Smooch!