Monday, March 31, 2014

REVIEW: Awakening by Cassandra Carr

Synopsis:
Vanessa Clark is doing a research paper for one of her last classes – Psychology of Sex – before receiving her Bachelors’ degree. Once she discovers the topic of BDSM, everything else pales in comparison. But where will she learn about it? The Internet has its limits, and Vanessa needs to talk to real-life practitioners of BDSM to really understand the lifestyle and write about it.
Will Astin, who serves as a dungeon master at a local BDSM club, doesn’t expect to find a gorgeous, irresistible young woman when he agrees to a meet and greet with a college student as a favor to the club’s owner. Even better, she’s interested in learning about BDSM for what he suspects are more than scholarly reasons, and Will decides he’s just the man to teach her about it, hopefully claiming her for his own.
Will and Vanessa begin a journey which teaches both of them there’s more to BDSM than meets the eye. In the process, they grow closer, but when Will’s job puts him in the line of fire – literally – their roles are reversed and Vanessa has to take charge. Can they handle the rapid shift in their burgeoning dynamic, or is their relationship doomed?


Buy Links
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Erin's Review:
 When Cassandra said she had a BDSM book up for review, you can bet that I jumped on that! And I'm so glad that I did!
 Awakening isn't your typical BDSM story.Oh trust me, there is enough heat to melt the polar ice caps, but it is so much more than just erotic sex. It's a love story of the sweetest kind. 
 Vanessa is a sweet girl who appears a bit out of her element writing about the BDSM lifestyle for a college course. Vanessa is good example of, don't judge a book by it's cover. Oh, she's naive when it comes to the lifestyle and walking in to that BDSM club takes a lot of guts, but our girl shows that she's capable of doing what she has to do.
 When the owner falls ill, he sends Will in his place. Will is HOT. I mean, tie me up, beat me with a flogger HOT! Will is a natural Dominant and senses that Vanessa would make a great submissive, but is he ready to take the chance on her after the heartbreak he went through with his last collared submisive?
 The dynamic between Will and Vanessa is sweet, smoking, sexy and at times these two had me cracking up. Vanessa just can't keep her smart mouth shut, I loved it! She challenges Will. She also discovers the BDSM lifestyle is more than an internet search could ever teach her. They try to take things slow but slow doesn't mean no sex! Vanessa is intrigued and Will is a willing teacher and knows that there's something special about her.
 Their story takes a turn when Will's job puts him in danger and thing suddenly change for the couple. Watching Vanessa step up and take charge is a sight to behold and Will just doesn't know how to handle it. He already has conflicting feelings about his line of work now, on top of dealing with the guilt over what happened and now his conflicting emotions about Vanessa aren't helping our wounded Dom.
 You want a BDSM story that's not too heavy but packed with emotion? Awakening is the book for you. To see if our couple made it through, click those little buy links up there and find out. The only disappointment you will have, is when the story is over.
 Kudos to Cassandra for yet another hit! Keep 'em coming!!!

Sunday, March 30, 2014

REVIEW: Be Mine by Renee Luke

BE MINE
Renee Luke
Adaya doesn’t have a Valentine’s Day date, and that’s fine with her. She doesn’t want one. She’d already worked all day and would rather spend the evening soaking in the tub and sipping some wine.

Braden has a date with another woman–his mother. But once dinner’s done, he can’t get the sexy and sassy Adaya off his mind.

But can he convince her that he’d be better at getting her hot and wet than the tub, and more intoxicating than any bottle?


Sarah's Review:
Thanks to Renee Luke for responding to a request for novellas when I reached out to authors.   She warned me that this story was steamy but she was wrong, this story is HOT!!

This is a Valentine's day story but it is such a great story.  These characters made me wish that I had someone that would do something like this. 

I can't really say too much without giving anything away, but it is a great steamy romance.   If you are looking for something hot to read, then this is one that I recommend.  

REVIEW: Needing It by Renee Luke

NEEDING IT
Renee Luke
Mya Ball has put all her eggs in one basket. Betting her entire future on a promise she’s made her grandmama, she knows she’s got to be rested and sharp in the morning when giving the presentation of a lifetime. But anxiety and nerves have her restless and unable to sleep.

When nothing else works, she resorts to sex.

Needing it, she calls her standby booty-call, but a different man answers the phone. Vaughn Paul had just relocated, getting a new number to match his new business and new life. He’s awoken in the middle of the night by a woman begging for him to sex her down.

He knows he’s not the man Mya wanted, but something in her voice keeps him on the line. How far will he let things go with the sexy sounding stranger on the phone?

Can calling the wrong number lead Mya to the right man?

Sarah's Review:
Thanks again to Renee for responding when I reached out for novellas.  I didn't know what I was getting when she sent them, but man, I was not disappointed!!

The concept of this story is one that I think is a good one since I don't think it has been done before.  We see people connecting through the internet all the time.  Who is to say that it can't happen with a wrong number?

I enjoyed the connection that they had through the phone and how it carried over once they actually meet.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

REVIEW: Twisted by Emma Chase


Summary


Falling in love is easy. Staying in love is hard. In this heart-pounding follow-up to Tangled by New York Times bestseller Emma Chase, Kate reveals that there is trouble in paradise, when unexpected circumstances force her and Drew to "renegotiate" their relationship.

There are two kinds of people in the world. The ones who look first, and the ones who leap. I’ve always been more of a looker. Cautious. A planner. That changed after I met Drew Evans. He was so persistent. So sure of himself—and of me.

But not all love stories end happily ever after. Did you think Drew and I were going to ride off into the sunset? Join the club. Now I have to make a choice; the most important of my life. Drew already made hisin fact, he tried to decide for the both of us. But you know that’s just not my style. So I came back to Greenville, Ohio, alone. Well, sort of alone...

What I've come to realize is that old habits die hard, and sometimes you have to go back to where you began before you can move ahead.




  Buy Links

Simon & Schuster

Amazon


Barnes & Noble 


Chapters

IndieBound

iTunes 


 
 Author Bio
 By day, Emma Chase is a devoted wife and mother of two who resides in a small, rural town in New Jersey. By night she is a keyboard crusader, toiling away the hours to bring her colorful characters and their endless antics to life. She has a long standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.

Emma is an avid reader. Before her children were born she was known to consume whole books in a single day. Writing has also always been a passion and with the 2013 release of her debut romantic comedy, Tangled, the ability to now call herself an author is nothing less than a dream come true. 


Emma's Social Media
 Twitter

                                                                   Facebook 
                                                                   Website 
                                                                   Goodreads 


Excerpt  
 “Would you fucking stop! Why are you being like this?”

I glare up at him. “Because you don’t even care! I’m really upset here - and you don’t give a shit!”

His eyes open wide, incredulous.

“Of course I give a shit - I’m the one getting Jimmy Choos thrown at my head like Chinese freaking stars!”

“If you care so much, why don’t you apologize?!”

“Because I didn’t fucking do anything! I have no problem crawling on my hands and knees when I screw up. But if you think I’m gonna beg because you’ve been possessed by the Hormone Demon - you’re out of your mind sweetheart.”



Erin's Review
 Twisted is told from Kate's pov and if you thought Drew was messed up? Hello Kate! In Tangled she appears this calm, cool, collected woman who Drew relentlessly pursues, in Twisted Kate is a mess.....thanks in part to Drew. I mean, come on, it isn't ALL his fault. The whole gang is back and Kate's ex Billy makes a big appearance, Drew couldn't have been happier. We get a glimpse in to Kate's past and realize that our cool as a cucumber heroine had a wild side.  Her bff Dee-Delores, is a trip. She is a balls to the wall, take no prisoners kind of gal. She had me roaring. We get a different side to Kate's ex that makes him very, don't tell Drew, likeable. He isn't the bad guy, he's the guy she left behind. 
 Drew, well, Drew messes up in typical Drew fashion and you hate him for it. This time he goes overboard. Waaaayyyyy overboard. I don't know how many times I wanted to reach through my Kindle and slap the shit out of him for doing what he did. Kate and Drew are like fire and ice. But in this case, I don't blame her for doing what she did. Like she said, sometimes you have to go back to where you began before you can move ahead. 
 This book will bring you to tears more times than I could count, it did me anyway. It's a bit more emotional than Tangled but still has you laughing more than crying. And the ending?? LOVE IT!! Drew and Kate aren't perfect, but who is? Don't get discouraged about this book not being told from Drew's pov,  Kate tells it just as good, if not better than Drew does. And it's nice to get the girl's side just this one time. And Kate really needs her girls now more than ever. 
 If you loved Tangled, you are going to love Twisted and I cannot wait until Tamed and then we get more from Drew in Tied! 
 Emma Chase has shot up my list of favorite authors with these books. Loved them from the beginning to the end and I cannot wait for more.
 

Friday, March 28, 2014

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Vampire Masquerade by Olivia Starke


Title: Vampire Masquerade
Author: Olivia Starke
Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance (F/F/F)
Publication Date: January 20, 2014


It may be too late for Natasha to escape two she-vamps with one big secret…

You are cordially invited to the event of the year
The Vampire Masquerade Ball
Sincerely, Aleese and Eaven

When Natasha Edwards receives a personal invitation to the exclusive Vampire Masquerade, it's exactly the break she's been waiting for. It's her chance to impress national news syndicates, not to mention an opportunity to do some snooping into the disappearances of several women who were last seen within the Underground sect. But the two she-vamps have other plans for her.

Aleese's infatuation with the sexy news reporter cannot be denied, and Eaven has never been one to ignore her wife's desires. The blonde beauty is perfect for their plans, and once she's inside their home, the trap is set. Natasha is easy prey. She's responsive to their touch, and sweet as honey to taste. They want nothing more than to indulge their fantasies in every way imaginable.

Natasha finds exquisite pleasure of a kind she's never experienced with the two dangerous vampires. But when she stumbles upon the truth behind the missing women, will it be too much for one small-town reporter to handle?

Content Warning: contains explicit language, graphic sex, F/F/F+ ménage, BDSM, oral sex, spanking, toy play, and voyeurism

Add to GoodReads








Olivia Starke calls the Ozarks home. One of the most beautiful areas in the country, she loves hiking trails with her dogs, kayaking on the numerous waterways, and enjoying southern Missouri's fresh air and sunshine.

She's also 'Mom' to four dogs, a growing number of kitties that show up at her door, and four VERY spoiled horses that do little to earn their keep. Not that she'd ever hold that against them.

She's a HUGE fangirl of Doctor Who and to a lesser extent Supernatural, and has a pretty interesting love triangle (or square?) going on in her head between the Doctor and the Winchesters. She is also sort of completely in love with BBC’s Sherlock.



  1. I have green eyes even though both my parents have blue eyes.
  2. I can tie shoelaces with my toes.
  3. It took me FOREVER to learn how to skip as a kid.
  4. When I was five years old my favorite color was black (the Trans Am in Smokey and the Bandit was black!)
  5. I’m scared of heights.
  6. I worked as a reporter on my high school newspaper.
  7. I had a poem about the holocaust published in a poetry collection when I was in high school.
  8. My favorite movie is Jurassic Park II.
  9. I think bow ties are cool.
  10. I’m a big ol’ introvert.
  11. As a kid, I wanted to be a veterinarian or a paleontologist when I grew up. Both required too much math (math sucks!) but I LOVED science like a maniac.
  12. I never curse unless I’m really mad.
  13. I’m allergic to birds.
  14. I’m an only child.
  15. I hated Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers as a kid.
  16. When I was five my favorite shows were The Incredible Hulk, Dukes of Hazzard, and The Benny Hill Show (Mom let me stay up late Saturday nights to watch it on PBS, thanks Mom!)
  17. I didn’t get braces until I was in my twenties.
  18. I <3 rugby!
  19. I’m a Whovian.
  20. I used to be in a bellydance troupe.



Facebook: www.facebook.com/authoroliviastarke
Twitter: http://twitter.com/OliviaStarke
Author Website: www.authoroliviastarke.com
Author GoodReads: http://goodreads.com/Olivia_Starke
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Olivia%20Starke&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerank


Amazon: http://amzn.to/1czv8O6

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vampire-masquerade-olivia-starke/1118082258?ean=2940148261735

All Romance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-vampiremasquerade-1400574-182.html

Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/vampire-masquerade


Beachwalk Press: http://beachwalkpress.com/vampire-masquerade/


KOBO: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Vampire-Masquerade/book-tz1aBSjaykS8GTan_ncrBQ/page1.html?s=c1bIIjNRkkacSUkHGz9WdA&r=1



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Sheri's Review:
The story sucked me in right from the beginning, it’s a beautiful world of sexy hedonism. It’s a short story but it doesn’t feel short, it’s rich, addictive and very intriguing. I was already a fan of Olivia Starke but if I wasn’t Vampire Masquerade would make me a fan.

I really enjoyed stories with sexy women, and this was definitely sexy, I really enjoyed the relationship between the three women. All of the characters were strong and vibrant, and I easily found myself wanting to read more with these ladies.

I highly recommend this story for fans of vampire romance that like a quick read that is just as rich as any other length of story. 

COVER REVEAL & GIVEAWAY: Honor Reclaimed by Tonya Burrows


Honor Reclaimed
by: Tonya Burrows
Release Date: 5/27/2014
Genre: Romantic Suspense


Synopsis: Former Marine scout sniper Seth Harlan is new to HORNET and anxious to prove he can still do his job despite an ongoing battle with PTSD. He remembers all too well what it's like to sit inside an enemy camp, praying for rescue and waiting for death. So when a black ops soldier contacts HORNET to rescue a buddy who was left behind, all sorts of nasty memories strain his newfound stability.
When an interview with a runaway Afghan child bride leads photojournalist Phoebe Leighton to an arms deal involving a suitcase bomb powerful enough to wipe out a mid-sized town, she realizes this is one battle she can't win on her own. Forming an unlikely alliance with a ragtag team of military and government delinquents, she meets Seth, a sniper carrying as many emotional scars as physical, who impresses her with his steely will and ignites passions within her she thought long dead.
Suddenly this mission is about a lot more than an abandoned soldier. Racing against the clock, Seth, Phoebe, and the rest of HORNET struggle to stop that bomb before it reaches it's final destination: The United States.

Author Bio: Writing has always been my one true love. I wrote my first novel-length story in 8th grade and haven't put down my pen since. I received a B.A. in creative writing from SUNY Oswego and I'm now working on a MFA in popular fiction at Seton Hill University.
When I'm not writing, I spend my time reading, painting (badly), exploring new places, and enjoying time with my family. Give me a good horror movie over a chick flick any day. (And, let's be honest, I'll take a bad horror movie too!) I'm a geek at heart and pledge my avid TV fandom to Supernatural and Doctor Who. I'm also a big fan of The Voice. What can I say? Guilty pleasure.
I share my life with two dogs and a ginormous cat. I'm from a small town in Western New York, but I suffer from a bad case of wanderlust and usually end up moving someplace new every few years. Luckily, my animals are all excellent travel buddies.


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Thursday, March 27, 2014

RELEASE BLAST, REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Uncovering You (Part One: The Contract) by Scarlett Edwards




Uncovering You
Part One: The Contract
By: Scarlett Edwards
Releasing March 27th, 2014

Blurb
When I wake up in a dark, unfamiliar room, I have no idea what's waiting for me in the shadows. My imagination conjures up demons of the worst kind. 
Reality is much worse: 
A collar with no leash. A prison with no walls. And a life stripped of meaning. 
I am presented with a vile contract and asked to sign. It outlines the terms of my servitude. The only information I have about my captor are the two small letters inked at the bottom: 
J.S. 
Armed with only my memories, I must do everything I can to avoid becoming ensnared in his twisted mind games. But in the end, it all comes down to one choice: 
Resist and die. 
Or submit, and sign my life away



Link to Follow Tour: http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2014/01/now-booking-release-day-tasty-book_13.html


Author Info
I’m Scarlett Edwards. I wrote my first book as a college sophomore. After six months of edits, it made its debut as Yours to Savor.

That was at the start of 2013. I’ve written more books since then. You can find them all 
here.

It’s funny how quickly life changes. I used to think I’d need a degree to get a “Real Job.” Then I wrote a few books, they got somewhat popular, and now I’m living the life as a full-time romance author.

Thanks to all my readers for making my dreams come true!

Author Links

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OR,

Excerpt:

“Lilly.”
Oh God. It’s him. There’s no mistaking that rich, masculine treble.
What’s he doing down here?
“M-Mr. Stonehart,” I stutter, turning. I curse my inability to hide my surprise. He totally caught me off-guard. I have to look up to meet his eyes. Then up some more.
The face that I find is so striking it should belong to a Greek god.
He’s younger than I expected. Late thirties, maybe early forties.
That means he started his company when he was younger than me!
Dark scruff lines his angular cheeks. His jet-black hair is styled in long, natural waves. My fingers itch to run through it.
Totally inappropriate.
He has a prominent nose that might be too big on a less imposing man, but on him, it’s perfect.
In short, he’s a package of the purest masculinity I’ve ever seen.
And then there are his eyes. Oh my God. His eyes. They pierce into me like honing missiles. They are the deepest black I have ever seen. They would be frightening if they weren’t so beautiful. When the light reflects a certain way, you catch a glimpse of the purple underneath.
They are like midnight sapphires. His eyes reveal a cunning intellect. Those eyes do not miss a thing.
Add all that to his towering height, his wide shoulders, his confident-yet-at-ease posture… and Stonehart cuts an intimidating figure.
My gaze darts to his left hand before I can stop it. No ring. He’s unmarried.
He looks down at me, expectantly. His eyes narrow ever so slightly, and I feel like I’m being dissected, measured up, and tucked away in some small corner of his brain. I imagine this is what a gemstone feels like under the magnifying class of the most critical appraiser.
Stonehart clears his throat. I come to with a start, realizing I haven’t said anything in ages. I open my mouth, but the capacity for speech seems like a foreign concept to my brain. “I—”
Somebody bumps into me from behind. I stagger forward. I’m not used to these shoes, so my heel steps the wrong way. My ankle twists under me, and I start to fall.
I don’t fall far. The hand still on my elbow tightens, and Stonehart pulls me into him.
I plaster myself onto the solid steel wall the man has for a body. I catch a scent of his cologne. It’s a deep, musky smell with a hint of charred spruce that is all male. It scrambles my thoughts even more.
“Sorry!” a rushed voice calls out. From the corner of my eye, I see the postman giving a hurried, apologetic wave.
Although the sequence lasts less than a second, it feels like an eternity. Pressed up against him like that, I don’t want to move. I know that I couldn’t have made a worse first impression.
Stonehart eases me off him with a firm yet gentle grip. Our eyes meet. I flush the most vibrant red. His fingers graze my forehead as he brushes a lock of hair out of my face.
Any tenderness I may have imagined vanishes when Stonehart takes out his cell. He long dials a key and growls an order. “Steven. See the delivery boy leaving right now? Have his building pass revoked.”
I gape. Stonehart keeps speaking. “Wait. I thought of one better. Bar his company from accessing the building.” There’s a pause. “For how long? Indefinitely. FedEx can talk to me when they have an improved employee selection program in place.”
The phone call gives me just enough time to compose myself. My heart’s still beating out of my chest. But nobody has to know that.
I speak without thinking. “You’re going to restrict the entire company from serving this building because of that?”
Stonehart humors me with an answer. “A company’s employees are its most important asset. Their behavior reflects the organization as a whole. If FedEx decided that clown is good enough for them, it tells me they’re sloppy. I do not do business with sloppy organizations.”
“What about the other tenants in the building?” I ask. “Won’t that piss them off?”
When I hear myself and realize how improper my question is, my cheeks flame red again.
Stonehart’s eyes darken, as if he cannot believe I asked that question. I open my mouth to apologize for my imprudence, hating the way my professional skills have evaporated into thin air. I’m cut off by a short, barked laugh.
“Miss Ryder.” He sounds amused. “I believe that is the most direct and honest question anybody has dared ask me in weeks.” He takes my elbow again and leads me to the elevators. I have to take two quick steps to match one of his long strides.
“Yes,” he continues. “They will be ‘pissed off.’ But the perk of owning a building—” he hits the elevator call button, “—is that you get to make executive decisions.” He gives me an unreadable glance as the doors open. “That is, at the risk of being questioned by inexperienced interns.”
If that isn’t a loaded remark, I don’t know what is. I flush scarlet red for the third time since I’ve met him. I’ve never had a man throw me so off balance.
The elevator is packed, for which I’m infinitely thankful. The trip up will give me some time to properly compose myself.
Gratitude turns to panic when the crowd files out, meek as mice, when Stonehart steps in. None of the people waiting in the lobby follow us.
The doors close. I’m alone in here with him. My heart’s beating as fast as a hummingbird’s wings.
He catches me staring. “Impressed?” he asks.
“They know you,” I manage.
His dark eyes flash with amusement. “Astute.”


Erin's Review: This story is intriguing from the first sentence. It is erotic, mysterious, and leaves you demanding more. Stonehart is the ultimate alpha male and Lilly his unwilling-or so it seems- pet. Upon Lilly's awakening, you feel for her. She's scared, confused, pissed off and wants to know why and WHO put her in a collar, in a room, with a ridiculous contract that is begging for her signature.
 Lilly's life hasn't been all rainbows and unicorns but it didn't stop her from pursuing her dream of going to college. Through a series of flashbacks, we are taken on the journey of just how her decision to write one paper changed her whole life.
 The entire story is told through Lilly's pov so we have yet to get in to the mind of the mysterious J.S. There is no sex but it's erotic in it's own dark, twisted way. I am anxiously awaiting the next installment due out in April so we can delve further in to Lilly and J.S's story.