If I've said it once... well ok, on the blog I've only said it once, but I'm sure when all is said and done I'll have said it a million times...
DON'T STICK YOUR DICK IN CRAZY (The credit for that phrase goes to B&S)
This is a story that's been in the TBR for a little while, I got added to a Facebook discussion group on this one, still not sure how that happened, but it's a book some people are very passionate about, and after reading it I can see why.
It's the story of Caleb, Olivia, Leah with a splash of Jessica thrown in. The book jumps around from the present to the past so make sure you pay attention and keep up. It's like the most amazing episode of General Hospital ever, there's cheating, lying, duplicity, amnesia, pregnancy, stalking... it's 18 kinds off awesome. Caleb the main character seems to have a penchant for sticking his dick in the craziest of the crazy. I'm pretty sure that Leah would fall under the clinical diagnosis of sociopath... just saying...
I loved this book, it sucks you in from the get go and holds you by the nuts until the very end where you're still going... "ummm, ok, what now Tarryn, WHAT NOW?"
There isn't much more I can say in a review that doesn't give the plot and twists away. The writing was very well done, well edited (not something I see much of these days) and really gripping. I can see why the readers to TO and the sequel Dirty Red are so passionate and have such crazy discussions about this book.
I'll be reading the sequel shortly, but reading this story was such an emotional mind fuck that I needed to read something lighter and look at pictures of puppies and kittens to get myself back on even keel.
Grab a bottle of wine, fasten your seat-belt, buy it, read it, love it.
As a give-away for this review I'll be giving a copy of the sequel Dirty Red to who ever has the most creative comment regarding what they've done to get, or keep a partner. Nothing illegal please gentle readers.
Comments accepted through Friday January 4, a winner announced on Saturday, Jan 5.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker
Everyone once in a while a book comes along and knocks you on your ass, and changes your world view. The last book that had that effect on me was The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. A book, now nearly 10 years old which defined where I was in my life in that place and time, waiting, always waiting.
Very seldom do I read something these days that shakes me to my core. This book has been getting a ton of hype, and a nice woman in my book group loaned it to me. I've had to put it down a couple of times because of how it was hitting me. I have a close family member who suffers from PTSD and alcohol has shaped my formative years in ways no person should have to deal with.
Describing this book is challenging, but I'll give it a stab, Kasey, and her sister Livie start a new life in Miami leaving behind a lecherous abusive uncle and a blind to reality fundamentalist Christian aunt who became their guardians after their parents died in a drunk driving accident. The uncle has squandered away their insurance and having had enough Kasey packs up Livie and runs.
They settle in a run down apartment complex in Miami and set up as close to a normal life ass possible, with some interesting neighbors. Storm/Nora is a bartender who gets Kasey a job tending bar in the gentleman's club where she works. Storm is a single mom of a beautiful little girl who has a troubled past of her own.
Kasey plays the typical avoidance scenario, pain is hard, and it sucks, and PTSD sucks, and she copes in ways that are less than healthy, drinking, sex, violence, she runs the gamut of little girl lost ways to act out.
She meets and falls in love/lust with Trent, the quiet, secretive neighbor.
She doesn't open up, she doesn't talk about her past, she locks it all inside, often with some really dangerous consequences.
This isn't a neatly tied with a bow story about love, sex, or life. It's raw and visceral and it slaps you in the face every now and again.
It is a story that's worth every second of time you take to read it, and re-read it to gain insight into the nuances you missed the first time around. I try and read TTTW once a year, I'm positive this book is about to go into regular rotation for me. And from me that is THE highest compliment I can give a book and an author. I've read well over 450 books in the last two years. The fact that of all those this is one I will pick up over and over to read is a big deal.
So, let's start of our re-vamped blog, now with an enhanced experience with a give-away. In the comments section tell me about a book that has changed your life or you feel defines you as a person. Comments will be accepted through January 2, 2013. In the end I'll pick a random poster to receive a copy of this book through the book-seller of your choice.
I look forward to hearing your responses.
And if you don't win, you should pick up this story anyhow, it isn't a pricey ready and would be worth it at ten times the price.
http://www.amazon.com/Ten-Tiny-Breaths-ebook/dp/B00ALQC858/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1356553125&sr=1-1&keywords=ten+tiny+breaths
Very seldom do I read something these days that shakes me to my core. This book has been getting a ton of hype, and a nice woman in my book group loaned it to me. I've had to put it down a couple of times because of how it was hitting me. I have a close family member who suffers from PTSD and alcohol has shaped my formative years in ways no person should have to deal with.
Describing this book is challenging, but I'll give it a stab, Kasey, and her sister Livie start a new life in Miami leaving behind a lecherous abusive uncle and a blind to reality fundamentalist Christian aunt who became their guardians after their parents died in a drunk driving accident. The uncle has squandered away their insurance and having had enough Kasey packs up Livie and runs.
They settle in a run down apartment complex in Miami and set up as close to a normal life ass possible, with some interesting neighbors. Storm/Nora is a bartender who gets Kasey a job tending bar in the gentleman's club where she works. Storm is a single mom of a beautiful little girl who has a troubled past of her own.
Kasey plays the typical avoidance scenario, pain is hard, and it sucks, and PTSD sucks, and she copes in ways that are less than healthy, drinking, sex, violence, she runs the gamut of little girl lost ways to act out.
She meets and falls in love/lust with Trent, the quiet, secretive neighbor.
She doesn't open up, she doesn't talk about her past, she locks it all inside, often with some really dangerous consequences.
This isn't a neatly tied with a bow story about love, sex, or life. It's raw and visceral and it slaps you in the face every now and again.
It is a story that's worth every second of time you take to read it, and re-read it to gain insight into the nuances you missed the first time around. I try and read TTTW once a year, I'm positive this book is about to go into regular rotation for me. And from me that is THE highest compliment I can give a book and an author. I've read well over 450 books in the last two years. The fact that of all those this is one I will pick up over and over to read is a big deal.
So, let's start of our re-vamped blog, now with an enhanced experience with a give-away. In the comments section tell me about a book that has changed your life or you feel defines you as a person. Comments will be accepted through January 2, 2013. In the end I'll pick a random poster to receive a copy of this book through the book-seller of your choice.
I look forward to hearing your responses.
And if you don't win, you should pick up this story anyhow, it isn't a pricey ready and would be worth it at ten times the price.
http://www.amazon.com/Ten-Tiny-Breaths-ebook/dp/B00ALQC858/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1356553125&sr=1-1&keywords=ten+tiny+breaths
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Re-Re-vamp coming soon-ish, or soon adjacent as the case may be...
Starting in late January we'll have some more interactive stuff for readers here at As Seen Through My Specs, we'll be doing some give-aways and I'll be working to reach out to try and get some guest posters and hopefully even some intervies.
More info will follow, so for you regular readers keep your eyes here, and for your irregular readers, try some prune juice and then come back and keep your eyes on the site for more news.
Tomorrow a review... honest... unless the Mayans got the date wrong and the world does end, or I get too wrapped up in cleaning my bedroom before Christmas company comes. My closet looks like it should be under a haz-mat tent and I have 6 baskets of clean laundry to put away.
I've read a ton of stuff lately, having a hard time deciding what to review.
Also, how is it that my mother in law had no idea I'd written a book and was writing another? Even my own mom knows and I hardly tell her anything... or at least she doesn't generally remember what I tell her... it's a 50/50 thing.
While you wait for a new review visit Pinterest, which I did last night and fell in love with about 100 different bookcases, my office/library will not have room for that many so I need to whittle that down. You could also go look up Alex Minsky https://www.facebook.com/AlexMinskyFanPage?fref=ts, wounded warrior, funny guy and all around hottie, and ladies, he's single. Found him through the Kally Masters Rescue Me group. Seriously, someone needs to get him on Ellen, or the cover of Men's Fitness, or something, he's a great example of courage and pushing through to the other side and life after service, although as a Marine he'll always be a Marine and never a former Marine. I don't know, it's their thing... you never retire, Semper Fi.
It's Christmas this week (we just finished Hanukkah, and then there was also Diwali this month), what will you be buying with your Amazon/B&N/Kobo gift cards? Not that I need any more books, because the TBR list is long already but I'm always interested in what's out there. Plus if *I* get a gift card I might need advice on what to buy.
Leave a comment with what you're reading or REALLY want to read and who knows, maybe this will be the time I start with the give-aways. That will require organizing myself, but since this week and a half off from work is all about writing, blogging, reading and setting up my author stuff you never know.
OK, stream of consciousness over, Mela signing off and getting back to actual writing, or reading, or eating that piece of chocolate mousse cake from Gregg's in the fridge, seriously, it's a thing of beauty.
More info will follow, so for you regular readers keep your eyes here, and for your irregular readers, try some prune juice and then come back and keep your eyes on the site for more news.
Tomorrow a review... honest... unless the Mayans got the date wrong and the world does end, or I get too wrapped up in cleaning my bedroom before Christmas company comes. My closet looks like it should be under a haz-mat tent and I have 6 baskets of clean laundry to put away.
I've read a ton of stuff lately, having a hard time deciding what to review.
Also, how is it that my mother in law had no idea I'd written a book and was writing another? Even my own mom knows and I hardly tell her anything... or at least she doesn't generally remember what I tell her... it's a 50/50 thing.
While you wait for a new review visit Pinterest, which I did last night and fell in love with about 100 different bookcases, my office/library will not have room for that many so I need to whittle that down. You could also go look up Alex Minsky https://www.facebook.com/AlexMinskyFanPage?fref=ts, wounded warrior, funny guy and all around hottie, and ladies, he's single. Found him through the Kally Masters Rescue Me group. Seriously, someone needs to get him on Ellen, or the cover of Men's Fitness, or something, he's a great example of courage and pushing through to the other side and life after service, although as a Marine he'll always be a Marine and never a former Marine. I don't know, it's their thing... you never retire, Semper Fi.
It's Christmas this week (we just finished Hanukkah, and then there was also Diwali this month), what will you be buying with your Amazon/B&N/Kobo gift cards? Not that I need any more books, because the TBR list is long already but I'm always interested in what's out there. Plus if *I* get a gift card I might need advice on what to buy.
Leave a comment with what you're reading or REALLY want to read and who knows, maybe this will be the time I start with the give-aways. That will require organizing myself, but since this week and a half off from work is all about writing, blogging, reading and setting up my author stuff you never know.
OK, stream of consciousness over, Mela signing off and getting back to actual writing, or reading, or eating that piece of chocolate mousse cake from Gregg's in the fridge, seriously, it's a thing of beauty.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
The Boat Builder's Bed by Kris Pearson
While on our conf-cation to San Diego my husband and I ate in a Kiwi bar in La Jolla. In honor of that decent meal and the hubs' lamb burger I picked up this gem to read and review next. (It takes place in New Zealand.)
This is the love story of Sophie and Rafe.
Rafe, recently divorced millionaire superyacht builder with a huge chip on his shoulder from his upbringing and his bitch of an ex-wife stumbles across Sophie's new design business. She seems quite familiar to him, and that's because she used to worked for the aforementioned bitch ex-wife.
As luck would have it he has a house which needs interior design, and he's attracted to our pretty little heroine, even though she fights it at every turn. She isn't interested in his money, or his social standing, she just wants the financial security and positive buzz decorating his house could bring her.
Regardless he pursues her relentlessly, and eventually she gives in, I mean c'mon, he's a hottie, and he showers her with gifts and affection and seduction.
He's got secrets (and don't forget there's that jealous, bitchy social grubbing money hungry ex-wife), but so does she, her's is a whole lot bigger than his, and as is always the case, the longer you keep secrets the more they fester, and sometimes it comes to a point where there is no way to tell the secret yourself, it always happens that it comes out when you least expect it and usually is spouted out as an act of vitriol by your enemy.
Can they work past what she's hiding, can he forgive her lie?
Pick it up, read it and find out definitely worth your time! Also, it's a standalone, so there's no angst wait for the next book in the series.
Besides an enjoyable read, I also learned some interesting things about New Zealand culture, there is whangai, the informal inter-family adoption culture among the Maori, and the social and emotional stigma it can bring. I also learned it takes two years to finalize a divorce, that's one hell of a long time to be tied to somebody when you decide that your marriage is over.
This is the love story of Sophie and Rafe.
Rafe, recently divorced millionaire superyacht builder with a huge chip on his shoulder from his upbringing and his bitch of an ex-wife stumbles across Sophie's new design business. She seems quite familiar to him, and that's because she used to worked for the aforementioned bitch ex-wife.
As luck would have it he has a house which needs interior design, and he's attracted to our pretty little heroine, even though she fights it at every turn. She isn't interested in his money, or his social standing, she just wants the financial security and positive buzz decorating his house could bring her.
Regardless he pursues her relentlessly, and eventually she gives in, I mean c'mon, he's a hottie, and he showers her with gifts and affection and seduction.
He's got secrets (and don't forget there's that jealous, bitchy social grubbing money hungry ex-wife), but so does she, her's is a whole lot bigger than his, and as is always the case, the longer you keep secrets the more they fester, and sometimes it comes to a point where there is no way to tell the secret yourself, it always happens that it comes out when you least expect it and usually is spouted out as an act of vitriol by your enemy.
Can they work past what she's hiding, can he forgive her lie?
Pick it up, read it and find out definitely worth your time! Also, it's a standalone, so there's no angst wait for the next book in the series.
Besides an enjoyable read, I also learned some interesting things about New Zealand culture, there is whangai, the informal inter-family adoption culture among the Maori, and the social and emotional stigma it can bring. I also learned it takes two years to finalize a divorce, that's one hell of a long time to be tied to somebody when you decide that your marriage is over.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Where I Need to Be by Kimberly Knight
I picked this one up as a group read with one of my FB book groups. It was released today and is a first book written by one of the members in the group. It got bumped up ahead of the now... 228 (had to check the Kindle) books waiting to be read.
This is a well told romance between Spencer and Brandon.
As we meet Spencer she is drowning her sorrows in ice cream and watching The Voice (probably for the same reason I watch the Voice*). Her roommate Ryan gives her the talking to that only a best friend can, kicks her in the ass and shoves her back in to life.
Spencer re-enters the world by joining a gym her job has asked her to write an article about. The first night there on the treadmill she meets her very own "Gideon Cross"; I loved the meta-ness of this, a book inside a book, like Inception... but I digress, after some smiling and flirting neither does anything about it.
As fate would have it they both end up in an airport on the same flight to Vegas, then the same club where they do some serious dirty dancing, the kind even Patrick Swayze probably couldn't handle, and then end up at the same poker table in Vegas, Fate is a crafty bitch.
They return home to San Francisco and run in to each other again at the gym and their relationship blossoms. Turns out he's the gyms owner.
There's a crazy ex-girlfriend with some serious drama, and the two main characters just coming of long term-ish relationships trying to figure out where they belong, and if that place is with each other....
Things don't tie up neatly, it's book one of a series, and you know me, I'm a series whore. I'll be eagerly awaiting the next release.
Kudos Kimberly, I only hope when my first book gets published it's as good as yours and people enjoy it even half as much, because so far all the buzz I've read and heard is positive and well deserved.
* Namaste to you too Adam...
This is a well told romance between Spencer and Brandon.
As we meet Spencer she is drowning her sorrows in ice cream and watching The Voice (probably for the same reason I watch the Voice*). Her roommate Ryan gives her the talking to that only a best friend can, kicks her in the ass and shoves her back in to life.
Spencer re-enters the world by joining a gym her job has asked her to write an article about. The first night there on the treadmill she meets her very own "Gideon Cross"; I loved the meta-ness of this, a book inside a book, like Inception... but I digress, after some smiling and flirting neither does anything about it.
As fate would have it they both end up in an airport on the same flight to Vegas, then the same club where they do some serious dirty dancing, the kind even Patrick Swayze probably couldn't handle, and then end up at the same poker table in Vegas, Fate is a crafty bitch.
They return home to San Francisco and run in to each other again at the gym and their relationship blossoms. Turns out he's the gyms owner.
There's a crazy ex-girlfriend with some serious drama, and the two main characters just coming of long term-ish relationships trying to figure out where they belong, and if that place is with each other....
Things don't tie up neatly, it's book one of a series, and you know me, I'm a series whore. I'll be eagerly awaiting the next release.
Kudos Kimberly, I only hope when my first book gets published it's as good as yours and people enjoy it even half as much, because so far all the buzz I've read and heard is positive and well deserved.
* Namaste to you too Adam...
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Writing and traveling
So this week I'm at a conference for work on the west coast and I've also been hard at work on edits on my first book and writing my second book. It's been putting a cramp in my reading schedule, you know all the learning and touristing, and writing.
The good news is I have a title for my book, a cover art concept, I just need an artist, if you're out there and interested drop me a line, no nudity involved, just some photorealistic images.
I also have a pen name and will be setting up an authors page on Facebook soon. I'm looking forward to the holiday break at work, it will give me a chance to do some of the less glamorous stuff that comes along with writing.
I'll be back to reviews later this week, I need to be able to get in to a book, I've started and stopped a couple of different books and read a short story at my lunch break today because I couldn't get into anything that had more than 4 dots on the Kindle App, it just felt like too much of a time commitment to me.
After a dinner of In-N-Out Burger tonight, whose fries are not good cold, BTW, I'm going back to hopping between edits and writing, I'm clearly in ADD mode.
Recommend something that's gonna suck me in and knock my socks off gentle readers, because right now even the hype ain't doing it for this book worm.
The good news is I have a title for my book, a cover art concept, I just need an artist, if you're out there and interested drop me a line, no nudity involved, just some photorealistic images.
I also have a pen name and will be setting up an authors page on Facebook soon. I'm looking forward to the holiday break at work, it will give me a chance to do some of the less glamorous stuff that comes along with writing.
I'll be back to reviews later this week, I need to be able to get in to a book, I've started and stopped a couple of different books and read a short story at my lunch break today because I couldn't get into anything that had more than 4 dots on the Kindle App, it just felt like too much of a time commitment to me.
After a dinner of In-N-Out Burger tonight, whose fries are not good cold, BTW, I'm going back to hopping between edits and writing, I'm clearly in ADD mode.
Recommend something that's gonna suck me in and knock my socks off gentle readers, because right now even the hype ain't doing it for this book worm.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Rock the Heart by Michelle A. Valentine
Because rocker is the new kinky rich dude, and I'm a highly suggestible person (thanks book group girls) I picked up this little gem to read. Also didn't hurt that someone mentioned that Michelle based the main character on Adam Levine, not that he's dreamy or anything... but I digress...
This book follows Noel and Lane (Lanie) through the rekindling of their romance. Once high school sweet hearts Lanie has gone off to work in marketing and Noel has made it big with his band Black Falcon.
Lane broke his heart and dumped him because she thought he was being immature in thinking music could be a viable career, instead of giving it all up, going to college and being a grown up. So um, yeah, she's working as an intern barely scraping by and taking money from her mom and he's got money coming out of his ears and has made it big time.
Fate throws them together through an opportunity at the marketing firm where Lanie is interning. She gets thrown on tour with the band. After a less than friendly reunion, Noel sees this as his second chance to get her back in to his bed and back in to life.
Noel has some serious stuff he's hiding, and his bandmates don't seem keen on keeping his secret. Lanie's got her own baggage and an overwhelming need to prove herself in her career and keep her job whatever it takes.
Will they work it out? It's definitely worth the ride to find out.
My only problem with this book, and as far as books go it's a big and small problem, when Lane and Noel finally get back in bed together Noel asks what Lane has been up to sexually, if she's on the pill, and wants to have sex with her without a condom, and she agrees.
Wow! He's a fucking rock star who has likely had more pussy in the last two years than a year's subscription to Cat Fancy magazine, and he doesn't deny it or say he's been celibate she just takes him at his word he's clean and goes for it.... seriously??!?!? It's a plot thing and a trust thing, and I suppose on some small level I get that. However too many books I've read lately have downplayed the importance of safe sex (esp in this trope). It isn't just about preventing pregnancy, it's about the prevention of the transmission of disease, and in a post 1980's world where HIV and other nasty shit exists if you aren't the only sexual partner someone has ever had you best be wrapping that bad boy up until everyone decides you're in a committed relationship and all appropriate testing has been administered.
OK, I'll get off my soap box now.
It really was a great book with a twist and ending I did NOT see coming, and usually I can see them from a mile away. I'm looking forward to Rock the Bed, the story of Noel's bandmate Riff and Lane's friend Aubrey. Yeah it's a series... stop judging me....
Click it, buy it and enjoy.
This book follows Noel and Lane (Lanie) through the rekindling of their romance. Once high school sweet hearts Lanie has gone off to work in marketing and Noel has made it big with his band Black Falcon.
Lane broke his heart and dumped him because she thought he was being immature in thinking music could be a viable career, instead of giving it all up, going to college and being a grown up. So um, yeah, she's working as an intern barely scraping by and taking money from her mom and he's got money coming out of his ears and has made it big time.
Fate throws them together through an opportunity at the marketing firm where Lanie is interning. She gets thrown on tour with the band. After a less than friendly reunion, Noel sees this as his second chance to get her back in to his bed and back in to life.
Noel has some serious stuff he's hiding, and his bandmates don't seem keen on keeping his secret. Lanie's got her own baggage and an overwhelming need to prove herself in her career and keep her job whatever it takes.
Will they work it out? It's definitely worth the ride to find out.
My only problem with this book, and as far as books go it's a big and small problem, when Lane and Noel finally get back in bed together Noel asks what Lane has been up to sexually, if she's on the pill, and wants to have sex with her without a condom, and she agrees.
Wow! He's a fucking rock star who has likely had more pussy in the last two years than a year's subscription to Cat Fancy magazine, and he doesn't deny it or say he's been celibate she just takes him at his word he's clean and goes for it.... seriously??!?!? It's a plot thing and a trust thing, and I suppose on some small level I get that. However too many books I've read lately have downplayed the importance of safe sex (esp in this trope). It isn't just about preventing pregnancy, it's about the prevention of the transmission of disease, and in a post 1980's world where HIV and other nasty shit exists if you aren't the only sexual partner someone has ever had you best be wrapping that bad boy up until everyone decides you're in a committed relationship and all appropriate testing has been administered.
OK, I'll get off my soap box now.
It really was a great book with a twist and ending I did NOT see coming, and usually I can see them from a mile away. I'm looking forward to Rock the Bed, the story of Noel's bandmate Riff and Lane's friend Aubrey. Yeah it's a series... stop judging me....
Click it, buy it and enjoy.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Rock Me by Cherrie Lynn
Candace Andrews, sweet girl, lives on her parents nickel as she goes to college, lives by their rules, lives a boring life. Secretly she lusts after her cousins ex-boyfriend and really wants to walk on the wild side instead of always playing it safe.
Who better to help her break free of her goody-two shoes self than Brian Ross. In an act off rebellion Candace shows up at Brian's tattoo parlor one night to get herself a little ink, and a little alone time with Brian. A sweet heart, strategically placed.
They start spending time together, one things leads to another, they both discover that neither is really who everyone thinks they are, and that making snap judgement based on being "pampered" by your parents or being pierced and inked is probably not the best idea.
Dermamania, Brian's shop is a hangout for their crew of friends, and seems like a fun place to spend a Friday night, there is some drama between both families, some of it downright felonious and they need to decide whether they can work through all the crap and have a future, or take the easy path and just move on.
It's a great book, well written, well paced and plenty of steamy sex. I also learned something new, I learned what an apadravya is, if you are squeamish, or a dude, or at work, you probably don't want to Google that, it's a male genital piercing even more hard core than a Prince Albert and I thought a PA was pretty hard core. Although apparently it's a mutually enjoyable body modification. I cannot imagine this is something I will experience in my lifetime and I am A-OK with that.
This is, wait, I know you're shocked, part of a series, only it's book two, which I read first, then I read book 1, Unleashed, which is a story about Brian's brother and then book 3 which is a story about Candace's friend Macy and Brian's friend and fellow ink-jockey Ghost (Seth).
Cherrie also has a couple of paranormal romances which I have yet to read, it's not a genre I tend to read a lot of, unless it's vampires. She also just released an anthology with Olivia Cunning (Sole Regret/Sinners), Cari Quinn (Unveiled, Loved Required Hot Shots) and Stephanie Julian with a short story about Brian and Candace, so yay for a follow up of one of my favorite recent couples.
Buy one, buy 'em all, you're bound to enjoy. Plus the inky pierced guys are about as much the rage as the super rich dude-virgin and menage relationships, so you'll be reading the same thing all us cool kids are reading.
Who better to help her break free of her goody-two shoes self than Brian Ross. In an act off rebellion Candace shows up at Brian's tattoo parlor one night to get herself a little ink, and a little alone time with Brian. A sweet heart, strategically placed.
They start spending time together, one things leads to another, they both discover that neither is really who everyone thinks they are, and that making snap judgement based on being "pampered" by your parents or being pierced and inked is probably not the best idea.
Dermamania, Brian's shop is a hangout for their crew of friends, and seems like a fun place to spend a Friday night, there is some drama between both families, some of it downright felonious and they need to decide whether they can work through all the crap and have a future, or take the easy path and just move on.
It's a great book, well written, well paced and plenty of steamy sex. I also learned something new, I learned what an apadravya is, if you are squeamish, or a dude, or at work, you probably don't want to Google that, it's a male genital piercing even more hard core than a Prince Albert and I thought a PA was pretty hard core. Although apparently it's a mutually enjoyable body modification. I cannot imagine this is something I will experience in my lifetime and I am A-OK with that.
This is, wait, I know you're shocked, part of a series, only it's book two, which I read first, then I read book 1, Unleashed, which is a story about Brian's brother and then book 3 which is a story about Candace's friend Macy and Brian's friend and fellow ink-jockey Ghost (Seth).
Cherrie also has a couple of paranormal romances which I have yet to read, it's not a genre I tend to read a lot of, unless it's vampires. She also just released an anthology with Olivia Cunning (Sole Regret/Sinners), Cari Quinn (Unveiled, Loved Required Hot Shots) and Stephanie Julian with a short story about Brian and Candace, so yay for a follow up of one of my favorite recent couples.
Buy one, buy 'em all, you're bound to enjoy. Plus the inky pierced guys are about as much the rage as the super rich dude-virgin and menage relationships, so you'll be reading the same thing all us cool kids are reading.
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