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.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
This Man by Jody Ellen Malpas
So I'll blame my book group girls again for pushing another book up the TBR, it was getting hype, people said it was awesome. I bought said hype... note to self, do not always buy the hype.
This book follows the currently super popular young girl - kinky slightly older man trope. Seriously, where were these rich kinky older men looking for a young girl when I was 22... oh wait, I already had a kid and was in a relationship at that point... probably not what they'd be looking for anyhow, but I digress... Also my kid is 22 and if some creepy rich guy was hitting on her like this I'd lock her in her damn room... but I digress again...
Ava O'Shea is an interior designer who is invited to do some work at The House for Jesse Ward. She's expecting a stuffy English country gentleman when she arrives at this "hotel" in the pastoral outskirts of London. What she gets is a young-ish hottie who is instantly smitten with her.
We are sucked in to their very tumultuous relationship.
Jesse Ward makes Christian Grey look like a well adjusted, mentally stable, productive member of society, who was a boy scout and helps old ladies across the street. Seriously the man raises sociopathic stalker boyfriend to a whole new level. I just kept yelling in my head Run Ava, Run.
But Ava didn't listen to me, nope, and she just got deeper and deeper into it with Jesse. Seriously, how many times do those things have to go missing from your purse before you put 2 and 2 together and come up with something other than chair? There's a saying, "Don't stick your dick in crazy" the reverse is also true and Ava should have headed that warning.
I loved and hated this book, and there is a sequel coming (actually 2), which I will read because I'm a series whore, but I will do it begrudgingly.
It was an OK read, but there are better books in the trope and this one didn't live up to the hype.
You can walk slowly, to your bookseller of choice if you're interested in this one, or ask a friend to loan it to you as it's actually a loan-able book, at least through Amazon.
This book follows the currently super popular young girl - kinky slightly older man trope. Seriously, where were these rich kinky older men looking for a young girl when I was 22... oh wait, I already had a kid and was in a relationship at that point... probably not what they'd be looking for anyhow, but I digress... Also my kid is 22 and if some creepy rich guy was hitting on her like this I'd lock her in her damn room... but I digress again...
Ava O'Shea is an interior designer who is invited to do some work at The House for Jesse Ward. She's expecting a stuffy English country gentleman when she arrives at this "hotel" in the pastoral outskirts of London. What she gets is a young-ish hottie who is instantly smitten with her.
We are sucked in to their very tumultuous relationship.
Jesse Ward makes Christian Grey look like a well adjusted, mentally stable, productive member of society, who was a boy scout and helps old ladies across the street. Seriously the man raises sociopathic stalker boyfriend to a whole new level. I just kept yelling in my head Run Ava, Run.
But Ava didn't listen to me, nope, and she just got deeper and deeper into it with Jesse. Seriously, how many times do those things have to go missing from your purse before you put 2 and 2 together and come up with something other than chair? There's a saying, "Don't stick your dick in crazy" the reverse is also true and Ava should have headed that warning.
I loved and hated this book, and there is a sequel coming (actually 2), which I will read because I'm a series whore, but I will do it begrudgingly.
It was an OK read, but there are better books in the trope and this one didn't live up to the hype.
You can walk slowly, to your bookseller of choice if you're interested in this one, or ask a friend to loan it to you as it's actually a loan-able book, at least through Amazon.
Wallbanger by Alice Clayton
My TBR "pile" is insane, like well over 200 insane, so how did a book that was released on Monday this week jump to the top? Hype, plain and simple, between my Facebook book groups and other venues I heard nothing but how fucking amazing this book was and how it would shoot up the best seller list.
They weren't kidding, this book was hands down one of the funniest books I've read in ages, and it was also a romance, not your usual combination, at least not usually done well, in fact the only other author I've read do this well is RL Matthewson and the Neighbor From Hell Series (seriously, run don't walk to click and buy them all).
Caroline Reynolds is a young professional living in San Francisco, living with her KitchenAid mixer, her cat Clive and a great group of friends, only one problem in Caroline's life, she's lost her O, and we don't mean her subscription to Oprah's magazine, a bad experience with her most recent relationship, a person who was described as a machine-gun fucker has robbed her of it, since her encounter with him she has been O free, and not for lack of trying, fantasies of Jordan Catalano, post-Caesar haircut Clooney, nothing brings it back.
Unfortunately sexually frustrated Caroline has just moved into an apartment next to Simon Parker, the titular Wallbanger. Her first night sleeping in her apartment after settling in to bed her wall starts to shake, an bang and then enough banging and shaking and a picture falls off the wall and on to her head. Sure, one night might be ok, but it's night after night, and it appears it isn't just one lady it's 3 (consecutively not concurrently, he's good but not THAT good), affectionately nickname Spanx, Purina and Giggles, each for reasons which become obvious.
After several nights of this a pissed Caroline storms over and bangs on the door, in a pink nightie no less and gives Simon, who answers wearing a sheet, a hard-on and a smile, a piece of her mind. I think we can all see where this is going.
After their hallway altercation they run into each other at a party, apparently they have mutual friends, they are both their with their two besties, who end up falling for each other pulling Wallbanger and Pink Nightie Girl along for the ride.
They decide to call a truce, and maybe even become friends, mayhem and hilarity ensue.
Will Caroline get her O back, will Simon be able to keep up with his harem, will Clive ever get his true love Purina to love him back?
Hop over to Amazon/B&N/KOBO, who ever your bookseller of choice is and buy it, because you need to know how it all turns out...
They weren't kidding, this book was hands down one of the funniest books I've read in ages, and it was also a romance, not your usual combination, at least not usually done well, in fact the only other author I've read do this well is RL Matthewson and the Neighbor From Hell Series (seriously, run don't walk to click and buy them all).
Caroline Reynolds is a young professional living in San Francisco, living with her KitchenAid mixer, her cat Clive and a great group of friends, only one problem in Caroline's life, she's lost her O, and we don't mean her subscription to Oprah's magazine, a bad experience with her most recent relationship, a person who was described as a machine-gun fucker has robbed her of it, since her encounter with him she has been O free, and not for lack of trying, fantasies of Jordan Catalano, post-Caesar haircut Clooney, nothing brings it back.
Unfortunately sexually frustrated Caroline has just moved into an apartment next to Simon Parker, the titular Wallbanger. Her first night sleeping in her apartment after settling in to bed her wall starts to shake, an bang and then enough banging and shaking and a picture falls off the wall and on to her head. Sure, one night might be ok, but it's night after night, and it appears it isn't just one lady it's 3 (consecutively not concurrently, he's good but not THAT good), affectionately nickname Spanx, Purina and Giggles, each for reasons which become obvious.
After several nights of this a pissed Caroline storms over and bangs on the door, in a pink nightie no less and gives Simon, who answers wearing a sheet, a hard-on and a smile, a piece of her mind. I think we can all see where this is going.
After their hallway altercation they run into each other at a party, apparently they have mutual friends, they are both their with their two besties, who end up falling for each other pulling Wallbanger and Pink Nightie Girl along for the ride.
They decide to call a truce, and maybe even become friends, mayhem and hilarity ensue.
Will Caroline get her O back, will Simon be able to keep up with his harem, will Clive ever get his true love Purina to love him back?
Hop over to Amazon/B&N/KOBO, who ever your bookseller of choice is and buy it, because you need to know how it all turns out...
Monday, November 26, 2012
Honor Student/Honor thy Teacher by Teresa Mummert
A few months ago this book (books 1&2 in a series of 3) was getting lots of hype so I bought it and it's sat in my Kindle's TBR pile for ages. I decided to start the series over the weekend to walk away from my edits before I made myself crazy.
Because this is the biggest Trope in the universe these days, young virginal girl, who is maybe a little troubled, gets mixed up with older (but not too much older) guy who is wealthy, dark and broody and is one kinky mother f***er. I'm reviewing the books together because they tell the same story but one is from Emma's POV and other is from William's POV.
Emma is a sad, lonely college student living with her aunt in Florida. Her parents are dead, and it seems like there is more to it, but we just don't know and even as the first two books close we never find out. She's a little self destructive and just trying to make it through the day.
William, a sad, lonely divorced Dom (who is also wealthy) has taken a job teaching a class at a local college to cover for a professor who is out on medical leave. He's been drifting from fling to fling, currently sleeping with a married secretary at the college. But he wants more, and he's decided it's time to find himself an actual submissive.
In walks Emma, late to class, head down, all apologetic and innocent looking. She's a student so William tries to put her out of his mind, but she seems so naturally submissive, and when their eyes meet they are like magnets drawn together.
Catching Emma, and some other students (who bail on her) smoking pot William decides her self destructive behavior needs to stop and that she needs some discipline. So what would any good college professor who is also a Dom do? Well bend her over his desk and spank her senseless of course.
I work at a college, I'm pretty sure that shit doesn't happen... let me take that back, I'm *reasonably* sure that shit doesn't happen...
Their relationship escalates to a sexual one where William takes Emma's virginity, and then feels pretty crappy about it. He wants her, but knows he shouldn't, there are outside and opposing forces at work and plenty of mystery which starts to make more and more sense at the end of book two. Both Emma and William seem to be on paths of self destruction, and when they are together it is almost as if they are in some kind of nuclear arms assured mutual destruction pact.
Except for the bomb at the end of the book. I am eagerly reading the third book in the story because I'm not sure how this can all play out.
Ms. Mummert did a great job of keeping me engaged and guessing and salivating for the next story, I was not distracted by anything shiny while reading these two books, and for me that's a big deal.
Pick them up, they're worth your time, I'm sorry I let them sit in my TBR for so long.
Because this is the biggest Trope in the universe these days, young virginal girl, who is maybe a little troubled, gets mixed up with older (but not too much older) guy who is wealthy, dark and broody and is one kinky mother f***er. I'm reviewing the books together because they tell the same story but one is from Emma's POV and other is from William's POV.
Emma is a sad, lonely college student living with her aunt in Florida. Her parents are dead, and it seems like there is more to it, but we just don't know and even as the first two books close we never find out. She's a little self destructive and just trying to make it through the day.
William, a sad, lonely divorced Dom (who is also wealthy) has taken a job teaching a class at a local college to cover for a professor who is out on medical leave. He's been drifting from fling to fling, currently sleeping with a married secretary at the college. But he wants more, and he's decided it's time to find himself an actual submissive.
In walks Emma, late to class, head down, all apologetic and innocent looking. She's a student so William tries to put her out of his mind, but she seems so naturally submissive, and when their eyes meet they are like magnets drawn together.
Catching Emma, and some other students (who bail on her) smoking pot William decides her self destructive behavior needs to stop and that she needs some discipline. So what would any good college professor who is also a Dom do? Well bend her over his desk and spank her senseless of course.
I work at a college, I'm pretty sure that shit doesn't happen... let me take that back, I'm *reasonably* sure that shit doesn't happen...
Their relationship escalates to a sexual one where William takes Emma's virginity, and then feels pretty crappy about it. He wants her, but knows he shouldn't, there are outside and opposing forces at work and plenty of mystery which starts to make more and more sense at the end of book two. Both Emma and William seem to be on paths of self destruction, and when they are together it is almost as if they are in some kind of nuclear arms assured mutual destruction pact.
Except for the bomb at the end of the book. I am eagerly reading the third book in the story because I'm not sure how this can all play out.
Ms. Mummert did a great job of keeping me engaged and guessing and salivating for the next story, I was not distracted by anything shiny while reading these two books, and for me that's a big deal.
Pick them up, they're worth your time, I'm sorry I let them sit in my TBR for so long.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Backstage Pass: Sinners on Tour by Olivia Cunning
Been a few days since I've put together a review, although I've probably finished 4 or 5 (OK closer to 10) books.
I, gentle readers, decided to do NaNoWriMo this year and actually write a book of my own. The book is complete and now I am in edits, getting ready to send to my beta readers and trying to figure out how the hell I find cover art and copyright the damn thing, but I digress.
So I recently joined another book group on Facebook (I think this now makes 3), and everyone was raving about this series of books, the "Sinners" books, it's a series, and you know me, I loves me a series, although I think what I said on FB was that I'm a series whore, but you know in that classy, I don't sleep around or get paid for it kinda way. OK enough, now I will actually review the damn book, which was pretty good.
This is the first in a series of five books *squeeeee* about a rock band on tour and everyone's journey towards their own HEA. Book one is about Brian, the lead singer of Sinners. He's losing his spark, his creative muse has left him, he's feeling down right shit.
One night as the fates would have it he's in a hotel bar and Myrna Evans, a professor of psychology and human sexuality, there for a conference happens upon the band in said bar and sits down for a chat. She's a fan of the group, but is also interested in what makes them, and more importantly their groupies tick.
She and Brian hit it off right away, and sparks fly. There is plenty of sex in this book, and it appears that while he's balls deep in Professor Evans his muse arrives and he can hear it clearly and write the music again, sometimes actually on Myrna, like on her skin on her while doing the deed. I don't know about you, but this might kill the mood for me, also I'm kinda ticklish, so it probably would kill the mood for me.
She ends up spending time with the band following them around learning about the sub-culture that is a touring rock group. Fear of losing her job as she's recently lost her federal funding gives her the bright idea to write a grant proposal to study groupies and their reasons behind their perceived and actual promiscuity when it comes to the rockers they lust after.
It's an erotic romance, there are twists and turns, angst and plenty of sexy time. It was a good read. My only problem is my day job is in research, and the whole time she's talking about her grant and interviewing her subjects I'm worried about whether or not she's obtained the appropriate approvals to do all of this, where is her IRB, does her grants and contracts office know that she's basically paying for a summer on a tour bus, is she getting informed consent from the participants before interviewing them, hell if they're half drunk or high can they even truly provide informed consent.
If I could have gotten out of my head and my work this would have been a great read, but that's my own baggage. I think Brian and Myrna meshed well together, she was a calming influence when he was wild and adrift and he showed her letting her hair down is just as important as being responsible.
This was my first foray into the rosk-star sub-genre of romance/erotica/erotic-romance, and it likely won't be my last, because somewhere deep down all girls have at least a little thing for bad boy rockers who are all inky and sweaty and wild, right? or is that just me and the ladies in my book group?
I, gentle readers, decided to do NaNoWriMo this year and actually write a book of my own. The book is complete and now I am in edits, getting ready to send to my beta readers and trying to figure out how the hell I find cover art and copyright the damn thing, but I digress.
So I recently joined another book group on Facebook (I think this now makes 3), and everyone was raving about this series of books, the "Sinners" books, it's a series, and you know me, I loves me a series, although I think what I said on FB was that I'm a series whore, but you know in that classy, I don't sleep around or get paid for it kinda way. OK enough, now I will actually review the damn book, which was pretty good.
This is the first in a series of five books *squeeeee* about a rock band on tour and everyone's journey towards their own HEA. Book one is about Brian, the lead singer of Sinners. He's losing his spark, his creative muse has left him, he's feeling down right shit.
One night as the fates would have it he's in a hotel bar and Myrna Evans, a professor of psychology and human sexuality, there for a conference happens upon the band in said bar and sits down for a chat. She's a fan of the group, but is also interested in what makes them, and more importantly their groupies tick.
She and Brian hit it off right away, and sparks fly. There is plenty of sex in this book, and it appears that while he's balls deep in Professor Evans his muse arrives and he can hear it clearly and write the music again, sometimes actually on Myrna, like on her skin on her while doing the deed. I don't know about you, but this might kill the mood for me, also I'm kinda ticklish, so it probably would kill the mood for me.
She ends up spending time with the band following them around learning about the sub-culture that is a touring rock group. Fear of losing her job as she's recently lost her federal funding gives her the bright idea to write a grant proposal to study groupies and their reasons behind their perceived and actual promiscuity when it comes to the rockers they lust after.
It's an erotic romance, there are twists and turns, angst and plenty of sexy time. It was a good read. My only problem is my day job is in research, and the whole time she's talking about her grant and interviewing her subjects I'm worried about whether or not she's obtained the appropriate approvals to do all of this, where is her IRB, does her grants and contracts office know that she's basically paying for a summer on a tour bus, is she getting informed consent from the participants before interviewing them, hell if they're half drunk or high can they even truly provide informed consent.
If I could have gotten out of my head and my work this would have been a great read, but that's my own baggage. I think Brian and Myrna meshed well together, she was a calming influence when he was wild and adrift and he showed her letting her hair down is just as important as being responsible.
This was my first foray into the rosk-star sub-genre of romance/erotica/erotic-romance, and it likely won't be my last, because somewhere deep down all girls have at least a little thing for bad boy rockers who are all inky and sweaty and wild, right? or is that just me and the ladies in my book group?
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Heart of a Soldier by Tamara Hoffa
Boroughs Publishing Group has come up with a new series of short story line called Lunchbox Romance, stories meant to be read and enjoyed while you're on break at work, or wherever the mood strikes you for a short but sweet love story.
This is the story of Charlie and Jamie. Charlie is a widow with a son who is eager to enlist in the army when he finishes high school Times being what they are Charlie is obviously anxious about Evan, her only child going off to war. Evan takes his mother with him to meet the recruiter.
Ah the recruiter, the quintessential soldier, tall, handsome, and brave. Jamie is stateside working as a recruiter while a shoulder injury heals.
There is a spark right away between the soldier and the widow. Jamie does his best to assuage Charlie's fears, and thinks maybe he could be more helpful in calming her by taking her out to dinner. The first date is a disaster, but when things are meant to be love always finds a way.
This was a charming read and a strong first effort for Tamara. I will also say I very much like the idea of short easy to consume love stories. Don't get me wrong gentle readers, you know I loves me a series, but this was enjoyable, and I'd be interested in not only reading more from the series but also reading more from Tamara.
My thanks to Tamara and the Boroughs Group for providing me with a review copy of the story. However, I would have gladly paid the $.99 to purchase the story, and considering how many books I purchase and how picky I am with my Kindle budget that's saying something.
This is the story of Charlie and Jamie. Charlie is a widow with a son who is eager to enlist in the army when he finishes high school Times being what they are Charlie is obviously anxious about Evan, her only child going off to war. Evan takes his mother with him to meet the recruiter.
Ah the recruiter, the quintessential soldier, tall, handsome, and brave. Jamie is stateside working as a recruiter while a shoulder injury heals.
There is a spark right away between the soldier and the widow. Jamie does his best to assuage Charlie's fears, and thinks maybe he could be more helpful in calming her by taking her out to dinner. The first date is a disaster, but when things are meant to be love always finds a way.
This was a charming read and a strong first effort for Tamara. I will also say I very much like the idea of short easy to consume love stories. Don't get me wrong gentle readers, you know I loves me a series, but this was enjoyable, and I'd be interested in not only reading more from the series but also reading more from Tamara.
My thanks to Tamara and the Boroughs Group for providing me with a review copy of the story. However, I would have gladly paid the $.99 to purchase the story, and considering how many books I purchase and how picky I am with my Kindle budget that's saying something.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
The Look of Love, the Sullivans Book 1 by Bella Andre
It was a dark and stormy night... No really, it was, and Chloe Peterson was having THE worst night of her life, stranded on the side of the road in Napa during a storm while she's trying to run away and start a new life. Chase Sullivan thinks he's heading for a nice night of no strings sex with one the staff from the Sullivan Winery.
Chase finds her on the side of the road and instead of dropping her off at a motel, preferably a cheap one, he instead takes her to the guest house on his brother Marcus' winery where he is set to begin a photo shoot, being the world class photographer he is.
Every protective instinct in him come alive and he wants to wrap her up and make whatever is giving her that sad look go far far away, she's got lots of baggage and lots of secret, including where that bruise on her cheek came from. He's got his own baggage, the life of a handsome straight man surrounded by models getting laid all the time is wearing on him and he knows there's got to be something more to life than the glitz and glamour that is his life.
There is a zing between them from the get go, but Chloe is skittish and Chase ramps it up slow, well except for that first night, and the whirlpool tub and the faulty door lock. Even though Chloe wants to leave Chase convinces her to stay and what blossoms is beautiful.
This is book 1 in what is set to be an 8 book series, 1-6 are out now and 7 is expected in December of this year.
It's a nice mix of the romantic and erotic, and with the introduction of the other siblings in this story you're left looking forward to everyone's story, because one by one you know all 8 Sullivan kids, 6 boys, 2 girls will fall, and fall hard.
Chase finds her on the side of the road and instead of dropping her off at a motel, preferably a cheap one, he instead takes her to the guest house on his brother Marcus' winery where he is set to begin a photo shoot, being the world class photographer he is.
Every protective instinct in him come alive and he wants to wrap her up and make whatever is giving her that sad look go far far away, she's got lots of baggage and lots of secret, including where that bruise on her cheek came from. He's got his own baggage, the life of a handsome straight man surrounded by models getting laid all the time is wearing on him and he knows there's got to be something more to life than the glitz and glamour that is his life.
There is a zing between them from the get go, but Chloe is skittish and Chase ramps it up slow, well except for that first night, and the whirlpool tub and the faulty door lock. Even though Chloe wants to leave Chase convinces her to stay and what blossoms is beautiful.
This is book 1 in what is set to be an 8 book series, 1-6 are out now and 7 is expected in December of this year.
It's a nice mix of the romantic and erotic, and with the introduction of the other siblings in this story you're left looking forward to everyone's story, because one by one you know all 8 Sullivan kids, 6 boys, 2 girls will fall, and fall hard.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Masked, Unmasked, Revealed by Lissa Matthews
So because I read the Lauren Dane book Laid Bare, which had a M/M(/F) relationship Amazon, pusher that it is recommended this series. I had yet to read anything in the romance or erotica genre that was a relationship that was just between two men (or women) with no third in the mix. It was either free or very low priced so I decided to give it a go.
These three novellas are the story of Bobby and Thor, although we don't know it's Bobby yet, he's a masked man who watches Thor work over subs on the St. Andrews Cross with envy, wishing it were him (Oh did I also mention this was a very BDSM flavored book?). Thor spends his free time flogging and whipping willing subs, women publicly, his partner on the platform takes care of the men, but for weeks now the masked man has been watching him clearly itching to say something, ask for something, but holding his voice for now.
Can't say I blame our masked man for lusting after Thor he's 6'+ of hulking long haired sex on a stick who rides a motorcycle and wears a freaking kilt. Seriously, you'd have to be a solid ZERO on the Kinsey scale to not at least give him a second look.
After biding his time he asks for an encounter, in a private room at club Abyss. While Thor hasn't been flying his rainbow flag it isn't a secret that he is attracted to both men and women, he just hasn't found the man he wants to make a permanent partner. Bobby on the other hand has kept his desire for men a big secret, due to his upbringing, how he feels his family would react and their mutual social circle who see him as a big time womanizer. This first encounter creates a paradigm shift for both men.
In the second volume, Unmasked, their second encounter happens on the floor of Abyss at Thor's station. Thor hasn't tied a man to his cross and Bobby has a lot to lose being found out but wants to escalate their relationship. Through the events of the evening identities are revealed and once the shock is settled Thor tells Bobby he needs to make a choice.
In Revealed, the final installment the begin together, and what that would look like out of the club with their real lives as a construction worker and a lawyer. Thor gives him a list of tasks, things he needs to deal with and make right before they can embark on their own relationship. Yes, there is the M/M element, and the D/s element, but in the end they are just two people looking for that person to be there at the end of the day who shares your life with you.
They are three bite sized stories that tie together to make an enjoyable journey through a point in time for Thor and Bobby, Lissa writes characters who could be your neighbor, or the guy in line behind you at the dry cleaner, who also happens to flog lucky little subs on the weekend.
It's clear to me that the M/M dynamic is different, as are the mechanics obviously, than your typical romance erotica pairing, but that doesn't distract from two people looking for love. I'm not about to go rent gay porn on pay-per-view, but this likely won't be the last male-centric romance I read.
If you're open minded enough not to be off-put by it it's a truly enjoyable set of reads, and I'd suggest picking up some more from Lissa Matthews, as well as a couple of other authors who are out there doing it, and doing it well and not in that sleazy salacious way that makes even the kinkiest of us squidgy, while still keeping it hot and steamy.
p.s. Lissa mentioned today we might get a new read of life with Bobby and Thor and where they are now... yes please... I will also say that Lissa is one of those new breed of author who uses social media to connect and interact with her readers and I for one love her for it.
These three novellas are the story of Bobby and Thor, although we don't know it's Bobby yet, he's a masked man who watches Thor work over subs on the St. Andrews Cross with envy, wishing it were him (Oh did I also mention this was a very BDSM flavored book?). Thor spends his free time flogging and whipping willing subs, women publicly, his partner on the platform takes care of the men, but for weeks now the masked man has been watching him clearly itching to say something, ask for something, but holding his voice for now.
Can't say I blame our masked man for lusting after Thor he's 6'+ of hulking long haired sex on a stick who rides a motorcycle and wears a freaking kilt. Seriously, you'd have to be a solid ZERO on the Kinsey scale to not at least give him a second look.
After biding his time he asks for an encounter, in a private room at club Abyss. While Thor hasn't been flying his rainbow flag it isn't a secret that he is attracted to both men and women, he just hasn't found the man he wants to make a permanent partner. Bobby on the other hand has kept his desire for men a big secret, due to his upbringing, how he feels his family would react and their mutual social circle who see him as a big time womanizer. This first encounter creates a paradigm shift for both men.
In the second volume, Unmasked, their second encounter happens on the floor of Abyss at Thor's station. Thor hasn't tied a man to his cross and Bobby has a lot to lose being found out but wants to escalate their relationship. Through the events of the evening identities are revealed and once the shock is settled Thor tells Bobby he needs to make a choice.
In Revealed, the final installment the begin together, and what that would look like out of the club with their real lives as a construction worker and a lawyer. Thor gives him a list of tasks, things he needs to deal with and make right before they can embark on their own relationship. Yes, there is the M/M element, and the D/s element, but in the end they are just two people looking for that person to be there at the end of the day who shares your life with you.
They are three bite sized stories that tie together to make an enjoyable journey through a point in time for Thor and Bobby, Lissa writes characters who could be your neighbor, or the guy in line behind you at the dry cleaner, who also happens to flog lucky little subs on the weekend.
It's clear to me that the M/M dynamic is different, as are the mechanics obviously, than your typical romance erotica pairing, but that doesn't distract from two people looking for love. I'm not about to go rent gay porn on pay-per-view, but this likely won't be the last male-centric romance I read.
If you're open minded enough not to be off-put by it it's a truly enjoyable set of reads, and I'd suggest picking up some more from Lissa Matthews, as well as a couple of other authors who are out there doing it, and doing it well and not in that sleazy salacious way that makes even the kinkiest of us squidgy, while still keeping it hot and steamy.
p.s. Lissa mentioned today we might get a new read of life with Bobby and Thor and where they are now... yes please... I will also say that Lissa is one of those new breed of author who uses social media to connect and interact with her readers and I for one love her for it.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Masters at Arms by Kallypso Masters
So, how does a good pusher get you hooked? They give you the first hit for free, it's marketing genius really, and Kally Masters, one of my favorite pushers, I mean authors, these days got me hooked with the first book in her Rescue Me series, Masters at Arms, which is still free at Amazon.com (subsequent volumes have all been $3.99).
So what happens to a rag tag band of Marines who have served together in Iraq when they come home and try to put the pieces of their lives back together? Well they move to Denver and open a kink club of course.
This book gives back-story on the three main Masters/Doms in the series, Adam, Marc and Damian (Damo).
Master Adam (Montague) the leader of this group, both on the battlefield and the home front has been involved in the lifestyle for many years, his late wife Joni was his submissive and one time sexually submissive slave. Marc d'Alessio and Damian Orlando, two men who served under Adam while in Iraq come upon kink while on their last outing before deployment, Adam happens to see them at the club, although they don't notice him there. Planting the seed for future endeavors.
The back-stories...
Adam, shortly after his wife's death and a killer bender is in a bus station before Thanksgiving and meets Karla, a scared pink haired 16 year old girl running away from home. He helps her out of a dangerous situation and she brings him home to spend the holiday with her family, her brother is serving overseas and her family are more than happy to share their day with another soldier (although Master Adam would pink up my hide and remind me he's a Marine thank you very much). Karla develops a school girl crush on Adam and begins a 9 year long correspondence, sending him letters, and peanut butter brownies, as well as MP3s of her singing while she develops her talent and grows into who she's going to become as a woman.
Damian's story takes us to the time before enlisting where he meets Savannah Gentry, he rescues her from a bad situation, an abusive situation her father and his lackey have put her in. He whisks her away and they share a magical day and night together at the shore in a secluded cave, at the end of the day he brings her home, knowing a rich classy girl like her would never go for him. He doesn't accept that and for days and days after shows up at her house in the hills at the gate until finally one of the staff threaten to have him arrested. Down, and now out as he lost his job at the hotel Savannah's father owned and about to be evicted he enlists in the Marines. He comes home a wounded warrior, who would, if left to his own devices, just curl up and die. Adam comes to him in the hospital and takes him home to Denver, not allowing Damo to wallow in the self pity of it all.
Marc is the surviving son, a pressure that can be great when you are in the shadow of a mythic creature. His family resent him for leaving the family resort business and not wanting to step in to his beloved brother's role. He hides from his family the fact that he wants no part in becoming Gino, and Marc has a secret, he's been providing some other "services" to resort guests acting as a Dom and sexual partner to some of the female guests who are so inclined. Gino's former fiance has a major jones for him and sticks to him like a sock on a towel fresh out of the dryer, and Marco wants no part of that either. He decides the only way to get out the shadow of Gino, his mother's grief and Melissa the grieving fiance is to enlist and go fight a war of his own. He becomes a corpsman working with Adam and Damo in Iraq, he's got a chip on his shoulder and a lot to prove after losing his brother Gino in the service, and through a twist of fate he's serving with his brother's Master Sergeant.
War makes men from boys and brothers from men and their service together in the hell of war tie these three, and others along the way together in an unbreakable bond. Their rag tag family gives each of these men as much as they give to each other. They all come together again in Denver and becomes a partner in the kink club they open called Masters at Arms. Joining them over time will be other entwined in their past through service, family or the intercession of the Universe.
As this volume ends, Adam is pulled by the song of a siren... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwbtbfAnI80
It's a gripping story and an impressive first outing into erotic romance for Kallypso Masters. She did her research both within the military and kink community, she is looking for a more real character and she delivers. I know it's fiction, so how real can they be, but compared to other books I've read in the genre/trope this one sucked me in and had me clicking on "buy now" for the next two available stories in the series and then salivating while waiting for the fourth book, which was a much longer time in coming than originally anticipated (we'll get to that later). It didn't pander to the billionaire/virgin theme so popular these days or have characters who are all model perfect and their biggest problem is a hang nail, or problems that don't happen to anyone in real life... ever.
Through the books and Facebook I've had a chance to interact personally with Kally and find her a wonderful, funny and very friendly woman. She's an author who interacts with her readers and listens to our input. Right now I think this will likely turn into an 8-9 book series and you know me, I love me a series, so I'm hoping she keeps on writing about our friends getting their kink on in the mile high city for YEARS to come. I've been singing the praises of Kally and these books to anyone looking to read erotica/erotic romance/BDSM stories after finishing FSoG, and I'll keep preaching the good word until the last page of the last book is long past it's out of press date.
So what happens to a rag tag band of Marines who have served together in Iraq when they come home and try to put the pieces of their lives back together? Well they move to Denver and open a kink club of course.
This book gives back-story on the three main Masters/Doms in the series, Adam, Marc and Damian (Damo).
Master Adam (Montague) the leader of this group, both on the battlefield and the home front has been involved in the lifestyle for many years, his late wife Joni was his submissive and one time sexually submissive slave. Marc d'Alessio and Damian Orlando, two men who served under Adam while in Iraq come upon kink while on their last outing before deployment, Adam happens to see them at the club, although they don't notice him there. Planting the seed for future endeavors.
The back-stories...
Adam, shortly after his wife's death and a killer bender is in a bus station before Thanksgiving and meets Karla, a scared pink haired 16 year old girl running away from home. He helps her out of a dangerous situation and she brings him home to spend the holiday with her family, her brother is serving overseas and her family are more than happy to share their day with another soldier (although Master Adam would pink up my hide and remind me he's a Marine thank you very much). Karla develops a school girl crush on Adam and begins a 9 year long correspondence, sending him letters, and peanut butter brownies, as well as MP3s of her singing while she develops her talent and grows into who she's going to become as a woman.
Damian's story takes us to the time before enlisting where he meets Savannah Gentry, he rescues her from a bad situation, an abusive situation her father and his lackey have put her in. He whisks her away and they share a magical day and night together at the shore in a secluded cave, at the end of the day he brings her home, knowing a rich classy girl like her would never go for him. He doesn't accept that and for days and days after shows up at her house in the hills at the gate until finally one of the staff threaten to have him arrested. Down, and now out as he lost his job at the hotel Savannah's father owned and about to be evicted he enlists in the Marines. He comes home a wounded warrior, who would, if left to his own devices, just curl up and die. Adam comes to him in the hospital and takes him home to Denver, not allowing Damo to wallow in the self pity of it all.
Marc is the surviving son, a pressure that can be great when you are in the shadow of a mythic creature. His family resent him for leaving the family resort business and not wanting to step in to his beloved brother's role. He hides from his family the fact that he wants no part in becoming Gino, and Marc has a secret, he's been providing some other "services" to resort guests acting as a Dom and sexual partner to some of the female guests who are so inclined. Gino's former fiance has a major jones for him and sticks to him like a sock on a towel fresh out of the dryer, and Marco wants no part of that either. He decides the only way to get out the shadow of Gino, his mother's grief and Melissa the grieving fiance is to enlist and go fight a war of his own. He becomes a corpsman working with Adam and Damo in Iraq, he's got a chip on his shoulder and a lot to prove after losing his brother Gino in the service, and through a twist of fate he's serving with his brother's Master Sergeant.
War makes men from boys and brothers from men and their service together in the hell of war tie these three, and others along the way together in an unbreakable bond. Their rag tag family gives each of these men as much as they give to each other. They all come together again in Denver and becomes a partner in the kink club they open called Masters at Arms. Joining them over time will be other entwined in their past through service, family or the intercession of the Universe.
As this volume ends, Adam is pulled by the song of a siren... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwbtbfAnI80
It's a gripping story and an impressive first outing into erotic romance for Kallypso Masters. She did her research both within the military and kink community, she is looking for a more real character and she delivers. I know it's fiction, so how real can they be, but compared to other books I've read in the genre/trope this one sucked me in and had me clicking on "buy now" for the next two available stories in the series and then salivating while waiting for the fourth book, which was a much longer time in coming than originally anticipated (we'll get to that later). It didn't pander to the billionaire/virgin theme so popular these days or have characters who are all model perfect and their biggest problem is a hang nail, or problems that don't happen to anyone in real life... ever.
Through the books and Facebook I've had a chance to interact personally with Kally and find her a wonderful, funny and very friendly woman. She's an author who interacts with her readers and listens to our input. Right now I think this will likely turn into an 8-9 book series and you know me, I love me a series, so I'm hoping she keeps on writing about our friends getting their kink on in the mile high city for YEARS to come. I've been singing the praises of Kally and these books to anyone looking to read erotica/erotic romance/BDSM stories after finishing FSoG, and I'll keep preaching the good word until the last page of the last book is long past it's out of press date.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Laid Open by Lauren Dane
OK, one more LD book, the current volume in the Brown family series. This tasty little novella was a nice peek into the life of Ben, Todd and Erin, who get a chance to get away from work, life and the kiddo for some time together for their relationship.
If I were a tattooed, polyamorus rock star turned coffe shop owner I'd want to be Erin Brown. Her men are yummy, she has a wonderful family full of siblings, in-laws and friends surrounding her. She also has Alexander, her adorable little boy who speaks in exclamation points and he has his own names for folks as all toddlers do, he's also learned to use "Yo!" in just about every sentence thanks to his uncle Adrian.
The men decide to take Erin to Fiji, a place where they can get away from the pressures in life, the paparazzi and the madness that surrounds everyday life. With Erin's celebrity and their unique relationship they are often hounded by the press and have had some mud and even social services flung their way because of eir unique family situation.
Todd packs some new toys, Erin packs some bikinis and Ben just packs his awesome.
I enjoyed how this story while being about the triad, also focused on Ben and Todd's developing relationship. They started out in Laid Open as very tentative towards each other, Todd moreso than Ben who was already comfortable in his sexuality and had already had a relationship with a man and a woman, for Todd this was more of an adjustment, he and Ben had been friends since childhood, and Todd hadn't likely ever considered romantic love for a man let alone having hot sweaty man-lovin' on a regular basis.
They aren't gentle with each other the way they are with Erin and it's an interesting view into that side sof the triad dynamic. They realize that their relationship which each other and working on that is just as important as their relationship with Erin as well as the triad as a whole.
Even in this delicious little tidbit from LD there is an interesting twist, something coming back to pull a dark cloud over the peace and quiet of Fiji. But loving each other, supporting each other and giving each per room to deal and grow is the part of their relationship that makes it all work.
I hope LD keeps up with these little love letters to the fans after Erin's book ans the Delicious series are done, they aren't even gone yet and I'm missing them already.
OK, now I'll step away from the LD and move on... Really...
If I were a tattooed, polyamorus rock star turned coffe shop owner I'd want to be Erin Brown. Her men are yummy, she has a wonderful family full of siblings, in-laws and friends surrounding her. She also has Alexander, her adorable little boy who speaks in exclamation points and he has his own names for folks as all toddlers do, he's also learned to use "Yo!" in just about every sentence thanks to his uncle Adrian.
The men decide to take Erin to Fiji, a place where they can get away from the pressures in life, the paparazzi and the madness that surrounds everyday life. With Erin's celebrity and their unique relationship they are often hounded by the press and have had some mud and even social services flung their way because of eir unique family situation.
Todd packs some new toys, Erin packs some bikinis and Ben just packs his awesome.
I enjoyed how this story while being about the triad, also focused on Ben and Todd's developing relationship. They started out in Laid Open as very tentative towards each other, Todd moreso than Ben who was already comfortable in his sexuality and had already had a relationship with a man and a woman, for Todd this was more of an adjustment, he and Ben had been friends since childhood, and Todd hadn't likely ever considered romantic love for a man let alone having hot sweaty man-lovin' on a regular basis.
They aren't gentle with each other the way they are with Erin and it's an interesting view into that side sof the triad dynamic. They realize that their relationship which each other and working on that is just as important as their relationship with Erin as well as the triad as a whole.
Even in this delicious little tidbit from LD there is an interesting twist, something coming back to pull a dark cloud over the peace and quiet of Fiji. But loving each other, supporting each other and giving each per room to deal and grow is the part of their relationship that makes it all work.
I hope LD keeps up with these little love letters to the fans after Erin's book ans the Delicious series are done, they aren't even gone yet and I'm missing them already.
OK, now I'll step away from the LD and move on... Really...
Never Enough by Lauren Dane
At book 4 we finally get to Adrian's story. He's been in the background and foreground over the last three books and you could tell he is tired of the rat race rock n' roll bullshit lifestyle, I'm sure getting laid by hot groupies can be a real hardship. He wants what his siblings and friends have, a wife, kids, the whole picket fence HEA but he never knows if who he's involved with loves him, or his rock god status.
Along comes a kid he never knew about and his saucy Britt aunt who adopted him and is raising him as her own son. Miles' birth mother never shared the identity of his father until just before her death when Miles is a teen. Gillian goes in search of him and makes efforts to get them together. Adrian has a tough time seeing this as anything but a money grab, but Erin takes matters into her own hands, and between hear and Brody they knock some sense into him.
Gillian and Adrian have an instant spark and it gets hot and heavy pretty quickly. She is a woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to grab life(Adrian) by the balls and take it. There are twists and turns on the way to HEA, it wouldn't be a good read if there weren't. They try and keep it on the down low but Miles figures out pretty quickly what's going on and is ok with it, and I think that goes along way for both of them and their comfort level with the relationship.
The turn in this book affected more than just the couple, it brought all the siblings into play which is nice because I never wanted to let Erin or Brody or their spouses go after reading their books. The author recently wrote that Raven's book (Brody's ex, and fellow tattoo artist) will be the last in the Brown Family series, so while this makes me sad we're assured we'll see them in the Delicious series and we may even see more Novellas along the way. I would send a muffin basket and other assorted goodies on a weekly basis if it could keep the Brown's with us through bits and pieces and stories for the next ten years, but I think that might border on stalkerish behavior so I'll back off and be grateful for what I have.
In this series we also meet Gillian's friends who live on Bainbridge Island near Seattle who are the basis for the Delicious series Lauren is writing. I will be making sure I make a side trip to Bainbridge when I finally make it to Seattle simply because of these books
Although of the four so far this would probably rank 4th it was a solid addition to the series and it's so nice to see Adrian, who has been the uber uncle (I mean seriously, dude owns a mini-van before he's even got kids) finally get a family of his own, and I really hope that through the other books we'll see G&A add to their family.
One of the things I love about these books is that Lauren has included a play list at the end, I've found some awesome songs through it. Miles and his band, then with the help of his dad have been working on Creep, here it is for your enjoyment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFkzRNyygfk.
Up next for reviews... I'm not sure, I'll either be tackling the Bella Andre Sullivan Family Series, or digging into Cherise Sinclair or Kallypso Masters for some BDSM based stories. If anyone has a preference for what's next out of those above let me know and I'll go from there.
Along comes a kid he never knew about and his saucy Britt aunt who adopted him and is raising him as her own son. Miles' birth mother never shared the identity of his father until just before her death when Miles is a teen. Gillian goes in search of him and makes efforts to get them together. Adrian has a tough time seeing this as anything but a money grab, but Erin takes matters into her own hands, and between hear and Brody they knock some sense into him.
Gillian and Adrian have an instant spark and it gets hot and heavy pretty quickly. She is a woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to grab life(Adrian) by the balls and take it. There are twists and turns on the way to HEA, it wouldn't be a good read if there weren't. They try and keep it on the down low but Miles figures out pretty quickly what's going on and is ok with it, and I think that goes along way for both of them and their comfort level with the relationship.
The turn in this book affected more than just the couple, it brought all the siblings into play which is nice because I never wanted to let Erin or Brody or their spouses go after reading their books. The author recently wrote that Raven's book (Brody's ex, and fellow tattoo artist) will be the last in the Brown Family series, so while this makes me sad we're assured we'll see them in the Delicious series and we may even see more Novellas along the way. I would send a muffin basket and other assorted goodies on a weekly basis if it could keep the Brown's with us through bits and pieces and stories for the next ten years, but I think that might border on stalkerish behavior so I'll back off and be grateful for what I have.
In this series we also meet Gillian's friends who live on Bainbridge Island near Seattle who are the basis for the Delicious series Lauren is writing. I will be making sure I make a side trip to Bainbridge when I finally make it to Seattle simply because of these books
Although of the four so far this would probably rank 4th it was a solid addition to the series and it's so nice to see Adrian, who has been the uber uncle (I mean seriously, dude owns a mini-van before he's even got kids) finally get a family of his own, and I really hope that through the other books we'll see G&A add to their family.
One of the things I love about these books is that Lauren has included a play list at the end, I've found some awesome songs through it. Miles and his band, then with the help of his dad have been working on Creep, here it is for your enjoyment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFkzRNyygfk.
Up next for reviews... I'm not sure, I'll either be tackling the Bella Andre Sullivan Family Series, or digging into Cherise Sinclair or Kallypso Masters for some BDSM based stories. If anyone has a preference for what's next out of those above let me know and I'll go from there.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Inside Out by Lauren Dane
In book #3 in the Brown family series we step away from the siblings and delve into a couple who is part of their circle of friends and family. Trust me, just because the book isn't about one of the siblings doesn't mean we don't see them crop up all up in this book.
This is Cope and Ella's story, Cope is Ben's brother and Ella is the lovely woman who works for Erin in the coffee shop she owns next to Brody's tattoo studio, who in a previous story was attacked and badly injured by her stalker ex.
Cope is finally realizing it's time to get his shit in order, stop fucking around and find someone to love, he's always had a thing for Ella but the timing was never right, but now she's healed, at least physically and he sets his cap in her direction. Ella is timid, and afraid, and quite frankly who can blame her, her ex who stalked her lit her on fire, FIRE for fucks sake, that isn't something you just walk away from and skip happily back in to life. Cope knows this will take a careful plan and a slow approach, patience is what will win this girl.
He makes it clear to her from the outset of his plan that he likes her, you know likes her, likes her, in that not only do I want a deep and meaningful relationship with you but as part of that relationship I want us to melt the sheets. He is patient, and kind and they type of man every woman deserves.
Of all the stories in this series this was the sweetest, the way Cope (Andrew/Andy) gentles to Ella and brings her out of her shell, the way Ella looks to see who he really is and not just what his friends or family thinks is so amazingly heartwarming. He may be part of Todd and Ben's security company but he's also a Renaissance man who reads, writes, and is an artist with woodworking.
That they write letters and he writes her poetry, and sends her drawings that make her heart melt. Him reading her Pablo Neuruda is so hot it's nearly a panty melter, and this isn't him making a play to get laid, it's who he is, he's deep, thoughtful so much more than anyone gives him credit for.
Like all Brown Family books there is plenty of steamy sex, but even the way Cope and Ella come to this is tender and sweet as opposed to a fast burn.
Their ending is what you hope for the whole book through, and LD doesn't disappoint.
I look forward to seeing these two pop up in future Brown Family and Delicious series books of the couples in this series they are my favorite.
This is Cope and Ella's story, Cope is Ben's brother and Ella is the lovely woman who works for Erin in the coffee shop she owns next to Brody's tattoo studio, who in a previous story was attacked and badly injured by her stalker ex.
Cope is finally realizing it's time to get his shit in order, stop fucking around and find someone to love, he's always had a thing for Ella but the timing was never right, but now she's healed, at least physically and he sets his cap in her direction. Ella is timid, and afraid, and quite frankly who can blame her, her ex who stalked her lit her on fire, FIRE for fucks sake, that isn't something you just walk away from and skip happily back in to life. Cope knows this will take a careful plan and a slow approach, patience is what will win this girl.
He makes it clear to her from the outset of his plan that he likes her, you know likes her, likes her, in that not only do I want a deep and meaningful relationship with you but as part of that relationship I want us to melt the sheets. He is patient, and kind and they type of man every woman deserves.
Of all the stories in this series this was the sweetest, the way Cope (Andrew/Andy) gentles to Ella and brings her out of her shell, the way Ella looks to see who he really is and not just what his friends or family thinks is so amazingly heartwarming. He may be part of Todd and Ben's security company but he's also a Renaissance man who reads, writes, and is an artist with woodworking.
That they write letters and he writes her poetry, and sends her drawings that make her heart melt. Him reading her Pablo Neuruda is so hot it's nearly a panty melter, and this isn't him making a play to get laid, it's who he is, he's deep, thoughtful so much more than anyone gives him credit for.
Like all Brown Family books there is plenty of steamy sex, but even the way Cope and Ella come to this is tender and sweet as opposed to a fast burn.
Their ending is what you hope for the whole book through, and LD doesn't disappoint.
I look forward to seeing these two pop up in future Brown Family and Delicious series books of the couples in this series they are my favorite.
Coming Undone by Lauren Dane
Welcome to book #2 in the Brown family series, in this volume we learn Brody's story.
Brody, older brother who raised his siblings after his parent's death, amazing tattoo artist, biker and all around hottie. Brody is living the chill life of a single man in his late 30's, he likes his quiet house, his very busy shop and his on again, off again relationship with Raven, although he's noticed the pretty mom who just moved in across the street, but doesn't pay her much mind as surely there's a dad in that house too.
Everything in his life flips over, literally when Brody is hit by a car in a hit and run and Elise and her daughter Rennie (Irene) see this while gardening and run across the way to help and call 911. Help arrives and Elise calls Erin at Brody's request because as we've learned in the previous volume Erin has issues with hospitals, crime and disaster in life.
Brody's ok, and he learns there is no dad at home (he's dead) and he starts having some naughty thoughts about the sweet little mom across the way. Meanwhile in said rental house across the way Elise has been having some very, very naughty thoughts about Brody all along which she files away for her spank bank later, she is a lonely single mom after all and a healthy vibrant woman with needs.
Rennie and the Universe work to put Brody and Elise together over and over again until they decide to start a steamy, no strings affair, neither want complications and this is the way to go, right? Over and over they slowly meld into each others lives until they spend more time together than apart, but they're just a casual fling... yup, that's all they are. Yeah, you've read this trope before, we know how this will turn out.
This is a Lauren Dane book, there is plenty of hot spicy sex, in a bed, in a ballet studio against the barre, on the desk in Brody's office at his tattoo shop, seriously once they start these two just keep on humping like bunnies.
Pretty ballerina Elise and hunky inked up Brody slowly develop much deeper feelings for each other though neither will admit it. During the course of this year Rennie's paternal grandparents, who have been trying to wrest custody away from Elise because they feel she isn't worthy of raising their grandchild as well as the other reason which relates to the twist.
Will they smarten up, realize they are in love and work on a future... perhaps after a few smacks in the head from their friends and family.
Another solid outing for Lauren Dane, I've read it twice and may read it again, I love the Browns and they way they love without hesitation and live without worrying what anyone else thinks.
Brody, older brother who raised his siblings after his parent's death, amazing tattoo artist, biker and all around hottie. Brody is living the chill life of a single man in his late 30's, he likes his quiet house, his very busy shop and his on again, off again relationship with Raven, although he's noticed the pretty mom who just moved in across the street, but doesn't pay her much mind as surely there's a dad in that house too.
Everything in his life flips over, literally when Brody is hit by a car in a hit and run and Elise and her daughter Rennie (Irene) see this while gardening and run across the way to help and call 911. Help arrives and Elise calls Erin at Brody's request because as we've learned in the previous volume Erin has issues with hospitals, crime and disaster in life.
Brody's ok, and he learns there is no dad at home (he's dead) and he starts having some naughty thoughts about the sweet little mom across the way. Meanwhile in said rental house across the way Elise has been having some very, very naughty thoughts about Brody all along which she files away for her spank bank later, she is a lonely single mom after all and a healthy vibrant woman with needs.
Rennie and the Universe work to put Brody and Elise together over and over again until they decide to start a steamy, no strings affair, neither want complications and this is the way to go, right? Over and over they slowly meld into each others lives until they spend more time together than apart, but they're just a casual fling... yup, that's all they are. Yeah, you've read this trope before, we know how this will turn out.
This is a Lauren Dane book, there is plenty of hot spicy sex, in a bed, in a ballet studio against the barre, on the desk in Brody's office at his tattoo shop, seriously once they start these two just keep on humping like bunnies.
Pretty ballerina Elise and hunky inked up Brody slowly develop much deeper feelings for each other though neither will admit it. During the course of this year Rennie's paternal grandparents, who have been trying to wrest custody away from Elise because they feel she isn't worthy of raising their grandchild as well as the other reason which relates to the twist.
Will they smarten up, realize they are in love and work on a future... perhaps after a few smacks in the head from their friends and family.
Another solid outing for Lauren Dane, I've read it twice and may read it again, I love the Browns and they way they love without hesitation and live without worrying what anyone else thinks.
Laid Bare by Lauren Dane
Amazon, my drug pusher brought me to Lauren through my purchase of Megan Hart's books.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love me a series, and the Brown's are no exception, they are bright, colorful vibrant people who live life out loud.
This is the tale of Erin Brown, rocker chick, starting 10 years ago when she met uptight cop Todd. They have a brief steamy affair but Todd is conflicted about the fact that his is dominant sexually, he feels like it's totally wrong to behave like that towards women, even though with Erin he truly feels alive for the first time. He wimps out, moves east, gets shot, has a failed marriage and ends up back in Seattle and is looking for Erin.
The last ten years have been interesting for Erin too, Mud Bay (her band with her brother) made it big, she had some horrific things happen to her and now she's in Seattle staying below the radar and living a life steeped in fear.
Todd finds Erin and they reconnect, Todd has finally come in to his own, both emotionally and sexually. Their relationship is hot hot hot. And then along comes Ben (who is bi-sexual), Todd's friend since childhood, they invite Ben into their bed for one night and it turns into so much more.
The idea that they are a polyamourous is not just meant to be titillating it's about three people who connect on a deeper level and who love each other. They want to make these things work, and they work at their relationship like mature adults. Over time you also see Todd and Ben develop their own relationship, which isn't so much about labels as it is about two people who love the same woman and have been friends forever learning about and falling in love with each other over time.
During this story we also meet the other Browns, Adrian and Brody and learn the back story of their parents death and Brody giving up art school at the age of 18 to raise his siblings and keep them out of the system. But more on them later...
This is a 5+* and two thumbs way up for me.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love me a series, and the Brown's are no exception, they are bright, colorful vibrant people who live life out loud.
This is the tale of Erin Brown, rocker chick, starting 10 years ago when she met uptight cop Todd. They have a brief steamy affair but Todd is conflicted about the fact that his is dominant sexually, he feels like it's totally wrong to behave like that towards women, even though with Erin he truly feels alive for the first time. He wimps out, moves east, gets shot, has a failed marriage and ends up back in Seattle and is looking for Erin.
The last ten years have been interesting for Erin too, Mud Bay (her band with her brother) made it big, she had some horrific things happen to her and now she's in Seattle staying below the radar and living a life steeped in fear.
Todd finds Erin and they reconnect, Todd has finally come in to his own, both emotionally and sexually. Their relationship is hot hot hot. And then along comes Ben (who is bi-sexual), Todd's friend since childhood, they invite Ben into their bed for one night and it turns into so much more.
The idea that they are a polyamourous is not just meant to be titillating it's about three people who connect on a deeper level and who love each other. They want to make these things work, and they work at their relationship like mature adults. Over time you also see Todd and Ben develop their own relationship, which isn't so much about labels as it is about two people who love the same woman and have been friends forever learning about and falling in love with each other over time.
During this story we also meet the other Browns, Adrian and Brody and learn the back story of their parents death and Brody giving up art school at the age of 18 to raise his siblings and keep them out of the system. But more on them later...
This is a 5+* and two thumbs way up for me.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Stranger by Megan Hart
"I pay strangers to sleep with me. I have my reasons…
But they're not the ones you'd expect."
And so opens Stranger, which of all the Harrisburg books may be my favorite.
One night Grace goes to a bar to pick up a stranger, well not really a stranger but a pre-arranged rent-boy from the service she utilized for such things. She's a funeral director who has taken over the family business and wants to get laid without the effort, stress or entanglement. Funny thing happens on the way to the rent-boy, she meets Sam, who she thinks is the stranger she is there to meet, they go to his hotel room, which appears to be well lived in, and they have a hot steamy night of sweaty sex until she get a message to go on a death call. The other message she listens to as she's leaving is from the actual boytoy Jack, who apologized for not being able to make their appointment. Wait, what now... Grace is a little freaked, well she wanted sex with a stranger and that's what she got.
Mrs. Smith's service fixes the problem and she has an encounter or two with Jack (who we met in Dirty and will see again, although here he's minus his Prince Albert.)
She walks back in to her life thinking she'll never see Sam I Am again... until one night when she's alone she hears noises in the basement and like every bad horror movie heroine instead of calling the cops she heads downstairs with a golf club. Before she remembers that Mr. Stewart is in the room and as per Jewish custom someone is sitting and praying (or in Sam's case singing) with the body until the funeral an burial. After getting hit pretty hard in the noggin Sam and Grace reconnect.
He's a singer who had been living in NYC trying to make it big, she's running her Dad's business but he's not really letting her run it.
There are the usual struggles while they try and figure things out, Grace still sees Jack from time to time, and I'm sure we all know how that's going to go over with Sam.
Like all of Megan's book the characters are well developed and suck you in from the get go.
Buy it, read it, love it.
Best line in the book, "Guys dig cars almost as much as they dig pussy." This is in reference to Grace's Camaro... which is truly bitchin'.
Seriously...
But they're not the ones you'd expect."
And so opens Stranger, which of all the Harrisburg books may be my favorite.
One night Grace goes to a bar to pick up a stranger, well not really a stranger but a pre-arranged rent-boy from the service she utilized for such things. She's a funeral director who has taken over the family business and wants to get laid without the effort, stress or entanglement. Funny thing happens on the way to the rent-boy, she meets Sam, who she thinks is the stranger she is there to meet, they go to his hotel room, which appears to be well lived in, and they have a hot steamy night of sweaty sex until she get a message to go on a death call. The other message she listens to as she's leaving is from the actual boytoy Jack, who apologized for not being able to make their appointment. Wait, what now... Grace is a little freaked, well she wanted sex with a stranger and that's what she got.
Mrs. Smith's service fixes the problem and she has an encounter or two with Jack (who we met in Dirty and will see again, although here he's minus his Prince Albert.)
She walks back in to her life thinking she'll never see Sam I Am again... until one night when she's alone she hears noises in the basement and like every bad horror movie heroine instead of calling the cops she heads downstairs with a golf club. Before she remembers that Mr. Stewart is in the room and as per Jewish custom someone is sitting and praying (or in Sam's case singing) with the body until the funeral an burial. After getting hit pretty hard in the noggin Sam and Grace reconnect.
He's a singer who had been living in NYC trying to make it big, she's running her Dad's business but he's not really letting her run it.
There are the usual struggles while they try and figure things out, Grace still sees Jack from time to time, and I'm sure we all know how that's going to go over with Sam.
Like all of Megan's book the characters are well developed and suck you in from the get go.
Buy it, read it, love it.
Best line in the book, "Guys dig cars almost as much as they dig pussy." This is in reference to Grace's Camaro... which is truly bitchin'.
Seriously...
Dirty by Megan Hart
So here's the thing about Amazon, they can be likened to a drug pusher... "Here, you like this book, I bet you'll love this one just as much... really, c'mere and try it." and that's how I got hooked on Megan Hart. After purchasing FSoG Dirty was a suggested purchase, I read the description and took a hit, I mean decided to buy it, and it's been an expensive, distracting, enjoyable Spring, Summer and Fall.
Now on to the review...
"So this is what happened...
I met him at the candy store. He turned and smiled at me and I was surprised enough to smile back. This was not a children's candy store, mind you—this was the kind of place you went to buy expensive imported chocolate truffles for your boss's wife because you felt guilty for having sex with him when you were both at a conference in Milwaukee. Hypothetically speaking, of course."
That's how the book opens, and it sucked me in from the get go. I loved Elle and Dan as individuals and as a couple. They are both flawed and real, not your typical romance novel where the Heroine is skinny, blonde, waxed within an inch of her life and the Hero is model handsome with a seriously cut six pack and a dick to rival a porn star. That isn't Dan and Elle, and if that's what you're looking for move it along.
Elle lives a quiet life in Harrisburg (if you read the Megan Hart books, although not a series the Harrisburg books should be read in order to make sense) she's cordial to her neighbors, had a friend or two at work and prefers one night stands and brief encounters because relationships scare the shit out of her.
Dan, a lawyer with wacky ties, and smooth lines who rocks the perfect first date at a little bar called "The Slaughtered Lamb". He wants Elle, and he isn't about to back down.
The book felt more real, the dialogue, the people, than anything I've read in a while.
Through the course of the story we find out why Elle eschews the relationship, and we watch Dan persist to break her down.
I didn't see the twist coming, which was a pleasant surprise. And because she's awesome Megan gives us a novella, Reason Enough, to keep up with them, as well as popping up in Stranger and I think one other book.
Megan Hart writes quality erotic romance, well written, well edited and of all the books of hers I've read I've only had one I haven't enjoyed and I think that's because it's got a paranormal feel, and as much as I love me a vampire story, for some reason I just couldn't get into that one.
Her books are a treat and reasonably priced, and isn't that what you're looking for when you're looking for a sweet sweet hit of your favorite drug?
Now on to the review...
"So this is what happened...
I met him at the candy store. He turned and smiled at me and I was surprised enough to smile back. This was not a children's candy store, mind you—this was the kind of place you went to buy expensive imported chocolate truffles for your boss's wife because you felt guilty for having sex with him when you were both at a conference in Milwaukee. Hypothetically speaking, of course."
That's how the book opens, and it sucked me in from the get go. I loved Elle and Dan as individuals and as a couple. They are both flawed and real, not your typical romance novel where the Heroine is skinny, blonde, waxed within an inch of her life and the Hero is model handsome with a seriously cut six pack and a dick to rival a porn star. That isn't Dan and Elle, and if that's what you're looking for move it along.
Elle lives a quiet life in Harrisburg (if you read the Megan Hart books, although not a series the Harrisburg books should be read in order to make sense) she's cordial to her neighbors, had a friend or two at work and prefers one night stands and brief encounters because relationships scare the shit out of her.
Dan, a lawyer with wacky ties, and smooth lines who rocks the perfect first date at a little bar called "The Slaughtered Lamb". He wants Elle, and he isn't about to back down.
The book felt more real, the dialogue, the people, than anything I've read in a while.
Through the course of the story we find out why Elle eschews the relationship, and we watch Dan persist to break her down.
I didn't see the twist coming, which was a pleasant surprise. And because she's awesome Megan gives us a novella, Reason Enough, to keep up with them, as well as popping up in Stranger and I think one other book.
Megan Hart writes quality erotic romance, well written, well edited and of all the books of hers I've read I've only had one I haven't enjoyed and I think that's because it's got a paranormal feel, and as much as I love me a vampire story, for some reason I just couldn't get into that one.
Her books are a treat and reasonably priced, and isn't that what you're looking for when you're looking for a sweet sweet hit of your favorite drug?
Friday, September 14, 2012
FSoG: The Trilogy
OK, so there are couple of super popular tropes right now in adult contemporary romance/erotica, the 50 Shades trilogy dealing with the virgin/sexually inexperienced young woman, and a rich well hung man with issues. Seriously, I've yet to read anything since this book where the male lead has an average size penis, everyone is hung like a horse and has stamina for days... bitch please...
In this review I'm covering the series as a whole because I don't really see it as three distinct parts, but rather a continuum, breaking at convenient points for publishers to make snazzy non-threatening covers and a movie franchise. Like Star Wars, only Lucas isn't going to come in 25 years later and fuck with the plot and some CGI to make things that never happened part of cannon.
As we peek into their world we meet young Anastasia Steele, smart, gangly, awkward and unknowingly beautiful, all the boys want her, but our Ana stumbles unaware through day to day life, as fate would have it, her roommate, a journalism major, is struck down with the flu and cannot conduct a long since scheduled interview with a young area tycoon, and begs her friend Ana, who is socially awkward at best to go and conduct the interview, with no efforts to reschedule, or conduct this interview via Skype, like all the cool kids are using these days. So Ana, best friend, sucker, pretty brown haired girl climbs into her beat up Beetle Wanda and heads from the wilds of Vancouver Washington to Seattle, to interview handsome, charming dashing all around hottie Christian Grey.
What follows is poorly written Twilight fan fiction, here's the thing though... I couldn't put the fucking things down, devoured them one after another and then read them again, I have them as books on tape audio files it's like crack, once they get you., you can't stop. I think earlier this summer I described the series as a train-wreck, a naughty, dirty train-wreck that you just can't turn away from. There is actually some dude in the UK who is writing FSoG from Christian's point of view as fan fic and it's a million times better than the original, I'm like an addict waiting every Sunday for him to put up a new chapter, as he's following chapter by chapter through all three books from the "hero's" POV.
The trilogy follows our star crossed lovers from the bumbling first meeting to their HEA type ending. For all hiss wealth and experience Christian is as much, if not more, socially inept than Ana, sure he got laid, a lot, before he was transfixed by our beautiful heroine, but it was sex, most of which on some level or another way paid for, or with his mom's best friend.
There are the usual, and unusual speed bumps along the way, the story is well paced, and but for the over use of the words glance, mutter and murmur it's an easy page turner.
It gives a tame, safe view into a very small corner of the BDSM world, and although Christian has his playroom outfitted more coolly than a proper dungeon at a fetish club, the sexual interactions between Christian and Ana are relatively vanilla, with some sprinkles thrown on for flavor. And though the sex is mainly tame by other erotica standards there is a LOT of it, seriously, I'm not sure where these two found the time to hold jobs, sleep or eat, it seems that at the drop of the hat these two are humping like bunnies. On a boat, on a plane, in the tub, in the club, Ana and Christian get their groove on. Seriously, Christian not only always has a hard on, but he's got a pocket full of foil packets at the ready. And also per the trope it seems that although she starts their relationship as basically sexually illiterate she's having orgasms, and tons of them, from the get go and is a killer at giving head. OK, it's been a long time since I lost my virginity, but I'm fairly certain that isn't how it happened for me, or pretty much any other girl out there. So a note to you virgins out there, your initial sexual experience isn't likely to be so earth-shatteringly amazing, unless your partner has spent lots of time studying how to pleasure a woman, and has had lots and lots of practice.
Also, their relationship goes from zero to sixty in about 3 weeks time, and even though I knew from my first date with my husband that I would eventually marry him, we actually took time to get to know each other like mature rational adults. So your mileage may vary from Ana and Christian, and that's not only OK, it's likely preferred.
I wish there had been a little more attention paid to some of the other characters and some additional interaction with the friends and family members, especially the Kate/Elliot relationship, they delve into it at the same time as Christian and Ana, but without the pesky troubles of a past full of former submissives, virginity and emotional issues related to having sex.
Like I said, FSoG is a gateway drug to much better adult contemporary romance and erotica. Read these because everyone else is, and then buy some higher quality shit. Once you've read the "mommy porn" and you're not completely put off by the adult themes and the concept of BDSM both in small and large doses read some of the books I'll be reviewing after this trilogy.
In this review I'm covering the series as a whole because I don't really see it as three distinct parts, but rather a continuum, breaking at convenient points for publishers to make snazzy non-threatening covers and a movie franchise. Like Star Wars, only Lucas isn't going to come in 25 years later and fuck with the plot and some CGI to make things that never happened part of cannon.
As we peek into their world we meet young Anastasia Steele, smart, gangly, awkward and unknowingly beautiful, all the boys want her, but our Ana stumbles unaware through day to day life, as fate would have it, her roommate, a journalism major, is struck down with the flu and cannot conduct a long since scheduled interview with a young area tycoon, and begs her friend Ana, who is socially awkward at best to go and conduct the interview, with no efforts to reschedule, or conduct this interview via Skype, like all the cool kids are using these days. So Ana, best friend, sucker, pretty brown haired girl climbs into her beat up Beetle Wanda and heads from the wilds of Vancouver Washington to Seattle, to interview handsome, charming dashing all around hottie Christian Grey.
What follows is poorly written Twilight fan fiction, here's the thing though... I couldn't put the fucking things down, devoured them one after another and then read them again, I have them as books on tape audio files it's like crack, once they get you., you can't stop. I think earlier this summer I described the series as a train-wreck, a naughty, dirty train-wreck that you just can't turn away from. There is actually some dude in the UK who is writing FSoG from Christian's point of view as fan fic and it's a million times better than the original, I'm like an addict waiting every Sunday for him to put up a new chapter, as he's following chapter by chapter through all three books from the "hero's" POV.
The trilogy follows our star crossed lovers from the bumbling first meeting to their HEA type ending. For all hiss wealth and experience Christian is as much, if not more, socially inept than Ana, sure he got laid, a lot, before he was transfixed by our beautiful heroine, but it was sex, most of which on some level or another way paid for, or with his mom's best friend.
There are the usual, and unusual speed bumps along the way, the story is well paced, and but for the over use of the words glance, mutter and murmur it's an easy page turner.
It gives a tame, safe view into a very small corner of the BDSM world, and although Christian has his playroom outfitted more coolly than a proper dungeon at a fetish club, the sexual interactions between Christian and Ana are relatively vanilla, with some sprinkles thrown on for flavor. And though the sex is mainly tame by other erotica standards there is a LOT of it, seriously, I'm not sure where these two found the time to hold jobs, sleep or eat, it seems that at the drop of the hat these two are humping like bunnies. On a boat, on a plane, in the tub, in the club, Ana and Christian get their groove on. Seriously, Christian not only always has a hard on, but he's got a pocket full of foil packets at the ready. And also per the trope it seems that although she starts their relationship as basically sexually illiterate she's having orgasms, and tons of them, from the get go and is a killer at giving head. OK, it's been a long time since I lost my virginity, but I'm fairly certain that isn't how it happened for me, or pretty much any other girl out there. So a note to you virgins out there, your initial sexual experience isn't likely to be so earth-shatteringly amazing, unless your partner has spent lots of time studying how to pleasure a woman, and has had lots and lots of practice.
Also, their relationship goes from zero to sixty in about 3 weeks time, and even though I knew from my first date with my husband that I would eventually marry him, we actually took time to get to know each other like mature rational adults. So your mileage may vary from Ana and Christian, and that's not only OK, it's likely preferred.
I wish there had been a little more attention paid to some of the other characters and some additional interaction with the friends and family members, especially the Kate/Elliot relationship, they delve into it at the same time as Christian and Ana, but without the pesky troubles of a past full of former submissives, virginity and emotional issues related to having sex.
Like I said, FSoG is a gateway drug to much better adult contemporary romance and erotica. Read these because everyone else is, and then buy some higher quality shit. Once you've read the "mommy porn" and you're not completely put off by the adult themes and the concept of BDSM both in small and large doses read some of the books I'll be reviewing after this trilogy.
Monday, September 10, 2012
And now for something completely different...
OK, so I've got that long list below of books I am going to review, that I've read in the last year or so, but I've decided, fuck it, I'll get to those soon enough, but for now I'm going to concentrate on what I've been reading more of lately. Adult contemporary romance with a liberal dash of erotica/erotic romance. Oh also, since these are books for grown ups I'll be using some grown up words, so if you've got issues with that you probably shouldn't be tuning in for the next several reviews.
So, for the next several reviews you'll hear lots about Lauren Dane, Maya Banks, Megan Hart, Kallypso Masters, Cherisse Sinclair, Bella Andre, Sylvia Day, Sylvain Reynard, and, since everyone, their mother and everyone on the PTA has read it, even the gateway drug to quality adult contemporary romance and erotic romance, 50 Shades of Grey.
As I recently tweeted, to Megan Hart:
@Megan_Hart I think I've earned my "Recommend Megan" badge today for making my 30th recommendation of your books, this time to my manicurist
@Megan_Hart I think the image embroidered on that badge is a glass of wine, a kindle and a vibrator, prob not sanctioned by GSUSA
So, get ready for some spicy reviews of some of the spiciest book series available to read on your Kindle with no shame since no one can see the cover.
I'm having some surgery this week, so while I recoup I'll do some book reviews over the next few days while I recoup.
Also, is anyone out there actually reading this? Or am I writing reviews to myself? If it's the latter, at least it'll help me remember what I've read along the way... since these days it seems my short-to-mid-term memory is for shit.
So, for the next several reviews you'll hear lots about Lauren Dane, Maya Banks, Megan Hart, Kallypso Masters, Cherisse Sinclair, Bella Andre, Sylvia Day, Sylvain Reynard, and, since everyone, their mother and everyone on the PTA has read it, even the gateway drug to quality adult contemporary romance and erotic romance, 50 Shades of Grey.
As I recently tweeted, to Megan Hart:
So, get ready for some spicy reviews of some of the spiciest book series available to read on your Kindle with no shame since no one can see the cover.
I'm having some surgery this week, so while I recoup I'll do some book reviews over the next few days while I recoup.
Also, is anyone out there actually reading this? Or am I writing reviews to myself? If it's the latter, at least it'll help me remember what I've read along the way... since these days it seems my short-to-mid-term memory is for shit.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Providence, Book 1 in the Providence Series by Jamie McGuire
Providence, Jamie McGuire
This is the first in the Providence Series, as I live in
Providence, and it takes place partly on the campus of the college where I work
I decided to give it a read. While I
will read sci-fi and fantasy adventure stuff (ok, ok, I’m still slogging
through Game of Thrones, my goal is to finish before my 50th
birthday), I don’t generally read supernatural stuff.
So in what the description on Amazon calls the “old world
shadows of Providence” our heroine Nina Grey, likely no relation to Christian
Gray, which might have spiced this book up a little, finds herself at the
center of a war between good and evil, heaven and hell. I live in the city, and I’m not sure where
the these old world shadows are, but I keep looking for them, wondering if I’ll
turn the corner and see Jared on his motorbike.
Her dad has recently died, and by “coincidence” on the
evening of her funeral she meets Jared, he’s a hottie with a body that won’t
quit, basically every romance archetype.
However he has one little thing that sets him apart from your average
Abercrombie hunk. Jared is meant to
protect Nina, even with his own life.
I found I liked some of the secondary characters in this
book more than Nina and Jared, Claire and Bex provide some comic relief in what
could be a very dreary tale. And just
picturing little spitfire Claire driving her Lotus Exige and kicking ass in
high heeled boots makes you smile.
There were a couple of things that drew me to the book, a.
it takes place in and around my office and my home, b. it’s part of a series,
and as my husband and Kindle can tell you anything that is part of a series is
a book I’ll read, I hate putting away characters when I close the book, or hit “home”
on my Kindle.
It’s an overall enjoyable read, and some of the plot twists
will take you by surprise, and some you’ll have seen coming from halfway up
Thayer Street.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Delirium: Lauren Oliver
"They say that the cure for Love will make me happy and safe forever. And I’ve always believed them. Until now. Now everything has changed. Now, I’d rather be infected with love for the tiniest sliver of a second than live a hundred years smothered by a lie."
Imagine a time, not too long from now, when the fine people of America through scientific research discover that love, passionate emotion, romance, is the root of all evil. Come on, haven't you thought that once or twice in your lifetime, when your heart has been broken and you're on your third pint of Ben & Jerry's cookie dough ice cream? What, was that just me? Oh, ok, I digress...
Amor deleria nervosa... or love, true love.
It is a disease, eradicated by the government of the United States, upon your 18th birthday, you have the "procedure" and then you live blandly ever after. Not only have they eradicated the scourge of love, but there is a nifty little handbook to live by, the Book of Shhh (Safety Health and Happiness Handbook). Delirium is sprinkled at the beginning of each chapter with a passage or quotation from this book, these words giving an interesting view into how something like this could become real.
It all begins, in Portland, Maine, as Lena (Magdalena) is having her evaluation to determine her educational and marital path. Cows break in, mayhem ensues, and then she sees Alex, he is your typical bad boy YA hunk, who is layered of course. Lena finds out he's cured, so he's safe, and damn he's dreamy. The book takes you through their relationship on a very visceral level, twists, turns and surprises, definitely not formulaic.
This book could easily be written off as another YA book, riding on the dystopian coat tails of the Hunger Games, but in doing so you would miss an engaging and enchanting opportunity. Lauren Oliver crafts a layered tale and it keeps you turning pages, or pressing that little arrow button, with little regard to anything else going on in your life.
Lena lives with her aunt and uncle, her mother, an Invalid, committed suicide as several attempts at "curing" her proved unsuccessful. Lena's older sister Rachel is cured, and lives a seemingly contented life, but Lena remembers her mom and her reckless abandon and love for life. Which way is a truer path? Is she destined to be cured or is she a sympathizer? Or do either of those labels really matter.
Although the start is slow the book quickly grabs you and holds you to the bitter end and then leaves you longing for the sequel, Pandemonium.
Imagine a time, not too long from now, when the fine people of America through scientific research discover that love, passionate emotion, romance, is the root of all evil. Come on, haven't you thought that once or twice in your lifetime, when your heart has been broken and you're on your third pint of Ben & Jerry's cookie dough ice cream? What, was that just me? Oh, ok, I digress...
Amor deleria nervosa... or love, true love.
It is a disease, eradicated by the government of the United States, upon your 18th birthday, you have the "procedure" and then you live blandly ever after. Not only have they eradicated the scourge of love, but there is a nifty little handbook to live by, the Book of Shhh (Safety Health and Happiness Handbook). Delirium is sprinkled at the beginning of each chapter with a passage or quotation from this book, these words giving an interesting view into how something like this could become real.
It all begins, in Portland, Maine, as Lena (Magdalena) is having her evaluation to determine her educational and marital path. Cows break in, mayhem ensues, and then she sees Alex, he is your typical bad boy YA hunk, who is layered of course. Lena finds out he's cured, so he's safe, and damn he's dreamy. The book takes you through their relationship on a very visceral level, twists, turns and surprises, definitely not formulaic.
This book could easily be written off as another YA book, riding on the dystopian coat tails of the Hunger Games, but in doing so you would miss an engaging and enchanting opportunity. Lauren Oliver crafts a layered tale and it keeps you turning pages, or pressing that little arrow button, with little regard to anything else going on in your life.
Lena lives with her aunt and uncle, her mother, an Invalid, committed suicide as several attempts at "curing" her proved unsuccessful. Lena's older sister Rachel is cured, and lives a seemingly contented life, but Lena remembers her mom and her reckless abandon and love for life. Which way is a truer path? Is she destined to be cured or is she a sympathizer? Or do either of those labels really matter.
Although the start is slow the book quickly grabs you and holds you to the bitter end and then leaves you longing for the sequel, Pandemonium.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
What we'll be reviewing here at "as seen through..."
What I've read lately, which should also be interpreted as what I'll be reviewing over the next few weeks/months. This list will be updated over the next few days, as I go through my piles and my Kindle to gather lists.
Fiction
Jamie McGuire:
Providence (Reviewed 8/16/12)
Requiem (Providence Series)
Eden (Providence Series)
Beautiful Disaster
Kazuo Ishiguro:
Never Let Me Go
Lauren Oliver:
Delirium (reviewed 5/21/12)
Pandemonium
Veronica Roth:
Divergent
Insurgent
Jay Asher:
The Future of Us
Aimee Bender:
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
Lexi Revellian:
Remix
Elisa Lorello:
Faking It
Ordinary World
K.A. Thompson:
It's Not About the Cookies
The King and Queen of Perfectly Normal
Karen McQuestion:
A Scattered Life
Favorite
Life On Hold
David Nichols:
One Day
Jennifer Cruise:
Bet Me
Strange Bedpersons
Chevy Stephens:
Still Missing
Charlaine Harris:
Deadlocked (A Sookie Stackhouse Novel)
Non-Fiction
Joanna Brooks:
The Book of Mormon Girl: Stories from an American Faith
Jaycee Duggard:
A Stolen Life
Julie Gregory:
Sickened: The True Story of a Lost Childhood
Mindy Kalling:
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)
Jamie McGuire:
Requiem (Providence Series)
Eden (Providence Series)
Beautiful Disaster
Kazuo Ishiguro:
Never Let Me Go
Lauren Oliver:
Pandemonium
Veronica Roth:
Divergent
Insurgent
Jay Asher:
The Future of Us
Aimee Bender:
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
Lexi Revellian:
Remix
Elisa Lorello:
Faking It
Ordinary World
K.A. Thompson:
It's Not About the Cookies
The King and Queen of Perfectly Normal
Karen McQuestion:
A Scattered Life
Favorite
Life On Hold
David Nichols:
One Day
Jennifer Cruise:
Bet Me
Strange Bedpersons
Chevy Stephens:
Still Missing
Charlaine Harris:
Deadlocked (A Sookie Stackhouse Novel)
Non-Fiction
Joanna Brooks:
The Book of Mormon Girl: Stories from an American Faith
Jaycee Duggard:
A Stolen Life
Julie Gregory:
Sickened: The True Story of a Lost Childhood
Mindy Kalling:
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)
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